2010-06-11 Stan Shebs <stan@codesourcery.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, 2010
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, 2010
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 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) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124
125 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127 software in general. We will miss him.
128
129 @menu
130 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132
133 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139 * Stack:: Examining the stack
140 * Source:: Examining source files
141 * Data:: Examining data
142 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146
147 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148
149 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150 * Altering:: Altering execution
151 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
163
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166 * 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 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
178 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
179 how you can copy and share GDB
180 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
181 * Index:: Index
182 @end menu
183
184 @end ifnottex
185
186 @contents
187
188 @node Summary
189 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
190
191 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
192 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
193 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
194
195 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
196 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
197
198 @itemize @bullet
199 @item
200 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
201
202 @item
203 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
204
205 @item
206 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
207
208 @item
209 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
210 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
211 @end itemize
212
213 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
214 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
215 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
216
217 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
218 @ref{D,,D}.
219
220 @cindex Modula-2
221 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
222 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
223
224 @cindex Pascal
225 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
226 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
227 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
228 syntax.
229
230 @cindex Fortran
231 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
232 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
233 underscore.
234
235 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
236 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
237
238 @menu
239 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
240 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
241 @end menu
242
243 @node Free Software
244 @unnumberedsec Free Software
245
246 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
247 General Public License
248 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
249 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
250 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
251 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
252 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
253 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
254
255 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
256 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
257 from anyone else.
258
259 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
260
261 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
262 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
263 include with the free software. Many of our most important
264 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
265 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
266 when an important free software package does not come with a free
267 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
268 gaps today.
269
270 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
271 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
272 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
273 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
274 them from the free software world.
275
276 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
277 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
278 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
279 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
280 contract to make it non-free.
281
282 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
283 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
284 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
285 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
286 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
287 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
288 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
289
290 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
291 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
292 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
293 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
294
295 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
296 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
297 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
298 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
299 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
300 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
301 community.
302
303 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
304 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
305 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
306 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
307 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
308 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
309 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
310 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
311 of the manual.
312
313 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
314 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
315 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
316 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
317 manual to replace it.
318
319 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
320 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
321 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
322 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
323 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
324 the free software community.
325
326 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
327 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
328 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
329 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
330 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
331 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
332 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
333 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
334 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
335
336 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
337 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
338 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
339 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
340 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
341 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
342 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
343 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
344
345 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
346 published by other publishers, at
347 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
348
349 @node Contributors
350 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
351
352 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
353 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
354 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
355 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
356 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
357 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
358 blow-by-blow account.
359
360 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
361
362 @quotation
363 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
364 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
365 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
366 @end quotation
367
368 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
369 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
370 releases:
371 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
372 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
373 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
374 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
375 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
376 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
377 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
378 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
379 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
380
381 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
382 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
383
384 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
385 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
386 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
387 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
388 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
389
390 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
391 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
392 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
393
394 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
395 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
396
397 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
398
399 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
400 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
401 support.
402 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
403 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
404 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
405 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
406 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
407 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
408 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
409 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
410 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
411 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
412 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
413 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
414 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
415 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
416 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
417 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
418
419 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
420
421 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
422 libraries.
423
424 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
425 about several machine instruction sets.
426
427 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
428 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
429 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
430 and RDI targets, respectively.
431
432 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
433 command-line editing and command history.
434
435 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
436 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
437
438 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
439 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
440 symbols.
441
442 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
443 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
444
445 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
446
447 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
448 processors.
449
450 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
451
452 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
453
454 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
455
456 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
457 watchpoints.
458
459 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
460
461 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
462
463 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
464 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
465
466 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
467 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
468 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
469 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
470 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
471 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
472 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
473
474 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
475 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
476
477 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
478 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
479 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
480 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
481 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
482 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
483 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
484 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
485 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
486 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
487 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
488 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
489 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
490 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
491 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
492
493 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
494 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
495
496 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
497 Hat.
498
499 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
500 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
501 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
502 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
503 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
504 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
505
506 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
507 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
508 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
509 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
510 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
511 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
512 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
513 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
514 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
515 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
516 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
517 Weigand.
518
519 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
520 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
521 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
522 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
523
524 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
525 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
526
527 @node Sample Session
528 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
529
530 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
531 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
532 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
533
534 @iftex
535 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
536 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
537 @end iftex
538
539 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
540 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
541
542 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
543 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
544 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
545 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
546 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
547 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
548 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
549 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
550 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
551
552 @smallexample
553 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
554 $ @b{./m4}
555 @b{define(foo,0000)}
556
557 @b{foo}
558 0000
559 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
560
561 @b{bar}
562 0000
563 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
564
565 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
566 @b{baz}
567 @b{Ctrl-d}
568 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
569 @end smallexample
570
571 @noindent
572 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
573
574 @smallexample
575 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
576 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
577 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
578 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
579 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
580 the conditions.
581 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
582 for details.
583
584 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
585 (@value{GDBP})
586 @end smallexample
587
588 @noindent
589 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
590 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
591 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
592 that examples fit in this manual.
593
594 @smallexample
595 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
596 @end smallexample
597
598 @noindent
599 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
600 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
601 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
602 @code{break} command.
603
604 @smallexample
605 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
606 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
607 @end smallexample
608
609 @noindent
610 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
611 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
612 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
613
614 @smallexample
615 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
616 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
617 @b{define(foo,0000)}
618
619 @b{foo}
620 0000
621 @end smallexample
622
623 @noindent
624 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
625 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
626 context where it stops.
627
628 @smallexample
629 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
630
631 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
632 at builtin.c:879
633 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
634 @end smallexample
635
636 @noindent
637 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
638 the next line of the current function.
639
640 @smallexample
641 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
642 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
643 : nil,
644 @end smallexample
645
646 @noindent
647 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
648 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
649 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
650 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
651
652 @smallexample
653 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
654 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
655 at input.c:530
656 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
657 @end smallexample
658
659 @noindent
660 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
661 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
662 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
663 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
664 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
665 stack frame for each active subroutine.
666
667 @smallexample
668 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
669 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
670 at input.c:530
671 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
672 at builtin.c:882
673 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
674 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
675 at macro.c:71
676 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
677 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
678 @end smallexample
679
680 @noindent
681 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
682 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
683 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
684
685 @smallexample
686 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
687 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
688 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
689 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
690 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
692 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
693 : xstrdup(rq);
694 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
695 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
696 @end smallexample
697
698 @noindent
699 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
700 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
701 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
702 (@code{print}) to see their values.
703
704 @smallexample
705 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
706 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
707 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
708 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
709 @end smallexample
710
711 @noindent
712 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
713 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
714 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
715
716 @smallexample
717 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
718 533 xfree(rquote);
719 534
720 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
721 : xstrdup (lq);
722 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
723 : xstrdup (rq);
724 537
725 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
726 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
727 540 @}
728 541
729 542 void
730 @end smallexample
731
732 @noindent
733 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
734 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
735
736 @smallexample
737 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
738 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
739 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
740 540 @}
741 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
742 $3 = 9
743 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
744 $4 = 7
745 @end smallexample
746
747 @noindent
748 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
749 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
750 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
751 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
752 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
753 assignments.
754
755 @smallexample
756 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
757 $5 = 7
758 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
759 $6 = 9
760 @end smallexample
761
762 @noindent
763 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
764 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
765 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
766 example that caused trouble initially:
767
768 @smallexample
769 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
770 Continuing.
771
772 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
773
774 baz
775 0000
776 @end smallexample
777
778 @noindent
779 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
780 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
781 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
782
783 @smallexample
784 @b{Ctrl-d}
785 Program exited normally.
786 @end smallexample
787
788 @noindent
789 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
790 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
791 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
792
793 @smallexample
794 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
795 @end smallexample
796
797 @node Invocation
798 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
799
800 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
801 The essentials are:
802 @itemize @bullet
803 @item
804 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
805 @item
806 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
807 @end itemize
808
809 @menu
810 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
811 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
812 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
813 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
814 @end menu
815
816 @node Invoking GDB
817 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
818
819 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
820 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
821
822 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
823 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
824
825 The command-line options described here are designed
826 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
827 options may effectively be unavailable.
828
829 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
830 specifying an executable program:
831
832 @smallexample
833 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
834 @end smallexample
835
836 @noindent
837 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
838 specified:
839
840 @smallexample
841 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
842 @end smallexample
843
844 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
845 to debug a running process:
846
847 @smallexample
848 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
849 @end smallexample
850
851 @noindent
852 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
853 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
854
855 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
856 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
857 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
858 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
859 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
860
861 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
862 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
863 option processing.
864 @smallexample
865 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
866 @end smallexample
867 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
868 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
869
870 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
871 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
872
873 @smallexample
874 @value{GDBP} -silent
875 @end smallexample
876
877 @noindent
878 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
879 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
880
881 @noindent
882 Type
883
884 @smallexample
885 @value{GDBP} -help
886 @end smallexample
887
888 @noindent
889 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
890 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
891
892 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
893 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
894 @samp{-x} option is used.
895
896
897 @menu
898 * File Options:: Choosing files
899 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
900 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
901 @end menu
902
903 @node File Options
904 @subsection Choosing Files
905
906 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
907 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
908 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
909 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
910 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
911 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
912 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
913 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
914 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
915 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
916 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
917 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
918 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
919
920 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
921 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
922 argument and ignore it.
923
924 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
925 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
926 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
927 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
928 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
929
930 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
931 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
932 @c it.
933
934 @table @code
935 @item -symbols @var{file}
936 @itemx -s @var{file}
937 @cindex @code{--symbols}
938 @cindex @code{-s}
939 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
940
941 @item -exec @var{file}
942 @itemx -e @var{file}
943 @cindex @code{--exec}
944 @cindex @code{-e}
945 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
946 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
947
948 @item -se @var{file}
949 @cindex @code{--se}
950 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
951 file.
952
953 @item -core @var{file}
954 @itemx -c @var{file}
955 @cindex @code{--core}
956 @cindex @code{-c}
957 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
958
959 @item -pid @var{number}
960 @itemx -p @var{number}
961 @cindex @code{--pid}
962 @cindex @code{-p}
963 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
964
965 @item -command @var{file}
966 @itemx -x @var{file}
967 @cindex @code{--command}
968 @cindex @code{-x}
969 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
970 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
971 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
972
973 @item -eval-command @var{command}
974 @itemx -ex @var{command}
975 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
976 @cindex @code{-ex}
977 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
978
979 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
980 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
981
982 @smallexample
983 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
984 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
985 @end smallexample
986
987 @item -directory @var{directory}
988 @itemx -d @var{directory}
989 @cindex @code{--directory}
990 @cindex @code{-d}
991 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
992
993 @item -r
994 @itemx -readnow
995 @cindex @code{--readnow}
996 @cindex @code{-r}
997 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
998 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
999 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1000
1001 @end table
1002
1003 @node Mode Options
1004 @subsection Choosing Modes
1005
1006 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1007 batch mode or quiet mode.
1008
1009 @table @code
1010 @item -nx
1011 @itemx -n
1012 @cindex @code{--nx}
1013 @cindex @code{-n}
1014 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1015 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1016 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1017 Files}.
1018
1019 @item -quiet
1020 @itemx -silent
1021 @itemx -q
1022 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1023 @cindex @code{--silent}
1024 @cindex @code{-q}
1025 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1026 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1027
1028 @item -batch
1029 @cindex @code{--batch}
1030 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1031 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1032 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1033 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1034 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination;
1035 @pxref{Screen Size} and acts as if @kbd{set confirm off} were in
1036 effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1037
1038 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1039 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1040 make this more useful, the message
1041
1042 @smallexample
1043 Program exited normally.
1044 @end smallexample
1045
1046 @noindent
1047 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1048 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1049 mode.
1050
1051 @item -batch-silent
1052 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1053 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1054 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1055 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1056 for an interactive session.
1057
1058 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1059 messages, for example.
1060
1061 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1062 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1063
1064 @item -return-child-result
1065 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1066 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1067 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1068
1069 @itemize @bullet
1070 @item
1071 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1072 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1073 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1074 @item
1075 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1076 @item
1077 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1078 the exit code will be -1.
1079 @end itemize
1080
1081 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1082 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1083 interface.
1084
1085 @item -nowindows
1086 @itemx -nw
1087 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1088 @cindex @code{-nw}
1089 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1090 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1091 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1092
1093 @item -windows
1094 @itemx -w
1095 @cindex @code{--windows}
1096 @cindex @code{-w}
1097 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1098 used if possible.
1099
1100 @item -cd @var{directory}
1101 @cindex @code{--cd}
1102 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1103 instead of the current directory.
1104
1105 @item -fullname
1106 @itemx -f
1107 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1108 @cindex @code{-f}
1109 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1110 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1111 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1112 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1113 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1114 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1115 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1116 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1117 frame.
1118
1119 @item -epoch
1120 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1121 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1122 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1123 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1124 separate window.
1125
1126 @item -annotate @var{level}
1127 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1128 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1129 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1130 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1131 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1132 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1133 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1134 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1135 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1136
1137 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1138 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1139
1140 @item --args
1141 @cindex @code{--args}
1142 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1143 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1144 This option stops option processing.
1145
1146 @item -baud @var{bps}
1147 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1148 @cindex @code{--baud}
1149 @cindex @code{-b}
1150 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1151 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1152
1153 @item -l @var{timeout}
1154 @cindex @code{-l}
1155 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1156 for remote debugging.
1157
1158 @item -tty @var{device}
1159 @itemx -t @var{device}
1160 @cindex @code{--tty}
1161 @cindex @code{-t}
1162 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1163 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1164
1165 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1166 @item -tui
1167 @cindex @code{--tui}
1168 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1169 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1170 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1171 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1172 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1173 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1174 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1175
1176 @c @item -xdb
1177 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1178 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1179 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1180 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1181 @c systems.
1182
1183 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1184 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1185 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1186 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1187 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1188 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1189
1190 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1191 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1192 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1193 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1194 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1195 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1196
1197 @item -write
1198 @cindex @code{--write}
1199 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1200 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1201 (@pxref{Patching}).
1202
1203 @item -statistics
1204 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1205 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1206 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1207
1208 @item -version
1209 @cindex @code{--version}
1210 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1211 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1212
1213 @end table
1214
1215 @node Startup
1216 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1217 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1218
1219 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1220
1221 @enumerate
1222 @item
1223 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1224 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1225
1226 @item
1227 @cindex init file
1228 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1229 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1230 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1231 that file.
1232
1233 @item
1234 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1235 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1236 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1237 that file.
1238
1239 @item
1240 Processes command line options and operands.
1241
1242 @item
1243 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1244 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1245 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1246 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1247 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1248 @value{GDBN}.
1249
1250 @item
1251 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1252 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1253
1254 @item
1255 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1256 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1257 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1258 @end enumerate
1259
1260 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1261 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1262 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1263 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1264 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1265 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1266
1267 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1268 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1269
1270 @cindex init file name
1271 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1272 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1273 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1274 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1275 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1276 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1277 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1278 the file to the standard name.
1279
1280
1281 @node Quitting GDB
1282 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1283 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1284 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1285
1286 @table @code
1287 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1288 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1289 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1290 @itemx q
1291 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1292 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1293 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1294 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1295 error code.
1296 @end table
1297
1298 @cindex interrupt
1299 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1300 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1301 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1302 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1303 until a time when it is safe.
1304
1305 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1306 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1307 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1308
1309 @node Shell Commands
1310 @section Shell Commands
1311
1312 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1313 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1314 just use the @code{shell} command.
1315
1316 @table @code
1317 @kindex shell
1318 @cindex shell escape
1319 @item shell @var{command string}
1320 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1321 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1322 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1323 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1324 @end table
1325
1326 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1327 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1328 @value{GDBN}:
1329
1330 @table @code
1331 @kindex make
1332 @cindex calling make
1333 @item make @var{make-args}
1334 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1335 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1336 @end table
1337
1338 @node Logging Output
1339 @section Logging Output
1340 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1341 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1342
1343 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1344 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1345
1346 @table @code
1347 @kindex set logging
1348 @item set logging on
1349 Enable logging.
1350 @item set logging off
1351 Disable logging.
1352 @cindex logging file name
1353 @item set logging file @var{file}
1354 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1355 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1356 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1357 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1358 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1359 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1360 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1361 @kindex show logging
1362 @item show logging
1363 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1364 @end table
1365
1366 @node Commands
1367 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1368
1369 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1370 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1371 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1372 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1373 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1374
1375 @menu
1376 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1377 * Completion:: Command completion
1378 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1379 @end menu
1380
1381 @node Command Syntax
1382 @section Command Syntax
1383
1384 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1385 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1386 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1387 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1388 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1389 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1390
1391 @cindex abbreviation
1392 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1393 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1394 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1395 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1396 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1397 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1398 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1399
1400 @cindex repeating commands
1401 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1402 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1403 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1404 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1405 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1406 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1407 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1408
1409 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1410 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1411 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1412
1413 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1414 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1415 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1416 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1417 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1418
1419 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1420 @cindex comment
1421 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1422 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1423 Files,,Command Files}).
1424
1425 @cindex repeating command sequences
1426 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1427 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1428 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1429 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1430 for editing.
1431
1432 @node Completion
1433 @section Command Completion
1434
1435 @cindex completion
1436 @cindex word completion
1437 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1438 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1439 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1440 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1441
1442 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1443 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1444 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1445 enter it). For example, if you type
1446
1447 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1448 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1449 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1450 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1451 @smallexample
1452 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1453 @end smallexample
1454
1455 @noindent
1456 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1457 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1458
1459 @smallexample
1460 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1461 @end smallexample
1462
1463 @noindent
1464 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1465 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1466 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1467 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1468 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1469 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1470
1471 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1472 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1473 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1474 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1475 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1476 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1477 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1478 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1479 example:
1480
1481 @smallexample
1482 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1483 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1484 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1485 make_abs_section make_function_type
1486 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1487 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1488 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1489 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1490 @end smallexample
1491
1492 @noindent
1493 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1494 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1495 command.
1496
1497 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1498 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1499 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1500 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1501 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1502
1503 @cindex quotes in commands
1504 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1505 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1506 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1507 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1508 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1509 @value{GDBN} commands.
1510
1511 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1512 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1513 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1514 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1515 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1516 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1517 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1518 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1519 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1520 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1521 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1522
1523 @smallexample
1524 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1525 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1526 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1527 @end smallexample
1528
1529 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1530 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1531 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1532 place:
1533
1534 @smallexample
1535 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1536 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1537 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1538 @end smallexample
1539
1540 @noindent
1541 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1542 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1543 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1544
1545 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1546 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1547 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1548 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1549
1550 @cindex completion of structure field names
1551 @cindex structure field name completion
1552 @cindex completion of union field names
1553 @cindex union field name completion
1554 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1555 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1556 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1557 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1558 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1559 left-hand-side:
1560
1561 @smallexample
1562 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1563 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1564 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1565 @end smallexample
1566
1567 @noindent
1568 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1569 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1570 follows:
1571
1572 @smallexample
1573 struct ui_file
1574 @{
1575 int *magic;
1576 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1577 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1578 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1579 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1580 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1581 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1582 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1583 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1584 void *to_data;
1585 @}
1586 @end smallexample
1587
1588
1589 @node Help
1590 @section Getting Help
1591 @cindex online documentation
1592 @kindex help
1593
1594 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1595 using the command @code{help}.
1596
1597 @table @code
1598 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1599 @item help
1600 @itemx h
1601 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1602 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1603
1604 @smallexample
1605 (@value{GDBP}) help
1606 List of classes of commands:
1607
1608 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1609 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1610 data -- Examining data
1611 files -- Specifying and examining files
1612 internals -- Maintenance commands
1613 obscure -- Obscure features
1614 running -- Running the program
1615 stack -- Examining the stack
1616 status -- Status inquiries
1617 support -- Support facilities
1618 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1619 stopping the program
1620 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1621
1622 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1623 commands in that class.
1624 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1625 documentation.
1626 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1627 (@value{GDBP})
1628 @end smallexample
1629 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1630
1631 @item help @var{class}
1632 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1633 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1634 help display for the class @code{status}:
1635
1636 @smallexample
1637 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1638 Status inquiries.
1639
1640 List of commands:
1641
1642 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1643 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1644 info -- Generic command for showing things
1645 about the program being debugged
1646 show -- Generic command for showing things
1647 about the debugger
1648
1649 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1650 documentation.
1651 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1652 (@value{GDBP})
1653 @end smallexample
1654
1655 @item help @var{command}
1656 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1657 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1658
1659 @kindex apropos
1660 @item apropos @var{args}
1661 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1662 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1663 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1664
1665 @smallexample
1666 apropos reload
1667 @end smallexample
1668
1669 @noindent
1670 results in:
1671
1672 @smallexample
1673 @c @group
1674 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1675 multiple times in one run
1676 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1677 multiple times in one run
1678 @c @end group
1679 @end smallexample
1680
1681 @kindex complete
1682 @item complete @var{args}
1683 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1684 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1685 command you want completed. For example:
1686
1687 @smallexample
1688 complete i
1689 @end smallexample
1690
1691 @noindent results in:
1692
1693 @smallexample
1694 @group
1695 if
1696 ignore
1697 info
1698 inspect
1699 @end group
1700 @end smallexample
1701
1702 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1703 @end table
1704
1705 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1706 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1707 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1708 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1709 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1710 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1711
1712 @c @group
1713 @table @code
1714 @kindex info
1715 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1716 @item info
1717 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1718 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1719 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1720 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1721 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1722 @w{@code{help info}}.
1723
1724 @kindex set
1725 @item set
1726 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1727 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1728 @code{set prompt $}.
1729
1730 @kindex show
1731 @item show
1732 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1733 @value{GDBN} itself.
1734 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1735 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1736 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1737 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1738
1739 @kindex info set
1740 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1741 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1742 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1743 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1744 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1745 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1746 @end table
1747 @c @end group
1748
1749 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1750 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1751
1752 @table @code
1753 @kindex show version
1754 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1755 @item show version
1756 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1757 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1758 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1759 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1760 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1761 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1762 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1763 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1764 @value{GDBN}.
1765
1766 @kindex show copying
1767 @kindex info copying
1768 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1769 @item show copying
1770 @itemx info copying
1771 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1772
1773 @kindex show warranty
1774 @kindex info warranty
1775 @item show warranty
1776 @itemx info warranty
1777 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1778 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1779
1780 @end table
1781
1782 @node Running
1783 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1784
1785 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1786 debugging information when you compile it.
1787
1788 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1789 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1790 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1791 kill a child process.
1792
1793 @menu
1794 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1795 * Starting:: Starting your program
1796 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1797 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1798
1799 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1800 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1801 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1802 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1803
1804 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1805 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1806 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1807 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1808 @end menu
1809
1810 @node Compilation
1811 @section Compiling for Debugging
1812
1813 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1814 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1815 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1816 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1817 and addresses in the executable code.
1818
1819 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1820 the compiler.
1821
1822 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1823 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1824 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1825 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1826 executables containing debugging information.
1827
1828 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1829 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1830 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1831 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1832 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1833
1834 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1835 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1836 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1837
1838 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1839 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1840 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1841 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1842 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1843 provides macro information if you specify the options
1844 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1845 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1846 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1847 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1848 @option{-g} alone.
1849
1850 @need 2000
1851 @node Starting
1852 @section Starting your Program
1853 @cindex starting
1854 @cindex running
1855
1856 @table @code
1857 @kindex run
1858 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1859 @item run
1860 @itemx r
1861 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1862 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1863 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1864 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1865 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1866
1867 @end table
1868
1869 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1870 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1871 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1872 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1873 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1874 message like this one:
1875
1876 @smallexample
1877 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1878 Try "help target" or "continue".
1879 @end smallexample
1880
1881 @noindent
1882 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1883 first (@pxref{load}).
1884
1885 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1886 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1887 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1888 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1889 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1890 divided into four categories:
1891
1892 @table @asis
1893 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1894 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1895 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1896 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1897 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1898 the arguments.
1899 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1900 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1901 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1902
1903 @item The @emph{environment.}
1904 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1905 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1906 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1907 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1908
1909 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1910 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1911 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1912 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1913
1914 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1915 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1916 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1917 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1918 set a different device for your program.
1919 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1920
1921 @cindex pipes
1922 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1923 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1924 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1925 wrong program.
1926 @end table
1927
1928 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1929 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1930 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1931 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1932 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1933
1934 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1935 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1936 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1937 your current breakpoints.
1938
1939 @table @code
1940 @kindex start
1941 @item start
1942 @cindex run to main procedure
1943 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1944 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1945 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1946 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1947 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1948 procedure, depending on the language used.
1949
1950 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1951 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1952 the @samp{run} command.
1953
1954 @cindex elaboration phase
1955 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1956 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1957 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1958 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1959 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1960 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1961 will remain to halt execution.
1962
1963 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1964 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1965 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1966 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1967 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1968
1969 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1970 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1971 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1972 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1973 elaboration code before running your program.
1974
1975 @kindex set exec-wrapper
1976 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1977 @itemx show exec-wrapper
1978 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
1979 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1980 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1981 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1982 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1983 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1984 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1985 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1986
1987 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1988 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1989 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1990 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1991
1992 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1993 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1994 environment:
1995
1996 @smallexample
1997 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1998 (@value{GDBP}) run
1999 @end smallexample
2000
2001 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2002 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2003
2004 @kindex set disable-randomization
2005 @item set disable-randomization
2006 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2007 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2008 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2009 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2010 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2011
2012 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2013 behavior using
2014
2015 @smallexample
2016 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2017 @end smallexample
2018
2019 @item set disable-randomization off
2020 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2021 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2022 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2023 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2024 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2025 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2026
2027 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2028 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2029 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2030 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2031 a code at its expected addresses.
2032
2033 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2034 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2035 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2036 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2037 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2038 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2039 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2040 a randomly chosen address.
2041
2042 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2043 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2044 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2045 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2046 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2047
2048 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2049 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2050
2051 @item show disable-randomization
2052 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2053 the virtual address space of the started program.
2054
2055 @end table
2056
2057 @node Arguments
2058 @section Your Program's Arguments
2059
2060 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2061 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2062 @code{run} command.
2063 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2064 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2065 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2066 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2067 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2068
2069 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2070 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2071 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2072 the program, not by the shell.
2073
2074 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2075 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2076
2077 @table @code
2078 @kindex set args
2079 @item set args
2080 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2081 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2082 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2083 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2084 it again without arguments.
2085
2086 @kindex show args
2087 @item show args
2088 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2089 @end table
2090
2091 @node Environment
2092 @section Your Program's Environment
2093
2094 @cindex environment (of your program)
2095 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2096 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2097 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2098 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2099 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2100 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2101 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2102
2103 @table @code
2104 @kindex path
2105 @item path @var{directory}
2106 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2107 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2108 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2109 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2110 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2111 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2112 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2113
2114 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2115 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2116 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2117 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2118 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2119 @var{directory} to the search path.
2120 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2121 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2122
2123 @kindex show paths
2124 @item show paths
2125 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2126 environment variable).
2127
2128 @kindex show environment
2129 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2130 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2131 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2132 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2133 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2134
2135 @kindex set environment
2136 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2137 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2138 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2139 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2140 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2141 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2142 null value.
2143 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2144 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2145
2146 For example, this command:
2147
2148 @smallexample
2149 set env USER = foo
2150 @end smallexample
2151
2152 @noindent
2153 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2154 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2155 are not actually required.)
2156
2157 @kindex unset environment
2158 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2159 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2160 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2161 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2162 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2163 @end table
2164
2165 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2166 the shell indicated
2167 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2168 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2169 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2170 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2171 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2172 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2173 @file{.profile}.
2174
2175 @node Working Directory
2176 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2177
2178 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2179 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2180 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2181 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2182 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2183 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2184
2185 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2186 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2187 Specify Files}.
2188
2189 @table @code
2190 @kindex cd
2191 @cindex change working directory
2192 @item cd @var{directory}
2193 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2194
2195 @kindex pwd
2196 @item pwd
2197 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2198 @end table
2199
2200 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2201 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2202 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2203 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2204 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2205 current working directory of the debuggee.
2206
2207 @node Input/Output
2208 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2209
2210 @cindex redirection
2211 @cindex i/o
2212 @cindex terminal
2213 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2214 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2215 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2216 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2217 running your program.
2218
2219 @table @code
2220 @kindex info terminal
2221 @item info terminal
2222 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2223 program is using.
2224 @end table
2225
2226 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2227 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2228
2229 @smallexample
2230 run > outfile
2231 @end smallexample
2232
2233 @noindent
2234 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2235
2236 @kindex tty
2237 @cindex controlling terminal
2238 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2239 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2240 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2241 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2242 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2243
2244 @smallexample
2245 tty /dev/ttyb
2246 @end smallexample
2247
2248 @noindent
2249 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2250 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2251 that as their controlling terminal.
2252
2253 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2254 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2255 terminal.
2256
2257 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2258 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2259 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2260 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2261
2262 @cindex inferior tty
2263 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2264 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2265 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2266 program.
2267
2268 @table @code
2269 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2270 @kindex set inferior-tty
2271 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2272
2273 @item show inferior-tty
2274 @kindex show inferior-tty
2275 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2276 @end table
2277
2278 @node Attach
2279 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2280 @kindex attach
2281 @cindex attach
2282
2283 @table @code
2284 @item attach @var{process-id}
2285 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2286 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2287 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2288 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2289 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2290
2291 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2292 executing the command.
2293 @end table
2294
2295 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2296 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2297 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2298 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2299
2300 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2301 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2302 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2303 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2304 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2305 Specify Files}.
2306
2307 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2308 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2309 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2310 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2311 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2312 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2313 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2314
2315 @table @code
2316 @kindex detach
2317 @item detach
2318 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2319 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2320 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2321 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2322 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2323 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2324 executing the command.
2325 @end table
2326
2327 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2328 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2329 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2330 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2331 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2332 Messages}).
2333
2334 @node Kill Process
2335 @section Killing the Child Process
2336
2337 @table @code
2338 @kindex kill
2339 @item kill
2340 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2341 @end table
2342
2343 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2344 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2345 is running.
2346
2347 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2348 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2349 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2350 outside the debugger.
2351
2352 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2353 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2354 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2355 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2356 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2357 breakpoint settings).
2358
2359 @node Inferiors and Programs
2360 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2361
2362 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2363 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2364 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2365 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2366 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2367 from multiple executables.
2368
2369 @cindex inferior
2370 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2371 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2372 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2373 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2374 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2375 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2376 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2377 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2378 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2379 threads running in it.
2380
2381 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2382 inferiors}}:
2383
2384 @table @code
2385 @kindex info inferiors
2386 @item info inferiors
2387 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2388
2389 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2390
2391 @enumerate
2392 @item
2393 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2394
2395 @item
2396 the target system's inferior identifier
2397
2398 @item
2399 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2400
2401 @end enumerate
2402
2403 @noindent
2404 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2405 indicates the current inferior.
2406
2407 For example,
2408 @end table
2409 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2410
2411 @smallexample
2412 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2413 Num Description Executable
2414 2 process 2307 hello
2415 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2416 @end smallexample
2417
2418 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2419
2420 @table @code
2421 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2422 @item inferior @var{infno}
2423 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2424 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2425 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2426 @end table
2427
2428
2429 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2430 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2431 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2432 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2433 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2434 @w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2435
2436 @table @code
2437 @kindex add-inferior
2438 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2439 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2440 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2441 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2442 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2443 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2444
2445 @kindex clone-inferior
2446 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2447 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2448 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2449 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2450 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2451
2452 @smallexample
2453 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2454 Num Description Executable
2455 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2456 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2457 Added inferior 2.
2458 1 inferiors added.
2459 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2460 Num Description Executable
2461 2 <null> helloworld
2462 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2463 @end smallexample
2464
2465 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2466
2467 @kindex remove-inferior
2468 @item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2469 Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2470 inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2471 @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2472
2473 @end table
2474
2475 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2476 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2477 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2478 using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2479
2480 @table @code
2481 @kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2482 @item detach inferior @var{infno}
2483 Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2484 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2485
2486 @kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2487 @item kill inferior @var{infno}
2488 Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2489 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2490 @end table
2491
2492 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2493 @code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2494 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2495 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2496
2497
2498 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2499 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2500
2501 @table @code
2502 @kindex set print inferior-events
2503 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2504 @item set print inferior-events
2505 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2506 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2507 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2508 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2509 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2510 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2511
2512 @kindex show print inferior-events
2513 @item show print inferior-events
2514 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2515 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2516 @end table
2517
2518 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2519 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2520 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2521
2522
2523 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2524 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2525 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2526 info program-spaces}} command.
2527
2528 @table @code
2529 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2530 @item maint info program-spaces
2531 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2532 @value{GDBN}.
2533
2534 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2535
2536 @enumerate
2537 @item
2538 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2539
2540 @item
2541 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2542 the @code{file} command.
2543
2544 @end enumerate
2545
2546 @noindent
2547 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2548 indicates the current program space.
2549
2550 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2551 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2552 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2553
2554 @smallexample
2555 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2556 Id Executable
2557 2 goodbye
2558 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2559 * 1 hello
2560 @end smallexample
2561
2562 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2563 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2564 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2565 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2566 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2567
2568 @smallexample
2569 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2570 Id Executable
2571 * 1 vfork-test
2572 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2573 @end smallexample
2574
2575 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2576 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2577 @end table
2578
2579 @node Threads
2580 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2581
2582 @cindex threads of execution
2583 @cindex multiple threads
2584 @cindex switching threads
2585 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2586 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2587 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2588 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2589 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2590 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2591 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2592
2593 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2594 programs:
2595
2596 @itemize @bullet
2597 @item automatic notification of new threads
2598 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2599 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2600 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2601 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2602 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2603 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2604 messages on thread start and exit.
2605 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2606 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2607 isn't compatible with the program.
2608 @end itemize
2609
2610 @quotation
2611 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2612 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2613 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2614 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2615 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2616 like this:
2617
2618 @smallexample
2619 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2620 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2621 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2622 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2623 @end smallexample
2624 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2625 @c doesn't support threads"?
2626 @end quotation
2627
2628 @cindex focus of debugging
2629 @cindex current thread
2630 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2631 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2632 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2633 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2634 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2635
2636 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2637 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2638 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2639 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2640 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2641 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2642 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2643 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2644 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2645 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2646
2647 @smallexample
2648 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2649 @end smallexample
2650
2651 @noindent
2652 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2653 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2654 further qualifier.
2655
2656 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2657 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2658 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2659 @c program?
2660 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2661 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2662 @c threads ab initio?
2663
2664 @cindex thread number
2665 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2666 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2667 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2668
2669 @table @code
2670 @kindex info threads
2671 @item info threads
2672 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2673 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2674
2675 @enumerate
2676 @item
2677 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2678
2679 @item
2680 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2681
2682 @item
2683 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2684 @end enumerate
2685
2686 @noindent
2687 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2688 indicates the current thread.
2689
2690 For example,
2691 @end table
2692 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2693
2694 @smallexample
2695 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2696 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2697 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2698 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2699 at threadtest.c:68
2700 @end smallexample
2701
2702 On HP-UX systems:
2703
2704 @cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2705 @cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2706 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2707 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2708 thread in your program.
2709
2710 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2711 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2712 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2713 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2714 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2715 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2716 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2717 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2718 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2719 HP-UX, you see
2720
2721 @smallexample
2722 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2723 @end smallexample
2724
2725 @noindent
2726 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2727
2728 @table @code
2729 @kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2730 @item info threads
2731 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2732 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2733
2734 @enumerate
2735 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2736
2737 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2738
2739 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2740 @end enumerate
2741
2742 @noindent
2743 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2744 indicates the current thread.
2745
2746 For example,
2747 @end table
2748 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2749
2750 @smallexample
2751 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2752 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2753 at quicksort.c:137
2754 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2755 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2756 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2757 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2758 @end smallexample
2759
2760 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2761 Solaris-specific command:
2762
2763 @table @code
2764 @item maint info sol-threads
2765 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2766 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2767 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2768 @end table
2769
2770 @table @code
2771 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2772 @item thread @var{threadno}
2773 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2774 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2775 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2776 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2777 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2778
2779 @smallexample
2780 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2781 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2782 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2783 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2784 @end smallexample
2785
2786 @noindent
2787 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2788 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2789 threads.
2790
2791 @kindex thread apply
2792 @cindex apply command to several threads
2793 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2794 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2795 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2796 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2797 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2798 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2799 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2800 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2801
2802 @kindex set print thread-events
2803 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2804 @item set print thread-events
2805 @itemx set print thread-events on
2806 @itemx set print thread-events off
2807 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2808 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2809 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2810 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2811 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2812
2813 @kindex show print thread-events
2814 @item show print thread-events
2815 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2816 have started and exited.
2817 @end table
2818
2819 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2820 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2821 programs with multiple threads.
2822
2823 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2824 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2825
2826 @table @code
2827 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2828 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2829 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2830 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2831 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2832 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2833 an empty list.
2834
2835 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2836 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2837 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2838 to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2839 with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2840 from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2841
2842 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2843 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2844 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2845 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2846 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2847 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2848 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2849
2850 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2851 only on some platforms.
2852
2853 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2854 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2855 Display current libthread_db search path.
2856 @end table
2857
2858 @node Forks
2859 @section Debugging Forks
2860
2861 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2862 @cindex multiple processes
2863 @cindex processes, multiple
2864 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2865 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2866 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2867 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2868 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2869 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2870 will cause it to terminate.
2871
2872 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2873 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2874 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2875 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2876 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2877 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2878 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2879 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2880 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2881 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2882
2883 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2884 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2885 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2886 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2887
2888 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2889 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2890
2891 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2892 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2893
2894 @table @code
2895 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2896 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2897 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2898 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2899 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2900
2901 @table @code
2902 @item parent
2903 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2904 unimpeded. This is the default.
2905
2906 @item child
2907 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2908 unimpeded.
2909
2910 @end table
2911
2912 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2913 @item show follow-fork-mode
2914 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2915 @end table
2916
2917 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2918 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2919 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2920
2921 @table @code
2922 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2923 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2924 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2925 retain debugger control over them both.
2926
2927 @table @code
2928 @item on
2929 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2930 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2931 independently. This is the default.
2932
2933 @item off
2934 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2935 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2936 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2937 is held suspended.
2938
2939 @end table
2940
2941 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2942 @item show detach-on-fork
2943 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2944 @end table
2945
2946 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2947 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2948 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2949 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2950 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2951 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2952
2953 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2954 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2955 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2956 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2957 and Programs}.
2958
2959 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2960 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2961 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2962 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2963 the child process's @code{main}.
2964
2965 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2966 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2967
2968 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2969 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2970 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2971 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2972 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2973 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2974 command.
2975
2976 @table @code
2977 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
2978 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2979
2980 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
2981 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
2982
2983 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
2984
2985 @table @code
2986 @item new
2987 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
2988 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
2989 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
2990 original inferior.
2991
2992 For example:
2993
2994 @smallexample
2995 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2996 (gdb) info inferior
2997 Id Description Executable
2998 * 1 <null> prog1
2999 (@value{GDBP}) run
3000 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3001 Program exited normally.
3002 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3003 Id Description Executable
3004 * 2 <null> prog2
3005 1 <null> prog1
3006 @end smallexample
3007
3008 @item same
3009 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3010 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3011 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3012 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3013 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3014
3015 For example:
3016
3017 @smallexample
3018 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3019 Id Description Executable
3020 * 1 <null> prog1
3021 (@value{GDBP}) run
3022 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3023 Program exited normally.
3024 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3025 Id Description Executable
3026 * 1 <null> prog2
3027 @end smallexample
3028
3029 @end table
3030 @end table
3031
3032 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3033 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3034 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3035
3036 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3037 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3038
3039 @cindex checkpoint
3040 @cindex restart
3041 @cindex bookmark
3042 @cindex snapshot of a process
3043 @cindex rewind program state
3044
3045 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3046 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3047 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3048 later.
3049
3050 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3051 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3052 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3053 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3054 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3055
3056 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3057 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3058 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3059 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3060 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3061 start again from there.
3062
3063 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3064 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3065
3066 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3067
3068 @table @code
3069 @kindex checkpoint
3070 @item checkpoint
3071 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3072 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3073 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3074
3075 @kindex info checkpoints
3076 @item info checkpoints
3077 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3078 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3079 listed:
3080
3081 @table @code
3082 @item Checkpoint ID
3083 @item Process ID
3084 @item Code Address
3085 @item Source line, or label
3086 @end table
3087
3088 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3089 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3090 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3091 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3092 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3093 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3094 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3095
3096 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3097 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3098 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3099 the debugger.
3100
3101 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3102 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3103 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3104
3105 @end table
3106
3107 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3108 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3109 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3110 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3111 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3112 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3113 previously read data can be read again.
3114
3115 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3116 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3117 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3118 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3119 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3120 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3121
3122 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3123 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3124 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3125 different execution path this time.
3126
3127 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3128 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3129 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3130 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3131 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3132 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3133 potentially pose a problem.
3134
3135 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3136
3137 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3138 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3139 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3140 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3141 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3142 next.
3143
3144 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3145 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3146 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3147 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3148 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3149
3150 @node Stopping
3151 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3152
3153 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3154 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3155 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3156
3157 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3158 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3159 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3160 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3161 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3162 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3163 explicitly request this information at any time.
3164
3165 @table @code
3166 @kindex info program
3167 @item info program
3168 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3169 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3170 @end table
3171
3172 @menu
3173 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3174 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3175 * Signals:: Signals
3176 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3177 @end menu
3178
3179 @node Breakpoints
3180 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3181
3182 @cindex breakpoints
3183 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3184 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3185 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3186 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3187 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3188 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3189 program.
3190
3191 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3192 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3193 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3194 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3195 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3196 call).
3197
3198 @cindex watchpoints
3199 @cindex data breakpoints
3200 @cindex memory tracing
3201 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3202 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3203 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3204 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3205 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3206 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3207 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3208 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3209 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3210 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3211 same commands.
3212
3213 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3214 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3215 Automatic Display}.
3216
3217 @cindex catchpoints
3218 @cindex breakpoint on events
3219 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3220 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3221 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3222 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3223 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3224 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3225 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3226
3227 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3228 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3229 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3230 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3231 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3232 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3233 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3234 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3235 enable it again.
3236
3237 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3238 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3239 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3240 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3241 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3242 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3243 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3244
3245 @menu
3246 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3247 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3248 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3249 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3250 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3251 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3252 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3253 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3254 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3255 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3256 @end menu
3257
3258 @node Set Breaks
3259 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3260
3261 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3262 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3263 @c
3264 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3265
3266 @kindex break
3267 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3268 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3269 @cindex latest breakpoint
3270 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3271 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3272 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3273 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3274 convenience variables.
3275
3276 @table @code
3277 @item break @var{location}
3278 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3279 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3280 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3281 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3282 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3283
3284 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3285 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3286 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3287 that situation.
3288
3289 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3290 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3291 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3292
3293 @item break
3294 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3295 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3296 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3297 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3298 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3299 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3300 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3301 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3302 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3303 inside loops.
3304
3305 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3306 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3307 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3308 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3309 existed when your program stopped.
3310
3311 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3312 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3313 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3314 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3315 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3316 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3317 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3318
3319 @kindex tbreak
3320 @item tbreak @var{args}
3321 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3322 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3323 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3324 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3325
3326 @kindex hbreak
3327 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3328 @item hbreak @var{args}
3329 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3330 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3331 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3332 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3333 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3334 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3335 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3336 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3337 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3338 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3339 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3340 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3341 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3342 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3343 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3344 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3345 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3346 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3347
3348 @kindex thbreak
3349 @item thbreak @var{args}
3350 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3351 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3352 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3353 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3354 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3355 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3356 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3357 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3358
3359 @kindex rbreak
3360 @cindex regular expression
3361 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3362 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3363 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3364 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3365 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3366 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3367 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3368 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3369 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3370
3371 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3372 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3373 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3374 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3375 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3376 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3377
3378 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3379 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3380 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3381 classes.
3382
3383 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3384 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3385 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3386
3387 @smallexample
3388 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3389 @end smallexample
3390
3391 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3392 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3393 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3394 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3395 every function in a given file:
3396
3397 @smallexample
3398 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3399 @end smallexample
3400
3401 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3402 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3403
3404 @kindex info breakpoints
3405 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3406 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3407 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3408 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3409 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3410 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3411 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3412
3413 @table @emph
3414 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3415 @item Type
3416 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3417 @item Disposition
3418 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3419 @item Enabled or Disabled
3420 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3421 that are not enabled.
3422 @item Address
3423 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3424 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3425 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3426 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3427 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3428 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3429 @item What
3430 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3431 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3432 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3433 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3434 @end table
3435
3436 @noindent
3437 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3438 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3439 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3440 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3441 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3442 valid location.
3443
3444 @noindent
3445 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3446 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3447 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3448 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3449 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3450
3451 @noindent
3452 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3453 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3454 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3455 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3456 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3457 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3458 @end table
3459
3460 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3461 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3462 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3463 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3464
3465 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3466 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3467 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3468 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3469
3470 @itemize @bullet
3471 @item
3472 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3473 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3474
3475 @item
3476 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3477 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3478
3479 @item
3480 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3481 several places where that function is inlined.
3482 @end itemize
3483
3484 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3485 the relevant locations@footnote{
3486 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3487 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3488 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3489 info with line numbers for them.}.
3490
3491 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3492 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3493 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3494 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3495 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3496 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3497 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3498
3499 For example:
3500
3501 @smallexample
3502 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3503 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3504 stop only if i==1
3505 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3506 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3507 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3508 @end smallexample
3509
3510 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3511 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3512 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3513 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3514 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3515 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3516 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3517 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3518 that belong to that breakpoint.
3519
3520 @cindex pending breakpoints
3521 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3522 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3523 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3524 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3525 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3526 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3527 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3528 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3529 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3530 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3531 is not yet resolved.
3532
3533 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3534 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3535 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3536 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3537 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3538 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3539
3540 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3541 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3542 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3543 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3544
3545 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3546 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3547 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3548
3549 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3550 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3551 address specification to an address:
3552
3553 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3554 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3555 @table @code
3556 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3557 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3558 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3559
3560 @item set breakpoint pending on
3561 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3562 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3563
3564 @item set breakpoint pending off
3565 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3566 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3567 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3568
3569 @item show breakpoint pending
3570 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3571 @end table
3572
3573 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3574 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3575 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3576
3577 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3578 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3579 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3580 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3581 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3582 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3583 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3584 breakpoints.
3585
3586 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3587
3588 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3589 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3590 @table @code
3591 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3592 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3593 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3594 breakpoint must be used.
3595
3596 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3597 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3598 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3599 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3600 @end table
3601
3602 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3603 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3604 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3605 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3606 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3607 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3608 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3609 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3610 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3611
3612 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3613 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3614 @table @code
3615 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3616 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3617 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3618 removed from the target when it stops.
3619
3620 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3621 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3622 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3623 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3624 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3625
3626 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3627 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3628 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3629 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3630 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3631 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3632 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3633 @end table
3634
3635 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3636 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3637 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3638 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3639 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3640 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3641 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3642 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3643
3644
3645 @node Set Watchpoints
3646 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3647
3648 @cindex setting watchpoints
3649 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3650 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3651 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3652 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3653 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3654
3655 @itemize @bullet
3656 @item
3657 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3658
3659 @item
3660 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3661 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3662 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3663
3664 @item
3665 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3666 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3667 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3668 @end itemize
3669
3670 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3671 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3672 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3673 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3674 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3675 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3676 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3677 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3678 the expression changes.
3679
3680 @cindex software watchpoints
3681 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3682 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3683 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3684 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3685 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3686 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3687 culprit.)
3688
3689 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3690 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3691 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3692
3693 @table @code
3694 @kindex watch
3695 @item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3696 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3697 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3698 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3699 to watch the value of a single variable:
3700
3701 @smallexample
3702 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3703 @end smallexample
3704
3705 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3706 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3707 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3708 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3709 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3710 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3711
3712 @kindex rwatch
3713 @item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3714 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3715 by the program.
3716
3717 @kindex awatch
3718 @item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3719 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3720 or written into by the program.
3721
3722 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3723 @item info watchpoints
3724 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3725 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3726 @end table
3727
3728 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3729 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3730 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3731 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3732 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3733 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3734
3735 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3736 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3737 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3738 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3739 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3740 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3741 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3742 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3743
3744 @table @code
3745 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3746 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3747 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3748
3749 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3750 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3751 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3752 @end table
3753
3754 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3755 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3756 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3757
3758 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3759
3760 @smallexample
3761 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3762 @end smallexample
3763
3764 @noindent
3765 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3766
3767 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3768 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3769 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3770 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3771 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3772 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3773 will print a message like this:
3774
3775 @smallexample
3776 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3777 @end smallexample
3778
3779 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3780 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3781 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3782 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3783 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3784 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3785 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3786 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3787
3788 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3789 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3790 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3791 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3792 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3793 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3794
3795 @smallexample
3796 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3797 @end smallexample
3798
3799 @noindent
3800 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3801
3802 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3803 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3804 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3805 expression with separately allocated resources.
3806
3807 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3808 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3809 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3810
3811 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3812 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3813 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3814 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3815 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3816 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3817 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3818 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3819 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3820
3821 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3822 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3823 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3824 watched expression from every thread.
3825
3826 @quotation
3827 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3828 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3829 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3830 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3831 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3832 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3833 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3834 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3835 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3836 @end quotation
3837
3838 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3839
3840 @node Set Catchpoints
3841 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3842 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3843 @cindex exception handlers
3844 @cindex event handling
3845
3846 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3847 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3848 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3849
3850 @table @code
3851 @kindex catch
3852 @item catch @var{event}
3853 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3854 @table @code
3855 @item throw
3856 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3857 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3858
3859 @item catch
3860 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3861
3862 @item exception
3863 @cindex Ada exception catching
3864 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3865 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3866 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3867 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3868 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3869
3870 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3871 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3872 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3873 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3874 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3875 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3876 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3877 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3878
3879 @item exception unhandled
3880 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3881
3882 @item assert
3883 A failed Ada assertion.
3884
3885 @item exec
3886 @cindex break on fork/exec
3887 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3888 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3889
3890 @item syscall
3891 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3892 @cindex break on a system call.
3893 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3894 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3895 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3896 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3897 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3898 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3899 will be caught.
3900
3901 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3902 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3903 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3904 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3905
3906 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3907 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3908 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3909 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3910
3911 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3912 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3913 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3914 available choices.
3915
3916 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3917 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3918 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3919 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3920 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3921 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3922 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3923 behind the OS upgrades).
3924
3925 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3926 arguments to it:
3927
3928 @smallexample
3929 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3930 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3931 (@value{GDBP}) r
3932 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3933
3934 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3935 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3936 (@value{GDBP}) c
3937 Continuing.
3938
3939 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3940 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3941 (@value{GDBP})
3942 @end smallexample
3943
3944 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3945
3946 @smallexample
3947 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3948 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3949 (@value{GDBP}) r
3950 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3951
3952 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3953 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3954 (@value{GDBP}) c
3955 Continuing.
3956
3957 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3958 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3959 (@value{GDBP})
3960 @end smallexample
3961
3962 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3963 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3964 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
3965
3966 @smallexample
3967 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3968 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
3969 (@value{GDBP}) r
3970 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3971
3972 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
3973 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3974 (@value{GDBP}) c
3975 Continuing.
3976
3977 Program exited normally.
3978 (@value{GDBP})
3979 @end smallexample
3980
3981 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
3982 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
3983 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
3984 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
3985
3986 @smallexample
3987 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
3988 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
3989 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
3990 (@value{GDBP})
3991 @end smallexample
3992
3993 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
3994 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
3995 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
3996 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
3997 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
3998 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
3999
4000 @smallexample
4001 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4002 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4003 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4004 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4005 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4006 (@value{GDBP})
4007 @end smallexample
4008
4009 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4010
4011 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4012 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4013
4014 @smallexample
4015 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4016 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4017 @end smallexample
4018
4019 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4020
4021 @item fork
4022 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4023 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4024
4025 @item vfork
4026 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4027 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4028
4029 @end table
4030
4031 @item tcatch @var{event}
4032 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4033 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4034
4035 @end table
4036
4037 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4038
4039 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4040 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4041
4042 @itemize @bullet
4043 @item
4044 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4045 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4046 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4047 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4048 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4049 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4050 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4051 disabled within interactive calls.
4052
4053 @item
4054 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4055
4056 @item
4057 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4058 @end itemize
4059
4060 @cindex raise exceptions
4061 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4062 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4063 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4064 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4065 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4066 out where the exception was raised.
4067
4068 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4069 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4070 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4071 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4072
4073 @smallexample
4074 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4075 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4076 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4077 @end smallexample
4078
4079 @noindent
4080 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4081 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4082 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4083
4084 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4085 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4086 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4087 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4088 raised.
4089
4090
4091 @node Delete Breaks
4092 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4093
4094 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4095 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4096 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4097 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4098 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4099 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4100
4101 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4102 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4103 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4104 their breakpoint numbers.
4105
4106 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4107 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4108 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4109
4110 @table @code
4111 @kindex clear
4112 @item clear
4113 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4114 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4115 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4116 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4117
4118 @item clear @var{location}
4119 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4120 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4121 most useful ones are listed below:
4122
4123 @table @code
4124 @item clear @var{function}
4125 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4126 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4127
4128 @item clear @var{linenum}
4129 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4130 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4131 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4132 @end table
4133
4134 @cindex delete breakpoints
4135 @kindex delete
4136 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4137 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4138 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4139 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4140 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4141 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4142 @end table
4143
4144 @node Disabling
4145 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4146
4147 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4148 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4149 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4150 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4151 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4152
4153 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4154 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4155 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4156 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4157 do not know which numbers to use.
4158
4159 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4160 affects all of its locations.
4161
4162 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4163 states of enablement:
4164
4165 @itemize @bullet
4166 @item
4167 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4168 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4169 @item
4170 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4171 @item
4172 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4173 disabled.
4174 @item
4175 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4176 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4177 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4178 @end itemize
4179
4180 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4181 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4182
4183 @table @code
4184 @kindex disable
4185 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4186 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4187 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4188 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4189 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4190 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4191 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4192
4193 @kindex enable
4194 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4195 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4196 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4197
4198 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4199 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4200 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4201
4202 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4203 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4204 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4205 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4206 @end table
4207
4208 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4209 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4210 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4211 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4212 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4213 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4214 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4215 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4216 Stepping}.)
4217
4218 @node Conditions
4219 @subsection Break Conditions
4220 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4221 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4222
4223 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4224 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4225 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4226 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4227 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4228 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4229 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4230 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4231
4232 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4233 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4234 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4235 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4236 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4237
4238 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4239 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4240 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4241 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4242 one.
4243
4244 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4245 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4246 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4247 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4248 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4249 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4250 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4251 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4252 conditions for the
4253 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4254 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4255
4256 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4257 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4258 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4259 with the @code{condition} command.
4260
4261 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4262 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4263 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4264 catchpoint.
4265
4266 @table @code
4267 @kindex condition
4268 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4269 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4270 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4271 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4272 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4273 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4274 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4275 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4276 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4277 prints an error message:
4278
4279 @smallexample
4280 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4281 @end smallexample
4282
4283 @noindent
4284 @value{GDBN} does
4285 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4286 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4287 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4288
4289 @item condition @var{bnum}
4290 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4291 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4292 @end table
4293
4294 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4295 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4296 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4297 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4298 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4299 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4300 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4301 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4302 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4303 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4304 your program reaches it.
4305
4306 @table @code
4307 @kindex ignore
4308 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4309 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4310 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4311 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4312 takes no action.
4313
4314 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4315 a count of zero.
4316
4317 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4318 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4319 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4320 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4321
4322 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4323 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4324 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4325
4326 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4327 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4328 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4329 Variables}.
4330 @end table
4331
4332 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4333
4334
4335 @node Break Commands
4336 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4337
4338 @cindex breakpoint commands
4339 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4340 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4341 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4342 enable other breakpoints.
4343
4344 @table @code
4345 @kindex commands
4346 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4347 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4348 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4349 @itemx end
4350 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4351 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4352 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4353
4354 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4355 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4356
4357 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4358 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4359 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4360 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4361 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4362 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4363 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4364 Expressions}).
4365 @end table
4366
4367 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4368 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4369
4370 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4371 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4372 that resumes execution.
4373
4374 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4375 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4376 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4377 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4378 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4379
4380 @kindex silent
4381 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4382 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4383 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4384 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4385 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4386 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4387
4388 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4389 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4390 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4391
4392 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4393 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4394
4395 @smallexample
4396 break foo if x>0
4397 commands
4398 silent
4399 printf "x is %d\n",x
4400 cont
4401 end
4402 @end smallexample
4403
4404 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4405 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4406 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4407 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4408 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4409 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4410 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4411
4412 @smallexample
4413 break 403
4414 commands
4415 silent
4416 set x = y + 4
4417 cont
4418 end
4419 @end smallexample
4420
4421 @node Save Breakpoints
4422 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4423
4424 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4425 breakpoints}} command.
4426
4427 @table @code
4428 @kindex save breakpoints
4429 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4430 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4431 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4432 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4433 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4434 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4435 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4436 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4437 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4438 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4439 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4440 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4441 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4442 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4443 that can no longer be recreated.
4444 @end table
4445
4446 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4447 @node Error in Breakpoints
4448 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4449
4450 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4451 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4452
4453 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4454 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4455 @smallexample
4456 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4457 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4458 @end smallexample
4459
4460 @noindent
4461 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4462 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4463 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4464
4465 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4466 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4467
4468 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4469 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4470 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4471
4472 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4473 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4474 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4475 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4476
4477 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4478 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4479 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4480 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4481 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4482 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4483 first in the bundle.
4484
4485 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4486 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4487 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4488 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4489 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4490 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4491 is hit.
4492
4493 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4494 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4495
4496 @smallexample
4497 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4498 @end smallexample
4499
4500 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4501 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4502 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4503 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4504 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4505 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4506 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4507 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4508
4509 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4510 adjusted breakpoints:
4511
4512 @smallexample
4513 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4514 to 0x00010410.
4515 @end smallexample
4516
4517 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4518 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4519 frequently than expected.
4520
4521 @node Continuing and Stepping
4522 @section Continuing and Stepping
4523
4524 @cindex stepping
4525 @cindex continuing
4526 @cindex resuming execution
4527 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4528 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4529 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4530 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4531 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4532 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4533 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4534 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4535
4536 @table @code
4537 @kindex continue
4538 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4539 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4540 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4541 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4542 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4543 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4544 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4545 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4546 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4547 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4548
4549 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4550 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4551 @code{continue} is ignored.
4552
4553 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4554 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4555 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4556 @code{continue}.
4557 @end table
4558
4559 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4560 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4561 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4562 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4563
4564 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4565 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4566 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4567 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4568 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4569 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4570
4571 @table @code
4572 @kindex step
4573 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4574 @item step
4575 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4576 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4577 abbreviated @code{s}.
4578
4579 @quotation
4580 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4581 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4582 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4583 @c distinction here.
4584 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4585 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4586 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4587 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4588 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4589 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4590 below.
4591 @end quotation
4592
4593 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4594 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4595 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4596 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4597 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4598 called within the line.
4599
4600 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4601 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4602 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4603 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4604 was any debugging information about the routine.
4605
4606 @item step @var{count}
4607 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4608 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4609 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4610
4611 @kindex next
4612 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4613 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4614 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4615 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4616 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4617 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4618 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4619 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4620
4621 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4622
4623
4624 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4625 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4626 @c
4627 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4628 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4629 @c function are executed without stopping.
4630
4631 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4632 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4633 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4634
4635 @kindex set step-mode
4636 @item set step-mode
4637 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4638 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4639 @itemx set step-mode on
4640 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4641 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4642 information rather than stepping over it.
4643
4644 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4645 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4646 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4647
4648 @item set step-mode off
4649 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4650 debug information. This is the default.
4651
4652 @item show step-mode
4653 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4654 source line debug information.
4655
4656 @kindex finish
4657 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4658 @item finish
4659 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4660 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4661 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4662
4663 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4664 ,Returning from a Function}).
4665
4666 @kindex until
4667 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4668 @cindex run until specified location
4669 @item until
4670 @itemx u
4671 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4672 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4673 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4674 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4675 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4676 than the address of the jump.
4677
4678 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4679 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4680 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4681 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4682 through the next iteration.
4683
4684 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4685 stack frame.
4686
4687 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4688 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4689 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4690 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4691 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4692
4693 @smallexample
4694 (@value{GDBP}) f
4695 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4696 206 expand_input();
4697 (@value{GDBP}) until
4698 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4699 @end smallexample
4700
4701 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4702 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4703 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4704 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4705 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4706 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4707 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4708
4709 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4710 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4711 argument.
4712
4713 @item until @var{location}
4714 @itemx u @var{location}
4715 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4716 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4717 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4718 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4719 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4720 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4721 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4722 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4723 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4724 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4725 invocations have returned.
4726
4727 @smallexample
4728 94 int factorial (int value)
4729 95 @{
4730 96 if (value > 1) @{
4731 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4732 98 @}
4733 99 return (value);
4734 100 @}
4735 @end smallexample
4736
4737
4738 @kindex advance @var{location}
4739 @itemx advance @var{location}
4740 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4741 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4742 @ref{Specify Location}.
4743 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4744 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4745 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4746 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4747
4748
4749 @kindex stepi
4750 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4751 @item stepi
4752 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4753 @itemx si
4754 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4755
4756 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4757 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4758 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4759 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4760
4761 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4762
4763 @need 750
4764 @kindex nexti
4765 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4766 @item nexti
4767 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4768 @itemx ni
4769 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4770 proceed until the function returns.
4771
4772 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4773 @end table
4774
4775 @node Signals
4776 @section Signals
4777 @cindex signals
4778
4779 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4780 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4781 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4782 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4783 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4784 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4785 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4786 requested an alarm).
4787
4788 @cindex fatal signals
4789 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4790 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4791 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4792 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4793 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4794 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4795
4796 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4797 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4798 signal.
4799
4800 @cindex handling signals
4801 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4802 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4803 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4804 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4805 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4806
4807 @table @code
4808 @kindex info signals
4809 @kindex info handle
4810 @item info signals
4811 @itemx info handle
4812 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4813 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4814 the defined types of signals.
4815
4816 @item info signals @var{sig}
4817 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4818
4819 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4820
4821 @kindex handle
4822 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4823 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4824 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4825 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4826 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4827 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4828 say what change to make.
4829 @end table
4830
4831 @c @group
4832 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4833 Their full names are:
4834
4835 @table @code
4836 @item nostop
4837 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4838 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4839
4840 @item stop
4841 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4842 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4843
4844 @item print
4845 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4846
4847 @item noprint
4848 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4849 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4850
4851 @item pass
4852 @itemx noignore
4853 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4854 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4855 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4856
4857 @item nopass
4858 @itemx ignore
4859 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4860 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4861 @end table
4862 @c @end group
4863
4864 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4865 program until you
4866 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4867 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4868 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4869 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4870 program sees that signal when you continue.
4871
4872 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4873 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4874 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4875 erroneous signals.
4876
4877 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4878 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4879 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4880 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4881 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4882 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4883 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4884 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4885 Program a Signal}.
4886
4887 @cindex extra signal information
4888 @anchor{extra signal information}
4889
4890 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4891 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4892 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4893 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4894 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4895 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4896 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4897 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4898 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4899 system header.
4900
4901 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4902 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4903
4904 @smallexample
4905 @group
4906 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4907 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4908 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4909 69 *(int *)p = 0;
4910 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4911 type = struct @{
4912 int si_signo;
4913 int si_errno;
4914 int si_code;
4915 union @{
4916 int _pad[28];
4917 struct @{...@} _kill;
4918 struct @{...@} _timer;
4919 struct @{...@} _rt;
4920 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4921 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4922 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4923 @} _sifields;
4924 @}
4925 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4926 type = struct @{
4927 void *si_addr;
4928 @}
4929 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4930 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4931 @end group
4932 @end smallexample
4933
4934 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4935
4936 @node Thread Stops
4937 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4938
4939 @cindex stopped threads
4940 @cindex threads, stopped
4941
4942 @cindex continuing threads
4943 @cindex threads, continuing
4944
4945 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4946 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4947 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4948 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4949 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4950 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4951 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4952 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4953 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4954
4955 @menu
4956 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4957 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4958 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4959 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4960 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4961 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
4962 @end menu
4963
4964 @node All-Stop Mode
4965 @subsection All-Stop Mode
4966
4967 @cindex all-stop mode
4968
4969 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4970 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4971 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4972 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4973 underfoot.
4974
4975 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4976 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4977 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4978
4979 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4980 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4981 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4982 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
4983 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
4984 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
4985 stops.
4986
4987 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
4988 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
4989 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
4990 first thread completes whatever you requested.
4991
4992 @cindex automatic thread selection
4993 @cindex switching threads automatically
4994 @cindex threads, automatic switching
4995 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
4996 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
4997 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
4998 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
4999 thread.
5000
5001 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5002 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5003
5004 @table @code
5005 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5006 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5007 @cindex lock scheduler
5008 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5009 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5010 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5011 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5012 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5013 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5014 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5015 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5016 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5017 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5018 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5019 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5020
5021 @item show scheduler-locking
5022 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5023 @end table
5024
5025 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5026 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5027 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5028 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5029 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5030 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5031 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5032 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5033 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5034 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5035 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5036 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5037 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5038 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5039
5040 @table @code
5041 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5042 @item set schedule-multiple
5043 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5044 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5045 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5046 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5047 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5048 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5049
5050 @item show schedule-multiple
5051 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5052 multiple processes.
5053 @end table
5054
5055 @node Non-Stop Mode
5056 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5057
5058 @cindex non-stop mode
5059
5060 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5061 @c with more details.
5062
5063 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5064 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5065 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5066 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5067 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5068 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5069
5070 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5071 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5072 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5073 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5074 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5075 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5076 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5077 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5078 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5079 independently and simultaneously.
5080
5081 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5082 or attach to your program:
5083
5084 @smallexample
5085 # Enable the async interface.
5086 set target-async 1
5087
5088 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5089 set pagination off
5090
5091 # Finally, turn it on!
5092 set non-stop on
5093 @end smallexample
5094
5095 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5096
5097 @table @code
5098 @kindex set non-stop
5099 @item set non-stop on
5100 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5101 @item set non-stop off
5102 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5103 @kindex show non-stop
5104 @item show non-stop
5105 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5106 @end table
5107
5108 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5109 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5110 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5111 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5112 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5113 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5114 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5115 default.
5116
5117 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5118 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5119 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5120
5121 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5122 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5123 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5124 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5125 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5126
5127 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5128 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5129 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5130 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5131 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5132
5133 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5134
5135 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5136 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5137 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5138 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5139 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5140 previously current thread.
