PR python/12027:
[binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-1996, 1998-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c
4 @c %**start of header
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7 @setfilename gdb.info
8 @c
9 @include gdb-cfg.texi
10 @c
11 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
12 @setchapternewpage odd
13 @c %**end of header
14
15 @iftex
16 @c @smallbook
17 @c @cropmarks
18 @end iftex
19
20 @finalout
21 @syncodeindex ky cp
22 @syncodeindex tp cp
23
24 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
25 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
26 @syncodeindex vr cp
27 @syncodeindex fn cp
28
29 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
30 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
31 @set EDITION Tenth
32
33 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
34 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
35
36 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
37
38 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
39 @c manuals to an info tree.
40 @dircategory Software development
41 @direntry
42 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
43 @end direntry
44
45 @copying
46 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
47 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
48 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
49
50 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
51 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
52 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
53 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
54 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
55 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
56
57 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
58 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
59 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
60 @end copying
61
62 @ifnottex
63 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
64
65 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
66 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
67 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
68 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
69 @end ifset
70 Version @value{GDBVN}.
71
72 @insertcopying
73 @end ifnottex
74
75 @titlepage
76 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
77 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
78 @sp 1
79 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
80 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
81 @sp 1
82 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
83 @end ifset
84 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
85 @page
86 @tex
87 {\parskip=0pt
88 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
89 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
90 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
91 }
92 @end tex
93
94 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
95 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
96 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
97 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
98 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
99
100 @insertcopying
101 @end titlepage
102 @page
103
104 @ifnottex
105 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
106
107 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
108
109 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
110
111 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
112 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
113 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
114 @end ifset
115 Version @value{GDBVN}.
116
117 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
118
119 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
120 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
121 software in general. We will miss him.
122
123 @menu
124 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
125 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
126
127 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
128 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
129 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
130 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
131 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
132 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
133 * Stack:: Examining the stack
134 * Source:: Examining source files
135 * Data:: Examining data
136 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
137 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
138 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
139 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
140
141 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
142
143 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
144 * Altering:: Altering execution
145 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
146 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
147 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
148 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
149 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
150 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
151 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
152 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
153 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
154 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
155 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
156 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
157
158 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
159
160 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
161 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
162 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
163 @end ifset
164 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
165 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
166 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
167 @end ifclear
168 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
169 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
170 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
171 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
172 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
173 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
174 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
175 @value{GDBN}
176 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
177 the operating system
178 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
179 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
180 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
181 how you can copy and share GDB
182 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
183 * Index:: Index
184 @end menu
185
186 @end ifnottex
187
188 @contents
189
190 @node Summary
191 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
192
193 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
194 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
195 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
196
197 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
198 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
199
200 @itemize @bullet
201 @item
202 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
203
204 @item
205 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
206
207 @item
208 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
209
210 @item
211 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
212 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
213 @end itemize
214
215 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
216 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
217 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
218
219 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
220 @ref{D,,D}.
221
222 @cindex Modula-2
223 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
224 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
225
226 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
227 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
228
229 @cindex Pascal
230 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
231 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
232 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
233 syntax.
234
235 @cindex Fortran
236 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
237 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
238 underscore.
239
240 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
241 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
242
243 @menu
244 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
245 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
246 @end menu
247
248 @node Free Software
249 @unnumberedsec Free Software
250
251 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
252 General Public License
253 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
254 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
255 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
256 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
257 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
258 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
259
260 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
261 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
262 from anyone else.
263
264 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
265
266 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
267 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
268 include with the free software. Many of our most important
269 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
270 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
271 when an important free software package does not come with a free
272 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
273 gaps today.
274
275 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
276 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
277 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
278 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
279 them from the free software world.
280
281 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
282 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
283 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
284 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
285 contract to make it non-free.
286
287 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
288 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
289 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
290 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
291 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
292 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
293 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
294
295 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
296 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
297 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
298 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
299
300 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
301 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
302 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
303 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
304 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
305 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
306 community.
307
308 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
309 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
310 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
311 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
312 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
313 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
314 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
315 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
316 of the manual.
317
318 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
319 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
320 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
321 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
322 manual to replace it.
323
324 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
325 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
326 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
327 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
328 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
329 the free software community.
330
331 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
332 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
333 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
334 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
335 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
336 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
337 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
338 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
339 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
340
341 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
342 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
343 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
344 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
345 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
346 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
347 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
348 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
349
350 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
351 published by other publishers, at
352 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
353
354 @node Contributors
355 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
356
357 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
358 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
359 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
360 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
361 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
362 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
363 blow-by-blow account.
364
365 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
366
367 @quotation
368 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
369 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
370 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
371 @end quotation
372
373 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
374 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
375 releases:
376 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
377 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
378 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
379 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
380 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
381 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
382 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
383 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
384 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
385
386 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
387 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
388
389 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
390 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
391 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
392 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
393 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
394
395 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
396 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
397 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
398
399 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
400 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
401
402 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
403
404 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
405 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
406 support.
407 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
408 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
409 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
410 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
411 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
412 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
413 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
414 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
415 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
416 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
417 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
418 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
419 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
420 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
421 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
422 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
423
424 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
425
426 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
427 libraries.
428
429 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
430 about several machine instruction sets.
431
432 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
433 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
434 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
435 and RDI targets, respectively.
436
437 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
438 command-line editing and command history.
439
440 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
441 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
442
443 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
444 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
445 symbols.
446
447 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
448 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
449
450 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
451
452 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
453 processors.
454
455 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
456
457 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
458
459 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
460
461 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
462 watchpoints.
463
464 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
465
466 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
467
468 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
469 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
470
471 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
472 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
473 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
474 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
475 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
476 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
477 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
478
479 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
480 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
481
482 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
483 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
484 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
485 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
486 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
487 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
488 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
489 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
490 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
491 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
492 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
493 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
494 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
495 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
496 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
497
498 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
499 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
500
501 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
502 Hat.
503
504 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
505 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
506 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
507 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
508 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
509 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
510
511 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
512 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
513 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
514 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
515 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
516 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
517 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
518 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
519 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
520 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
521 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
522 Weigand.
523
524 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
525 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
526 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
527 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
528
529 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
530 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
531
532 @node Sample Session
533 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
534
535 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
536 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
537 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
538
539 @iftex
540 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
541 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
542 @end iftex
543
544 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
545 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
546
547 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
548 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
549 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
550 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
551 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
552 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
553 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
554 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
555 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
556
557 @smallexample
558 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
559 $ @b{./m4}
560 @b{define(foo,0000)}
561
562 @b{foo}
563 0000
564 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
565
566 @b{bar}
567 0000
568 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
569
570 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
571 @b{baz}
572 @b{Ctrl-d}
573 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
574 @end smallexample
575
576 @noindent
577 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
578
579 @smallexample
580 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
581 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
582 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
583 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
584 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
585 the conditions.
586 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
587 for details.
588
589 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
590 (@value{GDBP})
591 @end smallexample
592
593 @noindent
594 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
595 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
596 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
597 that examples fit in this manual.
598
599 @smallexample
600 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
601 @end smallexample
602
603 @noindent
604 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
605 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
606 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
607 @code{break} command.
608
609 @smallexample
610 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
611 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
612 @end smallexample
613
614 @noindent
615 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
616 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
617 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
618
619 @smallexample
620 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
621 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
622 @b{define(foo,0000)}
623
624 @b{foo}
625 0000
626 @end smallexample
627
628 @noindent
629 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
630 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
631 context where it stops.
632
633 @smallexample
634 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
635
636 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
637 at builtin.c:879
638 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
639 @end smallexample
640
641 @noindent
642 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
643 the next line of the current function.
644
645 @smallexample
646 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
647 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
648 : nil,
649 @end smallexample
650
651 @noindent
652 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
653 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
654 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
655 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
656
657 @smallexample
658 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
659 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
660 at input.c:530
661 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
662 @end smallexample
663
664 @noindent
665 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
666 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
667 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
668 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
669 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
670 stack frame for each active subroutine.
671
672 @smallexample
673 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
674 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
675 at input.c:530
676 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
677 at builtin.c:882
678 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
679 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
680 at macro.c:71
681 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
682 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
683 @end smallexample
684
685 @noindent
686 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
687 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
688 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
689
690 @smallexample
691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
692 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
693 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
694 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
695 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
696 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
697 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
698 : xstrdup(rq);
699 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
700 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
701 @end smallexample
702
703 @noindent
704 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
705 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
706 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
707 (@code{print}) to see their values.
708
709 @smallexample
710 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
711 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
713 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
714 @end smallexample
715
716 @noindent
717 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
718 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
719 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
720
721 @smallexample
722 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
723 533 xfree(rquote);
724 534
725 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
726 : xstrdup (lq);
727 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
728 : xstrdup (rq);
729 537
730 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
731 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
732 540 @}
733 541
734 542 void
735 @end smallexample
736
737 @noindent
738 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
739 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
740
741 @smallexample
742 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
743 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
744 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
745 540 @}
746 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
747 $3 = 9
748 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
749 $4 = 7
750 @end smallexample
751
752 @noindent
753 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
754 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
755 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
756 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
757 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
758 assignments.
759
760 @smallexample
761 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
762 $5 = 7
763 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
764 $6 = 9
765 @end smallexample
766
767 @noindent
768 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
769 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
770 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
771 example that caused trouble initially:
772
773 @smallexample
774 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
775 Continuing.
776
777 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
778
779 baz
780 0000
781 @end smallexample
782
783 @noindent
784 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
785 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
786 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
787
788 @smallexample
789 @b{Ctrl-d}
790 Program exited normally.
791 @end smallexample
792
793 @noindent
794 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
795 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
796 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
797
798 @smallexample
799 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
800 @end smallexample
801
802 @node Invocation
803 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
804
805 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
806 The essentials are:
807 @itemize @bullet
808 @item
809 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
810 @item
811 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
812 @end itemize
813
814 @menu
815 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
816 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
817 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
818 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
819 @end menu
820
821 @node Invoking GDB
822 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
823
824 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
825 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
826
827 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
828 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
829
830 The command-line options described here are designed
831 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
832 options may effectively be unavailable.
833
834 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
835 specifying an executable program:
836
837 @smallexample
838 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
839 @end smallexample
840
841 @noindent
842 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
843 specified:
844
845 @smallexample
846 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
847 @end smallexample
848
849 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
850 to debug a running process:
851
852 @smallexample
853 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
854 @end smallexample
855
856 @noindent
857 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
858 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
859
860 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
861 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
862 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
863 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
864 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
865
866 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
867 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
868 option processing.
869 @smallexample
870 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
871 @end smallexample
872 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
873 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
874
875 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
876 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
877
878 @smallexample
879 @value{GDBP} -silent
880 @end smallexample
881
882 @noindent
883 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
884 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
885
886 @noindent
887 Type
888
889 @smallexample
890 @value{GDBP} -help
891 @end smallexample
892
893 @noindent
894 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
895 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
896
897 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
898 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
899 @samp{-x} option is used.
900
901
902 @menu
903 * File Options:: Choosing files
904 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
905 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
906 @end menu
907
908 @node File Options
909 @subsection Choosing Files
910
911 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
912 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
913 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
914 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
915 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
916 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
917 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
918 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
919 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
920 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
921 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
922 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
923 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
924
925 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
926 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
927 argument and ignore it.
928
929 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
930 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
931 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
932 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
933 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
934
935 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
936 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
937 @c it.
938
939 @table @code
940 @item -symbols @var{file}
941 @itemx -s @var{file}
942 @cindex @code{--symbols}
943 @cindex @code{-s}
944 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
945
946 @item -exec @var{file}
947 @itemx -e @var{file}
948 @cindex @code{--exec}
949 @cindex @code{-e}
950 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
951 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
952
953 @item -se @var{file}
954 @cindex @code{--se}
955 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
956 file.
957
958 @item -core @var{file}
959 @itemx -c @var{file}
960 @cindex @code{--core}
961 @cindex @code{-c}
962 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
963
964 @item -pid @var{number}
965 @itemx -p @var{number}
966 @cindex @code{--pid}
967 @cindex @code{-p}
968 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
969
970 @item -command @var{file}
971 @itemx -x @var{file}
972 @cindex @code{--command}
973 @cindex @code{-x}
974 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
975 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
976 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
977
978 @item -eval-command @var{command}
979 @itemx -ex @var{command}
980 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
981 @cindex @code{-ex}
982 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
983
984 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
985 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
986
987 @smallexample
988 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
989 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
990 @end smallexample
991
992 @item -directory @var{directory}
993 @itemx -d @var{directory}
994 @cindex @code{--directory}
995 @cindex @code{-d}
996 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
997
998 @item -r
999 @itemx -readnow
1000 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1001 @cindex @code{-r}
1002 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1003 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1004 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1005
1006 @end table
1007
1008 @node Mode Options
1009 @subsection Choosing Modes
1010
1011 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1012 batch mode or quiet mode.
1013
1014 @table @code
1015 @item -nx
1016 @itemx -n
1017 @cindex @code{--nx}
1018 @cindex @code{-n}
1019 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1020 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1021 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1022 Files}.
1023
1024 @item -quiet
1025 @itemx -silent
1026 @itemx -q
1027 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1028 @cindex @code{--silent}
1029 @cindex @code{-q}
1030 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1031 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1032
1033 @item -batch
1034 @cindex @code{--batch}
1035 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1036 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1037 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1038 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1039 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1040 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1041 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1042
1043 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1044 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1045 make this more useful, the message
1046
1047 @smallexample
1048 Program exited normally.
1049 @end smallexample
1050
1051 @noindent
1052 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1053 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1054 mode.
1055
1056 @item -batch-silent
1057 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1058 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1059 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1060 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1061 for an interactive session.
1062
1063 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1064 messages, for example.
1065
1066 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1067 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1068
1069 @item -return-child-result
1070 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1071 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1072 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1073
1074 @itemize @bullet
1075 @item
1076 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1077 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1078 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1079 @item
1080 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1081 @item
1082 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1083 the exit code will be -1.
1084 @end itemize
1085
1086 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1087 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1088 interface.
1089
1090 @item -nowindows
1091 @itemx -nw
1092 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1093 @cindex @code{-nw}
1094 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1095 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1096 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1097
1098 @item -windows
1099 @itemx -w
1100 @cindex @code{--windows}
1101 @cindex @code{-w}
1102 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1103 used if possible.
1104
1105 @item -cd @var{directory}
1106 @cindex @code{--cd}
1107 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1108 instead of the current directory.
1109
1110 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1111 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1112 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1113 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1114 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1115
1116 @item -fullname
1117 @itemx -f
1118 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1119 @cindex @code{-f}
1120 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1121 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1122 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1123 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1124 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1125 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1126 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1127 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1128 frame.
1129
1130 @item -epoch
1131 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1132 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1133 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1134 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1135 separate window.
1136
1137 @item -annotate @var{level}
1138 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1139 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1140 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1141 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1142 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1143 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1144 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1145 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1146 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1147
1148 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1149 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1150
1151 @item --args
1152 @cindex @code{--args}
1153 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1154 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1155 This option stops option processing.
1156
1157 @item -baud @var{bps}
1158 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1159 @cindex @code{--baud}
1160 @cindex @code{-b}
1161 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1162 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1163
1164 @item -l @var{timeout}
1165 @cindex @code{-l}
1166 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1167 for remote debugging.
1168
1169 @item -tty @var{device}
1170 @itemx -t @var{device}
1171 @cindex @code{--tty}
1172 @cindex @code{-t}
1173 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1174 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1175
1176 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1177 @item -tui
1178 @cindex @code{--tui}
1179 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1180 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1181 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1182 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1183 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1184 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1185
1186 @c @item -xdb
1187 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1188 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1189 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1190 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1191 @c systems.
1192
1193 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1194 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1195 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1196 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1197 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1198 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1199
1200 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1201 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1202 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1203 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1204 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1205 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1206
1207 @item -write
1208 @cindex @code{--write}
1209 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1210 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1211 (@pxref{Patching}).
1212
1213 @item -statistics
1214 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1215 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1216 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1217
1218 @item -version
1219 @cindex @code{--version}
1220 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1221 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1222
1223 @end table
1224
1225 @node Startup
1226 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1227 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1228
1229 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1230
1231 @enumerate
1232 @item
1233 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1234 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1235
1236 @item
1237 @cindex init file
1238 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1239 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1240 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1241 that file.
1242
1243 @item
1244 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1245 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1246 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1247 that file.
1248
1249 @item
1250 Processes command line options and operands.
1251
1252 @item
1253 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1254 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1255 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1256 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1257 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1258 @value{GDBN}.
1259
1260 @item
1261 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1262 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1263 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1264 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1265
1266 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1267 you must do something like the following:
1268
1269 @smallexample
1270 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" -ex "file myprogram"
1271 @end smallexample
1272
1273 The following does not work because the auto-loading is turned off too late:
1274
1275 @smallexample
1276 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" myprogram
1277 @end smallexample
1278
1279 @item
1280 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1281 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1282
1283 @item
1284 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1285 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1286 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1287 @end enumerate
1288
1289 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1290 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1291 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1292 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1293 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1294 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1295
1296 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1297 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1298
1299 @cindex init file name
1300 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1301 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1302 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1303 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1304 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1305 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1306 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1307 the file to the standard name.
1308
1309
1310 @node Quitting GDB
1311 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1312 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1313 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1314
1315 @table @code
1316 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1317 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1318 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1319 @itemx q
1320 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1321 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1322 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1323 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1324 error code.
1325 @end table
1326
1327 @cindex interrupt
1328 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1329 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1330 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1331 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1332 until a time when it is safe.
1333
1334 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1335 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1336 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1337
1338 @node Shell Commands
1339 @section Shell Commands
1340
1341 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1342 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1343 just use the @code{shell} command.
1344
1345 @table @code
1346 @kindex shell
1347 @kindex !
1348 @cindex shell escape
1349 @item shell @var{command-string}
1350 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1351 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1352 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1353 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1354 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1355 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1356 @end table
1357
1358 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1359 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1360 @value{GDBN}:
1361
1362 @table @code
1363 @kindex make
1364 @cindex calling make
1365 @item make @var{make-args}
1366 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1367 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1368 @end table
1369
1370 @node Logging Output
1371 @section Logging Output
1372 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1373 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1374
1375 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1376 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1377
1378 @table @code
1379 @kindex set logging
1380 @item set logging on
1381 Enable logging.
1382 @item set logging off
1383 Disable logging.
1384 @cindex logging file name
1385 @item set logging file @var{file}
1386 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1387 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1388 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1389 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1390 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1391 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1392 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1393 @kindex show logging
1394 @item show logging
1395 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1396 @end table
1397
1398 @node Commands
1399 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1400
1401 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1402 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1403 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1404 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1405 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1406
1407 @menu
1408 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1409 * Completion:: Command completion
1410 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1411 @end menu
1412
1413 @node Command Syntax
1414 @section Command Syntax
1415
1416 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1417 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1418 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1419 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1420 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1421 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1422
1423 @cindex abbreviation
1424 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1425 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1426 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1427 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1428 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1429 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1430 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1431
1432 @cindex repeating commands
1433 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1434 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1435 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1436 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1437 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1438 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1439 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1440
1441 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1442 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1443 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1444
1445 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1446 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1447 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1448 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1449 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1450
1451 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1452 @cindex comment
1453 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1454 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1455 Files,,Command Files}).