5141
5142 @node Background Execution
5143 @subsection Background Execution
5144
5145 @cindex foreground execution
5146 @cindex background execution
5147 @cindex asynchronous execution
5148 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5149
5150 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5151 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5152 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5153 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5154 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5155 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5156
5157 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5158 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5159 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5160
5161 @table @code
5162 @kindex set target-async
5163 @item set target-async on
5164 Enable asynchronous mode.
5165 @item set target-async off
5166 Disable asynchronous mode.
5167 @kindex show target-async
5168 @item show target-async
5169 Show the current target-async setting.
5170 @end table
5171
5172 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5173 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5174
5175 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5176 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5177 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5178 are:
5179
5180 @table @code
5181 @kindex run&
5182 @item run
5183 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5184
5185 @item attach
5186 @kindex attach&
5187 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5188
5189 @item step
5190 @kindex step&
5191 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5192
5193 @item stepi
5194 @kindex stepi&
5195 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5196
5197 @item next
5198 @kindex next&
5199 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5200
5201 @item nexti
5202 @kindex nexti&
5203 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5204
5205 @item continue
5206 @kindex continue&
5207 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5208
5209 @item finish
5210 @kindex finish&
5211 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5212
5213 @item until
5214 @kindex until&
5215 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5216
5217 @end table
5218
5219 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5220 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5221 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5222 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5223 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5224 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5225
5226 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5227 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5228
5229 @table @code
5230 @kindex interrupt
5231 @item interrupt
5232 @itemx interrupt -a
5233
5234 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5235 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5236 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5237 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5238 @end table
5239
5240 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5241 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5242
5243 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5244 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5245 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5246
5247 @table @code
5248 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5249 @cindex thread breakpoints
5250 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5251 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5252 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5253 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5254 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5255 specify some source line.
5256
5257 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5258 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5259 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5260 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5261 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5262
5263 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5264 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5265 program.
5266
5267 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5268 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5269 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5270
5271 @smallexample
5272 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5273 @end smallexample
5274
5275 @end table
5276
5277 @node Interrupted System Calls
5278 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5279
5280 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5281 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5282 @cindex premature return from system calls
5283 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5284 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5285 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5286 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5287 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5288 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5289 stop execution.
5290
5291 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5292 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5293 style anyways.
5294
5295 For example, do not write code like this:
5296
5297 @smallexample
5298 sleep (10);
5299 @end smallexample
5300
5301 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5302 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5303
5304 Instead, write this:
5305
5306 @smallexample
5307 int unslept = 10;
5308 while (unslept > 0)
5309 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5310 @end smallexample
5311
5312 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5313 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5314 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5315 @value{GDBN}.
5316
5317 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5318 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5319 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5320 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5321
5322 @node Observer Mode
5323 @subsection Observer Mode
5324
5325 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5326 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5327 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5328 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5329 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5330
5331 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5332 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5333 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5334 mode.
5335
5336 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5337 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5338 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5339 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5340 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5341
5342 @table @code
5343
5344 @kindex observer
5345 @item set observer on
5346 @itemx set observer off
5347 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5348 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5349 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5350 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5351
5352 @item show observer
5353 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5354
5355 @kindex may-write-registers
5356 @item set may-write-registers on
5357 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5358 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5359 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5360 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5361
5362 @item show may-write-registers
5363 Show the current permission to write registers.
5364
5365 @kindex may-write-memory
5366 @item set may-write-memory on
5367 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5368 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5369 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5370 defaults to @code{on}.
5371
5372 @item show may-write-memory
5373 Show the current permission to write memory.
5374
5375 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5376 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5377 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5378 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5379 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5380 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5381
5382 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5383 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5384
5385 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5386 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5387 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5388 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5389 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5390 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5391 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5392
5393 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5394 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5395
5396 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5397 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5398 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5399 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5400 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5401 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5402 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5403
5404 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5405 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5406
5407 @kindex may-interrupt
5408 @item set may-interrupt on
5409 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5410 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5411 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5412 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5413 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5414
5415 @item show may-interrupt
5416 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5417
5418 @end table
5419
5420 @node Reverse Execution
5421 @chapter Running programs backward
5422 @cindex reverse execution
5423 @cindex running programs backward
5424
5425 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5426 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5427 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5428 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5429
5430 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5431 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5432 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5433 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5434 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5435 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5436
5437 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5438 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5439 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5440 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5441 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5442 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5443 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5444 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5445 prior values@footnote{
5446 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5447 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5448 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5449
5450 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5451 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5452 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5453 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5454 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5455 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5456 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5457 }.
5458
5459 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5460 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5461
5462 @table @code
5463 @kindex reverse-continue
5464 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5465 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5466 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5467 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5468 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5469 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5470 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5471
5472 @kindex reverse-step
5473 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5474 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5475 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5476 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5477
5478 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5479 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5480 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5481 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5482 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5483 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5484
5485 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5486 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5487
5488 @kindex reverse-stepi
5489 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5490 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5491 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5492 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5493 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5494 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5495 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5496
5497 @kindex reverse-next
5498 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5499 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5500 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5501 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5502 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5503 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5504 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5505 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5506 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5507 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5508
5509 @kindex reverse-nexti
5510 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5511 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5512 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5513 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5514 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5515 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5516 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5517 frame) is reached.
5518
5519 @kindex reverse-finish
5520 @item reverse-finish
5521 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5522 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5523 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5524 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5525
5526 @kindex set exec-direction
5527 @item set exec-direction
5528 Set the direction of target execution.
5529 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5530 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5531 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5532 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5533 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5534 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5535 @item set exec-direction forward
5536 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5537 This is the default.
5538 @end table
5539
5540
5541 @node Process Record and Replay
5542 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5543 @cindex process record and replay
5544 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5545
5546 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5547 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5548 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5549
5550 @cindex replay mode
5551 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5552 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5553 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5554 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5555 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5556 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5557 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5558 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5559 execution log.
5560
5561 @cindex record mode
5562 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5563 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5564 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5565 for future replay.
5566
5567 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5568 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5569 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5570 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5571 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5572 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5573
5574 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5575 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5576 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5577 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5578
5579 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5580 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5581
5582 @table @code
5583 @kindex target record
5584 @kindex record
5585 @kindex rec
5586 @item target record
5587 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5588 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5589 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5590 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5591 the @kbd{target record} command.
5592
5593 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5594
5595 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5596 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5597 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5598 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5599 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5600
5601 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5602 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5603 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5604 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5605 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5606 support these two modes.
5607
5608 @kindex record stop
5609 @kindex rec s
5610 @item record stop
5611 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5612 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5613 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5614
5615 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5616 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5617 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5618 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5619 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5620
5621 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5622 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5623 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5624 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5625 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5626
5627 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5628 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5629
5630 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5631 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5632 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5633
5634 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5635 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5636 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5637 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5638 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5639 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5640 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5641 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5642
5643 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5644 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5645 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5646
5647 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5648 @item show record insn-number-max
5649 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5650
5651 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5652 @item set record stop-at-limit
5653 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5654 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5655 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5656 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5657 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5658 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5659
5660 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5661 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5662
5663 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5664 @item show record stop-at-limit
5665 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5666
5667 @kindex info record
5668 @item info record
5669 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5670 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5671
5672 @itemize @bullet
5673 @item
5674 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5675 @item
5676 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5677 @item
5678 Highest recorded instruction number.
5679 @item
5680 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5681 @item
5682 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5683 @item
5684 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5685 @end itemize
5686
5687 @kindex record delete
5688 @kindex rec del
5689 @item record delete
5690 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5691 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5692 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5693 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5694 @end table
5695
5696
5697 @node Stack
5698 @chapter Examining the Stack
5699
5700 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5701 stopped and how it got there.
5702
5703 @cindex call stack
5704 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5705 is generated.
5706 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5707 the arguments of the call,
5708 and the local variables of the function being called.
5709 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5710 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5711 stack}.
5712
5713 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5714 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5715
5716 @cindex selected frame
5717 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5718 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5719 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5720 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5721 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5722 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5723
5724 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5725 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5726 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5727
5728 @menu
5729 * Frames:: Stack frames
5730 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5731 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5732 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5733
5734 @end menu
5735
5736 @node Frames
5737 @section Stack Frames
5738
5739 @cindex frame, definition
5740 @cindex stack frame
5741 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5742 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5743 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5744 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5745 which the function is executing.
5746
5747 @cindex initial frame
5748 @cindex outermost frame
5749 @cindex innermost frame
5750 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5751 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5752 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5753 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5754 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5755 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5756 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5757 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5758
5759 @cindex frame pointer
5760 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5761 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5762 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5763 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5764 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5765 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5766
5767 @cindex frame number
5768 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5769 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5770 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5771 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5772 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5773
5774 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5775 @c underflow problems.
5776 @cindex frameless execution
5777 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5778 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5779 @smallexample
5780 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5781 @end smallexample
5782 generates functions without a frame.)
5783 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5784 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5785 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5786 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5787 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5788 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5789 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5790
5791 @table @code
5792 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5793 @cindex current stack frame
5794 @item frame @var{args}
5795 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5796 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5797 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5798 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5799
5800 @kindex select-frame
5801 @cindex selecting frame silently
5802 @item select-frame
5803 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5804 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5805 @code{frame}.
5806 @end table
5807
5808 @node Backtrace
5809 @section Backtraces
5810
5811 @cindex traceback
5812 @cindex call stack traces
5813 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5814 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5815 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5816 stack.
5817
5818 @table @code
5819 @kindex backtrace
5820 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5821 @item backtrace
5822 @itemx bt
5823 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5824 frames in the stack.
5825
5826 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5827 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5828
5829 @item backtrace @var{n}
5830 @itemx bt @var{n}
5831 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5832
5833 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5834 @itemx bt -@var{n}
5835 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5836
5837 @item backtrace full
5838 @itemx bt full
5839 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5840 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5841 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5842 number of frames to print, as described above.
5843 @end table
5844
5845 @kindex where
5846 @kindex info stack
5847 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5848 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5849
5850 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5851 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5852 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5853 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5854 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5855 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5856 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5857 multi-threaded program.
5858
5859 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5860 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5861 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5862 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5863 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5864 line number.
5865
5866 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5867 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5868
5869 @smallexample
5870 @group
5871 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5872 at builtin.c:993
5873 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5874 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5875 at macro.c:71
5876 (More stack frames follow...)
5877 @end group
5878 @end smallexample
5879
5880 @noindent
5881 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5882 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5883 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5884
5885 @noindent
5886 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5887 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5888 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5889 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5890 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5891
5892 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5893 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5894 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5895 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5896 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5897 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5898 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5899 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5900 such a backtrace might look like:
5901
5902 @smallexample
5903 @group
5904 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5905 at builtin.c:993
5906 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5907 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5908 at macro.c:71
5909 (More stack frames follow...)
5910 @end group
5911 @end smallexample
5912
5913 @noindent
5914 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5915 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5916
5917 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5918 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5919 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5920
5921 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5922 @cindex program entry point
5923 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5924 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5925 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5926 @code{main}@footnote{
5927 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5928 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5929 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5930 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5931 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5932 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5933
5934 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5935 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5936
5937 @table @code
5938 @item set backtrace past-main
5939 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
5940 @kindex set backtrace
5941 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5942
5943 @item set backtrace past-main off
5944 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5945 default.
5946
5947 @item show backtrace past-main
5948 @kindex show backtrace
5949 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5950
5951 @item set backtrace past-entry
5952 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5953 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5954 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5955 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
5956
5957 @item set backtrace past-entry off
5958 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
5959 application. This is the default.
5960
5961 @item show backtrace past-entry
5962 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
5963
5964 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
5965 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
5966 @cindex backtrace limit
5967 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
5968 unlimited.
5969
5970 @item show backtrace limit
5971 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
5972 @end table
5973
5974 @node Selection
5975 @section Selecting a Frame
5976
5977 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
5978 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
5979 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
5980 of the stack frame just selected.
5981
5982 @table @code
5983 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
5984 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
5985 @item frame @var{n}
5986 @itemx f @var{n}
5987 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
5988 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
5989 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
5990 @code{main}.
5991
5992 @item frame @var{addr}
5993 @itemx f @var{addr}
5994 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
5995 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
5996 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
5997 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
5998 switches between them.
5999
6000 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6001 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6002
6003 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6004 pointer and a program counter.
6005
6006 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6007 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6008
6009 @kindex up
6010 @item up @var{n}
6011 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6012 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6013 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6014
6015 @kindex down
6016 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6017 @item down @var{n}
6018 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6019 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6020 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6021 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6022 @end table
6023
6024 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6025 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6026 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6027 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6028
6029 @need 1000
6030 For example:
6031
6032 @smallexample
6033 @group
6034 (@value{GDBP}) up
6035 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6036 at env.c:10
6037 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6038 @end group
6039 @end smallexample
6040
6041 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6042 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6043 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6044 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6045 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6046 for details.
6047
6048 @table @code
6049 @kindex down-silently
6050 @kindex up-silently
6051 @item up-silently @var{n}
6052 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6053 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6054 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6055 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6056 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6057 distracting.
6058 @end table
6059
6060 @node Frame Info
6061 @section Information About a Frame
6062
6063 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6064 stack frame.
6065
6066 @table @code
6067 @item frame
6068 @itemx f
6069 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6070 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6071 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6072 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6073 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6074
6075 @kindex info frame
6076 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6077 @item info frame
6078 @itemx info f
6079 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6080 including:
6081
6082 @itemize @bullet
6083 @item
6084 the address of the frame
6085 @item
6086 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6087 @item
6088 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6089 @item
6090 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6091 @item
6092 the address of the frame's arguments
6093 @item
6094 the address of the frame's local variables
6095 @item
6096 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6097 @item
6098 which registers were saved in the frame
6099 @end itemize
6100
6101 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6102 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6103 the usual conventions.
6104
6105 @item info frame @var{addr}
6106 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6107 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6108 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6109 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6110 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6111 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6112
6113 @kindex info args
6114 @item info args
6115 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6116
6117 @item info locals
6118 @kindex info locals
6119 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6120 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6121 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6122
6123 @kindex info catch
6124 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6125 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
6126 @item info catch
6127 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6128 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6129 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6130 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6131 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6132
6133 @end table
6134
6135
6136 @node Source
6137 @chapter Examining Source Files
6138
6139 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6140 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6141 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6142 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6143 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6144 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6145 source files by explicit command.
6146
6147 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6148 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6149 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6150
6151 @menu
6152 * List:: Printing source lines
6153 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6154 * Edit:: Editing source files
6155 * Search:: Searching source files
6156 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6157 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6158 @end menu
6159
6160 @node List
6161 @section Printing Source Lines
6162
6163 @kindex list
6164 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6165 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6166 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6167 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6168 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6169
6170 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6171
6172 @table @code
6173 @item list @var{linenum}
6174 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6175 current source file.
6176
6177 @item list @var{function}
6178 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6179 @var{function}.
6180
6181 @item list
6182 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6183 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6184 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6185 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6186 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6187
6188 @item list -
6189 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6190 @end table
6191
6192 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6193 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6194 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6195
6196 @table @code
6197 @kindex set listsize
6198 @item set listsize @var{count}
6199 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6200 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6201
6202 @kindex show listsize
6203 @item show listsize
6204 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6205 @end table
6206
6207 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6208 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6209 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6210 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6211 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6212
6213 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6214 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6215 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6216 to specify some source line.
6217
6218 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6219
6220 @table @code
6221 @item list @var{linespec}
6222 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6223
6224 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6225 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6226 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6227 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6228 the same source file as the first linespec.
6229
6230 @item list ,@var{last}
6231 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6232
6233 @item list @var{first},
6234 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6235
6236 @item list +
6237 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6238
6239 @item list -
6240 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6241
6242 @item list
6243 As described in the preceding table.
6244 @end table
6245
6246 @node Specify Location
6247 @section Specifying a Location
6248 @cindex specifying location
6249 @cindex linespec
6250
6251 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6252 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6253 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6254 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6255
6256 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6257 @value{GDBN} understands:
6258
6259 @table @code
6260 @item @var{linenum}
6261 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6262
6263 @item -@var{offset}
6264 @itemx +@var{offset}
6265 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6266 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6267 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6268 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6269 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6270 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6271 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6272 linespec.
6273
6274 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6275 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6276
6277 @item @var{function}
6278 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6279 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6280
6281 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6282 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6283 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6284 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6285 functions in different source files.
6286
6287 @item *@var{address}
6288 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6289 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6290 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6291 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6292 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6293 source files.
6294
6295 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6296 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6297 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6298 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6299 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6300 of @var{address}:
6301
6302 @table @code
6303 @item @var{expression}
6304 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6305
6306 @item @var{funcaddr}
6307 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6308 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6309 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6310 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6311 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6312 (although the Pascal form also works).
6313
6314 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6315 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6316
6317 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6318 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6319 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6320 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6321 functions with identical names in different source files.
6322 @end table
6323
6324 @end table
6325
6326
6327 @node Edit
6328 @section Editing Source Files
6329 @cindex editing source files
6330
6331 @kindex edit
6332 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6333 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6334 The editing program of your choice
6335 is invoked with the current line set to
6336 the active line in the program.
6337 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6338 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6339
6340 @table @code
6341 @item edit @var{location}
6342 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6343 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6344 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6345 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6346 command most commonly used:
6347
6348 @table @code
6349 @item edit @var{number}
6350 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6351
6352 @item edit @var{function}
6353 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6354 @end table
6355
6356 @end table
6357
6358 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6359 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6360 @footnote{
6361 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6362 following command-line syntax:
6363 @smallexample
6364 ex +@var{number} file
6365 @end smallexample
6366 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6367 the file where to start editing.}.
6368 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6369 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6370 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6371 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6372 @smallexample
6373 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6374 export EDITOR
6375 gdb @dots{}
6376 @end smallexample
6377 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6378 @smallexample
6379 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6380 gdb @dots{}
6381 @end smallexample
6382
6383 @node Search
6384 @section Searching Source Files
6385 @cindex searching source files
6386
6387 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6388 regular expression.
6389
6390 @table @code
6391 @kindex search
6392 @kindex forward-search
6393 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6394 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6395 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6396 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6397 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6398 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6399 @code{fo}.
6400
6401 @kindex reverse-search
6402 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6403 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6404 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6405 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6406 this command as @code{rev}.
6407 @end table
6408
6409 @node Source Path
6410 @section Specifying Source Directories
6411
6412 @cindex source path
6413 @cindex directories for source files
6414 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6415 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6416 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6417 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6418 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6419 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6420 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6421
6422 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6423 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6424 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6425 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6426 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6427 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6428 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6429 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6430 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6431 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6432 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6433
6434 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6435 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6436 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6437 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6438 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6439 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6440
6441 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6442 source files.
6443
6444 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6445 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6446 each line is in the file.
6447
6448 @kindex directory
6449 @kindex dir
6450 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6451 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6452 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6453
6454 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6455 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6456
6457 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6458 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6459 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6460 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6461 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6462 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6463 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6464 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6465 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6466 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6467 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6468 name to look up the sources.
6469
6470 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6471 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6472 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6473 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6474 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6475 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6476 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6477 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6478
6479 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6480 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6481 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6482 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6483 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6484 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6485 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6486
6487 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6488 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6489 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6490 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6491 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6492 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6493 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6494 command.
6495
6496 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6497 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6498 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6499 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6500 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6501 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6502 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6503
6504 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6505 @cindex default source path substitution
6506 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6507 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6508 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6509 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6510 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6511 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6512 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6513 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6514 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6515 together.
6516
6517 @table @code
6518 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6519 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6520 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6521 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6522 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6523 part of absolute file names) or
6524 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6525 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6526
6527 @kindex cdir
6528 @kindex cwd
6529 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6530 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6531 @cindex compilation directory
6532 @cindex current directory
6533 @cindex working directory
6534 @cindex directory, current
6535 @cindex directory, compilation
6536 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6537 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6538 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6539 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6540 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6541 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6542
6543 @item directory
6544 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6545
6546 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6547 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6548
6549 @item show directories
6550 @kindex show directories
6551 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6552
6553 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6554 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6555 @kindex set substitute-path
6556 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6557 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6558 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6559
6560 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6561 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6562
6563 @smallexample
6564 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6565 @end smallexample
6566
6567 @noindent
6568 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6569 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6570 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6571
6572 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6573 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6574 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6575 the substitution.
6576
6577 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6578
6579 @smallexample
6580 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6581 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6582 @end smallexample
6583
6584 @noindent
6585 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6586 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6587 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6588 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6589
6590
6591 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6592 @kindex unset substitute-path
6593 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6594 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6595 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6596
6597 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6598
6599 @item show substitute-path [path]
6600 @kindex show substitute-path
6601 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6602 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6603
6604 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6605 rules.
6606
6607 @end table
6608
6609 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6610 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6611 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6612
6613 @enumerate
6614 @item
6615 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6616
6617 @item
6618 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6619 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6620 directories in one command.
6621 @end enumerate
6622
6623 @node Machine Code
6624 @section Source and Machine Code
6625 @cindex source line and its code address
6626
6627 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6628 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6629 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6630 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6631 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6632 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6633 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6634 well as hex.
6635
6636 @table @code
6637 @kindex info line
6638 @item info line @var{linespec}
6639 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6640 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6641 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6642 @end table
6643
6644 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6645 the object code for the first line of function
6646 @code{m4_changequote}:
6647
6648 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6649 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6650 @smallexample
6651 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6652 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6653 @end smallexample
6654
6655 @noindent
6656 @cindex code address and its source line
6657 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6658 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6659 @smallexample
6660 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6661 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6662 @end smallexample
6663
6664 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6665 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6666 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6667 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6668 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6669 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6670 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6671 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6672 Variables}).
6673
6674 @table @code
6675 @kindex disassemble
6676 @cindex assembly instructions
6677 @cindex instructions, assembly
6678 @cindex machine instructions
6679 @cindex listing machine instructions
6680 @item disassemble
6681 @itemx disassemble /m
6682 @itemx disassemble /r
6683 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6684 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6685 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6686 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6687 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6688 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6689 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6690 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6691 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6692 arguments specify a range of addresses (first inclusive, second exclusive)
6693 to dump. In that case, the name of the function is also printed (since
6694 there could be several functions in the given range).
6695
6696 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6697 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6698
6699 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6700 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6701 @end table
6702
6703 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6704 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6705
6706 @smallexample
6707 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6708 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6709 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6710 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6711 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6712 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6713 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6714 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6715 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6716 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6717 End of assembler dump.
6718 @end smallexample
6719
6720 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6721 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6722
6723 @smallexample
6724 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6725 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6726 5 @{
6727 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6728 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6729 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6730 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6731 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6732
6733 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6734 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6735 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6736
6737 7 return 0;
6738 8 @}
6739 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6740 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6741 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6742
6743 End of assembler dump.
6744 @end smallexample
6745
6746 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6747 mnemonics or other syntax.
6748
6749 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6750 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6751 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6752 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6753 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6754
6755 @table @code
6756 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6757 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6758 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6759 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6760 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6761 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6762
6763 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6764 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6765 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6766 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6767
6768 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6769 @item show disassembly-flavor
6770 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6771 @end table
6772
6773 @table @code
6774 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6775 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6776 @item set disassemble-next-line
6777 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6778 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6779 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6780 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6781 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6782 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6783 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6784 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6785 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6786 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6787 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6788 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6789 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6790 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6791 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6792 instruction.
6793 @end table
6794
6795
6796 @node Data
6797 @chapter Examining Data
6798
6799 @cindex printing data
6800 @cindex examining data
6801 @kindex print
6802 @kindex inspect
6803 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6804 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6805 @c different window or something like that.
6806 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6807 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6808 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6809 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6810 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
6811 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
6812
6813 @table @code
6814 @item print @var{expr}
6815 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6816 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6817 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6818 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6819 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6820 Formats}.
6821
6822 @item print
6823 @itemx print /@var{f}
6824 @cindex reprint the last value
6825 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6826 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6827 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6828 @end table
6829
6830 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6831 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6832 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6833
6834 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6835 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6836 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6837 Table}.
6838
6839 @menu
6840 * Expressions:: Expressions
6841 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6842 * Variables:: Program variables
6843 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6844 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6845 * Memory:: Examining memory
6846 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6847 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6848 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
6849 * Value History:: Value history
6850 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6851 * Registers:: Registers
6852 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6853 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6854 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6855 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6856 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6857 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6858 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6859 character set than GDB does
6860 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6861 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6862 @end menu
6863
6864 @node Expressions
6865 @section Expressions
6866
6867 @cindex expressions
6868 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6869 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6870 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6871 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6872 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6873 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6874 @ref{Compilation}.
6875
6876 @cindex arrays in expressions
6877 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6878 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6879 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6880 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6881 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6882 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6883
6884 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6885 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6886 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6887 languages.
6888
6889 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6890 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6891
6892 @cindex casts, in expressions
6893 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6894 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6895 at that address in memory.
6896 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6897
6898 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6899 to programming languages:
6900
6901 @table @code
6902 @item @@
6903 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6904 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6905
6906 @item ::
6907 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6908 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6909
6910 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
6911 @cindex type casting memory
6912 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6913 @cindex casts, to view memory
6914 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6915 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6916 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6917 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6918 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6919 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6920 @end table
6921
6922 @node Ambiguous Expressions
6923 @section Ambiguous Expressions
6924 @cindex ambiguous expressions
6925
6926 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6927 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6928 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6929 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6930 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6931 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6932 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6933
6934 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6935 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6936 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6937 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6938 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6939 as well.
6940
6941 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6942 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6943 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6944 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6945 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6946 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6947 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6948 choices.
6949
6950 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6951 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6952 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6953
6954 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
6955 @smallexample
6956 @group
6957 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
6958 [0] cancel
6959 [1] all
6960 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
6961 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
6962 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
6963 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
6964 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
6965 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
6966 > 2 4 6
6967 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
6968 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
6969 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
6970 Multiple breakpoints were set.
6971 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
6972 breakpoints.
6973 (@value{GDBP})
6974 @end group
6975 @end smallexample
6976
6977 @table @code
6978 @kindex set multiple-symbols
6979 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
6980 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
6981
6982 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
6983 is ambiguous.
6984
6985 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
6986 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
6987 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
6988 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
6989 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
6990 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
6991 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
6992 in the use of the menu.
6993
6994 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
6995 when an ambiguity is detected.
6996
6997 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
6998 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
6999
7000 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7001 @item show multiple-symbols
7002 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7003 @end table
7004
7005 @node Variables
7006 @section Program Variables
7007
7008 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7009 in your program.
7010
7011 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7012 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7013
7014 @itemize @bullet
7015 @item
7016 global (or file-static)
7017 @end itemize
7018
7019 @noindent or
7020
7021 @itemize @bullet
7022 @item
7023 visible according to the scope rules of the
7024 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7025 @end itemize
7026
7027 @noindent This means that in the function
7028
7029 @smallexample
7030 foo (a)
7031 int a;
7032 @{
7033 bar (a);
7034 @{
7035 int b = test ();
7036 bar (b);
7037 @}
7038 @}
7039 @end smallexample
7040
7041 @noindent
7042 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7043 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7044 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7045 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7046
7047 @cindex variable name conflict
7048 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7049 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7050 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7051 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7052 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7053 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
7054 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7055
7056 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7057 @ifnotinfo
7058 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7059 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7060 @end ifnotinfo
7061 @smallexample
7062 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7063 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7064 @end smallexample
7065
7066 @noindent
7067 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7068 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7069 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7070 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7071
7072 @smallexample
7073 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7074 @end smallexample
7075
7076 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7077 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7078 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7079 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7080 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7081 @c conflict?? --mew
7082
7083 @cindex wrong values
7084 @cindex variable values, wrong
7085 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7086 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7087 @quotation
7088 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7089 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7090 scope, and just before exit.
7091 @end quotation
7092 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7093 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7094 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7095 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7096 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7097 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7098 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7099 variable definitions may be gone.
7100
7101 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7102 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7103 when compiling.
7104
7105 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7106 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7107 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7108 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7109 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7110 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7111 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7112
7113 @smallexample
7114 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7115 @end smallexample
7116
7117 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7118 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7119 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
7120 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
7121 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
7122 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
7123 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
7124 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
7125 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
7126 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
7127 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7128
7129 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7130 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7131 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7132 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7133
7134 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7135 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7136 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7137 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7138 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7139 For program code
7140
7141 @smallexample
7142 char var0[] = "A";
7143 signed char var1[] = "A";
7144 @end smallexample
7145
7146 You get during debugging
7147 @smallexample
7148 (gdb) print var0
7149 $1 = "A"
7150 (gdb) print var1
7151 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7152 @end smallexample
7153
7154 @node Arrays
7155 @section Artificial Arrays
7156
7157 @cindex artificial array
7158 @cindex arrays
7159 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7160 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7161 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7162 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7163 program.
7164
7165 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7166 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7167 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7168 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7169 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7170 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7171 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7172 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7173 example. If a program says
7174
7175 @smallexample
7176 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7177 @end smallexample
7178
7179 @noindent
7180 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7181
7182 @smallexample
7183 p *array@@len
7184 @end smallexample
7185
7186 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7187 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7188 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7189 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7190 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7191
7192 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7193 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7194 The value need not be in memory:
7195 @smallexample
7196 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7197 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7198 @end smallexample
7199
7200 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7201 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7202 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7203 @smallexample
7204 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7205 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7206 @end smallexample
7207
7208 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7209 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7210 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7211 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7212 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7213 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7214 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7215 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7216 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7217 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7218
7219 @smallexample
7220 set $i = 0
7221 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7222 @key{RET}
7223 @key{RET}
7224 @dots{}
7225 @end smallexample
7226
7227 @node Output Formats
7228 @section Output Formats
7229
7230 @cindex formatted output
7231 @cindex output formats
7232 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7233 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7234 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7235 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7236 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7237
7238 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7239 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7240 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7241 letters supported are:
7242
7243 @table @code
7244 @item x
7245 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7246 hexadecimal.
7247
7248 @item d
7249 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7250
7251 @item u
7252 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7253
7254 @item o
7255 Print as integer in octal.
7256
7257 @item t
7258 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7259 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7260 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7261 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7262
7263 @item a
7264 @cindex unknown address, locating
7265 @cindex locate address
7266 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7267 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7268 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7269
7270 @smallexample
7271 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7272 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7273 @end smallexample
7274
7275 @noindent
7276 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7277 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7278
7279 @item c
7280 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7281 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7282 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7283 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7284
7285 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7286 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7287 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7288 data.
7289
7290 @item f
7291 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7292 using typical floating point syntax.
7293
7294 @item s
7295 @cindex printing strings
7296 @cindex printing byte arrays
7297 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7298 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7299 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7300 natural types.
7301
7302 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7303 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7304 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7305 array.
7306
7307 @item r
7308 @cindex raw printing
7309 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7310 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7311 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7312 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7313 pretty-printer which might exist.
7314 @end table
7315
7316 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7317
7318 @smallexample
7319 p/x $pc
7320 @end smallexample
7321
7322 @noindent
7323 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7324 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7325
7326 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7327 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7328 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7329
7330 @node Memory
7331 @section Examining Memory
7332
7333 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7334 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7335
7336 @cindex examining memory
7337 @table @code
7338 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7339 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7340 @itemx x @var{addr}
7341 @itemx x
7342 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7343 @end table
7344
7345 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7346 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7347 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7348 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7349 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7350
7351 @table @r
7352 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7353 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7354 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7355 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7356 @c 4.1.2.
7357
7358 @item @var{f}, the display format
7359 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7360 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7361 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7362 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7363 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7364
7365 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7366 The unit size is any of
7367
7368 @table @code
7369 @item b
7370 Bytes.
7371 @item h
7372 Halfwords (two bytes).
7373 @item w
7374 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7375 @item g
7376 Giant words (eight bytes).
7377 @end table
7378
7379 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7380 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7381 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7382 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7383 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7384 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7385 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7386 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7387 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7388 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7389 be altered.
7390
7391 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7392 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7393 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7394 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7395 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7396 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7397 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7398 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7399 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7400 a value from memory).
7401 @end table
7402
7403 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7404 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7405 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7406 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7407 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7408
7409 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7410 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7411 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7412 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7413 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7414
7415 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7416 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7417 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7418 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7419 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7420 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7421 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7422 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7423 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7424
7425 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7426 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7427 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7428 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7429 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7430 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7431 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7432
7433 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7434 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7435
7436 @smallexample
7437 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7438 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7439 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7440 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7441 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7442 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7443 @end smallexample
7444
7445 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7446 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7447 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7448 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7449 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7450 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7451 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7452 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7453 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7454
7455 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7456 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7457 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7458
7459 @cindex remote memory comparison
7460 @cindex verify remote memory image
7461 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7462 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7463 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7464 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7465 situations.
7466
7467 @table @code
7468 @kindex compare-sections
7469 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7470 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7471 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7472 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7473 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7474 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7475 remote request.
7476 @end table
7477
7478 @node Auto Display
7479 @section Automatic Display
7480 @cindex automatic display
7481 @cindex display of expressions
7482
7483 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7484 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7485 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7486 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7487 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7488 The automatic display looks like this:
7489
7490 @smallexample
7491 2: foo = 38
7492 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7493 @end smallexample
7494
7495 @noindent
7496 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7497 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7498 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7499 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7500 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7501 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7502
7503 @table @code
7504 @kindex display
7505 @item display @var{expr}
7506 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7507 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7508
7509 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7510
7511 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7512 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7513 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7514 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7515 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7516
7517 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7518 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7519 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7520 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7521 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7522 @end table
7523
7524 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7525 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7526 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7527
7528 @table @code
7529 @kindex delete display
7530 @kindex undisplay
7531 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7532 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7533 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7534
7535 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7536 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7537
7538 @kindex disable display
7539 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7540 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7541 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7542 enabled again later.
7543
7544 @kindex enable display
7545 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7546 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7547 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7548
7549 @item display
7550 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7551 done when your program stops.
7552
7553 @kindex info display
7554 @item info display
7555 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7556 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7557 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7558 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7559 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7560 @end table
7561
7562 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7563 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7564 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7565 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7566 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7567 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7568 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7569 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7570 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7571 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7572 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7573
7574 @node Print Settings
7575 @section Print Settings
7576
7577 @cindex format options
7578 @cindex print settings
7579 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7580 and symbols are printed.
7581
7582 @noindent
7583 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7584
7585 @table @code
7586 @kindex set print
7587 @item set print address
7588 @itemx set print address on
7589 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7590 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7591 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7592 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7593 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7594 @code{set print address on}:
7595
7596 @smallexample
7597 @group
7598 (@value{GDBP}) f
7599 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7600 at input.c:530
7601 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7602 @end group
7603 @end smallexample
7604
7605 @item set print address off
7606 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7607 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7608
7609 @smallexample
7610 @group
7611 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7612 (@value{GDBP}) f
7613 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7614 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7615 @end group
7616 @end smallexample
7617
7618 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7619 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7620 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7621 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7622
7623 @kindex show print
7624 @item show print address
7625 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7626 @end table
7627
7628 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7629 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7630 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7631 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7632 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7633 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7634 it prints a symbolic address:
7635
7636 @table @code
7637 @item set print symbol-filename on
7638 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7639 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7640 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7641 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7642
7643 @item set print symbol-filename off
7644 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7645 default.
7646
7647 @item show print symbol-filename
7648 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7649 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7650 @end table
7651
7652 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7653 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7654 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7655
7656 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7657 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7658
7659 @table @code
7660 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7661 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7662 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7663 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7664 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7665 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7666
7667 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7668 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7669 symbolic address.
7670 @end table
7671
7672 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7673 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7674 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7675 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7676 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7677 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7678 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7679 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7680
7681 @smallexample
7682 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7683 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7684 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7685 @end smallexample
7686
7687 @quotation
7688 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7689 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7690 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7691 @end quotation
7692
7693 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7694
7695 @table @code
7696 @item set print array
7697 @itemx set print array on
7698 @cindex pretty print arrays
7699 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7700 but uses more space. The default is off.
7701
7702 @item set print array off
7703 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7704
7705 @item show print array
7706 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7707 arrays.
7708
7709 @cindex print array indexes
7710 @item set print array-indexes
7711 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7712 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7713 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7714 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7715
7716 @item set print array-indexes off
7717 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7718
7719 @item show print array-indexes
7720 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7721 arrays.
7722
7723 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7724 @cindex number of array elements to print
7725 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7726 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7727 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7728 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7729 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7730 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7731 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7732
7733 @item show print elements
7734 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7735 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7736
7737 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7738 @kindex set print frame-arguments
7739 @cindex printing frame argument values
7740 @cindex print all frame argument values
7741 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7742 @cindex do not print frame argument values
7743 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7744 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7745 values are:
7746
7747 @table @code
7748 @item all
7749 The values of all arguments are printed.
7750
7751 @item scalars
7752 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7753 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7754 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7755 only scalar arguments are shown:
7756
7757 @smallexample
7758 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7759 at frame-args.c:23
7760 @end smallexample
7761
7762 @item none
7763 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7764 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7765
7766 @smallexample
7767 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7768 at frame-args.c:23
7769 @end smallexample
7770 @end table
7771
7772 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7773 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7774 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7775 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7776 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7777 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7778 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7779 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7780 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7781 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7782
7783 @item show print frame-arguments
7784 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7785
7786 @item set print repeats
7787 @cindex repeated array elements
7788 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7789 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7790 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7791 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7792 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7793 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7794 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7795
7796 @item show print repeats
7797 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7798 elements.
7799
7800 @item set print null-stop
7801 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7802 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7803 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7804 contain only short strings.
7805 The default is off.
7806
7807 @item show print null-stop
7808 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7809 @sc{null} character.
7810
7811 @item set print pretty on
7812 @cindex print structures in indented form
7813 @cindex indentation in structure display
7814 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7815 per line, like this:
7816
7817 @smallexample
7818 @group
7819 $1 = @{
7820 next = 0x0,
7821 flags = @{
7822 sweet = 1,
7823 sour = 1
7824 @},
7825 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7826 @}
7827 @end group
7828 @end smallexample
7829
7830 @item set print pretty off
7831 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7832
7833 @smallexample
7834 @group
7835 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7836 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7837 @end group
7838 @end smallexample
7839
7840 @noindent
7841 This is the default format.
7842
7843 @item show print pretty
7844 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7845
7846 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7847 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7848 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7849 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7850 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7851 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7852 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7853 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7854
7855 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7856 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7857 international character sets, and is the default.
7858
7859 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7860 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7861
7862 @item set print union on
7863 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7864 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7865 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7866
7867 @item set print union off
7868 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7869 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7870 instead.
7871
7872 @item show print union
7873 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7874 structures and other unions.
7875
7876 For example, given the declarations
7877
7878 @smallexample
7879 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7880 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7881 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7882 Bug_forms;
7883
7884 struct thing @{
7885 Species it;
7886 union @{
7887 Tree_forms tree;
7888 Bug_forms bug;
7889 @} form;
7890 @};
7891
7892 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7893 @end smallexample
7894
7895 @noindent
7896 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7897
7898 @smallexample
7899 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7900 @end smallexample
7901
7902 @noindent
7903 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7904
7905 @smallexample
7906 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7907 @end smallexample
7908
7909 @noindent
7910 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7911 and in Pascal.
7912 @end table
7913
7914 @need 1000
7915 @noindent
7916 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7917
7918 @table @code
7919 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7920 @item set print demangle
7921 @itemx set print demangle on
7922 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7923 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7924 linkage. The default is on.
7925
7926 @item show print demangle
7927 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7928
7929 @item set print asm-demangle
7930 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
7931 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7932 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7933 The default is off.
7934
7935 @item show print asm-demangle
7936 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7937 or demangled form.
7938
7939 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7940 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7941 @kindex set demangle-style
7942 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
7943 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7944 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7945
7946 @table @code
7947 @item auto
7948 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7949
7950 @item gnu
7951 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7952 This is the default.
7953
7954 @item hp
7955 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
7956
7957 @item lucid
7958 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
7959
7960 @item arm
7961 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
7962 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
7963 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
7964 require further enhancement to permit that.
7965
7966 @end table
7967 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
7968
7969 @item show demangle-style
7970 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
7971
7972 @item set print object
7973 @itemx set print object on
7974 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
7975 @cindex display derived types
7976 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
7977 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
7978 the virtual function table.
7979
7980 @item set print object off
7981 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
7982 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
7983
7984 @item show print object
7985 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
7986
7987 @item set print static-members
7988 @itemx set print static-members on
7989 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
7990 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
7991
7992 @item set print static-members off
7993 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
7994
7995 @item show print static-members
7996 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
7997
7998 @item set print pascal_static-members
7999 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8000 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8001 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8002 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8003
8004 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8005 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8006
8007 @item show print pascal_static-members
8008 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8009
8010 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8011 @item set print vtbl
8012 @itemx set print vtbl on
8013 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8014 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8015 @cindex VTBL display
8016 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8017 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8018 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8019
8020 @item set print vtbl off
8021 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8022
8023 @item show print vtbl
8024 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8025 @end table
8026
8027 @node Pretty Printing
8028 @section Pretty Printing
8029
8030 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8031 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8032 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8033
8034 For example, here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a
8035 pretty-printer:
8036
8037 @smallexample
8038 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8039 $1 = @{
8040 static npos = 4294967295,
8041 _M_dataplus = @{
8042 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8043 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8044 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8045 @},
8046 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8047 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8048 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8049 @}
8050 @}
8051 @end smallexample
8052
8053 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8054
8055 @smallexample
8056 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8057 $2 = "abcd"
8058 @end smallexample
8059
8060 For implementing pretty printers for new types you should read the Python API
8061 details (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
8062
8063 @node Value History
8064 @section Value History
8065
8066 @cindex value history
8067 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8068 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8069 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8070 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8071 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8072 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8073 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8074 symbol table.
8075
8076 @cindex @code{$}
8077 @cindex @code{$$}
8078 @cindex history number
8079 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8080 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8081 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8082 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8083 history number.
8084
8085 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8086 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8087 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8088 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8089 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8090 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8091 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8092
8093 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8094 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8095
8096 @smallexample
8097 p *$
8098 @end smallexample
8099
8100 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8101 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8102
8103 @smallexample
8104 p *$.next
8105 @end smallexample
8106
8107 @noindent
8108 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8109 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8110
8111 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8112 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8113
8114 @smallexample
8115 print x
8116 set x=5
8117 @end smallexample
8118
8119 @noindent
8120 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8121 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8122
8123 @table @code
8124 @kindex show values
8125 @item show values
8126 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8127 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8128 values} does not change the history.
8129
8130 @item show values @var{n}
8131 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8132
8133 @item show values +
8134 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8135 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8136 @end table
8137
8138 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8139 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8140
8141 @node Convenience Vars
8142 @section Convenience Variables
8143
8144 @cindex convenience variables
8145 @cindex user-defined variables
8146 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8147 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8148 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8149 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8150 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8151
8152 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8153 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8154 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8155 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8156 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8157
8158 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8159 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8160 For example:
8161
8162 @smallexample
8163 set $foo = *object_ptr
8164 @end smallexample
8165
8166 @noindent
8167 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8168 @code{object_ptr}.
8169
8170 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8171 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8172 value with another assignment at any time.
8173
8174 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8175 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8176 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8177 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8178
8179 @table @code
8180 @kindex show convenience
8181 @cindex show all user variables
8182 @item show convenience
8183 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8184 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8185
8186 @kindex init-if-undefined
8187 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8188 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8189 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8190 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8191 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8192 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8193 override default values used in a command script.
8194
8195 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8196 any side-effects do not occur.
8197 @end table
8198
8199 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8200 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8201 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8202
8203 @smallexample
8204 set $i = 0
8205 print bar[$i++]->contents
8206 @end smallexample
8207
8208 @noindent
8209 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8210
8211 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8212 values likely to be useful.
8213
8214 @table @code
8215 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8216 @item $_
8217 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8218 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8219 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8220 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8221 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8222 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8223 to the type of @code{$__}.
8224
8225 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8226 @item $__
8227 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8228 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8229 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8230
8231 @item $_exitcode
8232 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8233 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8234 the program being debugged terminates.
8235
8236 @item $_siginfo
8237 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8238 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8239 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8240 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8241 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8242
8243 @item $_tlb
8244 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8245 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8246 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8247 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8248 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8249 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8250
8251 @end table
8252
8253 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8254 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8255 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8256
8257 @cindex convenience functions
8258 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8259 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8260 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8261 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8262 @value{GDBN}.
8263
8264 @table @code
8265 @item help function
8266 @kindex help function
8267 @cindex show all convenience functions
8268 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8269 @end table
8270
8271 @node Registers
8272 @section Registers
8273
8274 @cindex registers
8275 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8276 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8277 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8278 your machine.
8279
8280 @table @code
8281 @kindex info registers
8282 @item info registers
8283 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8284 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8285
8286 @kindex info all-registers
8287 @cindex floating point registers
8288 @item info all-registers
8289 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8290 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8291
8292 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8293 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8294 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8295 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8296 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8297 @end table
8298
8299 @cindex stack pointer register
8300 @cindex program counter register
8301 @cindex process status register
8302 @cindex frame pointer register
8303 @cindex standard registers
8304 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8305 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8306 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8307 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8308 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8309 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8310 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8311 you could print the program counter in hex with
8312
8313 @smallexample
8314 p/x $pc
8315 @end smallexample
8316
8317 @noindent
8318 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8319
8320 @smallexample
8321 x/i $pc
8322 @end smallexample
8323
8324 @noindent
8325 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8326 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8327 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8328 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8329 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8330 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8331 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8332
8333 @smallexample
8334 set $sp += 4
8335 @end smallexample
8336
8337 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8338 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8339 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8340 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8341 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8342 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8343 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8344
8345 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8346 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8347 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8348 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8349 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8350 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8351 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8352
8353 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8354 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8355 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8356 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8357 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8358 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8359 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8360 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8361 prints the data in both formats.
8362
8363 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8364 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8365 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8366 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8367 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8368 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8369 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8370
8371 @smallexample
8372 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8373 $1 = @{
8374 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8375 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8376 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8377 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8378 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8379 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8380 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8381 @}
8382 @end smallexample
8383
8384 @noindent
8385 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8386 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8387 value to a @code{struct} member:
8388
8389 @smallexample
8390 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8391 @end smallexample
8392
8393 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8394 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8395 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8396 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8397 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8398 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8399
8400 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8401 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8402 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8403 frame makes no difference.
8404
8405 @node Floating Point Hardware
8406 @section Floating Point Hardware
8407 @cindex floating point
8408
8409 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8410 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8411
8412 @table @code
8413 @kindex info float
8414 @item info float
8415 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8416 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8417 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8418 the ARM and x86 machines.
8419 @end table
8420
8421 @node Vector Unit
8422 @section Vector Unit
8423 @cindex vector unit
8424
8425 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8426 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8427
8428 @table @code
8429 @kindex info vector
8430 @item info vector
8431 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8432 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8433 @end table
8434
8435 @node OS Information
8436 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8437 @cindex OS information
8438
8439 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8440 you debug your program.
8441
8442 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8443 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8444 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8445 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8446 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8447 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8448 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8449 structure.
8450
8451 @table @code
8452 @item info udot
8453 @kindex info udot
8454 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8455 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8456 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8457 the @code{examine} command.
8458 @end table
8459
8460 @cindex auxiliary vector
8461 @cindex vector, auxiliary
8462 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8463 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8464 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8465 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8466 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8467 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8468 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8469 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8470 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8471 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8472 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8473
8474 @table @code
8475 @kindex info auxv
8476 @item info auxv
8477 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8478 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8479 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8480 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8481 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8482 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8483 an unrecognized tag.
8484 @end table
8485
8486 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8487 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8488 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8489 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8490
8491 @table @code
8492 @kindex info os processes
8493 @item info os processes
8494 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8495 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8496 the command corresponding to the process.
8497 @end table
8498
8499 @node Memory Region Attributes
8500 @section Memory Region Attributes
8501 @cindex memory region attributes
8502
8503 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8504 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8505 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8506 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8507 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8508 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8509 user can override the fetched regions.
8510
8511 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8512 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8513 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8514 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8515 all memory.
8516
8517 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8518 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8519
8520 @table @code
8521 @kindex mem
8522 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8523 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8524 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8525 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8526 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8527 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8528
8529 @item mem auto
8530 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8531 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8532
8533 @kindex delete mem
8534 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8535 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8536 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8537
8538 @kindex disable mem
8539 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8540 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8541 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8542 It may be enabled again later.
8543
8544 @kindex enable mem
8545 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8546 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8547
8548 @kindex info mem
8549 @item info mem
8550 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8551 for each region:
8552
8553 @table @emph
8554 @item Memory Region Number
8555 @item Enabled or Disabled.
8556 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8557 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8558
8559 @item Lo Address
8560 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8561
8562 @item Hi Address
8563 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8564
8565 @item Attributes
8566 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8567 @end table
8568 @end table
8569
8570
8571 @subsection Attributes
8572
8573 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8574 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8575 write accesses to a memory region.
8576
8577 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8578 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8579 etc.@: from accessing memory.
8580
8581 @table @code
8582 @item ro
8583 Memory is read only.
8584 @item wo
8585 Memory is write only.
8586 @item rw
8587 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8588 @end table
8589
8590 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
8591 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8592 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8593 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8594 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8595
8596 @table @code
8597 @item 8
8598 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8599 @item 16
8600 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8601 @item 32
8602 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8603 @item 64
8604 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8605 @end table
8606
8607 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8608 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8609 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8610 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8611 @c
8612 @c @table @code
8613 @c @item hwbreak
8614 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
8615 @c @item swbreak (default)
8616 @c @end table
8617
8618 @subsubsection Data Cache
8619 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8620 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8621 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8622 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8623 registers.
8624
8625 @table @code
8626 @item cache
8627 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8628 @item nocache
8629 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8630 @end table
8631
8632 @subsection Memory Access Checking
8633 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8634 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8635 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8636 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8637
8638 @table @code
8639 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8640 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8641 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8642 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8643 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8644 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8645 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8646 The default value is @code{on}.
8647 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8648 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8649 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8650 @end table
8651
8652
8653 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8654 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8655 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8656 @c
8657 @c @table @code
8658 @c @item verify
8659 @c @item noverify (default)
8660 @c @end table
8661
8662 @node Dump/Restore Files
8663 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
8664 @cindex dump/restore files
8665 @cindex append data to a file
8666 @cindex dump data to a file
8667 @cindex restore data from a file
8668
8669 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8670 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8671 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8672 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8673 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8674 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8675 files.
8676
8677 @table @code
8678
8679 @kindex dump
8680 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8681 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8682 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8683 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8684
8685 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8686 @table @code
8687 @item binary
8688 Raw binary form.
8689 @item ihex
8690 Intel hex format.
8691 @item srec
8692 Motorola S-record format.
8693 @item tekhex
8694 Tektronix Hex format.
8695 @end table
8696
8697 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8698 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8699 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8700 form.
8701
8702 @kindex append
8703 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8704 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8705 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8706 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8707 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8708
8709 @kindex restore
8710 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8711 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8712 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8713 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8714 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8715
8716 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8717 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8718 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8719 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8720 from that location.
8721
8722 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8723 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8724 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8725 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8726
8727 @end table
8728
8729 @node Core File Generation
8730 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8731 @cindex dump core from inferior
8732
8733 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8734 image of a running process and its process status (register values
8735 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8736 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8737 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8738 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8739 the post-mortem debugging mode.
8740
8741 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8742 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8743 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8744
8745 @table @code
8746 @kindex gcore
8747 @kindex generate-core-file
8748 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8749 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8750 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8751 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8752 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8753 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8754
8755 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8756 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8757 @end table
8758
8759 @node Character Sets
8760 @section Character Sets
8761 @cindex character sets
8762 @cindex charset
8763 @cindex translating between character sets
8764 @cindex host character set
8765 @cindex target character set
8766
8767 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8768 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8769 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8770 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8771 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8772 @dfn{target character set}.
8773
8774 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
8775 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
8776 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
8777 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
8778 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
8779 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
8780 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
8781 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
8782 character and string literals in expressions.
8783
8784 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
8785 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
8786 target-charset} command, described below.
8787
8788 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
8789 support:
8790
8791 @table @code
8792 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
8793 @kindex set target-charset
8794 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
8795 list of supported target character sets, type
8796 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8797
8798 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
8799 @kindex set host-charset
8800 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
8801
8802 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8803 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8804 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8805 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8806 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8807
8808 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8809 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8810 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8811
8812 @item set charset @var{charset}
8813 @kindex set charset
8814 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8815 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8816 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8817 for both host and target.
8818
8819 @item show charset
8820 @kindex show charset
8821 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8822
8823 @item show host-charset
8824 @kindex show host-charset
8825 Show the name of the current host character set.
8826
8827 @item show target-charset
8828 @kindex show target-charset
8829 Show the name of the current target character set.
8830
8831 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8832 @kindex set target-wide-charset
8833 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8834 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8835 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8836 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8837
8838 @item show target-wide-charset
8839 @kindex show target-wide-charset
8840 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8841 @end table
8842
8843 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8844 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8845 @file{charset-test.c}:
8846
8847 @smallexample
8848 #include <stdio.h>
8849
8850 char ascii_hello[]
8851 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8852 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8853 char ibm1047_hello[]
8854 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8855 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8856
8857 main ()
8858 @{
8859 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8860 @}
8861 @end smallexample
8862
8863 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8864 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8865 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8866
8867 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8868
8869 @smallexample
8870 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8871 $ gdb -nw charset-test
8872 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8873 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8874 @dots{}
8875 (@value{GDBP})
8876 @end smallexample
8877
8878 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8879 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8880 strings:
8881
8882 @smallexample
8883 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8884 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8885 (@value{GDBP})
8886 @end smallexample
8887
8888 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8889 initial character set:
8890 @smallexample
8891 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8892 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8893 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8894 (@value{GDBP})
8895 @end smallexample
8896
8897 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8898 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8899 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8900 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8901 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8902
8903 @smallexample
8904 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8905 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8906 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8907 $2 = 72 'H'
8908 (@value{GDBP})
8909 @end smallexample
8910
8911 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8912 literals you use in expressions:
8913
8914 @smallexample
8915 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8916 $3 = 43 '+'
8917 (@value{GDBP})
8918 @end smallexample
8919
8920 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8921 character.
8922
8923 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8924 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8925 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8926
8927 @smallexample
8928 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8929 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8930 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8931 $5 = 200 '\310'
8932 (@value{GDBP})
8933 @end smallexample
8934
8935 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8936 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8937
8938 @smallexample
8939 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8940 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8941 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8942 @end smallexample
8943
8944 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8945 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8946 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8947 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
8948 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
8949
8950 @smallexample
8951 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
8952 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8953 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
8954 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
8955 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8956 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
8957 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8958 $7 = 72 '\110'
8959 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8960 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
8961 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8962 $9 = 200 'H'
8963 (@value{GDBP})
8964 @end smallexample
8965
8966 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
8967 string literals you use in expressions:
8968
8969 @smallexample
8970 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8971 $10 = 78 '+'
8972 (@value{GDBP})
8973 @end smallexample
8974
8975 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
8976 character.
8977
8978 @node Caching Remote Data
8979 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
8980 @cindex caching data of remote targets
8981
8982 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
8983 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
8984 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
8985 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
8986 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
8987 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
8988 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
8989 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
8990 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
8991 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
8992 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
8993 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
8994 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
8995 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
8996 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
8997
8998 @table @code
8999 @kindex set remotecache
9000 @item set remotecache on
9001 @itemx set remotecache off
9002 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9003 with old scripts.
9004
9005 @kindex show remotecache
9006 @item show remotecache
9007 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9008
9009 @kindex set stack-cache
9010 @item set stack-cache on
9011 @itemx set stack-cache off
9012 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9013 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9014
9015 @kindex show stack-cache
9016 @item show stack-cache
9017 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9018
9019 @kindex info dcache
9020 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9021 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9022 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9023 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9024 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9025 operation.
9026
9027 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9028 printed in hex.
9029 @end table
9030
9031 @node Searching Memory
9032 @section Search Memory
9033 @cindex searching memory
9034
9035 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9036 @code{find} command.
9037
9038 @table @code
9039 @kindex find
9040 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9041 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9042 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9043 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9044 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9045 @end table
9046
9047 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9048 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9049
9050 @table @r
9051 @item @var{s}, search query size
9052 The size of each search query value.
9053
9054 @table @code
9055 @item b
9056 bytes
9057 @item h
9058 halfwords (two bytes)
9059 @item w
9060 words (four bytes)
9061 @item g
9062 giant words (eight bytes)
9063 @end table
9064
9065 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9066 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9067 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9068
9069 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9070 value's type in the current language.
9071 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9072 pattern as a mixture of types.
9073 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9074 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9075 which is typically four bytes.
9076
9077 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9078 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9079 @end table
9080
9081 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9082 (@code{"}).
9083 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9084 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9085
9086 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9087 number of matches found.
9088
9089 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9090 @samp{$_}.
9091 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9092
9093 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9094
9095 @smallexample
9096 void
9097 hello ()
9098 @{
9099 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9100 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9101 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9102 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9103 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9104 @}
9105 @end smallexample
9106
9107 @noindent
9108 you get during debugging:
9109
9110 @smallexample
9111 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9112 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9113 1 pattern found
9114 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9115 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9116 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9117 2 patterns found
9118 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9119 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9120 1 pattern found
9121 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9122 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9123 1 pattern found
9124 (gdb) print $numfound
9125 $1 = 1
9126 (gdb) print $_
9127 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9128 @end smallexample
9129
9130 @node Optimized Code
9131 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9132 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9133 @cindex debugging optimized code
9134
9135 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9136 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9137 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9138 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9139 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9140 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9141 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9142
9143 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9144 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9145 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9146 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9147
9148 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9149 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9150 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9151 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9152 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9153 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9154
9155 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9156 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9157 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9158 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9159 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9160
9161 @menu
9162 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9163 @end menu
9164
9165 @node Inline Functions
9166 @section Inline Functions
9167 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9168
9169 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9170 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9171 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9172 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9173 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9174 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9175 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9176 @code{info frame} command.
9177
9178 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9179 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9180 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9181 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9182 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9183 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9184 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9185 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9186 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9187 local variables in the caller.
9188
9189 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9190 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9191 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9192 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9193 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9194 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9195 instructions are executed.
9196
9197 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9198 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9199 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9200 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9201
9202 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9203 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9204
9205 @itemize @bullet
9206 @item
9207 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9208 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9209 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9210 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9211 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9212 function instead.
9213
9214 @item
9215 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9216 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9217 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9218 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9219 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9220 or inside the inlined function instead.
9221
9222 @item
9223 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9224 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9225 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9226 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9227
9228 @end itemize
9229
9230
9231 @node Macros
9232 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9233
9234 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9235 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9236 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9237 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9238 where it was defined.
9239
9240 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9241 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9242 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9243 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9244
9245 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9246 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9247 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9248 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9249 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9250 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9251 see @ref{List}.
9252
9253 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9254 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9255 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9256
9257 @table @code
9258
9259 @kindex macro expand
9260 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9261 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9262 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9263 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9264 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9265 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9266 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9267 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9268 it can be any string of tokens.
9269
9270 @kindex macro exp1
9271 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9272 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9273 @cindex expand macro once
9274 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9275 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9276 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9277 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9278 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9279 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9280 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9281 can be any string of tokens.
9282
9283 @kindex info macro
9284 @cindex macro definition, showing
9285 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
9286 @item info macro @var{macro}
9287 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9288 source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9289
9290 @kindex macro define
9291 @cindex user-defined macros
9292 @cindex defining macros interactively
9293 @cindex macros, user-defined
9294 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9295 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9296 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9297 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9298 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9299 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9300 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9301 @var{arglist}.
9302
9303 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9304 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9305 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9306 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9307 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9308
9309 @kindex macro undef
9310 @item macro undef @var{macro}
9311 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9312 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9313 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9314 in the program being debugged.
9315
9316 @kindex macro list
9317 @item macro list
9318 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9319 @end table
9320
9321 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
9322 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9323 show our source files:
9324
9325 @smallexample
9326 $ cat sample.c
9327 #include <stdio.h>
9328 #include "sample.h"
9329
9330 #define M 42
9331 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9332
9333 main ()
9334 @{
9335 #define N 28
9336 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9337 #undef N
9338 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9339 #define N 1729
9340 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9341 @}
9342 $ cat sample.h
9343 #define Q <
9344 $
9345 @end smallexample
9346
9347 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9348 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9349 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9350 information.
9351
9352 @smallexample
9353 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9354 $
9355 @end smallexample
9356
9357 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9358
9359 @smallexample
9360 $ gdb -nw sample
9361 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9362 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9363 GDB is free software, @dots{}
9364 (@value{GDBP})
9365 @end smallexample
9366
9367 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9368 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9369 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9370
9371 @smallexample
9372 (@value{GDBP}) list main
9373 3
9374 4 #define M 42
9375 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9376 6
9377 7 main ()
9378 8 @{
9379 9 #define N 28
9380 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9381 11 #undef N
9382 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9383 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9384 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9385 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9386 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9387 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9388 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9389 #define Q <
9390 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9391 expands to: (42 + 1)
9392 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9393 expands to: once (M + 1)
9394 (@value{GDBP})
9395 @end smallexample
9396
9397 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9398 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9399 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9400 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9401
9402 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9403 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9404
9405 @smallexample
9406 (@value{GDBP}) break main
9407 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9408 (@value{GDBP}) run
9409 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9410
9411 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
9412 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9413 (@value{GDBP})
9414 @end smallexample
9415
9416 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9417
9418 @smallexample
9419 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9420 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9421 #define N 28
9422 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9423 expands to: 28 < 42
9424 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9425 $1 = 1
9426 (@value{GDBP})
9427 @end smallexample
9428
9429 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9430 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9431 thereof) in force at each point:
9432
9433 @smallexample
9434 (@value{GDBP}) next
9435 Hello, world!
9436 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9437 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9438 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9439 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9440 (@value{GDBP}) next
9441 We're so creative.
9442 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9443 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9444 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9445 #define N 1729
9446 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9447 expands to: 1729 < 42
9448 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9449 $2 = 0
9450 (@value{GDBP})
9451 @end smallexample
9452
9453 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9454 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9455 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9456 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9457
9458 @smallexample
9459 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9460 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9461 -D__STDC__=1
9462 (@value{GDBP})
9463 @end smallexample
9464
9465
9466 @node Tracepoints
9467 @chapter Tracepoints
9468 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9469 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9470
9471 @cindex tracepoints
9472 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9473 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9474 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9475 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9476 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9477 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9478 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9479
9480 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9481 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9482 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9483 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9484 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9485 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9486 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9487 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9488 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9489 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9490 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9491
9492 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9493 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9494 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9495 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9496 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9497 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9498 Packets}.
9499
9500 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
9501 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
9502 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
9503
9504 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9505
9506 @menu
9507 * Set Tracepoints::
9508 * Analyze Collected Data::
9509 * Tracepoint Variables::
9510 * Trace Files::
9511 @end menu
9512
9513 @node Set Tracepoints
9514 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9515
9516 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9517 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9518 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9519 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9520 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9521 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9522 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9523
9524 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9525 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9526 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9527 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9528 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9529 tracepoint was hit.
9530
9531 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
9532 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
9533 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
9534 either.
9535
9536 @cindex fast tracepoints
9537 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9538 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9539 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9540
9541 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
9542 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
9543
9544 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9545 conditions and actions.
9546
9547 @menu
9548 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9549 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9550 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
9551 * Tracepoint Conditions::
9552 * Trace State Variables::
9553 * Tracepoint Actions::
9554 * Listing Tracepoints::
9555 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9556 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
9557 @end menu
9558
9559 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9560 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9561
9562 @table @code
9563 @cindex set tracepoint
9564 @kindex trace
9565 @item trace @var{location}
9566 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9567 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9568 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9569 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9570 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9571 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9572 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9573 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9574 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9575
9576 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9577
9578 @smallexample
9579 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9580
9581 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9582
9583 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9584
9585 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9586
9587 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9588 @end smallexample
9589
9590 @noindent
9591 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9592
9593 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9594 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9595 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9596 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9597 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9598 information on tracepoint conditions.
9599
9600 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9601 @cindex set fast tracepoint
9602 @kindex ftrace
9603 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9604 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9605 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9606 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9607 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9608 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9609 message.
9610
9611 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9612 @code{trace}.
9613
9614 @vindex $tpnum
9615 @cindex last tracepoint number
9616 @cindex recent tracepoint number
9617 @cindex tracepoint number
9618 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9619 of the most recently set tracepoint.
9620
9621 @kindex delete tracepoint
9622 @cindex tracepoint deletion
9623 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9624 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9625 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9626 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9627
9628 Examples:
9629
9630 @smallexample
9631 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9632
9633 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9634 @end smallexample
9635
9636 @noindent
9637 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9638 @end table
9639
9640 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9641 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9642
9643 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9644
9645 @table @code
9646 @kindex disable tracepoint
9647 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9648 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9649 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9650 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9651 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9652
9653 @kindex enable tracepoint
9654 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9655 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9656 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9657 run.
9658 @end table
9659
9660 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
9661 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9662
9663 @table @code
9664 @kindex passcount
9665 @cindex tracepoint pass count
9666 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9667 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9668 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9669 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9670 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9671 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9672 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9673 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9674 user.
9675
9676 Examples:
9677
9678 @smallexample
9679 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9680 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9681
9682 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9683 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9685 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9686 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9687 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9688 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9689 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
9690 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
9691 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
9692 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
9693 @end smallexample
9694 @end table
9695
9696 @node Tracepoint Conditions
9697 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
9698 @cindex conditional tracepoints
9699 @cindex tracepoint conditions
9700
9701 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
9702 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
9703 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
9704 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
9705 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
9706 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
9707 is true.
9708
9709 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
9710 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
9711 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
9712 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
9713 just as with breakpoints.
9714
9715 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
9716 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
9717 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
9718 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
9719 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
9720 accesses, and so forth.
9721
9722 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
9723 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
9724 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
9725 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
9726 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
9727 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
9728 search through.
9729
9730 @smallexample
9731 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
9732 @end smallexample
9733
9734 @node Trace State Variables
9735 @subsection Trace State Variables
9736 @cindex trace state variables
9737
9738 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
9739 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
9740 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
9741 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
9742 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
9743 integers.
9744
9745 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
9746 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
9747 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
9748 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
9749
9750 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
9751 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
9752 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
9753 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
9754 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
9755 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
9756 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
9757 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
9758 variable with the same name.
9759
9760 @table @code
9761
9762 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
9763 @kindex tvariable
9764 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
9765 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
9766 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
9767 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
9768 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
9769 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
9770 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
9771 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
9772 value. The default initial value is 0.
9773
9774 @item info tvariables
9775 @kindex info tvariables
9776 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
9777 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
9778 currently running.
9779
9780 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
9781 @kindex delete tvariable
9782 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
9783 are specified.
9784
9785 @end table
9786
9787 @node Tracepoint Actions
9788 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
9789
9790 @table @code
9791 @kindex actions
9792 @cindex tracepoint actions
9793 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9794 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
9795 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
9796 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
9797 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
9798 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
9799 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
9800 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
9801 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
9802 @code{while-stepping}.
9803
9804 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
9805 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
9806 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
9807
9808 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
9809 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
9810 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
9811
9812 @smallexample
9813 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
9814
9815 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
9816
9817 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
9818 @end smallexample
9819
9820 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
9821 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
9822 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
9823 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
9824 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
9825 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
9826 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
9827 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
9828
9829 @smallexample
9830 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9831 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9832 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
9833 > collect bar,baz
9834 > collect $regs
9835 > while-stepping 12
9836 > collect $pc, arr[i]
9837 > end
9838 end
9839 @end smallexample
9840
9841 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
9842 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9843 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
9844 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
9845 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
9846 special arguments are supported:
9847
9848 @table @code
9849 @item $regs
9850 collect all registers
9851
9852 @item $args
9853 collect all function arguments
9854
9855 @item $locals
9856 collect all local variables.
9857 @end table
9858
9859 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
9860 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
9861 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
9862
9863 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
9864 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
9865
9866 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
9867 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9868 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
9869 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
9870 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
9871 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
9872 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
9873 action were used.
9874
9875 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
9876 @item while-stepping @var{n}
9877 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
9878 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
9879 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
9880 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
9881
9882 @smallexample
9883 > while-stepping 12
9884 > collect $regs, myglobal
9885 > end
9886 >
9887 @end smallexample
9888
9889 @noindent
9890 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
9891 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
9892 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
9893 @code{stepping}.
9894
9895 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9896 @kindex set default-collect
9897 @cindex default collection action
9898 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
9899 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
9900 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
9901 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
9902 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
9903 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
9904
9905 @item show default-collect
9906 @kindex show default-collect
9907 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
9908 tracepoint hit.
9909
9910 @end table
9911
9912 @node Listing Tracepoints
9913 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
9914
9915 @table @code
9916 @kindex info tracepoints
9917 @kindex info tp
9918 @cindex information about tracepoints
9919 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9920 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
9921 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
9922 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
9923 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
9924 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
9925
9926 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
9927 tracing:
9928
9929 @itemize @bullet
9930 @item
9931 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
9932 @end itemize
9933
9934 @smallexample
9935 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
9936 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
9937 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
9938 while-stepping 20
9939 collect globfoo, $regs
9940 end
9941 collect globfoo2
9942 end
9943 pass count 1200
9944 (@value{GDBP})
9945 @end smallexample
9946
9947 @noindent
9948 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
9949 @end table
9950
9951 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9952 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9953
9954 @table @code
9955 @kindex tstart
9956 @cindex start a new trace experiment
9957 @cindex collected data discarded
9958 @item tstart
9959 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
9960 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
9961 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
9962 experiment.
9963
9964 @kindex tstop
9965 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
9966 @item tstop
9967 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
9968 stops collecting data.
9969
9970 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
9971 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
9972 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
9973
9974 @kindex tstatus
9975 @cindex status of trace data collection
9976 @cindex trace experiment, status of
9977 @item tstatus
9978 This command displays the status of the current trace data
9979 collection.
9980 @end table
9981
9982 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
9983
9984 @smallexample
9985 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
9986 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9987 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
9988 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
9989 > while-stepping 11
9990 > collect $regs
9991 > end
9992 > end
9993 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9994 [time passes @dots{}]
9995 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
9996 @end smallexample
9997
9998 @cindex disconnected tracing
9999 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10000 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10001 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10002 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10003 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10004 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
10005 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
10006 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
10007
10008 @table @code
10009 @item set disconnected-tracing on
10010 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
10011 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
10012 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
10013 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
10014 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
10015 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
10016 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
10017
10018 @item show disconnected-tracing
10019 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
10020 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
10021
10022 @end table
10023
10024 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
10025 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
10026 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
10027 it will continue after reconnection.
10028
10029 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
10030 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
10031 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
10032 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
10033 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
10034 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
10035 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
10036 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
10037 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
10038 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
10039
10040 @cindex circular trace buffer
10041 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
10042 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
10043 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
10044 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
10045 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
10046 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
10047 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
10048 @samp{circular_trace_buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
10049 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
10050 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
10051 the next run.
10052
10053 @table @code
10054 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
10055 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
10056 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
10057 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
10058 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
10059 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
10060 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
10061
10062 @item show circular-trace-buffer
10063 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
10064 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
10065 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
10066 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
10067 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
10068
10069 @end table
10070
10071 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
10072 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
10073
10074 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
10075 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
10076 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
10077 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
10078 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
10079 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
10080 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
10081 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
10082 mentioned here.
10083
10084 @itemize @bullet
10085
10086 @item
10087 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
10088 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
10089 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
10090 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
10091 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
10092 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
10093 cannot be collected either.
10094
10095 @item
10096 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
10097 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
10098 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
10099 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
10100 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
10101 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
10102 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
10103 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
10104 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
10105 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
10106
10107 @item
10108 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
10109 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
10110 in a misleading way.
10111
10112 @item
10113 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
10114 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
10115 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
10116 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
10117 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
10118 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
10119 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
10120 by @code{ptr}.
10121
10122 @item
10123 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
10124 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
10125 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*$esp@@300}
10126 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
10127 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
10128 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
10129 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
10130 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
10131 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
10132 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
10133 invalid address.
10134
10135 @item
10136 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
10137 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
10138 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
10139 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
10140 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
10141 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
10142 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
10143 it to zero.
10144
10145 @end itemize
10146
10147 @node Analyze Collected Data
10148 @section Using the Collected Data
10149
10150 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
10151 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
10152 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
10153 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
10154 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
10155 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
10156 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
10157 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
10158 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
10159 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
10160 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
10161 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
10162 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
10163 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
10164 the buffer will fail.
10165
10166 @menu
10167 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
10168 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
10169 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
10170 @end menu
10171
10172 @node tfind
10173 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
10174
10175 @kindex tfind
10176 @cindex select trace snapshot
10177 @cindex find trace snapshot
10178 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
10179 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
10180 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
10181 snapshot is selected.
10182
10183 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
10184
10185 @table @code
10186 @item tfind start
10187 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
10188 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
10189
10190 @item tfind none
10191 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
10192
10193 @item tfind end
10194 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
10195
10196 @item tfind
10197 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
10198
10199 @item tfind -
10200 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
10201 retracing earlier steps.
10202
10203 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
10204 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
10205 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
10206 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
10207 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
10208
10209 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
10210 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
10211 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
10212 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
10213 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
10214
10215 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10216 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
10217 addresses (exclusive).
10218
10219 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10220 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
10221 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
10222
10223 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
10224 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
10225 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
10226 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
10227 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
10228 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
10229 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
10230 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
10231 @end table
10232
10233 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
10234 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
10235 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
10236 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
10237 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
10238 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
10239 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
10240 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
10241 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
10242 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
10243 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
10244 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
10245 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
10246 tracepoint as the current one.
10247
10248 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
10249 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
10250 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
10251 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
10252 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
10253
10254 @smallexample
10255 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10256 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10257 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
10258 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
10259 > tfind
10260 > end
10261
10262 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
10263 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
10264 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
10265 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
10266 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
10267 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
10268 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
10269 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
10270 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
10271 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
10272 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
10273 @end smallexample
10274
10275 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
10276 the buffer:
10277
10278 @smallexample
10279 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10280 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10281 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
10282 > tfind line
10283 > end
10284
10285 Frame 0, X = 1
10286 Frame 7, X = 2
10287 Frame 13, X = 255
10288 @end smallexample
10289
10290 @node tdump
10291 @subsection @code{tdump}
10292 @kindex tdump
10293 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
10294 @cindex tracepoint data, display
10295
10296 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
10297 the current trace snapshot.
10298
10299 @smallexample
10300 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
10301 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10302 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
10303 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
10304 > end
10305
10306 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10307
10308 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
10309 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
10310 at gdb_test.c:444
10311 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
10312
10313 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
10314 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
10315 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
10316 d1 0x18 24
10317 d2 0x80 128
10318 d3 0x33 51
10319 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
10320 d5 0x22 34
10321 d6 0xe0 224
10322 d7 0x380035 3670069
10323 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
10324 a1 0x3000668 50333288
10325 a2 0x100 256
10326 a3 0x322000 3284992
10327 a4 0x3000698 50333336
10328 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
10329 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
10330 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
10331 ps 0x0 0
10332 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
10333 fpcontrol 0x0 0
10334 fpstatus 0x0 0
10335 fpiaddr 0x0 0
10336 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
10337 p1 = (void *) 0x11
10338 p2 = (void *) 0x22
10339 p3 = (void *) 0x33
10340 p4 = (void *) 0x44
10341 p5 = (void *) 0x55
10342 p6 = (void *) 0x66
10343 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
10344
10345 (@value{GDBP})
10346 @end smallexample
10347
10348 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
10349 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
10350 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
10351 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
10352
10353 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
10354 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
10355 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
10356 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
10357 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
10358 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
10359 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
10360 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
10361 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
10362 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
10363
10364 @node save tracepoints
10365 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
10366 @kindex save tracepoints
10367 @kindex save-tracepoints
10368 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
10369
10370 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
10371 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
10372 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
10373 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
10374 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
10375 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
10376
10377 @node Tracepoint Variables
10378 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
10379 @cindex tracepoint variables
10380 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10381
10382 @table @code
10383 @vindex $trace_frame
10384 @item (int) $trace_frame
10385 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10386 snapshot is selected.
10387
10388 @vindex $tracepoint
10389 @item (int) $tracepoint
10390 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10391
10392 @vindex $trace_line
10393 @item (int) $trace_line
10394 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10395
10396 @vindex $trace_file
10397 @item (char []) $trace_file
10398 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10399
10400 @vindex $trace_func
10401 @item (char []) $trace_func
10402 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10403 @end table
10404
10405 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10406 use @code{output} instead.
10407
10408 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10409 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10410 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10411 which are managed by the target.
10412
10413 @smallexample
10414 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10415
10416 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10417 > output $trace_file
10418 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10419 > tfind
10420 > end
10421 @end smallexample
10422
10423 @node Trace Files
10424 @section Using Trace Files
10425 @cindex trace files
10426
10427 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
10428 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
10429 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
10430 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
10431 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
10432
10433 @table @code
10434
10435 @kindex tsave
10436 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
10437 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
10438 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
10439 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
10440 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
10441 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
10442 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
10443 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
10444 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
10445
10446 @kindex target tfile
10447 @kindex tfile
10448 @item target tfile @var{filename}
10449 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
10450 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
10451 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
10452 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
10453 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
10454 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
10455
10456 @end table
10457
10458 @node Overlays
10459 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10460 @cindex overlays
10461
10462 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10463 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10464 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10465 use overlays.
10466
10467 @menu
10468 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10469 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10470 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10471 mapped by asking the inferior.
10472 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10473 @end menu
10474
10475 @node How Overlays Work
10476 @section How Overlays Work
10477 @cindex mapped overlays
10478 @cindex unmapped overlays
10479 @cindex load address, overlay's
10480 @cindex mapped address
10481 @cindex overlay area
10482
10483 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10484 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10485 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10486 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10487 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10488
10489 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10490 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10491 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10492 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10493 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10494 largest overlay as well.
10495
10496 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10497 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10498 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10499 there.
10500
10501 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10502 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10503 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10504
10505 @smallexample
10506 @group
10507 Data Instruction Larger
10508 Address Space Address Space Address Space
10509 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10510 | | | | | |
10511 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10512 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10513 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
10514 | and heap | | | | | |
10515 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10516 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
10517 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10518 | | | | | |
10519 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10520 address | | | | | |
10521 | overlay | <-' | | |
10522 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10523 | | <---. | | load address
10524 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10525 | | | |
10526 +-----------+ | |
10527 +-----------+
10528 | |
10529 +-----------+
10530
10531 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10532 @end group
10533 @end smallexample
10534
10535 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10536 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10537 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10538 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10539 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10540 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10541 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10542 program and the overlay area.
10543
10544 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10545 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10546 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10547 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10548 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10549 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10550 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10551
10552 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10553 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10554 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10555
10556 @itemize @bullet
10557
10558 @item
10559 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10560 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10561 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10562 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10563
10564 @item
10565 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10566 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10567 your program's performance.
10568
10569 @item
10570 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10571 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10572 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10573 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10574 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10575 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10576 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10577
10578 @item
10579 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10580 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10581 instruction and data spaces.
10582
10583 @end itemize
10584
10585 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10586 improved in many ways:
10587
10588 @itemize @bullet
10589
10590 @item
10591 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10592 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10593 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10594 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10595 area in the usual way.
10596
10597 @item
10598 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
10599 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
10600
10601 @item
10602 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
10603 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
10604 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
10605 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
10606 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
10607 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
10608 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
10609
10610 @end itemize
10611
10612
10613 @node Overlay Commands
10614 @section Overlay Commands
10615
10616 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
10617 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
10618 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
10619 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
10620 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
10621 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
10622
10623 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
10624 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
10625
10626 @table @code
10627 @item overlay off
10628 @kindex overlay
10629 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
10630 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
10631 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
10632 overlay support is disabled.
10633
10634 @item overlay manual
10635 @cindex manual overlay debugging
10636 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10637 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
10638 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
10639 commands described below.
10640
10641 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
10642 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
10643 @cindex map an overlay
10644 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
10645 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
10646 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
10647 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
10648 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
10649 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
10650
10651 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
10652 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
10653 @cindex unmap an overlay
10654 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
10655 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
10656 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
10657 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
10658
10659 @item overlay auto
10660 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10661 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
10662 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
10663 Overlay Debugging}.
10664
10665 @item overlay load-target
10666 @itemx overlay load
10667 @cindex reloading the overlay table
10668 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
10669 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
10670 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
10671 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
10672 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
10673
10674 @item overlay list-overlays
10675 @itemx overlay list
10676 @cindex listing mapped overlays
10677 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
10678 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
10679
10680 @end table
10681
10682 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
10683 of the function the address falls in:
10684
10685 @smallexample
10686 (@value{GDBP}) print main
10687 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
10688 @end smallexample
10689 @noindent
10690 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
10691 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
10692 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
10693 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
10694
10695 @smallexample
10696 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10697 No sections are mapped.
10698 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10699 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
10700 @end smallexample
10701 @noindent
10702 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
10703 name normally:
10704
10705 @smallexample
10706 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10707 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
10708 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
10709 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10710 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
10711 @end smallexample
10712
10713 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
10714 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
10715 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
10716 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
10717 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
10718
10719 @itemize @bullet
10720 @item
10721 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
10722 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
10723 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
10724 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
10725 @item
10726 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
10727 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
10728 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
10729 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
10730 breakpoints properly.
10731 @end itemize
10732
10733
10734 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
10735 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
10736 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
10737
10738 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
10739 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
10740 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
10741 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
10742 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
10743 current state of the overlays.
10744
10745 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
10746 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
10747
10748 @table @asis
10749
10750 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
10751 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
10752
10753 @smallexample
10754 struct
10755 @{
10756 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
10757 unsigned long vma;
10758
10759 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
10760 unsigned long size;
10761
10762 /* The overlay's load address. */
10763 unsigned long lma;
10764
10765 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
10766 zero otherwise. */
10767 unsigned long mapped;
10768 @}
10769 @end smallexample
10770
10771 @item @code{_novlys}:
10772 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
10773 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
10774
10775 @end table
10776
10777 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
10778 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
10779 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
10780 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
10781 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
10782 currently mapped.
10783
10784 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
10785 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
10786 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
10787 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
10788 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
10789 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
10790 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
10791 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
10792 are not being executed.
10793
10794 @node Overlay Sample Program
10795 @section Overlay Sample Program
10796 @cindex overlay example program
10797
10798 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
10799 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
10800 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
10801 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
10802 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
10803 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
10804 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
10805
10806 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
10807 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
10808 suite. The program consists of the following files from
10809 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
10810
10811 @table @file
10812 @item overlays.c
10813 The main program file.
10814 @item ovlymgr.c
10815 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
10816 @item foo.c
10817 @itemx bar.c
10818 @itemx baz.c
10819 @itemx grbx.c
10820 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
10821 @item d10v.ld
10822 @itemx m32r.ld
10823 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
10824 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
10825 @end table
10826
10827 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
10828 cross-compiler like this:
10829
10830 @smallexample
10831 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
10832 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
10833 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
10834 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
10835 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
10836 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
10837 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
10838 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
10839 @end smallexample
10840
10841 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
10842 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
10843 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
10844
10845
10846 @node Languages
10847 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
10848 @cindex languages
10849
10850 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
10851 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
10852 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
10853 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
10854 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
10855 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
10856
10857 @cindex working language
10858 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
10859 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
10860 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
10861 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
10862 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
10863 language}.
10864
10865 @menu
10866 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
10867 * Show:: Displaying the language
10868 * Checks:: Type and range checks
10869 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
10870 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
10871 @end menu
10872
10873 @node Setting
10874 @section Switching Between Source Languages
10875
10876 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
10877 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
10878 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
10879 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
10880 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
10881 are printed, etc.
10882
10883 In addition to the working language, every source file that
10884 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
10885 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
10886 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
10887 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
10888 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
10889 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
10890 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
10891 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
10892 Displaying the Language}.
10893
10894 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
10895 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
10896 another language. In that case, make the
10897 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
10898 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
10899 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
10900
10901 @menu
10902 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
10903 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
10904 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
10905 @end menu
10906
10907 @node Filenames
10908 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
10909
10910 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
10911 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
10912
10913 @table @file
10914 @item .ada
10915 @itemx .ads
10916 @itemx .adb
10917 @itemx .a
10918 Ada source file.
10919
10920 @item .c
10921 C source file
10922
10923 @item .C
10924 @itemx .cc
10925 @itemx .cp
10926 @itemx .cpp
10927 @itemx .cxx
10928 @itemx .c++
10929 C@t{++} source file
10930
10931 @item .d
10932 D source file
10933
10934 @item .m
10935 Objective-C source file
10936
10937 @item .f
10938 @itemx .F
10939 Fortran source file
10940
10941 @item .mod
10942 Modula-2 source file
10943
10944 @item .s
10945 @itemx .S
10946 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
10947 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
10948 @end table
10949
10950 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
10951 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
10952
10953 @node Manually
10954 @subsection Setting the Working Language
10955
10956 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
10957 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
10958 your program.
10959
10960 @kindex set language
10961 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
10962 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
10963 a language, such as
10964 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
10965 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
10966
10967 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
10968 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
10969 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
10970 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
10971 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
10972 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
10973 command such as:
10974
10975 @smallexample
10976 print a = b + c
10977 @end smallexample
10978
10979 @noindent
10980 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
10981 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
10982 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
10983 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
10984
10985 @node Automatically
10986 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
10987
10988 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
10989 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
10990 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
10991 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
10992 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
10993 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
10994 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
10995 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
10996 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
10997
10998 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
10999 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
11000 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
11001 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
11002 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
11003
11004 @node Show
11005 @section Displaying the Language
11006
11007 The following commands help you find out which language is the
11008 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
11009
11010 @table @code
11011 @item show language
11012 @kindex show language
11013 Display the current working language. This is the
11014 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
11015 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
11016
11017 @item info frame
11018 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
11019 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
11020 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
11021 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
11022 information listed here.
11023
11024 @item info source
11025 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
11026 Display the source language of this source file.
11027 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
11028 information listed here.
11029 @end table
11030
11031 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
11032 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
11033 with a language explicitly:
11034
11035 @table @code
11036 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
11037 @kindex set extension-language
11038 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
11039 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
11040
11041 @item info extensions
11042 @kindex info extensions
11043 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
11044 @end table
11045
11046 @node Checks
11047 @section Type and Range Checking
11048
11049 @quotation
11050 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
11051 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
11052 section documents the intended facilities.
11053 @end quotation
11054 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
11055
11056 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
11057 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
11058 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
11059 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
11060 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
11061 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
11062 errors when your program is running.
11063
11064 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
11065 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
11066 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
11067 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
11068 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
11069 automatically based on your program's source language.
11070 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
11071 settings of supported languages.
11072
11073 @menu
11074 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
11075 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
11076 @end menu
11077
11078 @cindex type checking
11079 @cindex checks, type
11080 @node Type Checking
11081 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
11082
11083 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
11084 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
11085 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
11086 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
11087
11088 @smallexample
11089 1 + 2 @result{} 3
11090 @exdent but
11091 @error{} 1 + 2.3
11092 @end smallexample
11093
11094 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
11095 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
11096
11097 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
11098 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
11099 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
11100 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
11101 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
11102 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
11103 also issues a warning.
11104
11105 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
11106 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
11107 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
11108 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
11109 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
11110 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
11111
11112 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
11113 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
11114 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
11115 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
11116 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
11117 details on specific languages.
11118
11119 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
11120
11121 @kindex set check type
11122 @kindex show check type
11123 @table @code
11124 @item set check type auto
11125 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
11126 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11127 each language.
11128
11129 @item set check type on
11130 @itemx set check type off
11131 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11132 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
11133 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
11134 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
11135 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
11136
11137 @item set check type warn
11138 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
11139 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
11140 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
11141 numbers and structures.
11142
11143 @item show type
11144 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
11145 is setting it automatically.
11146 @end table
11147
11148 @cindex range checking
11149 @cindex checks, range
11150 @node Range Checking
11151 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
11152
11153 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
11154 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
11155 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
11156 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
11157 not exceed the bounds of the array.
11158
11159 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
11160 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
11161 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
11162 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
11163
11164 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
11165 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
11166 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
11167 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
11168 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
11169 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
11170
11171 @smallexample
11172 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
11173 @end smallexample
11174
11175 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
11176 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
11177 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
11178
11179 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
11180
11181 @kindex set check range
11182 @kindex show check range
11183 @table @code
11184 @item set check range auto
11185 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
11186 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11187 each language.
11188
11189 @item set check range on
11190 @itemx set check range off
11191 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11192 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
11193 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
11194 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
11195
11196 @item set check range warn
11197 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
11198 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
11199 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
11200 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
11201 systems).
11202
11203 @item show range
11204 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
11205 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
11206 @end table
11207
11208 @node Supported Languages
11209 @section Supported Languages
11210
11211 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
11212 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
11213 @c This is false ...
11214 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
11215 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
11216 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
11217 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
11218 language.
11219
11220 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
11221 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
11222 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
11223 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
11224 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
11225 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
11226 language reference or tutorial.
11227
11228 @menu
11229 * C:: C and C@t{++}
11230 * D:: D
11231 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
11232 * Fortran:: Fortran
11233 * Pascal:: Pascal
11234 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
11235 * Ada:: Ada
11236 @end menu
11237
11238 @node C
11239 @subsection C and C@t{++}
11240
11241 @cindex C and C@t{++}
11242 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
11243
11244 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
11245 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
11246 together.
11247
11248 @cindex C@t{++}
11249 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
11250 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
11251 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
11252 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
11253 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
11254 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
11255 compiler (@code{aCC}).
11256
11257 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
11258 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
11259 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
11260 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
11261 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
11262 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
11263
11264 @menu
11265 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
11266 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
11267 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
11268 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
11269 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
11270 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
11271 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
11272 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
11273 @end menu
11274
11275 @node C Operators
11276 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
11277
11278 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
11279
11280 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11281 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11282 often defined on groups of types.
11283
11284 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
11285
11286 @itemize @bullet
11287
11288 @item
11289 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
11290 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
11291
11292 @item
11293 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
11294 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
11295
11296 @item
11297 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
11298
11299 @item
11300 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
11301
11302 @end itemize
11303
11304 @noindent
11305 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
11306 in order of increasing precedence:
11307
11308 @table @code
11309 @item ,
11310 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
11311 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
11312 expression being the last expression evaluated.
11313
11314 @item =
11315 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
11316 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
11317
11318 @item @var{op}=
11319 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
11320 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
11321 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
11322 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
11323 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
11324
11325 @item ?:
11326 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
11327 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
11328 integral type.
11329
11330 @item ||
11331 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11332
11333 @item &&
11334 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11335
11336 @item |
11337 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11338
11339 @item ^
11340 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11341
11342 @item &
11343 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11344
11345 @item ==@r{, }!=
11346 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
11347 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
11348
11349 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
11350 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
11351 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
11352 and non-zero for true.
11353
11354 @item <<@r{, }>>
11355 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
11356
11357 @item @@
11358 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11359
11360 @item +@r{, }-
11361 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
11362 pointer types.
11363
11364 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
11365 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
11366 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
11367 integral types.
11368
11369 @item ++@r{, }--
11370 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
11371 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
11372 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
11373 operation takes place.
11374
11375 @item *
11376 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
11377 @code{++}.
11378
11379 @item &
11380 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
11381
11382 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
11383 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
11384 to examine the address
11385 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
11386 stored.
11387
11388 @item -
11389 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
11390 precedence as @code{++}.
11391
11392 @item !
11393 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11394 @code{++}.
11395
11396 @item ~
11397 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11398 @code{++}.
11399
11400
11401 @item .@r{, }->
11402 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
11403 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
11404 pointer based on the stored type information.
11405 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
11406
11407 @item .*@r{, }->*
11408 Dereferences of pointers to members.
11409
11410 @item []
11411 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
11412 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11413
11414 @item ()
11415 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11416
11417 @item ::
11418 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11419 and @code{class} types.
11420
11421 @item ::
11422 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11423 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11424 above.
11425 @end table
11426
11427 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11428 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11429 predefined meaning.
11430
11431 @node C Constants
11432 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11433
11434 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11435
11436 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11437 following ways:
11438
11439 @itemize @bullet
11440 @item
11441 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11442 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11443 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11444 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11445 @code{long} value.
11446
11447 @item
11448 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11449 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11450 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11451 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11452 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11453 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11454 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11455 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11456 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11457 constant.
11458
11459 @item
11460 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11461 integral equivalents.
11462
11463 @item
11464 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11465 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11466 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11467 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11468 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11469 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11470 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11471 @samp{\n} for newline.
11472
11473 @item
11474 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11475 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11476 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11477 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11478 characters.
11479
11480 @item
11481 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11482 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11483
11484 @item
11485 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11486 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11487 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11488 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11489 @end itemize
11490
11491 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
11492 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11493
11494 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11495 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11496
11497 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11498 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
11499 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11500 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11501 @quotation
11502 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11503 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11504 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11505 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11506 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11507 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11508 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11509 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11510 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11511 C@t{++} code.
11512 @end quotation
11513
11514 @enumerate
11515
11516 @cindex member functions
11517 @item
11518 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11519
11520 @smallexample
11521 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11522 @end smallexample
11523
11524 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11525 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11526 @item
11527 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11528 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11529 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11530 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11531
11532 @cindex call overloaded functions
11533 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
11534 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11535 @item
11536 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11537 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11538 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11539 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11540 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11541 default arguments.
11542
11543 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11544 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11545 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11546 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11547 number of function arguments.
11548
11549 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11550 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11551 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11552
11553 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11554 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11555 @smallexample
11556 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11557 @end smallexample
11558
11559 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11560 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11561
11562 @cindex reference declarations
11563 @item
11564 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11565 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11566 dereferenced.
11567
11568 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11569 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11570 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11571 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11572 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11573
11574 @item
11575 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11576 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11577 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11578 necessary, for example in an expression like
11579 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11580 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11581 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11582 @end enumerate
11583
11584 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11585 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11586 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11587 invoking user-defined operators.
11588
11589 @node C Defaults
11590 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11591
11592 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11593
11594 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11595 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
11596 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11597 selects the working language.
11598
11599 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
11600 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
11601 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
11602 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
11603 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
11604 for further details.
11605
11606 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
11607 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
11608 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
11609
11610 @node C Checks
11611 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
11612
11613 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
11614
11615 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
11616 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
11617 considers two variables type equivalent if:
11618
11619 @itemize @bullet
11620 @item
11621 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
11622 enumerated tag.
11623
11624 @item
11625 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
11626 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
11627
11628 @ignore
11629 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
11630 @c FIXME--beers?
11631 @item
11632 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
11633 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
11634 compilers.)
11635 @end ignore
11636 @end itemize
11637
11638 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
11639 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
11640 that is not itself an array.
11641
11642 @node Debugging C
11643 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
11644
11645 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
11646 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
11647 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
11648 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
11649
11650 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
11651 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
11652 ,Expressions}.
11653
11654 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
11655 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
11656
11657 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
11658
11659 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
11660 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
11661
11662 @table @code
11663 @cindex break in overloaded functions
11664 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
11665 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
11666 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
11667 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
11668 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
11669
11670 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
11671 @item rbreak @var{regex}
11672 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
11673 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
11674 classes.
11675 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
11676
11677 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
11678 @item catch throw
11679 @itemx catch catch
11680 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
11681 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
11682
11683 @cindex inheritance
11684 @item ptype @var{typename}
11685 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
11686 @var{typename}.
11687 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
11688
11689 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
11690 @item set print demangle
11691 @itemx show print demangle
11692 @itemx set print asm-demangle
11693 @itemx show print asm-demangle
11694 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
11695 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
11696 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11697
11698 @item set print object
11699 @itemx show print object
11700 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
11701 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11702
11703 @item set print vtbl
11704 @itemx show print vtbl
11705 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
11706 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11707 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
11708 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
11709
11710 @kindex set overload-resolution
11711 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
11712 @item set overload-resolution on
11713 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
11714 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
11715 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
11716 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
11717 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
11718 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
11719
11720 @item set overload-resolution off
11721 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
11722 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11723 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
11724 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
11725 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11726 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
11727 argument types.
11728
11729 @kindex show overload-resolution
11730 @item show overload-resolution
11731 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
11732
11733 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
11734 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
11735 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
11736 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
11737 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
11738 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
11739 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
11740 @end table
11741
11742 @node Decimal Floating Point
11743 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
11744 @cindex decimal floating point format
11745
11746 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
11747 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
11748 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
11749 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
11750
11751 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
11752 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
11753 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
11754 target.
11755
11756 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
11757 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
11758 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
11759
11760 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
11761 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
11762 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
11763
11764 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
11765 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
11766 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
11767
11768 @node D
11769 @subsection D
11770
11771 @cindex D
11772 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
11773 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
11774 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
11775
11776 @node Objective-C
11777 @subsection Objective-C
11778
11779 @cindex Objective-C
11780 This section provides information about some commands and command
11781 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
11782 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
11783 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
11784
11785 @menu
11786 * Method Names in Commands::
11787 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
11788 @end menu
11789
11790 @node Method Names in Commands
11791 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
11792
11793 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
11794 names as line specifications:
11795
11796 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
11797 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
11798 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
11799 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
11800 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
11801 @itemize
11802 @item @code{clear}
11803 @item @code{break}
11804 @item @code{info line}
11805 @item @code{jump}
11806 @item @code{list}
11807 @end itemize
11808
11809 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
11810
11811 @smallexample
11812 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
11813 @end smallexample
11814
11815 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
11816 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
11817 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
11818 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
11819 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
11820 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
11821 debugged, enter:
11822
11823 @smallexample
11824 break -[Fruit create]
11825 @end smallexample
11826
11827 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
11828 enter:
11829
11830 @smallexample
11831 list +[NSText initialize]
11832 @end smallexample
11833
11834 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
11835 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
11836 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
11837 is also possible to specify just a method name:
11838
11839 @smallexample
11840 break create
11841 @end smallexample
11842
11843 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
11844 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
11845 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
11846 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
11847 none apply.
11848
11849 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
11850 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
11851
11852 @smallexample
11853 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
11854 @end smallexample
11855
11856 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
11857 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
11858 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
11859 @kindex print-object
11860 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
11861
11862 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
11863
11864 @smallexample
11865 print -[@var{object} hash]
11866 @end smallexample
11867
11868 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
11869 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
11870 @noindent
11871 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
11872 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
11873 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
11874 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
11875 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
11876 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
11877
11878 @node Fortran
11879 @subsection Fortran
11880 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
11881
11882 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
11883 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
11884
11885 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
11886 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
11887 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
11888 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
11889 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
11890 underscore.
11891
11892 @menu
11893 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
11894 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
11895 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
11896 @end menu
11897
11898 @node Fortran Operators
11899 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
11900
11901 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
11902
11903 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11904 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
11905 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
11906
11907 @table @code
11908 @item **
11909 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
11910 of the second one.
11911
11912 @item :
11913 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
11914 represent a section of array.
11915
11916 @item %
11917 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
11918 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
11919 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
11920 union type.
11921 @end table
11922
11923 @node Fortran Defaults
11924 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
11925
11926 @cindex Fortran Defaults
11927
11928 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
11929 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
11930 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
11931 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
11932
11933 @node Special Fortran Commands
11934 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
11935
11936 @cindex Special Fortran commands
11937
11938 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
11939 such as displaying common blocks.
11940
11941 @table @code
11942 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
11943 @kindex info common
11944 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
11945 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
11946 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
11947 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
11948 printed.
11949 @end table
11950
11951 @node Pascal
11952 @subsection Pascal
11953
11954 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
11955 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
11956 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
11957 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
11958 syntax.
11959
11960 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
11961 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
11962 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
11963
11964 @node Modula-2
11965 @subsection Modula-2
11966
11967 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
11968
11969 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
11970 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
11971 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
11972 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
11973 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
11974 table.
11975
11976 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
11977 @menu
11978 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
11979 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
11980 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
11981 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
11982 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
11983 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
11984 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
11985 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11986 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
11987 @end menu
11988
11989 @node M2 Operators
11990 @subsubsection Operators
11991 @cindex Modula-2 operators
11992
11993 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11994 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11995 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
11996 following definitions hold:
11997
11998 @itemize @bullet
11999
12000 @item
12001 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
12002 their subranges.
12003
12004 @item
12005 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
12006
12007 @item
12008 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
12009
12010 @item
12011 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
12012 @var{type}}.
12013
12014 @item
12015 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
12016
12017 @item
12018 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
12019
12020 @item
12021 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
12022 @end itemize
12023
12024 @noindent
12025 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
12026 increasing precedence:
12027
12028 @table @code
12029 @item ,
12030 Function argument or array index separator.
12031
12032 @item :=
12033 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
12034 @var{value}.
12035
12036 @item <@r{, }>
12037 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
12038 types.
12039
12040 @item <=@r{, }>=
12041 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
12042 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
12043 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
12044
12045 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
12046 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
12047 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
12048 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
12049 comment character.
12050
12051 @item IN
12052 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
12053 Same precedence as @code{<}.
12054
12055 @item OR
12056 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12057
12058 @item AND@r{, }&
12059 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12060
12061 @item @@
12062 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12063
12064 @item +@r{, }-
12065 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
12066 and difference on set types.
12067
12068 @item *
12069 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
12070 on set types.
12071
12072 @item /
12073 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
12074 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
12075
12076 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
12077 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
12078 precedence as @code{*}.
12079
12080 @item -
12081 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
12082
12083 @item ^
12084 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
12085
12086 @item NOT
12087 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
12088 @code{^}.
12089
12090 @item .
12091 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
12092 precedence as @code{^}.
12093
12094 @item []
12095 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
12096
12097 @item ()
12098 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
12099 as @code{^}.
12100
12101 @item ::@r{, }.
12102 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
12103 @end table
12104
12105 @quotation
12106 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
12107 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
12108 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
12109 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
12110 @end quotation
12111
12112
12113 @node Built-In Func/Proc
12114 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
12115 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
12116
12117 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
12118 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
12119
12120 @table @var
12121
12122 @item a
12123 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
12124
12125 @item c
12126 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
12127
12128 @item i
12129 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
12130
12131 @item m
12132 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
12133 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
12134 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
12135
12136 @item n
12137 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
12138
12139 @item r
12140 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
12141
12142 @item t
12143 represents a type.
12144
12145 @item v
12146 represents a variable.
12147
12148 @item x
12149 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
12150 explanation of the function for details.
12151 @end table
12152
12153 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
12154
12155 @table @code
12156 @item ABS(@var{n})
12157 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
12158
12159 @item CAP(@var{c})
12160 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
12161 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
12162
12163 @item CHR(@var{i})
12164 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12165
12166 @item DEC(@var{v})
12167 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12168
12169 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
12170 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12171 new value.
12172
12173 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12174 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
12175 set.
12176
12177 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
12178 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
12179
12180 @item HIGH(@var{a})
12181 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
12182
12183 @item INC(@var{v})
12184 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12185
12186 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
12187 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12188 new value.
12189
12190 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12191 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
12192 there. Returns the new set.
12193
12194 @item MAX(@var{t})
12195 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
12196
12197 @item MIN(@var{t})
12198 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
12199
12200 @item ODD(@var{i})
12201 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
12202
12203 @item ORD(@var{x})
12204 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
12205 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
12206 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
12207 integral, character and enumerated types.
12208
12209 @item SIZE(@var{x})
12210 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12211
12212 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
12213 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
12214
12215 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
12216 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12217
12218 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
12219 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12220 @end table
12221
12222 @quotation
12223 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
12224 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
12225 an error.
12226 @end quotation
12227
12228 @cindex Modula-2 constants
12229 @node M2 Constants
12230 @subsubsection Constants
12231
12232 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
12233 ways:
12234
12235 @itemize @bullet
12236
12237 @item
12238 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
12239 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
12240 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
12241 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
12242
12243 @item
12244 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
12245 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
12246 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
12247 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
12248 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
12249 digits.
12250
12251 @item
12252 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
12253 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
12254 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
12255 followed by a @samp{C}.
12256
12257 @item
12258 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
12259 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
12260 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
12261 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
12262 sequences.
12263
12264 @item
12265 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
12266
12267 @item
12268 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
12269 @code{FALSE}.
12270
12271 @item
12272 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
12273
12274 @item
12275 Set constants are not yet supported.
12276 @end itemize
12277
12278 @node M2 Types
12279 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
12280 @cindex Modula-2 types
12281
12282 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
12283 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
12284 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
12285 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
12286 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
12287 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
12288
12289 The first example contains the following section of code:
12290
12291 @smallexample
12292 VAR
12293 s: SET OF CHAR ;
12294 r: [20..40] ;
12295 @end smallexample
12296
12297 @noindent
12298 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
12299 @code{r} and @code{s}.
12300
12301 @smallexample
12302 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12303 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
12304 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12305 SET OF CHAR
12306 (@value{GDBP}) print r
12307 21
12308 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
12309 [20..40]
12310 @end smallexample
12311
12312 @noindent
12313 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
12314
12315 @smallexample
12316 VAR
12317 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
12318 @end smallexample
12319
12320 @noindent
12321 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
12322
12323 @smallexample
12324 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12325 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
12326 @end smallexample
12327
12328 @noindent
12329 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
12330 expressions using the debugger.
12331
12332 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
12333 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
12334
12335 @smallexample
12336 VAR
12337 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
12338 @end smallexample
12339
12340 @smallexample
12341 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12342 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
12343 @end smallexample
12344
12345 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
12346 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
12347 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
12348 above.
12349
12350 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
12351
12352 @smallexample
12353 TYPE
12354 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
12355 t = [blue..yellow] ;
12356 VAR
12357 s: t ;
12358 BEGIN
12359 s := blue ;
12360 @end smallexample
12361
12362 @noindent
12363 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
12364 and value of a variable.
12365
12366 @smallexample
12367 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12368 $1 = blue
12369 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
12370 type = [blue..yellow]
12371 @end smallexample
12372
12373 @noindent
12374 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
12375 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
12376 their @code{C} counterparts.
12377
12378 @smallexample
12379 VAR
12380 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12381 BEGIN
12382 s[1] := 1 ;
12383 @end smallexample
12384
12385 @smallexample
12386 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12387 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
12388 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12389 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12390 @end smallexample
12391
12392 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
12393 pointer types as shown in this example:
12394
12395 @smallexample
12396 VAR
12397 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12398 BEGIN
12399 NEW(s) ;
12400 s^[1] := 1 ;
12401 @end smallexample
12402
12403 @noindent
12404 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
12405
12406 @smallexample
12407 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12408 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12409 @end smallexample
12410
12411 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
12412 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
12413 types:
12414
12415 @smallexample
12416 TYPE
12417 foo = RECORD
12418 f1: CARDINAL ;
12419 f2: CHAR ;
12420 f3: myarray ;
12421 END ;
12422
12423 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
12424 myrange = [-2..2] ;
12425 VAR
12426 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12427 @end smallexample
12428
12429 @noindent
12430 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12431 below.
12432
12433 @smallexample
12434 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12435 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12436 f1 : CARDINAL;
12437 f2 : CHAR;
12438 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12439 END
12440 @end smallexample
12441
12442 @node M2 Defaults
12443 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12444 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
12445
12446 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12447 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12448 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12449 selected the working language.
12450
12451 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12452 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12453 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12454 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12455
12456 @node Deviations
12457 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12458 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12459
12460 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12461 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12462
12463 @itemize @bullet
12464 @item
12465 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12466 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12467 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12468 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12469 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12470 returned a pointer.)
12471
12472 @item
12473 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12474 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12475 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12476 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12477
12478 @item
12479 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12480 argument.
12481
12482 @item
12483 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12484 @end itemize
12485
12486 @node M2 Checks
12487 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12488 @cindex Modula-2 checks
12489
12490 @quotation
12491 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12492 range checking.
12493 @end quotation
12494 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12495
12496 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12497
12498 @itemize @bullet
12499 @item
12500 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12501 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12502
12503 @item
12504 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12505 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12506 @end itemize
12507
12508 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12509 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12510
12511 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12512 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12513
12514 @node M2 Scope
12515 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12516 @cindex scope
12517 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12518 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12519 @ifinfo
12520 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12521 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12522 @end ifinfo
12523 @ifnotinfo
12524 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
12525 @end ifnotinfo
12526
12527 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
12528 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
12529 similar syntax:
12530
12531 @smallexample
12532
12533 @var{module} . @var{id}
12534 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
12535 @end smallexample
12536
12537 @noindent
12538 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12539 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12540 identifier within your program, except another module.
12541
12542 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12543 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12544 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12545 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12546
12547 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12548 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12549 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12550 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12551 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12552 @var{module}.
12553
12554 @node GDB/M2
12555 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12556
12557 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12558 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12559 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
12560 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
12561 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
12562 analogue in Modula-2.
12563
12564 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
12565 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
12566 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
12567 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
12568 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
12569 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
12570
12571 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
12572 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
12573 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
12574
12575 @node Ada
12576 @subsection Ada
12577 @cindex Ada
12578
12579 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
12580 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
12581 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
12582 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12583 to be difficult.
12584
12585
12586 @cindex expressions in Ada
12587 @menu
12588 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
12589 and semantics supported by Ada mode
12590 in @value{GDBN}.
12591 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
12592 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
12593 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
12594 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
12595 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12596 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
12597 @end menu
12598
12599 @node Ada Mode Intro
12600 @subsubsection Introduction
12601 @cindex Ada mode, general
12602
12603 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
12604 syntax, with some extensions.
12605 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
12606
12607 @itemize @bullet
12608 @item
12609 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
12610 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
12611 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
12612 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
12613
12614 @item
12615 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
12616 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12617
12618 @item
12619 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12620 @end itemize
12621
12622 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
12623 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
12624 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
12625 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
12626 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
12627
12628 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
12629 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
12630 was translated from an Ada source file.
12631
12632 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
12633 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
12634 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
12635 middle (to allow based literals).
12636
12637 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
12638 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
12639 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
12640 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
12641 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
12642 functions to procedures elsewhere.
12643
12644 @node Omissions from Ada
12645 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
12646 @cindex Ada, omissions from
12647
12648 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
12649
12650 @itemize @bullet
12651 @item
12652 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
12653
12654 @itemize @minus
12655 @item
12656 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
12657 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
12658
12659 @item
12660 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
12661
12662 @item
12663 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
12664
12665 @item
12666 @t{'Tag}.
12667
12668 @item
12669 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
12670 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
12671
12672 @item
12673 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
12674 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
12675
12676 @item
12677 @t{'Address}.
12678 @end itemize
12679
12680 @item
12681 The names in
12682 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
12683 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
12684 not currently available.
12685
12686 @item
12687 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
12688 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
12689 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
12690 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
12691 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
12692 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
12693 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
12694 indeterminate values.
12695
12696 @item
12697 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
12698 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
12699 are not implemented.
12700
12701 @item
12702 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
12703 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
12704 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
12705 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
12706 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
12707
12708 @smallexample
12709 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
12710 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
12711 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
12712 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
12713 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
12714 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
12715 @end smallexample
12716
12717 Changing a
12718 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
12719 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
12720 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
12721 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
12722 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
12723 declared to have a type such as:
12724
12725 @smallexample
12726 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
12727 Id : Integer;
12728 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
12729 end record;
12730 @end smallexample
12731
12732 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
12733 assignments:
12734
12735 @smallexample
12736 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
12737 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
12738 @end smallexample
12739
12740 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
12741 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
12742 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
12743 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
12744 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
12745 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
12746 redundant component associations, although which component values are
12747 assigned in such cases is not defined.
12748
12749 @item
12750 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
12751
12752 @item
12753 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
12754 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
12755 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
12756 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
12757 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
12758 the proper resolution.
12759
12760 @item
12761 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
12762
12763 @item
12764 Entry calls are not implemented.
12765
12766 @item
12767 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
12768 formats are not supported.
12769
12770 @item
12771 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
12772
12773 @item
12774 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
12775 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
12776 context.
12777 Should your program
12778 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
12779 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
12780 @end itemize
12781
12782 @node Additions to Ada
12783 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
12784 @cindex Ada, deviations from
12785
12786 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
12787 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
12788
12789 @itemize @bullet
12790 @item
12791 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
12792 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
12793 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
12794 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
12795 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
12796 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
12797 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
12798 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
12799
12800 @item
12801 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
12802 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
12803 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
12804
12805 @item
12806 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
12807 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
12808
12809 @item
12810 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
12811 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
12812 @end itemize
12813
12814 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
12815 additions specific to Ada:
12816
12817 @itemize @bullet
12818 @item
12819 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
12820 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
12821
12822 @smallexample
12823 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
12824 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
12825 @end smallexample
12826
12827 @item
12828 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
12829 the value of its right-hand operand.
12830 This allows, for example,
12831 complex conditional breaks:
12832
12833 @smallexample
12834 (@value{GDBP}) break f
12835 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
12836 @end smallexample
12837
12838 @item
12839 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
12840 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
12841 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
12842 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
12843 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
12844 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
12845 in strings. For example,
12846 @smallexample
12847 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
12848 @end smallexample
12849 @noindent
12850 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
12851 after each period.
12852
12853 @item
12854 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
12855 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
12856 to write
12857
12858 @smallexample
12859 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
12860 @end smallexample
12861
12862 @item
12863 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
12864 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
12865 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
12866 of 3 might print as
12867
12868 @smallexample
12869 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
12870 @end smallexample
12871
12872 @noindent
12873 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
12874 clause.
12875
12876 @item
12877 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
12878 multi-character subsequence of
12879 their names (an exact match gets preference).
12880 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
12881 in place of @t{a'length}.
12882
12883 @item
12884 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
12885 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
12886 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
12887 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
12888 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
12889 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
12890 For example,
12891 @smallexample
12892 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
12893 @end smallexample
12894
12895 @item
12896 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
12897 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
12898 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
12899 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
12900 object.
12901
12902 @end itemize
12903
12904 @node Stopping Before Main Program
12905 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
12906
12907 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
12908 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
12909 before reaching the main procedure.
12910 As defined in the Ada Reference
12911 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
12912 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
12913 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
12914 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
12915
12916 @node Ada Tasks
12917 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
12918 @cindex Ada, tasking
12919
12920 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
12921 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
12922
12923 @table @code
12924 @kindex info tasks
12925 @item info tasks
12926 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
12927
12928
12929 @smallexample
12930 @iftex
12931 @leftskip=0.5cm
12932 @end iftex
12933 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12934 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12935 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12936 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
12937 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
12938 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
12939
12940 @end smallexample
12941
12942 @noindent
12943 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
12944 task currently being inspected.
12945
12946 @table @asis
12947 @item ID
12948 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
12949
12950 @item TID
12951 The Ada task ID.
12952
12953 @item P-ID
12954 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
12955
12956 @item Pri
12957 The base priority of the task.
12958
12959 @item State
12960 Current state of the task.
12961
12962 @table @code
12963 @item Unactivated
12964 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
12965 executing.
12966
12967 @item Runnable
12968 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
12969 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
12970
12971 @item Terminated
12972 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
12973 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
12974 terminated themselves.
12975
12976 @item Child Activation Wait
12977 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
12978
12979 @item Accept Statement
12980 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
12981
12982 @item Waiting on entry call
12983 The task is waiting on an entry call.
12984
12985 @item Async Select Wait
12986 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
12987 select statement.
12988
12989 @item Delay Sleep
12990 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
12991 alternative open.
12992
12993 @item Child Termination Wait
12994 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
12995 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
12996 waiting on a terminate Phase.
12997
12998 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
12999 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
13000 finish terminating.
13001
13002 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
13003 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
13004 @end table
13005
13006 @item Name
13007 Name of the task in the program.
13008
13009 @end table
13010
13011 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
13012 @item info task @var{taskno}
13013 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
13014 the following example:
13015 @smallexample
13016 @iftex
13017 @leftskip=0.5cm
13018 @end iftex
13019 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13020 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13021 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13022 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
13023 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
13024 Ada Task: 0x807c468
13025 Name: task_1
13026 Thread: 0x807f378
13027 Parent: 1 (main_task)
13028 Base Priority: 15
13029 State: Runnable
13030 @end smallexample
13031
13032 @item task
13033 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
13034 @cindex current Ada task ID
13035 This command prints the ID of the current task.
13036
13037 @smallexample
13038 @iftex
13039 @leftskip=0.5cm
13040 @end iftex
13041 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13042 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13043 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13044 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13045 (@value{GDBP}) task
13046 [Current task is 2]
13047 @end smallexample
13048
13049 @item task @var{taskno}
13050 @cindex Ada task switching
13051 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
13052 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
13053 from the current task to the given task.
13054
13055 @smallexample
13056 @iftex
13057 @leftskip=0.5cm
13058 @end iftex
13059 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13060 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13061 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13062 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13063 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
13064 [Switching to task 1]
13065 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13066 (@value{GDBP}) bt
13067 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13068 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
13069 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
13070 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
13071 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
13072 @end smallexample
13073
13074 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
13075 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
13076 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
13077 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
13078 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
13079 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
13080 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
13081 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
13082 in @ref{Specify Location}.
13083
13084 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
13085 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
13086 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
13087 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
13088 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
13089
13090 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
13091 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
13092 program.
13093
13094 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
13095 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
13096 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
13097
13098 For example,
13099
13100 @smallexample
13101 @iftex
13102 @leftskip=0.5cm
13103 @end iftex
13104 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13105 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13106 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13107 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
13108 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13109 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
13110 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
13111 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
13112 (@value{GDBP}) cont
13113 Continuing.
13114 task # 1 running
13115 task # 2 running
13116
13117 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
13118 15 flush;
13119 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13120 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13121 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13122 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
13123 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13124 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
13125 @end smallexample
13126 @end table
13127
13128 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
13129 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13130 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
13131
13132 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
13133 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
13134 the platform being used.
13135 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
13136 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
13137 as usual.
13138
13139 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
13140 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
13141 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
13142 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
13143 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
13144 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
13145
13146 @node Ada Glitches
13147 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
13148 @cindex Ada, problems
13149
13150 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
13151 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
13152 @value{GDBN},
13153 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
13154 and the GNU Ada compiler.
13155
13156 @itemize @bullet
13157 @item
13158 Currently, the debugger
13159 has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
13160 pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
13161 Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
13162 to get it printed properly.
13163
13164 @item
13165 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
13166 storage are invisible to the debugger.
13167
13168 @item
13169 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
13170 argument lists are treated as positional).
13171
13172 @item
13173 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
13174
13175 @item
13176 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
13177 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
13178 the host machine.
13179
13180 @item
13181 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
13182 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
13183 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
13184 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
13185 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
13186 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
13187 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
13188 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
13189 you can usually resolve the confusion
13190 by qualifying the problematic names with package
13191 @code{Standard} explicitly.
13192 @end itemize
13193
13194 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
13195 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
13196 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
13197 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
13198 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
13199 enabled.
13200
13201 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13202 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13203 @table @code
13204
13205 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
13206 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
13207 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
13208 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
13209 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
13210 This is the default.
13211
13212 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
13213 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
13214 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
13215 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
13216 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
13217 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
13218 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
13219
13220 @end table
13221
13222 @node Unsupported Languages
13223 @section Unsupported Languages
13224
13225 @cindex unsupported languages
13226 @cindex minimal language
13227 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
13228 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
13229 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
13230 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
13231 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
13232 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
13233
13234 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
13235 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
13236 language.
13237
13238 @node Symbols
13239 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
13240
13241 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
13242 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
13243 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
13244 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
13245 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
13246 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
13247 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13248
13249 @cindex symbol names
13250 @cindex names of symbols
13251 @cindex quoting names
13252 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
13253 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
13254 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
13255 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
13256 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
13257 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
13258 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
13259 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
13260
13261 @smallexample
13262 p 'foo.c'::x
13263 @end smallexample
13264
13265 @noindent
13266 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
13267
13268 @table @code
13269 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
13270 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
13271 @kindex set case-sensitive
13272 @item set case-sensitive on
13273 @itemx set case-sensitive off
13274 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
13275 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
13276 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
13277 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
13278 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
13279 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
13280 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
13281 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
13282 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
13283 case-insensitive matches.
13284
13285 @kindex show case-sensitive
13286 @item show case-sensitive
13287 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
13288 lookups.
13289
13290 @kindex info address
13291 @cindex address of a symbol
13292 @item info address @var{symbol}
13293 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
13294 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
13295 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
13296 is always stored.
13297
13298 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
13299 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
13300 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
13301
13302 @kindex info symbol
13303 @cindex symbol from address
13304 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
13305 @item info symbol @var{addr}
13306 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
13307 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
13308 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
13309
13310 @smallexample
13311 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
13312 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
13313 @end smallexample
13314
13315 @noindent
13316 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
13317 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
13318
13319 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
13320 library containing the symbol is also printed:
13321
13322 @smallexample
13323 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
13324 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
13325 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
13326 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
13327 @end smallexample
13328
13329 @kindex whatis
13330 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
13331 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
13332 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
13333 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
13334 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
13335 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
13336 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
13337 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
13338 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
13339 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
13340 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13341
13342 @kindex ptype
13343 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
13344 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
13345 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
13346 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13347
13348 For example, for this variable declaration:
13349
13350 @smallexample
13351 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
13352 @end smallexample
13353
13354 @noindent
13355 the two commands give this output:
13356
13357 @smallexample
13358 @group
13359 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
13360 type = struct complex
13361 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
13362 type = struct complex @{
13363 double real;
13364 double imag;
13365 @}
13366 @end group
13367 @end smallexample
13368
13369 @noindent
13370 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
13371 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
13372
13373 @cindex incomplete type
13374 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
13375 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
13376 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
13377 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
13378 given these declarations:
13379
13380 @smallexample
13381 struct foo;
13382 struct foo *fooptr;
13383 @end smallexample
13384
13385 @noindent
13386 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
13387
13388 @smallexample
13389 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
13390 $1 = <incomplete type>
13391 @end smallexample
13392
13393 @noindent
13394 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
13395 completely specified.
13396
13397 @kindex info types
13398 @item info types @var{regexp}
13399 @itemx info types
13400 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
13401 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
13402 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
13403 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
13404 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
13405 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
13406 name is @code{value}.
13407
13408 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
13409 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
13410 lists all source files where a type is defined.
13411
13412 @kindex info scope
13413 @cindex local variables
13414 @item info scope @var{location}
13415 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
13416 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
13417 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
13418 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
13419 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
13420
13421 @smallexample
13422 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
13423 Scope for command_line_handler:
13424 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
13425 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
13426 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
13427 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
13428 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
13429 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
13430 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
13431 @end smallexample
13432
13433 @noindent
13434 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
13435 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
13436 collect}.
13437
13438 @kindex info source
13439 @item info source
13440 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
13441 the function containing the current point of execution:
13442 @itemize @bullet
13443 @item
13444 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
13445 @item
13446 the directory it was compiled in,
13447 @item
13448 its length, in lines,
13449 @item
13450 which programming language it is written in,
13451 @item
13452 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
13453 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13454 @item
13455 whether the debugging information includes information about
13456 preprocessor macros.
13457 @end itemize
13458
13459
13460 @kindex info sources
13461 @item info sources
13462 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13463 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13464 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13465
13466 @kindex info functions
13467 @item info functions
13468 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13469
13470 @item info functions @var{regexp}
13471 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13472 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13473 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13474 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13475 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13476 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13477 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13478
13479 @kindex info variables
13480 @item info variables
13481 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13482 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13483
13484 @item info variables @var{regexp}
13485 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13486 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13487 @var{regexp}.
13488
13489 @kindex info classes
13490 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13491 @item info classes
13492 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13493 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13494 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13495 expression.
13496
13497 @kindex info selectors
13498 @item info selectors
13499 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
13500 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
13501 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13502 expression.
13503
13504 @ignore
13505 This was never implemented.
13506 @kindex info methods
13507 @item info methods
13508 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
13509 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
13510 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
13511 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
13512 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
13513 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
13514 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
13515 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
13516 @end ignore
13517
13518 @cindex reloading symbols
13519 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
13520 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
13521 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
13522 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
13523 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
13524
13525 @table @code
13526 @kindex set symbol-reloading
13527 @item set symbol-reloading on
13528 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
13529 object file with a particular name is seen again.
13530
13531 @item set symbol-reloading off
13532 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
13533 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
13534 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
13535 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
13536 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
13537 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
13538 name.
13539
13540 @kindex show symbol-reloading
13541 @item show symbol-reloading
13542 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
13543 @end table
13544
13545 @cindex opaque data types
13546 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
13547 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
13548 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
13549 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
13550 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
13551 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
13552 another source file. The default is on.
13553
13554 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
13555 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
13556
13557 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
13558 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
13559 is printed as follows:
13560 @smallexample
13561 @{<no data fields>@}
13562 @end smallexample
13563
13564 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
13565 @item show opaque-type-resolution
13566 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
13567
13568 @kindex maint print symbols
13569 @cindex symbol dump
13570 @kindex maint print psymbols
13571 @cindex partial symbol dump
13572 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
13573 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
13574 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
13575 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
13576 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
13577 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
13578 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
13579 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
13580 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
13581 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
13582 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
13583 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
13584 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
13585 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
13586 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
13587 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
13588 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
13589
13590 @kindex maint info symtabs
13591 @kindex maint info psymtabs
13592 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
13593 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13594 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13595 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13596 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13597 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13598
13599 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
13600 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
13601 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
13602 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
13603 structure in more detail. For example:
13604
13605 @smallexample
13606 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
13607 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13608 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13609 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13610 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
13611 readin no
13612 fullname (null)
13613 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
13614 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
13615 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
13616 dependencies (none)
13617 @}
13618 @}
13619 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13620 (@value{GDBP})
13621 @end smallexample
13622 @noindent
13623 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
13624 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
13625 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
13626 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
13627 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
13628
13629 @smallexample
13630 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
13631 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
13632 line 1574.
13633 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13634 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13635 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13636 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13637 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
13638 dirname (null)
13639 fullname (null)
13640 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
13641 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
13642 debugformat DWARF 2
13643 @}
13644 @}
13645 (@value{GDBP})
13646 @end smallexample
13647 @end table
13648
13649
13650 @node Altering
13651 @chapter Altering Execution
13652
13653 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
13654 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
13655 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
13656 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
13657 program.
13658
13659 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
13660 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
13661 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
13662
13663 @menu
13664 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
13665 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
13666 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
13667 * Returning:: Returning from a function
13668 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
13669 * Patching:: Patching your program
13670 @end menu
13671
13672 @node Assignment
13673 @section Assignment to Variables
13674
13675 @cindex assignment
13676 @cindex setting variables
13677 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
13678 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
13679
13680 @smallexample
13681 print x=4
13682 @end smallexample
13683
13684 @noindent
13685 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
13686 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
13687 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
13688 information on operators in supported languages.
13689
13690 @kindex set variable
13691 @cindex variables, setting
13692 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
13693 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
13694 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
13695 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
13696 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
13697
13698 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
13699 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
13700 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
13701 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
13702 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
13703 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
13704 command @code{set width}:
13705
13706 @smallexample
13707 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
13708 type = double
13709 (@value{GDBP}) p width
13710 $4 = 13
13711 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
13712 Invalid syntax in expression.
13713 @end smallexample
13714
13715 @noindent
13716 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
13717 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
13718
13719 @smallexample
13720 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
13721 @end smallexample
13722
13723 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
13724 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
13725 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
13726 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
13727 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
13728 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
13729
13730 @smallexample
13731 @group
13732 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
13733 type = double
13734 (@value{GDBP}) p g
13735 $1 = 1
13736 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
13737 (@value{GDBP}) p g
13738 $2 = 1
13739 (@value{GDBP}) r
13740 The program being debugged has been started already.
13741 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
13742 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
13743 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
13744 Invalid bfd target.
13745 (@value{GDBP}) show g
13746 The current BFD target is "=4".
13747 @end group
13748 @end smallexample
13749
13750 @noindent
13751 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
13752 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
13753 @code{g}, use
13754
13755 @smallexample
13756 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
13757 @end smallexample
13758
13759 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
13760 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
13761 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
13762 same length or shorter.
13763 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
13764 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
13765
13766 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
13767 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
13768 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
13769 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
13770 and representation in memory), and
13771
13772 @smallexample
13773 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
13774 @end smallexample
13775
13776 @noindent
13777 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
13778
13779 @node Jumping
13780 @section Continuing at a Different Address
13781
13782 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
13783 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
13784 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
13785
13786 @table @code
13787 @kindex jump
13788 @item jump @var{linespec}
13789 @itemx jump @var{location}
13790 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
13791 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
13792 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
13793 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
13794 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
13795 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13796
13797 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
13798 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
13799 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
13800 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
13801 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
13802 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
13803 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
13804 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
13805 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
13806 @end table
13807
13808 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
13809 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
13810 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
13811 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
13812 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
13813 example,
13814
13815 @smallexample
13816 set $pc = 0x485
13817 @end smallexample
13818
13819 @noindent
13820 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
13821 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
13822 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
13823
13824 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
13825 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
13826 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
13827 detail.
13828
13829 @c @group
13830 @node Signaling
13831 @section Giving your Program a Signal
13832 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
13833
13834 @table @code
13835 @kindex signal
13836 @item signal @var{signal}
13837 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
13838 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
13839 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
13840 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
13841
13842 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
13843 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
13844 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
13845 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
13846 signal.
13847
13848 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
13849 after executing the command.
13850 @end table
13851 @c @end group
13852
13853 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
13854 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
13855 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
13856 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
13857 passes the signal directly to your program.
13858
13859
13860 @node Returning
13861 @section Returning from a Function
13862
13863 @table @code
13864 @cindex returning from a function
13865 @kindex return
13866 @item return
13867 @itemx return @var{expression}
13868 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
13869 command. If you give an
13870 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
13871 value.
13872 @end table
13873
13874 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
13875 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
13876 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
13877 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
13878
13879 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
13880 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
13881 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
13882 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
13883 of functions.
13884
13885 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
13886 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
13887 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
13888 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
13889 selected stack frame returns naturally.
13890
13891 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
13892 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
13893 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
13894 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
13895 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
13896 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
13897 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
13898 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
13899 assignment into the right register(s).
13900
13901 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
13902 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
13903 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
13904 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
13905 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
13906 into a @code{long long int}:
13907
13908 @smallexample
13909 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
13910 29 return 31;
13911 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13912 Make func return now? (y or n) y
13913 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
13914 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
13915 (@value{GDBP})
13916 @end smallexample
13917
13918 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
13919 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
13920 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
13921 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
13922 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
13923 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
13924 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
13925 an appropriate cast explicitly:
13926
13927 @smallexample
13928 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
13929 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13930 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
13931 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
13932 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
13933 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
13934 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
13935 (@value{GDBP})
13936 @end smallexample
13937
13938 @node Calling
13939 @section Calling Program Functions
13940
13941 @table @code
13942 @cindex calling functions
13943 @cindex inferior functions, calling
13944 @item print @var{expr}
13945 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
13946 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
13947 debugged.
13948
13949 @kindex call
13950 @item call @var{expr}
13951 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
13952 returned values.
13953
13954 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
13955 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
13956 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
13957 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
13958 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
13959 value history.
13960 @end table
13961
13962 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
13963 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
13964 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
13965 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
13966
13967 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
13968 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
13969 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
13970 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
13971 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
13972 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
13973 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
13974 in that case is controlled by the
13975 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
13976
13977 @table @code
13978 @item set unwindonsignal
13979 @kindex set unwindonsignal
13980 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
13981 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
13982 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
13983 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
13984 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
13985 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
13986 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
13987 received.
13988
13989 @item show unwindonsignal
13990 @kindex show unwindonsignal
13991 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13992 @value{GDBN}.
13993
13994 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13995 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13996 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
13997 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
13998 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
13999 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
14000 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
14001 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
14002 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
14003 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
14004
14005 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14006 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14007 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14008 @value{GDBN}.
14009
14010 @end table
14011
14012 @cindex weak alias functions
14013 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
14014 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
14015 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
14016 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
14017 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
14018 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
14019 function instead.
14020
14021 @node Patching
14022 @section Patching Programs
14023
14024 @cindex patching binaries
14025 @cindex writing into executables
14026 @cindex writing into corefiles
14027
14028 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
14029 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
14030 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
14031 patching your program's binary.
14032
14033 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
14034 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
14035 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
14036 repairs.
14037
14038 @table @code
14039 @kindex set write
14040 @item set write on
14041 @itemx set write off
14042 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
14043 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
14044 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
14045
14046 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
14047 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
14048 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
14049
14050 @item show write
14051 @kindex show write
14052 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
14053 as well as reading.
14054 @end table
14055
14056 @node GDB Files
14057 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
14058
14059 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
14060 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
14061 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
14062 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
14063
14064 @menu
14065 * Files:: Commands to specify files
14066 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
14067 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
14068 * Data Files:: GDB data files
14069 @end menu
14070
14071 @node Files
14072 @section Commands to Specify Files
14073
14074 @cindex symbol table
14075 @cindex core dump file
14076
14077 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
14078 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
14079 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
14080 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
14081
14082 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
14083 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
14084 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
14085 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
14086 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
14087 new files are useful.
14088
14089 @table @code
14090 @cindex executable file
14091 @kindex file
14092 @item file @var{filename}
14093 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
14094 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
14095 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
14096 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
14097 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
14098 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
14099 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
14100 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
14101
14102 @cindex unlinked object files
14103 @cindex patching object files
14104 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
14105 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
14106 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
14107 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
14108 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
14109 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
14110 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
14111 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
14112
14113 @item file
14114 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
14115 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
14116
14117 @kindex exec-file
14118 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14119 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
14120 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
14121 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
14122 discard information on the executable file.