1456
1457 @cindex repeating command sequences
1458 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1459 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1460 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1461 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1462 for editing.
1463
1464 @node Completion
1465 @section Command Completion
1466
1467 @cindex completion
1468 @cindex word completion
1469 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1470 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1471 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1472 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1473
1474 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1475 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1476 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1477 enter it). For example, if you type
1478
1479 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1480 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1481 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1482 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1483 @smallexample
1484 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1485 @end smallexample
1486
1487 @noindent
1488 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1489 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1490
1491 @smallexample
1492 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1493 @end smallexample
1494
1495 @noindent
1496 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1497 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1498 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1499 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1500 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1501 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1502
1503 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1504 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1505 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1506 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1507 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1508 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1509 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1510 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1511 example:
1512
1513 @smallexample
1514 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1515 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1516 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1517 make_abs_section make_function_type
1518 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1519 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1520 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1521 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1522 @end smallexample
1523
1524 @noindent
1525 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1526 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1527 command.
1528
1529 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1530 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1531 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1532 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1533 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1534
1535 @cindex quotes in commands
1536 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1537 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1538 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1539 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1540 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1541 @value{GDBN} commands.
1542
1543 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1544 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1545 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1546 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1547 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1548 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1549 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1550 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1551 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1552 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1553 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1554
1555 @smallexample
1556 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1557 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1558 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1559 @end smallexample
1560
1561 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1562 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1563 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1564 place:
1565
1566 @smallexample
1567 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1568 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1569 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1570 @end smallexample
1571
1572 @noindent
1573 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1574 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1575 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1576
1577 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1578 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1579 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1580 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1581
1582 @cindex completion of structure field names
1583 @cindex structure field name completion
1584 @cindex completion of union field names
1585 @cindex union field name completion
1586 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1587 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1588 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1589 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1590 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1591 left-hand-side:
1592
1593 @smallexample
1594 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1595 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1596 to_data to_isatty to_write
1597 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1598 to_flush to_read
1599 @end smallexample
1600
1601 @noindent
1602 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1603 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1604 follows:
1605
1606 @smallexample
1607 struct ui_file
1608 @{
1609 int *magic;
1610 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1611 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1612 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1613 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1614 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1615 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1616 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1617 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1618 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1619 void *to_data;
1620 @}
1621 @end smallexample
1622
1623
1624 @node Help
1625 @section Getting Help
1626 @cindex online documentation
1627 @kindex help
1628
1629 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1630 using the command @code{help}.
1631
1632 @table @code
1633 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1634 @item help
1635 @itemx h
1636 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1637 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1638
1639 @smallexample
1640 (@value{GDBP}) help
1641 List of classes of commands:
1642
1643 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1644 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1645 data -- Examining data
1646 files -- Specifying and examining files
1647 internals -- Maintenance commands
1648 obscure -- Obscure features
1649 running -- Running the program
1650 stack -- Examining the stack
1651 status -- Status inquiries
1652 support -- Support facilities
1653 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1654 stopping the program
1655 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1656
1657 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1658 commands in that class.
1659 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1660 documentation.
1661 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1662 (@value{GDBP})
1663 @end smallexample
1664 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1665
1666 @item help @var{class}
1667 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1668 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1669 help display for the class @code{status}:
1670
1671 @smallexample
1672 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1673 Status inquiries.
1674
1675 List of commands:
1676
1677 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1678 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1679 info -- Generic command for showing things
1680 about the program being debugged
1681 show -- Generic command for showing things
1682 about the debugger
1683
1684 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1685 documentation.
1686 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1687 (@value{GDBP})
1688 @end smallexample
1689
1690 @item help @var{command}
1691 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1692 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1693
1694 @kindex apropos
1695 @item apropos @var{args}
1696 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1697 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1698 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1699
1700 @smallexample
1701 apropos reload
1702 @end smallexample
1703
1704 @noindent
1705 results in:
1706
1707 @smallexample
1708 @c @group
1709 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1710 multiple times in one run
1711 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1712 multiple times in one run
1713 @c @end group
1714 @end smallexample
1715
1716 @kindex complete
1717 @item complete @var{args}
1718 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1719 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1720 command you want completed. For example:
1721
1722 @smallexample
1723 complete i
1724 @end smallexample
1725
1726 @noindent results in:
1727
1728 @smallexample
1729 @group
1730 if
1731 ignore
1732 info
1733 inspect
1734 @end group
1735 @end smallexample
1736
1737 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1738 @end table
1739
1740 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1741 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1742 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1743 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1744 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1745 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1746
1747 @c @group
1748 @table @code
1749 @kindex info
1750 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1751 @item info
1752 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1753 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1754 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1755 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1756 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1757 @w{@code{help info}}.
1758
1759 @kindex set
1760 @item set
1761 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1762 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1763 @code{set prompt $}.
1764
1765 @kindex show
1766 @item show
1767 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1768 @value{GDBN} itself.
1769 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1770 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1771 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1772 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1773
1774 @kindex info set
1775 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1776 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1777 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1778 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1779 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1780 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1781 @end table
1782 @c @end group
1783
1784 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1785 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1786
1787 @table @code
1788 @kindex show version
1789 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1790 @item show version
1791 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1792 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1793 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1794 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1795 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1796 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1797 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1798 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1799 @value{GDBN}.
1800
1801 @kindex show copying
1802 @kindex info copying
1803 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1804 @item show copying
1805 @itemx info copying
1806 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1807
1808 @kindex show warranty
1809 @kindex info warranty
1810 @item show warranty
1811 @itemx info warranty
1812 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1813 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1814
1815 @end table
1816
1817 @node Running
1818 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1819
1820 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1821 debugging information when you compile it.
1822
1823 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1824 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1825 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1826 kill a child process.
1827
1828 @menu
1829 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1830 * Starting:: Starting your program
1831 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1832 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1833
1834 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1835 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1836 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1837 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1838
1839 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1840 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1841 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1842 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1843 @end menu
1844
1845 @node Compilation
1846 @section Compiling for Debugging
1847
1848 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1849 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1850 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1851 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1852 and addresses in the executable code.
1853
1854 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1855 the compiler.
1856
1857 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1858 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1859 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1860 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1861 executables containing debugging information.
1862
1863 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1864 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1865 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1866 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1867 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1868
1869 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1870 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1871 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1872
1873 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1874 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1875 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1876 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1877 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1878 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1879
1880 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1881 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1882 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1883
1884 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1885 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1886 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1887 format in @value{GDBN}.
1888
1889 @need 2000
1890 @node Starting
1891 @section Starting your Program
1892 @cindex starting
1893 @cindex running
1894
1895 @table @code
1896 @kindex run
1897 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1898 @item run
1899 @itemx r
1900 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1901 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1902 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1903 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1904 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1905
1906 @end table
1907
1908 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1909 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1910 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1911 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1912 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1913 message like this one:
1914
1915 @smallexample
1916 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1917 Try "help target" or "continue".
1918 @end smallexample
1919
1920 @noindent
1921 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1922 first (@pxref{load}).
1923
1924 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1925 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1926 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1927 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1928 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1929 divided into four categories:
1930
1931 @table @asis
1932 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1933 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1934 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1935 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1936 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1937 the arguments.
1938 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1939 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1940 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1941
1942 @item The @emph{environment.}
1943 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1944 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1945 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1946 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1947
1948 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1949 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1950 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1951 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1952
1953 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1954 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1955 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1956 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1957 set a different device for your program.
1958 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1959
1960 @cindex pipes
1961 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1962 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1963 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1964 wrong program.
1965 @end table
1966
1967 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1968 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1969 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1970 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1971 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1972
1973 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1974 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1975 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1976 your current breakpoints.
1977
1978 @table @code
1979 @kindex start
1980 @item start
1981 @cindex run to main procedure
1982 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1983 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1984 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1985 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1986 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1987 procedure, depending on the language used.
1988
1989 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1990 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1991 the @samp{run} command.
1992
1993 @cindex elaboration phase
1994 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1995 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1996 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1997 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1998 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1999 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2000 will remain to halt execution.
2001
2002 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2003 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2004 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2005 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2006 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2007
2008 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2009 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2010 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2011 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2012 elaboration code before running your program.
2013
2014 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2015 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2016 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2017 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2018 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2019 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2020 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2021 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2022 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2023 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2024 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2025
2026 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2027 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2028 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2029 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2030
2031 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2032 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2033 environment:
2034
2035 @smallexample
2036 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2037 (@value{GDBP}) run
2038 @end smallexample
2039
2040 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2041 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2042
2043 @kindex set disable-randomization
2044 @item set disable-randomization
2045 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2046 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2047 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2048 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2049 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2050
2051 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2052 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2053
2054 @smallexample
2055 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2056 @end smallexample
2057
2058 @item set disable-randomization off
2059 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2060 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2061 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2062 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2063 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2064 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2065
2066 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2067 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2068 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2069 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2070 a code at its expected addresses.
2071
2072 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2073 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2074 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2075 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2076 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2077 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2078 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2079 a randomly chosen address.
2080
2081 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2082 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2083 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2084 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2085 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2086
2087 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2088 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2089
2090 @item show disable-randomization
2091 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2092 the virtual address space of the started program.
2093
2094 @end table
2095
2096 @node Arguments
2097 @section Your Program's Arguments
2098
2099 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2100 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2101 @code{run} command.
2102 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2103 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2104 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2105 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2106 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2107
2108 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2109 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2110 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2111 the program, not by the shell.
2112
2113 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2114 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2115
2116 @table @code
2117 @kindex set args
2118 @item set args
2119 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2120 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2121 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2122 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2123 it again without arguments.
2124
2125 @kindex show args
2126 @item show args
2127 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2128 @end table
2129
2130 @node Environment
2131 @section Your Program's Environment
2132
2133 @cindex environment (of your program)
2134 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2135 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2136 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2137 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2138 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2139 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2140 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2141
2142 @table @code
2143 @kindex path
2144 @item path @var{directory}
2145 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2146 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2147 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2148 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2149 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2150 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2151 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2152
2153 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2154 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2155 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2156 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2157 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2158 @var{directory} to the search path.
2159 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2160 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2161
2162 @kindex show paths
2163 @item show paths
2164 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2165 environment variable).
2166
2167 @kindex show environment
2168 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2169 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2170 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2171 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2172 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2173
2174 @kindex set environment
2175 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2176 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2177 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2178 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2179 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2180 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2181 null value.
2182 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2183 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2184
2185 For example, this command:
2186
2187 @smallexample
2188 set env USER = foo
2189 @end smallexample
2190
2191 @noindent
2192 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2193 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2194 are not actually required.)
2195
2196 @kindex unset environment
2197 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2198 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2199 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2200 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2201 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2202 @end table
2203
2204 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2205 the shell indicated
2206 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2207 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2208 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2209 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2210 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2211 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2212 @file{.profile}.
2213
2214 @node Working Directory
2215 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2216
2217 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2218 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2219 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2220 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2221 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2222 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2223
2224 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2225 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2226 Specify Files}.
2227
2228 @table @code
2229 @kindex cd
2230 @cindex change working directory
2231 @item cd @var{directory}
2232 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2233
2234 @kindex pwd
2235 @item pwd
2236 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2237 @end table
2238
2239 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2240 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2241 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2242 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2243 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2244 current working directory of the debuggee.
2245
2246 @node Input/Output
2247 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2248
2249 @cindex redirection
2250 @cindex i/o
2251 @cindex terminal
2252 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2253 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2254 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2255 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2256 running your program.
2257
2258 @table @code
2259 @kindex info terminal
2260 @item info terminal
2261 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2262 program is using.
2263 @end table
2264
2265 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2266 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2267
2268 @smallexample
2269 run > outfile
2270 @end smallexample
2271
2272 @noindent
2273 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2274
2275 @kindex tty
2276 @cindex controlling terminal
2277 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2278 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2279 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2280 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2281 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2282
2283 @smallexample
2284 tty /dev/ttyb
2285 @end smallexample
2286
2287 @noindent
2288 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2289 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2290 that as their controlling terminal.
2291
2292 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2293 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2294 terminal.
2295
2296 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2297 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2298 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2299 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2300
2301 @cindex inferior tty
2302 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2303 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2304 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2305 program.
2306
2307 @table @code
2308 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2309 @kindex set inferior-tty
2310 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2311
2312 @item show inferior-tty
2313 @kindex show inferior-tty
2314 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2315 @end table
2316
2317 @node Attach
2318 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2319 @kindex attach
2320 @cindex attach
2321
2322 @table @code
2323 @item attach @var{process-id}
2324 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2325 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2326 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2327 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2328 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2329
2330 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2331 executing the command.
2332 @end table
2333
2334 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2335 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2336 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2337 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2338
2339 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2340 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2341 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2342 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2343 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2344 Specify Files}.
2345
2346 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2347 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2348 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2349 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2350 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2351 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2352 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2353
2354 @table @code
2355 @kindex detach
2356 @item detach
2357 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2358 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2359 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2360 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2361 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2362 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2363 executing the command.
2364 @end table
2365
2366 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2367 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2368 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2369 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2370 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2371 Messages}).
2372
2373 @node Kill Process
2374 @section Killing the Child Process
2375
2376 @table @code
2377 @kindex kill
2378 @item kill
2379 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2380 @end table
2381
2382 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2383 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2384 is running.
2385
2386 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2387 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2388 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2389 outside the debugger.
2390
2391 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2392 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2393 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2394 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2395 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2396 breakpoint settings).
2397
2398 @node Inferiors and Programs
2399 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2400
2401 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2402 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2403 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2404 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2405 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2406 from multiple executables.
2407
2408 @cindex inferior
2409 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2410 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2411 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2412 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2413 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2414 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2415 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2416 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2417 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2418 threads running in it.
2419
2420 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2421 inferiors}}:
2422
2423 @table @code
2424 @kindex info inferiors
2425 @item info inferiors
2426 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2427
2428 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2429
2430 @enumerate
2431 @item
2432 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2433
2434 @item
2435 the target system's inferior identifier
2436
2437 @item
2438 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2439
2440 @end enumerate
2441
2442 @noindent
2443 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2444 indicates the current inferior.
2445
2446 For example,
2447 @end table
2448 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2449
2450 @smallexample
2451 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2452 Num Description Executable
2453 2 process 2307 hello
2454 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2455 @end smallexample
2456
2457 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2458
2459 @table @code
2460 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2461 @item inferior @var{infno}
2462 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2463 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2464 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2465 @end table
2466
2467
2468 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2469 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2470 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2471 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2472 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2473 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2474
2475 @table @code
2476 @kindex add-inferior
2477 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2478 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2479 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2480 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2481 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2482 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2483
2484 @kindex clone-inferior
2485 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2486 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2487 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2488 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2489 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2490
2491 @smallexample
2492 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2493 Num Description Executable
2494 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2495 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2496 Added inferior 2.
2497 1 inferiors added.
2498 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2499 Num Description Executable
2500 2 <null> helloworld
2501 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2502 @end smallexample
2503
2504 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2505
2506 @kindex remove-inferiors
2507 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2508 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2509 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2510 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2511
2512 @end table
2513
2514 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2515 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2516 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2517 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2518
2519 @table @code
2520 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2521 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2522 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2523 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2524 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2525 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2526
2527 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2528 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2529 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2530 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2531 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2532 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2533 @end table
2534
2535 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2536 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2537 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2538 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2539
2540
2541 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2542 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2543
2544 @table @code
2545 @kindex set print inferior-events
2546 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2547 @item set print inferior-events
2548 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2549 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2550 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2551 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2552 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2553 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2554
2555 @kindex show print inferior-events
2556 @item show print inferior-events
2557 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2558 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2559 @end table
2560
2561 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2562 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2563 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2564
2565
2566 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2567 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2568 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2569 info program-spaces}} command.
2570
2571 @table @code
2572 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2573 @item maint info program-spaces
2574 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2575 @value{GDBN}.
2576
2577 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2578
2579 @enumerate
2580 @item
2581 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2582
2583 @item
2584 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2585 the @code{file} command.
2586
2587 @end enumerate
2588
2589 @noindent
2590 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2591 indicates the current program space.
2592
2593 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2594 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2595 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2596
2597 @smallexample
2598 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2599 Id Executable
2600 2 goodbye
2601 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2602 * 1 hello
2603 @end smallexample
2604
2605 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2606 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2607 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2608 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2609 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2610
2611 @smallexample
2612 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2613 Id Executable
2614 * 1 vfork-test
2615 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2616 @end smallexample
2617
2618 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2619 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2620 @end table
2621
2622 @node Threads
2623 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2624
2625 @cindex threads of execution
2626 @cindex multiple threads
2627 @cindex switching threads
2628 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2629 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2630 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2631 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2632 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2633 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2634 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2635
2636 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2637 programs:
2638
2639 @itemize @bullet
2640 @item automatic notification of new threads
2641 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2642 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2643 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2644 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2645 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2646 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2647 messages on thread start and exit.
2648 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2649 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2650 isn't compatible with the program.
2651 @end itemize
2652
2653 @quotation
2654 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2655 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2656 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2657 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2658 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2659 like this:
2660
2661 @smallexample
2662 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2663 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2664 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2665 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2666 @end smallexample
2667 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2668 @c doesn't support threads"?
2669 @end quotation
2670
2671 @cindex focus of debugging
2672 @cindex current thread
2673 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2674 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2675 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2676 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2677 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2678
2679 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2680 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2681 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2682 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2683 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2684 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2685 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2686 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2687 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2688 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2689
2690 @smallexample
2691 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2692 @end smallexample
2693
2694 @noindent
2695 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2696 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2697 further qualifier.
2698
2699 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2700 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2701 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2702 @c program?
2703 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2704 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2705 @c threads ab initio?
2706
2707 @cindex thread number
2708 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2709 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2710 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2711
2712 @table @code
2713 @kindex info threads
2714 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2715 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2716 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2717 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2718 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2719
2720 @enumerate
2721 @item
2722 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2723
2724 @item
2725 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2726
2727 @item
2728 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2729 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2730 program itself.
2731
2732 @item
2733 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2734 @end enumerate
2735
2736 @noindent
2737 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2738 indicates the current thread.
2739
2740 For example,
2741 @end table
2742 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2743
2744 @smallexample
2745 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2746 Id Target Id Frame
2747 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2748 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2749 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2750 at threadtest.c:68
2751 @end smallexample
2752
2753 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2754 Solaris-specific command:
2755
2756 @table @code
2757 @item maint info sol-threads
2758 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2759 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2760 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2761 @end table
2762
2763 @table @code
2764 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2765 @item thread @var{threadno}
2766 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2767 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2768 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2769 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2770 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2771
2772 @smallexample
2773 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2774 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2775 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2776 8 printf ("hello\n");
2777 @end smallexample
2778
2779 @noindent
2780 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2781 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2782 threads.