14123
14124 @kindex symbol-file
14125 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14126 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
14127 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
14128 table and program to run from the same file.
14129
14130 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
14131 program's symbol table.
14132
14133 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
14134 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
14135 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
14136 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
14137 @value{GDBN}.
14138
14139 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
14140 executing it once.
14141
14142 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
14143 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
14144 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14145 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
14146 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
14147 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
14148 optimized code.
14149
14150 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
14151 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
14152 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
14153 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
14154 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
14155
14156 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
14157 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
14158 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
14159 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
14160 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
14161 Warnings and Messages}.)
14162
14163 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
14164 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
14165 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
14166 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
14167 in stabs format.
14168
14169 @kindex readnow
14170 @cindex reading symbols immediately
14171 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
14172 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14173 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14174 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
14175 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
14176 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14177 entire symbol table available.
14178
14179 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
14180 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
14181 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
14182 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
14183 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
14184 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
14185 @c files.
14186
14187 @kindex core-file
14188 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
14189 @itemx core
14190 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
14191 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
14192 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
14193 executable file itself for other parts.
14194
14195 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
14196 to be used.
14197
14198 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
14199 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
14200 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
14201 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
14202 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
14203
14204 @kindex add-symbol-file
14205 @cindex dynamic linking
14206 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
14207 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
14208 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
14209 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
14210 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
14211 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
14212 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
14213 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
14214 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
14215 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
14216 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
14217 @var{address} as an expression.
14218
14219 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
14220 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
14221 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
14222 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
14223 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
14224
14225 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
14226 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
14227 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
14228 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
14229 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
14230 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
14231 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
14232 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
14233 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
14234
14235 @itemize @bullet
14236 @item
14237 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
14238 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
14239 @item
14240 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
14241 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
14242 @item
14243 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
14244 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14245 @end itemize
14246
14247 @noindent
14248 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
14249 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
14250 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
14251 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
14252 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
14253 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
14254 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
14255 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
14256 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
14257 way.
14258
14259 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
14260
14261 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
14262 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
14263 @cindex load symbols from memory
14264 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
14265 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
14266 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
14267 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
14268 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
14269 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
14270 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
14271 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
14272 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
14273
14274 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
14275 @kindex assf
14276 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
14277 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
14278 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
14279 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
14280 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
14281 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
14282 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
14283 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
14284 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
14285 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
14286
14287 @kindex section
14288 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
14289 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
14290 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
14291 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
14292 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
14293 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
14294 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
14295 their addresses.
14296
14297 @kindex info files
14298 @kindex info target
14299 @item info files
14300 @itemx info target
14301 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
14302 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
14303 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
14304 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
14305 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
14306 current ones.
14307
14308 @kindex maint info sections
14309 @item maint info sections
14310 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
14311 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
14312 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
14313 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
14314 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
14315 may be arbitrarily combined):
14316
14317 @table @code
14318 @item ALLOBJ
14319 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
14320 @item @var{sections}
14321 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
14322 @item @var{section-flags}
14323 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
14324 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
14325 @table @code
14326 @item ALLOC
14327 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
14328 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
14329 @item LOAD
14330 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
14331 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
14332 @item RELOC
14333 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
14334 @item READONLY
14335 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
14336 @item CODE
14337 Section contains executable code only.
14338 @item DATA
14339 Section contains data only (no executable code).
14340 @item ROM
14341 Section will reside in ROM.
14342 @item CONSTRUCTOR
14343 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
14344 @item HAS_CONTENTS
14345 Section is not empty.
14346 @item NEVER_LOAD
14347 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
14348 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
14349 A notification to the linker that the section contains
14350 COFF shared library information.
14351 @item IS_COMMON
14352 Section contains common symbols.
14353 @end table
14354 @end table
14355 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
14356 @cindex read-only sections
14357 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
14358 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
14359 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
14360 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
14361 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
14362 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
14363 enhancement to debugging performance.
14364
14365 The default is off.
14366
14367 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
14368 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
14369 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
14370 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
14371
14372 @item show trust-readonly-sections
14373 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
14374 @end table
14375
14376 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
14377 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
14378 name and remembers it that way.
14379
14380 @cindex shared libraries
14381 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
14382 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
14383 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
14384
14385 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
14386 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
14387
14388 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
14389 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
14390 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
14391 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
14392 debugging a core file).
14393
14394 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
14395 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
14396
14397 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
14398 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
14399 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
14400
14401 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
14402 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
14403 particularly large or there are many of them.
14404
14405 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
14406 commands:
14407
14408 @table @code
14409 @kindex set auto-solib-add
14410 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
14411 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
14412 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
14413 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
14414 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
14415 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
14416 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
14417
14418 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
14419 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
14420 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
14421 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
14422 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
14423 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
14424 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
14425 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
14426 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
14427
14428 @kindex show auto-solib-add
14429 @item show auto-solib-add
14430 Display the current autoloading mode.
14431 @end table
14432
14433 @cindex load shared library
14434 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
14435 command:
14436
14437 @table @code
14438 @kindex info sharedlibrary
14439 @kindex info share
14440 @item info share @var{regex}
14441 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14442 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
14443 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
14444 all shared libraries that are loaded.
14445
14446 @kindex sharedlibrary
14447 @kindex share
14448 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14449 @itemx share @var{regex}
14450 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
14451 Unix regular expression.
14452 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
14453 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
14454 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14455 loaded.
14456
14457 @item nosharedlibrary
14458 @kindex nosharedlibrary
14459 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14460 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14461 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14462 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14463 discarded.
14464 @end table
14465
14466 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14467 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14468 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14469
14470 @table @code
14471 @item set stop-on-solib-events
14472 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14473 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14474 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14475 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14476 shared library.
14477
14478 @item show stop-on-solib-events
14479 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14480 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14481 library events happen.
14482 @end table
14483
14484 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14485 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14486 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14487 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14488 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14489 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14490 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14491 not.
14492
14493 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
14494 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14495 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14496 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
14497 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
14498
14499 @table @code
14500 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
14501 @cindex system root, alternate
14502 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
14503 @kindex set sysroot
14504 @item set sysroot @var{path}
14505 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
14506 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
14507 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
14508 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
14509 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
14510 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
14511 under @var{path}.
14512
14513 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
14514 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
14515 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
14516 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
14517 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
14518 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
14519 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
14520 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
14521 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
14522
14523 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
14524 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
14525 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
14526 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
14527 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
14528
14529 @smallexample
14530 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
14531 @end smallexample
14532
14533 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
14534 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
14535 system:
14536
14537 @smallexample
14538 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
14539 @end smallexample
14540
14541 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
14542 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
14543 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
14544 colons:
14545
14546 @smallexample
14547 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
14548 @end smallexample
14549
14550 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
14551 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
14552 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
14553 @samp{z}):
14554
14555 @smallexample
14556 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
14557 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
14558 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
14559 @end smallexample
14560
14561 @noindent
14562 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
14563 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
14564 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
14565
14566 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
14567 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
14568
14569 @smallexample
14570 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
14571 @end smallexample
14572
14573 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
14574 if you don't want or need to.
14575
14576 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
14577 sysroot}.
14578
14579 @cindex default system root
14580 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
14581 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
14582 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
14583 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14584 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
14585 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14586 location.
14587
14588 @kindex show sysroot
14589 @item show sysroot
14590 Display the current shared library prefix.
14591
14592 @kindex set solib-search-path
14593 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
14594 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
14595 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
14596 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
14597 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
14598 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
14599 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
14600 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
14601 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
14602 of shared library symbols.
14603
14604 @kindex show solib-search-path
14605 @item show solib-search-path
14606 Display the current shared library search path.
14607
14608 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
14609 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
14610 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
14611 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
14612 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
14613
14614 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
14615 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
14616 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
14617 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
14618 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
14619 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
14620 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
14621 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
14622 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
14623 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
14624 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
14625 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
14626 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
14627 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
14628 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
14629 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
14630 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
14631 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
14632 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
14633 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
14634 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
14635 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
14636
14637 @table @code
14638 @item unix
14639 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
14640 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
14641 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
14642 the forward slash.
14643
14644 @item dos-based
14645 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
14646 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
14647 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
14648 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
14649 considered directory separators.
14650
14651 @item auto
14652 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
14653 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
14654 This is the default.
14655 @end table
14656 @end table
14657
14658
14659 @node Separate Debug Files
14660 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
14661 @cindex separate debugging information files
14662 @cindex debugging information in separate files
14663 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
14664 @cindex debugging information directory, global
14665 @cindex global debugging information directory
14666 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
14667 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
14668
14669 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
14670 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
14671 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
14672 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
14673 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
14674 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
14675 install only when they need to debug a problem.
14676
14677 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
14678 file:
14679
14680 @itemize @bullet
14681 @item
14682 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
14683 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
14684 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
14685 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
14686 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
14687 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
14688 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
14689 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
14690
14691 @item
14692 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
14693 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
14694 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
14695 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
14696 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
14697 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
14698 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
14699 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
14700 below.
14701 @end itemize
14702
14703 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
14704 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
14705
14706 @itemize @bullet
14707 @item
14708 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
14709 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
14710 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
14711 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
14712 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
14713
14714 @item
14715 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
14716 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
14717 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
14718 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
14719 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
14720 hex characters, not 10.)
14721 @end itemize
14722
14723 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
14724 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
14725 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
14726 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
14727 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
14728 debug information files, in the indicated order:
14729
14730 @itemize @minus
14731 @item
14732 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
14733 @item
14734 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
14735 @item
14736 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
14737 @item
14738 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
14739 @end itemize
14740
14741 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
14742 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
14743
14744 @table @code
14745
14746 @kindex set debug-file-directory
14747 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
14748 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14749 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
14750 concatenating them by a directory separator.
14751
14752 @kindex show debug-file-directory
14753 @item show debug-file-directory
14754 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14755 information files.
14756
14757 @end table
14758
14759 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
14760 @cindex debug link sections
14761 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
14762 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
14763
14764 @itemize
14765 @item
14766 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
14767 a zero byte,
14768 @item
14769 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
14770 boundary within the section, and
14771 @item
14772 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
14773 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
14774 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
14775 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
14776 @end itemize
14777
14778 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
14779 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
14780 described above.
14781
14782 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
14783 @cindex build ID sections
14784 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
14785 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
14786 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
14787 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
14788 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
14789 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
14790 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
14791 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
14792 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
14793
14794 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
14795 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
14796 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
14797 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
14798 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
14799 in an ordinary executable.
14800
14801 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
14802 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
14803 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
14804 following commands:
14805
14806 @smallexample
14807 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
14808 @kbd{strip -g foo}
14809 @end smallexample
14810
14811 @noindent
14812 These commands remove the debugging
14813 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
14814 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
14815 two files:
14816
14817 @itemize @bullet
14818 @item
14819 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
14820 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
14821
14822 @smallexample
14823 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
14824 @end smallexample
14825
14826 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
14827 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
14828 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
14829 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
14830
14831 @item
14832 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
14833 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
14834 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
14835 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
14836 @end itemize
14837
14838 @noindent
14839
14840 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
14841 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
14842 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
14843
14844 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
14845 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
14846 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
14847 @c different ways!
14848 @ifhtml
14849 @display
14850 @html
14851 <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>
14852 + <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
14853 @end html
14854 @end display
14855 @end ifhtml
14856 @ifnothtml
14857 @display
14858 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
14859 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
14860 @end display
14861 @end ifnothtml
14862
14863 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
14864 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
14865 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
14866 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
14867 CRC.
14868
14869 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
14870 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
14871 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
14872 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
14873 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
14874 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
14875
14876 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
14877 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
14878 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
14879 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
14880 @code{0xffffffff}.
14881
14882 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
14883 @smallexample
14884 unsigned long
14885 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
14886 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
14887 @{
14888 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
14889 @{
14890 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
14891 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
14892 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
14893 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
14894 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
14895 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
14896 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
14897 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
14898 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
14899 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
14900 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
14901 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
14902 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
14903 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
14904 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
14905 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
14906 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
14907 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
14908 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
14909 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
14910 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
14911 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
14912 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
14913 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
14914 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
14915 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
14916 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
14917 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
14918 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
14919 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
14920 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
14921 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
14922 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
14923 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
14924 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
14925 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
14926 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
14927 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
14928 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
14929 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
14930 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
14931 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
14932 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
14933 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
14934 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
14935 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
14936 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
14937 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
14938 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
14939 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
14940 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
14941 0x2d02ef8d
14942 @};
14943 unsigned char *end;
14944
14945 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14946 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
14947 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
14948 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14949 @}
14950 @end smallexample
14951
14952 @noindent
14953 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
14954
14955
14956 @node Symbol Errors
14957 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
14958
14959 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
14960 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
14961 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
14962 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
14963 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
14964 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
14965 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
14966 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
14967 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
14968 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14969 Messages}).
14970
14971 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
14972
14973 @table @code
14974 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
14975
14976 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
14977 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
14978 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
14979 in its outer scope blocks.
14980
14981 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
14982 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
14983 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
14984 function.
14985
14986 @item block at @var{address} out of order
14987
14988 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
14989 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
14990 do so.
14991
14992 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
14993 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
14994 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
14995 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14996 Messages}.)
14997
14998 @item bad block start address patched
14999
15000 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
15001 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
15002 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
15003
15004 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
15005 starting on the previous source line.
15006
15007 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
15008
15009 @cindex foo
15010 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
15011 larger than the size of the string table.
15012
15013 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
15014 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
15015 with this name.
15016
15017 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
15018
15019 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
15020 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
15021 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
15022
15023 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
15024 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
15025 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
15026 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
15027 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
15028 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
15029
15030 @item stub type has NULL name
15031
15032 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
15033
15034 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
15035 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
15036 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
15037 it.
15038
15039 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
15040
15041 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
15042
15043 @end table
15044
15045 @node Data Files
15046 @section GDB Data Files
15047
15048 @cindex prefix for data files
15049 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
15050 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
15051
15052 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
15053 is currently using.
15054
15055 @table @code
15056 @kindex set data-directory
15057 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
15058 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
15059 to @var{directory}.
15060
15061 @kindex show data-directory
15062 @item show data-directory
15063 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
15064 @end table
15065
15066 @cindex default data directory
15067 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
15068 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
15069 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
15070 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15071 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
15072 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15073 location.
15074
15075 @node Targets
15076 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
15077
15078 @cindex debugging target
15079 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
15080
15081 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
15082 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
15083 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
15084 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
15085 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
15086 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
15087 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
15088 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
15089
15090 @cindex target architecture
15091 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
15092 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
15093 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
15094 command.
15095
15096 @table @code
15097 @kindex set architecture
15098 @kindex show architecture
15099 @item set architecture @var{arch}
15100 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
15101 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
15102 supported architectures.
15103
15104 @item show architecture
15105 Show the current target architecture.
15106
15107 @item set processor
15108 @itemx processor
15109 @kindex set processor
15110 @kindex show processor
15111 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
15112 and @code{show architecture}.
15113 @end table
15114
15115 @menu
15116 * Active Targets:: Active targets
15117 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
15118 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
15119 @end menu
15120
15121 @node Active Targets
15122 @section Active Targets
15123
15124 @cindex stacking targets
15125 @cindex active targets
15126 @cindex multiple targets
15127
15128 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
15129 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
15130 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
15131 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
15132 a core file.
15133
15134 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
15135 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
15136 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
15137 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
15138 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
15139 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
15140 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
15141 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
15142 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
15143
15144 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
15145 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
15146 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
15147 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
15148 process target is active.
15149
15150 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
15151 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
15152 Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
15153 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
15154 Process}).
15155
15156 @node Target Commands
15157 @section Commands for Managing Targets
15158
15159 @table @code
15160 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
15161 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
15162 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
15163 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
15164 protocol of the target machine.
15165
15166 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
15167 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
15168 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
15169
15170 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
15171 after executing the command.
15172
15173 @kindex help target
15174 @item help target
15175 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
15176 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
15177 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15178
15179 @item help target @var{name}
15180 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
15181 select it.
15182
15183 @kindex set gnutarget
15184 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
15185 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
15186 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
15187 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
15188 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
15189 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
15190
15191 @quotation
15192 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
15193 you must know the actual BFD name.
15194 @end quotation
15195
15196 @noindent
15197 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
15198
15199 @kindex show gnutarget
15200 @item show gnutarget
15201 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
15202 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
15203 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
15204 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
15205 @end table
15206
15207 @cindex common targets
15208 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
15209 configuration):
15210
15211 @table @code
15212 @kindex target
15213 @item target exec @var{program}
15214 @cindex executable file target
15215 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
15216 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
15217
15218 @item target core @var{filename}
15219 @cindex core dump file target
15220 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
15221 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
15222
15223 @item target remote @var{medium}
15224 @cindex remote target
15225 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
15226 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
15227 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
15228
15229 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
15230 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
15231
15232 @smallexample
15233 target remote /dev/ttya
15234 @end smallexample
15235
15236 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
15237 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
15238 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
15239 clobbered by the download.
15240
15241 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
15242 @cindex built-in simulator target
15243 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
15244 In general,
15245 @smallexample
15246 target sim
15247 load
15248 run
15249 @end smallexample
15250 @noindent
15251 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
15252 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
15253 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
15254 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
15255 Processors}.
15256
15257 @end table
15258
15259 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
15260
15261 @table @code
15262
15263 @item target nrom @var{dev}
15264 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
15265 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
15266
15267 @end table
15268
15269 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
15270 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
15271
15272 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
15273 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
15274 various aspects of this process.
15275
15276 @table @code
15277
15278 @item set hash
15279 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15280 @cindex hash mark while downloading
15281 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
15282 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
15283 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
15284 monitor.
15285
15286 @item show hash
15287 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15288 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
15289
15290 @item set debug monitor
15291 @kindex set debug monitor
15292 @cindex display remote monitor communications
15293 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
15294 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15295
15296 @item show debug monitor
15297 @kindex show debug monitor
15298 Show the current status of displaying communications between
15299 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15300 @end table
15301
15302 @table @code
15303
15304 @kindex load @var{filename}
15305 @item load @var{filename}
15306 @anchor{load}
15307 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
15308 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
15309 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
15310 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
15311 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
15312 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15313
15314 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
15315 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
15316 target is @dots{}}''
15317
15318 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
15319 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
15320 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
15321 specifies a fixed address.
15322 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
15323
15324 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
15325 load programs into flash memory.
15326
15327 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
15328 @end table
15329
15330 @node Byte Order
15331 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
15332
15333 @cindex choosing target byte order
15334 @cindex target byte order
15335
15336 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
15337 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
15338 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
15339 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
15340 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
15341 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
15342
15343 @table @code
15344 @kindex set endian
15345 @item set endian big
15346 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
15347
15348 @item set endian little
15349 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
15350
15351 @item set endian auto
15352 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
15353 executable.
15354
15355 @item show endian
15356 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
15357
15358 @end table
15359
15360 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
15361 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
15362 target system.
15363
15364
15365 @node Remote Debugging
15366 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
15367 @cindex remote debugging
15368
15369 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
15370 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
15371 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
15372 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
15373 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
15374
15375 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
15376 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
15377 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
15378 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
15379 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
15380 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
15381
15382 Other remote targets may be available in your
15383 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
15384
15385 @menu
15386 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
15387 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
15388 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
15389 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
15390 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
15391 @end menu
15392
15393 @node Connecting
15394 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
15395
15396 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
15397 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
15398 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
15399 program as the first argument.
15400
15401 @cindex @code{target remote}
15402 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
15403 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
15404 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
15405 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
15406 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
15407 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
15408
15409 @table @code
15410
15411 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
15412 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
15413 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
15414 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
15415
15416 @smallexample
15417 target remote /dev/ttyb
15418 @end smallexample
15419
15420 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
15421 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
15422 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
15423 @code{target} command.
15424
15425 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
15426 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15427 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
15428 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
15429 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
15430 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
15431 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
15432 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
15433 target.
15434
15435 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
15436 @code{manyfarms}:
15437
15438 @smallexample
15439 target remote manyfarms:2828
15440 @end smallexample
15441
15442 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
15443 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
15444 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
15445 port 1234 on your local machine:
15446
15447 @smallexample
15448 target remote :1234
15449 @end smallexample
15450 @noindent
15451
15452 Note that the colon is still required here.
15453
15454 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15455 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
15456 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
15457 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
15458
15459 @smallexample
15460 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
15461 @end smallexample
15462
15463 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
15464 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
15465 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
15466 cause havoc with your debugging session.
15467
15468 @item target remote | @var{command}
15469 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
15470 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
15471 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
15472 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
15473 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
15474 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
15475 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
15476 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
15477
15478 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
15479 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
15480 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
15481
15482 @end table
15483
15484 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
15485 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
15486 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
15487 need to use @kbd{run}.
15488
15489 @cindex interrupting remote programs
15490 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
15491 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
15492 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
15493 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
15494 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
15495 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
15496
15497 @smallexample
15498 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
15499 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
15500 @end smallexample
15501
15502 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
15503 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
15504 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
15505 goes back to waiting.
15506
15507 @table @code
15508 @kindex detach (remote)
15509 @item detach
15510 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
15511 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
15512 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
15513 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
15514 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
15515
15516 @kindex disconnect
15517 @item disconnect
15518 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
15519 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
15520 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
15521 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
15522 another target.
15523
15524 @cindex send command to remote monitor
15525 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
15526 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
15527 @kindex monitor
15528 @item monitor @var{cmd}
15529 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
15530 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
15531 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
15532 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
15533 and implement.
15534 @end table
15535
15536 @node File Transfer
15537 @section Sending files to a remote system
15538 @cindex remote target, file transfer
15539 @cindex file transfer
15540 @cindex sending files to remote systems
15541
15542 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
15543 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
15544 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
15545 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
15546 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
15547 the only way to upload or download files.
15548
15549 Not all remote targets support these commands.
15550
15551 @table @code
15552 @kindex remote put
15553 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
15554 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
15555 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
15556
15557 @kindex remote get
15558 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
15559 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
15560 on the host system.
15561
15562 @kindex remote delete
15563 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
15564 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
15565
15566 @end table
15567
15568 @node Server
15569 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
15570
15571 @kindex gdbserver
15572 @cindex remote connection without stubs
15573 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
15574 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
15575 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
15576
15577 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
15578 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
15579 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
15580 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
15581 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
15582 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
15583 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
15584 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
15585 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
15586 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
15587 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
15588 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
15589 choice for debugging.
15590
15591 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
15592 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
15593 protocol.
15594
15595 @quotation
15596 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
15597 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
15598 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
15599 target system with the same privileges as the user running
15600 @code{gdbserver}.
15601 @end quotation
15602
15603 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
15604 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
15605
15606 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
15607 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
15608 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
15609 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
15610 system does all the symbol handling.
15611
15612 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
15613 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
15614 syntax is:
15615
15616 @smallexample
15617 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
15618 @end smallexample
15619
15620 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
15621 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
15622 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
15623 @file{/dev/com1}:
15624
15625 @smallexample
15626 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
15627 @end smallexample
15628
15629 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
15630 with it.
15631
15632 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
15633
15634 @smallexample
15635 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
15636 @end smallexample
15637
15638 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
15639 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
15640 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
15641 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
15642 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
15643 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
15644 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
15645 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
15646 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
15647 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
15648 @code{target remote} command.
15649
15650 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
15651
15652 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
15653 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
15654
15655 @smallexample
15656 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
15657 @end smallexample
15658
15659 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
15660 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
15661
15662 @pindex pidof
15663 @cindex attach to a program by name
15664 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
15665 @code{pidof} utility:
15666
15667 @smallexample
15668 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
15669 @end smallexample
15670
15671 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
15672 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
15673 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
15674
15675 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
15676 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
15677 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
15678
15679 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
15680 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
15681 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
15682 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
15683
15684 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
15685 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
15686 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
15687 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
15688 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
15689 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
15690 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
15691 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
15692 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
15693
15694 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
15695 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
15696 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
15697 the program you want to debug.
15698
15699 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
15700 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
15701 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
15702
15703 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
15704
15705 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
15706 status information about the debugging process. The
15707 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
15708 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
15709 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
15710
15711 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
15712 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
15713 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
15714 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
15715
15716 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
15717 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
15718 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
15719 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
15720
15721 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
15722 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
15723 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
15724 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
15725
15726 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
15727 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
15728 environment:
15729
15730 @smallexample
15731 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
15732 @end smallexample
15733
15734 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
15735
15736 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
15737
15738 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
15739 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
15740 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
15741 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
15742
15743 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
15744 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
15745 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
15746 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
15747 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
15748 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
15749 programs.
15750
15751 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15752 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
15753 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
15754 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
15755 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
15756 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
15757 already on the target.
15758
15759 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
15760 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
15761 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
15762
15763 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
15764 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
15765 Here are the available commands.
15766
15767 @table @code
15768 @item monitor help
15769 List the available monitor commands.
15770
15771 @item monitor set debug 0
15772 @itemx monitor set debug 1
15773 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
15774
15775 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
15776 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
15777 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
15778 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
15779
15780 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
15781 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
15782 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15783 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
15784 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
15785 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
15786
15787 @item monitor exit
15788 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
15789 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
15790 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
15791 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
15792 of a multi-process mode debug session.
15793
15794 @end table
15795
15796 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
15797 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
15798
15799 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints and fast
15800 tracepoints.
15801
15802 For fast tracepoints to work, a special library called the
15803 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
15804 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
15805 @code{gdbserver}.
15806
15807 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
15808
15809 @table @code
15810 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
15811
15812 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
15813 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
15814 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
15815
15816 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
15817
15818 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
15819 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
15820 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
15821 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
15822 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
15823 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
15824
15825 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
15826
15827 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
15828 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
15829 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
15830 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
15831 command for that. For example:
15832
15833 @smallexample
15834 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
15835 @end smallexample
15836
15837 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
15838 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
15839 @end table
15840
15841 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
15842 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
15843 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
15844 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
15845 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
15846 case, before being able to use any of the fast tracepoints features,
15847 you need to let the loader run and load the shared libraries. The
15848 most simple way to do that is to run the program to the main
15849 procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
15850 @code{gdbserver} like so:
15851
15852 @smallexample
15853 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
15854 @end smallexample
15855
15856 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
15857
15858 @smallexample
15859 $ gdb myprogram
15860 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
15861 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
15862 (@value{GDBP}) b main
15863 (@value{GDBP}) continue
15864 @end smallexample
15865
15866 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
15867 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
15868 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
15869 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints and start
15870 tracing.
15871
15872 @node Remote Configuration
15873 @section Remote Configuration
15874
15875 @kindex set remote
15876 @kindex show remote
15877 This section documents the configuration options available when
15878 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
15879 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
15880 system-call-allowed}.
15881
15882 @table @code
15883 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
15884 @cindex address size for remote targets
15885 @cindex bits in remote address
15886 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
15887 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
15888 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
15889 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
15890
15891 @item show remoteaddresssize
15892 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
15893
15894 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
15895 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
15896 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
15897 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
15898 remote targets.
15899
15900 @item show remotebaud
15901 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
15902
15903 @item set remotebreak
15904 @cindex interrupt remote programs
15905 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
15906 @anchor{set remotebreak}
15907 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
15908 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
15909 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
15910 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
15911 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
15912
15913 @item show remotebreak
15914 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
15915 interrupt the remote program.
15916
15917 @item set remoteflow on
15918 @itemx set remoteflow off
15919 @kindex set remoteflow
15920 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
15921 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
15922
15923 @item show remoteflow
15924 @kindex show remoteflow
15925 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
15926
15927 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
15928 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
15929 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
15930 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
15931 @code{ascii}.
15932
15933 @item show remotelogbase
15934 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
15935 protocol.
15936
15937 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
15938 @cindex record serial communications on file
15939 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
15940 default is not to record at all.
15941
15942 @item show remotelogfile.
15943 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
15944 serial communications.
15945
15946 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
15947 @cindex timeout for serial communications
15948 @cindex remote timeout
15949 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
15950 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
15951
15952 @item show remotetimeout
15953 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
15954 responses.
15955
15956 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
15957 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
15958 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
15959 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
15960 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
15961 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
15962 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
15963 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
15964
15965 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
15966 @itemx show remote exec-file
15967 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
15968 @cindex executable file, for remote target
15969 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
15970 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
15971 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
15972 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
15973
15974 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
15975 @cindex interrupt remote programs
15976 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
15977 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
15978 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
15979 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
15980 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
15981 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
15982 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
15983 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
15984
15985 @item show interrupt-sequence
15986 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
15987 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
15988 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
15989 also known as Magic SysRq g.
15990
15991 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
15992 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
15993 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
15994 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
15995 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
15996 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
15997
15998 @item show interrupt-on-connect
15999 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
16000 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
16001
16002 @kindex set tcp
16003 @kindex show tcp
16004 @item set tcp auto-retry on
16005 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
16006 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
16007 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
16008 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
16009 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
16010 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
16011 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
16012 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
16013
16014 @item set tcp auto-retry off
16015 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
16016
16017 @item show tcp auto-retry
16018 Show the current auto-retry setting.
16019
16020 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
16021 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
16022 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
16023 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
16024 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
16025 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
16026 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
16027 value.
16028
16029 @item show tcp connect-timeout
16030 Show the current connection timeout setting.
16031 @end table
16032
16033 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
16034 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
16035 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
16036 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
16037 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
16038 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
16039 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
16040 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
16041 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
16042
16043 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
16044 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
16045 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
16046 @value{GDBN} developers.
16047
16048 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
16049 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
16050 are:
16051
16052 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
16053 @item Command Name
16054 @tab Remote Packet
16055 @tab Related Features
16056
16057 @item @code{fetch-register}
16058 @tab @code{p}
16059 @tab @code{info registers}
16060
16061 @item @code{set-register}
16062 @tab @code{P}
16063 @tab @code{set}
16064
16065 @item @code{binary-download}
16066 @tab @code{X}
16067 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
16068
16069 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
16070 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
16071 @tab @code{info auxv}
16072
16073 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
16074 @tab @code{qSymbol}
16075 @tab Detecting multiple threads
16076
16077 @item @code{attach}
16078 @tab @code{vAttach}
16079 @tab @code{attach}
16080
16081 @item @code{verbose-resume}
16082 @tab @code{vCont}
16083 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
16084
16085 @item @code{run}
16086 @tab @code{vRun}
16087 @tab @code{run}
16088
16089 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
16090 @tab @code{Z0}
16091 @tab @code{break}
16092
16093 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
16094 @tab @code{Z1}
16095 @tab @code{hbreak}
16096
16097 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
16098 @tab @code{Z2}
16099 @tab @code{watch}
16100
16101 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
16102 @tab @code{Z3}
16103 @tab @code{rwatch}
16104
16105 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
16106 @tab @code{Z4}
16107 @tab @code{awatch}
16108
16109 @item @code{target-features}
16110 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
16111 @tab @code{set architecture}
16112
16113 @item @code{library-info}
16114 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
16115 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
16116
16117 @item @code{memory-map}
16118 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
16119 @tab @code{info mem}
16120
16121 @item @code{read-spu-object}
16122 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
16123 @tab @code{info spu}
16124
16125 @item @code{write-spu-object}
16126 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
16127 @tab @code{info spu}
16128
16129 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
16130 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
16131 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
16132
16133 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
16134 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
16135 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
16136
16137 @item @code{threads}
16138 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
16139 @tab @code{info threads}
16140
16141 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
16142 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
16143 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
16144
16145 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
16146 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
16147 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
16148
16149 @item @code{search-memory}
16150 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
16151 @tab @code{find}
16152
16153 @item @code{supported-packets}
16154 @tab @code{qSupported}
16155 @tab Remote communications parameters
16156
16157 @item @code{pass-signals}
16158 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
16159 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
16160
16161 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
16162 @tab @code{vFile:close}
16163 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16164
16165 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
16166 @tab @code{vFile:open}
16167 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16168
16169 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
16170 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
16171 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16172
16173 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
16174 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
16175 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16176
16177 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
16178 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
16179 @tab @code{remote delete}
16180
16181 @item @code{noack-packet}
16182 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
16183 @tab Packet acknowledgment
16184
16185 @item @code{osdata}
16186 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
16187 @tab @code{info os}
16188
16189 @item @code{query-attached}
16190 @tab @code{qAttached}
16191 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
16192 @end multitable
16193
16194 @node Remote Stub
16195 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
16196
16197 @cindex debugging stub, example
16198 @cindex remote stub, example
16199 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
16200 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
16201 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
16202 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
16203 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
16204 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
16205 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
16206 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
16207
16208 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
16209 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
16210 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
16211 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
16212 program, you need:
16213
16214 @enumerate
16215 @item
16216 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
16217 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
16218 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
16219
16220 @item
16221 A C subroutine library to support your program's
16222 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
16223
16224 @item
16225 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
16226 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
16227 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
16228 documentation.
16229 @end enumerate
16230
16231 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
16232 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
16233 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
16234
16235 @table @emph
16236 @item On the host,
16237 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
16238 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
16239 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
16240
16241 @item On the target,
16242 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
16243 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
16244 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
16245
16246 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
16247 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
16248 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
16249 @end table
16250
16251 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
16252 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
16253 @sc{sparc} boards.
16254
16255 @cindex remote serial stub list
16256 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
16257
16258 @table @code
16259
16260 @item i386-stub.c
16261 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
16262 @cindex Intel
16263 @cindex i386
16264 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
16265
16266 @item m68k-stub.c
16267 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
16268 @cindex Motorola 680x0
16269 @cindex m680x0
16270 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
16271
16272 @item sh-stub.c
16273 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
16274 @cindex Renesas
16275 @cindex SH
16276 For Renesas SH architectures.
16277
16278 @item sparc-stub.c
16279 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
16280 @cindex Sparc
16281 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
16282
16283 @item sparcl-stub.c
16284 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
16285 @cindex Fujitsu
16286 @cindex SparcLite
16287 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
16288
16289 @end table
16290
16291 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
16292 recently added stubs.
16293
16294 @menu
16295 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
16296 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
16297 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
16298 @end menu
16299
16300 @node Stub Contents
16301 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
16302
16303 @cindex remote serial stub
16304 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
16305 subroutines:
16306
16307 @table @code
16308 @item set_debug_traps
16309 @findex set_debug_traps
16310 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
16311 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
16312 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
16313 beginning of your program.
16314
16315 @item handle_exception
16316 @findex handle_exception
16317 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
16318 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
16319 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
16320 run when a trap is triggered.
16321
16322 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
16323 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
16324 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
16325 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
16326 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
16327 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
16328 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
16329 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
16330 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
16331 machine.
16332
16333 @item breakpoint
16334 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
16335 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
16336 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
16337 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
16338 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
16339 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
16340 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
16341 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
16342 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
16343 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
16344 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
16345
16346 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
16347 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
16348 start of your debugging session.
16349 @end table
16350
16351 @node Bootstrapping
16352 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
16353
16354 @cindex remote stub, support routines
16355 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
16356 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
16357 debugging target machine.
16358
16359 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
16360 serial port.
16361
16362 @table @code
16363 @item int getDebugChar()
16364 @findex getDebugChar
16365 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
16366 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
16367 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16368
16369 @item void putDebugChar(int)
16370 @findex putDebugChar
16371 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
16372 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
16373 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16374 @end table
16375
16376 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
16377 @cindex interrupting remote targets
16378 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
16379 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
16380 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
16381 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
16382 remote system to stop.
16383
16384 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
16385 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
16386 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
16387 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
16388
16389 Other routines you need to supply are:
16390
16391 @table @code
16392 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
16393 @findex exceptionHandler
16394 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
16395 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
16396 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
16397 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
16398 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
16399 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
16400 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
16401 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
16402 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
16403 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
16404 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
16405 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
16406 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
16407
16408 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
16409 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
16410 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
16411 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
16412 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
16413
16414 @item void flush_i_cache()
16415 @findex flush_i_cache
16416 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
16417 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
16418 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
16419
16420 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
16421 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
16422 @end table
16423
16424 @noindent
16425 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
16426
16427 @table @code
16428 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
16429 @findex memset
16430 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
16431 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
16432 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
16433 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
16434 @end table
16435
16436 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
16437 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
16438 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
16439 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
16440
16441
16442 @node Debug Session
16443 @subsection Putting it All Together
16444
16445 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
16446 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
16447 steps.
16448
16449 @enumerate
16450 @item
16451 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
16452 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
16453 @display
16454 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
16455 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
16456 @end display
16457
16458 @item
16459 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
16460
16461 @smallexample
16462 set_debug_traps();
16463 breakpoint();
16464 @end smallexample
16465
16466 @item
16467 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
16468 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
16469
16470 @smallexample
16471 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
16472 @end smallexample
16473
16474 @noindent
16475 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
16476 function in your program, that function is called when
16477 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
16478 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
16479 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
16480
16481 @item
16482 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
16483 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
16484
16485 @item
16486 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
16487 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
16488
16489 @item
16490 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
16491 @c document that. FIXME.
16492 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
16493 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
16494
16495 @item
16496 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
16497 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16498
16499 @end enumerate
16500
16501 @node Configurations
16502 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
16503
16504 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
16505 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
16506 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
16507
16508 There are three major categories of configurations: native
16509 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
16510 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
16511 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
16512 are quite different from each other.
16513
16514 @menu
16515 * Native::
16516 * Embedded OS::
16517 * Embedded Processors::
16518 * Architectures::
16519 @end menu
16520
16521 @node Native
16522 @section Native
16523
16524 This section describes details specific to particular native
16525 configurations.
16526
16527 @menu
16528 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
16529 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
16530 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
16531 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
16532 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
16533 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
16534 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
16535 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
16536 @end menu
16537
16538 @node HP-UX
16539 @subsection HP-UX
16540
16541 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
16542 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
16543 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
16544
16545
16546 @node BSD libkvm Interface
16547 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
16548
16549 @cindex libkvm
16550 @cindex kernel memory image
16551 @cindex kernel crash dump
16552
16553 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
16554 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
16555 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
16556 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
16557 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
16558 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
16559 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
16560 @code{kvm} target:
16561
16562 @smallexample
16563 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
16564 @end smallexample
16565
16566 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
16567 argument:
16568
16569 @smallexample
16570 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
16571 @end smallexample
16572
16573 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
16574 available:
16575
16576 @table @code
16577 @kindex kvm
16578 @item kvm pcb
16579 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
16580
16581 @item kvm proc
16582 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
16583 modern FreeBSD systems.
16584 @end table
16585
16586 @node SVR4 Process Information
16587 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
16588 @cindex /proc
16589 @cindex examine process image
16590 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
16591
16592 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
16593 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
16594 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
16595 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
16596 proc} is available to report information about the process running
16597 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
16598 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
16599 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
16600 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
16601
16602 @table @code
16603 @kindex info proc
16604 @cindex process ID
16605 @item info proc
16606 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
16607 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
16608 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
16609 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
16610 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
16611 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
16612 executable file's absolute file name.
16613
16614 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
16615 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
16616 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
16617 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
16618 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
16619 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
16620
16621 @item info proc mappings
16622 @cindex memory address space mappings
16623 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
16624 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
16625 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
16626 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
16627 memory access rights to that range.
16628
16629 @item info proc stat
16630 @itemx info proc status
16631 @cindex process detailed status information
16632 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
16633 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
16634 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
16635 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
16636 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
16637 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
16638 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
16639
16640 @item info proc all
16641 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
16642 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
16643
16644 @ignore
16645 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
16646 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
16647 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
16648 @kindex info proc times
16649 @item info proc times
16650 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
16651 its children.
16652
16653 @kindex info proc id
16654 @item info proc id
16655 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
16656 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
16657 @end ignore
16658
16659 @item set procfs-trace
16660 @kindex set procfs-trace
16661 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
16662 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
16663
16664 @item show procfs-trace
16665 @kindex show procfs-trace
16666 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
16667
16668 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
16669 @kindex set procfs-file
16670 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
16671 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
16672 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
16673 standard output.
16674
16675 @item show procfs-file
16676 @kindex show procfs-file
16677 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
16678
16679 @item proc-trace-entry
16680 @itemx proc-trace-exit
16681 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
16682 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
16683 @kindex proc-trace-entry
16684 @kindex proc-trace-exit
16685 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
16686 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
16687 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
16688 from the @code{syscall} interface.
16689
16690 @item info pidlist
16691 @kindex info pidlist
16692 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
16693 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
16694 processes and all the threads within each process.
16695
16696 @item info meminfo
16697 @kindex info meminfo
16698 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
16699 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
16700 @end table
16701
16702 @node DJGPP Native
16703 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
16704 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
16705 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
16706 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
16707
16708 @cindex DPMI
16709 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
16710 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
16711 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
16712 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
16713
16714 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
16715 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
16716 subsection describes those commands.
16717
16718 @table @code
16719 @kindex info dos
16720 @item info dos
16721 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
16722 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16723
16724 @kindex sysinfo
16725 @cindex MS-DOS system info
16726 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
16727 @item info dos sysinfo
16728 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
16729 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
16730 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
16731
16732 @cindex GDT
16733 @cindex LDT
16734 @cindex IDT
16735 @cindex segment descriptor tables
16736 @cindex descriptor tables display
16737 @item info dos gdt
16738 @itemx info dos ldt
16739 @itemx info dos idt
16740 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
16741 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
16742 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
16743 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
16744 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
16745 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
16746 rights.
16747
16748 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
16749 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
16750 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
16751 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
16752 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
16753
16754 @cindex garbled pointers
16755 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
16756 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
16757 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
16758 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
16759 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
16760 debugged program's data segment:
16761
16762 @smallexample
16763 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
16764 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
16765 @end smallexample
16766
16767 @noindent
16768 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
16769 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
16770
16771 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
16772 @item info dos pde
16773 @itemx info dos pte
16774 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
16775 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
16776 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
16777 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
16778 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
16779 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
16780 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
16781 that is currently in use.
16782
16783 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
16784 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
16785 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
16786 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
16787 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
16788 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
16789 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
16790
16791 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
16792 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
16793 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
16794 controller.
16795
16796 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
16797
16798 @cindex physical address from linear address
16799 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
16800 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
16801 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
16802 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
16803 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
16804 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
16805 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
16806
16807 @smallexample
16808 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
16809 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
16810 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
16811 @end smallexample
16812
16813 @noindent
16814 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
16815 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
16816 attributes of that page.
16817
16818 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
16819 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
16820 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
16821 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
16822 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
16823 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
16824
16825 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
16826 transfer buffer:
16827
16828 @smallexample
16829 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
16830 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
16831 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
16832 @end smallexample
16833
16834 @noindent
16835 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
16836 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
16837 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
16838 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
16839 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
16840
16841 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
16842 @end table
16843
16844 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
16845 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
16846 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
16847 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
16848
16849 @table @code
16850 @kindex set com1base
16851 @kindex set com1irq
16852 @kindex set com2base
16853 @kindex set com2irq
16854 @kindex set com3base
16855 @kindex set com3irq
16856 @kindex set com4base
16857 @kindex set com4irq
16858 @item set com1base @var{addr}
16859 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
16860 port.
16861
16862 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
16863 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
16864 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
16865
16866 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
16867 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
16868 other 3 COM ports.
16869
16870 @kindex show com1base
16871 @kindex show com1irq
16872 @kindex show com2base
16873 @kindex show com2irq
16874 @kindex show com3base
16875 @kindex show com3irq
16876 @kindex show com4base
16877 @kindex show com4irq
16878 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
16879 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
16880 lines used by the COM ports.
16881
16882 @item info serial
16883 @kindex info serial
16884 @cindex DOS serial port status
16885 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
16886 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
16887 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
16888 counts of various errors encountered so far.
16889 @end table
16890
16891
16892 @node Cygwin Native
16893 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
16894 @cindex MS Windows debugging
16895 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
16896 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
16897
16898 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
16899 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
16900
16901 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
16902 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
16903 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
16904 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
16905 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
16906 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
16907 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
16908 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
16909
16910 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
16911 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
16912 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
16913
16914 @table @code
16915 @kindex info w32
16916 @item info w32
16917 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
16918 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16919
16920 @item info w32 selector
16921 This command displays information returned by
16922 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
16923 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
16924 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
16925 Without argument, this command displays information
16926 about the six segment registers.
16927
16928 @item info w32 thread-information-block
16929 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
16930 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
16931 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
16932
16933 @kindex info dll
16934 @item info dll
16935 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
16936
16937 @kindex dll-symbols
16938 @item dll-symbols
16939 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
16940 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
16941
16942 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
16943 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
16944 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
16945 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
16946 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
16947 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
16948 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
16949 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
16950 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
16951 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
16952 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
16953
16954 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
16955 @item show cygwin-exceptions
16956 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
16957 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
16958
16959 @kindex set new-console
16960 @item set new-console @var{mode}
16961 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
16962 be started in a new console on next start.
16963 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
16964 be started in the same console as the debugger.
16965
16966 @kindex show new-console
16967 @item show new-console
16968 Displays whether a new console is used
16969 when the debuggee is started.
16970
16971 @kindex set new-group
16972 @item set new-group @var{mode}
16973 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
16974 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
16975 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
16976 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
16977
16978 @kindex show new-group
16979 @item show new-group
16980 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
16981
16982 @kindex set debugevents
16983 @item set debugevents
16984 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
16985 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
16986 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
16987 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
16988 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
16989
16990 @kindex set debugexec
16991 @item set debugexec
16992 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
16993 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
16994
16995 @kindex set debugexceptions
16996 @item set debugexceptions
16997 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
16998 debuggee seen by the debugger.
16999
17000 @kindex set debugmemory
17001 @item set debugmemory
17002 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
17003 and writes by the debugger.
17004
17005 @kindex set shell
17006 @item set shell
17007 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
17008 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
17009
17010 @kindex show shell
17011 @item show shell
17012 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
17013
17014 @end table
17015
17016 @menu
17017 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
17018 @end menu
17019
17020 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
17021 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
17022 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
17023 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
17024
17025 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
17026 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
17027 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
17028 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
17029 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
17030 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
17031 ``minimal symbols''.
17032
17033 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
17034 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
17035 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
17036 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
17037 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
17038 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
17039 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
17040 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
17041 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
17042 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
17043
17044 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
17045
17046 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
17047 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
17048 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
17049 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
17050 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
17051 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
17052 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
17053 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
17054 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
17055
17056 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
17057 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
17058 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
17059 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
17060 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
17061 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
17062
17063 @smallexample
17064 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
17065 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
17066
17067 Non-debugging symbols:
17068 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
17069 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
17070 @end smallexample
17071
17072 @smallexample
17073 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
17074 All functions matching regular expression "!":
17075
17076 Non-debugging symbols:
17077 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
17078 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
17079 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
17080 [etc...]
17081 @end smallexample
17082
17083 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
17084
17085 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
17086 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
17087 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
17088 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
17089 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
17090 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
17091 a function within a DLL without a running program.
17092
17093 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
17094 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
17095 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
17096 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
17097 problem:
17098
17099 @smallexample
17100 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
17101 $1 = 268572168
17102 @end smallexample
17103
17104 @smallexample
17105 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
17106 0x10021610: "\230y\""
17107 @end smallexample
17108
17109 And two possible solutions:
17110
17111 @smallexample
17112 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
17113 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17114 @end smallexample
17115
17116 @smallexample
17117 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
17118 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
17119 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
17120 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
17121 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
17122 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17123 @end smallexample
17124
17125 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
17126 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
17127 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
17128 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
17129 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
17130
17131 @smallexample
17132 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
17133 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
17134 @end smallexample
17135
17136 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
17137 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
17138 safe.
17139
17140 @node Hurd Native
17141 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
17142 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
17143
17144 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
17145 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
17146
17147 @table @code
17148 @item set signals
17149 @itemx set sigs
17150 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
17151 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17152 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
17153 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
17154 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
17155 @code{signals}.
17156
17157 @item show signals
17158 @itemx show sigs
17159 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
17160 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17161 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
17162
17163 @item set signal-thread
17164 @itemx set sigthread
17165 @kindex set signal-thread
17166 @kindex set sigthread
17167 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
17168 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
17169 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
17170 signal-thread}.
17171
17172 @item show signal-thread
17173 @itemx show sigthread
17174 @kindex show signal-thread
17175 @kindex show sigthread
17176 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
17177 delivered a signal.
17178
17179 @item set stopped
17180 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17181 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
17182 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
17183 continued by delivering a signal to it.
17184
17185 @item show stopped
17186 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17187 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
17188 stopped.
17189
17190 @item set exceptions
17191 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17192 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
17193 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
17194 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
17195 trapping on.
17196
17197 @item show exceptions
17198 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17199 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
17200
17201 @item set task pause
17202 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
17203 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17204 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17205 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
17206 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
17207 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
17208 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
17209 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
17210 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
17211
17212 @item show task pause
17213 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
17214 Show the current state of task suspension.
17215
17216 @item set task detach-suspend-count
17217 @cindex task suspend count
17218 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17219 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
17220 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
17221
17222 @item show task detach-suspend-count
17223 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
17224
17225 @item set task exception-port
17226 @itemx set task excp
17227 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17228 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
17229 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
17230 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
17231
17232 @item set noninvasive
17233 @cindex noninvasive task options
17234 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
17235 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
17236 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
17237 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
17238
17239 @item info send-rights
17240 @itemx info receive-rights
17241 @itemx info port-rights
17242 @itemx info port-sets
17243 @itemx info dead-names
17244 @itemx info ports
17245 @itemx info psets
17246 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17247 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17248 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17249 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17250 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17251 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
17252 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
17253 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
17254 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
17255
17256 @item set thread pause
17257 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
17258 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17259 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17260 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
17261 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
17262 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
17263 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
17264 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
17265 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
17266 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
17267 only the current thread.
17268
17269 @item show thread pause
17270 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
17271 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
17272
17273 @item set thread run
17274 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17275
17276 @item show thread run
17277 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17278
17279 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
17280 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17281 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17282 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
17283 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
17284 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
17285 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
17286
17287 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
17288 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
17289 detaching.
17290
17291 @item set thread exception-port
17292 @itemx set thread excp
17293 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
17294 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
17295 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
17296
17297 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
17298 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
17299 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
17300 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
17301
17302 @item set thread default
17303 @itemx show thread default
17304 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17305 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
17306 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
17307 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
17308 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
17309 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
17310 the non-default commands.
17311 @end table
17312
17313
17314 @node Neutrino
17315 @subsection QNX Neutrino
17316 @cindex QNX Neutrino
17317
17318 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
17319 Neutrino target:
17320
17321 @table @code
17322 @item set debug nto-debug
17323 @kindex set debug nto-debug
17324 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
17325 Neutrino support.
17326
17327 @item show debug nto-debug
17328 @kindex show debug nto-debug
17329 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
17330 @end table
17331
17332 @node Darwin
17333 @subsection Darwin
17334 @cindex Darwin
17335
17336 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
17337
17338 @table @code
17339 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
17340 @kindex set debug darwin
17341 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
17342 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
17343
17344 @item show debug darwin
17345 @kindex show debug darwin
17346 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
17347
17348 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
17349 @kindex set debug mach-o
17350 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
17351 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
17352 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
17353 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
17354 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
17355 usage.
17356
17357 @item show debug mach-o
17358 @kindex show debug mach-o
17359 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
17360
17361 @item set mach-exceptions on
17362 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
17363 @kindex set mach-exceptions
17364 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
17365 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
17366 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
17367 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
17368
17369 @item show mach-exceptions
17370 @kindex show mach-exceptions
17371 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
17372 @end table
17373
17374
17375 @node Embedded OS
17376 @section Embedded Operating Systems
17377
17378 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
17379 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
17380 architectures.
17381
17382 @menu
17383 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17384 @end menu
17385
17386 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
17387 various real-time operating systems.
17388
17389 @node VxWorks
17390 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17391
17392 @cindex VxWorks
17393
17394 @table @code
17395
17396 @kindex target vxworks
17397 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
17398 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
17399 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
17400
17401 @end table
17402
17403 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
17404 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
17405
17406 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
17407 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
17408 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17409 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
17410 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
17411 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
17412 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
17413
17414 @table @code
17415 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
17416 @kindex vxworks-timeout
17417 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
17418 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17419 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
17420 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
17421 of a thin network line.
17422 @end table
17423
17424 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
17425 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
17426 procedures.
17427
17428 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
17429 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
17430 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
17431 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
17432 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
17433 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
17434 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
17435 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
17436 manual.
17437 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
17438
17439 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
17440 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17441 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
17442 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
17443
17444 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17445
17446 @smallexample
17447 (vxgdb)
17448 @end smallexample
17449
17450 @menu
17451 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
17452 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
17453 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
17454 @end menu
17455
17456 @node VxWorks Connection
17457 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
17458
17459 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
17460 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
17461
17462 @smallexample
17463 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
17464 @end smallexample
17465
17466 @need 750
17467 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17468
17469 @smallexample
17470 Attaching remote machine across net...
17471 Connected to tt.
17472 @end smallexample
17473
17474 @need 1000
17475 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
17476 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
17477 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
17478 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
17479 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
17480
17481 @smallexample
17482 prog.o: No such file or directory.
17483 @end smallexample
17484
17485 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
17486 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
17487 command again.
17488
17489 @node VxWorks Download
17490 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
17491
17492 @cindex download to VxWorks
17493 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
17494 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
17495 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
17496 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
17497 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
17498 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
17499 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
17500 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
17501 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
17502 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
17503 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
17504 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
17505 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
17506 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
17507 program, type this on VxWorks:
17508
17509 @smallexample
17510 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
17511 @end smallexample
17512
17513 @noindent
17514 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17515
17516 @smallexample
17517 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
17518 (vxgdb) load prog.o
17519 @end smallexample
17520
17521 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
17522
17523 @smallexample
17524 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
17525 @end smallexample
17526
17527 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
17528 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
17529 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
17530 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
17531 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
17532 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
17533 table.)
17534
17535 @node VxWorks Attach
17536 @subsubsection Running Tasks
17537
17538 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
17539 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
17540 follows:
17541
17542 @smallexample
17543 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
17544 @end smallexample
17545
17546 @noindent
17547 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
17548 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
17549 the time of attachment.
17550
17551 @node Embedded Processors
17552 @section Embedded Processors
17553
17554 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
17555 configurations.
17556
17557 @cindex send command to simulator
17558 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
17559 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
17560
17561 @table @code
17562 @item sim @var{command}
17563 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
17564 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
17565 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
17566 acceptable commands.
17567 @end table
17568
17569
17570 @menu
17571 * ARM:: ARM RDI
17572 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
17573 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
17574 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
17575 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
17576 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
17577 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
17578 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
17579 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
17580 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
17581 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
17582 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
17583 * CRIS:: CRIS
17584 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
17585 @end menu
17586
17587 @node ARM
17588 @subsection ARM
17589 @cindex ARM RDI
17590
17591 @table @code
17592 @kindex target rdi
17593 @item target rdi @var{dev}
17594 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
17595 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
17596 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
17597
17598 @kindex target rdp
17599 @item target rdp @var{dev}
17600 ARM Demon monitor.
17601
17602 @end table
17603
17604 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
17605
17606 @table @code
17607 @item set arm disassembler
17608 @kindex set arm
17609 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
17610 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
17611
17612 @item show arm disassembler
17613 @kindex show arm
17614 Show the current disassembly style.
17615
17616 @item set arm apcs32
17617 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
17618 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
17619
17620 @item show arm apcs32
17621 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
17622
17623 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
17624 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
17625 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
17626
17627 @table @code
17628 @item auto
17629 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
17630 @item softfpa
17631 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
17632 processors.
17633 @item fpa
17634 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
17635 @item softvfp
17636 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
17637 @item vfp
17638 VFP co-processor.
17639 @end table
17640
17641 @item show arm fpu
17642 Show the current type of the FPU.
17643
17644 @item set arm abi
17645 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
17646
17647 @item show arm abi
17648 Show the currently used ABI.
17649
17650 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17651 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
17652 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
17653 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
17654 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
17655 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
17656 register).
17657
17658 @item show arm fallback-mode
17659 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
17660
17661 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17662 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
17663 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
17664 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
17665 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
17666
17667 @item show arm force-mode
17668 Show the current forced instruction mode.
17669
17670 @item set debug arm
17671 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
17672 target support subsystem.
17673
17674 @item show debug arm
17675 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
17676 @end table
17677
17678 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
17679 using the RDI interface:
17680
17681 @table @code
17682 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17683 @kindex rdilogfile
17684 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
17685 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
17686 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
17687 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
17688 @file{rdi.log}.
17689
17690 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
17691 @kindex rdilogenable
17692 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
17693 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
17694 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
17695 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
17696 are logged to a file.
17697
17698 @item set rdiromatzero
17699 @kindex set rdiromatzero
17700 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
17701 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
17702 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
17703 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
17704 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
17705
17706 @item show rdiromatzero
17707 @kindex show rdiromatzero
17708 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
17709
17710 @item set rdiheartbeat
17711 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
17712 @cindex RDI heartbeat
17713 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
17714 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
17715 well as the Angel monitor.
17716
17717 @item show rdiheartbeat
17718 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
17719 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
17720 @end table
17721
17722 @table @code
17723 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17724 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
17725
17726 @table @code
17727 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
17728 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
17729 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
17730 The default value is @code{all}.
17731
17732 @table @code
17733 @item none
17734 @item demon
17735 @item angel
17736 @item redboot
17737 @item all
17738 @end table
17739 @end table
17740 @end table
17741
17742 @node M32R/D
17743 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
17744
17745 @table @code
17746 @kindex target m32r
17747 @item target m32r @var{dev}
17748 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
17749
17750 @kindex target m32rsdi
17751 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
17752 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
17753 @end table
17754
17755 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
17756
17757 @table @code
17758 @item set download-path @var{path}
17759 @kindex set download-path
17760 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
17761 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17762
17763 @item show download-path
17764 @kindex show download-path
17765 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17766
17767 @item set board-address @var{addr}
17768 @kindex set board-address
17769 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
17770 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
17771
17772 @item show board-address
17773 @kindex show board-address
17774 Show the current IP address of the target board.
17775
17776 @item set server-address @var{addr}
17777 @kindex set server-address
17778 @cindex download server address (M32R)
17779 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
17780 host machine.
17781
17782 @item show server-address
17783 @kindex show server-address
17784 Display the IP address of the download server.
17785
17786 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17787 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
17788 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
17789 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
17790 executable file is uploaded.
17791
17792 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17793 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
17794 Test the @code{upload} command.
17795 @end table
17796
17797 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
17798
17799 @table @code
17800 @item sdireset
17801 @kindex sdireset
17802 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
17803 This command resets the SDI connection.
17804
17805 @item sdistatus
17806 @kindex sdistatus
17807 This command shows the SDI connection status.
17808
17809 @item debug_chaos
17810 @kindex debug_chaos
17811 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
17812 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
17813
17814 @item use_debug_dma
17815 @kindex use_debug_dma
17816 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
17817
17818 @item use_mon_code
17819 @kindex use_mon_code
17820 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
17821
17822 @item use_ib_break
17823 @kindex use_ib_break
17824 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
17825
17826 @item use_dbt_break
17827 @kindex use_dbt_break
17828 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
17829 @end table
17830
17831 @node M68K
17832 @subsection M68k
17833
17834 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
17835 target command for the following ROM monitor.
17836
17837 @table @code
17838
17839 @kindex target dbug
17840 @item target dbug @var{dev}
17841 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
17842
17843 @end table
17844
17845 @node MicroBlaze
17846 @subsection MicroBlaze
17847 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
17848 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
17849
17850 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
17851 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
17852 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
17853 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
17854 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
17855 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
17856 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
17857 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
17858 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
17859 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
17860 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
17861
17862 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
17863
17864 @table @code
17865 @item target remote :1234
17866 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
17867 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
17868
17869 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
17870 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
17871 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
17872
17873 @item load
17874 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
17875
17876 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
17877 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
17878
17879 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
17880 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
17881 @end table
17882
17883 @node MIPS Embedded
17884 @subsection MIPS Embedded
17885
17886 @cindex MIPS boards
17887 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
17888 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
17889 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
17890
17891 @need 1000
17892 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
17893
17894 @table @code
17895 @item target mips @var{port}
17896 @kindex target mips @var{port}
17897 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
17898 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
17899 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
17900 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
17901 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
17902 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
17903
17904 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
17905 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
17906 debugger:
17907
17908 @smallexample
17909 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
17910 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
17911 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
17912 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
17913 (@value{GDBP}) run
17914 @end smallexample
17915
17916 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
17917 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
17918 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
17919 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
17920 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
17921
17922 @item target pmon @var{port}
17923 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
17924 PMON ROM monitor.
17925
17926 @item target ddb @var{port}
17927 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
17928 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
17929
17930 @item target lsi @var{port}
17931 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
17932 LSI variant of PMON.
17933
17934 @kindex target r3900
17935 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
17936 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
17937
17938 @kindex target array
17939 @item target array @var{dev}
17940 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
17941
17942 @end table
17943
17944
17945 @noindent
17946 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
17947
17948 @table @code
17949 @item set mipsfpu double
17950 @itemx set mipsfpu single
17951 @itemx set mipsfpu none
17952 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
17953 @itemx show mipsfpu
17954 @kindex set mipsfpu
17955 @kindex show mipsfpu
17956 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
17957 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
17958 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
17959 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
17960 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
17961 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
17962 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
17963 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
17964 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
17965 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
17966 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
17967 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
17968 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
17969
17970 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
17971 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
17972 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
17973
17974 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
17975 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
17976
17977 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
17978 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
17979 @itemx show timeout
17980 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
17981 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
17982 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
17983 @kindex set timeout
17984 @kindex show timeout
17985 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
17986 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
17987 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
17988 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
17989 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
17990 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
17991 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
17992 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
17993 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
17994 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
17995
17996 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
17997 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
17998 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
17999 to run before stopping.
18000
18001 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
18002 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18003 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
18004 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
18005 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
18006 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
18007
18008 @item show syn-garbage-limit
18009 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18010 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
18011 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
18012
18013 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
18014 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18015 @cindex remote monitor prompt
18016 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
18017 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
18018 @table @asis
18019 @item pmon target
18020 @samp{PMON}
18021 @item ddb target
18022 @samp{NEC010}
18023 @item lsi target
18024 @samp{PMON>}
18025 @end table
18026
18027 @item show monitor-prompt
18028 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18029 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
18030 remote monitor.
18031
18032 @item set monitor-warnings
18033 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18034 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
18035 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
18036 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
18037 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
18038
18039 @item show monitor-warnings
18040 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18041 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
18042
18043 @item pmon @var{command}
18044 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
18045 @cindex send PMON command
18046 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
18047 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
18048 @end table
18049
18050 @node OpenRISC 1000
18051 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
18052 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
18053
18054 @cindex or1k boards
18055 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
18056 about platform and commands.
18057
18058 @table @code
18059
18060 @kindex target jtag
18061 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
18062
18063 Connects to remote JTAG server.
18064 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
18065 connected via parallel port to the board.
18066
18067 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
18068
18069 @kindex or1ksim
18070 @item or1ksim @var{command}
18071 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
18072 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
18073
18074 @kindex info or1k spr
18075 @item info or1k spr
18076 Displays spr groups.
18077
18078 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
18079 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
18080 Displays register names in selected group.
18081
18082 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
18083 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
18084 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
18085 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
18086 Shows information about specified spr register.
18087
18088 @kindex spr
18089 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
18090 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
18091 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
18092 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
18093 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
18094 @end table
18095
18096 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
18097 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
18098 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
18099 triggers can be set using:
18100 @table @code
18101 @item $LEA/$LDATA
18102 Load effective address/data
18103 @item $SEA/$SDATA
18104 Store effective address/data
18105 @item $AEA/$ADATA
18106 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
18107 @item $FETCH
18108 Fetch data
18109 @end table
18110
18111 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
18112 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
18113
18114 @code{htrace} commands:
18115 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
18116 @table @code
18117 @kindex hwatch
18118 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
18119 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
18120 or Data. For example:
18121
18122 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18123
18124 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18125
18126 @kindex htrace
18127 @item htrace info
18128 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
18129
18130 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
18131 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
18132
18133 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
18134 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
18135
18136 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
18137 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
18138
18139 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
18140 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
18141 triggered.
18142
18143 @item htrace enable
18144 @itemx htrace disable
18145 Enables/disables the HW trace.
18146
18147 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
18148 Clears currently recorded trace data.
18149
18150 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
18151 will be written there.
18152
18153 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
18154 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
18155
18156 @item htrace mode continuous
18157 Set continuous trace mode.
18158
18159 @item htrace mode suspend
18160 Set suspend trace mode.
18161
18162 @end table
18163
18164 @node PowerPC Embedded
18165 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
18166
18167 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
18168
18169 @table @code
18170 @kindex set powerpc
18171 @item set powerpc soft-float
18172 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
18173 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
18174 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
18175 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18176
18177 @item set powerpc vector-abi
18178 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
18179 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
18180 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
18181 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
18182 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
18183 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
18184 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18185
18186 @kindex target dink32
18187 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
18188 DINK32 ROM monitor.
18189
18190 @kindex target ppcbug
18191 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
18192 @kindex target ppcbug1
18193 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
18194 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
18195
18196 @kindex target sds
18197 @item target sds @var{dev}
18198 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
18199 @end table
18200
18201 @cindex SDS protocol
18202 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
18203 by @value{GDBN}:
18204
18205 @table @code
18206 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
18207 @kindex set sdstimeout
18208 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
18209 default is 2 seconds.
18210
18211 @item show sdstimeout
18212 @kindex show sdstimeout
18213 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
18214
18215 @item sds @var{command}
18216 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
18217 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
18218 @end table
18219
18220
18221 @node PA
18222 @subsection HP PA Embedded
18223
18224 @table @code
18225
18226 @kindex target op50n
18227 @item target op50n @var{dev}
18228 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
18229
18230 @kindex target w89k
18231 @item target w89k @var{dev}
18232 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
18233
18234 @end table
18235
18236 @node Sparclet
18237 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
18238
18239 @cindex Sparclet
18240
18241 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
18242 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
18243 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18244 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
18245 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
18246
18247 @table @code
18248 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
18249 @kindex remotetimeout
18250 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
18251 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18252 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
18253 @end table
18254
18255 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
18256 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
18257 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
18258 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
18259 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
18260
18261 @smallexample
18262 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
18263 @end smallexample
18264
18265 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
18266
18267 @smallexample
18268 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
18269 @end smallexample
18270
18271 @cindex running, on Sparclet
18272 Once you have set
18273 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18274 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
18275 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
18276
18277 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18278
18279 @smallexample
18280 (gdbslet)
18281 @end smallexample
18282
18283 @menu
18284 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
18285 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
18286 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
18287 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
18288 @end menu
18289
18290 @node Sparclet File
18291 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
18292
18293 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
18294
18295 @smallexample
18296 (gdbslet) file prog
18297 @end smallexample
18298
18299 @need 1000
18300 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
18301 @value{GDBN} locates
18302 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
18303 path.
18304 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
18305 files will be searched as well.
18306 @value{GDBN} locates
18307 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
18308 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
18309 If it fails
18310 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
18311
18312 @smallexample
18313 prog: No such file or directory.
18314 @end smallexample
18315
18316 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
18317 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
18318 @code{target} command again.
18319
18320 @node Sparclet Connection
18321 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
18322
18323 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
18324 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
18325
18326 @smallexample
18327 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
18328 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
18329 main () at ../prog.c:3
18330 @end smallexample
18331
18332 @need 750
18333 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18334
18335 @smallexample
18336 Connected to ttya.
18337 @end smallexample
18338
18339 @node Sparclet Download
18340 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
18341
18342 @cindex download to Sparclet
18343 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
18344 you can use the @value{GDBN}
18345 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
18346 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
18347 command.
18348 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
18349 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
18350 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
18351 of each of the file's sections.
18352 For instance, if the program
18353 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
18354 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18355
18356 @smallexample
18357 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
18358 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
18359 @end smallexample
18360
18361 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
18362 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
18363 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
18364
18365 @node Sparclet Execution
18366 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
18367
18368 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
18369 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
18370 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
18371 manual for the list of commands.
18372
18373 @smallexample
18374 (gdbslet) b main
18375 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
18376 (gdbslet) run
18377 Starting program: prog
18378 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
18379 3 char *symarg = 0;
18380 (gdbslet) step
18381 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
18382 (gdbslet)
18383 @end smallexample
18384
18385 @node Sparclite
18386 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
18387
18388 @table @code
18389
18390 @kindex target sparclite
18391 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
18392 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
18393 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
18394 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
18395 remote protocol.
18396
18397 @end table
18398
18399 @node Z8000
18400 @subsection Zilog Z8000
18401
18402 @cindex Z8000
18403 @cindex simulator, Z8000
18404 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
18405
18406 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
18407 a Z8000 simulator.
18408
18409 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
18410 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
18411 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
18412 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
18413
18414 @table @code
18415 @item target sim @var{args}
18416 @kindex sim
18417 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
18418 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
18419 options, specify them via @var{args}.
18420 @end table
18421
18422 @noindent
18423 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
18424 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
18425 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
18426 to run your program, and so on.
18427
18428 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
18429 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
18430 additional items of information as specially named registers:
18431
18432 @table @code
18433
18434 @item cycles
18435 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
18436
18437 @item insts
18438 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
18439
18440 @item time
18441 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
18442
18443 @end table
18444
18445 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
18446 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
18447 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
18448 simulated clock ticks.
18449
18450 @node AVR
18451 @subsection Atmel AVR
18452 @cindex AVR
18453
18454 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
18455 following AVR-specific commands:
18456
18457 @table @code
18458 @item info io_registers
18459 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
18460 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
18461 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
18462 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
18463 @end table
18464
18465 @node CRIS
18466 @subsection CRIS
18467 @cindex CRIS
18468
18469 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
18470 following CRIS-specific commands:
18471
18472 @table @code
18473 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
18474 @cindex CRIS version
18475 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
18476 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
18477 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
18478
18479 @item show cris-version
18480 Show the current CRIS version.
18481
18482 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
18483 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
18484 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
18485 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
18486 @code{R59}.
18487
18488 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
18489 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
18490
18491 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
18492 @cindex CRIS mode
18493 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
18494 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
18495 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
18496
18497 @item show cris-mode
18498 Show the current CRIS mode.
18499 @end table
18500
18501 @node Super-H
18502 @subsection Renesas Super-H
18503 @cindex Super-H
18504
18505 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
18506 commands:
18507
18508 @table @code
18509 @item regs
18510 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
18511 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
18512
18513 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
18514 @kindex set sh calling-convention
18515 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
18516 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
18517 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
18518 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
18519 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
18520 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
18521 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
18522 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
18523 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
18524 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
18525
18526 @item show sh calling-convention
18527 @kindex show sh calling-convention
18528 Show the current calling convention setting.
18529
18530 @end table
18531
18532
18533 @node Architectures
18534 @section Architectures
18535
18536 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
18537 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
18538
18539 @menu
18540 * i386::
18541 * A29K::
18542 * Alpha::
18543 * MIPS::
18544 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
18545 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18546 * PowerPC::
18547 @end menu
18548
18549 @node i386
18550 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
18551
18552 @table @code
18553 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
18554 @kindex set struct-convention
18555 @cindex struct return convention
18556 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
18557 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
18558 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
18559 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
18560 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
18561 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
18562 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
18563 be returned in a register.
18564
18565 @item show struct-convention
18566 @kindex show struct-convention
18567 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
18568 from functions.
18569 @end table
18570
18571 @node A29K
18572 @subsection A29K
18573
18574 @table @code
18575
18576 @kindex set rstack_high_address
18577 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
18578 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
18579 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
18580 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
18581 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
18582 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
18583 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
18584 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
18585 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
18586 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
18587 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
18588 hexadecimal.
18589
18590 @kindex show rstack_high_address
18591 @item show rstack_high_address
18592 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
18593 processors.
18594
18595 @end table
18596
18597 @node Alpha
18598 @subsection Alpha
18599
18600 See the following section.
18601
18602 @node MIPS
18603 @subsection MIPS
18604
18605 @cindex stack on Alpha
18606 @cindex stack on MIPS
18607 @cindex Alpha stack
18608 @cindex MIPS stack
18609 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
18610 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
18611 find the beginning of a function.
18612
18613 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
18614 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
18615 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
18616 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
18617 commands:
18618
18619 @table @code
18620 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
18621 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
18622 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
18623 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
18624 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
18625 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
18626 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
18627 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
18628
18629 @item show heuristic-fence-post
18630 Display the current limit.
18631 @end table
18632
18633 @noindent
18634 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
18635 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
18636
18637 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
18638 programs:
18639
18640 @table @code
18641 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
18642 @kindex set mips abi
18643 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
18644 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
18645 values of @var{arg} are:
18646
18647 @table @samp
18648 @item auto
18649 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
18650 default).
18651 @item o32
18652 @item o64
18653 @item n32
18654 @item n64
18655 @item eabi32
18656 @item eabi64
18657 @item auto
18658 @end table
18659
18660 @item show mips abi
18661 @kindex show mips abi
18662 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
18663
18664 @item set mipsfpu
18665 @itemx show mipsfpu
18666 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
18667
18668 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
18669 @kindex set mips mask-address
18670 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
18671 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
18672 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
18673 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
18674 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
18675
18676 @item show mips mask-address
18677 @kindex show mips mask-address
18678 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
18679 not.
18680
18681 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18682 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18683 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
18684 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
18685 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
18686 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
18687
18688 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18689 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18690 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
18691
18692 @item set debug mips
18693 @kindex set debug mips
18694 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
18695 target code in @value{GDBN}.
18696
18697 @item show debug mips
18698 @kindex show debug mips
18699 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
18700 @end table
18701
18702
18703 @node HPPA
18704 @subsection HPPA
18705 @cindex HPPA support
18706
18707 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
18708 following special commands:
18709
18710 @table @code
18711 @item set debug hppa
18712 @kindex set debug hppa
18713 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
18714 messages are to be displayed.
18715
18716 @item show debug hppa
18717 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
18718
18719 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
18720 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
18721 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
18722 given @var{address}.
18723
18724 @end table
18725
18726
18727 @node SPU
18728 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18729 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
18730 @cindex SPU
18731
18732 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
18733 it provides the following special commands:
18734
18735 @table @code
18736 @item info spu event
18737 @kindex info spu
18738 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
18739 and pending event status.
18740
18741 @item info spu signal
18742 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
18743 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
18744 notification channels.
18745
18746 @item info spu mailbox
18747 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
18748 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
18749 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
18750
18751 @item info spu dma
18752 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18753 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18754 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18755
18756 @item info spu proxydma
18757 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18758 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18759 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18760
18761 @end table
18762
18763 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
18764 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
18765 special commands:
18766
18767 @table @code
18768 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
18769 @kindex set spu
18770 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
18771 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
18772 function. The default is @code{off}.
18773
18774 @item show spu stop-on-load
18775 @kindex show spu
18776 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
18777
18778 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
18779 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
18780 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
18781 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
18782 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
18783 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
18784
18785 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
18786 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
18787
18788 @end table
18789
18790 @node PowerPC
18791 @subsection PowerPC
18792 @cindex PowerPC architecture
18793
18794 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
18795 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
18796 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
18797 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
18798 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
18799
18800 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
18801 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
18802 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
18803
18804 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
18805 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
18806
18807
18808 @node Controlling GDB
18809 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
18810
18811 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
18812 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
18813 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
18814 described here.
18815
18816 @menu
18817 * Prompt:: Prompt
18818 * Editing:: Command editing
18819 * Command History:: Command history
18820 * Screen Size:: Screen size
18821 * Numbers:: Numbers
18822 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
18823 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
18824 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
18825 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
18826 @end menu
18827
18828 @node Prompt
18829 @section Prompt
18830
18831 @cindex prompt
18832
18833 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
18834 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
18835 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
18836 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
18837 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
18838 which one you are talking to.
18839
18840 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
18841 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
18842 or a prompt that does not.
18843
18844 @table @code
18845 @kindex set prompt
18846 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
18847 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
18848
18849 @kindex show prompt
18850 @item show prompt
18851 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
18852 @end table
18853
18854 @node Editing
18855 @section Command Editing
18856 @cindex readline
18857 @cindex command line editing
18858
18859 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
18860 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
18861 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
18862 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
18863 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
18864 debugging sessions.
18865
18866 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
18867 command @code{set}.
18868
18869 @table @code
18870 @kindex set editing
18871 @cindex editing
18872 @item set editing
18873 @itemx set editing on
18874 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
18875
18876 @item set editing off
18877 Disable command line editing.
18878
18879 @kindex show editing
18880 @item show editing
18881 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
18882 @end table
18883
18884 @xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
18885 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
18886 encouraged to read that chapter.
18887
18888 @node Command History
18889 @section Command History
18890 @cindex command history
18891
18892 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
18893 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
18894 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
18895 history facility.
18896
18897 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
18898 package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
18899 Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
18900
18901 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
18902 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
18903 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
18904 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
18905 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
18906 pressed on a line by itself.
18907
18908 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
18909 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
18910 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
18911 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
18912
18913 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
18914 history.
18915
18916 @table @code
18917 @cindex history substitution
18918 @cindex history file
18919 @kindex set history filename
18920 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
18921 @item set history filename @var{fname}
18922 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
18923 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
18924 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
18925 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
18926 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
18927 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
18928 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
18929 is not set.
18930
18931 @cindex save command history
18932 @kindex set history save
18933 @item set history save
18934 @itemx set history save on
18935 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
18936 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
18937
18938 @item set history save off
18939 Stop recording command history in a file.
18940
18941 @cindex history size
18942 @kindex set history size
18943 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
18944 @item set history size @var{size}
18945 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
18946 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
18947 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
18948 @end table
18949
18950 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
18951 @xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
18952
18953 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
18954 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
18955 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
18956 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
18957 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
18958 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
18959 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
18960 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
18961
18962 The commands to control history expansion are:
18963
18964 @table @code
18965 @item set history expansion on
18966 @itemx set history expansion
18967 @kindex set history expansion
18968 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
18969
18970 @item set history expansion off
18971 Disable history expansion.
18972
18973 @c @group
18974 @kindex show history
18975 @item show history
18976 @itemx show history filename
18977 @itemx show history save
18978 @itemx show history size
18979 @itemx show history expansion
18980 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
18981 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
18982 @c @end group
18983 @end table
18984
18985 @table @code
18986 @kindex show commands
18987 @cindex show last commands
18988 @cindex display command history
18989 @item show commands
18990 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
18991
18992 @item show commands @var{n}
18993 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
18994
18995 @item show commands +
18996 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
18997 @end table
18998
18999 @node Screen Size
19000 @section Screen Size
19001 @cindex size of screen
19002 @cindex pauses in output
19003
19004 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
19005 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
19006 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
19007 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
19008 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
19009 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
19010 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
19011 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
19012
19013 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
19014 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
19015 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
19016 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
19017 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
19018 width} commands:
19019
19020 @table @code
19021 @kindex set height
19022 @kindex set width
19023 @kindex show width
19024 @kindex show height
19025 @item set height @var{lpp}
19026 @itemx show height
19027 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
19028 @itemx show width
19029 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
19030 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
19031 commands display the current settings.
19032
19033 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
19034 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
19035 file or to an editor buffer.
19036
19037 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
19038 from wrapping its output.
19039
19040 @item set pagination on
19041 @itemx set pagination off
19042 @kindex set pagination
19043 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
19044 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
19045 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
19046 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
19047
19048 @item show pagination
19049 @kindex show pagination
19050 Show the current pagination mode.
19051 @end table
19052
19053 @node Numbers
19054 @section Numbers
19055 @cindex number representation
19056 @cindex entering numbers
19057
19058 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
19059 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
19060 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
19061 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
19062 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
19063 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
19064 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
19065 both input and output with the commands described below.
19066
19067 @table @code
19068 @kindex set input-radix
19069 @item set input-radix @var{base}
19070 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
19071 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19072 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
19073 example, any of
19074
19075 @smallexample
19076 set input-radix 012
19077 set input-radix 10.
19078 set input-radix 0xa
19079 @end smallexample
19080
19081 @noindent
19082 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
19083 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
19084 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
19085 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
19086 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
19087 change the radix.
19088
19089 @kindex set output-radix
19090 @item set output-radix @var{base}
19091 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
19092 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19093 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
19094
19095 @kindex show input-radix
19096 @item show input-radix
19097 Display the current default base for numeric input.
19098
19099 @kindex show output-radix
19100 @item show output-radix
19101 Display the current default base for numeric display.
19102
19103 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
19104 @itemx show radix
19105 @kindex set radix
19106 @kindex show radix
19107 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
19108 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
19109 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
19110 default value of 10.
19111
19112 @end table
19113
19114 @node ABI
19115 @section Configuring the Current ABI
19116
19117 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
19118 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
19119 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
19120 current ABI.
19121
19122 @cindex OS ABI
19123 @kindex set osabi
19124 @kindex show osabi
19125
19126 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
19127 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
19128 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
19129 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
19130 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
19131 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
19132 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
19133 platform provides.
19134
19135 @table @code
19136 @item show osabi
19137 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
19138
19139 @item set osabi
19140 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
19141
19142 @item set osabi @var{abi}
19143 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
19144 @end table
19145
19146 @cindex float promotion
19147
19148 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
19149 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
19150 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
19151 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
19152 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
19153 @code{double} and then passed.
19154
19155 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
19156 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
19157 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
19158
19159 @table @code
19160 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
19161 @item set coerce-float-to-double
19162 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
19163 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
19164 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
19165
19166 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
19167 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
19168 functions.
19169
19170 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
19171 @item show coerce-float-to-double
19172 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
19173 @end table
19174
19175 @kindex set cp-abi
19176 @kindex show cp-abi
19177 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
19178 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
19179 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
19180 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
19181 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
19182 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
19183 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
19184 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
19185 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
19186 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
19187 ``auto''.
19188
19189 @table @code
19190 @item show cp-abi
19191 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
19192
19193 @item set cp-abi
19194 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
19195
19196 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
19197 @itemx set cp-abi auto
19198 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
19199 @end table
19200
19201 @node Messages/Warnings
19202 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
19203
19204 @cindex verbose operation
19205 @cindex optional warnings
19206 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
19207 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
19208 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
19209 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
19210
19211 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
19212 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
19213 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
19214
19215 @table @code
19216 @kindex set verbose
19217 @item set verbose on
19218 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19219
19220 @item set verbose off
19221 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19222
19223 @kindex show verbose
19224 @item show verbose
19225 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
19226 @end table
19227
19228 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
19229 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
19230 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
19231 Symbol Files}).
19232
19233 @table @code
19234
19235 @kindex set complaints
19236 @item set complaints @var{limit}
19237 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
19238 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
19239 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
19240 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
19241
19242 @kindex show complaints
19243 @item show complaints
19244 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
19245
19246 @end table
19247
19248 @anchor{confirmation requests}
19249 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
19250 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
19251 you try to run a program which is already running:
19252
19253 @smallexample
19254 (@value{GDBP}) run
19255 The program being debugged has been started already.
19256 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
19257 @end smallexample
19258
19259 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
19260 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
19261
19262 @table @code
19263
19264 @kindex set confirm
19265 @cindex flinching
19266 @cindex confirmation
19267 @cindex stupid questions
19268 @item set confirm off
19269 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
19270 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
19271 automatically disables confirmation requests.
19272
19273 @item set confirm on
19274 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
19275
19276 @kindex show confirm
19277 @item show confirm
19278 Displays state of confirmation requests.
19279
19280 @end table
19281
19282 @cindex command tracing
19283 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
19284 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
19285 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
19286 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
19287
19288 @table @code
19289 @kindex set trace-commands
19290 @cindex command scripts, debugging
19291 @item set trace-commands on
19292 Enable command tracing.
19293 @item set trace-commands off
19294 Disable command tracing.
19295 @item show trace-commands
19296 Display the current state of command tracing.
19297 @end table
19298
19299 @node Debugging Output
19300 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
19301 @cindex optional debugging messages
19302
19303 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
19304 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
19305 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
19306 section documents those commands.
19307
19308 @table @code
19309 @kindex set exec-done-display
19310 @item set exec-done-display
19311 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
19312 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
19313 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
19314 @kindex show exec-done-display
19315 @item show exec-done-display
19316 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
19317 notification.
19318 @kindex set debug
19319 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
19320 @cindex architecture debugging info
19321 @item set debug arch
19322 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
19323 @kindex show debug
19324 @item show debug arch
19325 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
19326 @item set debug aix-thread
19327 @cindex AIX threads
19328 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
19329 module.
19330 @item show debug aix-thread
19331 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
19332 @item set debug dwarf2-die
19333 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
19334 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
19335 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
19336 A value of zero turns off the display.
19337 @item show debug dwarf2-die
19338 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
19339 @item set debug displaced
19340 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
19341 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
19342 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
19343 @item show debug displaced
19344 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
19345 related to displaced stepping.
19346 @item set debug event
19347 @cindex event debugging info
19348 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
19349 default is off.
19350 @item show debug event
19351 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
19352 info.
19353 @item set debug expression
19354 @cindex expression debugging info
19355 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
19356 expression parsing. The default is off.
19357 @item show debug expression
19358 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
19359 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
19360 @item set debug frame
19361 @cindex frame debugging info
19362 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
19363 default is off.
19364 @item show debug frame
19365 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
19366 info.
19367 @item set debug gnu-nat
19368 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
19369 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
19370 @item show debug gnu-nat
19371 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
19372 @item set debug infrun
19373 @cindex inferior debugging info
19374 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
19375 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
19376 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
19377 @item show debug infrun
19378 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
19379 @item set debug lin-lwp
19380 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
19381 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19382 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
19383 @item show debug lin-lwp
19384 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
19385 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
19386 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
19387 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19388 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
19389 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
19390 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
19391 @item set debug observer
19392 @cindex observer debugging info
19393 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
19394 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
19395 @item show debug observer
19396 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
19397 @item set debug overload
19398 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
19399 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
19400 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
19401 is off.
19402 @item show debug overload
19403 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
19404 debugging info.
19405 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
19406 @cindex debug expression parser
19407 @item set debug parser
19408 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
19409 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
19410 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
19411 details. The default is off.
19412 @item show debug parser
19413 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
19414 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
19415 @cindex serial connections, debugging
19416 @cindex debug remote protocol
19417 @cindex remote protocol debugging
19418 @cindex display remote packets
19419 @item set debug remote
19420 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
19421 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
19422 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
19423 @item show debug remote
19424 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
19425 @item set debug serial
19426 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
19427 default is off.
19428 @item show debug serial
19429 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
19430 info.
19431 @item set debug solib-frv
19432 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
19433 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
19434 @item show debug solib-frv
19435 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
19436 messages.
19437 @item set debug target
19438 @cindex target debugging info
19439 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
19440 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
19441 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
19442 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
19443 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
19444 @item show debug target
19445 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
19446 info.
19447 @item set debug timestamp
19448 @cindex timestampping debugging info
19449 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
19450 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
19451 message.
19452 @item show debug timestamp
19453 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
19454 debugging info.
19455 @item set debugvarobj
19456 @cindex variable object debugging info
19457 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
19458 info. The default is off.
19459 @item show debugvarobj
19460 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
19461 debugging info.
19462 @item set debug xml
19463 @cindex XML parser debugging
19464 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
19465 @item show debug xml
19466 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
19467 @end table
19468
19469 @node Other Misc Settings
19470 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
19471 @cindex miscellaneous settings
19472
19473 @table @code
19474 @kindex set interactive-mode
19475 @item set interactive-mode
19476 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate interactively.
19477 If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate non-interactively,
19478 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} guesses which mode to use,
19479 based on whether the debugger was started in a terminal or not.
19480
19481 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
19482 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
19483 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
19484 inside a cygwin window.
19485
19486 @kindex show interactive-mode
19487 @item show interactive-mode
19488 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
19489 @end table
19490
19491 @node Extending GDB
19492 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
19493 @cindex extending GDB
19494
19495 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
19496 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
19497 Python scripting language.
19498
19499 To facilitate the use of these extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
19500 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
19501 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
19502 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
19503 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19504 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
19505
19506 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
19507 setting:
19508
19509 @table @code
19510 @kindex set script-extension
19511 @kindex show script-extension
19512 @item set script-extension off
19513 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19514
19515 @item set script-extension soft
19516 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19517 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
19518 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
19519 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
19520
19521 @item set script-extension strict
19522 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19523 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
19524 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
19525
19526 @item show script-extension
19527 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
19528
19529 @end table
19530
19531 @menu
19532 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
19533 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
19534 @end menu
19535
19536 @node Sequences
19537 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
19538
19539 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
19540 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
19541 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
19542 files.
19543
19544 @menu
19545 * Define:: How to define your own commands
19546 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
19547 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
19548 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
19549 @end menu
19550
19551 @node Define
19552 @subsection User-defined Commands
19553
19554 @cindex user-defined command
19555 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
19556 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
19557 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
19558 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
19559 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
19560 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
19561
19562 @smallexample
19563 define adder
19564 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19565 end
19566 @end smallexample
19567
19568 @noindent
19569 To execute the command use:
19570
19571 @smallexample
19572 adder 1 2 3
19573 @end smallexample
19574
19575 @noindent
19576 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
19577 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
19578 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
19579 functions calls.
19580
19581 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
19582 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
19583 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
19584 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
19585
19586 @smallexample
19587 define adder
19588 if $argc == 2
19589 print $arg0 + $arg1
19590 end
19591 if $argc == 3
19592 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19593 end
19594 end
19595 @end smallexample
19596
19597 @table @code
19598
19599 @kindex define
19600 @item define @var{commandname}
19601 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
19602 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
19603 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
19604 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
19605 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
19606 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
19607
19608 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
19609 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
19610 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19611
19612 @kindex document
19613 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
19614 @item document @var{commandname}
19615 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
19616 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
19617 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
19618 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
19619 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
19620 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
19621
19622 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
19623 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
19624 does not change the documentation.
19625
19626 @kindex dont-repeat
19627 @cindex don't repeat command
19628 @item dont-repeat
19629 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
19630 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
19631 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
19632
19633 @kindex help user-defined
19634 @item help user-defined
19635 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
19636 (if any) for each.
19637
19638 @kindex show user
19639 @item show user
19640 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
19641 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
19642 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
19643 definitions for all user-defined commands.
19644
19645 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
19646 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
19647 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
19648 @item show max-user-call-depth
19649 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
19650 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
19651 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
19652 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
19653 @end table
19654
19655 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
19656 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
19657
19658 When user-defined commands are executed, the
19659 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
19660 stops execution of the user-defined command.
19661
19662 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
19663 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
19664 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
19665 messages when used in a user-defined command.
19666
19667 @node Hooks
19668 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
19669 @cindex command hooks
19670 @cindex hooks, for commands
19671 @cindex hooks, pre-command
19672
19673 @kindex hook
19674 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
19675 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
19676 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
19677 before that command.
19678
19679 @cindex hooks, post-command
19680 @kindex hookpost
19681 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
19682 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
19683 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
19684 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
19685 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
19686
19687 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
19688 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
19689
19690 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
19691 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
19692
19693 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
19694 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
19695 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
19696 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
19697 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
19698
19699 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
19700 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
19701 you could define:
19702
19703 @smallexample
19704 define hook-stop
19705 handle SIGALRM nopass
19706 end
19707
19708 define hook-run
19709 handle SIGALRM pass
19710 end
19711
19712 define hook-continue
19713 handle SIGALRM pass
19714 end
19715 @end smallexample
19716
19717 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
19718 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
19719 you could define:
19720
19721 @smallexample
19722 define hook-echo
19723 echo <<<---
19724 end
19725
19726 define hookpost-echo
19727 echo --->>>\n
19728 end
19729
19730 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
19731 <<<---Hello World--->>>
19732 (@value{GDBP})
19733
19734 @end smallexample
19735
19736 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
19737 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
19738 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
19739 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
19740 @c or not?
19741 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
19742 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
19743 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
19744
19745 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
19746 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
19747 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
19748
19749 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
19750 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
19751
19752 @node Command Files
19753 @subsection Command Files
19754
19755 @cindex command files
19756 @cindex scripting commands
19757 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
19758 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
19759 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
19760 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
19761 terminal.
19762
19763 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
19764 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
19765 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
19766 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
19767 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
19768
19769 @table @code
19770 @kindex source
19771 @cindex execute commands from a file
19772 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
19773 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
19774 @end table
19775
19776 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
19777 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
19778 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
19779 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
19780 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
19781
19782 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
19783 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
19784 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
19785 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
19786 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
19787 is not relevant to scripts.
19788
19789 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
19790 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
19791 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
19792 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
19793 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
19794 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
19795 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
19796 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
19797 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
19798 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
19799 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
19800 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
19801 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
19802 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
19803
19804 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
19805 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
19806 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
19807
19808 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
19809 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
19810 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
19811 when called from command files.
19812
19813 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
19814 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
19815 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
19816 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
19817 the next command.
19818
19819 @smallexample
19820 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
19821 @end smallexample
19822
19823 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
19824 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
19825 would be directed to @file{log}.
19826
19827 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
19828 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
19829 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
19830 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
19831 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
19832 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
19833 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
19834 conditionally, etc.
19835
19836 @table @code
19837 @kindex if
19838 @kindex else
19839 @item if
19840 @itemx else
19841 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
19842 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
19843 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
19844 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
19845 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
19846 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
19847 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19848
19849 @kindex while
19850 @item while
19851 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
19852 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
19853 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
19854 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
19855 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
19856 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
19857
19858 @kindex loop_break
19859 @item loop_break
19860 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
19861 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
19862 line.
19863
19864 @kindex loop_continue
19865 @item loop_continue
19866 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
19867 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
19868 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
19869 the controlling expression.
19870
19871 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
19872 @item end
19873 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
19874 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
19875 @end table
19876
19877
19878 @node Output
19879 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
19880
19881 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
19882 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
19883 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
19884 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
19885 want.
19886
19887 @table @code
19888 @kindex echo
19889 @item echo @var{text}
19890 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
19891 @c because it is not in ANSI.
19892 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
19893 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
19894 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
19895 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
19896 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
19897 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
19898 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
19899 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
19900 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
19901
19902 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
19903 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
19904
19905 @smallexample
19906 echo This is some text\n\
19907 which is continued\n\
19908 onto several lines.\n
19909 @end smallexample
19910
19911 produces the same output as
19912
19913 @smallexample
19914 echo This is some text\n
19915 echo which is continued\n
19916 echo onto several lines.\n
19917 @end smallexample
19918
19919 @kindex output
19920 @item output @var{expression}
19921 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
19922 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
19923 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
19924 on expressions.
19925
19926 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
19927 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
19928 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
19929 Formats}, for more information.
19930
19931 @kindex printf
19932 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
19933 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
19934 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
19935 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
19936 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
19937 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
19938 executing the code below:
19939
19940 @smallexample
19941 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
19942 @end smallexample
19943
19944 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
19945 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
19946 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
19947 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
19948 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
19949 printed.
19950
19951 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
19952
19953 @smallexample
19954 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
19955 @end smallexample
19956
19957 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
19958 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
19959 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
19960
19961 @itemize @bullet
19962 @item
19963 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
19964
19965 @item
19966 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
19967 width.
19968
19969 @item
19970 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
19971 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
19972
19973 @item
19974 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
19975 supported.
19976
19977 @item
19978 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
19979
19980 @item
19981 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
19982 @end itemize
19983
19984 @noindent
19985 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
19986 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
19987 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
19988 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
19989
19990 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
19991 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
19992 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
19993 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
19994 supported.
19995
19996 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
19997 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
19998 together with a floating point specifier.
19999 letters:
20000
20001 @itemize @bullet
20002 @item
20003 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
20004
20005 @item
20006 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
20007
20008 @item
20009 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
20010 @end itemize
20011
20012 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
20013 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
20014 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
20015
20016 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
20017 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
20018
20019 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
20020 @smallexample
20021 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
20022 @end smallexample
20023
20024 @end table
20025
20026 @node Python
20027 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20028 @cindex python scripting
20029 @cindex scripting with python
20030
20031 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
20032 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
20033 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
20034
20035 @menu
20036 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
20037 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
20038 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
20039 @end menu
20040
20041 @node Python Commands
20042 @subsection Python Commands
20043 @cindex python commands
20044 @cindex commands to access python
20045
20046 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
20047 and one related setting:
20048
20049 @table @code
20050 @kindex python
20051 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
20052 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
20053
20054 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
20055 argument as a Python command. For example:
20056
20057 @smallexample
20058 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
20059 23
20060 @end smallexample
20061
20062 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
20063 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
20064 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
20065 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
20066 containing @code{end}. For example:
20067
20068 @smallexample
20069 (@value{GDBP}) python
20070 Type python script
20071 End with a line saying just "end".
20072 >print 23
20073 >end
20074 23
20075 @end smallexample
20076
20077 @kindex maint set python print-stack
20078 @item maint set python print-stack
20079 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
20080 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
20081 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
20082 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
20083 disabled.
20084 @end table
20085
20086 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
20087 interpreter:
20088
20089 @table @code
20090 @item source @file{script-name}
20091 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
20092 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
20093 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
20094
20095 @item python execfile ("script-name")
20096 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
20097 and thus is always available.
20098 @end table
20099
20100 @node Python API
20101 @subsection Python API
20102 @cindex python api
20103 @cindex programming in python
20104
20105 @cindex python stdout
20106 @cindex python pagination
20107 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
20108 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
20109 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
20110 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
20111 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
20112
20113 @menu
20114 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
20115 * Exception Handling::
20116 * Values From Inferior::
20117 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
20118 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
20119 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
20120 * Disabling Pretty-Printers:: Disabling broken printers.
20121 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
20122 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
20123 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
20124 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
20125 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
20126 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20127 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
20128 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
20129 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
20130 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
20131 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
20132 @end menu
20133
20134 @node Basic Python
20135 @subsubsection Basic Python
20136
20137 @cindex python functions
20138 @cindex python module
20139 @cindex gdb module
20140 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
20141 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
20142 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
20143 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
20144
20145 @findex gdb.execute
20146 @defun execute command [from_tty]
20147 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
20148 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
20149 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
20150 If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
20151
20152 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
20153 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
20154 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
20155 @end defun
20156
20157 @findex gdb.breakpoints
20158 @defun breakpoints
20159 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
20160 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
20161 @end defun
20162
20163 @findex gdb.parameter
20164 @defun parameter parameter
20165 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
20166 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
20167 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
20168 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
20169
20170 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
20171 @code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
20172 a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
20173 @end defun
20174
20175 @findex gdb.history
20176 @defun history number
20177 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
20178 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
20179 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
20180 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
20181 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
20182 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
20183 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
20184 raised.
20185
20186 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
20187 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
20188 @end defun
20189
20190 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
20191 @defun parse_and_eval expression
20192 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
20193 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20194 @var{expression} must be a string.
20195
20196 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
20197 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
20198 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
20199 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
20200 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20201 @end defun
20202
20203 @findex gdb.write
20204 @defun write string
20205 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
20206 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
20207 call this function.
20208 @end defun
20209
20210 @findex gdb.flush
20211 @defun flush
20212 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
20213 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
20214 function.
20215 @end defun
20216
20217 @findex gdb.target_charset
20218 @defun target_charset
20219 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
20220 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
20221 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
20222 @end defun
20223
20224 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
20225 @defun target_wide_charset
20226 Return the name of the current target wide character set
20227 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
20228 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
20229 never returned.
20230 @end defun
20231
20232 @node Exception Handling
20233 @subsubsection Exception Handling
20234 @cindex python exceptions
20235 @cindex exceptions, python
20236
20237 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
20238 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
20239 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
20240 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
20241 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
20242 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
20243 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
20244
20245 @smallexample
20246 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
20247 Traceback (most recent call last):
20248 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
20249 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
20250 @end smallexample
20251
20252 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
20253 code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
20254 interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
20255 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
20256 exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
20257 exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
20258 @code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
20259 message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
20260 Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
20261 traceback.
20262
20263 @findex gdb.GdbError
20264 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
20265 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
20266 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
20267 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
20268 to handle this case. Example:
20269
20270 @smallexample
20271 (gdb) python
20272 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20273 > """Greet the whole world."""
20274 > def __init__ (self):
20275 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20276 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
20277 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
20278 > if len (argv) != 0:
20279 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
20280 > print "Hello, World!"
20281 >HelloWorld ()
20282 >end
20283 (gdb) hello-world 42
20284 hello-world takes no arguments
20285 @end smallexample
20286
20287 @node Values From Inferior
20288 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
20289 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
20290 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
20291
20292 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
20293 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
20294 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
20295 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
20296 fetching values when necessary.
20297
20298 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
20299 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
20300 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
20301
20302 @smallexample
20303 bar = some_val + 2
20304 @end smallexample
20305
20306 @noindent
20307 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
20308 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
20309
20310 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
20311 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
20312 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
20313 can access its @code{foo} element with:
20314
20315 @smallexample
20316 bar = some_val['foo']
20317 @end smallexample
20318
20319 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
20320
20321 The following attributes are provided:
20322
20323 @table @code
20324 @defivar Value address
20325 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
20326 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
20327 this attribute holds @code{None}.
20328 @end defivar
20329
20330 @cindex optimized out value in Python
20331 @defivar Value is_optimized_out
20332 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
20333 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
20334 @end defivar
20335
20336 @defivar Value type
20337 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
20338 @code{gdb.Type} object.
20339 @end defivar
20340 @end table
20341
20342 The following methods are provided:
20343
20344 @table @code
20345 @defmethod Value cast type
20346 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
20347 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
20348 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
20349 reason, this method throws an exception.
20350 @end defmethod
20351
20352 @defmethod Value dereference
20353 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
20354 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
20355 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
20356
20357 @smallexample
20358 int *foo;
20359 @end smallexample
20360
20361 @noindent
20362 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
20363 @code{foo} points to like this:
20364
20365 @smallexample
20366 bar = foo.dereference ()
20367 @end smallexample
20368
20369 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
20370 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
20371 @end defmethod
20372
20373 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20374 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20375 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
20376 throw an exception.
20377
20378 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
20379 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
20380 language.
20381
20382 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
20383 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
20384 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
20385 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
20386 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
20387
20388 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20389 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
20390 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
20391 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
20392 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
20393 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
20394 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
20395 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
20396 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
20397
20398 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
20399 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
20400
20401 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20402 fetched and converted to the given length.
20403 @end defmethod
20404
20405 @defmethod Value lazy_string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20406 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20407 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
20408 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
20409
20410 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20411 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
20412 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
20413 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
20414 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
20415
20416 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
20417 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
20418 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
20419 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
20420 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
20421 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
20422
20423 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20424 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
20425 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
20426 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
20427 @end defmethod
20428 @end table
20429
20430 @node Types In Python
20431 @subsubsection Types In Python
20432 @cindex types in Python
20433 @cindex Python, working with types
20434
20435 @tindex gdb.Type
20436 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
20437 @code{gdb.Type}.
20438
20439 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
20440 module:
20441
20442 @findex gdb.lookup_type
20443 @defun lookup_type name [block]
20444 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
20445 type to look up. It must be a string.
20446
20447 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20448 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20449
20450 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
20451 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
20452 @end defun
20453
20454 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
20455
20456 @table @code
20457 @defivar Type code
20458 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
20459 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
20460 @end defivar
20461
20462 @defivar Type sizeof
20463 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
20464 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
20465 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
20466 @end defivar
20467
20468 @defivar Type tag
20469 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
20470 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
20471 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
20472 @code{None} is returned.
20473 @end defivar
20474 @end table
20475
20476 The following methods are provided:
20477
20478 @table @code
20479 @defmethod Type fields
20480 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
20481 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
20482 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
20483 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
20484 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
20485 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
20486
20487 Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
20488 @table @code
20489 @item bitpos
20490 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
20491 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
20492 position of the field.
20493
20494 @item name
20495 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
20496
20497 @item artificial
20498 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
20499 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
20500 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
20501
20502 @item is_base_class
20503 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
20504 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
20505 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
20506 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
20507
20508 @item bitsize
20509 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
20510 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
20511 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
20512
20513 @item type
20514 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
20515 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
20516 @end table
20517 @end defmethod
20518
20519 @defmethod Type const
20520 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20521 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
20522 @end defmethod
20523
20524 @defmethod Type volatile
20525 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20526 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
20527 @end defmethod
20528
20529 @defmethod Type unqualified
20530 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
20531 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
20532 @code{volatile}.
20533 @end defmethod
20534
20535 @defmethod Type range
20536 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
20537 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
20538 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
20539 @code{RuntimeError} exception.
20540 @end defmethod
20541
20542 @defmethod Type reference
20543 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
20544 type.
20545 @end defmethod
20546
20547 @defmethod Type pointer
20548 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
20549 type.
20550 @end defmethod
20551
20552 @defmethod Type strip_typedefs
20553 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
20554 after removing all layers of typedefs.
20555 @end defmethod
20556
20557 @defmethod Type target
20558 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
20559 of this type.
20560
20561 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
20562 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
20563 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
20564 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
20565 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
20566 target type is the aliased type.
20567
20568 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
20569 exception.
20570 @end defmethod
20571
20572 @defmethod Type template_argument n [block]
20573 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
20574 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
20575 @var{n}th template argument.
20576
20577 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
20578 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
20579
20580 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20581 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20582 @end defmethod
20583 @end table
20584
20585
20586 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
20587 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
20588 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20589
20590 @table @code
20591 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
20592 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
20593 @item TYPE_CODE_PTR
20594 The type is a pointer.
20595
20596 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20597 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20598 @item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20599 The type is an array.
20600
20601 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20602 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20603 @item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20604 The type is a structure.
20605
20606 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
20607 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
20608 @item TYPE_CODE_UNION
20609 The type is a union.
20610
20611 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20612 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20613 @item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20614 The type is an enum.
20615
20616 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20617 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20618 @item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20619 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
20620
20621 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20622 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20623 @item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20624 The type is a function.
20625
20626 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
20627 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
20628 @item TYPE_CODE_INT
20629 The type is an integer type.
20630
20631 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
20632 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
20633 @item TYPE_CODE_FLT
20634 A floating point type.
20635
20636 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
20637 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
20638 @item TYPE_CODE_VOID
20639 The special type @code{void}.
20640
20641 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
20642 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
20643 @item TYPE_CODE_SET
20644 A Pascal set type.
20645
20646 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20647 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20648 @item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20649 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
20650
20651 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
20652 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
20653 @item TYPE_CODE_STRING
20654 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
20655 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
20656
20657 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20658 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20659 @item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20660 A string of bits.
20661
20662 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20663 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20664 @item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20665 An unknown or erroneous type.
20666
20667 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20668 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20669 @item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20670 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
20671
20672 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20673 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20674 @item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20675 A pointer-to-member-function.
20676
20677 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20678 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20679 @item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20680 A pointer-to-member.
20681
20682 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
20683 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
20684 @item TYPE_CODE_REF
20685 A reference type.
20686
20687 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20688 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20689 @item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20690 A character type.
20691
20692 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20693 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20694 @item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20695 A boolean type.
20696
20697 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20698 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20699 @item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20700 A complex float type.
20701
20702 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20703 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20704 @item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20705 A typedef to some other type.
20706
20707 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20708 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20709 @item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20710 A C@t{++} namespace.
20711
20712 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20713 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20714 @item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20715 A decimal floating point type.
20716
20717 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20718 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20719 @item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20720 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
20721 convenience functions.
20722 @end table
20723
20724 @node Pretty Printing API
20725 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
20726
20727 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
20728
20729 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
20730 specific interface, defined here.
20731
20732 @defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
20733 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
20734 children of the pretty-printer's value.
20735
20736 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
20737 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
20738 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
20739 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
20740 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
20741
20742 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
20743 as though the value has no children.
20744 @end defop
20745
20746 @defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
20747 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
20748 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
20749 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
20750 printed.
20751
20752 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
20753 string.
20754
20755 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
20756
20757 @table @samp
20758 @item array
20759 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
20760 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
20761 @code{set print array}.
20762
20763 @item map
20764 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
20765 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
20766 values.
20767
20768 @item string
20769 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
20770 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
20771 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
20772 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
20773 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
20774 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
20775 @end table
20776 @end defop
20777
20778 @defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
20779 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
20780 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
20781
20782 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
20783 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
20784 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
20785 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
20786 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
20787 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
20788 the result of @code{children}.
20789
20790 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
20791
20792 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
20793 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
20794 another pretty-printer.
20795
20796 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
20797 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
20798 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
20799 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
20800 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
20801
20802 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
20803 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
20804
20805 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
20806 @end defop
20807
20808 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
20809 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
20810
20811 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
20812 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
20813 as a pretty-printer.
20814 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
20815 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
20816 attribute.
20817
20818 A function on one of these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
20819 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
20820 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
20821 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
20822 @code{None}.
20823
20824 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
20825 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
20826 each enabled function (@pxref{Disabling Pretty-Printers})
20827 in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile} until it receives
20828 a pretty-printer object.
20829 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
20830 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
20831 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
20832 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
20833 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
20834 object is returned.
20835
20836 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
20837 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
20838 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
20839 object is returned.
20840
20841 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
20842 written:
20843
20844 @smallexample
20845 class StdStringPrinter:
20846 "Print a std::string"
20847
20848 def __init__ (self, val):
20849 self.val = val
20850
20851 def to_string (self):
20852 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
20853
20854 def display_hint (self):
20855 return 'string'
20856 @end smallexample
20857
20858 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
20859 example above might be written.
20860
20861 @smallexample
20862 def str_lookup_function (val):
20863
20864 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
20865 regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
20866 if lookup_tag == None:
20867 return None
20868 if regex.match (lookup_tag):
20869 return StdStringPrinter (val)
20870
20871 return None
20872 @end smallexample
20873
20874 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
20875 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
20876 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
20877 returns @code{None}.
20878
20879 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
20880 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
20881 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
20882 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
20883 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
20884 different names.
20885
20886 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
20887 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
20888 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
20889 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
20890 the current objfile.
20891
20892 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
20893 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
20894 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
20895 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
20896 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
20897 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
20898 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
20899 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
20900 inferior.
20901
20902 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
20903 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
20904
20905 @smallexample
20906 def register_printers (objfile):
20907 objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
20908 @end smallexample
20909
20910 @noindent
20911 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
20912
20913 @smallexample
20914 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
20915 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
20916 @end smallexample
20917
20918 @node Disabling Pretty-Printers
20919 @subsubsection Disabling Pretty-Printers
20920 @cindex disabling pretty-printers
20921
20922 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
20923 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
20924 the pretty-printer is out of date.
20925
20926 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
20927 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
20928 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
20929 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
20930 with a broken printer.
20931
20932 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
20933 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
20934 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
20935 the printer is enabled.
20936
20937 @node Commands In Python
20938 @subsubsection Commands In Python
20939
20940 @cindex commands in python
20941 @cindex python commands
20942 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
20943 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
20944 class, most commonly using a subclass.
20945
20946 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
20947 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
20948 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
20949 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
20950
20951 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
20952 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
20953 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
20954 an exception is raised.
20955
20956 There is no support for multi-line commands.
20957
20958 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
20959 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
20960 new command in the help system.
20961
20962 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
20963 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
20964 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
20965 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
20966 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
20967 error will occur when completion is attempted.
20968
20969 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
20970 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
20971 registered.
20972
20973 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
20974 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
20975 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
20976 not documented.'' is used.
20977 @end defmethod
20978
20979 @cindex don't repeat Python command
20980 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
20981 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
20982 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
20983 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
20984 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
20985 @end defmethod
20986
20987 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
20988 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
20989
20990 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
20991 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
20992
20993 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
20994 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
20995 that the command came from elsewhere.
20996
20997 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
20998 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
20999
21000 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
21001 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
21002 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
21003 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
21004 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
21005 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
21006 Example:
21007
21008 @smallexample
21009 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
21010 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
21011 @end smallexample
21012
21013 @end defmethod
21014
21015 @cindex completion of Python commands
21016 @defmethod Command complete text word
21017 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
21018 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
21019 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
21020 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
21021 complete}).
21022
21023 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
21024 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
21025 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
21026 using a word-breaking heuristic.
21027
21028 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
21029 @itemize @bullet
21030 @item
21031 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
21032 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
21033 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
21034 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
21035 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
21036 sequence are ignored.
21037
21038 @item
21039 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
21040 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
21041 function is invoked, and its result is used.
21042
21043 @item
21044 All other results are treated as though there were no available
21045 completions.
21046 @end itemize
21047 @end defmethod
21048
21049 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
21050 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
21051 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
21052 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
21053 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
21054 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21055
21056 @table @code
21057 @findex COMMAND_NONE
21058 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
21059 @item COMMAND_NONE
21060 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
21061 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
21062
21063 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
21064 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
21065 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
21066 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
21067 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
21068 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21069 commands in this category.
21070
21071 @findex COMMAND_DATA
21072 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
21073 @item COMMAND_DATA
21074 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
21075 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
21076 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
21077 in this category.
21078
21079 @findex COMMAND_STACK
21080 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
21081 @item COMMAND_STACK
21082 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
21083 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
21084 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
21085 list of commands in this category.
21086
21087 @findex COMMAND_FILES
21088 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
21089 @item COMMAND_FILES
21090 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
21091 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
21092 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21093 commands in this category.
21094
21095 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
21096 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
21097 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
21098 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
21099 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
21100 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
21101 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
21102 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21103 commands in this category.
21104
21105 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
21106 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
21107 @item COMMAND_STATUS
21108 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
21109 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
21110 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
21111 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
21112
21113 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21114 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21115 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21116 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
21117 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
21118 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
21119 this category.
21120
21121 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21122 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21123 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21124 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
21125 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
21126 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21127 commands in this category.
21128
21129 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
21130 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
21131 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
21132 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
21133 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
21134 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
21135 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
21136 category.
21137
21138 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21139 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21140 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21141 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
21142 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
21143 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21144 commands in this category.
21145 @end table
21146
21147 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
21148 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
21149 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
21150 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21151
21152 @table @code
21153 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
21154 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
21155 @item COMPLETE_NONE
21156 This constant means that no completion should be done.
21157
21158 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
21159 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
21160 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
21161 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
21162
21163 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
21164 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
21165 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
21166 This constant means that location completion should be done.
21167 @xref{Specify Location}.
21168
21169 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
21170 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
21171 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
21172 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
21173 command names.
21174
21175 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21176 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21177 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21178 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
21179 as the source.
21180 @end table
21181
21182 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
21183 implemented in Python:
21184
21185 @smallexample
21186 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21187 """Greet the whole world."""
21188
21189 def __init__ (self):
21190 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21191
21192 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
21193 print "Hello, World!"
21194
21195 HelloWorld ()
21196 @end smallexample
21197
21198 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
21199 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
21200 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
21201 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
21202
21203 @node Parameters In Python
21204 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
21205
21206 @cindex parameters in python
21207 @cindex python parameters
21208 @tindex gdb.Parameter
21209 @tindex Parameter
21210 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
21211 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
21212 class.
21213
21214 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
21215 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
21216
21217 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
21218 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
21219 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
21220 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
21221 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
21222
21223 @defmethod Parameter __init__ name @var{command-class} @var{parameter-class} @r{[}@var{enum-sequence}@r{]}
21224 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
21225 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
21226 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
21227
21228 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
21229 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
21230 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
21231 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
21232 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
21233 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
21234 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
21235
21236 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
21237 can be found, an exception is raised.
21238
21239 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
21240 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
21241 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
21242
21243 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
21244 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
21245 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
21246 completion.
21247
21248 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
21249 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
21250 represent the possible values for the parameter.
21251
21252 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
21253 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
21254
21255 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
21256 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
21257 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
21258 @end defmethod
21259
21260 @defivar Parameter set_doc
21261 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
21262 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
21263 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
21264 have no effect.
21265 @end defivar
21266
21267 @defivar Parameter show_doc
21268 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
21269 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
21270 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
21271 have no effect.
21272 @end defivar
21273
21274 @defivar Parameter value
21275 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
21276 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
21277 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
21278 @end defivar
21279
21280
21281 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
21282 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
21283 module:
21284
21285 @table @code
21286 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
21287 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
21288 @item PARAM_BOOLEAN
21289 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
21290 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
21291
21292 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21293 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21294 @item PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21295 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
21296 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
21297 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
21298
21299 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
21300 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
21301 @item PARAM_UINTEGER
21302 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
21303 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
21304
21305 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
21306 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
21307 @item PARAM_INTEGER
21308 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
21309 to mean ``unlimited''.
21310
21311 @findex PARAM_STRING
21312 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
21313 @item PARAM_STRING
21314 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
21315 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
21316 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
21317 host charset.
21318
21319 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21320 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21321 @item PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21322 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
21323 passed through untranslated.
21324
21325 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21326 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21327 @item PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21328 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
21329
21330 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
21331 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
21332 @item PARAM_FILENAME
21333 The value is a filename. This is just like
21334 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
21335
21336 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
21337 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
21338 @item PARAM_ZINTEGER
21339 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
21340 is interpreted as itself.
21341
21342 @findex PARAM_ENUM
21343 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
21344 @item PARAM_ENUM
21345 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
21346 constants provided when the parameter is created.
21347 @end table
21348
21349 @node Functions In Python
21350 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
21351
21352 @cindex writing convenience functions
21353 @cindex convenience functions in python
21354 @cindex python convenience functions
21355 @tindex gdb.Function
21356 @tindex Function
21357 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
21358 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
21359 class @code{gdb.Function}.
21360
21361 @defmethod Function __init__ name
21362 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
21363 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
21364 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
21365 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
21366 the given @var{name}.
21367
21368 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
21369 string for the new class.
21370 @end defmethod
21371
21372 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
21373 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
21374 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
21375 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
21376 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
21377 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
21378 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
21379 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
21380
21381 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
21382 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
21383 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
21384 @end defmethod
21385
21386 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
21387 be implemented in Python:
21388
21389 @smallexample
21390 class Greet (gdb.Function):
21391 """Return string to greet someone.
21392 Takes a name as argument."""
21393
21394 def __init__ (self):
21395 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
21396
21397 def invoke (self, name):
21398 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
21399
21400 Greet ()
21401 @end smallexample
21402
21403 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
21404 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
21405 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
21406 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
21407
21408 @node Progspaces In Python
21409 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
21410
21411 @cindex progspaces in python
21412 @tindex gdb.Progspace
21413 @tindex Progspace
21414 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
21415 of an address space.
21416 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
21417 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21418 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
21419 about program spaces.
21420
21421 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
21422 @code{gdb} module:
21423
21424 @findex gdb.current_progspace
21425 @defun current_progspace
21426 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
21427 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
21428 @end defun
21429
21430 @findex gdb.progspaces
21431 @defun progspaces
21432 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
21433 @end defun
21434
21435 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
21436 class.
21437
21438 @defivar Progspace filename
21439 The file name of the progspace as a string.
21440 @end defivar
21441
21442 @defivar Progspace pretty_printers
21443 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
21444 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
21445 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
21446 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
21447 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
21448 information.
21449 @end defivar
21450
21451 @node Objfiles In Python
21452 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
21453
21454 @cindex objfiles in python
21455 @tindex gdb.Objfile
21456 @tindex Objfile
21457 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
21458 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
21459 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
21460 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
21461 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
21462
21463 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
21464 @code{gdb} module:
21465
21466 @findex gdb.current_objfile
21467 @defun current_objfile
21468 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
21469 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
21470 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
21471 this function returns @code{None}.
21472 @end defun
21473
21474 @findex gdb.objfiles
21475 @defun objfiles
21476 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
21477 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21478 @end defun
21479
21480 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
21481 class.
21482
21483 @defivar Objfile filename
21484 The file name of the objfile as a string.
21485 @end defivar
21486
21487 @defivar Objfile pretty_printers
21488 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
21489 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
21490 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
21491 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
21492 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
21493 information.
21494 @end defivar
21495
21496 @node Frames In Python
21497 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
21498
21499 @cindex frames in python
21500 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
21501 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
21502 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
21503 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
21504 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
21505 exception.
21506
21507 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
21508 operator, like:
21509
21510 @smallexample
21511 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
21512 True
21513 @end smallexample
21514
21515 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
21516
21517 @findex gdb.selected_frame
21518 @defun selected_frame
21519 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
21520 @end defun
21521
21522 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
21523 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
21524 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
21525 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
21526 @end defun
21527
21528 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
21529
21530 @table @code
21531 @defmethod Frame is_valid
21532 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
21533 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
21534 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
21535 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
21536 @end defmethod
21537
21538 @defmethod Frame name
21539 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
21540 obtained.
21541 @end defmethod
21542
21543 @defmethod Frame type
21544 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
21545 @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
21546 or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
21547 @end defmethod
21548
21549 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
21550 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
21551 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
21552 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
21553 function to a string.
21554 @end defmethod
21555
21556 @defmethod Frame pc
21557 Returns the frame's resume address.
21558 @end defmethod
21559
21560 @defmethod Frame block
21561 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
21562 @end defmethod
21563
21564 @defmethod Frame function
21565 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
21566 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
21567 @end defmethod
21568
21569 @defmethod Frame older
21570 Return the frame that called this frame.
21571 @end defmethod
21572
21573 @defmethod Frame newer
21574 Return the frame called by this frame.
21575 @end defmethod
21576
21577 @defmethod Frame find_sal
21578 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
21579 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
21580 @end defmethod
21581
21582 @defmethod Frame read_var variable @r{[}block@r{]}
21583 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
21584 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
21585 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
21586 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
21587 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
21588 @code{gdb.Block} object.
21589 @end defmethod
21590
21591 @defmethod Frame select
21592 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
21593 Stack}.
21594 @end defmethod
21595 @end table
21596
21597 @node Blocks In Python
21598 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
21599
21600 @cindex blocks in python
21601 @tindex gdb.Block
21602
21603 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
21604 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
21605 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
21606 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
21607 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
21608 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
21609 stack.
21610
21611 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21612 module:
21613
21614 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
21615 @defun block_for_pc pc
21616 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
21617 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
21618 will return @code{None}.
21619 @end defun
21620
21621 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
21622
21623 @table @code
21624 @defivar Block start
21625 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
21626 @end defivar
21627
21628 @defivar Block end
21629 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
21630 @end defivar
21631
21632 @defivar Block function
21633 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
21634 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
21635 attribute is not writable.
21636 @end defivar
21637
21638 @defivar Block superblock
21639 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
21640 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
21641 @end defivar
21642 @end table
21643
21644 @node Symbols In Python
21645 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
21646
21647 @cindex symbols in python
21648 @tindex gdb.Symbol
21649
21650 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
21651 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
21652 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
21653 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
21654
21655 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21656 module:
21657
21658 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
21659 @defun lookup_symbol name [block] [domain]
21660 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
21661 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
21662 arguments.
21663
21664 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
21665 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
21666 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
21667 @code{gdb.Block} object. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
21668 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
21669 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
21670 in this chapter.
21671 @end defun
21672
21673 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
21674
21675 @table @code
21676 @defivar Symbol symtab
21677 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
21678 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
21679 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
21680 @end defivar
21681
21682 @defivar Symbol name
21683 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
21684 @end defivar
21685
21686 @defivar Symbol linkage_name
21687 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
21688 This attribute is not writable.
21689 @end defivar
21690
21691 @defivar Symbol print_name
21692 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
21693 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
21694 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
21695 @end defivar
21696
21697 @defivar Symbol addr_class
21698 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
21699 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
21700 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
21701 @end defivar
21702
21703 @defivar Symbol is_argument
21704 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
21705 @end defivar
21706
21707 @defivar Symbol is_constant
21708 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
21709 @end defivar
21710
21711 @defivar Symbol is_function
21712 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
21713 @end defivar
21714
21715 @defivar Symbol is_variable
21716 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
21717 @end defivar
21718 @end table
21719
21720 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
21721 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
21722
21723 @table @code
21724 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21725 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21726 @item SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21727 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
21728 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
21729 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
21730 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21731 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21732 @item SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21733 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
21734 type values.
21735 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21736 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21737 @item SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21738 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
21739 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21740 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21741 @item SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21742 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
21743 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21744 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21745 @item SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21746 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
21747 contains everything minus functions and types.
21748 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
21749 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
21750 @item SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
21751 This domain contains all functions.
21752 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21753 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21754 @item SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21755 This domain contains all types.
21756 @end table
21757
21758 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
21759 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
21760
21761 @table @code
21762 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21763 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21764 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21765 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
21766 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
21767 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21768 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21769 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21770 Value is constant int.
21771 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21772 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21773 @item SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21774 Value is at a fixed address.
21775 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21776 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21777 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21778 Value is in a register.
21779 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21780 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21781 @item SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21782 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
21783 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
21784 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21785 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21786 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21787 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
21788 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
21789 offset, not the value itself.
21790 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21791 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21792 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21793 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
21794 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
21795 itself.
21796 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21797 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21798 @item SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21799 Value is a local variable.
21800 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21801 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21802 @item SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21803 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
21804 have this class.
21805 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21806 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21807 @item SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21808 Value is a block.
21809 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21810 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21811 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21812 Value is a byte-sequence.
21813 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21814 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21815 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21816 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
21817 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
21818 referenced.
21819 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21820 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21821 @item SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21822 The value does not actually exist in the program.
21823 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21824 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21825 @item SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21826 The value's address is a computed location.
21827 @end table
21828
21829 @node Symbol Tables In Python
21830 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
21831
21832 @cindex symbol tables in python
21833 @tindex gdb.Symtab
21834 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
21835
21836 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
21837 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
21838 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
21839 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
21840 @xref{Frames In Python}.
21841
21842 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
21843 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
21844
21845 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
21846
21847 @table @code
21848 @defivar Symtab_and_line symtab
21849 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
21850 This attribute is not writable.
21851 @end defivar
21852
21853 @defivar Symtab_and_line pc
21854 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
21855 writable.
21856 @end defivar
21857
21858 @defivar Symtab_and_line line
21859 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
21860 attribute is not writable.
21861 @end defivar
21862 @end table
21863
21864 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
21865
21866 @table @code
21867 @defivar Symtab filename
21868 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
21869 @end defivar
21870
21871 @defivar Symtab objfile
21872 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21873 This attribute is not writable.
21874 @end defivar
21875 @end table
21876
21877 The following methods are provided:
21878
21879 @table @code
21880 @defmethod Symtab fullname
21881 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
21882 @end defmethod
21883 @end table
21884
21885 @node Breakpoints In Python
21886 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
21887
21888 @cindex breakpoints in python
21889 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
21890
21891 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
21892 class.
21893
21894 @defmethod Breakpoint __init__ spec @r{[}type@r{]} @r{[}wp_class@r{]}
21895 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
21896 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
21897 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
21898 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
21899 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
21900 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
21901 either: @code{BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
21902 defaults to @code{BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{wp_class}
21903 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
21904 defined as @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not
21905 provided, it is assumed to be a @var{WP_WRITE} class.
21906 @end defmethod
21907
21908 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
21909 @code{gdb} module:
21910
21911 @table @code
21912 @findex WP_READ
21913 @findex gdb.WP_READ
21914 @item WP_READ
21915 Read only watchpoint.
21916
21917 @findex WP_WRITE
21918 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
21919 @item WP_WRITE
21920 Write only watchpoint.
21921
21922 @findex WP_ACCESS
21923 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
21924 @item WP_ACCESS
21925 Read/Write watchpoint.
21926 @end table
21927
21928 @defmethod Breakpoint is_valid
21929 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
21930 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
21931 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
21932 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
21933 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
21934 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
21935 @end defmethod
21936
21937 @defivar Breakpoint enabled
21938 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
21939 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
21940 @end defivar
21941
21942 @defivar Breakpoint silent
21943 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
21944 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
21945
21946 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
21947 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
21948 @code{silent} attribute.
21949 @end defivar
21950
21951 @defivar Breakpoint thread
21952 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
21953 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
21954 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
21955 @end defivar
21956
21957 @defivar Breakpoint task
21958 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
21959 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
21960 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
21961 is writable.
21962 @end defivar
21963
21964 @defivar Breakpoint ignore_count
21965 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
21966 This attribute is writable.
21967 @end defivar
21968
21969 @defivar Breakpoint number
21970 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
21971 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
21972 @end defivar
21973
21974 @defivar Breakpoint type
21975 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
21976 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
21977 writable.
21978 @end defivar
21979
21980 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
21981 module:
21982
21983 @table @code
21984 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
21985 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
21986 @item BP_BREAKPOINT
21987 Normal code breakpoint.
21988
21989 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
21990 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
21991 @item BP_WATCHPOINT
21992 Watchpoint breakpoint.
21993
21994 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
21995 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
21996 @item BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
21997 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
21998
21999 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22000 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22001 @item BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22002 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
22003
22004 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22005 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22006 @item BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22007 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
22008 @end table
22009
22010 @defivar Breakpoint hit_count
22011 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
22012 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
22013 @end defivar
22014
22015 @defivar Breakpoint location
22016 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
22017 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
22018 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
22019 attribute is not writable.
22020 @end defivar
22021
22022 @defivar Breakpoint expression
22023 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
22024 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
22025 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
22026 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22027 @end defivar
22028
22029 @defivar Breakpoint condition
22030 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
22031 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
22032 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
22033 @end defivar
22034
22035 @defivar Breakpoint commands
22036 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
22037 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
22038 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
22039 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22040 @end defivar
22041
22042 @node Lazy Strings In Python
22043 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
22044
22045 @cindex lazy strings in python
22046 @tindex gdb.LazyString
22047
22048 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
22049 encoded until it is needed.
22050
22051 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
22052 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
22053 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
22054 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
22055 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
22056 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
22057 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
22058 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
22059 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
22060
22061 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
22062
22063 @defmethod LazyString value
22064 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
22065 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
22066 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
22067 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
22068 @end defmethod
22069
22070 @defivar LazyString address
22071 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
22072 writable.
22073 @end defivar
22074
22075 @defivar LazyString length
22076 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
22077 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
22078 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
22079 @end defivar
22080
22081 @defivar LazyString encoding
22082 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
22083 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
22084 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
22085 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
22086 is not writable.
22087 @end defivar
22088
22089 @defivar LazyString type
22090 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
22091 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
22092 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
22093 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
22094 writable.
22095 @end defivar
22096
22097 @node Auto-loading
22098 @subsection Auto-loading
22099 @cindex auto-loading, Python
22100
22101 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
22102 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
22103 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
22104 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
22105
22106 @menu
22107 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
22108 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22109 * Which flavor to choose?::
22110 @end menu
22111
22112 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
22113 debugging commands and scripts.
22114
22115 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled.
22116
22117 @table @code
22118 @kindex maint set python auto-load
22119 @item maint set python auto-load [yes|no]
22120 Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
22121
22122 @kindex maint show python auto-load
22123 @item maint show python auto-load
22124 Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
22125 @end table
22126
22127 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
22128 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
22129 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
22130 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
22131
22132 @node objfile-gdb.py file
22133 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
22134 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
22135
22136 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
22137 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
22138 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
22139 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
22140 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
22141 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
22142
22143 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
22144 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
22145 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
22146 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
22147
22148 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
22149 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
22150 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
22151 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
22152 is the object file's real name, as described above.
22153
22154 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
22155 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
22156 @var{objfile} is opened.
22157 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
22158 is evaluated more than once.
22159
22160 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
22161 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22162 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22163
22164 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
22165 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
22166 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
22167 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
22168
22169 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
22170 current directory and then along the source search path
22171 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
22172 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
22173 directory is not relevant to scripts.
22174
22175 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
22176 for example, this GCC macro:
22177
22178 @example
22179 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remote duplicates. */
22180 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
22181 asm("\
22182 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
22183 .byte 1\n\
22184 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
22185 .popsection \n\
22186 ");
22187 @end example
22188
22189 @noindent
22190 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
22191
22192 @example
22193 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
22194 @end example
22195
22196 The script name may include directories if desired.
22197
22198 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
22199 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
22200
22201 @node Which flavor to choose?
22202 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
22203
22204 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
22205 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
22206
22207 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
22208
22209 @itemize @bullet
22210 @item
22211 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
22212
22213 @item
22214 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
22215
22216 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
22217 in the source search path.
22218 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
22219 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
22220
22221 @item
22222 Doesn't require source code additions.
22223 @end itemize
22224
22225 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
22226
22227 @itemize @bullet
22228 @item
22229 Works with static linking.
22230
22231 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
22232 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
22233 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
22234 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
22235
22236 @item
22237 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
22238
22239 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
22240 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
22241
22242 @item
22243 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
22244
22245 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
22246 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
22247 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
22248 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
22249 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
22250 top of the source tree to the source search path.
22251 @end itemize
22252
22253 @node Interpreters
22254 @chapter Command Interpreters
22255 @cindex command interpreters
22256
22257 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
22258 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
22259 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
22260
22261 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
22262 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
22263 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
22264 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
22265
22266 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
22267 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
22268 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
22269 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
22270
22271 @table @code
22272 @item console
22273 @cindex console interpreter
22274 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
22275 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
22276 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
22277
22278 @item mi
22279 @cindex mi interpreter
22280 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
22281 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
22282 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
22283 Interface}.
22284
22285 @item mi2
22286 @cindex mi2 interpreter
22287 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
22288
22289 @item mi1
22290 @cindex mi1 interpreter
22291 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
22292
22293 @end table
22294
22295 @cindex invoke another interpreter
22296 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
22297 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
22298 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
22299 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
22300 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
22301 the IDE inoperable!