2783
2784 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2785 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2786 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2787 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2788 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2789 information on convenience variables.
2790
2791 @kindex thread apply
2792 @cindex apply command to several threads
2793 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | 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 thread name
2803 @cindex name a thread
2804 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2805 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2806 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2807 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2808
2809 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2810 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2811 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2812 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2813 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2814
2815 @kindex thread find
2816 @cindex search for a thread
2817 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2818 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2819 matches the supplied regular expression.
2820
2821 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2822 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2823 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2824 is the LWP id.
2825
2826 @smallexample
2827 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2828 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2829 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2830 Id Target Id Frame
2831 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2832 @end smallexample
2833
2834 @kindex set print thread-events
2835 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2836 @item set print thread-events
2837 @itemx set print thread-events on
2838 @itemx set print thread-events off
2839 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2840 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2841 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2842 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2843 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2844
2845 @kindex show print thread-events
2846 @item show print thread-events
2847 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2848 have started and exited.
2849 @end table
2850
2851 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2852 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2853 programs with multiple threads.
2854
2855 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2856 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2857
2858 @table @code
2859 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2860 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2861 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2862 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2863 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2864 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2865 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2866 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2867 macro.
2868
2869 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2870 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2871 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2872 to find @code{libthread_db}.
2873
2874 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2875 refers to the default system directories that are
2876 normally searched for loading shared libraries.
2877
2878 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2879 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2880 was loaded in the inferior process.
2881
2882 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2883 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2884 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2885 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2886 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2887 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2888 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2889
2890 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2891 only on some platforms.
2892
2893 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2894 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2895 Display current libthread_db search path.
2896
2897 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2898 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2899 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2900 @item set debug libthread-db
2901 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2902 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2903 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2904 @end table
2905
2906 @node Forks
2907 @section Debugging Forks
2908
2909 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2910 @cindex multiple processes
2911 @cindex processes, multiple
2912 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2913 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2914 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2915 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2916 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2917 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2918 will cause it to terminate.
2919
2920 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2921 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2922 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2923 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2924 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2925 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2926 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2927 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2928 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2929 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2930
2931 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2932 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2933 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2934 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2935
2936 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2937 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2938
2939 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2940 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2941
2942 @table @code
2943 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2944 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2945 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2946 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2947 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2948
2949 @table @code
2950 @item parent
2951 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2952 unimpeded. This is the default.
2953
2954 @item child
2955 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2956 unimpeded.
2957
2958 @end table
2959
2960 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2961 @item show follow-fork-mode
2962 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2963 @end table
2964
2965 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2966 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2967 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2968
2969 @table @code
2970 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2971 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2972 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2973 retain debugger control over them both.
2974
2975 @table @code
2976 @item on
2977 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2978 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2979 independently. This is the default.
2980
2981 @item off
2982 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2983 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2984 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2985 is held suspended.
2986
2987 @end table
2988
2989 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2990 @item show detach-on-fork
2991 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2992 @end table
2993
2994 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2995 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2996 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2997 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2998 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2999 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3000
3001 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3002 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3003 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3004 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3005 and Programs}.
3006
3007 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3008 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3009 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3010 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3011 the child process's @code{main}.
3012
3013 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3014 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3015
3016 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3017 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3018 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3019 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3020 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3021 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3022 command.
3023
3024 @table @code
3025 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3026 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3027
3028 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3029 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3030
3031 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3032
3033 @table @code
3034 @item new
3035 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3036 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3037 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3038 original inferior.
3039
3040 For example:
3041
3042 @smallexample
3043 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3044 (gdb) info inferior
3045 Id Description Executable
3046 * 1 <null> prog1
3047 (@value{GDBP}) run
3048 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3049 Program exited normally.
3050 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3051 Id Description Executable
3052 * 2 <null> prog2
3053 1 <null> prog1
3054 @end smallexample
3055
3056 @item same
3057 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3058 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3059 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3060 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3061 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3062
3063 For example:
3064
3065 @smallexample
3066 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3067 Id Description Executable
3068 * 1 <null> prog1
3069 (@value{GDBP}) run
3070 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3071 Program exited normally.
3072 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3073 Id Description Executable
3074 * 1 <null> prog2
3075 @end smallexample
3076
3077 @end table
3078 @end table
3079
3080 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3081 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3082 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3083
3084 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3085 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3086
3087 @cindex checkpoint
3088 @cindex restart
3089 @cindex bookmark
3090 @cindex snapshot of a process
3091 @cindex rewind program state
3092
3093 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3094 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3095 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3096 later.
3097
3098 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3099 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3100 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3101 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3102 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3103
3104 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3105 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3106 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3107 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3108 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3109 start again from there.
3110
3111 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3112 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3113
3114 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3115
3116 @table @code
3117 @kindex checkpoint
3118 @item checkpoint
3119 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3120 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3121 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3122
3123 @kindex info checkpoints
3124 @item info checkpoints
3125 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3126 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3127 listed:
3128
3129 @table @code
3130 @item Checkpoint ID
3131 @item Process ID
3132 @item Code Address
3133 @item Source line, or label
3134 @end table
3135
3136 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3137 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3138 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3139 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3140 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3141 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3142 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3143
3144 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3145 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3146 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3147 the debugger.
3148
3149 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3150 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3151 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3152
3153 @end table
3154
3155 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3156 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3157 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3158 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3159 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3160 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3161 previously read data can be read again.
3162
3163 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3164 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3165 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3166 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3167 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3168 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3169
3170 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3171 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3172 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3173 different execution path this time.
3174
3175 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3176 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3177 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3178 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3179 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3180 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3181 potentially pose a problem.
3182
3183 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3184
3185 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3186 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3187 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3188 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3189 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3190 next.
3191
3192 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3193 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3194 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3195 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3196 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3197
3198 @node Stopping
3199 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3200
3201 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3202 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3203 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3204
3205 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3206 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3207 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3208 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3209 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3210 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3211 explicitly request this information at any time.
3212
3213 @table @code
3214 @kindex info program
3215 @item info program
3216 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3217 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3218 @end table
3219
3220 @menu
3221 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3222 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3223 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3224 Skipping over functions and files
3225 * Signals:: Signals
3226 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3227 @end menu
3228
3229 @node Breakpoints
3230 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3231
3232 @cindex breakpoints
3233 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3234 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3235 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3236 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3237 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3238 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3239 program.
3240
3241 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3242 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3243 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3244 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3245 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3246 call).
3247
3248 @cindex watchpoints
3249 @cindex data breakpoints
3250 @cindex memory tracing
3251 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3252 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3253 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3254 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3255 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3256 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3257 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3258 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3259 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3260 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3261 same commands.
3262
3263 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3264 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3265 Automatic Display}.
3266
3267 @cindex catchpoints
3268 @cindex breakpoint on events
3269 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3270 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3271 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3272 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3273 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3274 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3275 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3276
3277 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3278 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3279 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3280 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3281 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3282 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3283 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3284 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3285 enable it again.
3286
3287 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3288 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3289 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3290 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3291 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3292 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3293 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3294
3295 @menu
3296 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3297 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3298 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3299 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3300 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3301 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3302 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3303 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3304 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3305 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3306 @end menu
3307
3308 @node Set Breaks
3309 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3310
3311 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3312 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3313 @c
3314 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3315
3316 @kindex break
3317 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3318 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3319 @cindex latest breakpoint
3320 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3321 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3322 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3323 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3324 convenience variables.
3325
3326 @table @code
3327 @item break @var{location}
3328 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3329 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3330 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3331 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3332 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3333
3334 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3335 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3336 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3337 that situation.
3338
3339 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3340 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3341 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3342
3343 @item break
3344 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3345 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3346 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3347 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3348 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3349 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3350 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3351 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3352 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3353 inside loops.
3354
3355 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3356 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3357 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3358 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3359 existed when your program stopped.
3360
3361 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3362 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3363 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3364 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3365 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3366 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3367 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3368
3369 @kindex tbreak
3370 @item tbreak @var{args}
3371 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3372 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3373 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3374 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3375
3376 @kindex hbreak
3377 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3378 @item hbreak @var{args}
3379 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3380 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3381 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3382 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3383 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3384 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3385 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3386 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3387 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3388 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3389 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3390 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3391 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3392 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3393 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3394 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3395 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3396 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3397
3398 @kindex thbreak
3399 @item thbreak @var{args}
3400 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3401 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3402 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3403 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3404 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3405 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3406 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3407 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3408
3409 @kindex rbreak
3410 @cindex regular expression
3411 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3412 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3413 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3414 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3415 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3416 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3417 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3418 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3419 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3420
3421 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3422 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3423 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3424 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3425 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3426 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3427
3428 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3429 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3430 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3431 classes.
3432
3433 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3434 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3435 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3436
3437 @smallexample
3438 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3439 @end smallexample
3440
3441 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3442 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3443 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3444 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3445 every function in a given file:
3446
3447 @smallexample
3448 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3449 @end smallexample
3450
3451 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3452 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3453
3454 @kindex info breakpoints
3455 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3456 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3457 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3458 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3459 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3460 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3461 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3462
3463 @table @emph
3464 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3465 @item Type
3466 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3467 @item Disposition
3468 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3469 @item Enabled or Disabled
3470 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3471 that are not enabled.
3472 @item Address
3473 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3474 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3475 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3476 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3477 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3478 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3479 @item What
3480 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3481 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3482 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3483 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3484 @end table
3485
3486 @noindent
3487 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3488 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3489 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3490 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3491 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3492 valid location.
3493
3494 @noindent
3495 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3496 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3497 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3498 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3499 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3500
3501 @noindent
3502 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3503 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3504 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3505 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3506 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3507 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3508 @end table
3509
3510 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3511 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3512 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3513 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3514
3515 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3516 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3517 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3518 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3519
3520 @itemize @bullet
3521 @item
3522 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3523
3524 @item
3525 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3526 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3527
3528 @item
3529 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3530 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3531
3532 @item
3533 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3534 several places where that function is inlined.
3535 @end itemize
3536
3537 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3538 the relevant locations.
3539
3540 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3541 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3542 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3543 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3544 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3545 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3546 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3547
3548 For example:
3549
3550 @smallexample
3551 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3552 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3553 stop only if i==1
3554 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3555 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3556 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3557 @end smallexample
3558
3559 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3560 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3561 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3562 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3563 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3564 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3565 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3566 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3567 that belong to that breakpoint.
3568
3569 @cindex pending breakpoints
3570 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3571 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3572 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3573 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3574 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3575 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3576 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3577 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3578 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3579 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3580 is not yet resolved.
3581
3582 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3583 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3584 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3585 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3586 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3587 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3588
3589 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3590 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3591 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3592 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3593
3594 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3595 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3596 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3597
3598 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3599 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3600 address specification to an address:
3601
3602 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3603 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3604 @table @code
3605 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3606 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3607 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3608
3609 @item set breakpoint pending on
3610 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3611 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3612
3613 @item set breakpoint pending off
3614 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3615 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3616 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3617
3618 @item show breakpoint pending
3619 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3620 @end table
3621
3622 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3623 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3624 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3625
3626 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3627 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3628 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3629 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3630 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3631 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3632 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3633 breakpoints.
3634
3635 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3636
3637 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3638 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3639 @table @code
3640 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3641 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3642 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3643 breakpoint must be used.
3644
3645 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3646 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3647 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3648 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3649 @end table
3650
3651 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3652 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3653 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3654 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3655 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3656 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3657 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3658 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3659 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3660
3661 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3662 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3663 @table @code
3664 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3665 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3666 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3667 removed from the target when it stops.
3668
3669 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3670 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3671 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3672 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3673 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3674
3675 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3676 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3677 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3678 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3679 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3680 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3681 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3682 @end table
3683
3684 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3685 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3686 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3687 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3688 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3689 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3690 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3691 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3692
3693
3694 @node Set Watchpoints
3695 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3696
3697 @cindex setting watchpoints
3698 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3699 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3700 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3701 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3702 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3703
3704 @itemize @bullet
3705 @item
3706 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3707
3708 @item
3709 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3710 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3711 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3712
3713 @item
3714 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3715 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3716 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3717 @end itemize
3718
3719 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3720 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3721 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3722 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3723 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3724 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3725 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3726 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3727 the expression changes.
3728
3729 @cindex software watchpoints
3730 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3731 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3732 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3733 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3734 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3735 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3736 culprit.)
3737
3738 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3739 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3740 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3741
3742 @table @code
3743 @kindex watch
3744 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3745 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3746 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3747 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3748 to watch the value of a single variable:
3749
3750 @smallexample
3751 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3752 @end smallexample
3753
3754 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3755 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3756 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3757 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3758 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3759 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3760
3761 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3762 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3763 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3764 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3765 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3766 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3767 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3768 error.
3769
3770 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3771 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3772 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3773 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3774 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3775 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3776 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3777 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3778 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3779 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3780 Examples:
3781
3782 @smallexample
3783 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3784 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3785 @end smallexample
3786
3787 @kindex rwatch
3788 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3789 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3790 by the program.
3791
3792 @kindex awatch
3793 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3794 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3795 or written into by the program.
3796
3797 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3798 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3799 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3800 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3801 @end table
3802
3803 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3804 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3805 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3806 a never-changing value:
3807
3808 @smallexample
3809 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3810 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3811 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3812 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3813 @end smallexample
3814
3815 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3816 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3817 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3818 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3819 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3820 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3821
3822 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3823 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3824 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3825 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3826 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3827 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3828 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3829 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3830
3831 @table @code
3832 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3833 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3834 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3835
3836 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3837 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3838 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3839 @end table
3840
3841 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3842 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3843 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3844
3845 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3846
3847 @smallexample
3848 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3849 @end smallexample
3850
3851 @noindent
3852 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3853
3854 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3855 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3856 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3857 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3858 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3859 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3860 will print a message like this:
3861
3862 @smallexample
3863 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3864 @end smallexample
3865
3866 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3867 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3868 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3869 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3870 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3871 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3872 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3873 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3874
3875 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3876 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3877 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3878 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3879 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3880 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3881
3882 @smallexample
3883 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3884 @end smallexample
3885
3886 @noindent
3887 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3888
3889 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3890 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3891 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3892 expression with separately allocated resources.
3893
3894 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3895 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3896 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3897
3898 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3899 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3900 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3901 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3902 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3903 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3904 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3905 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3906 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3907
3908 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3909 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3910 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3911 watched expression from every thread.
3912
3913 @quotation
3914 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3915 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3916 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3917 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3918 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3919 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3920 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3921 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3922 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3923 @end quotation
3924
3925 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3926
3927 @node Set Catchpoints
3928 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3929 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3930 @cindex exception handlers
3931 @cindex event handling
3932
3933 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3934 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3935 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3936
3937 @table @code
3938 @kindex catch
3939 @item catch @var{event}
3940 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3941 @table @code
3942 @item throw
3943 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3944 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3945
3946 @item catch
3947 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3948
3949 @item exception
3950 @cindex Ada exception catching
3951 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3952 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3953 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3954 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3955 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3956
3957 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3958 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3959 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3960 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3961 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3962 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3963 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3964 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3965
3966 @item exception unhandled
3967 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3968
3969 @item assert
3970 A failed Ada assertion.
3971
3972 @item exec
3973 @cindex break on fork/exec
3974 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3975 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3976
3977 @item syscall
3978 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3979 @cindex break on a system call.
3980 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3981 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3982 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3983 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3984 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3985 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3986 will be caught.
3987
3988 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3989 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3990 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3991 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3992
3993 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3994 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3995 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3996 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3997
3998 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3999 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4000 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4001 available choices.
4002
4003 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4004 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4005 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4006 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4007 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4008 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4009 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4010 behind the OS upgrades).
4011
4012 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4013 arguments to it:
4014
4015 @smallexample
4016 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4017 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4018 (@value{GDBP}) r
4019 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4020
4021 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4022 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4023 (@value{GDBP}) c
4024 Continuing.
4025
4026 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4027 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4028 (@value{GDBP})
4029 @end smallexample
4030
4031 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4032
4033 @smallexample
4034 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4035 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4036 (@value{GDBP}) r
4037 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4038
4039 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4040 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4041 (@value{GDBP}) c
4042 Continuing.
4043
4044 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4045 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4046 (@value{GDBP})
4047 @end smallexample
4048
4049 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4050 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4051 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4052
4053 @smallexample
4054 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4055 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4056 (@value{GDBP}) r
4057 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4058
4059 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4060 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4061 (@value{GDBP}) c
4062 Continuing.
4063
4064 Program exited normally.
4065 (@value{GDBP})
4066 @end smallexample
4067
4068 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4069 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4070 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4071 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4072
4073 @smallexample
4074 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4075 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4076 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4077 (@value{GDBP})
4078 @end smallexample
4079
4080 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4081 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4082 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4083 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4084 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4085 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4086
4087 @smallexample
4088 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4089 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4090 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4091 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4092 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4093 (@value{GDBP})
4094 @end smallexample
4095
4096 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4097
4098 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4099 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4100
4101 @smallexample
4102 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4103 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4104 @end smallexample
4105
4106 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4107
4108 @item fork
4109 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4110 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4111
4112 @item vfork
4113 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4114 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4115
4116 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4117 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4118 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4119 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4120 matches one of the affected libraries.
4121
4122 @end table
4123
4124 @item tcatch @var{event}
4125 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4126 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4127
4128 @end table
4129
4130 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4131
4132 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4133 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4134
4135 @itemize @bullet
4136 @item
4137 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4138 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4139 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4140 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4141 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4142 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4143 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4144 disabled within interactive calls.
4145
4146 @item
4147 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4148
4149 @item
4150 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4151 @end itemize
4152
4153 @cindex raise exceptions
4154 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4155 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4156 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4157 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4158 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4159 out where the exception was raised.
4160
4161 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4162 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4163 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4164 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4165
4166 @smallexample
4167 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4168 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4169 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4170 @end smallexample
4171
4172 @noindent
4173 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4174 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4175 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4176
4177 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4178 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4179 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4180 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4181 raised.
4182
4183
4184 @node Delete Breaks
4185 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4186
4187 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4188 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4189 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4190 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4191 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4192 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4193
4194 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4195 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4196 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4197 their breakpoint numbers.
4198
4199 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4200 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4201 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4202
4203 @table @code
4204 @kindex clear
4205 @item clear
4206 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4207 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4208 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4209 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4210
4211 @item clear @var{location}
4212 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4213 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4214 most useful ones are listed below:
4215
4216 @table @code
4217 @item clear @var{function}
4218 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4219 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4220
4221 @item clear @var{linenum}
4222 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4223 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4224 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4225 @end table
4226
4227 @cindex delete breakpoints
4228 @kindex delete
4229 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4230 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4231 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4232 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4233 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4234 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4235 @end table
4236
4237 @node Disabling
4238 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4239
4240 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4241 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4242 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4243 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4244 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4245
4246 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4247 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4248 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4249 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4250 do not know which numbers to use.
4251
4252 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4253 affects all of its locations.
4254
4255 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4256 states of enablement:
4257
4258 @itemize @bullet
4259 @item
4260 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4261 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4262 @item
4263 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4264 @item
4265 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4266 disabled.
4267 @item
4268 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4269 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4270 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4271 @end itemize
4272
4273 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4274 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4275
4276 @table @code
4277 @kindex disable
4278 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4279 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4280 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4281 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4282 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4283 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4284 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4285
4286 @kindex enable
4287 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4288 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4289 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4290
4291 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4292 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4293 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4294
4295 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4296 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4297 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4298 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4299 @end table
4300
4301 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4302 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4303 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4304 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4305 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4306 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4307 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4308 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4309 Stepping}.)
4310
4311 @node Conditions
4312 @subsection Break Conditions
4313 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4314 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4315
4316 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4317 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4318 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4319 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4320 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4321 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4322 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4323 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4324
4325 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4326 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4327 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4328 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4329 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4330
4331 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4332 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4333 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4334 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4335 one.
4336
4337 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4338 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4339 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4340 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4341 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4342 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4343 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4344 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4345 conditions for the
4346 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4347 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4348
4349 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4350 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4351 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4352 with the @code{condition} command.
4353
4354 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4355 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4356 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4357 catchpoint.
4358
4359 @table @code
4360 @kindex condition
4361 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4362 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4363 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4364 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4365 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4366 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4367 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4368 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4369 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4370 prints an error message:
4371
4372 @smallexample
4373 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4374 @end smallexample
4375
4376 @noindent
4377 @value{GDBN} does
4378 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4379 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4380 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4381
4382 @item condition @var{bnum}
4383 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4384 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4385 @end table
4386
4387 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4388 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4389 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4390 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4391 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4392 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4393 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4394 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4395 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4396 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4397 your program reaches it.
4398
4399 @table @code
4400 @kindex ignore
4401 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4402 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4403 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4404 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4405 takes no action.
4406
4407 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4408 a count of zero.
4409
4410 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4411 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4412 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4413 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4414
4415 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4416 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4417 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4418
4419 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4420 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4421 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4422 Variables}.
4423 @end table
4424
4425 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4426
4427
4428 @node Break Commands
4429 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4430
4431 @cindex breakpoint commands
4432 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4433 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4434 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4435 enable other breakpoints.
4436
4437 @table @code
4438 @kindex commands
4439 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4440 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4441 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4442 @itemx end
4443 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4444 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4445 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4446
4447 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4448 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4449
4450 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4451 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4452 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4453 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4454 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4455 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4456 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4457 Expressions}).
4458 @end table
4459
4460 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4461 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4462
4463 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4464 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4465 that resumes execution.
4466
4467 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4468 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4469 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4470 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4471 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4472
4473 @kindex silent
4474 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4475 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4476 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4477 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4478 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4479 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4480
4481 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4482 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4483 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4484
4485 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4486 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4487
4488 @smallexample
4489 break foo if x>0
4490 commands
4491 silent
4492 printf "x is %d\n",x
4493 cont
4494 end
4495 @end smallexample
4496
4497 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4498 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4499 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4500 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4501 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4502 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4503 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4504
4505 @smallexample
4506 break 403
4507 commands
4508 silent
4509 set x = y + 4
4510 cont
4511 end
4512 @end smallexample
4513
4514 @node Save Breakpoints
4515 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4516
4517 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4518 breakpoints}} command.
4519
4520 @table @code
4521 @kindex save breakpoints
4522 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4523 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4524 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4525 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4526 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4527 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4528 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4529 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4530 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4531 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4532 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4533 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4534 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4535 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4536 that can no longer be recreated.
4537 @end table
4538
4539 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4540 @node Error in Breakpoints
4541 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4542
4543 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4544 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4545
4546 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4547 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4548 @smallexample
4549 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4550 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4551 @end smallexample
4552
4553 @noindent
4554 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4555 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4556 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4557
4558 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4559 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4560
4561 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4562 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4563 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4564
4565 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4566 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4567 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4568 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4569
4570 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4571 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4572 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4573 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4574 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4575 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4576 first in the bundle.
4577
4578 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4579 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4580 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4581 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4582 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4583 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4584 is hit.
4585
4586 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4587 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4588
4589 @smallexample
4590 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4591 @end smallexample
4592
4593 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4594 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4595 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4596 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4597 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4598 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4599 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4600 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4601
4602 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4603 adjusted breakpoints:
4604
4605 @smallexample
4606 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4607 to 0x00010410.
4608 @end smallexample
4609
4610 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4611 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4612 frequently than expected.
4613
4614 @node Continuing and Stepping
4615 @section Continuing and Stepping
4616
4617 @cindex stepping
4618 @cindex continuing
4619 @cindex resuming execution
4620 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4621 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4622 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4623 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4624 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4625 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4626 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4627 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4628
4629 @table @code
4630 @kindex continue
4631 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4632 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4633 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4634 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4635 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4636 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4637 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4638 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4639 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4640 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4641
4642 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4643 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4644 @code{continue} is ignored.
4645
4646 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4647 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4648 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4649 @code{continue}.
4650 @end table
4651
4652 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4653 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4654 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4655 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4656
4657 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4658 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4659 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4660 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4661 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4662 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4663
4664 @table @code
4665 @kindex step
4666 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4667 @item step
4668 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4669 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4670 abbreviated @code{s}.
4671
4672 @quotation
4673 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4674 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4675 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4676 @c distinction here.
4677 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4678 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4679 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4680 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4681 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4682 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4683 below.
4684 @end quotation
4685
4686 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4687 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4688 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4689 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4690 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4691 called within the line.
4692
4693 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4694 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4695 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4696 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4697 was any debugging information about the routine.
4698
4699 @item step @var{count}
4700 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4701 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4702 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4703
4704 @kindex next
4705 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4706 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4707 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4708 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4709 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4710 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4711 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4712 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4713
4714 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4715
4716
4717 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4718 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4719 @c
4720 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4721 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4722 @c function are executed without stopping.
4723
4724 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4725 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4726 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4727
4728 @kindex set step-mode
4729 @item set step-mode
4730 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4731 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4732 @itemx set step-mode on
4733 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4734 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4735 information rather than stepping over it.
4736
4737 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4738 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4739 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4740
4741 @item set step-mode off
4742 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4743 debug information. This is the default.
4744
4745 @item show step-mode
4746 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4747 source line debug information.
4748
4749 @kindex finish
4750 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4751 @item finish
4752 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4753 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4754 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4755
4756 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4757 ,Returning from a Function}).
4758
4759 @kindex until
4760 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4761 @cindex run until specified location
4762 @item until
4763 @itemx u
4764 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4765 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4766 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4767 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4768 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4769 than the address of the jump.
4770
4771 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4772 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4773 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4774 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4775 through the next iteration.
4776
4777 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4778 stack frame.
4779
4780 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4781 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4782 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4783 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4784 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4785
4786 @smallexample
4787 (@value{GDBP}) f
4788 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4789 206 expand_input();
4790 (@value{GDBP}) until
4791 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4792 @end smallexample
4793
4794 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4795 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4796 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4797 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4798 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4799 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4800 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4801
4802 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4803 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4804 argument.
4805
4806 @item until @var{location}
4807 @itemx u @var{location}
4808 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4809 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4810 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4811 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4812 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4813 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4814 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4815 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4816 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4817 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4818 invocations have returned.
4819
4820 @smallexample
4821 94 int factorial (int value)
4822 95 @{
4823 96 if (value > 1) @{
4824 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4825 98 @}
4826 99 return (value);
4827 100 @}
4828 @end smallexample
4829
4830
4831 @kindex advance @var{location}
4832 @itemx advance @var{location}
4833 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4834 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4835 @ref{Specify Location}.
4836 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4837 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4838 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4839 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4840
4841
4842 @kindex stepi
4843 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4844 @item stepi
4845 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4846 @itemx si
4847 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4848
4849 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4850 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4851 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4852 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4853
4854 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4855
4856 @need 750
4857 @kindex nexti
4858 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4859 @item nexti
4860 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4861 @itemx ni
4862 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4863 proceed until the function returns.
4864
4865 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4866 @end table
4867
4868 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
4869 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
4870 @cindex skipping over functions and files
4871
4872 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
4873 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
4874 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
4875
4876 For example, consider the following C function:
4877
4878 @smallexample
4879 101 int func()
4880 102 @{
4881 103 foo(boring());
4882 104 bar(boring());
4883 105 @}
4884 @end smallexample
4885
4886 @noindent
4887 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
4888 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
4889 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
4890 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
4891
4892 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
4893 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
4894 is called from many places.
4895
4896 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
4897 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
4898 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
4899 @code{foo}.
4900
4901 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
4902 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
4903
4904 @table @code
4905 @kindex skip function
4906 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
4907 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
4908 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
4909 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
4910 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
4911
4912 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
4913 will be skipped.
4914
4915 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
4916 @kbd{skip function file}.)
4917
4918 @kindex skip file
4919 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
4920 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
4921 will be skipped over when stepping.
4922
4923 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
4924 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
4925 @end table
4926
4927 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
4928 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
4929
4930 @table @code
4931 @kindex info skip
4932 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4933 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
4934 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
4935 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
4936
4937 @table @emph
4938 @item Identifier
4939 A number identifying this skip.
4940 @item Type
4941 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
4942 @item Enabled or Disabled
4943 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
4944 @item Address
4945 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
4946 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
4947 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
4948 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
4949 address here.
4950 @item What
4951 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
4952 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
4953 where it is defined.
4954 @end table
4955
4956 @kindex skip delete
4957 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4958 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
4959 skips.
4960
4961 @kindex skip enable
4962 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4963 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
4964 skips.
4965
4966 @kindex skip disable
4967 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4968 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
4969 skips.
4970
4971 @end table
4972
4973 @node Signals
4974 @section Signals
4975 @cindex signals
4976
4977 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4978 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4979 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4980 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4981 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4982 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4983 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4984 requested an alarm).
4985
4986 @cindex fatal signals
4987 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4988 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4989 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4990 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4991 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4992 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4993
4994 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4995 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4996 signal.
4997
4998 @cindex handling signals
4999 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5000 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5001 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5002 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5003 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5004
5005 @table @code
5006 @kindex info signals
5007 @kindex info handle
5008 @item info signals
5009 @itemx info handle
5010 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5011 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5012 the defined types of signals.
5013
5014 @item info signals @var{sig}
5015 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5016
5017 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5018
5019 @kindex handle
5020 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5021 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5022 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5023 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5024 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5025 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5026 say what change to make.
5027 @end table
5028
5029 @c @group
5030 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5031 Their full names are:
5032
5033 @table @code
5034 @item nostop
5035 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5036 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5037
5038 @item stop
5039 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5040 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5041
5042 @item print
5043 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5044
5045 @item noprint
5046 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5047 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5048
5049 @item pass
5050 @itemx noignore
5051 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5052 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5053 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5054
5055 @item nopass
5056 @itemx ignore
5057 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5058 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5059 @end table
5060 @c @end group
5061
5062 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5063 program until you
5064 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5065 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5066 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5067 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5068 program sees that signal when you continue.
5069
5070 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5071 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5072 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5073 erroneous signals.
5074
5075 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5076 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5077 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5078 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5079 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5080 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5081 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5082 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5083 Program a Signal}.
5084
5085 @cindex extra signal information
5086 @anchor{extra signal information}
5087
5088 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5089 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5090 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5091 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5092 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5093 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5094 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5095 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5096 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5097 system header.
5098
5099 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5100 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5101
5102 @smallexample
5103 @group
5104 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5105 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5106 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5107 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5108 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5109 type = struct @{
5110 int si_signo;
5111 int si_errno;
5112 int si_code;
5113 union @{
5114 int _pad[28];
5115 struct @{...@} _kill;
5116 struct @{...@} _timer;
5117 struct @{...@} _rt;
5118 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5119 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5120 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5121 @} _sifields;
5122 @}
5123 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5124 type = struct @{
5125 void *si_addr;
5126 @}
5127 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5128 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5129 @end group
5130 @end smallexample
5131
5132 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5133
5134 @node Thread Stops
5135 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5136
5137 @cindex stopped threads
5138 @cindex threads, stopped
5139
5140 @cindex continuing threads
5141 @cindex threads, continuing
5142
5143 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5144 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5145 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5146 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5147 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5148 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5149 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5150 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5151 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5152
5153 @menu
5154 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5155 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5156 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5157 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5158 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5159 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5160 @end menu
5161
5162 @node All-Stop Mode
5163 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5164
5165 @cindex all-stop mode
5166
5167 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5168 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5169 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5170 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5171 underfoot.
5172
5173 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5174 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5175 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5176
5177 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5178 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5179 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5180 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5181 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5182 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5183 stops.
5184
5185 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5186 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5187 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5188 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5189
5190 @cindex automatic thread selection
5191 @cindex switching threads automatically
5192 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5193 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5194 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5195 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5196 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5197 thread.
5198
5199 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5200 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5201
5202 @table @code
5203 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5204 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5205 @cindex lock scheduler
5206 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5207 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5208 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5209 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5210 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5211 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5212 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5213 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5214 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5215 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5216 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5217 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5218
5219 @item show scheduler-locking
5220 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5221 @end table
5222
5223 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5224 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5225 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5226 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5227 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5228 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5229 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5230 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5231 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5232 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5233 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5234 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5235 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5236 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5237
5238 @table @code
5239 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5240 @item set schedule-multiple
5241 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5242 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5243 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5244 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5245 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5246 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5247
5248 @item show schedule-multiple
5249 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5250 multiple processes.
5251 @end table
5252
5253 @node Non-Stop Mode
5254 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5255
5256 @cindex non-stop mode
5257
5258 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5259 @c with more details.
5260
5261 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5262 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5263 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5264 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5265 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5266 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5267
5268 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5269 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5270 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5271 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5272 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5273 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5274 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5275 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5276 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5277 independently and simultaneously.
5278
5279 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5280 or attach to your program:
5281
5282 @smallexample
5283 # Enable the async interface.
5284 set target-async 1
5285
5286 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5287 set pagination off
5288
5289 # Finally, turn it on!
5290 set non-stop on
5291 @end smallexample
5292
5293 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5294
5295 @table @code
5296 @kindex set non-stop
5297 @item set non-stop on
5298 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5299 @item set non-stop off
5300 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5301 @kindex show non-stop
5302 @item show non-stop
5303 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5304 @end table
5305
5306 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5307 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5308 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5309 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5310 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5311 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5312 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5313 default.
5314
5315 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5316 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5317 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5318
5319 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5320 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5321 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5322 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5323 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5324
5325 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5326 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5327 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5328 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5329 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5330
5331 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5332
5333 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5334 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5335 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5336 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5337 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5338 previously current thread.
5339
5340 @node Background Execution
5341 @subsection Background Execution
5342
5343 @cindex foreground execution
5344 @cindex background execution
5345 @cindex asynchronous execution
5346 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5347
5348 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5349 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5350 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5351 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5352 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5353 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5354
5355 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5356 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5357 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5358
5359 @table @code
5360 @kindex set target-async
5361 @item set target-async on
5362 Enable asynchronous mode.
5363 @item set target-async off
5364 Disable asynchronous mode.
5365 @kindex show target-async
5366 @item show target-async
5367 Show the current target-async setting.
5368 @end table
5369
5370 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5371 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5372
5373 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5374 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5375 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5376 are:
5377
5378 @table @code
5379 @kindex run&
5380 @item run
5381 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5382
5383 @item attach
5384 @kindex attach&
5385 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5386
5387 @item step
5388 @kindex step&
5389 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5390
5391 @item stepi
5392 @kindex stepi&
5393 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5394
5395 @item next
5396 @kindex next&
5397 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5398
5399 @item nexti
5400 @kindex nexti&
5401 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5402
5403 @item continue
5404 @kindex continue&
5405 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5406
5407 @item finish
5408 @kindex finish&
5409 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5410
5411 @item until
5412 @kindex until&
5413 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5414
5415 @end table
5416
5417 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5418 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5419 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5420 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5421 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5422 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5423
5424 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5425 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5426
5427 @table @code
5428 @kindex interrupt
5429 @item interrupt
5430 @itemx interrupt -a
5431
5432 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5433 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5434 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5435 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5436 @end table
5437
5438 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5439 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5440
5441 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5442 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5443 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5444
5445 @table @code
5446 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5447 @cindex thread breakpoints
5448 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5449 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5450 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5451 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5452 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5453 specify some source line.
5454
5455 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5456 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5457 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5458 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5459 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5460
5461 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5462 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5463 program.
5464
5465 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5466 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5467 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5468
5469 @smallexample
5470 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5471 @end smallexample
5472
5473 @end table
5474
5475 @node Interrupted System Calls
5476 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5477
5478 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5479 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5480 @cindex premature return from system calls
5481 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5482 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5483 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5484 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5485 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5486 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5487 stop execution.
5488
5489 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5490 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5491 style anyways.
5492
5493 For example, do not write code like this:
5494
5495 @smallexample
5496 sleep (10);
5497 @end smallexample
5498
5499 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5500 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5501
5502 Instead, write this:
5503
5504 @smallexample
5505 int unslept = 10;
5506 while (unslept > 0)
5507 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5508 @end smallexample
5509
5510 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5511 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5512 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5513 @value{GDBN}.
5514
5515 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5516 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5517 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5518 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5519
5520 @node Observer Mode
5521 @subsection Observer Mode
5522
5523 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5524 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5525 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5526 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5527 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5528
5529 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5530 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5531 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5532 mode.
5533
5534 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5535 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5536 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5537 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5538 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5539
5540 @table @code
5541
5542 @kindex observer
5543 @item set observer on
5544 @itemx set observer off
5545 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5546 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5547 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5548 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5549
5550 @item show observer
5551 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5552
5553 @kindex may-write-registers
5554 @item set may-write-registers on
5555 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5556 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5557 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5558 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5559
5560 @item show may-write-registers
5561 Show the current permission to write registers.
5562
5563 @kindex may-write-memory
5564 @item set may-write-memory on
5565 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5566 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5567 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5568 defaults to @code{on}.
5569
5570 @item show may-write-memory
5571 Show the current permission to write memory.
5572
5573 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5574 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5575 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5576 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5577 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5578 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5579
5580 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5581 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5582
5583 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5584 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5585 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5586 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5587 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5588 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5589 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5590
5591 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5592 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5593
5594 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5595 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5596 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5597 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5598 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5599 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5600 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5601
5602 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5603 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5604
5605 @kindex may-interrupt
5606 @item set may-interrupt on
5607 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5608 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5609 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5610 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5611 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5612
5613 @item show may-interrupt
5614 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5615
5616 @end table
5617
5618 @node Reverse Execution
5619 @chapter Running programs backward
5620 @cindex reverse execution
5621 @cindex running programs backward
5622
5623 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5624 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5625 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5626 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5627
5628 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5629 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5630 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5631 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5632 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5633 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5634
5635 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5636 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5637 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5638 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5639 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5640 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5641 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5642 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5643 prior values@footnote{
5644 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5645 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5646 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5647
5648 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5649 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5650 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5651 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5652 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5653 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5654 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5655 }.