22302
22303 @kindex interpreter-exec
22304 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
22305 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
22306 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
22307 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
22308
22309 @smallexample
22310 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
22311 @end smallexample
22312
22313 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
22314 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
22315
22316 @node TUI
22317 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
22318 @cindex TUI
22319 @cindex Text User Interface
22320
22321 @menu
22322 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
22323 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
22324 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
22325 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
22326 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
22327 @end menu
22328
22329 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
22330 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
22331 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
22332 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
22333 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
22334 is available.
22335
22336 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
22337 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
22338 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
22339 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
22340 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
22341 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
22342
22343 @node TUI Overview
22344 @section TUI Overview
22345
22346 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
22347
22348 @table @emph
22349 @item command
22350 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
22351 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
22352 managed using readline.
22353
22354 @item source
22355 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
22356 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
22357
22358 @item assembly
22359 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
22360
22361 @item register
22362 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
22363 when their values change.
22364 @end table
22365
22366 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
22367 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
22368 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
22369 indicates the breakpoint type:
22370
22371 @table @code
22372 @item B
22373 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
22374
22375 @item b
22376 Breakpoint which was never hit.
22377
22378 @item H
22379 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
22380
22381 @item h
22382 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
22383 @end table
22384
22385 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
22386
22387 @table @code
22388 @item +
22389 Breakpoint is enabled.
22390
22391 @item -
22392 Breakpoint is disabled.
22393 @end table
22394
22395 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
22396 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
22397 changes.
22398
22399 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
22400 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
22401 layouts:
22402
22403 @itemize @bullet
22404 @item
22405 source only,
22406
22407 @item
22408 assembly only,
22409
22410 @item
22411 source and assembly,
22412
22413 @item
22414 source and registers, or
22415
22416 @item
22417 assembly and registers.
22418 @end itemize
22419
22420 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
22421
22422 @table @emph
22423 @item target
22424 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
22425 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
22426
22427 @item process
22428 Gives the current process or thread number.
22429 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
22430
22431 @item function
22432 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
22433 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
22434 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
22435 the string @code{??} is displayed.
22436
22437 @item line
22438 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
22439 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
22440
22441 @item pc
22442 Indicates the current program counter address.
22443 @end table
22444
22445 @node TUI Keys
22446 @section TUI Key Bindings
22447 @cindex TUI key bindings
22448
22449 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
22450 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
22451 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
22452
22453 @table @kbd
22454 @kindex C-x C-a
22455 @item C-x C-a
22456 @kindex C-x a
22457 @itemx C-x a
22458 @kindex C-x A
22459 @itemx C-x A
22460 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
22461 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
22462 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
22463 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
22464 The screen is then refreshed.
22465
22466 @kindex C-x 1
22467 @item C-x 1
22468 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
22469 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
22470 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
22471
22472 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
22473
22474 @kindex C-x 2
22475 @item C-x 2
22476 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
22477 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
22478 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
22479 previous layout and the new one.
22480
22481 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
22482
22483 @kindex C-x o
22484 @item C-x o
22485 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
22486 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
22487 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
22488
22489 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
22490
22491 @kindex C-x s
22492 @item C-x s
22493 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
22494 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
22495 @end table
22496
22497 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
22498
22499 @table @asis
22500 @kindex PgUp
22501 @item @key{PgUp}
22502 Scroll the active window one page up.
22503
22504 @kindex PgDn
22505 @item @key{PgDn}
22506 Scroll the active window one page down.
22507
22508 @kindex Up
22509 @item @key{Up}
22510 Scroll the active window one line up.
22511
22512 @kindex Down
22513 @item @key{Down}
22514 Scroll the active window one line down.
22515
22516 @kindex Left
22517 @item @key{Left}
22518 Scroll the active window one column left.
22519
22520 @kindex Right
22521 @item @key{Right}
22522 Scroll the active window one column right.
22523
22524 @kindex C-L
22525 @item @kbd{C-L}
22526 Refresh the screen.
22527 @end table
22528
22529 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
22530 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
22531 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
22532 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
22533 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
22534
22535 @node TUI Single Key Mode
22536 @section TUI Single Key Mode
22537 @cindex TUI single key mode
22538
22539 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
22540 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
22541 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
22542
22543 @table @kbd
22544 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22545 @item c
22546 continue
22547
22548 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22549 @item d
22550 down
22551
22552 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22553 @item f
22554 finish
22555
22556 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22557 @item n
22558 next
22559
22560 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22561 @item q
22562 exit the SingleKey mode.
22563
22564 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22565 @item r
22566 run
22567
22568 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22569 @item s
22570 step
22571
22572 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22573 @item u
22574 up
22575
22576 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22577 @item v
22578 info locals
22579
22580 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22581 @item w
22582 where
22583 @end table
22584
22585 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
22586 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
22587 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
22588 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
22589 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
22590 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
22591
22592
22593 @node TUI Commands
22594 @section TUI-specific Commands
22595 @cindex TUI commands
22596
22597 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
22598 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
22599 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
22600 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
22601
22602 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
22603 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
22604 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
22605 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
22606 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
22607
22608 @table @code
22609 @item info win
22610 @kindex info win
22611 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
22612
22613 @item layout next
22614 @kindex layout
22615 Display the next layout.
22616
22617 @item layout prev
22618 Display the previous layout.
22619
22620 @item layout src
22621 Display the source window only.
22622
22623 @item layout asm
22624 Display the assembly window only.
22625
22626 @item layout split
22627 Display the source and assembly window.
22628
22629 @item layout regs
22630 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
22631
22632 @item focus next
22633 @kindex focus
22634 Make the next window active for scrolling.
22635
22636 @item focus prev
22637 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
22638
22639 @item focus src
22640 Make the source window active for scrolling.
22641
22642 @item focus asm
22643 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
22644
22645 @item focus regs
22646 Make the register window active for scrolling.
22647
22648 @item focus cmd
22649 Make the command window active for scrolling.
22650
22651 @item refresh
22652 @kindex refresh
22653 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
22654
22655 @item tui reg float
22656 @kindex tui reg
22657 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
22658
22659 @item tui reg general
22660 Show the general registers in the register window.
22661
22662 @item tui reg next
22663 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
22664 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
22665 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
22666 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
22667
22668 @item tui reg system
22669 Show the system registers in the register window.
22670
22671 @item update
22672 @kindex update
22673 Update the source window and the current execution point.
22674
22675 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
22676 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
22677 @kindex winheight
22678 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
22679 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
22680 decrease it.
22681
22682 @item tabset @var{nchars}
22683 @kindex tabset
22684 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
22685 @end table
22686
22687 @node TUI Configuration
22688 @section TUI Configuration Variables
22689 @cindex TUI configuration variables
22690
22691 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
22692
22693 @table @code
22694 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
22695 @kindex set tui border-kind
22696 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
22697 The possible values are the following:
22698 @table @code
22699 @item space
22700 Use a space character to draw the border.
22701
22702 @item ascii
22703 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
22704
22705 @item acs
22706 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
22707 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
22708 @end table
22709
22710 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
22711 @kindex set tui border-mode
22712 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
22713 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
22714 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
22715 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
22716 @table @code
22717 @item normal
22718 Use normal attributes to display the border.
22719
22720 @item standout
22721 Use standout mode.
22722
22723 @item reverse
22724 Use reverse video mode.
22725
22726 @item half
22727 Use half bright mode.
22728
22729 @item half-standout
22730 Use half bright and standout mode.
22731
22732 @item bold
22733 Use extra bright or bold mode.
22734
22735 @item bold-standout
22736 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
22737 @end table
22738 @end table
22739
22740 @node Emacs
22741 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
22742
22743 @cindex Emacs
22744 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
22745 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
22746 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
22747 @value{GDBN}.
22748
22749 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
22750 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
22751 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
22752 created Emacs buffer.
22753 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
22754
22755 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
22756 things:
22757
22758 @itemize @bullet
22759 @item
22760 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
22761 the GUD buffer.
22762
22763 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
22764 and output done by the program you are debugging.
22765
22766 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
22767 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
22768 in this way.
22769
22770 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
22771 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
22772 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
22773 stop.
22774
22775 @item
22776 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
22777
22778 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
22779 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
22780 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
22781 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
22782 and the source.
22783
22784 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
22785 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
22786 @end itemize
22787
22788 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
22789 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
22790 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
22791 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
22792
22793 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
22794 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
22795 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
22796 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
22797 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
22798 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
22799 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
22800 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
22801 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
22802
22803 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
22804 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
22805 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
22806 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22807
22808 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
22809 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
22810 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
22811 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
22812 one you want.
22813
22814 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
22815 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
22816
22817 @table @kbd
22818 @item C-h m
22819 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
22820
22821 @item C-c C-s
22822 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
22823 update the display window to show the current file and location.
22824
22825 @item C-c C-n
22826 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
22827 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
22828 to show the current file and location.
22829
22830 @item C-c C-i
22831 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
22832 display window accordingly.
22833
22834 @item C-c C-f
22835 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
22836 @code{finish} command.
22837
22838 @item C-c C-r
22839 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
22840 command.
22841
22842 @item C-c <
22843 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
22844 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
22845 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
22846
22847 @item C-c >
22848 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
22849 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
22850 @end table
22851
22852 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
22853 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
22854
22855 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
22856 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
22857 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
22858 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
22859 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
22860 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
22861 speedbar displays watch expressions.
22862
22863 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
22864 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
22865 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
22866 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
22867 frame.
22868
22869 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
22870 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
22871 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
22872 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
22873 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
22874 to correspond properly with the code.
22875
22876 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
22877 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
22878 Emacs Manual}).
22879
22880 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
22881 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
22882 @ignore
22883 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
22884 @kindex Epoch
22885 @kindex inspect
22886
22887 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
22888 called the @code{epoch}
22889 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
22890 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
22891 each value is printed in its own window.
22892 @end ignore
22893
22894
22895 @node GDB/MI
22896 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
22897
22898 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
22899
22900 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
22901 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
22902 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
22903 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
22904 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
22905 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
22906
22907 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
22908 in the form of a reference manual.
22909
22910 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
22911 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
22912 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
22913
22914 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
22915
22916 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
22917 This chapter uses the following notation:
22918
22919 @itemize @bullet
22920 @item
22921 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
22922
22923 @item
22924 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
22925 it may or may not be given.
22926
22927 @item
22928 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
22929 may repeat zero or more times.
22930
22931 @item
22932 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
22933 may repeat one or more times.
22934
22935 @item
22936 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
22937 @end itemize
22938
22939 @ignore
22940 @heading Dependencies
22941 @end ignore
22942
22943 @menu
22944 * GDB/MI General Design::
22945 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
22946 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
22947 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
22948 * GDB/MI Output Records::
22949 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
22950 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
22951 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
22952 * GDB/MI Program Context::
22953 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
22954 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
22955 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
22956 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
22957 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
22958 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
22959 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
22960 * GDB/MI File Commands::
22961 @ignore
22962 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
22963 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
22964 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
22965 @end ignore
22966 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
22967 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
22968 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
22969 @end menu
22970
22971 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22972 @node GDB/MI General Design
22973 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
22974 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
22975
22976 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
22977 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
22978 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
22979 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
22980 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
22981 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
22982 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
22983 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
22984 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
22985 a command and reported as part of that command response.
22986
22987 The important examples of notifications are:
22988 @itemize @bullet
22989
22990 @item
22991 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
22992 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
22993 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
22994 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
22995 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
22996 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
22997 command itself was successfully executed.
22998
22999 @item
23000 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
23001 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
23002 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
23003 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
23004 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
23005 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
23006
23007 @item
23008 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
23009 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
23010 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
23011 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
23012 orthogonal frontend design.
23013
23014 @end itemize
23015
23016 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
23017 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
23018 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
23019 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
23020 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
23021 the user interface.
23022
23023
23024 @menu
23025 * Context management::
23026 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
23027 * Thread groups::
23028 @end menu
23029
23030 @node Context management
23031 @subsection Context management
23032
23033 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
23034 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
23035 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
23036 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
23037 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
23038 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
23039 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
23040 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
23041 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
23042
23043 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
23044 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
23045 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
23046 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
23047 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
23048 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
23049 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
23050 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
23051 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
23052 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
23053 for thread and frame to operate on.
23054
23055 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
23056 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
23057 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
23058 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
23059 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
23060 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
23061 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
23062 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
23063 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
23064 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
23065
23066 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
23067 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
23068 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
23069 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
23070 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
23071 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
23072 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
23073 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
23074 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
23075 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
23076 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
23077 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
23078 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
23079 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
23080 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
23081 @samp{--frame} options.
23082
23083 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
23084 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
23085
23086 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
23087 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
23088 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
23089 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
23090 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
23091 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
23092 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
23093 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
23094 @code{-list-target-features} command.
23095
23096 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
23097 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
23098 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
23099 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
23100 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
23101 are running.
23102
23103 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
23104 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
23105 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
23106 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
23107 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
23108 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
23109 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
23110 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
23111 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
23112 @samp{--thread} option).
23113
23114 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
23115 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
23116 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
23117 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
23118
23119 @node Thread groups
23120 @subsection Thread groups
23121 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
23122 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
23123 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
23124 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
23125 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
23126
23127 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
23128 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
23129 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
23130 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
23131 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
23132 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
23133 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
23134 into processes.
23135
23136 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
23137 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
23138 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
23139 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
23140 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
23141 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
23142 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
23143 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
23144 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
23145 the members of specific thread group.
23146
23147 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
23148 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
23149 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
23150 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
23151 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
23152 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
23153 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
23154 after attaching to that thread group.
23155
23156 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
23157 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
23158 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
23159 such thread groups.
23160
23161 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23162 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
23163 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
23164
23165 @menu
23166 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
23167 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
23168 @end menu
23169
23170 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
23171 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
23172
23173 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
23174 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
23175 @table @code
23176 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
23177 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
23178
23179 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
23180 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
23181 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23182
23183 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
23184 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
23185 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
23186
23187 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
23188 "any sequence of digits"
23189
23190 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
23191 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
23192
23193 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
23194 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
23195
23196 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
23197 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
23198
23199 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
23200 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
23201 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
23202
23203 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
23204 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
23205
23206 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
23207 @code{CR | CR-LF}
23208 @end table
23209
23210 @noindent
23211 Notes:
23212
23213 @itemize @bullet
23214 @item
23215 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
23216 output is described below.
23217
23218 @item
23219 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
23220 finishes.
23221
23222 @item
23223 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
23224 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
23225 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
23226 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
23227 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
23228 @end itemize
23229
23230 Pragmatics:
23231
23232 @itemize @bullet
23233 @item
23234 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
23235
23236 @item
23237 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
23238 @end itemize
23239
23240 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
23241 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
23242
23243 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
23244 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
23245 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
23246 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
23247 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
23248 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
23249
23250 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
23251 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
23252 @var{token}.
23253
23254 @table @code
23255 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
23256 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
23257
23258 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
23259 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
23260
23261 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
23262 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
23263
23264 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
23265 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
23266
23267 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
23268 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
23269
23270 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
23271 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
23272
23273 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
23274 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
23275
23276 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
23277 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
23278
23279 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
23280 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
23281
23282 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
23283 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
23284 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
23285
23286 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
23287 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
23288
23289 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
23290 @code{ @var{string} }
23291
23292 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
23293 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
23294
23295 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
23296 @code{@var{c-string}}
23297
23298 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
23299 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
23300
23301 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
23302 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
23303 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
23304
23305 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
23306 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
23307
23308 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
23309 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
23310
23311 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
23312 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
23313
23314 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
23315 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
23316
23317 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
23318 @code{CR | CR-LF}
23319
23320 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
23321 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
23322 @end table
23323
23324 @noindent
23325 Notes:
23326
23327 @itemize @bullet
23328 @item
23329 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
23330
23331 @item
23332 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
23333 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
23334 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
23335 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
23336 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
23337 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
23338 prior command.
23339
23340 @item
23341 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23342 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
23343 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
23344 prefixed by @samp{+}.
23345
23346 @item
23347 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23348 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
23349 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
23350 @samp{*}.
23351
23352 @item
23353 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23354 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
23355 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
23356 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
23357
23358 @item
23359 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23360 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
23361 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
23362 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
23363
23364 @item
23365 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23366 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
23367 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
23368
23369 @item
23370 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23371 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
23372 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
23373 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
23374
23375 @item
23376 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23377 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
23378 @var{values}.
23379
23380
23381 @end itemize
23382
23383 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
23384 details about the various output records.
23385
23386 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23387 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
23388 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
23389
23390 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
23391 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
23392
23393 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
23394 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
23395 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
23396 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
23397 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
23398 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
23399
23400 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
23401 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
23402 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
23403
23404 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23405 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
23406 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
23407 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
23408
23409 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
23410 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
23411
23412 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
23413 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
23414 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
23415 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
23416 might change.
23417
23418 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
23419 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
23420 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
23421 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
23422
23423 @itemize @bullet
23424 @item
23425 New MI commands may be added.
23426
23427 @item
23428 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
23429
23430 @item
23431 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
23432 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
23433
23434 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
23435 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
23436
23437 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
23438 @c resolve inconsistencies.
23439 @end itemize
23440
23441 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
23442 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
23443 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
23444 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
23445 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
23446
23447 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
23448 @c version?
23449
23450 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
23451 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
23452 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
23453 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
23454 @cindex mailing lists
23455
23456 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23457 @node GDB/MI Output Records
23458 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
23459
23460 @menu
23461 * GDB/MI Result Records::
23462 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
23463 * GDB/MI Async Records::
23464 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
23465 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
23466 @end menu
23467
23468 @node GDB/MI Result Records
23469 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
23470
23471 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23472 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
23473 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
23474 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
23475
23476 @table @code
23477 @findex ^done
23478 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
23479 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
23480 values.
23481
23482 @item "^running"
23483 @findex ^running
23484 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
23485 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
23486 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
23487 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
23488 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
23489 which threads are resumed.
23490
23491 @item "^connected"
23492 @findex ^connected
23493 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
23494
23495 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
23496 @findex ^error
23497 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
23498 error message.
23499
23500 @item "^exit"
23501 @findex ^exit
23502 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
23503
23504 @end table
23505
23506 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
23507 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
23508
23509 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
23510 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23511 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
23512 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
23513 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
23514
23515 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
23516 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
23517 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
23518 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
23519 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
23520
23521 @table @code
23522 @item "~" @var{string-output}
23523 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
23524 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
23525
23526 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
23527 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
23528 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
23529 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
23530
23531 @item "&" @var{string-output}
23532 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
23533 internals.
23534 @end table
23535
23536 @node GDB/MI Async Records
23537 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
23538
23539 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23540 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
23541 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
23542 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
23543 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
23544 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
23545
23546 The following is the list of possible async records:
23547
23548 @table @code
23549
23550 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
23551 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
23552 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
23553 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
23554 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
23555 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
23556 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
23557 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
23558 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
23559 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
23560
23561 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
23562 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
23563 following values:
23564
23565 @table @code
23566 @item breakpoint-hit
23567 A breakpoint was reached.
23568 @item watchpoint-trigger
23569 A watchpoint was triggered.
23570 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
23571 A read watchpoint was triggered.
23572 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
23573 An access watchpoint was triggered.
23574 @item function-finished
23575 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
23576 @item location-reached
23577 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
23578 @item watchpoint-scope
23579 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
23580 @item end-stepping-range
23581 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
23582 similar CLI command was accomplished.
23583 @item exited-signalled
23584 The inferior exited because of a signal.
23585 @item exited
23586 The inferior exited.
23587 @item exited-normally
23588 The inferior exited normally.
23589 @item signal-received
23590 A signal was received by the inferior.
23591 @end table
23592
23593 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
23594 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
23595 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
23596 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
23597 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
23598 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
23599 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
23600 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
23601 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
23602 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
23603 if such information is not available.
23604
23605 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
23606 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
23607 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
23608 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
23609 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
23610 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
23611 cannot be used in any way.
23612
23613 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
23614 A thread group became associated with a running program,
23615 either because the program was just started or the thread group
23616 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
23617 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
23618 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
23619
23620 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
23621 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
23622 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
23623 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
23624 thread group.
23625
23626 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
23627 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
23628 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
23629 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
23630 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
23631
23632 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
23633 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
23634 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
23635 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
23636 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
23637 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
23638 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
23639
23640 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
23641 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
23642 that thread.
23643
23644 @item =library-loaded,...
23645 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
23646 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
23647 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
23648 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
23649 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
23650 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
23651 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
23652 @var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
23653 library are loaded. The @var{thread-group} field, if present,
23654 specifies the id of the thread group in whose context the library was loaded.
23655 If the field is absent, it means the library was loaded in the context
23656 of all present thread groups.
23657
23658 @item =library-unloaded,...
23659 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
23660 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
23661 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
23662 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
23663 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
23664 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
23665 thread groups.
23666
23667 @end table
23668
23669 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
23670 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
23671
23672 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
23673 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
23674 fields:
23675
23676 @table @code
23677 @item level
23678 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
23679 zero. This field is always present.
23680
23681 @item func
23682 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
23683 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
23684
23685 @item addr
23686 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
23687
23688 @item file
23689 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
23690 address. This field may be absent.
23691
23692 @item line
23693 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
23694 may be absent.
23695
23696 @item from
23697 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
23698 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
23699
23700 @end table
23701
23702 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
23703 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
23704
23705 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
23706 uses a tuple with the following fields:
23707
23708 @table @code
23709 @item id
23710 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
23711 always present.
23712
23713 @item target-id
23714 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
23715
23716 @item details
23717 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
23718 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
23719 frontend. This field is optional.
23720
23721 @item state
23722 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
23723 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
23724
23725 @item core
23726 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
23727 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
23728 @end table
23729
23730
23731 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23732 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
23733 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
23734 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
23735
23736 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
23737 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
23738 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
23739 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
23740
23741 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
23742 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
23743
23744 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
23745
23746 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
23747 information of the breakpoint.
23748
23749 @smallexample
23750 -> -break-insert main
23751 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23752 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
23753 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
23754 <- (gdb)
23755 @end smallexample
23756
23757 @subheading Program Execution
23758
23759 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
23760 reason that execution stopped.
23761
23762 @smallexample
23763 -> -exec-run
23764 <- ^running
23765 <- (gdb)
23766 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
23767 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
23768 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
23769 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
23770 <- (gdb)
23771 -> -exec-continue
23772 <- ^running
23773 <- (gdb)
23774 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
23775 <- (gdb)
23776 @end smallexample
23777
23778 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
23779
23780 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
23781
23782 @smallexample
23783 -> (gdb)
23784 <- -gdb-exit
23785 <- ^exit
23786 @end smallexample
23787
23788 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
23789 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
23790 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
23791 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
23792 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
23793 fails to exit in reasonable time.
23794
23795 @subheading A Bad Command
23796
23797 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
23798
23799 @smallexample
23800 -> -rubbish
23801 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
23802 <- (gdb)
23803 @end smallexample
23804
23805
23806 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23807 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
23808 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
23809
23810 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
23811 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
23812
23813 @subheading Motivation
23814
23815 The motivation for this collection of commands.
23816
23817 @subheading Introduction
23818
23819 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
23820
23821 @subheading Commands
23822
23823 For each command in the block, the following is described:
23824
23825 @subsubheading Synopsis
23826
23827 @smallexample
23828 -command @var{args}@dots{}
23829 @end smallexample
23830
23831 @subsubheading Result
23832
23833 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23834
23835 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
23836
23837 @subsubheading Example
23838
23839 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
23840 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
23841
23842
23843 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23844 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
23845 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
23846
23847 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
23848 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
23849 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
23850 breakpoints.
23851
23852 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
23853 @findex -break-after
23854
23855 @subsubheading Synopsis
23856
23857 @smallexample
23858 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
23859 @end smallexample
23860
23861 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
23862 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
23863 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
23864 @samp{-break-list} command below.
23865
23866 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23867
23868 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
23869
23870 @subsubheading Example
23871
23872 @smallexample
23873 (gdb)
23874 -break-insert main
23875 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23876 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
23877 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
23878 (gdb)
23879 -break-after 1 3
23880 ~
23881 ^done
23882 (gdb)
23883 -break-list
23884 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23885 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23886 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23887 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23888 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23889 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23890 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23891 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23892 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23893 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
23894 (gdb)
23895 @end smallexample
23896
23897 @ignore
23898 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
23899 @findex -break-catch
23900 @end ignore
23901
23902 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
23903 @findex -break-commands
23904
23905 @subsubheading Synopsis
23906
23907 @smallexample
23908 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
23909 @end smallexample
23910
23911 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
23912 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
23913 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
23914 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
23915 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
23916 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
23917
23918 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23919
23920 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
23921
23922 @subsubheading Example
23923
23924 @smallexample
23925 (gdb)
23926 -break-insert main
23927 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23928 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
23929 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
23930 (gdb)
23931 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
23932 ^done
23933 (gdb)
23934 @end smallexample
23935
23936 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
23937 @findex -break-condition
23938
23939 @subsubheading Synopsis
23940
23941 @smallexample
23942 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
23943 @end smallexample
23944
23945 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
23946 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
23947 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
23948 command below).
23949
23950 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23951
23952 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
23953
23954 @subsubheading Example
23955
23956 @smallexample
23957 (gdb)
23958 -break-condition 1 1
23959 ^done
23960 (gdb)
23961 -break-list
23962 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23963 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23964 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23965 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23966 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23967 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23968 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23969 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23970 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23971 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
23972 (gdb)
23973 @end smallexample
23974
23975 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
23976 @findex -break-delete
23977
23978 @subsubheading Synopsis
23979
23980 @smallexample
23981 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
23982 @end smallexample
23983
23984 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
23985 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
23986
23987 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23988
23989 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
23990
23991 @subsubheading Example
23992
23993 @smallexample
23994 (gdb)
23995 -break-delete 1
23996 ^done
23997 (gdb)
23998 -break-list
23999 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
24000 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24001 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24002 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24003 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24004 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24005 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24006 body=[]@}
24007 (gdb)
24008 @end smallexample
24009
24010 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
24011 @findex -break-disable
24012
24013 @subsubheading Synopsis
24014
24015 @smallexample
24016 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24017 @end smallexample
24018
24019 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
24020 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
24021
24022 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24023
24024 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
24025
24026 @subsubheading Example
24027
24028 @smallexample
24029 (gdb)
24030 -break-disable 2
24031 ^done
24032 (gdb)
24033 -break-list
24034 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24035 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24036 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24037 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24038 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24039 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24040 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24041 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
24042 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24043 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
24044 (gdb)
24045 @end smallexample
24046
24047 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
24048 @findex -break-enable
24049
24050 @subsubheading Synopsis
24051
24052 @smallexample
24053 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24054 @end smallexample
24055
24056 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
24057
24058 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24059
24060 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
24061
24062 @subsubheading Example
24063
24064 @smallexample
24065 (gdb)
24066 -break-enable 2
24067 ^done
24068 (gdb)
24069 -break-list
24070 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24071 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24072 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24073 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24074 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24075 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24076 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24077 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24078 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24079 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
24080 (gdb)
24081 @end smallexample
24082
24083 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
24084 @findex -break-info
24085
24086 @subsubheading Synopsis
24087
24088 @smallexample
24089 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
24090 @end smallexample
24091
24092 @c REDUNDANT???
24093 Get information about a single breakpoint.
24094
24095 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24096
24097 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
24098
24099 @subsubheading Example
24100 N.A.
24101
24102 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
24103 @findex -break-insert
24104
24105 @subsubheading Synopsis
24106
24107 @smallexample
24108 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
24109 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
24110 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
24111 @end smallexample
24112
24113 @noindent
24114 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
24115
24116 @itemize @bullet
24117 @item function
24118 @c @item +offset
24119 @c @item -offset
24120 @c @item linenum
24121 @item filename:linenum
24122 @item filename:function
24123 @item *address
24124 @end itemize
24125
24126 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
24127
24128 @table @samp
24129 @item -t
24130 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
24131 @item -h
24132 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
24133 @item -c @var{condition}
24134 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
24135 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
24136 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
24137 @item -f
24138 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
24139 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
24140 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
24141 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
24142 cannot be parsed.
24143 @item -d
24144 Create a disabled breakpoint.
24145 @item -a
24146 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
24147 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
24148 @end table
24149
24150 @subsubheading Result
24151
24152 The result is in the form:
24153
24154 @smallexample
24155 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
24156 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
24157 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
24158 times="@var{times}"@}
24159 @end smallexample
24160
24161 @noindent
24162 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
24163 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
24164 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
24165 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
24166 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
24167 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
24168 which use the same output).
24169
24170 Note: this format is open to change.
24171 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
24172
24173 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24174
24175 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
24176 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
24177
24178 @subsubheading Example
24179
24180 @smallexample
24181 (gdb)
24182 -break-insert main
24183 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
24184 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
24185 (gdb)
24186 -break-insert -t foo
24187 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
24188 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
24189 (gdb)
24190 -break-list
24191 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24192 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24193 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24194 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24195 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24196 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24197 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24198 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24199 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
24200 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
24201 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
24202 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
24203 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
24204 (gdb)
24205 -break-insert -r foo.*
24206 ~int foo(int, int);
24207 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
24208 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
24209 (gdb)
24210 @end smallexample
24211
24212 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
24213 @findex -break-list
24214
24215 @subsubheading Synopsis
24216
24217 @smallexample
24218 -break-list
24219 @end smallexample
24220
24221 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
24222
24223 @table @samp
24224 @item Number
24225 number of the breakpoint
24226 @item Type
24227 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
24228 @item Disposition
24229 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
24230 or @samp{nokeep}
24231 @item Enabled
24232 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
24233 @item Address
24234 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
24235 @item What
24236 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
24237 name, line number
24238 @item Times
24239 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
24240 @end table
24241
24242 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
24243 @code{body} field is an empty list.
24244
24245 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24246
24247 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
24248
24249 @subsubheading Example
24250
24251 @smallexample
24252 (gdb)
24253 -break-list
24254 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24255 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24256 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24257 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24258 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24259 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24260 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24261 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24262 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
24263 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24264 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24265 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
24266 (gdb)
24267 @end smallexample
24268
24269 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
24270
24271 @smallexample
24272 (gdb)
24273 -break-list
24274 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
24275 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24276 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24277 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24278 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24279 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24280 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24281 body=[]@}
24282 (gdb)
24283 @end smallexample
24284
24285 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
24286 @findex -break-passcount
24287
24288 @subsubheading Synopsis
24289
24290 @smallexample
24291 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
24292 @end smallexample
24293
24294 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
24295 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
24296 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
24297 command @samp{passcount}.
24298
24299 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
24300 @findex -break-watch
24301
24302 @subsubheading Synopsis
24303
24304 @smallexample
24305 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
24306 @end smallexample
24307
24308 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
24309 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
24310 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
24311 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
24312 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
24313 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
24314 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
24315 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
24316
24317 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
24318 breakpoints inserted.
24319
24320 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24321
24322 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
24323 @samp{rwatch}.
24324
24325 @subsubheading Example
24326
24327 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
24328
24329 @smallexample
24330 (gdb)
24331 -break-watch x
24332 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
24333 (gdb)
24334 -exec-continue
24335 ^running
24336 (gdb)
24337 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
24338 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
24339 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
24340 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
24341 (gdb)
24342 @end smallexample
24343
24344 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
24345 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
24346 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
24347
24348 @smallexample
24349 (gdb)
24350 -break-watch C
24351 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
24352 (gdb)
24353 -exec-continue
24354 ^running
24355 (gdb)
24356 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
24357 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
24358 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24359 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24360 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
24361 (gdb)
24362 -exec-continue
24363 ^running
24364 (gdb)
24365 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
24366 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
24367 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24368 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24369 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24370 (gdb)
24371 @end smallexample
24372
24373 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
24374 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
24375 deleted.
24376
24377 @smallexample
24378 (gdb)
24379 -break-watch C
24380 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
24381 (gdb)
24382 -break-list
24383 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24384 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24385 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24386 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24387 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24388 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24389 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24390 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24391 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24392 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24393 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
24394 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
24395 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
24396 (gdb)
24397 -exec-continue
24398 ^running
24399 (gdb)
24400 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
24401 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
24402 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24403 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24404 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
24405 (gdb)
24406 -break-list
24407 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24408 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24409 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24410 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24411 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24412 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24413 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24414 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24415 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24416 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24417 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
24418 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
24419 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
24420 (gdb)
24421 -exec-continue
24422 ^running
24423 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
24424 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
24425 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24426 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24427 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24428 (gdb)
24429 -break-list
24430 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24431 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24432 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24433 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24434 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24435 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24436 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24437 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24438 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24439 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24440 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
24441 times="1"@}]@}
24442 (gdb)
24443 @end smallexample
24444
24445 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24446 @node GDB/MI Program Context
24447 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
24448
24449 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
24450 @findex -exec-arguments
24451
24452
24453 @subsubheading Synopsis
24454
24455 @smallexample
24456 -exec-arguments @var{args}
24457 @end smallexample
24458
24459 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
24460 @samp{-exec-run}.
24461
24462 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24463
24464 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
24465
24466 @subsubheading Example
24467
24468 @smallexample
24469 (gdb)
24470 -exec-arguments -v word
24471 ^done
24472 (gdb)
24473 @end smallexample
24474
24475
24476 @ignore
24477 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
24478 @findex -exec-show-arguments
24479
24480 @subsubheading Synopsis
24481
24482 @smallexample
24483 -exec-show-arguments
24484 @end smallexample
24485
24486 Print the arguments of the program.
24487
24488 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24489
24490 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
24491
24492 @subsubheading Example
24493 N.A.
24494 @end ignore
24495
24496
24497 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
24498 @findex -environment-cd
24499
24500 @subsubheading Synopsis
24501
24502 @smallexample
24503 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
24504 @end smallexample
24505
24506 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
24507
24508 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24509
24510 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
24511
24512 @subsubheading Example
24513
24514 @smallexample
24515 (gdb)
24516 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
24517 ^done
24518 (gdb)
24519 @end smallexample
24520
24521
24522 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
24523 @findex -environment-directory
24524
24525 @subsubheading Synopsis
24526
24527 @smallexample
24528 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
24529 @end smallexample
24530
24531 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
24532 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
24533 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
24534 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
24535 occurs as normal.
24536 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
24537 multiple directories in a single command
24538 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
24539 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
24540 If blanks are needed as
24541 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
24542 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
24543 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
24544 character must not be used
24545 in any directory name.
24546 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
24547
24548 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24549
24550 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
24551
24552 @subsubheading Example
24553
24554 @smallexample
24555 (gdb)
24556 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
24557 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
24558 (gdb)
24559 -environment-directory ""
24560 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
24561 (gdb)
24562 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
24563 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
24564 (gdb)
24565 -environment-directory -r
24566 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
24567 (gdb)
24568 @end smallexample
24569
24570
24571 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
24572 @findex -environment-path
24573
24574 @subsubheading Synopsis
24575
24576 @smallexample
24577 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
24578 @end smallexample
24579
24580 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
24581 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
24582 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
24583 supplied in addition to the
24584 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
24585 occurs as normal.
24586 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
24587 multiple directories in a single command
24588 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
24589 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
24590 If blanks are needed as
24591 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
24592 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
24593 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
24594 character must not be used
24595 in any directory name.
24596 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
24597
24598
24599 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24600
24601 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
24602
24603 @subsubheading Example
24604
24605 @smallexample
24606 (gdb)
24607 -environment-path
24608 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
24609 (gdb)
24610 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
24611 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
24612 (gdb)
24613 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
24614 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
24615 (gdb)
24616 @end smallexample
24617
24618
24619 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
24620 @findex -environment-pwd
24621
24622 @subsubheading Synopsis
24623
24624 @smallexample
24625 -environment-pwd
24626 @end smallexample
24627
24628 Show the current working directory.
24629
24630 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24631
24632 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
24633
24634 @subsubheading Example
24635
24636 @smallexample
24637 (gdb)
24638 -environment-pwd
24639 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
24640 (gdb)
24641 @end smallexample
24642
24643 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24644 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
24645 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
24646
24647
24648 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
24649 @findex -thread-info
24650
24651 @subsubheading Synopsis
24652
24653 @smallexample
24654 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
24655 @end smallexample
24656
24657 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
24658 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
24659 threads. When printing information about all threads,
24660 also reports the current thread.
24661
24662 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24663
24664 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
24665 about all threads.
24666
24667 @subsubheading Example
24668
24669 @smallexample
24670 -thread-info
24671 ^done,threads=[
24672 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
24673 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
24674 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
24675 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
24676 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
24677 current-thread-id="1"
24678 (gdb)
24679 @end smallexample
24680
24681 The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
24682
24683 @table @code
24684 @item stopped
24685 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
24686 threads.
24687
24688 @item running
24689 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
24690 threads.
24691
24692 @end table
24693
24694 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
24695 @findex -thread-list-ids
24696
24697 @subsubheading Synopsis
24698
24699 @smallexample
24700 -thread-list-ids
24701 @end smallexample
24702
24703 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
24704 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
24705
24706 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
24707 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
24708
24709 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24710
24711 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
24712
24713 @subsubheading Example
24714
24715 @smallexample
24716 (gdb)
24717 -thread-list-ids
24718 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
24719 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
24720 (gdb)
24721 @end smallexample
24722
24723
24724 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
24725 @findex -thread-select
24726
24727 @subsubheading Synopsis
24728
24729 @smallexample
24730 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
24731 @end smallexample
24732
24733 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
24734 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
24735
24736 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
24737 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
24738
24739 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24740
24741 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
24742
24743 @subsubheading Example
24744
24745 @smallexample
24746 (gdb)
24747 -exec-next
24748 ^running
24749 (gdb)
24750 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
24751 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
24752 (gdb)
24753 -thread-list-ids
24754 ^done,
24755 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
24756 number-of-threads="3"
24757 (gdb)
24758 -thread-select 3
24759 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
24760 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
24761 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
24762 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
24763 (gdb)
24764 @end smallexample
24765
24766 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24767 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
24768 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
24769
24770 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
24771 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
24772 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
24773 other cases.
24774
24775 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
24776 @findex -exec-continue
24777
24778 @subsubheading Synopsis
24779
24780 @smallexample
24781 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
24782 @end smallexample
24783
24784 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
24785 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
24786 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
24787 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
24788 @itemize @bullet
24789 @item
24790 breakpoints or watchpoints
24791 @item
24792 signals or exceptions
24793 @item
24794 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
24795 @item
24796 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
24797 @end itemize
24798 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
24799 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
24800 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
24801 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
24802 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
24803 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
24804
24805 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24806
24807 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
24808
24809 @subsubheading Example
24810
24811 @smallexample
24812 -exec-continue
24813 ^running
24814 (gdb)
24815 @@Hello world
24816 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
24817 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
24818 line="13"@}
24819 (gdb)
24820 @end smallexample
24821
24822
24823 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
24824 @findex -exec-finish
24825
24826 @subsubheading Synopsis
24827
24828 @smallexample
24829 -exec-finish [--reverse]
24830 @end smallexample
24831
24832 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
24833 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
24834 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
24835 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
24836 function was called.
24837
24838 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24839
24840 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
24841
24842 @subsubheading Example
24843
24844 Function returning @code{void}.
24845
24846 @smallexample
24847 -exec-finish
24848 ^running
24849 (gdb)
24850 @@hello from foo
24851 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
24852 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
24853 (gdb)
24854 @end smallexample
24855
24856 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
24857 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
24858 value itself.
24859
24860 @smallexample
24861 -exec-finish
24862 ^running
24863 (gdb)
24864 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
24865 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
24866 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24867 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
24868 (gdb)
24869 @end smallexample
24870
24871
24872 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
24873 @findex -exec-interrupt
24874
24875 @subsubheading Synopsis
24876
24877 @smallexample
24878 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
24879 @end smallexample
24880
24881 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
24882 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
24883 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
24884 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
24885 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
24886
24887 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
24888 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
24889 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
24890 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
24891
24892 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
24893 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
24894 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
24895 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
24896
24897 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24898
24899 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
24900
24901 @subsubheading Example
24902
24903 @smallexample
24904 (gdb)
24905 111-exec-continue
24906 111^running
24907
24908 (gdb)
24909 222-exec-interrupt
24910 222^done
24911 (gdb)
24912 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
24913 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
24914 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
24915 (gdb)
24916
24917 (gdb)
24918 -exec-interrupt
24919 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
24920 (gdb)
24921 @end smallexample
24922
24923 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
24924 @findex -exec-jump
24925
24926 @subsubheading Synopsis
24927
24928 @smallexample
24929 -exec-jump @var{location}
24930 @end smallexample
24931
24932 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
24933 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
24934 different forms of @var{location}.
24935
24936 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24937
24938 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
24939
24940 @subsubheading Example
24941
24942 @smallexample
24943 -exec-jump foo.c:10
24944 *running,thread-id="all"
24945 ^running
24946 @end smallexample
24947
24948
24949 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
24950 @findex -exec-next
24951
24952 @subsubheading Synopsis
24953
24954 @smallexample
24955 -exec-next [--reverse]
24956 @end smallexample
24957
24958 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
24959 of the next source line is reached.
24960
24961 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
24962 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
24963 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
24964 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
24965 source line where the function was called.
24966
24967
24968 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24969
24970 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
24971
24972 @subsubheading Example
24973
24974 @smallexample
24975 -exec-next
24976 ^running
24977 (gdb)
24978 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
24979 (gdb)
24980 @end smallexample
24981
24982
24983 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
24984 @findex -exec-next-instruction
24985
24986 @subsubheading Synopsis
24987
24988 @smallexample
24989 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
24990 @end smallexample
24991
24992 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
24993 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
24994 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
24995 printed as well.
24996
24997 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
24998 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
24999 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
25000 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
25001 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
25002
25003 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25004
25005 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
25006
25007 @subsubheading Example
25008
25009 @smallexample
25010 (gdb)
25011 -exec-next-instruction
25012 ^running
25013
25014 (gdb)
25015 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25016 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
25017 (gdb)
25018 @end smallexample
25019
25020
25021 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
25022 @findex -exec-return
25023
25024 @subsubheading Synopsis
25025
25026 @smallexample
25027 -exec-return
25028 @end smallexample
25029
25030 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
25031 Displays the new current frame.
25032
25033 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25034
25035 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
25036
25037 @subsubheading Example
25038
25039 @smallexample
25040 (gdb)
25041 200-break-insert callee4
25042 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
25043 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
25044 (gdb)
25045 000-exec-run
25046 000^running
25047 (gdb)
25048 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
25049 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25050 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25051 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
25052 (gdb)
25053 205-break-delete
25054 205^done
25055 (gdb)
25056 111-exec-return
25057 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
25058 args=[@{name="strarg",
25059 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25060 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25061 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25062 (gdb)
25063 @end smallexample
25064
25065
25066 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
25067 @findex -exec-run
25068
25069 @subsubheading Synopsis
25070
25071 @smallexample
25072 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
25073 @end smallexample
25074
25075 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
25076 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
25077 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
25078 the program has exited exceptionally.
25079
25080 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
25081 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
25082 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
25083 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
25084
25085 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25086
25087 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
25088
25089 @subsubheading Examples
25090
25091 @smallexample
25092 (gdb)
25093 -break-insert main
25094 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
25095 (gdb)
25096 -exec-run
25097 ^running
25098 (gdb)
25099 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
25100 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
25101 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
25102 (gdb)
25103 @end smallexample
25104
25105 @noindent
25106 Program exited normally:
25107
25108 @smallexample
25109 (gdb)
25110 -exec-run
25111 ^running
25112 (gdb)
25113 x = 55
25114 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
25115 (gdb)
25116 @end smallexample
25117
25118 @noindent
25119 Program exited exceptionally:
25120
25121 @smallexample
25122 (gdb)
25123 -exec-run
25124 ^running
25125 (gdb)
25126 x = 55
25127 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
25128 (gdb)
25129 @end smallexample
25130
25131 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
25132 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
25133
25134 @smallexample
25135 (gdb)
25136 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
25137 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
25138 @end smallexample
25139
25140
25141 @c @subheading -exec-signal
25142
25143
25144 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
25145 @findex -exec-step
25146
25147 @subsubheading Synopsis
25148
25149 @smallexample
25150 -exec-step [--reverse]
25151 @end smallexample
25152
25153 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
25154 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
25155 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
25156 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
25157 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
25158 previously executed source line.
25159
25160 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25161
25162 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
25163
25164 @subsubheading Example
25165
25166 Stepping into a function:
25167
25168 @smallexample
25169 -exec-step
25170 ^running
25171 (gdb)
25172 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25173 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
25174 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
25175 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
25176 (gdb)
25177 @end smallexample
25178
25179 Regular stepping:
25180
25181 @smallexample
25182 -exec-step
25183 ^running
25184 (gdb)
25185 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
25186 (gdb)
25187 @end smallexample
25188
25189
25190 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
25191 @findex -exec-step-instruction
25192
25193 @subsubheading Synopsis
25194
25195 @smallexample
25196 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
25197 @end smallexample
25198
25199 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
25200 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
25201 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
25202 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
25203 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
25204 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
25205 as well.
25206
25207 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25208
25209 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
25210
25211 @subsubheading Example
25212
25213 @smallexample
25214 (gdb)
25215 -exec-step-instruction
25216 ^running
25217
25218 (gdb)
25219 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25220 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25221 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
25222 (gdb)
25223 -exec-step-instruction
25224 ^running
25225
25226 (gdb)
25227 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25228 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25229 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
25230 (gdb)
25231 @end smallexample
25232
25233
25234 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
25235 @findex -exec-until
25236
25237 @subsubheading Synopsis
25238
25239 @smallexample
25240 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
25241 @end smallexample
25242
25243 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
25244 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
25245 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
25246 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
25247
25248 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25249
25250 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
25251
25252 @subsubheading Example
25253
25254 @smallexample
25255 (gdb)
25256 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
25257 ^running
25258 (gdb)
25259 x = 55
25260 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
25261 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
25262 (gdb)
25263 @end smallexample
25264
25265 @ignore
25266 @subheading -file-clear
25267 Is this going away????
25268 @end ignore
25269
25270 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25271 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
25272 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
25273
25274
25275 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
25276 @findex -stack-info-frame
25277
25278 @subsubheading Synopsis
25279
25280 @smallexample
25281 -stack-info-frame
25282 @end smallexample
25283
25284 Get info on the selected frame.
25285
25286 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25287
25288 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
25289 (without arguments).
25290
25291 @subsubheading Example
25292
25293 @smallexample
25294 (gdb)
25295 -stack-info-frame
25296 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
25297 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25298 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
25299 (gdb)
25300 @end smallexample
25301
25302 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
25303 @findex -stack-info-depth
25304
25305 @subsubheading Synopsis
25306
25307 @smallexample
25308 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
25309 @end smallexample
25310
25311 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
25312 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
25313
25314 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25315
25316 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
25317
25318 @subsubheading Example
25319
25320 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
25321
25322 @smallexample
25323 (gdb)
25324 -stack-info-depth
25325 ^done,depth="12"
25326 (gdb)
25327 -stack-info-depth 4
25328 ^done,depth="4"
25329 (gdb)
25330 -stack-info-depth 12
25331 ^done,depth="12"
25332 (gdb)
25333 -stack-info-depth 11
25334 ^done,depth="11"
25335 (gdb)
25336 -stack-info-depth 13
25337 ^done,depth="12"
25338 (gdb)
25339 @end smallexample
25340
25341 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
25342 @findex -stack-list-arguments
25343
25344 @subsubheading Synopsis
25345
25346 @smallexample
25347 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
25348 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
25349 @end smallexample
25350
25351 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
25352 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
25353 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
25354 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
25355 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
25356 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
25357 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
25358 which case only existing frames will be returned.
25359
25360 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25361 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25362 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25363 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25364 structures and unions.
25365
25366 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
25367 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
25368
25369 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25370
25371 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
25372 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
25373 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
25374
25375 @subsubheading Example
25376
25377 @smallexample
25378 (gdb)
25379 -stack-list-frames
25380 ^done,
25381 stack=[
25382 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25383 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25384 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
25385 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
25386 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25387 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
25388 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
25389 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25390 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
25391 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
25392 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25393 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
25394 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
25395 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25396 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
25397 (gdb)
25398 -stack-list-arguments 0
25399 ^done,
25400 stack-args=[
25401 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
25402 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
25403 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
25404 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
25405 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
25406 (gdb)
25407 -stack-list-arguments 1
25408 ^done,
25409 stack-args=[
25410 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
25411 frame=@{level="1",
25412 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
25413 frame=@{level="2",args=[
25414 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25415 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
25416 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
25417 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25418 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
25419 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
25420 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
25421 (gdb)
25422 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
25423 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
25424 (gdb)
25425 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
25426 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
25427 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25428 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
25429 (gdb)
25430 @end smallexample
25431
25432 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
25433
25434
25435 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
25436 @findex -stack-list-frames
25437
25438 @subsubheading Synopsis
25439
25440 @smallexample
25441 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
25442 @end smallexample
25443
25444 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
25445 following info:
25446
25447 @table @samp
25448 @item @var{level}
25449 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
25450 @item @var{addr}
25451 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
25452 @item @var{func}
25453 Function name.
25454 @item @var{file}
25455 File name of the source file where the function lives.
25456 @item @var{line}
25457 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
25458 @end table
25459
25460 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
25461 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
25462 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
25463 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
25464 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
25465 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
25466 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
25467
25468 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25469
25470 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
25471
25472 @subsubheading Example
25473
25474 Full stack backtrace:
25475
25476 @smallexample
25477 (gdb)
25478 -stack-list-frames
25479 ^done,stack=
25480 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
25481 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
25482 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25483 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25484 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25485 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25486 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25487 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25488 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25489 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25490 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25491 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25492 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25493 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25494 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25495 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25496 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25497 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25498 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25499 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25500 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25501 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25502 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
25503 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
25504 (gdb)
25505 @end smallexample
25506
25507 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
25508
25509 @smallexample
25510 (gdb)
25511 -stack-list-frames 3 5
25512 ^done,stack=
25513 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25514 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25515 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25516 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25517 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25518 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
25519 (gdb)
25520 @end smallexample
25521
25522 Show a single frame:
25523
25524 @smallexample
25525 (gdb)
25526 -stack-list-frames 3 3
25527 ^done,stack=
25528 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25529 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
25530 (gdb)
25531 @end smallexample
25532
25533
25534 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
25535 @findex -stack-list-locals
25536
25537 @subsubheading Synopsis
25538
25539 @smallexample
25540 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
25541 @end smallexample
25542
25543 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
25544 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25545 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25546 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25547 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25548 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
25549 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
25550 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
25551 more detail.
25552
25553 This command is deprecated in favor of the
25554 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
25555
25556 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25557
25558 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
25559
25560 @subsubheading Example
25561
25562 @smallexample
25563 (gdb)
25564 -stack-list-locals 0
25565 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
25566 (gdb)
25567 -stack-list-locals --all-values
25568 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
25569 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
25570 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
25571 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
25572 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
25573 (gdb)
25574 @end smallexample
25575
25576 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
25577 @findex -stack-list-variables
25578
25579 @subsubheading Synopsis
25580
25581 @smallexample
25582 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
25583 @end smallexample
25584
25585 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
25586 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25587 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25588 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25589 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25590 structures and unions.
25591
25592 @subsubheading Example
25593
25594 @smallexample
25595 (gdb)
25596 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
25597 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
25598 (gdb)
25599 @end smallexample
25600
25601
25602 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
25603 @findex -stack-select-frame
25604
25605 @subsubheading Synopsis
25606
25607 @smallexample
25608 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
25609 @end smallexample
25610
25611 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
25612 the stack.
25613
25614 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
25615 option to every command.
25616
25617 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25618
25619 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
25620 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
25621
25622 @subsubheading Example
25623
25624 @smallexample
25625 (gdb)
25626 -stack-select-frame 2
25627 ^done
25628 (gdb)
25629 @end smallexample
25630
25631 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25632 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
25633 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
25634
25635 @ignore
25636
25637 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
25638
25639 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
25640 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
25641 used by @code{Insight}.
25642
25643 The two main reasons for that are:
25644
25645 @enumerate 1
25646 @item
25647 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
25648
25649 @item
25650 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
25651 now).
25652 @end enumerate
25653
25654 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
25655 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
25656 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
25657 hints about their use.
25658
25659 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
25660 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
25661 least, the following operations:
25662
25663 @itemize @bullet
25664 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
25665 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
25666 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
25667 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
25668 @end itemize
25669
25670 @end ignore
25671
25672 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
25673
25674 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
25675
25676 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
25677 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
25678 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
25679 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
25680 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
25681 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
25682 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
25683 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
25684 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
25685 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
25686 object, or to change display format.
25687
25688 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
25689 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
25690 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
25691 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
25692 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
25693 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
25694 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
25695 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
25696 child will be created.
25697
25698 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
25699 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
25700 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
25701 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
25702 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
25703
25704 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
25705 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
25706 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
25707 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
25708 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
25709 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
25710 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
25711 variables that frontend has created.
25712
25713 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
25714 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
25715 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
25716 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
25717 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
25718 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
25719 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
25720 implicitly updated.
25721
25722 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
25723 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
25724 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
25725 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
25726 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
25727 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
25728 frame. Consider this example:
25729
25730 @smallexample
25731 void do_work(...)
25732 @{
25733 struct work_state state;
25734
25735 if (...)
25736 do_work(...);
25737 @}
25738 @end smallexample
25739
25740 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
25741 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
25742 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
25743 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
25744 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
25745
25746 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
25747 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
25748 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
25749 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
25750 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
25751 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
25752
25753 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
25754 access this functionality:
25755
25756 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
25757 @item @strong{Operation}
25758 @tab @strong{Description}
25759
25760 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
25761 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
25762 @item @code{-var-create}
25763 @tab create a variable object
25764 @item @code{-var-delete}
25765 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
25766 @item @code{-var-set-format}
25767 @tab set the display format of this variable
25768 @item @code{-var-show-format}
25769 @tab show the display format of this variable
25770 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
25771 @tab tells how many children this object has
25772 @item @code{-var-list-children}
25773 @tab return a list of the object's children
25774 @item @code{-var-info-type}
25775 @tab show the type of this variable object
25776 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
25777 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
25778 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
25779 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
25780 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
25781 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
25782 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
25783 @tab get the value of this variable
25784 @item @code{-var-assign}
25785 @tab set the value of this variable
25786 @item @code{-var-update}
25787 @tab update the variable and its children
25788 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
25789 @tab set frozeness attribute
25790 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
25791 @tab set range of children to display on update
25792 @end multitable
25793
25794 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
25795 how it can be used.
25796
25797 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
25798
25799 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
25800 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
25801
25802 @smallexample
25803 -enable-pretty-printing
25804 @end smallexample
25805
25806 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
25807 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
25808 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
25809 request that this functionality be enabled.
25810
25811 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
25812
25813 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
25814 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
25815
25816 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
25817 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
25818
25819 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
25820 @findex -var-create
25821
25822 @subsubheading Synopsis
25823
25824 @smallexample
25825 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
25826 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
25827 @end smallexample
25828
25829 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
25830 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
25831 register.
25832
25833 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
25834 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
25835 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
25836 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
25837 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
25838
25839 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
25840 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
25841 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
25842 object must be created.
25843
25844 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
25845 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
25846
25847 @itemize @bullet
25848 @item
25849 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
25850
25851 @item
25852 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
25853
25854 @item
25855 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
25856 @end itemize
25857
25858 @cindex dynamic varobj
25859 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
25860 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
25861 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
25862 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
25863 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
25864 compatibility for existing clients.
25865
25866 @subsubheading Result
25867
25868 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
25869 are:
25870
25871 @table @samp
25872 @item name
25873 The name of the varobj.
25874
25875 @item numchild
25876 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
25877 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
25878 @samp{has_more} attribute.
25879
25880 @item value
25881 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
25882 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
25883 will not be interesting.
25884
25885 @item type
25886 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
25887 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
25888
25889 @item thread-id
25890 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
25891 thread's identifier.
25892
25893 @item has_more
25894 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
25895 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
25896
25897 @item dynamic
25898 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
25899 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
25900 then this attribute will not be present.
25901
25902 @item displayhint
25903 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
25904 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
25905 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
25906 @end table
25907
25908 Typical output will look like this:
25909
25910 @smallexample
25911 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
25912 has_more="@var{has_more}"
25913 @end smallexample
25914
25915
25916 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
25917 @findex -var-delete
25918
25919 @subsubheading Synopsis
25920
25921 @smallexample
25922 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
25923 @end smallexample
25924
25925 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
25926 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
25927
25928 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
25929
25930
25931 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
25932 @findex -var-set-format
25933
25934 @subsubheading Synopsis
25935
25936 @smallexample
25937 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
25938 @end smallexample
25939
25940 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
25941 @var{format-spec}.
25942
25943 @anchor{-var-set-format}
25944 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
25945
25946 @smallexample
25947 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
25948 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
25949 @end smallexample
25950
25951 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
25952 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
25953 for pointers, etc.).
25954
25955 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
25956 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
25957
25958 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
25959 @findex -var-show-format
25960
25961 @subsubheading Synopsis
25962
25963 @smallexample
25964 -var-show-format @var{name}
25965 @end smallexample
25966
25967 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
25968
25969 @smallexample
25970 @var{format} @expansion{}
25971 @var{format-spec}
25972 @end smallexample
25973
25974
25975 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
25976 @findex -var-info-num-children
25977
25978 @subsubheading Synopsis
25979
25980 @smallexample
25981 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
25982 @end smallexample
25983
25984 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
25985
25986 @smallexample
25987 numchild=@var{n}
25988 @end smallexample
25989
25990 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
25991 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
25992 be available.
25993
25994
25995 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
25996 @findex -var-list-children
25997
25998 @subsubheading Synopsis
25999
26000 @smallexample
26001 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
26002 @end smallexample
26003 @anchor{-var-list-children}
26004
26005 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
26006 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
26007 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
26008 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
26009 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
26010 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
26011 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
26012 and unions.
26013
26014 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
26015 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
26016 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
26017 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
26018 reported.
26019
26020 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
26021 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
26022 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
26023 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
26024 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
26025 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
26026 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
26027 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
26028 the visible items.
26029
26030 For each child the following results are returned:
26031
26032 @table @var
26033
26034 @item name
26035 Name of the variable object created for this child.
26036
26037 @item exp
26038 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
26039 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
26040
26041 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
26042 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
26043
26044 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
26045 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
26046 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
26047 type and value are not present.
26048
26049 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
26050 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
26051 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
26052
26053 @item numchild
26054 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
26055 0.
26056
26057 @item type
26058 The type of the child.
26059
26060 @item value
26061 If values were requested, this is the value.
26062
26063 @item thread-id
26064 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
26065 Otherwise this result is not present.
26066
26067 @item frozen
26068 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
26069 @end table
26070
26071 The result may have its own attributes:
26072
26073 @table @samp
26074 @item displayhint
26075 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
26076 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
26077 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
26078
26079 @item has_more
26080 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
26081 remaining after the end of the selected range.
26082 @end table
26083
26084 @subsubheading Example
26085
26086 @smallexample
26087 (gdb)
26088 -var-list-children n
26089 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
26090 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
26091 (gdb)
26092 -var-list-children --all-values n
26093 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
26094 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
26095 @end smallexample
26096
26097
26098 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
26099 @findex -var-info-type
26100
26101 @subsubheading Synopsis
26102
26103 @smallexample
26104 -var-info-type @var{name}
26105 @end smallexample
26106
26107 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
26108 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
26109 @value{GDBN} CLI:
26110
26111 @smallexample
26112 type=@var{typename}
26113 @end smallexample
26114
26115
26116 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
26117 @findex -var-info-expression
26118
26119 @subsubheading Synopsis
26120
26121 @smallexample
26122 -var-info-expression @var{name}
26123 @end smallexample
26124
26125 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
26126 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
26127 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
26128
26129 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
26130 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
26131
26132 @smallexample
26133 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
26134 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
26135 @end smallexample
26136
26137 @noindent
26138 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
26139
26140 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
26141 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
26142 is of limited use.
26143
26144 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
26145 @findex -var-info-path-expression
26146
26147 @subsubheading Synopsis
26148
26149 @smallexample
26150 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
26151 @end smallexample
26152
26153 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
26154 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
26155 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
26156 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
26157 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
26158 watchpoint from a variable object.
26159
26160 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
26161 and will give an error when invoked on one.
26162
26163 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
26164 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
26165 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
26166 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
26167 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
26168 @smallexample
26169 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
26170 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
26171 @end smallexample
26172
26173 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
26174 @findex -var-show-attributes
26175
26176 @subsubheading Synopsis
26177
26178 @smallexample
26179 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
26180 @end smallexample
26181
26182 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
26183
26184 @smallexample
26185 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
26186 @end smallexample
26187
26188 @noindent
26189 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
26190
26191 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
26192 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
26193
26194 @subsubheading Synopsis
26195
26196 @smallexample
26197 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
26198 @end smallexample
26199
26200 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
26201 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
26202 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
26203 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
26204 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
26205 the current display format will be used. The current display format
26206 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
26207
26208 @smallexample
26209 value=@var{value}
26210 @end smallexample
26211
26212 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
26213 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
26214
26215 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
26216 @findex -var-assign
26217
26218 @subsubheading Synopsis
26219
26220 @smallexample
26221 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
26222 @end smallexample
26223
26224 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
26225 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
26226 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
26227 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
26228
26229 @subsubheading Example
26230
26231 @smallexample
26232 (gdb)
26233 -var-assign var1 3
26234 ^done,value="3"
26235 (gdb)
26236 -var-update *
26237 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
26238 (gdb)
26239 @end smallexample
26240
26241 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
26242 @findex -var-update
26243
26244 @subsubheading Synopsis
26245
26246 @smallexample
26247 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
26248 @end smallexample
26249
26250 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
26251 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
26252 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
26253 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
26254 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
26255 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
26256 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
26257 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
26258 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
26259 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
26260 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
26261 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
26262 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
26263
26264 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
26265 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
26266 diagnostic.
26267
26268 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
26269 only the selected range of children will be reported.
26270
26271 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
26272 @samp{changelist}.
26273
26274 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
26275
26276 @table @samp
26277 @item name
26278 The name of the varobj.
26279
26280 @item value
26281 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
26282 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
26283
26284 @item in_scope
26285 @anchor{-var-update}
26286 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
26287
26288 @table @code
26289 @item "true"
26290 The variable object's current value is valid.
26291
26292 @item "false"
26293 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
26294 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
26295 scope.
26296
26297 @item "invalid"
26298 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
26299 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
26300 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
26301 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
26302 objects.
26303 @end table
26304
26305 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
26306 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
26307
26308 @item type_changed
26309 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
26310 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
26311 be @samp{false}.
26312
26313 @item new_type
26314 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
26315 hold the new type.
26316
26317 @item new_num_children
26318 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
26319 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
26320
26321 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
26322 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
26323 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
26324 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
26325 children which may be available.
26326
26327 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
26328 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
26329 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
26330 only happen at the end of the update range).
26331
26332 @item displayhint
26333 The display hint, if any.
26334
26335 @item has_more
26336 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
26337 available outside the varobj's update range.
26338
26339 @item dynamic
26340 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
26341 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
26342 then this attribute will not be present.
26343
26344 @item new_children
26345 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
26346 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
26347 be listed in this attribute.
26348 @end table
26349
26350 @subsubheading Example
26351
26352 @smallexample
26353 (gdb)
26354 -var-assign var1 3
26355 ^done,value="3"
26356 (gdb)
26357 -var-update --all-values var1
26358 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
26359 type_changed="false"@}]
26360 (gdb)
26361 @end smallexample
26362
26363 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
26364 @findex -var-set-frozen
26365 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
26366
26367 @subsubheading Synopsis
26368
26369 @smallexample
26370 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
26371 @end smallexample
26372
26373 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
26374 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
26375 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
26376 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
26377 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
26378 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
26379 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
26380 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
26381 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
26382 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
26383 @code{-var-update} does.
26384
26385 @subsubheading Example
26386
26387 @smallexample
26388 (gdb)
26389 -var-set-frozen V 1
26390 ^done
26391 (gdb)
26392 @end smallexample
26393
26394 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
26395 @findex -var-set-update-range
26396 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
26397
26398 @subsubheading Synopsis
26399
26400 @smallexample
26401 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
26402 @end smallexample
26403
26404 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
26405 @code{-var-update}.
26406
26407 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
26408 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
26409 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
26410 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
26411
26412 @subsubheading Example
26413
26414 @smallexample
26415 (gdb)
26416 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
26417 ^done
26418 @end smallexample
26419
26420 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
26421 @findex -var-set-visualizer
26422 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
26423
26424 @subsubheading Synopsis
26425
26426 @smallexample
26427 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
26428 @end smallexample
26429
26430 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
26431
26432 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
26433 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
26434
26435 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
26436 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
26437 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
26438 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
26439 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
26440 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
26441 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
26442
26443 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
26444 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
26445 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
26446 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
26447
26448 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
26449 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
26450 can be used to check this.
26451
26452 @subsubheading Example
26453
26454 Resetting the visualizer:
26455
26456 @smallexample
26457 (gdb)
26458 -var-set-visualizer V None
26459 ^done
26460 @end smallexample
26461
26462 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
26463
26464 @smallexample
26465 (gdb)
26466 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
26467 ^done
26468 @end smallexample
26469
26470 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
26471 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
26472
26473 @smallexample
26474 (gdb)
26475 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
26476 ^done
26477 @end smallexample
26478
26479 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26480 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
26481 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
26482
26483 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
26484 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
26485 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
26486 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
26487
26488 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
26489 @c @subheading -data-assign
26490 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
26491 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
26492 @c set variable
26493 @c @subsubheading Example
26494 @c N.A.
26495
26496 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
26497 @findex -data-disassemble
26498
26499 @subsubheading Synopsis
26500
26501 @smallexample
26502 -data-disassemble
26503 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
26504 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
26505 -- @var{mode}
26506 @end smallexample
26507
26508 @noindent
26509 Where:
26510
26511 @table @samp
26512 @item @var{start-addr}
26513 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
26514 @item @var{end-addr}
26515 is the end address
26516 @item @var{filename}
26517 is the name of the file to disassemble
26518 @item @var{linenum}
26519 is the line number to disassemble around
26520 @item @var{lines}
26521 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
26522 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
26523 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
26524 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
26525 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
26526 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
26527 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
26528 are displayed.
26529 @item @var{mode}
26530 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
26531 disassembly).
26532 @end table
26533
26534 @subsubheading Result
26535
26536 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
26537
26538 @itemize @bullet
26539 @item Address
26540 @item Func-name
26541 @item Offset
26542 @item Instruction
26543 @end itemize
26544
26545 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
26546 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
26547
26548 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26549
26550 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
26551
26552 @subsubheading Example
26553
26554 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
26555
26556 @smallexample
26557 (gdb)
26558 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
26559 ^done,
26560 asm_insns=[
26561 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26562 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26563 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26564 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26565 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
26566 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
26567 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
26568 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26569 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
26570 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
26571 (gdb)
26572 @end smallexample
26573
26574 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
26575 @code{main}.