5656
5657 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5658 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5659
5660 @table @code
5661 @kindex reverse-continue
5662 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5663 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5664 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5665 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5666 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5667 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5668 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5669
5670 @kindex reverse-step
5671 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5672 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5673 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5674 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5675
5676 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5677 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5678 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5679 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5680 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5681 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5682
5683 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5684 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5685
5686 @kindex reverse-stepi
5687 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5688 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5689 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5690 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5691 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5692 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5693 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5694
5695 @kindex reverse-next
5696 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5697 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5698 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5699 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5700 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5701 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5702 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5703 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5704 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5705 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5706
5707 @kindex reverse-nexti
5708 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5709 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5710 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5711 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5712 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5713 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5714 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5715 frame) is reached.
5716
5717 @kindex reverse-finish
5718 @item reverse-finish
5719 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5720 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5721 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5722 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5723
5724 @kindex set exec-direction
5725 @item set exec-direction
5726 Set the direction of target execution.
5727 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5728 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5729 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5730 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5731 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5732 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5733 @item set exec-direction forward
5734 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5735 This is the default.
5736 @end table
5737
5738
5739 @node Process Record and Replay
5740 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5741 @cindex process record and replay
5742 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5743
5744 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5745 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5746 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5747
5748 @cindex replay mode
5749 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5750 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5751 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5752 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5753 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5754 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5755 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5756 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5757 execution log.
5758
5759 @cindex record mode
5760 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5761 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5762 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5763 for future replay.
5764
5765 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5766 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5767 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5768 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5769 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5770 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5771
5772 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5773 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5774 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5775 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5776
5777 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5778 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5779
5780 @table @code
5781 @kindex target record
5782 @kindex record
5783 @kindex rec
5784 @item target record
5785 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5786 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5787 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5788 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5789 the @kbd{target record} command.
5790
5791 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5792
5793 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5794 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5795 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5796 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5797 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5798
5799 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5800 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5801 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5802 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5803 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5804 support these two modes.
5805
5806 @kindex record stop
5807 @kindex rec s
5808 @item record stop
5809 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5810 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5811 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5812
5813 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5814 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5815 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5816 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5817 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5818
5819 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5820 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5821 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5822 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5823 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5824
5825 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5826 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5827
5828 @kindex record save
5829 @item record save @var{filename}
5830 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5831 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5832 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5833
5834 @kindex record restore
5835 @item record restore @var{filename}
5836 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5837 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5838
5839 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5840 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5841 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5842
5843 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5844 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5845 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5846 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5847 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5848 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5849 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5850 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5851
5852 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5853 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5854 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5855
5856 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5857 @item show record insn-number-max
5858 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5859
5860 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5861 @item set record stop-at-limit
5862 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5863 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5864 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5865 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5866 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5867 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5868
5869 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5870 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5871
5872 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5873 @item show record stop-at-limit
5874 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5875
5876 @kindex set record memory-query
5877 @item set record memory-query
5878 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5879 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5880 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5881
5882 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5883 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5884 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5885 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5886 results.
5887
5888 @kindex show record memory-query
5889 @item show record memory-query
5890 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5891
5892 @kindex info record
5893 @item info record
5894 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5895 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5896
5897 @itemize @bullet
5898 @item
5899 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5900 @item
5901 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5902 @item
5903 Highest recorded instruction number.
5904 @item
5905 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5906 @item
5907 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5908 @item
5909 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5910 @end itemize
5911
5912 @kindex record delete
5913 @kindex rec del
5914 @item record delete
5915 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5916 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5917 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5918 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5919 @end table
5920
5921
5922 @node Stack
5923 @chapter Examining the Stack
5924
5925 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5926 stopped and how it got there.
5927
5928 @cindex call stack
5929 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5930 is generated.
5931 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5932 the arguments of the call,
5933 and the local variables of the function being called.
5934 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5935 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5936 stack}.
5937
5938 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5939 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5940
5941 @cindex selected frame
5942 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5943 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5944 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5945 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5946 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5947 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5948
5949 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5950 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5951 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5952
5953 @menu
5954 * Frames:: Stack frames
5955 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5956 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5957 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5958
5959 @end menu
5960
5961 @node Frames
5962 @section Stack Frames
5963
5964 @cindex frame, definition
5965 @cindex stack frame
5966 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5967 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5968 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5969 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5970 which the function is executing.
5971
5972 @cindex initial frame
5973 @cindex outermost frame
5974 @cindex innermost frame
5975 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5976 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5977 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5978 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5979 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5980 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5981 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5982 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5983
5984 @cindex frame pointer
5985 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5986 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5987 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5988 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5989 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5990 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5991
5992 @cindex frame number
5993 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5994 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5995 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5996 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5997 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5998
5999 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6000 @c underflow problems.
6001 @cindex frameless execution
6002 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6003 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6004 @smallexample
6005 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6006 @end smallexample
6007 generates functions without a frame.)
6008 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6009 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6010 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6011 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6012 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6013 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6014 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6015
6016 @table @code
6017 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6018 @cindex current stack frame
6019 @item frame @var{args}
6020 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6021 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6022 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6023 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6024
6025 @kindex select-frame
6026 @cindex selecting frame silently
6027 @item select-frame
6028 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6029 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6030 @code{frame}.
6031 @end table
6032
6033 @node Backtrace
6034 @section Backtraces
6035
6036 @cindex traceback
6037 @cindex call stack traces
6038 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6039 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6040 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6041 stack.
6042
6043 @table @code
6044 @kindex backtrace
6045 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6046 @item backtrace
6047 @itemx bt
6048 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6049 frames in the stack.
6050
6051 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6052 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6053
6054 @item backtrace @var{n}
6055 @itemx bt @var{n}
6056 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6057
6058 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6059 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6060 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6061
6062 @item backtrace full
6063 @itemx bt full
6064 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6065 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6066 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6067 number of frames to print, as described above.
6068 @end table
6069
6070 @kindex where
6071 @kindex info stack
6072 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6073 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6074
6075 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6076 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6077 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6078 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6079 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6080 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6081 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6082 multi-threaded program.
6083
6084 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6085 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6086 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6087 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6088 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6089 line number.
6090
6091 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6092 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6093
6094 @smallexample
6095 @group
6096 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6097 at builtin.c:993
6098 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6099 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6100 at macro.c:71
6101 (More stack frames follow...)
6102 @end group
6103 @end smallexample
6104
6105 @noindent
6106 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6107 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6108 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6109
6110 @noindent
6111 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6112 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6113 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6114 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6115 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6116
6117 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6118 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6119 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6120 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6121 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6122 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6123 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6124 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6125 such a backtrace might look like:
6126
6127 @smallexample
6128 @group
6129 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6130 at builtin.c:993
6131 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6132 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6133 at macro.c:71
6134 (More stack frames follow...)
6135 @end group
6136 @end smallexample
6137
6138 @noindent
6139 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6140 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6141
6142 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6143 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6144 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6145
6146 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6147 @cindex program entry point
6148 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6149 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6150 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6151 @code{main}@footnote{
6152 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6153 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6154 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6155 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6156 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6157 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6158
6159 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6160 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6161
6162 @table @code
6163 @item set backtrace past-main
6164 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6165 @kindex set backtrace
6166 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6167
6168 @item set backtrace past-main off
6169 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6170 default.
6171
6172 @item show backtrace past-main
6173 @kindex show backtrace
6174 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6175
6176 @item set backtrace past-entry
6177 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6178 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6179 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6180 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6181
6182 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6183 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6184 application. This is the default.
6185
6186 @item show backtrace past-entry
6187 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6188
6189 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6190 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6191 @cindex backtrace limit
6192 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6193 unlimited.
6194
6195 @item show backtrace limit
6196 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6197 @end table
6198
6199 @node Selection
6200 @section Selecting a Frame
6201
6202 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6203 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6204 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6205 of the stack frame just selected.
6206
6207 @table @code
6208 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6209 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6210 @item frame @var{n}
6211 @itemx f @var{n}
6212 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6213 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6214 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6215 @code{main}.
6216
6217 @item frame @var{addr}
6218 @itemx f @var{addr}
6219 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6220 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6221 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6222 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6223 switches between them.
6224
6225 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6226 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6227
6228 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6229 pointer and a program counter.
6230
6231 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6232 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6233
6234 @kindex up
6235 @item up @var{n}
6236 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6237 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6238 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6239
6240 @kindex down
6241 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6242 @item down @var{n}
6243 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6244 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6245 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6246 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6247 @end table
6248
6249 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6250 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6251 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6252 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6253
6254 @need 1000
6255 For example:
6256
6257 @smallexample
6258 @group
6259 (@value{GDBP}) up
6260 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6261 at env.c:10
6262 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6263 @end group
6264 @end smallexample
6265
6266 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6267 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6268 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6269 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6270 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6271 for details.
6272
6273 @table @code
6274 @kindex down-silently
6275 @kindex up-silently
6276 @item up-silently @var{n}
6277 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6278 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6279 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6280 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6281 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6282 distracting.
6283 @end table
6284
6285 @node Frame Info
6286 @section Information About a Frame
6287
6288 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6289 stack frame.
6290
6291 @table @code
6292 @item frame
6293 @itemx f
6294 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6295 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6296 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6297 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6298 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6299
6300 @kindex info frame
6301 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6302 @item info frame
6303 @itemx info f
6304 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6305 including:
6306
6307 @itemize @bullet
6308 @item
6309 the address of the frame
6310 @item
6311 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6312 @item
6313 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6314 @item
6315 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6316 @item
6317 the address of the frame's arguments
6318 @item
6319 the address of the frame's local variables
6320 @item
6321 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6322 @item
6323 which registers were saved in the frame
6324 @end itemize
6325
6326 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6327 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6328 the usual conventions.
6329
6330 @item info frame @var{addr}
6331 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6332 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6333 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6334 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6335 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6336 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6337
6338 @kindex info args
6339 @item info args
6340 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6341
6342 @item info locals
6343 @kindex info locals
6344 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6345 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6346 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6347
6348 @end table
6349
6350
6351 @node Source
6352 @chapter Examining Source Files
6353
6354 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6355 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6356 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6357 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6358 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6359 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6360 source files by explicit command.
6361
6362 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6363 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6364 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6365
6366 @menu
6367 * List:: Printing source lines
6368 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6369 * Edit:: Editing source files
6370 * Search:: Searching source files
6371 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6372 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6373 @end menu
6374
6375 @node List
6376 @section Printing Source Lines
6377
6378 @kindex list
6379 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6380 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6381 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6382 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6383 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6384
6385 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6386
6387 @table @code
6388 @item list @var{linenum}
6389 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6390 current source file.
6391
6392 @item list @var{function}
6393 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6394 @var{function}.
6395
6396 @item list
6397 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6398 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6399 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6400 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6401 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6402
6403 @item list -
6404 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6405 @end table
6406
6407 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6408 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6409 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6410
6411 @table @code
6412 @kindex set listsize
6413 @item set listsize @var{count}
6414 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6415 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6416
6417 @kindex show listsize
6418 @item show listsize
6419 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6420 @end table
6421
6422 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6423 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6424 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6425 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6426 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6427
6428 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6429 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6430 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6431 to specify some source line.
6432
6433 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6434
6435 @table @code
6436 @item list @var{linespec}
6437 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6438
6439 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6440 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6441 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6442 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6443 the same source file as the first linespec.
6444
6445 @item list ,@var{last}
6446 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6447
6448 @item list @var{first},
6449 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6450
6451 @item list +
6452 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6453
6454 @item list -
6455 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6456
6457 @item list
6458 As described in the preceding table.
6459 @end table
6460
6461 @node Specify Location
6462 @section Specifying a Location
6463 @cindex specifying location
6464 @cindex linespec
6465
6466 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6467 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6468 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6469 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6470
6471 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6472 @value{GDBN} understands:
6473
6474 @table @code
6475 @item @var{linenum}
6476 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6477
6478 @item -@var{offset}
6479 @itemx +@var{offset}
6480 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6481 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6482 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6483 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6484 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6485 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6486 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6487 linespec.
6488
6489 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6490 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6491 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
6492 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
6493 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
6494 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
6495 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
6496
6497 @item @var{function}
6498 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6499 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6500
6501 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6502 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6503
6504 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6505 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6506 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6507 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6508 functions in different source files.
6509
6510 @item @var{label}
6511 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6512 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6513 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6514 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6515 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6516
6517 @item *@var{address}
6518 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6519 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6520 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6521 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6522 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6523 source files.
6524
6525 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6526 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6527 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6528 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6529 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6530 of @var{address}:
6531
6532 @table @code
6533 @item @var{expression}
6534 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6535
6536 @item @var{funcaddr}
6537 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6538 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6539 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6540 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6541 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6542 (although the Pascal form also works).
6543
6544 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6545 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6546
6547 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6548 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6549 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6550 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6551 functions with identical names in different source files.
6552 @end table
6553
6554 @end table
6555
6556
6557 @node Edit
6558 @section Editing Source Files
6559 @cindex editing source files
6560
6561 @kindex edit
6562 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6563 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6564 The editing program of your choice
6565 is invoked with the current line set to
6566 the active line in the program.
6567 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6568 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6569
6570 @table @code
6571 @item edit @var{location}
6572 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6573 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6574 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6575 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6576 command most commonly used:
6577
6578 @table @code
6579 @item edit @var{number}
6580 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6581
6582 @item edit @var{function}
6583 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6584 @end table
6585
6586 @end table
6587
6588 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6589 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6590 @footnote{
6591 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6592 following command-line syntax:
6593 @smallexample
6594 ex +@var{number} file
6595 @end smallexample
6596 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6597 the file where to start editing.}.
6598 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6599 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6600 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6601 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6602 @smallexample
6603 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6604 export EDITOR
6605 gdb @dots{}
6606 @end smallexample
6607 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6608 @smallexample
6609 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6610 gdb @dots{}
6611 @end smallexample
6612
6613 @node Search
6614 @section Searching Source Files
6615 @cindex searching source files
6616
6617 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6618 regular expression.
6619
6620 @table @code
6621 @kindex search
6622 @kindex forward-search
6623 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6624 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6625 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6626 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6627 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6628 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6629 @code{fo}.
6630
6631 @kindex reverse-search
6632 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6633 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6634 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6635 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6636 this command as @code{rev}.
6637 @end table
6638
6639 @node Source Path
6640 @section Specifying Source Directories
6641
6642 @cindex source path
6643 @cindex directories for source files
6644 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6645 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6646 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6647 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6648 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6649 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6650 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6651
6652 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6653 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6654 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6655 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6656 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6657 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6658 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6659 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6660 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6661 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6662 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6663
6664 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6665 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6666 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6667 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6668 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6669 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6670
6671 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6672 source files.
6673
6674 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6675 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6676 each line is in the file.
6677
6678 @kindex directory
6679 @kindex dir
6680 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6681 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6682 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6683
6684 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6685 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6686
6687 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6688 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6689 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6690 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6691 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6692 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6693 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6694 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6695 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6696 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6697 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6698 name to look up the sources.
6699
6700 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6701 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6702 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6703 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6704 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6705 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6706 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6707 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6708
6709 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6710 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6711 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6712 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6713 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6714 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6715 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6716
6717 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6718 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6719 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6720 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6721 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6722 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6723 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6724 command.
6725
6726 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6727 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6728 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6729 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6730 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6731 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6732 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6733
6734 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6735 @cindex default source path substitution
6736 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6737 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6738 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6739 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6740 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6741 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6742 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6743 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6744 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6745 together.
6746
6747 @table @code
6748 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6749 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6750 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6751 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6752 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6753 part of absolute file names) or
6754 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6755 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6756
6757 @kindex cdir
6758 @kindex cwd
6759 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6760 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6761 @cindex compilation directory
6762 @cindex current directory
6763 @cindex working directory
6764 @cindex directory, current
6765 @cindex directory, compilation
6766 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6767 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6768 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6769 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6770 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6771 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6772
6773 @item directory
6774 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6775
6776 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6777 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6778
6779 @item set directories @var{path-list}
6780 @kindex set directories
6781 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
6782 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
6783
6784 @item show directories
6785 @kindex show directories
6786 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6787
6788 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6789 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6790 @kindex set substitute-path
6791 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6792 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6793 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6794
6795 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6796 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6797
6798 @smallexample
6799 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6800 @end smallexample
6801
6802 @noindent
6803 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6804 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6805 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6806
6807 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6808 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6809 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6810 the substitution.
6811
6812 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6813
6814 @smallexample
6815 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6816 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6817 @end smallexample
6818
6819 @noindent
6820 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6821 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6822 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6823 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6824
6825
6826 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6827 @kindex unset substitute-path
6828 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6829 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6830 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6831
6832 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6833
6834 @item show substitute-path [path]
6835 @kindex show substitute-path
6836 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6837 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6838
6839 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6840 rules.
6841
6842 @end table
6843
6844 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6845 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6846 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6847
6848 @enumerate
6849 @item
6850 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6851
6852 @item
6853 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6854 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6855 directories in one command.
6856 @end enumerate
6857
6858 @node Machine Code
6859 @section Source and Machine Code
6860 @cindex source line and its code address
6861
6862 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6863 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6864 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6865 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6866 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6867 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6868 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6869 well as hex.
6870
6871 @table @code
6872 @kindex info line
6873 @item info line @var{linespec}
6874 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6875 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6876 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6877 @end table
6878
6879 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6880 the object code for the first line of function
6881 @code{m4_changequote}:
6882
6883 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6884 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6885 @smallexample
6886 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6887 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6888 @end smallexample
6889
6890 @noindent
6891 @cindex code address and its source line
6892 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6893 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6894 @smallexample
6895 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6896 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6897 @end smallexample
6898
6899 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6900 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6901 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6902 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6903 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6904 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6905 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6906 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6907 Variables}).
6908
6909 @table @code
6910 @kindex disassemble
6911 @cindex assembly instructions
6912 @cindex instructions, assembly
6913 @cindex machine instructions
6914 @cindex listing machine instructions
6915 @item disassemble
6916 @itemx disassemble /m
6917 @itemx disassemble /r
6918 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6919 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6920 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6921 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6922 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6923 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6924 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6925 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6926 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6927 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
6928
6929 @table @code
6930 @item @var{start},@var{end}
6931 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
6932 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
6933 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
6934 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
6935 @end table
6936
6937 @noindent
6938 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
6939 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
6940
6941 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6942 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6943
6944 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6945 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6946 @end table
6947
6948 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6949 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6950
6951 @smallexample
6952 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6953 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6954 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6955 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6956 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6957 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6958 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6959 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6960 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6961 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6962 End of assembler dump.
6963 @end smallexample
6964
6965 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6966 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6967
6968 @smallexample
6969 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6970 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6971 5 @{
6972 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6973 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6974 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6975 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6976 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6977
6978 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6979 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6980 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6981
6982 7 return 0;
6983 8 @}
6984 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6985 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6986 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6987
6988 End of assembler dump.
6989 @end smallexample
6990
6991 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
6992
6993 @smallexample
6994 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
6995 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
6996 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
6997 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
6998 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
6999 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7000 End of assembler dump.
7001 @end smallexample
7002
7003 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7004 mnemonics or other syntax.
7005
7006 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7007 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7008 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7009 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7010 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7011
7012 @table @code
7013 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7014 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7015 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7016 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7017 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7018 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7019
7020 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7021 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7022 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7023 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7024
7025 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7026 @item show disassembly-flavor
7027 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7028 @end table
7029
7030 @table @code
7031 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7032 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7033 @item set disassemble-next-line
7034 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7035 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7036 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7037 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7038 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7039 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7040 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7041 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7042 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7043 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7044 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7045 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7046 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7047 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7048 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7049 instruction.
7050 @end table
7051
7052
7053 @node Data
7054 @chapter Examining Data
7055
7056 @cindex printing data
7057 @cindex examining data
7058 @kindex print
7059 @kindex inspect
7060 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
7061 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
7062 @c different window or something like that.
7063 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7064 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7065 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7066 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7067 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7068 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7069
7070 @table @code
7071 @item print @var{expr}
7072 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7073 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7074 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7075 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7076 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7077 Formats}.
7078
7079 @item print
7080 @itemx print /@var{f}
7081 @cindex reprint the last value
7082 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7083 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7084 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7085 @end table
7086
7087 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7088 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7089 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7090
7091 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7092 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7093 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7094 Table}.
7095
7096 @menu
7097 * Expressions:: Expressions
7098 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7099 * Variables:: Program variables
7100 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7101 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7102 * Memory:: Examining memory
7103 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7104 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7105 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7106 * Value History:: Value history
7107 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7108 * Registers:: Registers
7109 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7110 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7111 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7112 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7113 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7114 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7115 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7116 character set than GDB does
7117 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7118 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7119 @end menu
7120
7121 @node Expressions
7122 @section Expressions
7123
7124 @cindex expressions
7125 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7126 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7127 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7128 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7129 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7130 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7131 @ref{Compilation}.
7132
7133 @cindex arrays in expressions
7134 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7135 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7136 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7137 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7138 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7139 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7140
7141 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7142 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7143 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7144 languages.
7145
7146 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7147 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7148
7149 @cindex casts, in expressions
7150 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7151 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7152 at that address in memory.
7153 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7154
7155 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7156 to programming languages:
7157
7158 @table @code
7159 @item @@
7160 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7161 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7162
7163 @item ::
7164 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7165 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7166
7167 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7168 @cindex type casting memory
7169 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7170 @cindex casts, to view memory
7171 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7172 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7173 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7174 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7175 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7176 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7177 @end table
7178
7179 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7180 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7181 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7182
7183 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7184 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7185 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7186 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7187 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7188 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7189 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7190
7191 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7192 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7193 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7194 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7195 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7196 as well.
7197
7198 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7199 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7200 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7201 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7202 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7203 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7204 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7205 choices.
7206
7207 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7208 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7209 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7210
7211 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7212 @smallexample
7213 @group
7214 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7215 [0] cancel
7216 [1] all
7217 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7218 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7219 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7220 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7221 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7222 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7223 > 2 4 6
7224 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7225 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7226 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7227 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7228 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7229 breakpoints.
7230 (@value{GDBP})
7231 @end group
7232 @end smallexample
7233
7234 @table @code
7235 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7236 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7237 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7238
7239 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7240 is ambiguous.
7241
7242 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7243 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7244 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7245 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7246 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7247 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7248 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7249 in the use of the menu.
7250
7251 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7252 when an ambiguity is detected.
7253
7254 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7255 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7256
7257 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7258 @item show multiple-symbols
7259 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7260 @end table
7261
7262 @node Variables
7263 @section Program Variables
7264
7265 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7266 in your program.
7267
7268 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7269 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7270
7271 @itemize @bullet
7272 @item
7273 global (or file-static)
7274 @end itemize
7275
7276 @noindent or
7277
7278 @itemize @bullet
7279 @item
7280 visible according to the scope rules of the
7281 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7282 @end itemize
7283
7284 @noindent This means that in the function
7285
7286 @smallexample
7287 foo (a)
7288 int a;
7289 @{
7290 bar (a);
7291 @{
7292 int b = test ();
7293 bar (b);
7294 @}
7295 @}
7296 @end smallexample
7297
7298 @noindent
7299 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7300 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7301 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7302 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7303
7304 @cindex variable name conflict
7305 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7306 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7307 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7308 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7309 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7310 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
7311 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7312
7313 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7314 @ifnotinfo
7315 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7316 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7317 @end ifnotinfo
7318 @smallexample
7319 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7320 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7321 @end smallexample
7322
7323 @noindent
7324 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7325 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7326 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7327 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7328
7329 @smallexample
7330 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7331 @end smallexample
7332
7333 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
7334 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
7335 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
7336 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
7337 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
7338
7339 @smallexample
7340 void
7341 foo (int a)
7342 @{
7343 if (a < 10)
7344 bar (a);
7345 else
7346 process (a); /* Stop here */
7347 @}
7348
7349 int
7350 bar (int a)
7351 @{
7352 foo (a + 5);
7353 @}
7354 @end smallexample
7355
7356 @noindent
7357 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
7358 here is what you might see
7359 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
7360
7361 @smallexample
7362 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7363 $1 = 10
7364 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7365 $2 = 5
7366 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
7367 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
7368 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7369 $3 = 5
7370 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7371 $4 = 0
7372 @end smallexample
7373
7374 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7375 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7376 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7377 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7378 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7379 @c conflict?? --mew
7380
7381 @cindex wrong values
7382 @cindex variable values, wrong
7383 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7384 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7385 @quotation
7386 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7387 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7388 scope, and just before exit.
7389 @end quotation
7390 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7391 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7392 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7393 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7394 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7395 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7396 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7397 variable definitions may be gone.
7398
7399 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7400 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7401 when compiling.
7402
7403 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7404 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7405 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7406 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7407 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7408 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7409 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7410
7411 @smallexample
7412 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7413 @end smallexample
7414
7415 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7416 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7417 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
7418 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
7419 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7420
7421 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7422 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7423 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7424 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7425
7426 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
7427 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
7428 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
7429 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
7430 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
7431
7432 @smallexample
7433 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
7434 29 i++;
7435 (gdb) next
7436 30 e (i);
7437 (gdb) print i
7438 $1 = 31
7439 (gdb) print i@@entry
7440 $2 = 30
7441 @end smallexample
7442
7443 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7444 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7445 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7446 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7447 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7448 For program code
7449
7450 @smallexample
7451 char var0[] = "A";
7452 signed char var1[] = "A";
7453 @end smallexample
7454
7455 You get during debugging
7456 @smallexample
7457 (gdb) print var0
7458 $1 = "A"
7459 (gdb) print var1
7460 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7461 @end smallexample
7462
7463 @node Arrays
7464 @section Artificial Arrays
7465
7466 @cindex artificial array
7467 @cindex arrays
7468 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7469 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7470 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7471 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7472 program.
7473
7474 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7475 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7476 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7477 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7478 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7479 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7480 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7481 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7482 example. If a program says
7483
7484 @smallexample
7485 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7486 @end smallexample
7487
7488 @noindent
7489 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7490
7491 @smallexample
7492 p *array@@len
7493 @end smallexample
7494
7495 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7496 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7497 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7498 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7499 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7500
7501 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7502 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7503 The value need not be in memory:
7504 @smallexample
7505 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7506 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7507 @end smallexample
7508
7509 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7510 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7511 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7512 @smallexample
7513 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7514 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7515 @end smallexample
7516
7517 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7518 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7519 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7520 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7521 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7522 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7523 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7524 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7525 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7526 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7527
7528 @smallexample
7529 set $i = 0
7530 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7531 @key{RET}
7532 @key{RET}
7533 @dots{}
7534 @end smallexample
7535
7536 @node Output Formats
7537 @section Output Formats
7538
7539 @cindex formatted output
7540 @cindex output formats
7541 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7542 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7543 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7544 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7545 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7546
7547 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7548 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7549 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7550 letters supported are:
7551
7552 @table @code
7553 @item x
7554 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7555 hexadecimal.
7556
7557 @item d
7558 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7559
7560 @item u
7561 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7562
7563 @item o
7564 Print as integer in octal.
7565
7566 @item t
7567 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7568 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7569 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7570 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7571
7572 @item a
7573 @cindex unknown address, locating
7574 @cindex locate address
7575 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7576 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7577 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7578
7579 @smallexample
7580 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7581 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7582 @end smallexample
7583
7584 @noindent
7585 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7586 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7587
7588 @item c
7589 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7590 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7591 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7592 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7593
7594 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7595 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7596 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7597 data.
7598
7599 @item f
7600 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7601 using typical floating point syntax.
7602
7603 @item s
7604 @cindex printing strings
7605 @cindex printing byte arrays
7606 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7607 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7608 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7609 natural types.
7610
7611 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7612 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7613 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7614 array.
7615
7616 @item r
7617 @cindex raw printing
7618 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7619 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7620 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7621 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7622 pretty-printer which might exist.
7623 @end table
7624
7625 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7626
7627 @smallexample
7628 p/x $pc
7629 @end smallexample
7630
7631 @noindent
7632 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7633 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7634
7635 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7636 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7637 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7638
7639 @node Memory
7640 @section Examining Memory
7641
7642 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7643 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7644
7645 @cindex examining memory
7646 @table @code
7647 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7648 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7649 @itemx x @var{addr}
7650 @itemx x
7651 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7652 @end table
7653
7654 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7655 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7656 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7657 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7658 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7659
7660 @table @r
7661 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7662 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7663 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7664 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7665 @c 4.1.2.
7666
7667 @item @var{f}, the display format
7668 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7669 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7670 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7671 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7672 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7673
7674 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7675 The unit size is any of
7676
7677 @table @code
7678 @item b
7679 Bytes.
7680 @item h
7681 Halfwords (two bytes).
7682 @item w
7683 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7684 @item g
7685 Giant words (eight bytes).
7686 @end table
7687
7688 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7689 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7690 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7691 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7692 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7693 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7694 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7695 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7696 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7697 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7698 be altered.
7699
7700 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7701 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7702 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7703 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7704 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7705 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7706 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7707 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7708 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7709 a value from memory).
7710 @end table
7711
7712 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7713 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7714 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7715 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7716 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7717
7718 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7719 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7720 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7721 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7722 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7723
7724 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7725 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7726 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7727 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7728 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7729 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7730 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7731 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7732 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7733
7734 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7735 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7736 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7737 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7738 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7739 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7740 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7741
7742 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7743 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7744
7745 @smallexample
7746 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7747 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7748 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7749 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7750 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7751 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7752 @end smallexample
7753
7754 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7755 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7756 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7757 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7758 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7759 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7760 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7761 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7762 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7763
7764 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7765 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7766 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7767
7768 @cindex remote memory comparison
7769 @cindex verify remote memory image
7770 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7771 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7772 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7773 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7774 situations.
7775
7776 @table @code
7777 @kindex compare-sections
7778 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7779 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7780 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7781 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7782 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7783 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7784 remote request.
7785 @end table
7786
7787 @node Auto Display
7788 @section Automatic Display
7789 @cindex automatic display
7790 @cindex display of expressions
7791
7792 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7793 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7794 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7795 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7796 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7797 The automatic display looks like this:
7798
7799 @smallexample
7800 2: foo = 38
7801 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7802 @end smallexample
7803
7804 @noindent
7805 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7806 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7807 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7808 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7809 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7810 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7811
7812 @table @code
7813 @kindex display
7814 @item display @var{expr}
7815 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7816 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7817
7818 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7819
7820 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7821 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7822 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7823 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7824 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7825
7826 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7827 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7828 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7829 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7830 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7831 @end table
7832
7833 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7834 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7835 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7836
7837 @table @code
7838 @kindex delete display
7839 @kindex undisplay
7840 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7841 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7842 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
7843 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
7844 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
7845 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
7846 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7847
7848 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7849 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7850
7851 @kindex disable display
7852 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7853 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7854 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7855 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
7856 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
7857 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
7858 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
7859 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7860
7861 @kindex enable display
7862 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7863 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7864 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7865 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
7866 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
7867 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
7868 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7869
7870 @item display
7871 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7872 done when your program stops.
7873
7874 @kindex info display
7875 @item info display
7876 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7877 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7878 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7879 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7880 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7881 @end table
7882
7883 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7884 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7885 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7886 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7887 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7888 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7889 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7890 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7891 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7892 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7893 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7894
7895 @node Print Settings
7896 @section Print Settings
7897
7898 @cindex format options
7899 @cindex print settings
7900 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7901 and symbols are printed.
7902
7903 @noindent
7904 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7905
7906 @table @code
7907 @kindex set print
7908 @item set print address
7909 @itemx set print address on
7910 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7911 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7912 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7913 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7914 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7915 @code{set print address on}:
7916
7917 @smallexample
7918 @group
7919 (@value{GDBP}) f
7920 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7921 at input.c:530
7922 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7923 @end group
7924 @end smallexample
7925
7926 @item set print address off
7927 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7928 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7929
7930 @smallexample
7931 @group
7932 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7933 (@value{GDBP}) f
7934 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7935 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7936 @end group
7937 @end smallexample
7938
7939 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7940 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7941 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7942 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7943
7944 @kindex show print
7945 @item show print address
7946 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7947 @end table
7948
7949 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7950 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7951 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7952 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7953 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7954 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7955 it prints a symbolic address:
7956
7957 @table @code
7958 @item set print symbol-filename on
7959 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7960 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7961 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7962 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7963
7964 @item set print symbol-filename off
7965 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7966 default.
7967
7968 @item show print symbol-filename
7969 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7970 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7971 @end table
7972
7973 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7974 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7975 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7976
7977 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7978 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7979
7980 @table @code
7981 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7982 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7983 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7984 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7985 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7986 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7987
7988 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7989 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7990 symbolic address.
7991 @end table
7992
7993 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7994 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7995 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7996 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7997 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7998 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7999 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8000 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8001
8002 @smallexample
8003 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8004 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8005 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8006 @end smallexample
8007
8008 @quotation
8009 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8010 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8011 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8012 @end quotation
8013
8014 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8015
8016 @table @code
8017 @item set print array
8018 @itemx set print array on
8019 @cindex pretty print arrays
8020 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8021 but uses more space. The default is off.
8022
8023 @item set print array off
8024 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8025
8026 @item show print array
8027 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8028 arrays.
8029
8030 @cindex print array indexes
8031 @item set print array-indexes
8032 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8033 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8034 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8035 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8036
8037 @item set print array-indexes off
8038 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8039
8040 @item show print array-indexes
8041 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8042 arrays.
8043
8044 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8045 @cindex number of array elements to print
8046 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8047 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8048 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8049 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8050 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8051 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8052 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8053
8054 @item show print elements
8055 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8056 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8057
8058 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8059 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8060 @cindex printing frame argument values
8061 @cindex print all frame argument values
8062 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8063 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8064 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8065 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8066 values are:
8067
8068 @table @code
8069 @item all
8070 The values of all arguments are printed.
8071
8072 @item scalars
8073 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8074 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8075 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8076 only scalar arguments are shown:
8077
8078 @smallexample
8079 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8080 at frame-args.c:23
8081 @end smallexample
8082
8083 @item none
8084 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8085 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8086
8087 @smallexample
8088 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8089 at frame-args.c:23
8090 @end smallexample
8091 @end table
8092
8093 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8094 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8095 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8096 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8097 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8098 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8099 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8100 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8101 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8102 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8103
8104 @item show print frame-arguments
8105 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8106
8107 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8108 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8109 @kindex set print entry-values
8110 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8111 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8112 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8113 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8114 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8115
8116 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8117 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8118 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8119 @code{no} setting.
8120
8121 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8122 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8123 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8124 this information.
8125
8126 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8127
8128 @table @code
8129 @item no
8130 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8131 point.
8132 @smallexample
8133 #0 equal (val=5)
8134 #0 different (val=6)
8135 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8136 #0 born (val=10)
8137 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8138 @end smallexample
8139
8140 @item only
8141 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8142 values are never printed.
8143 @smallexample
8144 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8145 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8146 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8147 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8148 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8149 @end smallexample
8150
8151 @item preferred
8152 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8153 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8154 value for such parameter.
8155 @smallexample
8156 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8157 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8158 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8159 #0 born (val=10)
8160 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8161 @end smallexample
8162
8163 @item if-needed
8164 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8165 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8166 parameter.
8167 @smallexample
8168 #0 equal (val=5)
8169 #0 different (val=6)
8170 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8171 #0 born (val=10)
8172 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8173 @end smallexample
8174
8175 @item both
8176 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8177 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8178 optimizations.
8179 @smallexample
8180 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8181 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8182 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8183 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8184 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8185 @end smallexample
8186
8187 @item compact
8188 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8189 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8190 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8191 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8192 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8193 @smallexample
8194 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8195 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8196 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8197 #0 born (val=10)
8198 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8199 @end smallexample
8200
8201 @item default
8202 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8203 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8204 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8205 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8206 @smallexample
8207 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8208 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8209 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8210 #0 born (val=10)
8211 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8212 @end smallexample
8213 @end table
8214
8215 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8216 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8217
8218 @item show print entry-values
8219 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8220 entry.
8221
8222 @item set print repeats
8223 @cindex repeated array elements
8224 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8225 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8226 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8227 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8228 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8229 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8230 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8231
8232 @item show print repeats
8233 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8234 elements.
8235
8236 @item set print null-stop
8237 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8238 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8239 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8240 contain only short strings.
8241 The default is off.
8242
8243 @item show print null-stop
8244 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8245 @sc{null} character.
8246
8247 @item set print pretty on
8248 @cindex print structures in indented form
8249 @cindex indentation in structure display
8250 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8251 per line, like this:
8252
8253 @smallexample
8254 @group
8255 $1 = @{
8256 next = 0x0,
8257 flags = @{
8258 sweet = 1,
8259 sour = 1
8260 @},
8261 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
8262 @}
8263 @end group
8264 @end smallexample
8265
8266 @item set print pretty off
8267 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8268
8269 @smallexample
8270 @group
8271 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8272 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8273 @end group
8274 @end smallexample
8275
8276 @noindent
8277 This is the default format.
8278
8279 @item show print pretty
8280 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8281
8282 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8283 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8284 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8285 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8286 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8287 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8288 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8289 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8290
8291 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8292 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8293 international character sets, and is the default.
8294
8295 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8296 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8297
8298 @item set print union on
8299 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8300 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8301 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8302
8303 @item set print union off
8304 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8305 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8306 instead.