26576
26577 @smallexample
26578 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
26579 ^done,asm_insns=[
26580 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26581 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
26582 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26583 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26584 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26585 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26586 [@dots{}]
26587 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
26588 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
26589 (gdb)
26590 @end smallexample
26591
26592 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
26593
26594 @smallexample
26595 (gdb)
26596 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
26597 ^done,asm_insns=[
26598 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26599 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
26600 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26601 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26602 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26603 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
26604 (gdb)
26605 @end smallexample
26606
26607 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
26608
26609 @smallexample
26610 (gdb)
26611 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
26612 ^done,asm_insns=[
26613 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
26614 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
26615 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
26616 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26617 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
26618 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
26619 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
26620 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
26621 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26622 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26623 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26624 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
26625 (gdb)
26626 @end smallexample
26627
26628
26629 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
26630 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
26631
26632 @subsubheading Synopsis
26633
26634 @smallexample
26635 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
26636 @end smallexample
26637
26638 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
26639 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
26640 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
26641
26642 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26643
26644 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
26645 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
26646 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
26647
26648 @subsubheading Example
26649
26650 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
26651 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
26652 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
26653 output.
26654
26655 @smallexample
26656 211-data-evaluate-expression A
26657 211^done,value="1"
26658 (gdb)
26659 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
26660 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
26661 (gdb)
26662 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
26663 411^done,value="4"
26664 (gdb)
26665 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
26666 511^done,value="4"
26667 (gdb)
26668 @end smallexample
26669
26670
26671 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
26672 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
26673
26674 @subsubheading Synopsis
26675
26676 @smallexample
26677 -data-list-changed-registers
26678 @end smallexample
26679
26680 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
26681
26682 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26683
26684 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
26685 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
26686
26687 @subsubheading Example
26688
26689 On a PPC MBX board:
26690
26691 @smallexample
26692 (gdb)
26693 -exec-continue
26694 ^running
26695
26696 (gdb)
26697 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
26698 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
26699 line="5"@}
26700 (gdb)
26701 -data-list-changed-registers
26702 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
26703 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
26704 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
26705 (gdb)
26706 @end smallexample
26707
26708
26709 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
26710 @findex -data-list-register-names
26711
26712 @subsubheading Synopsis
26713
26714 @smallexample
26715 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
26716 @end smallexample
26717
26718 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
26719 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
26720 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
26721 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
26722 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
26723 include empty register names.
26724
26725 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26726
26727 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
26728 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
26729 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
26730
26731 @subsubheading Example
26732
26733 For the PPC MBX board:
26734 @smallexample
26735 (gdb)
26736 -data-list-register-names
26737 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
26738 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
26739 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
26740 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
26741 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
26742 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
26743 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
26744 (gdb)
26745 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
26746 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
26747 (gdb)
26748 @end smallexample
26749
26750 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
26751 @findex -data-list-register-values
26752
26753 @subsubheading Synopsis
26754
26755 @smallexample
26756 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
26757 @end smallexample
26758
26759 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
26760 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
26761 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
26762 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
26763
26764 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
26765
26766 @table @code
26767 @item x
26768 Hexadecimal
26769 @item o
26770 Octal
26771 @item t
26772 Binary
26773 @item d
26774 Decimal
26775 @item r
26776 Raw
26777 @item N
26778 Natural
26779 @end table
26780
26781 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26782
26783 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
26784 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
26785
26786 @subsubheading Example
26787
26788 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
26789 don't appear in the actual output):
26790
26791 @smallexample
26792 (gdb)
26793 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
26794 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
26795 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
26796 (gdb)
26797 -data-list-register-values x
26798 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
26799 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
26800 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
26801 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
26802 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
26803 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
26804 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
26805 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
26806 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
26807 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
26808 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
26809 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
26810 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
26811 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
26812 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
26813 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
26814 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
26815 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
26816 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
26817 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
26818 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
26819 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
26820 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
26821 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
26822 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
26823 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
26824 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
26825 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
26826 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
26827 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
26828 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
26829 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
26830 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
26831 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
26832 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
26833 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
26834 (gdb)
26835 @end smallexample
26836
26837
26838 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
26839 @findex -data-read-memory
26840
26841 @subsubheading Synopsis
26842
26843 @smallexample
26844 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
26845 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
26846 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
26847 @end smallexample
26848
26849 @noindent
26850 where:
26851
26852 @table @samp
26853 @item @var{address}
26854 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
26855 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
26856 quoted using the C convention.
26857
26858 @item @var{word-format}
26859 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
26860 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
26861 ,Output Formats}).
26862
26863 @item @var{word-size}
26864 The size of each memory word in bytes.
26865
26866 @item @var{nr-rows}
26867 The number of rows in the output table.
26868
26869 @item @var{nr-cols}
26870 The number of columns in the output table.
26871
26872 @item @var{aschar}
26873 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
26874 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
26875 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
26876 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
26877
26878 @item @var{byte-offset}
26879 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
26880 @end table
26881
26882 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
26883 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
26884 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
26885 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
26886 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
26887 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
26888 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
26889 @samp{addr}.
26890
26891 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
26892 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
26893 @samp{prev-page}.
26894
26895 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26896
26897 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
26898 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
26899
26900 @subsubheading Example
26901
26902 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
26903 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
26904 word. Display each word in hex.
26905
26906 @smallexample
26907 (gdb)
26908 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
26909 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
26910 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
26911 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
26912 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
26913 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
26914 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
26915 (gdb)
26916 @end smallexample
26917
26918 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
26919 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
26920
26921 @smallexample
26922 (gdb)
26923 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
26924 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
26925 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
26926 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
26927 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
26928 (gdb)
26929 @end smallexample
26930
26931 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
26932 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
26933 used as the non-printable character.
26934
26935 @smallexample
26936 (gdb)
26937 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
26938 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
26939 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
26940 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
26941 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26942 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26943 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26944 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26945 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
26946 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
26947 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
26948 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
26949 (gdb)
26950 @end smallexample
26951
26952 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26953 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
26954 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
26955
26956 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
26957 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
26958
26959 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
26960 @findex -trace-find
26961
26962 @subsubheading Synopsis
26963
26964 @smallexample
26965 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
26966 @end smallexample
26967
26968 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
26969 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
26970 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
26971
26972 @table @samp
26973
26974 @item none
26975 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
26976
26977 @item frame-number
26978 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
26979 that index.
26980
26981 @item tracepoint-number
26982 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
26983 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
26984
26985 @item pc
26986 An address is required as parameter. Finds
26987 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
26988 address.
26989
26990 @item pc-inside-range
26991 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
26992 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
26993 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
26994
26995 @item pc-outside-range
26996 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
26997 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
26998 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
26999
27000 @item line
27001 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
27002 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
27003 the specified location.
27004
27005 @end table
27006
27007 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
27008 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
27009
27010 @table @samp
27011 @item found
27012 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
27013 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
27014
27015 @item traceframe
27016 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
27017 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
27018
27019 @item tracepoint
27020 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
27021 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
27022
27023 @item frame
27024 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
27025 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
27026 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
27027
27028 @end table
27029
27030 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27031
27032 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
27033
27034 @subheading -trace-define-variable
27035 @findex -trace-define-variable
27036
27037 @subsubheading Synopsis
27038
27039 @smallexample
27040 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
27041 @end smallexample
27042
27043 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
27044 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
27045 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
27046 with the @samp{$} character.
27047
27048 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27049
27050 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
27051
27052 @subheading -trace-list-variables
27053 @findex -trace-list-variables
27054
27055 @subsubheading Synopsis
27056
27057 @smallexample
27058 -trace-list-variables
27059 @end smallexample
27060
27061 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
27062 table has the following fields:
27063
27064 @table @samp
27065 @item name
27066 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
27067
27068 @item initial
27069 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
27070 field is always present.
27071
27072 @item current
27073 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
27074 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
27075 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
27076 presently running.
27077
27078 @end table
27079
27080 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27081
27082 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
27083
27084 @subsubheading Example
27085
27086 @smallexample
27087 (gdb)
27088 -trace-list-variables
27089 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
27090 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
27091 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
27092 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
27093 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
27094 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
27095 (gdb)
27096 @end smallexample
27097
27098 @subheading -trace-save
27099 @findex -trace-save
27100
27101 @subsubheading Synopsis
27102
27103 @smallexample
27104 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
27105 @end smallexample
27106
27107 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
27108 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
27109 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
27110 to perform the save.
27111
27112 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27113
27114 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
27115
27116
27117 @subheading -trace-start
27118 @findex -trace-start
27119
27120 @subsubheading Synopsis
27121
27122 @smallexample
27123 -trace-start
27124 @end smallexample
27125
27126 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
27127 have any fields.
27128
27129 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27130
27131 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
27132
27133 @subheading -trace-status
27134 @findex -trace-status
27135
27136 @subsubheading Synopsis
27137
27138 @smallexample
27139 -trace-status
27140 @end smallexample
27141
27142 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
27143 the following fields:
27144
27145 @table @samp
27146
27147 @item supported
27148 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
27149 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
27150 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
27151 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
27152 started. This field is always present.
27153
27154 @item running
27155 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
27156 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
27157 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
27158
27159 @item stop-reason
27160 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
27161 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
27162 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
27163 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
27164 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
27165 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
27166 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
27167 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
27168 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
27169
27170 @item stopping-tracepoint
27171 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
27172 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
27173 @samp{passcount}.
27174
27175 @item frames
27176 @itemx frames-created
27177 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
27178 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
27179 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
27180 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
27181
27182 @item buffer-size
27183 @itemx buffer-free
27184 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
27185 remaining space. These fields are optional.
27186
27187 @item circular
27188 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
27189 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
27190 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
27191 and may fill up.
27192
27193 @item disconnected
27194 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
27195 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
27196 that the trace run will stop.
27197
27198 @end table
27199
27200 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27201
27202 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
27203
27204 @subheading -trace-stop
27205 @findex -trace-stop
27206
27207 @subsubheading Synopsis
27208
27209 @smallexample
27210 -trace-stop
27211 @end smallexample
27212
27213 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
27214 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
27215 @samp{running} fields are not output.
27216
27217 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27218
27219 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
27220
27221
27222 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27223 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
27224 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
27225
27226
27227 @ignore
27228 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
27229 @findex -symbol-info-address
27230
27231 @subsubheading Synopsis
27232
27233 @smallexample
27234 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
27235 @end smallexample
27236
27237 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
27238
27239 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27240
27241 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
27242
27243 @subsubheading Example
27244 N.A.
27245
27246
27247 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
27248 @findex -symbol-info-file
27249
27250 @subsubheading Synopsis
27251
27252 @smallexample
27253 -symbol-info-file
27254 @end smallexample
27255
27256 Show the file for the symbol.
27257
27258 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27259
27260 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
27261 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
27262
27263 @subsubheading Example
27264 N.A.
27265
27266
27267 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
27268 @findex -symbol-info-function
27269
27270 @subsubheading Synopsis
27271
27272 @smallexample
27273 -symbol-info-function
27274 @end smallexample
27275
27276 Show which function the symbol lives in.
27277
27278 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27279
27280 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
27281
27282 @subsubheading Example
27283 N.A.
27284
27285
27286 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
27287 @findex -symbol-info-line
27288
27289 @subsubheading Synopsis
27290
27291 @smallexample
27292 -symbol-info-line
27293 @end smallexample
27294
27295 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
27296
27297 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27298
27299 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
27300 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
27301
27302 @subsubheading Example
27303 N.A.
27304
27305
27306 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
27307 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
27308
27309 @subsubheading Synopsis
27310
27311 @smallexample
27312 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
27313 @end smallexample
27314
27315 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
27316
27317 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27318
27319 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
27320
27321 @subsubheading Example
27322 N.A.
27323
27324
27325 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
27326 @findex -symbol-list-functions
27327
27328 @subsubheading Synopsis
27329
27330 @smallexample
27331 -symbol-list-functions
27332 @end smallexample
27333
27334 List the functions in the executable.
27335
27336 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27337
27338 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
27339 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27340
27341 @subsubheading Example
27342 N.A.
27343 @end ignore
27344
27345
27346 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
27347 @findex -symbol-list-lines
27348
27349 @subsubheading Synopsis
27350
27351 @smallexample
27352 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
27353 @end smallexample
27354
27355 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
27356 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
27357 ascending PC order.
27358
27359 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27360
27361 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
27362
27363 @subsubheading Example
27364 @smallexample
27365 (gdb)
27366 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
27367 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
27368 (gdb)
27369 @end smallexample
27370
27371
27372 @ignore
27373 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
27374 @findex -symbol-list-types
27375
27376 @subsubheading Synopsis
27377
27378 @smallexample
27379 -symbol-list-types
27380 @end smallexample
27381
27382 List all the type names.
27383
27384 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27385
27386 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
27387 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27388
27389 @subsubheading Example
27390 N.A.
27391
27392
27393 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
27394 @findex -symbol-list-variables
27395
27396 @subsubheading Synopsis
27397
27398 @smallexample
27399 -symbol-list-variables
27400 @end smallexample
27401
27402 List all the global and static variable names.
27403
27404 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27405
27406 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27407
27408 @subsubheading Example
27409 N.A.
27410
27411
27412 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
27413 @findex -symbol-locate
27414
27415 @subsubheading Synopsis
27416
27417 @smallexample
27418 -symbol-locate
27419 @end smallexample
27420
27421 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27422
27423 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
27424
27425 @subsubheading Example
27426 N.A.
27427
27428
27429 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
27430 @findex -symbol-type
27431
27432 @subsubheading Synopsis
27433
27434 @smallexample
27435 -symbol-type @var{variable}
27436 @end smallexample
27437
27438 Show type of @var{variable}.
27439
27440 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27441
27442 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
27443 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
27444
27445 @subsubheading Example
27446 N.A.
27447 @end ignore
27448
27449
27450 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27451 @node GDB/MI File Commands
27452 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
27453
27454 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
27455 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
27456
27457 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
27458 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
27459
27460 @subsubheading Synopsis
27461
27462 @smallexample
27463 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
27464 @end smallexample
27465
27466 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
27467 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
27468 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
27469 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
27470 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
27471 notification.
27472
27473 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27474
27475 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
27476
27477 @subsubheading Example
27478
27479 @smallexample
27480 (gdb)
27481 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27482 ^done
27483 (gdb)
27484 @end smallexample
27485
27486
27487 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
27488 @findex -file-exec-file
27489
27490 @subsubheading Synopsis
27491
27492 @smallexample
27493 -file-exec-file @var{file}
27494 @end smallexample
27495
27496 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
27497 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
27498 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
27499 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
27500 notification.
27501
27502 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27503
27504 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
27505
27506 @subsubheading Example
27507
27508 @smallexample
27509 (gdb)
27510 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27511 ^done
27512 (gdb)
27513 @end smallexample
27514
27515
27516 @ignore
27517 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
27518 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
27519
27520 @subsubheading Synopsis
27521
27522 @smallexample
27523 -file-list-exec-sections
27524 @end smallexample
27525
27526 List the sections of the current executable file.
27527
27528 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27529
27530 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
27531 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
27532 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
27533
27534 @subsubheading Example
27535 N.A.
27536 @end ignore
27537
27538
27539 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
27540 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
27541
27542 @subsubheading Synopsis
27543
27544 @smallexample
27545 -file-list-exec-source-file
27546 @end smallexample
27547
27548 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
27549 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
27550 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
27551 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
27552
27553 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27554
27555 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
27556
27557 @subsubheading Example
27558
27559 @smallexample
27560 (gdb)
27561 123-file-list-exec-source-file
27562 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
27563 (gdb)
27564 @end smallexample
27565
27566
27567 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
27568 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
27569
27570 @subsubheading Synopsis
27571
27572 @smallexample
27573 -file-list-exec-source-files
27574 @end smallexample
27575
27576 List the source files for the current executable.
27577
27578 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
27579 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
27580
27581 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27582
27583 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
27584 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
27585
27586 @subsubheading Example
27587 @smallexample
27588 (gdb)
27589 -file-list-exec-source-files
27590 ^done,files=[
27591 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
27592 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
27593 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
27594 (gdb)
27595 @end smallexample
27596
27597 @ignore
27598 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
27599 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
27600
27601 @subsubheading Synopsis
27602
27603 @smallexample
27604 -file-list-shared-libraries
27605 @end smallexample
27606
27607 List the shared libraries in the program.
27608
27609 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27610
27611 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
27612
27613 @subsubheading Example
27614 N.A.
27615
27616
27617 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
27618 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
27619
27620 @subsubheading Synopsis
27621
27622 @smallexample
27623 -file-list-symbol-files
27624 @end smallexample
27625
27626 List symbol files.
27627
27628 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27629
27630 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
27631
27632 @subsubheading Example
27633 N.A.
27634 @end ignore
27635
27636
27637 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
27638 @findex -file-symbol-file
27639
27640 @subsubheading Synopsis
27641
27642 @smallexample
27643 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
27644 @end smallexample
27645
27646 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
27647 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
27648 produced, except for a completion notification.
27649
27650 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27651
27652 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
27653
27654 @subsubheading Example
27655
27656 @smallexample
27657 (gdb)
27658 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27659 ^done
27660 (gdb)
27661 @end smallexample
27662
27663 @ignore
27664 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27665 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
27666 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
27667
27668 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
27669
27670 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
27671
27672 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
27673
27674 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
27675
27676 @c @subheading -overlay-map
27677
27678 @c @subheading -overlay-off
27679
27680 @c @subheading -overlay-on
27681
27682 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
27683
27684 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27685 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
27686 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
27687
27688 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
27689
27690 @c @subheading -signal-handle
27691
27692 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
27693
27694 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
27695 @end ignore
27696
27697
27698 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27699 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
27700 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
27701
27702
27703 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
27704 @findex -target-attach
27705
27706 @subsubheading Synopsis
27707
27708 @smallexample
27709 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
27710 @end smallexample
27711
27712 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
27713 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
27714 group, the id previously returned by
27715 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
27716
27717 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27718
27719 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
27720
27721 @subsubheading Example
27722 @smallexample
27723 (gdb)
27724 -target-attach 34
27725 =thread-created,id="1"
27726 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
27727 ^done
27728 (gdb)
27729 @end smallexample
27730
27731 @ignore
27732 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
27733 @findex -target-compare-sections
27734
27735 @subsubheading Synopsis
27736
27737 @smallexample
27738 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
27739 @end smallexample
27740
27741 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
27742 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
27743
27744 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27745
27746 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
27747
27748 @subsubheading Example
27749 N.A.
27750 @end ignore
27751
27752
27753 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
27754 @findex -target-detach
27755
27756 @subsubheading Synopsis
27757
27758 @smallexample
27759 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
27760 @end smallexample
27761
27762 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
27763 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
27764 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
27765
27766 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27767
27768 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
27769
27770 @subsubheading Example
27771
27772 @smallexample
27773 (gdb)
27774 -target-detach
27775 ^done
27776 (gdb)
27777 @end smallexample
27778
27779
27780 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
27781 @findex -target-disconnect
27782
27783 @subsubheading Synopsis
27784
27785 @smallexample
27786 -target-disconnect
27787 @end smallexample
27788
27789 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
27790 generally not resumed.
27791
27792 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27793
27794 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
27795
27796 @subsubheading Example
27797
27798 @smallexample
27799 (gdb)
27800 -target-disconnect
27801 ^done
27802 (gdb)
27803 @end smallexample
27804
27805
27806 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
27807 @findex -target-download
27808
27809 @subsubheading Synopsis
27810
27811 @smallexample
27812 -target-download
27813 @end smallexample
27814
27815 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
27816 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
27817
27818 @table @samp
27819 @item section
27820 The name of the section.
27821 @item section-sent
27822 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
27823 @item section-size
27824 The size of the section.
27825 @item total-sent
27826 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
27827 @item total-size
27828 The size of the overall executable to download.
27829 @end table
27830
27831 @noindent
27832 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
27833 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
27834
27835 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
27836 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
27837
27838 @table @samp
27839 @item section
27840 The name of the section.
27841 @item section-size
27842 The size of the section.
27843 @item total-size
27844 The size of the overall executable to download.
27845 @end table
27846
27847 @noindent
27848 At the end, a summary is printed.
27849
27850 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27851
27852 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
27853
27854 @subsubheading Example
27855
27856 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
27857 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
27858
27859 @smallexample
27860 (gdb)
27861 -target-download
27862 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
27863 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
27864 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
27865 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
27866 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
27867 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
27868 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
27869 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
27870 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
27871 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
27872 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
27873 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
27874 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
27875 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
27876 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
27877 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
27878 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
27879 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
27880 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
27881 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
27882 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
27883 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
27884 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
27885 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
27886 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
27887 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
27888 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
27889 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
27890 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
27891 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
27892 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
27893 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
27894 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
27895 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
27896 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
27897 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
27898 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
27899 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
27900 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
27901 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
27902 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
27903 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
27904 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
27905 write-rate="429"
27906 (gdb)
27907 @end smallexample
27908
27909
27910 @ignore
27911 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
27912 @findex -target-exec-status
27913
27914 @subsubheading Synopsis
27915
27916 @smallexample
27917 -target-exec-status
27918 @end smallexample
27919
27920 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
27921 not, for instance).
27922
27923 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27924
27925 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
27926
27927 @subsubheading Example
27928 N.A.
27929
27930
27931 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
27932 @findex -target-list-available-targets
27933
27934 @subsubheading Synopsis
27935
27936 @smallexample
27937 -target-list-available-targets
27938 @end smallexample
27939
27940 List the possible targets to connect to.
27941
27942 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27943
27944 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
27945
27946 @subsubheading Example
27947 N.A.
27948
27949
27950 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
27951 @findex -target-list-current-targets
27952
27953 @subsubheading Synopsis
27954
27955 @smallexample
27956 -target-list-current-targets
27957 @end smallexample
27958
27959 Describe the current target.
27960
27961 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27962
27963 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
27964 other things).
27965
27966 @subsubheading Example
27967 N.A.
27968
27969
27970 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
27971 @findex -target-list-parameters
27972
27973 @subsubheading Synopsis
27974
27975 @smallexample
27976 -target-list-parameters
27977 @end smallexample
27978
27979 @c ????
27980 @end ignore
27981
27982 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27983
27984 No equivalent.
27985
27986 @subsubheading Example
27987 N.A.
27988
27989
27990 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
27991 @findex -target-select
27992
27993 @subsubheading Synopsis
27994
27995 @smallexample
27996 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
27997 @end smallexample
27998
27999 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
28000
28001 @table @samp
28002 @item @var{type}
28003 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
28004 @item @var{parameters}
28005 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
28006 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
28007 @end table
28008
28009 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
28010 which the target program is, in the following form:
28011
28012 @smallexample
28013 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
28014 args=[@var{arg list}]
28015 @end smallexample
28016
28017 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28018
28019 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
28020
28021 @subsubheading Example
28022
28023 @smallexample
28024 (gdb)
28025 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
28026 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
28027 (gdb)
28028 @end smallexample
28029
28030 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28031 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
28032 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
28033
28034
28035 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
28036 @findex -target-file-put
28037
28038 @subsubheading Synopsis
28039
28040 @smallexample
28041 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
28042 @end smallexample
28043
28044 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
28045 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
28046
28047 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28048
28049 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
28050
28051 @subsubheading Example
28052
28053 @smallexample
28054 (gdb)
28055 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
28056 ^done
28057 (gdb)
28058 @end smallexample
28059
28060
28061 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
28062 @findex -target-file-get
28063
28064 @subsubheading Synopsis
28065
28066 @smallexample
28067 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
28068 @end smallexample
28069
28070 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
28071 on the host system.
28072
28073 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28074
28075 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
28076
28077 @subsubheading Example
28078
28079 @smallexample
28080 (gdb)
28081 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
28082 ^done
28083 (gdb)
28084 @end smallexample
28085
28086
28087 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
28088 @findex -target-file-delete
28089
28090 @subsubheading Synopsis
28091
28092 @smallexample
28093 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
28094 @end smallexample
28095
28096 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
28097
28098 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28099
28100 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
28101
28102 @subsubheading Example
28103
28104 @smallexample
28105 (gdb)
28106 -target-file-delete remotefile
28107 ^done
28108 (gdb)
28109 @end smallexample
28110
28111
28112 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28113 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
28114 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
28115
28116 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
28117
28118 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
28119 @findex -gdb-exit
28120
28121 @subsubheading Synopsis
28122
28123 @smallexample
28124 -gdb-exit
28125 @end smallexample
28126
28127 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
28128
28129 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28130
28131 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
28132
28133 @subsubheading Example
28134
28135 @smallexample
28136 (gdb)
28137 -gdb-exit
28138 ^exit
28139 @end smallexample
28140
28141
28142 @ignore
28143 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
28144 @findex -exec-abort
28145
28146 @subsubheading Synopsis
28147
28148 @smallexample
28149 -exec-abort
28150 @end smallexample
28151
28152 Kill the inferior running program.
28153
28154 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28155
28156 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
28157
28158 @subsubheading Example
28159 N.A.
28160 @end ignore
28161
28162
28163 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
28164 @findex -gdb-set
28165
28166 @subsubheading Synopsis
28167
28168 @smallexample
28169 -gdb-set
28170 @end smallexample
28171
28172 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
28173 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
28174
28175 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28176
28177 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
28178
28179 @subsubheading Example
28180
28181 @smallexample
28182 (gdb)
28183 -gdb-set $foo=3
28184 ^done
28185 (gdb)
28186 @end smallexample
28187
28188
28189 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
28190 @findex -gdb-show
28191
28192 @subsubheading Synopsis
28193
28194 @smallexample
28195 -gdb-show
28196 @end smallexample
28197
28198 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
28199
28200 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28201
28202 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
28203
28204 @subsubheading Example
28205
28206 @smallexample
28207 (gdb)
28208 -gdb-show annotate
28209 ^done,value="0"
28210 (gdb)
28211 @end smallexample
28212
28213 @c @subheading -gdb-source
28214
28215
28216 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
28217 @findex -gdb-version
28218
28219 @subsubheading Synopsis
28220
28221 @smallexample
28222 -gdb-version
28223 @end smallexample
28224
28225 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
28226
28227 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28228
28229 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
28230 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
28231
28232 @subsubheading Example
28233
28234 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
28235 @c box in TeX.
28236 @smallexample
28237 (gdb)
28238 -gdb-version
28239 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
28240 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
28241 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
28242 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
28243 ~ certain conditions.
28244 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
28245 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
28246 ~ details.
28247 ~This GDB was configured as
28248 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
28249 ^done
28250 (gdb)
28251 @end smallexample
28252
28253 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
28254 @findex -list-features
28255
28256 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
28257 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
28258 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
28259 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
28260 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
28261 startup.
28262
28263 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
28264 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
28265 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
28266 is given below.
28267
28268 Example output:
28269
28270 @smallexample
28271 (gdb) -list-features
28272 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
28273 @end smallexample
28274
28275 The current list of features is:
28276
28277 @table @samp
28278 @item frozen-varobjs
28279 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
28280 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
28281 of @code{-varobj-create}.
28282 @item pending-breakpoints
28283 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
28284 @item python
28285 Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
28286 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
28287 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
28288 @item thread-info
28289 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
28290
28291 @end table
28292
28293 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
28294 @findex -list-target-features
28295
28296 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
28297 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
28298 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
28299 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
28300 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
28301 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
28302 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
28303 Example output:
28304
28305 @smallexample
28306 (gdb) -list-features
28307 ^done,result=["async"]
28308 @end smallexample
28309
28310 The current list of features is:
28311
28312 @table @samp
28313 @item async
28314 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
28315 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
28316 while the target is running.
28317
28318 @end table
28319
28320 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
28321 @findex -list-thread-groups
28322
28323 @subheading Synopsis
28324
28325 @smallexample
28326 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
28327 @end smallexample
28328
28329 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
28330 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
28331 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
28332 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
28333 top-level thread groups.
28334
28335 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
28336 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
28337 available on the target.
28338
28339 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
28340 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
28341 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
28342 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
28343 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
28344 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
28345 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
28346 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
28347
28348 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
28349 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
28350 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
28351 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
28352 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
28353 @samp{threads} field.
28354
28355 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
28356 the following caveats:
28357
28358 @itemize @bullet
28359 @item
28360 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
28361 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
28362 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
28363
28364 @item
28365 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
28366 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
28367 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
28368 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
28369 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
28370 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
28371
28372 @end itemize
28373
28374 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
28375 have the following fields:
28376
28377 @table @code
28378 @item id
28379 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
28380 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
28381 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
28382
28383 @item type
28384 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
28385 valid type.
28386
28387 @item pid
28388 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
28389 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
28390
28391 @item num_children
28392 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
28393 absent for an available thread group.
28394
28395 @item threads
28396 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
28397 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
28398 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
28399
28400 @item cores
28401 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
28402 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
28403 such information is not available.
28404
28405 @item executable
28406 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
28407 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
28408 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
28409
28410 @end table
28411
28412 @subheading Example
28413
28414 @smallexample
28415 @value{GDBP}
28416 -list-thread-groups
28417 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
28418 -list-thread-groups 17
28419 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28420 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
28421 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28422 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28423 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
28424 -list-thread-groups --available
28425 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
28426 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
28427 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
28428 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
28429 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
28430 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
28431 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
28432 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
28433 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
28434 @end smallexample
28435
28436
28437 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
28438 @findex -add-inferior
28439
28440 @subheading Synopsis
28441
28442 @smallexample
28443 -add-inferior
28444 @end smallexample
28445
28446 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
28447 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
28448 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
28449 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
28450 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
28451 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
28452
28453 @subheading Example
28454
28455 @smallexample
28456 @value{GDBP}
28457 -add-inferior
28458 ^done,thread-group="i3"
28459 @end smallexample
28460
28461 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
28462 @findex -interpreter-exec
28463
28464 @subheading Synopsis
28465
28466 @smallexample
28467 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
28468 @end smallexample
28469 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
28470
28471 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
28472
28473 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28474
28475 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
28476
28477 @subheading Example
28478
28479 @smallexample
28480 (gdb)
28481 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
28482 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
28483 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
28484 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
28485 ^done
28486 (gdb)
28487 @end smallexample
28488
28489 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
28490 @findex -inferior-tty-set
28491
28492 @subheading Synopsis
28493
28494 @smallexample
28495 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28496 @end smallexample
28497
28498 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
28499
28500 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28501
28502 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
28503
28504 @subheading Example
28505
28506 @smallexample
28507 (gdb)
28508 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28509 ^done
28510 (gdb)
28511 @end smallexample
28512
28513 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
28514 @findex -inferior-tty-show
28515
28516 @subheading Synopsis
28517
28518 @smallexample
28519 -inferior-tty-show
28520 @end smallexample
28521
28522 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
28523
28524 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28525
28526 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
28527
28528 @subheading Example
28529
28530 @smallexample
28531 (gdb)
28532 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28533 ^done
28534 (gdb)
28535 -inferior-tty-show
28536 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
28537 (gdb)
28538 @end smallexample
28539
28540 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
28541 @findex -enable-timings
28542
28543 @subheading Synopsis
28544
28545 @smallexample
28546 -enable-timings [yes | no]
28547 @end smallexample
28548
28549 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
28550 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
28551 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
28552 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
28553
28554 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28555
28556 No equivalent.
28557
28558 @subheading Example
28559
28560 @smallexample
28561 (gdb)
28562 -enable-timings
28563 ^done
28564 (gdb)
28565 -break-insert main
28566 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28567 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
28568 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
28569 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
28570 (gdb)
28571 -enable-timings no
28572 ^done
28573 (gdb)
28574 -exec-run
28575 ^running
28576 (gdb)
28577 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
28578 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
28579 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
28580 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
28581 (gdb)
28582 @end smallexample
28583
28584 @node Annotations
28585 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
28586
28587 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
28588 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
28589 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
28590 relatively high level.
28591
28592 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
28593 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
28594
28595 @ignore
28596 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
28597 @end ignore
28598
28599 @menu
28600 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
28601 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
28602 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
28603 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
28604 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
28605 * Annotations for Running::
28606 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
28607 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
28608 @end menu
28609
28610 @node Annotations Overview
28611 @section What is an Annotation?
28612 @cindex annotations
28613
28614 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
28615 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
28616 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
28617 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
28618 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
28619 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
28620 cannot contain newline characters.
28621
28622 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
28623 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
28624 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
28625 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
28626 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
28627 means those three characters as output.
28628
28629 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
28630 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
28631 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
28632 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
28633 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
28634 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
28635 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
28636 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
28637 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
28638
28639 @table @code
28640 @kindex set annotate
28641 @item set annotate @var{level}
28642 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
28643 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
28644
28645 @item show annotate
28646 @kindex show annotate
28647 Show the current annotation level.
28648 @end table
28649
28650 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
28651
28652 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
28653
28654 @smallexample
28655 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
28656 GNU gdb 6.0
28657 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
28658 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
28659 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
28660 under certain conditions.
28661 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
28662 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
28663 for details.
28664 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
28665
28666 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
28667 (@value{GDBP})
28668 ^Z^Zprompt
28669 @kbd{quit}
28670
28671 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
28672 $
28673 @end smallexample
28674
28675 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
28676 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
28677 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
28678 output from @value{GDBN}.
28679
28680 @node Server Prefix
28681 @section The Server Prefix
28682 @cindex server prefix
28683
28684 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
28685 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
28686 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
28687 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
28688 a transparent manner.
28689
28690 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
28691 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
28692 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
28693 @code{print} command.
28694
28695 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
28696 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
28697
28698 @node Prompting
28699 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
28700
28701 @cindex annotations for prompts
28702 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
28703 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
28704 over, etc.
28705
28706 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
28707 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
28708 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
28709 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
28710 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
28711 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
28712 features the following annotations:
28713
28714 @smallexample
28715 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
28716 ^Z^Zprompt
28717 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
28718 @end smallexample
28719
28720 The input types are
28721
28722 @table @code
28723 @findex pre-prompt annotation
28724 @findex prompt annotation
28725 @findex post-prompt annotation
28726 @item prompt
28727 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
28728
28729 @findex pre-commands annotation
28730 @findex commands annotation
28731 @findex post-commands annotation
28732 @item commands
28733 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
28734 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
28735
28736 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
28737 @findex overload-choice annotation
28738 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
28739 @item overload-choice
28740 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
28741
28742 @findex pre-query annotation
28743 @findex query annotation
28744 @findex post-query annotation
28745 @item query
28746 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
28747
28748 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
28749 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
28750 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
28751 @item prompt-for-continue
28752 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
28753 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
28754 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
28755 presence of annotations.
28756 @end table
28757
28758 @node Errors
28759 @section Errors
28760 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
28761
28762 @findex quit annotation
28763 @smallexample
28764 ^Z^Zquit
28765 @end smallexample
28766
28767 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
28768
28769 @findex error annotation
28770 @smallexample
28771 ^Z^Zerror
28772 @end smallexample
28773
28774 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
28775
28776 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
28777 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
28778 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
28779 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
28780 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
28781 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
28782 to the top level.
28783
28784 @findex error-begin annotation
28785 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
28786
28787 @smallexample
28788 ^Z^Zerror-begin
28789 @end smallexample
28790
28791 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
28792 message.
28793
28794 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
28795 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
28796 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
28797
28798 @node Invalidation
28799 @section Invalidation Notices
28800
28801 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
28802 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
28803 changed.
28804
28805 @table @code
28806 @findex frames-invalid annotation
28807 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
28808
28809 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
28810 have changed.
28811
28812 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
28813 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
28814
28815 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
28816 deleted a breakpoint.
28817 @end table
28818
28819 @node Annotations for Running
28820 @section Running the Program
28821 @cindex annotations for running programs
28822
28823 @findex starting annotation
28824 @findex stopping annotation
28825 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
28826 @code{step} or @code{continue},
28827
28828 @smallexample
28829 ^Z^Zstarting
28830 @end smallexample
28831
28832 is output. When the program stops,
28833
28834 @smallexample
28835 ^Z^Zstopped
28836 @end smallexample
28837
28838 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
28839 annotations describe how the program stopped.
28840
28841 @table @code
28842 @findex exited annotation
28843 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
28844 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
28845 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
28846
28847 @findex signalled annotation
28848 @findex signal-name annotation
28849 @findex signal-name-end annotation
28850 @findex signal-string annotation
28851 @findex signal-string-end annotation
28852 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
28853 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
28854 annotation continues:
28855
28856 @smallexample
28857 @var{intro-text}
28858 ^Z^Zsignal-name
28859 @var{name}
28860 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
28861 @var{middle-text}
28862 ^Z^Zsignal-string
28863 @var{string}
28864 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
28865 @var{end-text}
28866 @end smallexample
28867
28868 @noindent
28869 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
28870 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
28871 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
28872 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
28873 user's benefit and have no particular format.
28874
28875 @findex signal annotation
28876 @item ^Z^Zsignal
28877 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
28878 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
28879 terminated with it.
28880
28881 @findex breakpoint annotation
28882 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
28883 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
28884
28885 @findex watchpoint annotation
28886 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
28887 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
28888 @end table
28889
28890 @node Source Annotations
28891 @section Displaying Source
28892 @cindex annotations for source display
28893
28894 @findex source annotation
28895 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
28896
28897 @smallexample
28898 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
28899 @end smallexample
28900
28901 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
28902 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
28903 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
28904 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
28905 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
28906 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
28907 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
28908 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
28909 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
28910 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
28911 depend on the language).
28912
28913 @node JIT Interface
28914 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
28915 @cindex just-in-time compilation
28916 @cindex JIT compilation interface
28917
28918 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
28919 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
28920 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
28921 performance while maintaining platform independence.
28922
28923 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
28924 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
28925 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
28926 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
28927 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
28928 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
28929
28930 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
28931 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
28932 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
28933 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
28934 LLVM JIT.
28935
28936 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
28937 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
28938 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
28939 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
28940 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
28941 out about additional code.
28942
28943 @menu
28944 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
28945 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
28946 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
28947 @end menu
28948
28949 @node Declarations
28950 @section JIT Declarations
28951
28952 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
28953 implement the interface:
28954
28955 @smallexample
28956 typedef enum
28957 @{
28958 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
28959 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
28960 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
28961 @} jit_actions_t;
28962
28963 struct jit_code_entry
28964 @{
28965 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
28966 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
28967 const char *symfile_addr;
28968 uint64_t symfile_size;
28969 @};
28970
28971 struct jit_descriptor
28972 @{
28973 uint32_t version;
28974 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
28975 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
28976 uint32_t action_flag;
28977 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
28978 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
28979 @};
28980
28981 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
28982 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
28983
28984 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
28985 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
28986 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
28987 @end smallexample
28988
28989 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
28990 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
28991 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
28992
28993 @node Registering Code
28994 @section Registering Code
28995
28996 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
28997
28998 @itemize @bullet
28999 @item
29000 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
29001 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
29002
29003 @item
29004 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
29005 file.
29006
29007 @item
29008 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
29009
29010 @item
29011 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
29012
29013 @item
29014 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
29015 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
29016 @end itemize
29017
29018 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
29019 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
29020 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
29021 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
29022
29023 @node Unregistering Code
29024 @section Unregistering Code
29025
29026 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
29027
29028 @itemize @bullet
29029 @item
29030 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
29031
29032 @item
29033 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
29034
29035 @item
29036 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
29037 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
29038 @end itemize
29039
29040 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
29041 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
29042
29043 @node GDB Bugs
29044 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
29045 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
29046 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
29047
29048 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
29049
29050 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
29051 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
29052 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
29053 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
29054
29055 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
29056 information that enables us to fix the bug.
29057
29058 @menu
29059 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
29060 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
29061 @end menu
29062
29063 @node Bug Criteria
29064 @section Have You Found a Bug?
29065 @cindex bug criteria
29066
29067 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
29068
29069 @itemize @bullet
29070 @cindex fatal signal
29071 @cindex debugger crash
29072 @cindex crash of debugger
29073 @item
29074 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
29075 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
29076
29077 @cindex error on valid input
29078 @item
29079 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
29080 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
29081 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
29082
29083 @cindex invalid input
29084 @item
29085 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
29086 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
29087 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
29088 for traditional practice''.
29089
29090 @item
29091 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
29092 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
29093 @end itemize
29094
29095 @node Bug Reporting
29096 @section How to Report Bugs
29097 @cindex bug reports
29098 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
29099
29100 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
29101 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
29102 contact that organization first.
29103
29104 You can find contact information for many support companies and
29105 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
29106 distribution.
29107 @c should add a web page ref...
29108
29109 @ifset BUGURL
29110 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
29111 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
29112 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
29113 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
29114 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
29115 be used.
29116
29117 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
29118 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
29119 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
29120 @samp{bug-gdb}.
29121
29122 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
29123 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
29124 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
29125 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
29126 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
29127 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
29128 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
29129 bug reports to the mailing list.
29130 @end ifset
29131 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
29132 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
29133 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
29134 @end ifclear
29135 @end ifset
29136
29137 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
29138 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
29139 fact or leave it out, state it!
29140
29141 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
29142 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
29143 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
29144 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
29145 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
29146 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
29147 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
29148 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
29149 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
29150
29151 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
29152 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
29153 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
29154 self-contained.
29155
29156 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
29157 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
29158 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
29159 bugs properly.
29160
29161 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
29162
29163 @itemize @bullet
29164 @item
29165 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
29166 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
29167 version}.
29168
29169 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
29170 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
29171
29172 @item
29173 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
29174 version number.
29175
29176 @item
29177 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
29178 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
29179
29180 @item
29181 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
29182 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
29183 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
29184 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
29185 those compilers.
29186
29187 @item
29188 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
29189 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
29190 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
29191 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
29192
29193 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
29194 and then we might not encounter the bug.
29195
29196 @item
29197 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
29198 reproduce the bug.
29199
29200 @item
29201 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
29202 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
29203
29204 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
29205 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
29206 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
29207 a chance to make a mistake.
29208
29209 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
29210 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
29211 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
29212 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
29213 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
29214 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
29215 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
29216 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
29217
29218 @pindex script
29219 @cindex recording a session script
29220 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
29221 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
29222 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
29223 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
29224
29225 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
29226 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
29227
29228 @item
29229 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
29230 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
29231 it by context, not by line number.
29232
29233 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
29234 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
29235
29236 @end itemize
29237
29238 Here are some things that are not necessary:
29239
29240 @itemize @bullet
29241 @item
29242 A description of the envelope of the bug.
29243
29244 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
29245 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
29246 changes will not affect it.
29247
29248 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
29249 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
29250 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
29251 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
29252
29253 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
29254 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
29255 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
29256 less time, and so on.
29257
29258 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
29259 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
29260
29261 @item
29262 A patch for the bug.
29263
29264 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
29265 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
29266 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
29267 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
29268
29269 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
29270 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
29271 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
29272 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
29273
29274 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
29275 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
29276 help us to understand.
29277
29278 @item
29279 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
29280
29281 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
29282 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
29283 @end itemize
29284
29285 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
29286 @c and consists of the two following files:
29287 @c rluser.texinfo
29288 @c inc-hist.texinfo
29289 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
29290 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
29291 @include rluser.texi
29292 @include inc-hist.texinfo
29293
29294
29295 @node Formatting Documentation
29296 @appendix Formatting Documentation
29297
29298 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
29299 @cindex reference card
29300 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
29301 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
29302 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
29303 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
29304 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
29305 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
29306
29307 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
29308 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
29309
29310 @smallexample
29311 make refcard.dvi
29312 @end smallexample
29313
29314 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
29315 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
29316 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
29317 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
29318 your @sc{dvi} output program.
29319
29320 @cindex documentation
29321
29322 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
29323 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
29324 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
29325 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
29326 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
29327 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
29328
29329 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
29330 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
29331 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
29332 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
29333 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
29334 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
29335 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
29336 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
29337
29338 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
29339 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
29340 @code{makeinfo}.
29341
29342 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
29343 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
29344 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
29345
29346 @smallexample
29347 cd gdb
29348 make gdb.info
29349 @end smallexample
29350
29351 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
29352 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
29353 Texinfo definitions file.
29354
29355 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
29356 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
29357 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
29358 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
29359 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
29360 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
29361 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
29362
29363 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
29364 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
29365 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
29366 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
29367 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
29368 directory.
29369
29370 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
29371 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
29372 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
29373 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
29374
29375 @smallexample
29376 make gdb.dvi
29377 @end smallexample
29378
29379 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
29380
29381 @node Installing GDB
29382 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
29383 @cindex installation
29384
29385 @menu
29386 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
29387 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
29388 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
29389 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
29390 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
29391 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
29392 @end menu
29393
29394 @node Requirements
29395 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
29396 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
29397
29398 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
29399 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
29400
29401 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
29402 @table @asis
29403 @item ISO C90 compiler
29404 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
29405 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
29406
29407 @end table
29408
29409 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
29410 @table @asis
29411 @item Expat
29412 @anchor{Expat}
29413 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
29414 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
29415 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
29416 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
29417 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
29418 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
29419
29420 Expat is used for:
29421
29422 @itemize @bullet
29423 @item
29424 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
29425 @item
29426 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
29427 @item
29428 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
29429 @item
29430 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
29431 @end itemize
29432
29433 @item zlib
29434 @cindex compressed debug sections
29435 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
29436 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
29437 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
29438 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
29439 information in such binaries.
29440
29441 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
29442 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
29443 @url{http://zlib.net}.
29444
29445 @item iconv
29446 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
29447 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
29448 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
29449 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
29450
29451 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
29452 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
29453 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
29454
29455 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
29456 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
29457 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
29458 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
29459 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
29460 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
29461 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
29462 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
29463 @end table
29464
29465 @node Running Configure
29466 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
29467 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
29468 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
29469 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
29470 build the @code{gdb} program.
29471 @iftex
29472 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
29473 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
29474 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
29475 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
29476 @end iftex
29477
29478 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
29479 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
29480 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
29481
29482 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
29483 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
29484
29485 @table @code
29486 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
29487 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
29488
29489 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
29490 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
29491
29492 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
29493 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
29494
29495 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
29496 @sc{gnu} include files
29497
29498 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
29499 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
29500
29501 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
29502 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
29503
29504 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
29505 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
29506
29507 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
29508 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
29509
29510 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
29511 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
29512 @end table
29513
29514 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
29515 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
29516 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
29517
29518 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
29519 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
29520 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
29521 argument.
29522
29523 For example:
29524
29525 @smallexample
29526 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
29527 ./configure @var{host}
29528 make
29529 @end smallexample
29530
29531 @noindent
29532 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
29533 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
29534 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
29535 correct value by examining your system.)
29536
29537 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
29538 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
29539 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
29540 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
29541
29542 @need 750
29543 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
29544 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
29545 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
29546
29547 @smallexample
29548 sh configure @var{host}
29549 @end smallexample
29550
29551 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
29552 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
29553 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
29554 @file{configure}
29555 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
29556 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
29557
29558 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
29559 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
29560 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
29561 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
29562 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
29563 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
29564 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
29565 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
29566 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
29567
29568 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
29569 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
29570 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
29571 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
29572 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
29573
29574 @node Separate Objdir
29575 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
29576
29577 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
29578 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
29579 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
29580 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
29581 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
29582 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
29583 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
29584 program specified there.
29585
29586 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
29587 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
29588 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
29589 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
29590 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
29591 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
29592
29593 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
29594 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
29595
29596 @smallexample
29597 @group
29598 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
29599 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
29600 cd ../gdb-sun4
29601 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
29602 make
29603 @end group
29604 @end smallexample
29605
29606 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
29607 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
29608 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
29609 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
29610 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
29611 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
29612
29613 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
29614 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
29615 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
29616 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
29617 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
29618
29619 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
29620 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
29621 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
29622 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
29623 You specify a cross-debugging target by
29624 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
29625
29626 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
29627 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
29628 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
29629
29630 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
29631 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
29632 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
29633 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
29634 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
29635
29636 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
29637 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
29638 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
29639 with each other.
29640
29641 @node Config Names
29642 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
29643
29644 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
29645 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
29646 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
29647 of information in the following pattern:
29648
29649 @smallexample
29650 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
29651 @end smallexample
29652
29653 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
29654 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
29655 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
29656
29657 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
29658 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
29659 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
29660 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
29661 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
29662 abbreviations---for example:
29663
29664 @smallexample
29665 % sh config.sub i386-linux
29666 i386-pc-linux-gnu
29667 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
29668 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
29669 % sh config.sub hp9k700
29670 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
29671 % sh config.sub sun4
29672 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
29673 % sh config.sub sun3
29674 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
29675 % sh config.sub i986v
29676 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
29677 @end smallexample
29678
29679 @noindent
29680 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
29681 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
29682
29683 @node Configure Options
29684 @section @file{configure} Options
29685
29686 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
29687 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
29688 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
29689 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
29690
29691 @smallexample
29692 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
29693 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
29694 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
29695 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
29696 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
29697 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
29698 @var{host}
29699 @end smallexample
29700
29701 @noindent
29702 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
29703 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
29704 @samp{--}.
29705
29706 @table @code
29707 @item --help
29708 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
29709
29710 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
29711 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
29712 @file{@var{dir}}.
29713
29714 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
29715 Configure the source to install programs under directory
29716 @file{@var{dir}}.
29717
29718 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
29719 @need 2000
29720 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
29721 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
29722 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
29723 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
29724 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
29725 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
29726 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
29727 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
29728 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
29729 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
29730 @var{dirname}.
29731
29732 @item --norecursion
29733 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
29734 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
29735
29736 @item --target=@var{target}
29737 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
29738 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
29739 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
29740
29741 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
29742
29743 @item @var{host} @dots{}
29744 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
29745
29746 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
29747 @end table
29748
29749 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
29750 needed for special purposes only.
29751
29752 @node System-wide configuration
29753 @section System-wide configuration and settings
29754 @cindex system-wide init file
29755
29756 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
29757 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
29758 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
29759
29760 Here is the corresponding configure option:
29761
29762 @table @code
29763 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
29764 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
29765 @var{file}.
29766 @end table
29767
29768 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
29769 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
29770
29771 @itemize @bullet
29772 @item
29773 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
29774 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
29775 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
29776 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
29777 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
29778 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
29779
29780 @item
29781 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
29782 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
29783 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
29784 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
29785 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
29786 @end itemize
29787
29788 @node Maintenance Commands
29789 @appendix Maintenance Commands
29790 @cindex maintenance commands
29791 @cindex internal commands
29792
29793 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
29794 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
29795 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
29796 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
29797 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
29798
29799 @table @code
29800 @kindex maint agent
29801 @kindex maint agent-eval
29802 @item maint agent @var{expression}
29803 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
29804 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
29805 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
29806 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
29807 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
29808 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
29809 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
29810 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
29811 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
29812 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
29813 addition and return the sum.
29814
29815 @kindex maint info breakpoints
29816 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
29817 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
29818 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
29819 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
29820 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
29821 is shown:
29822
29823 @table @code
29824 @item breakpoint
29825 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
29826
29827 @item watchpoint
29828 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
29829
29830 @item longjmp
29831 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
29832 @code{longjmp} calls.
29833
29834 @item longjmp resume
29835 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
29836
29837 @item until
29838 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
29839
29840 @item finish
29841 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
29842
29843 @item shlib events
29844 Shared library events.
29845
29846 @end table
29847
29848 @kindex set displaced-stepping
29849 @kindex show displaced-stepping
29850 @cindex displaced stepping support
29851 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
29852 @item set displaced-stepping
29853 @itemx show displaced-stepping
29854 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
29855 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
29856 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
29857 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
29858 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
29859
29860 @table @code
29861 @item set displaced-stepping on
29862 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
29863 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
29864
29865 @item set displaced-stepping off
29866 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
29867 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
29868
29869 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
29870 @item set displaced-stepping auto
29871 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
29872 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
29873 architecture supports displaced stepping.
29874 @end table
29875
29876 @kindex maint check-symtabs
29877 @item maint check-symtabs
29878 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
29879
29880 @kindex maint cplus first_component
29881 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
29882 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
29883
29884 @kindex maint cplus namespace
29885 @item maint cplus namespace
29886 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
29887
29888 @kindex maint demangle
29889 @item maint demangle @var{name}
29890 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
29891
29892 @kindex maint deprecate
29893 @kindex maint undeprecate
29894 @cindex deprecated commands
29895 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
29896 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
29897 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
29898 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
29899 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
29900 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
29901 the replacement as part of the warning.
29902
29903 @kindex maint dump-me
29904 @item maint dump-me
29905 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
29906 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
29907 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
29908 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
29909
29910 @kindex maint internal-error
29911 @kindex maint internal-warning
29912 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
29913 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
29914 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
29915 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
29916 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
29917 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
29918 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
29919 @value{GDBN} session.
29920
29921 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
29922 used as the text of the error or warning message.
29923
29924 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
29925
29926 @smallexample
29927 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
29928 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
29929 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
29930 debugging may prove unreliable.
29931 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
29932 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
29933 (@value{GDBP})
29934 @end smallexample
29935
29936 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
29937 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
29938
29939 @kindex maint set internal-error
29940 @kindex maint show internal-error
29941 @kindex maint set internal-warning
29942 @kindex maint show internal-warning
29943 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
29944 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
29945 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
29946 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
29947 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
29948 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
29949 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
29950 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
29951 described in the table below.
29952
29953 @table @samp
29954 @item quit
29955 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
29956 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
29957
29958 @item corefile
29959 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
29960 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
29961 @end table
29962
29963 @kindex maint packet
29964 @item maint packet @var{text}
29965 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
29966 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
29967 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
29968 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
29969 checksum.
29970
29971 @kindex maint print architecture
29972 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
29973 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
29974 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
29975
29976 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
29977 @item maint print c-tdesc
29978 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
29979 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
29980 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
29981
29982 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
29983 @item maint print dummy-frames
29984 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
29985
29986 @smallexample
29987 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
29988 @dots{}
29989 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
29990 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
29991 58 return (a + b);
29992 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
29993 @dots{}
29994 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
29995 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
29996 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
29997 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
29998 (@value{GDBP})
29999 @end smallexample
30000
30001 Takes an optional file parameter.
30002
30003 @kindex maint print registers
30004 @kindex maint print raw-registers
30005 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
30006 @kindex maint print register-groups
30007 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30008 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30009 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30010 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30011 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
30012
30013 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
30014 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
30015 includes the (cooked) value of all registers, including registers which
30016 aren't available on the target nor visible to user; and the
30017 command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
30018 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
30019 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
30020
30021 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
30022 write the information.
30023
30024 @kindex maint print reggroups
30025 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30026 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
30027 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
30028 information.
30029
30030 The register groups info looks like this:
30031
30032 @smallexample
30033 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
30034 Group Type
30035 general user
30036 float user
30037 all user
30038 vector user
30039 system user
30040 save internal
30041 restore internal
30042 @end smallexample
30043
30044 @kindex flushregs
30045 @item flushregs
30046 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
30047
30048 @kindex maint print objfiles
30049 @cindex info for known object files
30050 @item maint print objfiles
30051 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
30052 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
30053 and symtabs.
30054
30055 @kindex maint print section-scripts
30056 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
30057 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
30058 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
30059 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
30060 matching @var{regexp}.
30061 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
30062 and the full path if known.
30063 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
30064
30065 @kindex maint print statistics
30066 @cindex bcache statistics
30067 @item maint print statistics
30068 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
30069 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
30070 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
30071 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
30072 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
30073 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
30074 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
30075 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
30076 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
30077 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
30078 lengths.
30079
30080 @kindex maint print target-stack
30081 @cindex target stack description
30082 @item maint print target-stack
30083 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
30084 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
30085 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
30086 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
30087 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
30088 address.
30089
30090 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
30091 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
30092
30093 @kindex maint print type
30094 @cindex type chain of a data type
30095 @item maint print type @var{expr}
30096 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
30097 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
30098 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
30099 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
30100 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
30101
30102 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
30103 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
30104 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
30105 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
30106 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
30107 information.
30108
30109 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
30110 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
30111 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
30112 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
30113 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
30114 always see the disassembly form.
30115
30116 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
30117
30118 @smallexample
30119 (gdb) info addr argc
30120 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
30121 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
30122 @end smallexample
30123
30124 For more information on these expressions, see
30125 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
30126
30127 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
30128 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
30129 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
30130 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
30131 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
30132
30133 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
30134 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
30135 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
30136 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
30137 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
30138 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
30139 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
30140 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
30141 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
30142
30143 @kindex maint set profile
30144 @kindex maint show profile
30145 @cindex profiling GDB
30146 @item maint set profile
30147 @itemx maint show profile
30148 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
30149
30150 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
30151 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
30152 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
30153 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
30154 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
30155 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
30156 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
30157
30158 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
30159 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
30160
30161 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
30162 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
30163 @cindex hardware debug registers
30164 @item maint set show-debug-regs
30165 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
30166 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
30167 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
30168 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
30169 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
30170 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
30171
30172 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
30173 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
30174 @item maint set show-all-tib
30175 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
30176 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
30177 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
30178 command.
30179
30180 @kindex maint space
30181 @cindex memory used by commands
30182 @item maint space
30183 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
30184 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
30185 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
30186 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
30187 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
30188
30189 @kindex maint time
30190 @cindex time of command execution
30191 @item maint time
30192 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
30193 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
30194 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
30195 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
30196 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
30197 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
30198 it's not possibly currently
30199 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
30200 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
30201
30202 @kindex maint translate-address
30203 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
30204 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
30205 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
30206 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
30207 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
30208 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
30209 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
30210
30211 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
30212 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
30213 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
30214
30215 @end table
30216
30217 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
30218 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
30219
30220 @table @code
30221 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
30222 @kindex set watchdog
30223 @cindex watchdog timer
30224 @cindex timeout for commands
30225 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
30226 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
30227 reports and error and the command is aborted.
30228
30229 @item show watchdog
30230 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
30231 @end table
30232
30233 @node Remote Protocol
30234 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
30235
30236 @menu
30237 * Overview::
30238 * Packets::
30239 * Stop Reply Packets::
30240 * General Query Packets::
30241 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
30242 * Tracepoint Packets::
30243 * Host I/O Packets::
30244 * Interrupts::
30245 * Notification Packets::
30246 * Remote Non-Stop::
30247 * Packet Acknowledgment::
30248 * Examples::
30249 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
30250 * Library List Format::
30251 * Memory Map Format::
30252 * Thread List Format::
30253 @end menu
30254
30255 @node Overview
30256 @section Overview
30257
30258 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
30259 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
30260 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
30261 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
30262
30263 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
30264 transmitted and received data, respectively.
30265
30266 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
30267 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
30268 @cindex remote serial protocol
30269 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
30270 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
30271 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
30272 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
30273 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
30274
30275 @smallexample
30276 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30277 @end smallexample
30278 @noindent
30279
30280 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
30281 @noindent
30282 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
30283 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
30284 eight bit unsigned checksum).
30285
30286 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
30287 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
30288
30289 @smallexample
30290 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30291 @end smallexample
30292
30293 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
30294 @noindent
30295 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
30296 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
30297 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
30298
30299 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
30300 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
30301 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
30302 retransmission):
30303
30304 @smallexample
30305 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30306 <- @code{+}
30307 @end smallexample
30308 @noindent
30309
30310 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
30311 once a connection is established.
30312 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
30313
30314 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
30315 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
30316 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
30317 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
30318 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
30319 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
30320 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
30321
30322 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
30323 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
30324 exceptions).
30325
30326 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
30327 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
30328 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
30329 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
30330
30331 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
30332 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
30333 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
30334
30335 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
30336 @anchor{Binary Data}
30337 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
30338 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
30339 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
30340 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
30341 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
30342 binary data.
30343
30344 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
30345 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
30346 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
30347 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
30348 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
30349 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
30350 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
30351 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
30352 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
30353 (described next).
30354
30355 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
30356 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
30357 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
30358 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
30359 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
30360 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
30361 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
30362 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
30363 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
30364 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
30365 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
30366 3}} more times.
30367
30368 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
30369 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
30370 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
30371 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
30372 @samp{0*"00}.
30373
30374 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
30375 error number. That number is not well defined.
30376
30377 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
30378 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
30379 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
30380 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
30381 on that response.
30382
30383 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
30384 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
30385 optional.
30386
30387 @node Packets
30388 @section Packets
30389
30390 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
30391 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
30392 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
30393 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
30394
30395 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
30396 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
30397 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
30398 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
30399 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
30400 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
30401 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
30402 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
30403 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
30404 @var{baz}.
30405
30406 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
30407 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
30408 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
30409 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
30410 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
30411 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
30412 pick any thread.
30413
30414 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
30415 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
30416 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
30417 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
30418 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
30419 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
30420 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
30421 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
30422 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
30423 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
30424 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
30425 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
30426 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
30427
30428 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
30429 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
30430 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
30431 more information.
30432
30433 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
30434 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
30435
30436 Here are the packet descriptions.
30437
30438 @table @samp
30439
30440 @item !
30441 @cindex @samp{!} packet
30442 @anchor{extended mode}
30443 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
30444 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
30445 debugged.
30446
30447 Reply:
30448 @table @samp
30449 @item OK
30450 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
30451 @end table
30452
30453 @item ?
30454 @cindex @samp{?} packet
30455 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
30456 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
30457 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
30458
30459 Reply:
30460 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30461
30462 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
30463 @cindex @samp{A} packet
30464 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
30465 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
30466 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
30467
30468 Reply:
30469 @table @samp
30470 @item OK
30471 The arguments were set.
30472 @item E @var{NN}
30473 An error occurred.
30474 @end table
30475
30476 @item b @var{baud}
30477 @cindex @samp{b} packet
30478 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
30479 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
30480
30481 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
30482 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
30483 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
30484
30485 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
30486 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
30487 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
30488 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
30489 of view, nothing actually happened.}
30490
30491 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
30492 @cindex @samp{B} packet
30493 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
30494 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
30495
30496 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
30497 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
30498
30499 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
30500 @anchor{bc}
30501 @item bc
30502 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
30503 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
30504
30505 Reply:
30506 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30507
30508 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
30509 @anchor{bs}
30510 @item bs
30511 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
30512 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
30513
30514 Reply:
30515 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30516
30517 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
30518 @cindex @samp{c} packet
30519 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
30520 resume at current address.
30521
30522 Reply:
30523 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30524
30525 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
30526 @cindex @samp{C} packet
30527 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
30528 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
30529
30530 Reply:
30531 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30532
30533 @item d
30534 @cindex @samp{d} packet
30535 Toggle debug flag.
30536
30537 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
30538 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
30539
30540 @item D
30541 @itemx D;@var{pid}
30542 @cindex @samp{D} packet
30543 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
30544 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
30545 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
30546
30547 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
30548 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
30549 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
30550 big-endian hex string.
30551
30552 Reply:
30553 @table @samp
30554 @item OK
30555 for success
30556 @item E @var{NN}
30557 for an error
30558 @end table
30559
30560 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
30561 @cindex @samp{F} packet
30562 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
30563 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
30564 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
30565
30566 @item g
30567 @anchor{read registers packet}
30568 @cindex @samp{g} packet
30569 Read general registers.
30570
30571 Reply:
30572 @table @samp
30573 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30574 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
30575 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
30576 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
30577 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
30578 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
30579 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
30580 @item E @var{NN}
30581 for an error.
30582 @end table
30583
30584 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
30585 @cindex @samp{G} packet
30586 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
30587 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
30588
30589 Reply:
30590 @table @samp
30591 @item OK
30592 for success
30593 @item E @var{NN}
30594 for an error
30595 @end table
30596
30597 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
30598 @cindex @samp{H} packet
30599 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
30600 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
30601 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
30602 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
30603 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
30604
30605 Reply:
30606 @table @samp
30607 @item OK
30608 for success
30609 @item E @var{NN}
30610 for an error
30611 @end table
30612
30613 @c FIXME: JTC:
30614 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
30615 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
30616 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
30617 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
30618 @c described. For example:
30619 @c
30620 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
30621 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
30622 @c otherwise returns current registers.
30623 @c
30624 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
30625 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
30626 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
30627
30628 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
30629 @anchor{cycle step packet}
30630 @cindex @samp{i} packet
30631 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
30632 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
30633 step starting at that address.
30634
30635 @item I
30636 @cindex @samp{I} packet
30637 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
30638 step packet}.
30639
30640 @item k
30641 @cindex @samp{k} packet
30642 Kill request.
30643
30644 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
30645 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
30646 thread?)}.
30647
30648 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
30649 @cindex @samp{m} packet
30650 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
30651 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
30652
30653 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
30654 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
30655 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
30656 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
30657 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
30658 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
30659 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
30660 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
30661
30662 Reply:
30663 @table @samp
30664 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30665 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
30666 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
30667 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
30668 @item E @var{NN}
30669 @var{NN} is errno
30670 @end table
30671
30672 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30673 @cindex @samp{M} packet
30674 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
30675 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
30676 hexadecimal number.
30677
30678 Reply:
30679 @table @samp
30680 @item OK
30681 for success
30682 @item E @var{NN}
30683 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
30684 written).
30685 @end table
30686
30687 @item p @var{n}
30688 @cindex @samp{p} packet
30689 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
30690 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
30691 register value is encoded.
30692
30693 Reply:
30694 @table @samp
30695 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30696 the register's value
30697 @item E @var{NN}
30698 for an error
30699 @item
30700 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
30701 @end table
30702
30703 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
30704 @anchor{write register packet}
30705 @cindex @samp{P} packet
30706 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
30707 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
30708 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
30709
30710 Reply:
30711 @table @samp
30712 @item OK
30713 for success
30714 @item E @var{NN}
30715 for an error
30716 @end table
30717
30718 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
30719 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
30720 @cindex @samp{q} packet
30721 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
30722 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
30723 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
30724
30725 @item r
30726 @cindex @samp{r} packet
30727 Reset the entire system.
30728
30729 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
30730
30731 @item R @var{XX}
30732 @cindex @samp{R} packet
30733 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
30734 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30735
30736 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
30737
30738 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
30739 @cindex @samp{s} packet
30740 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
30741 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
30742
30743 Reply:
30744 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30745
30746 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
30747 @anchor{step with signal packet}
30748 @cindex @samp{S} packet
30749 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
30750 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
30751
30752 Reply:
30753 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30754
30755 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
30756 @cindex @samp{t} packet
30757 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
30758 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
30759 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
30760
30761 @item T @var{thread-id}
30762 @cindex @samp{T} packet
30763 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
30764
30765 Reply:
30766 @table @samp
30767 @item OK
30768 thread is still alive
30769 @item E @var{NN}
30770 thread is dead
30771 @end table
30772
30773 @item v
30774 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
30775 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
30776
30777 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
30778 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
30779 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
30780 The process ID is a
30781 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
30782 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
30783 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
30784
30785 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
30786 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
30787 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
30788 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
30789 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
30790 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
30791 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
30792 @c stopping or restarting threads.