8307
8308 @item show print union
8309 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8310 structures and other unions.
8311
8312 For example, given the declarations
8313
8314 @smallexample
8315 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8316 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8317 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8318 Bug_forms;
8319
8320 struct thing @{
8321 Species it;
8322 union @{
8323 Tree_forms tree;
8324 Bug_forms bug;
8325 @} form;
8326 @};
8327
8328 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8329 @end smallexample
8330
8331 @noindent
8332 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8333
8334 @smallexample
8335 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8336 @end smallexample
8337
8338 @noindent
8339 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8340
8341 @smallexample
8342 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8343 @end smallexample
8344
8345 @noindent
8346 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8347 and in Pascal.
8348 @end table
8349
8350 @need 1000
8351 @noindent
8352 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8353
8354 @table @code
8355 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8356 @item set print demangle
8357 @itemx set print demangle on
8358 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8359 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8360 linkage. The default is on.
8361
8362 @item show print demangle
8363 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8364
8365 @item set print asm-demangle
8366 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8367 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8368 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8369 The default is off.
8370
8371 @item show print asm-demangle
8372 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8373 or demangled form.
8374
8375 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8376 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8377 @kindex set demangle-style
8378 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8379 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8380 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8381
8382 @table @code
8383 @item auto
8384 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8385
8386 @item gnu
8387 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8388 This is the default.
8389
8390 @item hp
8391 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8392
8393 @item lucid
8394 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8395
8396 @item arm
8397 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8398 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8399 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8400 require further enhancement to permit that.
8401
8402 @end table
8403 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8404
8405 @item show demangle-style
8406 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8407
8408 @item set print object
8409 @itemx set print object on
8410 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8411 @cindex display derived types
8412 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8413 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8414 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
8415 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
8416 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
8417 type is sufficient.
8418
8419 @item set print object off
8420 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8421 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8422
8423 @item show print object
8424 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8425
8426 @item set print static-members
8427 @itemx set print static-members on
8428 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8429 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8430
8431 @item set print static-members off
8432 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8433
8434 @item show print static-members
8435 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8436
8437 @item set print pascal_static-members
8438 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8439 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8440 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8441 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8442
8443 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8444 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8445
8446 @item show print pascal_static-members
8447 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8448
8449 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8450 @item set print vtbl
8451 @itemx set print vtbl on
8452 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8453 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8454 @cindex VTBL display
8455 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8456 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8457 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8458
8459 @item set print vtbl off
8460 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8461
8462 @item show print vtbl
8463 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8464 @end table
8465
8466 @node Pretty Printing
8467 @section Pretty Printing
8468
8469 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8470 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8471 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8472
8473 @menu
8474 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8475 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8476 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8477 @end menu
8478
8479 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8480 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8481
8482 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8483 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8484 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8485
8486 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8487 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8488 pretty-printers with their names.
8489 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8490 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8491 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8492 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8493
8494 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8495 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8496 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8497 do anything special.
8498
8499 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8500
8501 @itemize @bullet
8502 @item
8503 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8504 all inferiors.
8505
8506 @item
8507 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8508 when debugging that program.
8509 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8510
8511 @item
8512 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8513 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8514 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8515 @end itemize
8516
8517 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8518 pretty-printers are selected,
8519
8520 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8521 for new types.
8522
8523 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8524 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8525
8526 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8527
8528 @smallexample
8529 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8530 $1 = @{
8531 static npos = 4294967295,
8532 _M_dataplus = @{
8533 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8534 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8535 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8536 @},
8537 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8538 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8539 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8540 @}
8541 @}
8542 @end smallexample
8543
8544 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8545
8546 @smallexample
8547 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8548 $2 = "abcd"
8549 @end smallexample
8550
8551 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8552 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8553 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8554
8555 @table @code
8556 @kindex info pretty-printer
8557 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8558 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
8559 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
8560
8561 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
8562 whose pretty-printers to list.
8563 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
8564 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
8565 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
8566 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
8567 looks up a printer from these three objects.
8568
8569 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
8570 to list.
8571
8572 @kindex disable pretty-printer
8573 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8574 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8575 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
8576
8577 @kindex enable pretty-printer
8578 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8579 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8580 @end table
8581
8582 Example:
8583
8584 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
8585 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
8586 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
8587 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
8588
8589 @smallexample
8590 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8591 library1.so:
8592 foo
8593 library2.so:
8594 bar
8595 bar1
8596 bar2
8597 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8598 library2.so:
8599 bar
8600 bar1
8601 bar2
8602 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
8603 1 printer disabled
8604 2 of 3 printers enabled
8605 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8606 library1.so:
8607 foo [disabled]
8608 library2.so:
8609 bar
8610 bar1
8611 bar2
8612 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
8613 1 printer disabled
8614 1 of 3 printers enabled
8615 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8616 library1.so:
8617 foo [disabled]
8618 library2.so:
8619 bar
8620 bar1 [disabled]
8621 bar2
8622 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
8623 1 printer disabled
8624 0 of 3 printers enabled
8625 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8626 library1.so:
8627 foo [disabled]
8628 library2.so:
8629 bar [disabled]
8630 bar1 [disabled]
8631 bar2
8632 @end smallexample
8633
8634 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
8635 as can each individual subprinter.
8636
8637 @node Value History
8638 @section Value History
8639
8640 @cindex value history
8641 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8642 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8643 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8644 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8645 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8646 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8647 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8648 symbol table.
8649
8650 @cindex @code{$}
8651 @cindex @code{$$}
8652 @cindex history number
8653 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8654 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8655 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8656 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8657 history number.
8658
8659 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8660 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8661 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8662 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8663 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8664 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8665 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8666
8667 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8668 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8669
8670 @smallexample
8671 p *$
8672 @end smallexample
8673
8674 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8675 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8676
8677 @smallexample
8678 p *$.next
8679 @end smallexample
8680
8681 @noindent
8682 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8683 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8684
8685 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8686 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8687
8688 @smallexample
8689 print x
8690 set x=5
8691 @end smallexample
8692
8693 @noindent
8694 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8695 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8696
8697 @table @code
8698 @kindex show values
8699 @item show values
8700 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8701 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8702 values} does not change the history.
8703
8704 @item show values @var{n}
8705 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8706
8707 @item show values +
8708 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8709 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8710 @end table
8711
8712 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8713 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8714
8715 @node Convenience Vars
8716 @section Convenience Variables
8717
8718 @cindex convenience variables
8719 @cindex user-defined variables
8720 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8721 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8722 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8723 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8724 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8725
8726 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8727 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8728 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8729 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8730 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8731
8732 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8733 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8734 For example:
8735
8736 @smallexample
8737 set $foo = *object_ptr
8738 @end smallexample
8739
8740 @noindent
8741 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8742 @code{object_ptr}.
8743
8744 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8745 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8746 value with another assignment at any time.
8747
8748 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8749 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8750 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8751 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8752
8753 @table @code
8754 @kindex show convenience
8755 @cindex show all user variables
8756 @item show convenience
8757 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8758 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8759
8760 @kindex init-if-undefined
8761 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8762 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8763 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8764 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8765 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8766 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8767 override default values used in a command script.
8768
8769 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8770 any side-effects do not occur.
8771 @end table
8772
8773 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8774 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8775 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8776
8777 @smallexample
8778 set $i = 0
8779 print bar[$i++]->contents
8780 @end smallexample
8781
8782 @noindent
8783 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8784
8785 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8786 values likely to be useful.
8787
8788 @table @code
8789 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8790 @item $_
8791 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8792 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8793 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8794 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8795 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8796 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8797 to the type of @code{$__}.
8798
8799 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8800 @item $__
8801 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8802 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8803 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8804
8805 @item $_exitcode
8806 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8807 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8808 the program being debugged terminates.
8809
8810 @item $_sdata
8811 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
8812 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
8813 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
8814 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
8815 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
8816
8817 @item $_siginfo
8818 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8819 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8820 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8821 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8822 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8823
8824 @item $_tlb
8825 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8826 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8827 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8828 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8829 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8830 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8831
8832 @end table
8833
8834 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8835 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8836 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8837
8838 @cindex convenience functions
8839 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8840 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8841 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8842 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8843 @value{GDBN}.
8844
8845 @table @code
8846 @item help function
8847 @kindex help function
8848 @cindex show all convenience functions
8849 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8850 @end table
8851
8852 @node Registers
8853 @section Registers
8854
8855 @cindex registers
8856 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8857 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8858 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8859 your machine.
8860
8861 @table @code
8862 @kindex info registers
8863 @item info registers
8864 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8865 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8866
8867 @kindex info all-registers
8868 @cindex floating point registers
8869 @item info all-registers
8870 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8871 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8872
8873 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8874 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8875 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8876 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8877 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8878 @end table
8879
8880 @cindex stack pointer register
8881 @cindex program counter register
8882 @cindex process status register
8883 @cindex frame pointer register
8884 @cindex standard registers
8885 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8886 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8887 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8888 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8889 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8890 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8891 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8892 you could print the program counter in hex with
8893
8894 @smallexample
8895 p/x $pc
8896 @end smallexample
8897
8898 @noindent
8899 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8900
8901 @smallexample
8902 x/i $pc
8903 @end smallexample
8904
8905 @noindent
8906 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8907 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8908 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8909 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8910 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8911 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8912 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8913
8914 @smallexample
8915 set $sp += 4
8916 @end smallexample
8917
8918 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8919 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8920 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8921 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8922 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8923 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8924 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8925
8926 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8927 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8928 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8929 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8930 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8931 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8932 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8933
8934 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8935 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8936 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8937 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8938 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8939 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8940 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8941 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8942 prints the data in both formats.
8943
8944 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8945 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8946 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8947 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8948 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8949 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8950 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8951
8952 @smallexample
8953 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8954 $1 = @{
8955 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8956 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8957 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8958 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8959 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8960 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8961 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8962 @}
8963 @end smallexample
8964
8965 @noindent
8966 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8967 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8968 value to a @code{struct} member:
8969
8970 @smallexample
8971 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8972 @end smallexample
8973
8974 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8975 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8976 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8977 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8978 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8979 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8980
8981 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8982 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8983 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8984 frame makes no difference.
8985
8986 @node Floating Point Hardware
8987 @section Floating Point Hardware
8988 @cindex floating point
8989
8990 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8991 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8992
8993 @table @code
8994 @kindex info float
8995 @item info float
8996 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8997 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8998 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8999 the ARM and x86 machines.
9000 @end table
9001
9002 @node Vector Unit
9003 @section Vector Unit
9004 @cindex vector unit
9005
9006 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9007 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9008
9009 @table @code
9010 @kindex info vector
9011 @item info vector
9012 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9013 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9014 @end table
9015
9016 @node OS Information
9017 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9018 @cindex OS information
9019
9020 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9021 you debug your program.
9022
9023 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
9024 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
9025 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
9026 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
9027 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
9028 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
9029 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
9030 structure.
9031
9032 @table @code
9033 @item info udot
9034 @kindex info udot
9035 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
9036 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
9037 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
9038 the @code{examine} command.
9039 @end table
9040
9041 @cindex auxiliary vector
9042 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9043 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9044 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9045 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9046 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9047 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9048 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9049 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9050 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9051 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9052 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9053 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9054
9055 @table @code
9056 @kindex info auxv
9057 @item info auxv
9058 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9059 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9060 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9061 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9062 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9063 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9064 an unrecognized tag.
9065 @end table
9066
9067 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
9068 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
9069 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9070 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9071
9072 @table @code
9073 @kindex info os
9074 @item info os
9075 List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
9076 target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
9077 report an error.
9078
9079 @kindex info os processes
9080 @item info os processes
9081 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9082 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
9083 the command corresponding to the process.
9084 @end table
9085
9086 @node Memory Region Attributes
9087 @section Memory Region Attributes
9088 @cindex memory region attributes
9089
9090 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9091 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9092 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9093 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9094 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9095 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9096 user can override the fetched regions.
9097
9098 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9099 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9100 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9101 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9102 all memory.
9103
9104 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9105 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9106
9107 @table @code
9108 @kindex mem
9109 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9110 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9111 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9112 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9113 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9114 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9115
9116 @item mem auto
9117 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9118 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9119
9120 @kindex delete mem
9121 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9122 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9123 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9124
9125 @kindex disable mem
9126 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9127 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9128 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9129 It may be enabled again later.
9130
9131 @kindex enable mem
9132 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9133 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9134
9135 @kindex info mem
9136 @item info mem
9137 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9138 for each region:
9139
9140 @table @emph
9141 @item Memory Region Number
9142 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9143 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9144 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9145
9146 @item Lo Address
9147 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9148
9149 @item Hi Address
9150 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9151
9152 @item Attributes
9153 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9154 @end table
9155 @end table
9156
9157
9158 @subsection Attributes
9159
9160 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9161 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9162 write accesses to a memory region.
9163
9164 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9165 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9166 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9167
9168 @table @code
9169 @item ro
9170 Memory is read only.
9171 @item wo
9172 Memory is write only.
9173 @item rw
9174 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9175 @end table
9176
9177 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9178 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9179 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9180 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9181 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9182
9183 @table @code
9184 @item 8
9185 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9186 @item 16
9187 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9188 @item 32
9189 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9190 @item 64
9191 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9192 @end table
9193
9194 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9195 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9196 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9197 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
9198 @c
9199 @c @table @code
9200 @c @item hwbreak
9201 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
9202 @c @item swbreak (default)
9203 @c @end table
9204
9205 @subsubsection Data Cache
9206 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
9207 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
9208 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
9209 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
9210 registers.
9211
9212 @table @code
9213 @item cache
9214 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
9215 @item nocache
9216 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
9217 @end table
9218
9219 @subsection Memory Access Checking
9220 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
9221 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
9222 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
9223 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
9224
9225 @table @code
9226 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
9227 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
9228 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
9229 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
9230 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
9231 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
9232 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
9233 The default value is @code{on}.
9234 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
9235 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
9236 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
9237 @end table
9238
9239
9240 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
9241 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9242 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
9243 @c
9244 @c @table @code
9245 @c @item verify
9246 @c @item noverify (default)
9247 @c @end table
9248
9249 @node Dump/Restore Files
9250 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
9251 @cindex dump/restore files
9252 @cindex append data to a file
9253 @cindex dump data to a file
9254 @cindex restore data from a file
9255
9256 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
9257 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
9258 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
9259 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
9260 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
9261 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
9262 files.
9263
9264 @table @code
9265
9266 @kindex dump
9267 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9268 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9269 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9270 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
9271
9272 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
9273 @table @code
9274 @item binary
9275 Raw binary form.
9276 @item ihex
9277 Intel hex format.
9278 @item srec
9279 Motorola S-record format.
9280 @item tekhex
9281 Tektronix Hex format.
9282 @end table
9283
9284 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
9285 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
9286 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
9287 form.
9288
9289 @kindex append
9290 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9291 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9292 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9293 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
9294 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
9295
9296 @kindex restore
9297 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
9298 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
9299 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
9300 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
9301 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
9302
9303 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
9304 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
9305 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9306 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9307 from that location.
9308
9309 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9310 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9311 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9312 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9313
9314 @end table
9315
9316 @node Core File Generation
9317 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9318 @cindex dump core from inferior
9319
9320 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9321 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9322 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9323 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9324 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9325 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9326 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9327
9328 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9329 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9330 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9331
9332 @table @code
9333 @kindex gcore
9334 @kindex generate-core-file
9335 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9336 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9337 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9338 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9339 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9340 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9341
9342 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9343 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9344 @end table
9345
9346 @node Character Sets
9347 @section Character Sets
9348 @cindex character sets
9349 @cindex charset
9350 @cindex translating between character sets
9351 @cindex host character set
9352 @cindex target character set
9353
9354 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9355 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9356 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9357 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9358 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9359 @dfn{target character set}.
9360
9361 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9362 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9363 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9364 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9365 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9366 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9367 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9368 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9369 character and string literals in expressions.
9370
9371 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9372 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9373 target-charset} command, described below.
9374
9375 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9376 support:
9377
9378 @table @code
9379 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9380 @kindex set target-charset
9381 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9382 list of supported target character sets, type
9383 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9384
9385 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9386 @kindex set host-charset
9387 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9388
9389 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9390 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9391 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9392 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9393 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9394
9395 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9396 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9397 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9398
9399 @item set charset @var{charset}
9400 @kindex set charset
9401 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9402 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9403 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9404 for both host and target.
9405
9406 @item show charset
9407 @kindex show charset
9408 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9409
9410 @item show host-charset
9411 @kindex show host-charset
9412 Show the name of the current host character set.
9413
9414 @item show target-charset
9415 @kindex show target-charset
9416 Show the name of the current target character set.
9417
9418 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9419 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9420 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9421 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9422 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9423 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9424
9425 @item show target-wide-charset
9426 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9427 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9428 @end table
9429
9430 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9431 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9432 @file{charset-test.c}:
9433
9434 @smallexample
9435 #include <stdio.h>
9436
9437 char ascii_hello[]
9438 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9439 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9440 char ibm1047_hello[]
9441 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9442 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9443
9444 main ()
9445 @{
9446 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9447 @}
9448 @end smallexample
9449
9450 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9451 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9452 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9453
9454 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9455
9456 @smallexample
9457 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9458 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9459 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9460 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9461 @dots{}
9462 (@value{GDBP})
9463 @end smallexample
9464
9465 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9466 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
9467 strings:
9468
9469 @smallexample
9470 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9471 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
9472 (@value{GDBP})
9473 @end smallexample
9474
9475 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
9476 initial character set:
9477 @smallexample
9478 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
9479 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9480 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
9481 (@value{GDBP})
9482 @end smallexample
9483
9484 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
9485 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
9486 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9487 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9488 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9489
9490 @smallexample
9491 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9492 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9493 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9494 $2 = 72 'H'
9495 (@value{GDBP})
9496 @end smallexample
9497
9498 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9499 literals you use in expressions:
9500
9501 @smallexample
9502 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9503 $3 = 43 '+'
9504 (@value{GDBP})
9505 @end smallexample
9506
9507 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9508 character.
9509
9510 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9511 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9512 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9513
9514 @smallexample
9515 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9516 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9517 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9518 $5 = 200 '\310'
9519 (@value{GDBP})
9520 @end smallexample
9521
9522 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9523 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9524
9525 @smallexample
9526 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9527 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9528 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9529 @end smallexample
9530
9531 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9532 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9533 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9534 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9535 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9536
9537 @smallexample
9538 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9539 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9540 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9541 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9542 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9543 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9544 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9545 $7 = 72 '\110'
9546 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9547 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9548 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9549 $9 = 200 'H'
9550 (@value{GDBP})
9551 @end smallexample
9552
9553 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9554 string literals you use in expressions:
9555
9556 @smallexample
9557 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9558 $10 = 78 '+'
9559 (@value{GDBP})
9560 @end smallexample
9561
9562 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9563 character.