30793
30794 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30795
30796 Reply:
30797 @table @samp
30798 @item E @var{nn}
30799 for an error
30800 @item @r{Any stop packet}
30801 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30802 @item OK
30803 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
30804 @end table
30805
30806 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
30807 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
30808 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
30809 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
30810 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
30811 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
30812 in their current state in non-stop mode.
30813 Specifying multiple
30814 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
30815 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
30816
30817 Currently supported actions are:
30818
30819 @table @samp
30820 @item c
30821 Continue.
30822 @item C @var{sig}
30823 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
30824 @item s
30825 Step.
30826 @item S @var{sig}
30827 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
30828 @item t
30829 Stop.
30830 @end table
30831
30832 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
30833 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
30834 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
30835
30836 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
30837 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
30838 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
30839 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
30840 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
30841 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
30842 as an implementation detail.
30843
30844 Reply:
30845 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30846
30847 @item vCont?
30848 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
30849 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
30850
30851 Reply:
30852 @table @samp
30853 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
30854 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
30855 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
30856 @item
30857 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
30858 @end table
30859
30860 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
30861 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
30862 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
30863 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
30864
30865 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
30866 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
30867 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
30868 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
30869 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
30870 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
30871 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
30872 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
30873 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
30874 packet is received.
30875
30876 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
30877 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
30878 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
30879 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
30880 @var{thread-id}.
30881
30882 Reply:
30883 @table @samp
30884 @item OK
30885 for success
30886 @item E @var{NN}
30887 for an error
30888 @end table
30889
30890 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30891 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
30892 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
30893 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
30894 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
30895 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
30896 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
30897 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
30898 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
30899 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
30900 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
30901 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
30902
30903
30904 Reply:
30905 @table @samp
30906 @item OK
30907 for success
30908 @item E.memtype
30909 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
30910 @item E @var{NN}
30911 for an error
30912 @end table
30913
30914 @item vFlashDone
30915 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
30916 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
30917 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
30918 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
30919 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
30920 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
30921 request is completed.
30922
30923 @item vKill;@var{pid}
30924 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
30925 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
30926 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
30927 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
30928 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
30929
30930 Reply:
30931 @table @samp
30932 @item E @var{nn}
30933 for an error
30934 @item OK
30935 for success
30936 @end table
30937
30938 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
30939 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
30940 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
30941 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
30942 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
30943 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
30944 state.
30945
30946 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
30947
30948 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30949
30950 Reply:
30951 @table @samp
30952 @item E @var{nn}
30953 for an error
30954 @item @r{Any stop packet}
30955 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30956 @end table
30957
30958 @item vStopped
30959 @anchor{vStopped packet}
30960 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
30961
30962 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
30963 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
30964
30965 Reply:
30966 @table @samp
30967 @item @r{Any stop packet}
30968 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30969 @item OK
30970 if there are no unreported stop events
30971 @end table
30972
30973 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30974 @anchor{X packet}
30975 @cindex @samp{X} packet
30976 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
30977 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
30978 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
30979
30980 Reply:
30981 @table @samp
30982 @item OK
30983 for success
30984 @item E @var{NN}
30985 for an error
30986 @end table
30987
30988 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
30989 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
30990 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
30991 @cindex @samp{z} packet
30992 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
30993 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
30994 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
30995
30996 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
30997 separately.
30998
30999 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
31000 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
31001 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
31002 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
31003 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
31004 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
31005
31006 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31007 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31008 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
31009 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
31010 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
31011 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
31012
31013 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
31014 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
31015 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
31016 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
31017 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
31018 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
31019 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
31020
31021 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
31022 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
31023 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
31024 target, is not defined.}
31025
31026 Reply:
31027 @table @samp
31028 @item OK
31029 success
31030 @item
31031 not supported
31032 @item E @var{NN}
31033 for an error
31034 @end table
31035
31036 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31037 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31038 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
31039 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
31040 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
31041 address @var{addr}.
31042
31043 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
31044 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
31045 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
31046
31047 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
31048 movement.}
31049
31050 Reply:
31051 @table @samp
31052 @item OK
31053 success
31054 @item
31055 not supported
31056 @item E @var{NN}
31057 for an error
31058 @end table
31059
31060 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31061 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31062 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
31063 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
31064 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31065 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31066
31067 Reply:
31068 @table @samp
31069 @item OK
31070 success
31071 @item
31072 not supported
31073 @item E @var{NN}
31074 for an error
31075 @end table
31076
31077 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31078 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31079 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
31080 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
31081 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31082 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31083
31084 Reply:
31085 @table @samp
31086 @item OK
31087 success
31088 @item
31089 not supported
31090 @item E @var{NN}
31091 for an error
31092 @end table
31093
31094 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31095 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31096 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
31097 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
31098 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31099 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31100
31101 Reply:
31102 @table @samp
31103 @item OK
31104 success
31105 @item
31106 not supported
31107 @item E @var{NN}
31108 for an error
31109 @end table
31110
31111 @end table
31112
31113 @node Stop Reply Packets
31114 @section Stop Reply Packets
31115 @cindex stop reply packets
31116
31117 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
31118 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
31119 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
31120 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
31121 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
31122 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
31123 @value{GDBN} source code.
31124
31125 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
31126 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
31127 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
31128 components.
31129
31130 @table @samp
31131
31132 @item S @var{AA}
31133 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
31134 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
31135 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
31136
31137 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
31138 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
31139 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
31140 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
31141 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
31142 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
31143 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
31144 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
31145
31146 @itemize @bullet
31147 @item
31148 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
31149 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
31150 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
31151 two-digit hex number.
31152
31153 @item
31154 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
31155 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31156
31157 @item
31158 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
31159 the core on which the stop event was detected.
31160
31161 @item
31162 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
31163 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
31164 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
31165 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
31166
31167 @item
31168 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
31169 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
31170 future.
31171 @end itemize
31172
31173 The currently defined stop reasons are:
31174
31175 @table @samp
31176 @item watch
31177 @itemx rwatch
31178 @itemx awatch
31179 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
31180 hex.
31181
31182 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
31183 @item library
31184 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
31185 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
31186 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
31187
31188 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
31189 @item replaylog
31190 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
31191 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
31192 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
31193 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
31194 for more information.
31195 @end table
31196
31197 @item W @var{AA}
31198 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
31199 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
31200 applicable to certain targets.
31201
31202 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
31203 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
31204 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
31205 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
31206
31207 @item X @var{AA}
31208 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
31209 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
31210
31211 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
31212 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
31213 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
31214 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
31215
31216 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
31217 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
31218 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
31219 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
31220 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
31221
31222 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
31223 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
31224 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
31225 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
31226 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
31227 system calls.
31228
31229 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
31230 this very system call.
31231
31232 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
31233 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
31234 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
31235 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
31236 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
31237 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
31238
31239 @end table
31240
31241 @node General Query Packets
31242 @section General Query Packets
31243 @cindex remote query requests
31244
31245 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
31246 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
31247 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
31248 sending information to and from the stub.
31249
31250 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
31251 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
31252 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
31253 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
31254 conventions:
31255
31256 @itemize @bullet
31257 @item
31258 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
31259 @item
31260 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
31261 letter.
31262 @item
31263 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
31264 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
31265 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
31266 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
31267 @end itemize
31268
31269 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
31270 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
31271 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
31272 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
31273 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
31274 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
31275 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
31276 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
31277 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
31278 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
31279 packet.}.
31280
31281 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
31282 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
31283 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
31284 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
31285 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
31286
31287 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
31288
31289 @table @samp
31290
31291 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
31292 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
31293 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
31294 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
31295 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
31296 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
31297 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
31298 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
31299 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
31300 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
31301 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
31302
31303 @item qC
31304 @cindex current thread, remote request
31305 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
31306 Return the current thread ID.
31307
31308 Reply:
31309 @table @samp
31310 @item QC @var{thread-id}
31311 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
31312 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31313 @item @r{(anything else)}
31314 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
31315 @end table
31316
31317 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
31318 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
31319 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
31320 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
31321 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
31322 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
31323 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
31324
31325 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
31326 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
31327 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
31328 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
31329 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
31330 detect trailing zeros.
31331
31332 Reply:
31333 @table @samp
31334 @item E @var{NN}
31335 An error (such as memory fault)
31336 @item C @var{crc32}
31337 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
31338 @end table
31339
31340 @item qfThreadInfo
31341 @itemx qsThreadInfo
31342 @cindex list active threads, remote request
31343 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
31344 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
31345 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
31346 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
31347 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
31348 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
31349 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
31350 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
31351
31352 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
31353
31354 Reply:
31355 @table @samp
31356 @item m @var{thread-id}
31357 A single thread ID
31358 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
31359 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
31360 @item l
31361 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
31362 @end table
31363
31364 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
31365 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
31366 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
31367 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
31368 with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
31369 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
31370 fields.
31371
31372 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
31373 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
31374 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
31375 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
31376 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
31377
31378 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
31379 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
31380
31381 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
31382 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
31383 information associated with the variable.)
31384
31385 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
31386 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
31387 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
31388 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
31389 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
31390 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
31391
31392 Reply:
31393 @table @samp
31394 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
31395 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
31396 local storage requested.
31397
31398 @item E @var{nn}
31399 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31400
31401 @item
31402 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
31403 @end table
31404
31405 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
31406 @cindex get thread information block address
31407 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
31408 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
31409
31410 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
31411
31412 Reply:
31413 @table @samp
31414 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
31415 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
31416 thread information block.
31417
31418 @item E @var{nn}
31419 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
31420 address could not be retrieved.
31421
31422 @item
31423 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
31424 @end table
31425
31426 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
31427 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
31428 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
31429 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
31430 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
31431 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
31432 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
31433
31434 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
31435
31436 Reply:
31437 @table @samp
31438 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
31439 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
31440 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
31441 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
31442 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
31443 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
31444 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
31445 @end table
31446
31447 @item qOffsets
31448 @cindex section offsets, remote request
31449 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
31450 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
31451 image.
31452
31453 Reply:
31454 @table @samp
31455 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
31456 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
31457 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
31458 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
31459 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
31460 segments by the supplied offsets.
31461
31462 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
31463 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
31464 to the @code{Bss} section.}
31465
31466 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
31467 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
31468 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
31469 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
31470 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
31471 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
31472 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
31473 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
31474 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
31475 @end table
31476
31477 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
31478 @cindex thread information, remote request
31479 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
31480 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
31481 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
31482 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
31483
31484 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
31485 (see below).
31486
31487 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
31488
31489 @item QNonStop:1
31490 @item QNonStop:0
31491 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
31492 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
31493 @anchor{QNonStop}
31494 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
31495 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
31496
31497 Reply:
31498 @table @samp
31499 @item OK
31500 The request succeeded.
31501
31502 @item E @var{nn}
31503 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31504
31505 @item
31506 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
31507 the stub.
31508 @end table
31509
31510 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31511 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31512 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
31513 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
31514
31515 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
31516 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
31517 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
31518 @anchor{QPassSignals}
31519 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
31520 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
31521 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
31522 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
31523 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
31524 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
31525 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
31526 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
31527 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
31528
31529 Reply:
31530 @table @samp
31531 @item OK
31532 The request succeeded.
31533
31534 @item E @var{nn}
31535 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31536
31537 @item
31538 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
31539 the stub.
31540 @end table
31541
31542 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
31543 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
31544 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31545 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31546
31547 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
31548 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
31549 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
31550 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
31551 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
31552 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
31553 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
31554 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
31555 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
31556
31557 Reply:
31558 @table @samp
31559 @item OK
31560 A command response with no output.
31561 @item @var{OUTPUT}
31562 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
31563 @item E @var{NN}
31564 Indicate a badly formed request.
31565 @item
31566 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
31567 @end table
31568
31569 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
31570 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
31571 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
31572 packets.)
31573
31574 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
31575 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
31576 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
31577 @anchor{qSearch memory}
31578 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
31579 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
31580 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
31581
31582 Reply:
31583 @table @samp
31584 @item 0
31585 The pattern was not found.
31586 @item 1,address
31587 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
31588 @item E @var{NN}
31589 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
31590 @item
31591 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
31592 @end table
31593
31594 @item QStartNoAckMode
31595 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
31596 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
31597 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
31598 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
31599
31600 Reply:
31601 @table @samp
31602 @item OK
31603 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
31604 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
31605 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
31606 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
31607 @item
31608 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
31609 @end table
31610
31611 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
31612 @cindex supported packets, remote query
31613 @cindex features of the remote protocol
31614 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
31615 @anchor{qSupported}
31616 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
31617 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
31618 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
31619 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
31620 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
31621 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
31622 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
31623 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
31624 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
31625 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
31626 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
31627 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
31628 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
31629 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
31630
31631 Reply:
31632 @table @samp
31633 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
31634 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
31635 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
31636 possible forms).
31637 @item
31638 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
31639 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
31640 @end table
31641
31642 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
31643 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
31644 are:
31645
31646 @table @samp
31647 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
31648 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
31649 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
31650 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
31651 @item @var{name}+
31652 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
31653 need an associated value.
31654 @item @var{name}-
31655 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
31656 @item @var{name}?
31657 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
31658 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
31659 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
31660 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
31661 @end table
31662
31663 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
31664 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
31665 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
31666 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
31667 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
31668
31669 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
31670 are defined:
31671
31672 @table @samp
31673 @item multiprocess
31674 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
31675 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
31676 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
31677 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
31678 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
31679
31680 @item xmlRegisters
31681 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
31682 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
31683 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
31684 description.
31685
31686 @item qRelocInsn
31687 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
31688 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
31689 instruction reply packet}).
31690 @end table
31691
31692 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
31693 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
31694 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
31695 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
31696 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
31697 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
31698 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
31699 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
31700 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
31701 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
31702 all the features it supports.
31703
31704 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
31705 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
31706
31707 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
31708 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
31709 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
31710 form response.
31711
31712 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
31713 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
31714 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
31715 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
31716
31717 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
31718 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
31719 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
31720 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
31721 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
31722
31723 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
31724
31725 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
31726 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
31727 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
31728 @item Feature Name
31729 @tab Value Required
31730 @tab Default
31731 @tab Probe Allowed
31732
31733 @item @samp{PacketSize}
31734 @tab Yes
31735 @tab @samp{-}
31736 @tab No
31737
31738 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
31739 @tab No
31740 @tab @samp{-}
31741 @tab Yes
31742
31743 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
31744 @tab No
31745 @tab @samp{-}
31746 @tab Yes
31747
31748 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
31749 @tab No
31750 @tab @samp{-}
31751 @tab Yes
31752
31753 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
31754 @tab No
31755 @tab @samp{-}
31756 @tab Yes
31757
31758 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
31759 @tab No
31760 @tab @samp{-}
31761 @tab Yes
31762
31763 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
31764 @tab No
31765 @tab @samp{-}
31766 @tab Yes
31767
31768 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
31769 @tab No
31770 @tab @samp{-}
31771 @tab Yes
31772
31773 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
31774 @tab No
31775 @tab @samp{-}
31776 @tab Yes
31777
31778 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
31779 @tab No
31780 @tab @samp{-}
31781 @tab Yes
31782
31783
31784 @item @samp{QNonStop}
31785 @tab No
31786 @tab @samp{-}
31787 @tab Yes
31788
31789 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
31790 @tab No
31791 @tab @samp{-}
31792 @tab Yes
31793
31794 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
31795 @tab No
31796 @tab @samp{-}
31797 @tab Yes
31798
31799 @item @samp{multiprocess}
31800 @tab No
31801 @tab @samp{-}
31802 @tab No
31803
31804 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
31805 @tab No
31806 @tab @samp{-}
31807 @tab No
31808
31809 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
31810 @tab No
31811 @tab @samp{-}
31812 @tab No
31813
31814 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
31815 @tab No
31816 @tab @samp{-}
31817 @tab No
31818
31819 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
31820 @tab No
31821 @tab @samp{-}
31822 @tab No
31823
31824 @item @samp{QAllow}
31825 @tab No
31826 @tab @samp{-}
31827 @tab No
31828
31829 @end multitable
31830
31831 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
31832
31833 @table @samp
31834 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
31835 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
31836 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
31837 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
31838 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
31839 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
31840 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
31841 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
31842 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
31843 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
31844
31845 @item qXfer:auxv:read
31846 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
31847 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
31848
31849 @item qXfer:features:read
31850 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
31851 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
31852
31853 @item qXfer:libraries:read
31854 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
31855 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
31856
31857 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
31858 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
31859 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
31860
31861 @item qXfer:spu:read
31862 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
31863 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
31864
31865 @item qXfer:spu:write
31866 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
31867 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
31868
31869 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
31870 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
31871 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
31872
31873 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
31874 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
31875 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
31876
31877 @item qXfer:threads:read
31878 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
31879 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
31880
31881 @item QNonStop
31882 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
31883 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
31884
31885 @item QPassSignals
31886 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
31887 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
31888
31889 @item QStartNoAckMode
31890 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
31891 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
31892
31893 @item multiprocess
31894 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
31895 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
31896 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
31897 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
31898 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
31899 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
31900 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
31901 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
31902 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
31903 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
31904 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
31905
31906 @item qXfer:osdata:read
31907 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
31908 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
31909
31910 @item ConditionalTracepoints
31911 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
31912 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
31913
31914 @item ReverseContinue
31915 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
31916 (@pxref{bc}).
31917
31918 @item ReverseStep
31919 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
31920 (@pxref{bs}).
31921
31922 @item TracepointSource
31923 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
31924 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
31925
31926 @item QAllow
31927 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
31928
31929 @end table
31930
31931 @item qSymbol::
31932 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
31933 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
31934 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
31935 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
31936
31937 Reply:
31938 @table @samp
31939 @item OK
31940 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
31941 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
31942 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
31943 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
31944 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
31945 below.
31946 @end table
31947
31948 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
31949 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
31950
31951 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
31952 target has previously requested.
31953
31954 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
31955 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
31956 will be empty.
31957
31958 Reply:
31959 @table @samp
31960 @item OK
31961 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
31962 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
31963 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
31964 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
31965 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
31966 @end table
31967
31968 @item qTBuffer
31969 @item QTBuffer
31970 @item QTDisconnected
31971 @itemx QTDP
31972 @itemx QTDPsrc
31973 @itemx QTDV
31974 @itemx qTfP
31975 @itemx qTfV
31976 @itemx QTFrame
31977 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
31978
31979 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
31980 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
31981 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
31982 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
31983 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
31984 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
31985 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
31986 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
31987 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
31988 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
31989 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
31990
31991 Reply:
31992 @table @samp
31993 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
31994 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
31995 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
31996 the thread's attributes.
31997 @end table
31998
31999 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
32000 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
32001 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
32002 packets.)
32003
32004 @item QTSave
32005 @item qTsP
32006 @item qTsV
32007 @itemx QTStart
32008 @itemx QTStop
32009 @itemx QTinit
32010 @itemx QTro
32011 @itemx qTStatus
32012 @itemx qTV
32013 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
32014
32015 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32016 @cindex read special object, remote request
32017 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
32018 @anchor{qXfer read}
32019 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
32020 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
32021 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
32022 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
32023 additional details about what data to access.
32024
32025 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
32026 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
32027 formats, listed below.
32028
32029 @table @samp
32030 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32031 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
32032 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
32033 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
32034
32035 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32036 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32037
32038 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32039 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
32040 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
32041 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
32042 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
32043
32044 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32045 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32046
32047 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32048 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
32049 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
32050 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32051 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32052
32053 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
32054 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
32055 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
32056
32057 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32058 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32059
32060 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32061 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
32062 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
32063 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32064 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32065
32066 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32067 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32068
32069 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32070 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
32071 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
32072 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
32073 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32074
32075 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32076 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32077 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32078
32079 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32080 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
32081 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
32082 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
32083 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
32084 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
32085 in that context to be accessed.
32086
32087 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32088 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32089 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32090
32091 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32092 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
32093 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
32094 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32095 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32096
32097 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32098 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32099
32100 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32101 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
32102 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
32103 @xref{Operating System Information}.
32104
32105 @end table
32106
32107 Reply:
32108 @table @samp
32109 @item m @var{data}
32110 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
32111 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
32112 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
32113 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
32114 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
32115 request.
32116
32117 @item l @var{data}
32118 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
32119 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
32120 than the @var{length} in the request.
32121
32122 @item l
32123 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
32124 There is no more data to be read.
32125
32126 @item E00
32127 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
32128
32129 @item E @var{nn}
32130 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
32131 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
32132
32133 @item
32134 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
32135 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
32136 @end table
32137
32138 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32139 @cindex write data into object, remote request
32140 @anchor{qXfer write}
32141 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
32142 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
32143 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
32144 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
32145 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
32146 to access.
32147
32148 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
32149 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
32150 formats, listed below.
32151
32152 @table @samp
32153 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32154 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
32155 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
32156 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
32157 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
32158
32159 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32160 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32161 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32162
32163 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32164 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
32165 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
32166 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
32167 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
32168 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
32169 in that context to be accessed.
32170
32171 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32172 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32173 @end table
32174
32175 Reply:
32176 @table @samp
32177 @item @var{nn}
32178 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
32179 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
32180
32181 @item E00
32182 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
32183
32184 @item E @var{nn}
32185 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
32186 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
32187
32188 @item
32189 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
32190 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
32191 @end table
32192
32193 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
32194 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
32195 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
32196 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
32197 must respond with an empty packet.
32198
32199 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
32200 @cindex query attached, remote request
32201 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
32202 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
32203 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
32204 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
32205 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
32206 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
32207 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
32208
32209 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
32210 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
32211 the @code{quit} command.
32212
32213 Reply:
32214 @table @samp
32215 @item 1
32216 The remote server attached to an existing process.
32217 @item 0
32218 The remote server created a new process.
32219 @item E @var{NN}
32220 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
32221 @end table
32222
32223 @end table
32224
32225 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
32226 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
32227
32228 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
32229 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
32230 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
32231
32232 @subsection ARM
32233
32234 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
32235
32236 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
32237
32238 @table @r
32239
32240 @item 2
32241 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
32242
32243 @item 3
32244 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
32245
32246 @item 4
32247 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
32248
32249 @end table
32250
32251 @subsection MIPS
32252
32253 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
32254
32255 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
32256 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
32257 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
32258 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
32259 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
32260 most-significant - least-significant.
32261
32262 @table @r
32263
32264 @item MIPS32
32265
32266 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
32267 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
32268 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
32269
32270 @item MIPS64
32271
32272 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
32273 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
32274 as @code{MIPS32}.
32275
32276 @end table
32277
32278 @node Tracepoint Packets
32279 @section Tracepoint Packets
32280 @cindex tracepoint packets
32281 @cindex packets, tracepoint
32282
32283 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
32284 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
32285
32286 @table @samp
32287
32288 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
32289 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
32290 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
32291 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
32292 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
32293 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
32294 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
32295 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
32296 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
32297 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
32298 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
32299 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
32300 actions.
32301
32302 Replies:
32303 @table @samp
32304 @item OK
32305 The packet was understood and carried out.
32306 @item qRelocInsn
32307 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
32308 @item
32309 The packet was not recognized.
32310 @end table
32311
32312 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
32313 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
32314 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
32315 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
32316 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
32317 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
32318 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
32319
32320 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
32321 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
32322 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
32323 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
32324 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
32325 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
32326 tracepoint actions.
32327
32328 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
32329 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
32330 following forms:
32331
32332 @table @samp
32333
32334 @item R @var{mask}
32335 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
32336 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
32337 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
32338 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
32339 not fit in a 32-bit word.
32340
32341 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
32342 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
32343 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
32344 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
32345 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
32346 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
32347 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
32348
32349 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
32350 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
32351 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
32352 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
32353 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
32354 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
32355 packet).
32356
32357 @end table
32358
32359 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
32360 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
32361 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
32362 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
32363 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
32364 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
32365 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
32366 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
32367
32368 Replies:
32369 @table @samp
32370 @item OK
32371 The packet was understood and carried out.
32372 @item qRelocInsn
32373 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
32374 @item
32375 The packet was not recognized.
32376 @end table
32377
32378 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
32379 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
32380 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
32381 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
32382 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
32383 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
32384 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
32385 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
32386
32387 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
32388 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
32389 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
32390 fit in a single packet.
32391 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
32392 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
32393
32394 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
32395 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
32396 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
32397 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
32398
32399 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
32400 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
32401 query packets.
32402
32403 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
32404 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
32405 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
32406 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
32407 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
32408 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
32409 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
32410 be found.
32411
32412 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
32413 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
32414 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
32415 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
32416 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
32417 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
32418 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
32419 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
32420 mentioned in expressions.
32421
32422 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
32423 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
32424 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
32425 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
32426
32427 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
32428 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
32429 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
32430 one of the following forms:
32431
32432 @table @samp
32433 @item F @var{f}
32434 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
32435 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
32436 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
32437
32438 @item T @var{t}
32439 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
32440 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
32441
32442 @end table
32443
32444 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
32445 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32446 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
32447 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
32448
32449 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
32450 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32451 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
32452 is a hexadecimal number.
32453
32454 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
32455 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32456 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
32457 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
32458 numbers.
32459
32460 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
32461 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
32462 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
32463
32464 @item QTStart
32465 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
32466 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
32467 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
32468 instruction reply packet}).
32469
32470 @item QTStop
32471 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
32472
32473 @item QTinit
32474 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
32475
32476 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
32477 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
32478 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
32479 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
32480
32481 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
32482 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
32483 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
32484 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
32485
32486 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
32487 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
32488 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
32489 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
32490 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
32491
32492 @item qTStatus
32493 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
32494
32495 The reply has the form:
32496
32497 @table @samp
32498
32499 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
32500 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
32501 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
32502 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
32503
32504 @end table
32505
32506 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
32507 explanations as one of the optional fields:
32508
32509 @table @samp
32510
32511 @item tnotrun:0
32512 No trace has been run yet.
32513
32514 @item tstop:0
32515 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
32516
32517 @item tfull:0
32518 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
32519
32520 @item tdisconnected:0
32521 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
32522
32523 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
32524 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
32525
32526 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
32527 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
32528 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
32529 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
32530 @var{text} is hex encoded.
32531
32532 @item tunknown:0
32533 The trace stopped for some other reason.
32534
32535 @end table
32536
32537 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
32538 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
32539 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
32540 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
32541 trace.
32542
32543 @table @samp
32544
32545 @item tframes:@var{n}
32546 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
32547
32548 @item tcreated:@var{n}
32549 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
32550 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
32551
32552 @item tsize:@var{n}
32553 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
32554
32555 @item tfree:@var{n}
32556 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
32557
32558 @item circular:@var{n}
32559 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
32560 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
32561 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
32562 and may fill up.
32563
32564 @item disconn:@var{n}
32565 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
32566 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
32567 that the trace run will stop.
32568
32569 @end table
32570
32571 @item qTV:@var{var}
32572 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
32573 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
32574 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
32575
32576 Replies:
32577 @table @samp
32578 @item V@var{value}
32579 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
32580 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
32581 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
32582 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
32583 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
32584 program is running.
32585
32586 @item U
32587 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
32588 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
32589 was not collected.
32590 @end table
32591
32592 @item qTfP
32593 @itemx qTsP
32594 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
32595 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
32596 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
32597 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
32598 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
32599
32600 @item qTfV
32601 @itemx qTsV
32602 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
32603 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
32604 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
32605 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
32606 trace state variables.
32607
32608 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
32609 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
32610 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
32611 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
32612 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
32613
32614 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
32615 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
32616 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
32617 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
32618 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
32619 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
32620 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
32621 available.
32622
32623 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
32624 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
32625 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
32626
32627 @end table
32628
32629 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
32630 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
32631 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
32632 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
32633 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
32634 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
32635 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
32636 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
32637 it had executed in the original location.
32638
32639 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
32640 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
32641 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
32642 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
32643 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
32644 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
32645 format of the request is:
32646
32647 @table @samp
32648 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
32649
32650 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
32651 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
32652 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
32653 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
32654 memory starting at @var{to}.
32655 @end table
32656
32657 Replies:
32658 @table @samp
32659 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
32660 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
32661 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
32662 @item E @var{NN}
32663 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
32664 relocating the instruction.
32665 @end table
32666
32667 @node Host I/O Packets
32668 @section Host I/O Packets
32669 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
32670 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
32671
32672 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
32673 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
32674 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
32675 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
32676 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
32677 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
32678 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
32679 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
32680 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
32681 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
32682
32683 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
32684 its arguments. They have this format:
32685
32686 @table @samp
32687
32688 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
32689 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
32690 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
32691 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
32692 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
32693 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
32694 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
32695 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
32696 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
32697
32698 @end table
32699
32700 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
32701
32702 @table @samp
32703
32704 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
32705 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
32706 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
32707 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
32708 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
32709 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
32710 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
32711 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
32712 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
32713 @var{attachment}.
32714
32715 @item
32716 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
32717
32718 @end table
32719
32720 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
32721
32722 @table @samp
32723 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
32724 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
32725 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
32726 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
32727 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
32728 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
32729 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
32730
32731 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
32732 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
32733 -1 if an error occurs.
32734
32735 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
32736 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
32737 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
32738 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
32739 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
32740 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
32741 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
32742 @var{count} was zero.
32743
32744 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
32745 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
32746 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
32747 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
32748 some characters were escaped.
32749
32750 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
32751 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
32752 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
32753 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
32754 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
32755 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
32756 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
32757 error occurred.
32758
32759 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
32760 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
32761 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
32762
32763 @end table
32764
32765 @node Interrupts
32766 @section Interrupts
32767 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
32768
32769 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
32770 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
32771 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
32772 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
32773
32774 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
32775 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
32776 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
32777 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
32778 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
32779
32780 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
32781 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
32782 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
32783 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
32784 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
32785 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
32786 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
32787 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
32788
32789 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
32790 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
32791 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
32792
32793 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
32794 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
32795 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
32796 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
32797 currently-executing threads and processes.
32798 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
32799 running program, it should send one of the stop
32800 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
32801 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
32802 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
32803 Interrupts received while the
32804 program is stopped are discarded.
32805
32806 @node Notification Packets
32807 @section Notification Packets
32808 @cindex notification packets
32809 @cindex packets, notification
32810
32811 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
32812 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
32813 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
32814 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
32815 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
32816 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
32817 is not a problem.
32818
32819 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
32820 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
32821 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
32822 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
32823 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
32824 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
32825 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
32826
32827 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
32828 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
32829
32830 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
32831 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
32832 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
32833 not they understand it.
32834
32835 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
32836 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
32837 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
32838 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
32839 recipients.
32840
32841 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
32842 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
32843 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
32844 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
32845 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
32846
32847 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
32848 defined:
32849
32850 @table @samp
32851 @item Stop: @var{reply}
32852 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
32853 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
32854 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
32855 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
32856 @value{GDBN}.
32857 @end table
32858
32859 @node Remote Non-Stop
32860 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
32861
32862 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
32863 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
32864 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
32865 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32866
32867 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
32868 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
32869 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
32870 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
32871 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
32872 probe the target state after a mode change.
32873
32874 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
32875 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
32876 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
32877 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
32878 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
32879 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
32880 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
32881 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
32882 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
32883 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
32884 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
32885
32886 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
32887 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
32888 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
32889 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
32890 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
32891 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
32892 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
32893 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
32894 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
32895 sending any queued stop events.
32896
32897 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
32898 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
32899 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
32900 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
32901 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
32902 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
32903 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
32904
32905 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
32906 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
32907 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
32908 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
32909 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
32910 process normally.
32911
32912 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
32913 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
32914 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
32915 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
32916 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
32917 should process normally.
32918
32919 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
32920 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
32921 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
32922 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
32923 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
32924
32925 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
32926 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
32927 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
32928 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
32929 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
32930 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
32931 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
32932 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
32933 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
32934 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
32935 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
32936 @samp{OK}.
32937
32938 @node Packet Acknowledgment
32939 @section Packet Acknowledgment
32940
32941 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
32942 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
32943 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
32944 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
32945 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
32946 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
32947 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
32948
32949 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
32950 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
32951 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
32952 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
32953 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
32954
32955 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
32956 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
32957 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
32958 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
32959
32960 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
32961 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
32962 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
32963 @pxref{qSupported}.
32964 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
32965 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
32966 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
32967 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
32968 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
32969 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
32970 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
32971
32972 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
32973 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
32974 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
32975 connection.
32976 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
32977 new connection is established,
32978 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
32979 for the current connection, once disabled.
32980
32981 @node Examples
32982 @section Examples
32983
32984 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
32985 does not get any direct output:
32986
32987 @smallexample
32988 -> @code{R00}
32989 <- @code{+}
32990 @emph{target restarts}
32991 -> @code{?}
32992 <- @code{+}
32993 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
32994 -> @code{+}
32995 @end smallexample
32996
32997 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
32998
32999 @smallexample
33000 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
33001 <- @code{+}
33002 -> @code{s}
33003 <- @code{+}
33004 @emph{time passes}
33005 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
33006 -> @code{+}
33007 -> @code{g}
33008 <- @code{+}
33009 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
33010 -> @code{+}
33011 @end smallexample
33012
33013 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
33014 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
33015 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
33016
33017 @menu
33018 * File-I/O Overview::
33019 * Protocol Basics::
33020 * The F Request Packet::
33021 * The F Reply Packet::
33022 * The Ctrl-C Message::
33023 * Console I/O::
33024 * List of Supported Calls::
33025 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
33026 * Constants::
33027 * File-I/O Examples::
33028 @end menu
33029
33030 @node File-I/O Overview
33031 @subsection File-I/O Overview
33032 @cindex file-i/o overview
33033
33034 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
33035 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
33036 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
33037 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
33038 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
33039 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
33040
33041 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
33042 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
33043 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
33044 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
33045 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
33046
33047 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
33048 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
33049 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
33050 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
33051 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
33052 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
33053 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
33054
33055 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
33056 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
33057 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
33058 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
33059 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
33060
33061 @smallexample
33062 (@value{GDBP}) continue
33063 <- target requests 'system call X'
33064 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
33065 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
33066 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
33067 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
33068 @end smallexample
33069
33070 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
33071 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
33072 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
33073 system are not supported by this protocol.
33074
33075 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
33076
33077 @node Protocol Basics
33078 @subsection Protocol Basics
33079 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
33080
33081 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
33082 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
33083 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
33084 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
33085 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
33086 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
33087 to call the appropriate host system call:
33088
33089 @itemize @bullet
33090 @item
33091 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
33092
33093 @item
33094 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
33095 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
33096 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
33097 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
33098
33099 @end itemize
33100
33101 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
33102
33103 @itemize @bullet
33104 @item
33105 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
33106 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
33107 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
33108 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
33109 packet.
33110
33111 @item
33112 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
33113 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
33114
33115 @item
33116 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
33117
33118 @item
33119 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
33120
33121 @item
33122 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
33123 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
33124 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
33125 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
33126 packet.
33127
33128 @end itemize
33129
33130 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
33131 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
33132
33133 @itemize @bullet
33134 @item
33135 Return value.
33136
33137 @item
33138 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
33139
33140 @item
33141 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
33142
33143 @end itemize
33144
33145 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
33146 the latest continue or step action.
33147
33148 @node The F Request Packet
33149 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
33150 @cindex file-i/o request packet
33151 @cindex @code{F} request packet
33152
33153 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
33154
33155 @table @samp
33156 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
33157
33158 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
33159 This is just the name of the function.
33160
33161 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
33162 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
33163 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
33164 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
33165 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
33166 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
33167 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
33168
33169 @end table
33170
33171
33172
33173 @node The F Reply Packet
33174 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
33175 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
33176 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
33177
33178 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
33179
33180 @table @samp
33181
33182 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
33183
33184 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
33185
33186 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
33187 representation.
33188 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
33189
33190 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
33191 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
33192 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
33193
33194 @smallexample
33195 F0,0,C
33196 @end smallexample
33197
33198 @noindent
33199 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
33200
33201 @smallexample
33202 F-1,4,C
33203 @end smallexample
33204
33205 @noindent
33206 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
33207
33208 @end table
33209
33210
33211 @node The Ctrl-C Message
33212 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
33213 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
33214
33215 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
33216 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
33217 the target should behave as if it had
33218 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
33219 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
33220 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
33221 packet.
33222
33223 It's important for the target to know in which
33224 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
33225
33226 @itemize @bullet
33227 @item
33228 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
33229
33230 @item
33231 The system call on the host has been finished.
33232
33233 @end itemize
33234
33235 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
33236 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
33237 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
33238 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
33239 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
33240 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
33241
33242 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
33243 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
33244 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
33245 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
33246 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
33247 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
33248 or the full action has been completed.
33249
33250 @node Console I/O
33251 @subsection Console I/O
33252 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
33253
33254 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
33255 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
33256 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
33257 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
33258 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
33259 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
33260 conditions is met:
33261
33262 @itemize @bullet
33263 @item
33264 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
33265 @code{read}
33266 system call is treated as finished.
33267
33268 @item
33269 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
33270 newline.
33271
33272 @item
33273 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
33274 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
33275
33276 @end itemize
33277
33278 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
33279 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
33280 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
33281 is stopped at the user's request.
33282
33283
33284 @node List of Supported Calls
33285 @subsection List of Supported Calls
33286 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
33287
33288 @menu
33289 * open::
33290 * close::
33291 * read::
33292 * write::
33293 * lseek::
33294 * rename::
33295 * unlink::
33296 * stat/fstat::
33297 * gettimeofday::
33298 * isatty::
33299 * system::
33300 @end menu
33301
33302 @node open
33303 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
33304 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
33305
33306 @table @asis
33307 @item Synopsis:
33308 @smallexample
33309 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
33310 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
33311 @end smallexample
33312
33313 @item Request:
33314 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
33315
33316 @noindent
33317 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
33318
33319 @table @code
33320 @item O_CREAT
33321 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
33322 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
33323 are concerned.
33324
33325 @item O_EXCL
33326 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
33327 an error and open() fails.
33328
33329 @item O_TRUNC
33330 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
33331 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
33332 truncated to zero length.
33333
33334 @item O_APPEND
33335 The file is opened in append mode.
33336
33337 @item O_RDONLY
33338 The file is opened for reading only.
33339
33340 @item O_WRONLY
33341 The file is opened for writing only.
33342
33343 @item O_RDWR
33344 The file is opened for reading and writing.
33345 @end table
33346
33347 @noindent
33348 Other bits are silently ignored.
33349
33350
33351 @noindent
33352 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
33353
33354 @table @code
33355 @item S_IRUSR
33356 User has read permission.
33357
33358 @item S_IWUSR
33359 User has write permission.
33360
33361 @item S_IRGRP
33362 Group has read permission.
33363
33364 @item S_IWGRP
33365 Group has write permission.
33366
33367 @item S_IROTH
33368 Others have read permission.
33369
33370 @item S_IWOTH
33371 Others have write permission.
33372 @end table
33373
33374 @noindent
33375 Other bits are silently ignored.
33376
33377
33378 @item Return value:
33379 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
33380 occurred.
33381
33382 @item Errors:
33383
33384 @table @code
33385 @item EEXIST
33386 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
33387
33388 @item EISDIR
33389 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
33390
33391 @item EACCES
33392 The requested access is not allowed.
33393
33394 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33395 @var{pathname} was too long.
33396
33397 @item ENOENT
33398 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
33399
33400 @item ENODEV
33401 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
33402
33403 @item EROFS
33404 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
33405 write access was requested.
33406
33407 @item EFAULT
33408 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
33409
33410 @item ENOSPC
33411 No space on device to create the file.
33412
33413 @item EMFILE
33414 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
33415
33416 @item ENFILE
33417 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
33418 has been reached.
33419
33420 @item EINTR
33421 The call was interrupted by the user.
33422 @end table
33423
33424 @end table
33425
33426 @node close
33427 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
33428 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
33429
33430 @table @asis
33431 @item Synopsis:
33432 @smallexample
33433 int close(int fd);
33434 @end smallexample
33435
33436 @item Request:
33437 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
33438
33439 @item Return value:
33440 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
33441
33442 @item Errors:
33443
33444 @table @code
33445 @item EBADF
33446 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
33447
33448 @item EINTR
33449 The call was interrupted by the user.
33450 @end table
33451
33452 @end table
33453
33454 @node read
33455 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
33456 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
33457
33458 @table @asis
33459 @item Synopsis:
33460 @smallexample
33461 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
33462 @end smallexample
33463
33464 @item Request:
33465 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
33466
33467 @item Return value:
33468 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
33469 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
33470 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
33471
33472 @item Errors:
33473
33474 @table @code
33475 @item EBADF
33476 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
33477 reading.
33478
33479 @item EFAULT
33480 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33481
33482 @item EINTR
33483 The call was interrupted by the user.
33484 @end table
33485
33486 @end table
33487
33488 @node write
33489 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
33490 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
33491
33492 @table @asis
33493 @item Synopsis:
33494 @smallexample
33495 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
33496 @end smallexample
33497
33498 @item Request:
33499 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
33500
33501 @item Return value:
33502 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
33503 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
33504 is returned.
33505
33506 @item Errors:
33507
33508 @table @code
33509 @item EBADF
33510 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
33511 writing.
33512
33513 @item EFAULT
33514 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33515
33516 @item EFBIG
33517 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
33518 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
33519
33520 @item ENOSPC
33521 No space on device to write the data.
33522
33523 @item EINTR
33524 The call was interrupted by the user.
33525 @end table
33526
33527 @end table
33528
33529 @node lseek
33530 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
33531 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
33532
33533 @table @asis
33534 @item Synopsis:
33535 @smallexample
33536 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
33537 @end smallexample
33538
33539 @item Request:
33540 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
33541
33542 @var{flag} is one of:
33543
33544 @table @code
33545 @item SEEK_SET
33546 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
33547
33548 @item SEEK_CUR
33549 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
33550 bytes.
33551
33552 @item SEEK_END
33553 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
33554 bytes.
33555 @end table
33556
33557 @item Return value:
33558 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
33559 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
33560 value of -1 is returned.
33561
33562 @item Errors:
33563
33564 @table @code
33565 @item EBADF
33566 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
33567
33568 @item ESPIPE
33569 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
33570
33571 @item EINVAL
33572 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
33573
33574 @item EINTR
33575 The call was interrupted by the user.
33576 @end table
33577
33578 @end table
33579
33580 @node rename
33581 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
33582 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
33583
33584 @table @asis
33585 @item Synopsis:
33586 @smallexample
33587 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
33588 @end smallexample
33589
33590 @item Request:
33591 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
33592
33593 @item Return value:
33594 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33595
33596 @item Errors:
33597
33598 @table @code
33599 @item EISDIR
33600 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
33601 directory.
33602
33603 @item EEXIST
33604 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
33605
33606 @item EBUSY
33607 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
33608 process.
33609
33610 @item EINVAL
33611 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
33612 of itself.
33613
33614 @item ENOTDIR
33615 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
33616 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
33617 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
33618
33619 @item EFAULT
33620 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
33621
33622 @item EACCES
33623 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33624
33625 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33626
33627 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
33628
33629 @item ENOENT
33630 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
33631
33632 @item EROFS
33633 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
33634
33635 @item ENOSPC
33636 The device containing the file has no room for the new
33637 directory entry.
33638
33639 @item EINTR
33640 The call was interrupted by the user.
33641 @end table
33642
33643 @end table
33644
33645 @node unlink
33646 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
33647 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
33648
33649 @table @asis
33650 @item Synopsis:
33651 @smallexample
33652 int unlink(const char *pathname);
33653 @end smallexample
33654
33655 @item Request:
33656 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
33657
33658 @item Return value:
33659 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33660
33661 @item Errors:
33662
33663 @table @code
33664 @item EACCES
33665 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33666
33667 @item EPERM
33668 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
33669
33670 @item EBUSY
33671 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
33672 being used by another process.
33673
33674 @item EFAULT
33675 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33676
33677 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33678 @var{pathname} was too long.
33679
33680 @item ENOENT
33681 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
33682
33683 @item ENOTDIR
33684 A component of the path is not a directory.
33685
33686 @item EROFS
33687 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
33688
33689 @item EINTR
33690 The call was interrupted by the user.
33691 @end table
33692
33693 @end table
33694
33695 @node stat/fstat
33696 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
33697 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
33698 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
33699
33700 @table @asis
33701 @item Synopsis:
33702 @smallexample
33703 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
33704 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
33705 @end smallexample
33706
33707 @item Request:
33708 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
33709 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
33710
33711 @item Return value:
33712 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33713
33714 @item Errors:
33715
33716 @table @code
33717 @item EBADF
33718 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
33719
33720 @item ENOENT
33721 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
33722 path is an empty string.
33723
33724 @item ENOTDIR
33725 A component of the path is not a directory.
33726
33727 @item EFAULT
33728 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33729
33730 @item EACCES
33731 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33732
33733 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33734 @var{pathname} was too long.
33735
33736 @item EINTR
33737 The call was interrupted by the user.
33738 @end table
33739
33740 @end table
33741
33742 @node gettimeofday
33743 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
33744 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
33745
33746 @table @asis
33747 @item Synopsis:
33748 @smallexample
33749 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
33750 @end smallexample
33751
33752 @item Request:
33753 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
33754
33755 @item Return value:
33756 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
33757
33758 @item Errors:
33759
33760 @table @code
33761 @item EINVAL
33762 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
33763
33764 @item EFAULT
33765 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33766 @end table
33767
33768 @end table
33769
33770 @node isatty
33771 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
33772 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
33773
33774 @table @asis
33775 @item Synopsis:
33776 @smallexample
33777 int isatty(int fd);
33778 @end smallexample
33779
33780 @item Request:
33781 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
33782
33783 @item Return value:
33784 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
33785
33786 @item Errors:
33787
33788 @table @code
33789 @item EINTR
33790 The call was interrupted by the user.
33791 @end table
33792
33793 @end table
33794
33795 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
33796 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
33797 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
33798 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
33799 needed.
33800
33801
33802 @node system
33803 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
33804 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
33805
33806 @table @asis
33807 @item Synopsis:
33808 @smallexample
33809 int system(const char *command);
33810 @end smallexample
33811
33812 @item Request:
33813 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
33814
33815 @item Return value:
33816 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
33817 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
33818 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
33819 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
33820 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
33821 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
33822 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
33823
33824 @item Errors:
33825
33826 @table @code
33827 @item EINTR
33828 The call was interrupted by the user.
33829 @end table
33830
33831 @end table
33832
33833 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
33834 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
33835 the host is simplified before it's returned
33836 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
33837 is discarded, and the return value consists
33838 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
33839
33840 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
33841 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
33842 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
33843
33844 @table @code
33845 @item set remote system-call-allowed
33846 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
33847 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
33848 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
33849
33850 @item show remote system-call-allowed
33851 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
33852 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
33853 protocol.
33854 @end table
33855
33856 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
33857 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
33858 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
33859
33860 @menu
33861 * Integral Datatypes::
33862 * Pointer Values::
33863 * Memory Transfer::
33864 * struct stat::
33865 * struct timeval::
33866 @end menu
33867
33868 @node Integral Datatypes
33869 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
33870 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
33871
33872 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
33873 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
33874 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
33875
33876 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
33877 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
33878
33879 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
33880
33881 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
33882 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
33883
33884 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
33885
33886 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
33887 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
33888 byte order.
33889
33890 @node Pointer Values
33891 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
33892 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
33893
33894 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
33895 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
33896 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
33897 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
33898
33899 @smallexample
33900 @code{1aaf/12}
33901 @end smallexample
33902
33903 @noindent
33904 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
33905 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
33906 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
33907 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
33908
33909 @smallexample
33910 @code{123456/d}
33911 @end smallexample
33912
33913 @node Memory Transfer
33914 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
33915 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
33916
33917 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
33918 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
33919 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
33920 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
33921 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
33922 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
33923 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
33924
33925
33926 @node struct stat
33927 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
33928 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
33929
33930 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
33931 is defined as follows:
33932
33933 @smallexample
33934 struct stat @{
33935 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
33936 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
33937 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
33938 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
33939 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
33940 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
33941 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
33942 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
33943 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
33944 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
33945 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
33946 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
33947 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
33948 @};
33949 @end smallexample
33950
33951 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
33952 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
33953 structure is of size 64 bytes.
33954
33955 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
33956 range of values.
33957
33958 @table @code
33959
33960 @item st_dev
33961 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
33962
33963 @item st_ino
33964 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
33965
33966 @item st_mode
33967 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
33968 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
33969
33970 @item st_uid
33971 @itemx st_gid
33972 @itemx st_rdev
33973 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
33974
33975 @item st_atime
33976 @itemx st_mtime
33977 @itemx st_ctime
33978 These values have a host and file system dependent
33979 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
33980 support exact timing values.
33981 @end table
33982
33983 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
33984 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
33985 continuing.
33986
33987 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
33988 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
33989 get truncated on the target.
33990
33991 @node struct timeval
33992 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
33993 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
33994
33995 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
33996 is defined as follows:
33997
33998 @smallexample
33999 struct timeval @{
34000 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
34001 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
34002 @};
34003 @end smallexample
34004
34005 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
34006 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
34007 structure is of size 8 bytes.
34008
34009 @node Constants
34010 @subsection Constants
34011 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
34012
34013 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
34014 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
34015 values before and after the call as needed.
34016
34017 @menu
34018 * Open Flags::
34019 * mode_t Values::
34020 * Errno Values::
34021 * Lseek Flags::
34022 * Limits::
34023 @end menu
34024
34025 @node Open Flags
34026 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
34027 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
34028
34029 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
34030
34031 @smallexample
34032 O_RDONLY 0x0
34033 O_WRONLY 0x1
34034 O_RDWR 0x2
34035 O_APPEND 0x8
34036 O_CREAT 0x200
34037 O_TRUNC 0x400
34038 O_EXCL 0x800
34039 @end smallexample
34040
34041 @node mode_t Values
34042 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
34043 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
34044
34045 All values are given in octal representation.
34046
34047 @smallexample
34048 S_IFREG 0100000
34049 S_IFDIR 040000
34050 S_IRUSR 0400
34051 S_IWUSR 0200
34052 S_IXUSR 0100
34053 S_IRGRP 040
34054 S_IWGRP 020
34055 S_IXGRP 010
34056 S_IROTH 04
34057 S_IWOTH 02
34058 S_IXOTH 01
34059 @end smallexample
34060
34061 @node Errno Values
34062 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
34063 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
34064
34065 All values are given in decimal representation.
34066
34067 @smallexample
34068 EPERM 1
34069 ENOENT 2
34070 EINTR 4
34071 EBADF 9
34072 EACCES 13
34073 EFAULT 14
34074 EBUSY 16
34075 EEXIST 17
34076 ENODEV 19
34077 ENOTDIR 20
34078 EISDIR 21
34079 EINVAL 22
34080 ENFILE 23
34081 EMFILE 24
34082 EFBIG 27
34083 ENOSPC 28
34084 ESPIPE 29
34085 EROFS 30
34086 ENAMETOOLONG 91
34087 EUNKNOWN 9999
34088 @end smallexample
34089
34090 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
34091 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
34092
34093 @node Lseek Flags
34094 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
34095 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
34096
34097 @smallexample
34098 SEEK_SET 0
34099 SEEK_CUR 1
34100 SEEK_END 2
34101 @end smallexample
34102
34103 @node Limits
34104 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
34105 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
34106
34107 All values are given in decimal representation.
34108
34109 @smallexample
34110 INT_MIN -2147483648
34111 INT_MAX 2147483647
34112 UINT_MAX 4294967295
34113 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
34114 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
34115 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
34116 @end smallexample
34117
34118 @node File-I/O Examples
34119 @subsection File-I/O Examples
34120 @cindex file-i/o examples
34121
34122 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
34123 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
34124
34125 @smallexample
34126 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
34127 @emph{request memory read from target}
34128 -> @code{m1234,6}
34129 <- XXXXXX
34130 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
34131 -> @code{F6}
34132 @end smallexample
34133
34134 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
34135 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
34136
34137 @smallexample
34138 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34139 @emph{request memory write to target}
34140 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
34141 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
34142 -> @code{F6}
34143 @end smallexample
34144
34145 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
34146 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
34147
34148 @smallexample
34149 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34150 -> @code{F-1,9}
34151 @end smallexample
34152
34153 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
34154 host is called:
34155
34156 @smallexample
34157 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34158 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
34159 <- @code{T02}
34160 @end smallexample
34161
34162 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
34163 host is called:
34164
34165 @smallexample
34166 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34167 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
34168 <- @code{T02}
34169 @end smallexample
34170
34171 @node Library List Format
34172 @section Library List Format
34173 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
34174
34175 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
34176 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
34177 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
34178 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
34179 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
34180 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
34181 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
34182 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
34183 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
34184 are loaded.
34185
34186 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
34187 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
34188 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
34189 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
34190
34191 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
34192 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
34193 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
34194 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
34195 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
34196 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
34197
34198 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34199 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
34200
34201 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
34202 offset, looks like this:
34203
34204 @smallexample
34205 <library-list>
34206 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
34207 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
34208 </library>
34209 </library-list>
34210 @end smallexample
34211
34212 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
34213 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
34214
34215 @smallexample
34216 <library-list>
34217 <library name="sharedlib.o">
34218 <section address="0x10000000"/>
34219 <section address="0x20000000"/>
34220 <section address="0x30000000"/>
34221 </library>
34222 </library-list>
34223 @end smallexample
34224
34225 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
34226
34227 @smallexample
34228 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
34229 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
34230 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
34231 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
34232 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
34233 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
34234 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
34235 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
34236 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
34237 @end smallexample
34238
34239 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
34240 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
34241 section for each library.
34242
34243 @node Memory Map Format
34244 @section Memory Map Format
34245 @cindex memory map format
34246
34247 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
34248 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
34249 memory map.
34250
34251 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
34252 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
34253 lists memory regions.
34254
34255 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34256 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
34257
34258 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
34259
34260 @smallexample
34261 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34262 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
34263 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
34264 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
34265 <memory-map>
34266 region...
34267 </memory-map>
34268 @end smallexample
34269
34270 Each region can be either:
34271
34272 @itemize
34273
34274 @item
34275 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
34276 bytes from there:
34277
34278 @smallexample
34279 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
34280 @end smallexample
34281
34282
34283 @item
34284 A region of read-only memory:
34285
34286 @smallexample
34287 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
34288 @end smallexample
34289
34290
34291 @item
34292 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
34293 bytes in length:
34294
34295 @smallexample
34296 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
34297 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
34298 </memory>
34299 @end smallexample
34300
34301 @end itemize
34302
34303 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
34304 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
34305 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
34306
34307 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
34308
34309 @smallexample
34310 <!-- ................................................... -->
34311 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
34312 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
34313 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
34314 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
34315 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
34316 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
34317 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
34318 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
34319 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
34320 and its type, or device. -->
34321 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
34322 start CDATA #REQUIRED
34323 length CDATA #REQUIRED
34324 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
34325 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
34326 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
34327 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
34328 @end smallexample
34329
34330 @node Thread List Format
34331 @section Thread List Format
34332 @cindex thread list format
34333
34334 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
34335 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
34336 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
34337 the following structure:
34338
34339 @smallexample
34340 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34341 <threads>
34342 <thread id="id" core="0">
34343 ... description ...
34344 </thread>
34345 </threads>
34346 @end smallexample
34347
34348 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
34349 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
34350 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
34351 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
34352 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
34353
34354 @include agentexpr.texi
34355
34356 @node Trace File Format
34357 @appendix Trace File Format
34358 @cindex trace file format
34359
34360 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
34361 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
34362
34363 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
34364 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
34365 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
34366 in the future.
34367
34368 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
34369 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
34370 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
34371 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
34372 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
34373 of this section.
34374
34375 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
34376
34377 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
34378 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
34379 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
34380 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
34381 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
34382 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
34383 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
34384 endianness.
34385
34386 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
34387
34388 @table @code
34389 @item R @var{bytes}
34390 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
34391 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
34392 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
34393 hexadecimal encoding.
34394
34395 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
34396 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
34397 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
34398 @var{length} bytes.
34399
34400 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
34401 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
34402 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
34403
34404 @end table
34405
34406 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
34407 of blocks.
34408
34409 @node Target Descriptions
34410 @appendix Target Descriptions
34411 @cindex target descriptions
34412
34413 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
34414 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
34415 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
34416
34417 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
34418 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
34419 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
34420 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
34421 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
34422 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
34423 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
34424
34425 @itemize @bullet
34426 @item
34427 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
34428 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
34429 @item
34430 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
34431 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
34432 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
34433 @item
34434 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
34435 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
34436 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
34437 @end itemize
34438
34439 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
34440 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
34441 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
34442 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
34443 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
34444
34445 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34446 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
34447
34448 @menu
34449 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
34450 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
34451 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
34452 descriptions.
34453 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
34454 @end menu
34455
34456 @node Retrieving Descriptions
34457 @section Retrieving Descriptions
34458
34459 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
34460 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
34461 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
34462 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
34463 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
34464 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
34465 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
34466 Format}.
34467
34468 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
34469 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
34470 specify a file are:
34471
34472 @table @code
34473 @cindex set tdesc filename
34474 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
34475 Read the target description from @var{path}.
34476
34477 @cindex unset tdesc filename
34478 @item unset tdesc filename
34479 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
34480 will use the description supplied by the current target.
34481
34482 @cindex show tdesc filename
34483 @item show tdesc filename
34484 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
34485 @end table
34486
34487
34488 @node Target Description Format
34489 @section Target Description Format
34490 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
34491
34492 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
34493 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
34494 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
34495 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
34496 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
34497 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
34498 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
34499
34500 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
34501 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
34502 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
34503 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
34504 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
34505
34506 Here is a simple target description:
34507
34508 @smallexample
34509 <target version="1.0">
34510 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
34511 </target>
34512 @end smallexample
34513
34514 @noindent
34515 This minimal description only says that the target uses
34516 the x86-64 architecture.
34517
34518 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
34519 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
34520 are explained further below.
34521
34522 @smallexample
34523 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34524 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
34525 <target version="1.0">
34526 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
34527 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
34528 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
34529 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
34530 </target>
34531 @end smallexample
34532
34533 @noindent
34534 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
34535 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
34536 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
34537 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
34538 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
34539 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
34540 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
34541 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
34542 the version mismatch.
34543
34544 @subsection Inclusion
34545 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
34546 @cindex XInclude
34547 @ifnotinfo
34548 @cindex <xi:include>
34549 @end ifnotinfo
34550
34551 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
34552 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
34553 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
34554 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
34555 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
34556
34557 @smallexample
34558 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
34559 @end smallexample
34560
34561 @noindent
34562 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
34563 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
34564 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
34565 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
34566 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
34567 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
34568 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
34569 original description.
34570
34571 @subsection Architecture
34572 @cindex <architecture>
34573
34574 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
34575
34576 @smallexample
34577 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
34578 @end smallexample
34579
34580 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
34581 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
34582
34583 @subsection OS ABI
34584 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
34585
34586 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
34587 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
34588
34589 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
34590
34591 @smallexample
34592 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
34593 @end smallexample
34594
34595 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
34596 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
34597
34598 @subsection Compatible Architecture
34599 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
34600
34601 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
34602 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
34603
34604 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
34605
34606 @smallexample
34607 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
34608 @end smallexample
34609
34610 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
34611 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
34612
34613 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
34614 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
34615 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
34616 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
34617 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
34618 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
34619 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
34620
34621 @smallexample
34622 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
34623 <compatible>spu</compatible>
34624 @end smallexample
34625
34626 @subsection Features
34627 @cindex <feature>
34628
34629 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
34630 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
34631 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
34632 has this form:
34633
34634 @smallexample
34635 <feature name="@var{name}">
34636 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
34637 @var{reg}@dots{}
34638 </feature>
34639 @end smallexample
34640
34641 @noindent
34642 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
34643 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
34644 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
34645 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
34646
34647 @subsection Types
34648
34649 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
34650 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
34651 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
34652 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
34653 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
34654
34655 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
34656 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
34657 Types must be defined before they are used.
34658
34659 @cindex <vector>
34660 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
34661 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
34662 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
34663 @var{count}:
34664
34665 @smallexample
34666 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
34667 @end smallexample
34668
34669 @cindex <union>
34670 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
34671 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
34672 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
34673 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
34674
34675 @smallexample
34676 <union id="@var{id}">
34677 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
34678 @dots{}
34679 </union>
34680 @end smallexample
34681
34682 @cindex <struct>
34683 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
34684 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
34685 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
34686 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
34687 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
34688 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
34689 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
34690 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
34691
34692 @smallexample
34693 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
34694 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
34695 @dots{}
34696 </struct>
34697 @end smallexample
34698
34699 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
34700 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
34701
34702 @smallexample
34703 <struct id="@var{id}">
34704 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
34705 @dots{}
34706 </struct>
34707 @end smallexample
34708
34709 @cindex <flags>
34710 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
34711 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
34712 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
34713 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
34714 are supported.
34715
34716 @smallexample
34717 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
34718 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
34719 @dots{}
34720 </flags>
34721 @end smallexample
34722
34723 @subsection Registers
34724 @cindex <reg>
34725
34726 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
34727
34728 @smallexample
34729 <reg name="@var{name}"
34730 bitsize="@var{size}"
34731 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
34732 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
34733 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
34734 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
34735 @end smallexample
34736
34737 @noindent
34738 The components are as follows:
34739
34740 @table @var
34741
34742 @item name
34743 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
34744
34745 @item bitsize
34746 The register's size, in bits.
34747
34748 @item regnum
34749 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
34750 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
34751 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
34752 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
34753 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
34754 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
34755 in order of increasing register number.
34756
34757 @item save-restore
34758 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
34759 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
34760 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
34761 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
34762 ABI.
34763
34764 @item type
34765 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
34766 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
34767 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
34768 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
34769 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
34770 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
34771
34772 @item group
34773 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
34774 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
34775 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
34776 in @code{info registers}.
34777
34778 @end table
34779
34780 @node Predefined Target Types
34781 @section Predefined Target Types
34782 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
34783
34784 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
34785 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
34786 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
34787 types. The currently supported types are:
34788
34789 @table @code
34790
34791 @item int8
34792 @itemx int16
34793 @itemx int32
34794 @itemx int64
34795 @itemx int128
34796 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
34797
34798 @item uint8
34799 @itemx uint16
34800 @itemx uint32
34801 @itemx uint64
34802 @itemx uint128
34803 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
34804
34805 @item code_ptr
34806 @itemx data_ptr
34807 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
34808 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
34809 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
34810 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
34811 may be marked as data pointers.
34812
34813 @item ieee_single
34814 Single precision IEEE floating point.
34815
34816 @item ieee_double
34817 Double precision IEEE floating point.
34818
34819 @item arm_fpa_ext
34820 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
34821
34822 @item i387_ext
34823 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
34824
34825 @item i386_eflags
34826 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
34827
34828 @item i386_mxcsr
34829 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
34830
34831 @end table
34832
34833 @node Standard Target Features
34834 @section Standard Target Features
34835 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
34836
34837 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
34838 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
34839 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
34840 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
34841 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
34842 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
34843 can recognize them.
34844
34845 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
34846 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
34847 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
34848 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
34849 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
34850 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
34851 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
34852 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
34853
34854 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
34855 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
34856 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
34857
34858 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
34859 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
34860 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
34861 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
34862
34863 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
34864 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
34865 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
34866
34867 @menu
34868 * ARM Features::
34869 * i386 Features::
34870 * MIPS Features::
34871 * M68K Features::
34872 * PowerPC Features::
34873 @end menu
34874
34875
34876 @node ARM Features
34877 @subsection ARM Features
34878 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
34879
34880 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
34881 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
34882 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
34883
34884 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
34885 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
34886
34887 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
34888 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
34889 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
34890 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
34891
34892 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
34893 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
34894 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
34895 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
34896 halves of the double-precision registers.
34897
34898 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
34899 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
34900 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
34901 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
34902 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
34903 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
34904
34905 @node i386 Features
34906 @subsection i386 Features
34907 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
34908
34909 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
34910 targets. It should describe the following registers:
34911
34912 @itemize @minus
34913 @item
34914 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
34915 @item
34916 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
34917 @item
34918 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
34919 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
34920 @item
34921 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
34922 @item
34923 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
34924 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
34925 @end itemize
34926
34927 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
34928
34929 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
34930 describe registers:
34931
34932 @itemize @minus
34933 @item
34934 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
34935 @item
34936 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
34937 @item
34938 @samp{mxcsr}
34939 @end itemize
34940
34941 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
34942 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
34943 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
34944
34945 @itemize @minus
34946 @item
34947 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
34948 @item
34949 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
34950 @item
34951 @end itemize
34952
34953 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
34954 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
34955
34956 @node MIPS Features
34957 @subsection MIPS Features
34958 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
34959
34960 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
34961 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
34962 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
34963 on the target.
34964
34965 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
34966 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
34967 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
34968
34969 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
34970 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
34971 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
34972 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
34973
34974 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
34975 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
34976 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
34977
34978 @node M68K Features
34979 @subsection M68K Features
34980 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
34981
34982 @table @code
34983 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
34984 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
34985 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
34986 One of those features must be always present.
34987 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
34988 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
34989 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
34990 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
34991
34992 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
34993 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
34994 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
34995 @samp{fpiaddr}.
34996 @end table
34997
34998 @node PowerPC Features
34999 @subsection PowerPC Features
35000 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
35001
35002 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
35003 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
35004 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
35005 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35006
35007 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
35008 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
35009
35010 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
35011 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
35012 and @samp{vrsave}.
35013
35014 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
35015 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
35016 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
35017 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
35018 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
35019 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
35020
35021 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
35022 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
35023 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
35024 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
35025 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
35026 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
35027 user.
35028
35029 @node Operating System Information
35030 @appendix Operating System Information
35031 @cindex operating system information
35032
35033 @menu
35034 * Process list::
35035 @end menu
35036
35037 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
35038 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
35039 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
35040 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
35041 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
35042 on a different aspect of target.
35043
35044 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
35045 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
35046 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
35047 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
35048
35049 @node Process list
35050 @appendixsection Process list
35051 @cindex operating system information, process list
35052
35053 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
35054 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
35055 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
35056 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
35057
35058 An example document is:
35059
35060 @smallexample
35061 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35062 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
35063 <osdata type="processes">
35064 <item>
35065 <column name="pid">1</column>
35066 <column name="user">root</column>
35067 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
35068 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
35069 </item>
35070 </osdata>
35071 @end smallexample
35072
35073 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
35074 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
35075 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
35076 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
35077 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
35078 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
35079 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
35080
35081 @include gpl.texi
35082
35083 @raisesections
35084 @include fdl.texi
35085 @lowersections
35086
35087 @node Index
35088 @unnumbered Index
35089
35090 @printindex cp
35091
35092 @tex
35093 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
35094 % meantime:
35095 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
35096 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
35097 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
35098 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
35099 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
35100 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
35101 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
35102 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
35103 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
35104 \page\colophon
35105 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
35106 @end tex
35107
35108 @bye