9564
9565 @node Caching Remote Data
9566 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9567 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9568
9569 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9570 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9571 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9572 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9573 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9574 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9575 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9576 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9577 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9578 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9579 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9580 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9581 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9582 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9583 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9584
9585 @table @code
9586 @kindex set remotecache
9587 @item set remotecache on
9588 @itemx set remotecache off
9589 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9590 with old scripts.
9591
9592 @kindex show remotecache
9593 @item show remotecache
9594 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9595
9596 @kindex set stack-cache
9597 @item set stack-cache on
9598 @itemx set stack-cache off
9599 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9600 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9601
9602 @kindex show stack-cache
9603 @item show stack-cache
9604 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9605
9606 @kindex info dcache
9607 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9608 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9609 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9610 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9611 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9612 operation.
9613
9614 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9615 printed in hex.
9616
9617 @item set dcache size @var{size}
9618 @cindex dcache size
9619 @kindex set dcache size
9620 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
9621
9622 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
9623 @cindex dcache line-size
9624 @kindex set dcache line-size
9625 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
9626 Must be a power of 2.
9627
9628 @item show dcache size
9629 @kindex show dcache size
9630 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
9631
9632 @item show dcache line-size
9633 @kindex show dcache line-size
9634 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
9635
9636 @end table
9637
9638 @node Searching Memory
9639 @section Search Memory
9640 @cindex searching memory
9641
9642 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9643 @code{find} command.
9644
9645 @table @code
9646 @kindex find
9647 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9648 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9649 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9650 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9651 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9652 @end table
9653
9654 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9655 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9656
9657 @table @r
9658 @item @var{s}, search query size
9659 The size of each search query value.
9660
9661 @table @code
9662 @item b
9663 bytes
9664 @item h
9665 halfwords (two bytes)
9666 @item w
9667 words (four bytes)
9668 @item g
9669 giant words (eight bytes)
9670 @end table
9671
9672 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9673 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9674 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9675
9676 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9677 value's type in the current language.
9678 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9679 pattern as a mixture of types.
9680 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9681 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9682 which is typically four bytes.
9683
9684 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9685 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9686 @end table
9687
9688 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9689 (@code{"}).
9690 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9691 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9692
9693 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9694 number of matches found.
9695
9696 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9697 @samp{$_}.
9698 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9699
9700 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9701
9702 @smallexample
9703 void
9704 hello ()
9705 @{
9706 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9707 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9708 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9709 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9710 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9711 @}
9712 @end smallexample
9713
9714 @noindent
9715 you get during debugging:
9716
9717 @smallexample
9718 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9719 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9720 1 pattern found
9721 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9722 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9723 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9724 2 patterns found
9725 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9726 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9727 1 pattern found
9728 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9729 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9730 1 pattern found
9731 (gdb) print $numfound
9732 $1 = 1
9733 (gdb) print $_
9734 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9735 @end smallexample
9736
9737 @node Optimized Code
9738 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9739 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9740 @cindex debugging optimized code
9741
9742 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9743 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9744 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9745 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9746 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9747 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9748 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9749
9750 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9751 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9752 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9753 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9754
9755 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9756 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9757 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9758 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9759 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9760 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9761
9762 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9763 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9764 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9765 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9766 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9767
9768 @menu
9769 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9770 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
9771 @end menu
9772
9773 @node Inline Functions
9774 @section Inline Functions
9775 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9776
9777 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9778 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9779 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9780 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9781 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9782 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9783 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9784 @code{info frame} command.
9785
9786 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9787 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9788 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9789 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9790 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9791 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9792 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9793 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9794 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9795 local variables in the caller.
9796
9797 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9798 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9799 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9800 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9801 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9802 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9803 instructions are executed.
9804
9805 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9806 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9807 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9808 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9809
9810 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9811 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9812
9813 @itemize @bullet
9814 @item
9815 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9816 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9817 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9818 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9819 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9820 function instead.
9821
9822 @item
9823 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9824 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9825 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9826 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9827 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9828 or inside the inlined function instead.
9829
9830 @item
9831 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9832 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9833 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9834 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9835
9836 @end itemize
9837
9838 @node Tail Call Frames
9839 @section Tail Call Frames
9840 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
9841
9842 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
9843 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
9844 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
9845 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
9846 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
9847
9848 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
9849 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
9850 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
9851 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
9852 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
9853 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
9854 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
9855
9856 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9857 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9858 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9859 this information.
9860
9861 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
9862 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
9863
9864 @smallexample
9865 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
9866 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
9867 (gdb) info frame
9868 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
9869 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
9870 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
9871 source language c++.
9872 Arglist at unknown address.
9873 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
9874 @end smallexample
9875
9876 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
9877 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
9878 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
9879 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
9880 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
9881 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
9882
9883 @table @code
9884 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
9885 @item set debug entry-values
9886 @kindex set debug entry-values
9887 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
9888 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
9889 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
9890 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
9891 result.
9892
9893 @item show debug entry-values
9894 @kindex show debug entry-values
9895 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
9896 values at function entry and tail calls.
9897 @end table
9898
9899 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
9900 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
9901 reference by variable @code{x}):
9902
9903 @smallexample
9904 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
9905 void (*x) (void) = c;
9906 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
9907 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
9908 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
9909
9910 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
9911 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
9912 a () at t.c:3
9913 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
9914 (gdb) bt
9915 #0 a () at t.c:3
9916 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
9917 @end smallexample
9918
9919 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
9920
9921 @smallexample
9922 int i;
9923 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
9924 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
9925 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
9926 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
9927 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
9928 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
9929 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
9930 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
9931
9932 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
9933 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
9934 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
9935 (gdb) bt
9936 #0 f () at t.c:2
9937 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
9938 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
9939 @end smallexample
9940
9941 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
9942 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
9943
9944 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
9945 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
9946 @set ARROW @click{}
9947 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
9948 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
9949 @end ifset
9950 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
9951 @set ARROW ->
9952 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
9953 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
9954 @end ifclear
9955
9956 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
9957 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
9958 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
9959
9960 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
9961 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
9962 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
9963 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
9964 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
9965 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
9966
9967 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
9968 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
9969 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
9970 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
9971 omitted.
9972
9973 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
9974 entry may fail:
9975
9976 @smallexample
9977 int v;
9978 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
9979 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
9980 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
9981 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
9982 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
9983 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
9984
9985 (gdb) bt
9986 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
9987 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
9988 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
9989 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
9990 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
9991 @end smallexample
9992
9993 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
9994 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
9995 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
9996 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
9997 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
9998
9999 @node Macros
10000 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10001
10002 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10003 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10004 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10005 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10006 where it was defined.
10007
10008 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10009 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10010 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10011 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10012
10013 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10014 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10015 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10016 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10017 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10018 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10019 see @ref{List}.
10020
10021 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10022 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10023 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10024
10025 @table @code
10026
10027 @kindex macro expand
10028 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10029 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10030 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10031 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10032 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10033 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10034 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10035 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10036 it can be any string of tokens.
10037
10038 @kindex macro exp1
10039 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10040 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10041 @cindex expand macro once
10042 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10043 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10044 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10045 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10046 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10047 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10048 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10049 can be any string of tokens.
10050
10051 @kindex info macro
10052 @cindex macro definition, showing
10053 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10054 @cindex macros, from debug info
10055 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10056 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10057 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10058 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10059 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10060 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10061
10062 @kindex info macros
10063 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10064 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10065 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10066 command-line where those definitions were established.
10067
10068 @kindex macro define
10069 @cindex user-defined macros
10070 @cindex defining macros interactively
10071 @cindex macros, user-defined
10072 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10073 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10074 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10075 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10076 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10077 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10078 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10079 @var{arglist}.
10080
10081 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10082 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10083 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10084 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10085 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10086
10087 @kindex macro undef
10088 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10089 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10090 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10091 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10092 in the program being debugged.
10093
10094 @kindex macro list
10095 @item macro list
10096 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10097 @end table
10098
10099 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10100 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10101 show our source files:
10102
10103 @smallexample
10104 $ cat sample.c
10105 #include <stdio.h>
10106 #include "sample.h"
10107
10108 #define M 42
10109 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10110
10111 main ()
10112 @{
10113 #define N 28
10114 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10115 #undef N
10116 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10117 #define N 1729
10118 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10119 @}
10120 $ cat sample.h
10121 #define Q <
10122 $
10123 @end smallexample
10124
10125 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10126 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10127 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10128 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10129 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10130 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10131 information.
10132
10133 @smallexample
10134 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10135 $
10136 @end smallexample
10137
10138 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10139
10140 @smallexample
10141 $ gdb -nw sample
10142 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10143 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10144 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10145 (@value{GDBP})
10146 @end smallexample
10147
10148 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10149 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10150 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10151
10152 @smallexample
10153 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10154 3
10155 4 #define M 42
10156 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10157 6
10158 7 main ()
10159 8 @{
10160 9 #define N 28
10161 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10162 11 #undef N
10163 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10164 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10165 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10166 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10167 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10168 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10169 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10170 #define Q <
10171 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10172 expands to: (42 + 1)
10173 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10174 expands to: once (M + 1)
10175 (@value{GDBP})
10176 @end smallexample
10177
10178 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10179 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10180 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10181 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10182
10183 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10184 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10185
10186 @smallexample
10187 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10188 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10189 (@value{GDBP}) run
10190 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10191
10192 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10193 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10194 (@value{GDBP})
10195 @end smallexample
10196
10197 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10198
10199 @smallexample
10200 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10201 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10202 #define N 28
10203 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10204 expands to: 28 < 42
10205 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10206 $1 = 1
10207 (@value{GDBP})
10208 @end smallexample
10209
10210 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
10211 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
10212 thereof) in force at each point:
10213
10214 @smallexample
10215 (@value{GDBP}) next
10216 Hello, world!
10217 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10218 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10219 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
10220 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
10221 (@value{GDBP}) next
10222 We're so creative.
10223 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10224 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10225 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
10226 #define N 1729
10227 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10228 expands to: 1729 < 42
10229 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10230 $2 = 0
10231 (@value{GDBP})
10232 @end smallexample
10233
10234 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
10235 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
10236 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
10237 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
10238
10239 @smallexample
10240 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
10241 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
10242 -D__STDC__=1
10243 (@value{GDBP})
10244 @end smallexample
10245
10246
10247 @node Tracepoints
10248 @chapter Tracepoints
10249 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
10250 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
10251
10252 @cindex tracepoints
10253 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
10254 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
10255 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
10256 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
10257 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
10258 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
10259 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
10260
10261 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
10262 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
10263 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
10264 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
10265 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
10266 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
10267 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
10268 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
10269 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
10270 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
10271 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
10272
10273 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
10274 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
10275 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
10276 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
10277 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
10278 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
10279 Packets}.
10280
10281 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
10282 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
10283 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
10284
10285 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
10286
10287 @menu
10288 * Set Tracepoints::
10289 * Analyze Collected Data::
10290 * Tracepoint Variables::
10291 * Trace Files::
10292 @end menu
10293
10294 @node Set Tracepoints
10295 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
10296
10297 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
10298 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
10299 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
10300 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
10301 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
10302 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
10303 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
10304
10305 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
10306 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
10307 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
10308 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
10309 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
10310 tracepoint was hit.
10311
10312 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
10313 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
10314 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
10315 either.
10316
10317 @cindex fast tracepoints
10318 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
10319 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
10320 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
10321
10322 @cindex static tracepoints
10323 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
10324 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
10325 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
10326 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
10327 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
10328 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
10329 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
10330 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
10331 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
10332 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
10333 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
10334 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
10335 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
10336 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
10337 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
10338 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
10339 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
10340 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
10341 static tracepoint marker.
10342
10343 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
10344 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
10345
10346 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
10347 conditions and actions.
10348
10349 @menu
10350 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
10351 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
10352 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
10353 * Tracepoint Conditions::
10354 * Trace State Variables::
10355 * Tracepoint Actions::
10356 * Listing Tracepoints::
10357 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
10358 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
10359 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
10360 @end menu
10361
10362 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
10363 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
10364
10365 @table @code
10366 @cindex set tracepoint
10367 @kindex trace
10368 @item trace @var{location}
10369 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
10370 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
10371 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
10372 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
10373 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
10374 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
10375 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
10376 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
10377 in tracing}).
10378 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
10379 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
10380 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
10381 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
10382 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
10383 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
10384 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
10385 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
10386 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
10387 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
10388 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
10389 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
10390
10391 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
10392
10393 @smallexample
10394 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
10395
10396 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
10397
10398 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
10399
10400 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
10401
10402 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
10403 @end smallexample
10404
10405 @noindent
10406 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
10407
10408 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
10409 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
10410 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
10411 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
10412 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
10413 information on tracepoint conditions.
10414
10415 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10416 @cindex set fast tracepoint
10417 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
10418 @kindex ftrace
10419 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
10420 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
10421 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
10422 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
10423 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
10424 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
10425 message.
10426
10427 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
10428 @code{trace}.
10429
10430 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
10431 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
10432 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
10433 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
10434 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
10435 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
10436 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
10437 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
10438
10439 @example
10440 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
10441 @end example
10442
10443 @noindent
10444 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
10445 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
10446
10447 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10448 @cindex set static tracepoint
10449 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
10450 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
10451 @kindex strace
10452 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
10453 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
10454 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
10455 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
10456 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
10457
10458 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
10459 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
10460 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
10461 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
10462 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
10463 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
10464 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
10465 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
10466 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
10467 tracing engine:
10468
10469 @smallexample
10470 main ()
10471 @{
10472 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
10473 @}
10474 @end smallexample
10475
10476 @noindent
10477 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
10478 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
10479
10480 @smallexample
10481 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10482 Cnt Enb ID Address What
10483 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
10484 Data: "str %s"
10485 [etc...]
10486 @end smallexample
10487
10488 @noindent
10489 so you may probe the marker above with:
10490
10491 @smallexample
10492 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
10493 @end smallexample
10494
10495 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
10496 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
10497 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
10498 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
10499 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
10500 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
10501 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
10502 the @samp{Data:} field.
10503
10504 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
10505 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
10506 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
10507
10508 @vindex $tpnum
10509 @cindex last tracepoint number
10510 @cindex recent tracepoint number
10511 @cindex tracepoint number
10512 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
10513 of the most recently set tracepoint.
10514
10515 @kindex delete tracepoint
10516 @cindex tracepoint deletion
10517 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10518 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
10519 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
10520 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
10521
10522 Examples:
10523
10524 @smallexample
10525 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
10526
10527 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
10528 @end smallexample
10529
10530 @noindent
10531 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
10532 @end table
10533
10534 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10535 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10536
10537 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
10538
10539 @table @code
10540 @kindex disable tracepoint
10541 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10542 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
10543 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
10544 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
10545 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
10546 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
10547 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
10548 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
10549 next trace experiment.
10550
10551 @kindex enable tracepoint
10552 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10553 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
10554 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
10555 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
10556 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
10557 next time a trace experiment is run.
10558 @end table
10559
10560 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
10561 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
10562
10563 @table @code
10564 @kindex passcount
10565 @cindex tracepoint pass count
10566 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
10567 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
10568 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
10569 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
10570 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
10571 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
10572 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
10573 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
10574 user.
10575
10576 Examples:
10577
10578 @smallexample
10579 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
10580 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
10581
10582 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
10583 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
10584 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10585 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
10586 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
10587 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
10588 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
10589 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
10590 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
10591 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
10592 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
10593 @end smallexample
10594 @end table
10595
10596 @node Tracepoint Conditions
10597 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
10598 @cindex conditional tracepoints
10599 @cindex tracepoint conditions
10600
10601 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
10602 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
10603 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
10604 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
10605 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
10606 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
10607 is true.
10608
10609 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
10610 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
10611 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
10612 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
10613 just as with breakpoints.
10614
10615 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
10616 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
10617 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
10618 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
10619 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
10620 accesses, and so forth.
10621
10622 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
10623 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
10624 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
10625 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
10626 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
10627 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
10628 search through.
10629
10630 @smallexample
10631 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
10632 @end smallexample
10633
10634 @node Trace State Variables
10635 @subsection Trace State Variables
10636 @cindex trace state variables
10637
10638 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
10639 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
10640 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
10641 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
10642 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
10643 integers.
10644
10645 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
10646 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
10647 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
10648 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
10649
10650 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
10651 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
10652 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
10653 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
10654 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
10655 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
10656 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
10657 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
10658 variable with the same name.
10659
10660 @table @code
10661
10662 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
10663 @kindex tvariable
10664 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
10665 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
10666 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
10667 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
10668 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
10669 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
10670 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
10671 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
10672 value. The default initial value is 0.
10673
10674 @item info tvariables
10675 @kindex info tvariables
10676 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
10677 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
10678 currently running.
10679
10680 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
10681 @kindex delete tvariable
10682 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
10683 are specified.
10684
10685 @end table
10686
10687 @node Tracepoint Actions
10688 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
10689
10690 @table @code
10691 @kindex actions
10692 @cindex tracepoint actions
10693 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10694 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
10695 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
10696 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
10697 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
10698 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
10699 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
10700 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
10701 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
10702 @code{while-stepping}.
10703
10704 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
10705 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
10706 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
10707
10708 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
10709 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
10710 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
10711
10712 @smallexample
10713 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
10714
10715 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
10716
10717 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
10718 @end smallexample
10719
10720 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
10721 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
10722 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
10723 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
10724 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
10725 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
10726 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
10727 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
10728
10729 @smallexample
10730 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10731 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10732 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
10733 > collect bar,baz
10734 > collect $regs
10735 > while-stepping 12
10736 > collect $pc, arr[i]
10737 > end
10738 end
10739 @end smallexample
10740
10741 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
10742 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10743 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
10744 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
10745 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
10746 special arguments are supported:
10747
10748 @table @code
10749 @item $regs
10750 Collect all registers.
10751
10752 @item $args
10753 Collect all function arguments.
10754
10755 @item $locals
10756 Collect all local variables.
10757
10758 @item $_ret
10759 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
10760 of a backtrace.
10761
10762 @item $_sdata
10763 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
10764 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
10765 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
10766 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
10767 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
10768 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
10769 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
10770 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
10771 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
10772
10773 @smallexample
10774 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
10775 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
10776 @end smallexample
10777
10778 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
10779 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
10780 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
10781 @value{GDBN}.
10782 @end table
10783
10784 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
10785 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
10786 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
10787
10788 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
10789 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
10790 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
10791 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
10792 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
10793 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
10794 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
10795 @samp{mystr}.
10796
10797 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
10798 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
10799
10800 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
10801 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10802 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
10803 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
10804 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
10805 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
10806 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
10807 action were used.
10808
10809 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
10810 @item while-stepping @var{n}
10811 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
10812 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
10813 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
10814 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
10815
10816 @smallexample
10817 > while-stepping 12
10818 > collect $regs, myglobal
10819 > end
10820 >
10821 @end smallexample
10822
10823 @noindent
10824 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
10825 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
10826 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
10827 @code{stepping}.
10828
10829 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10830 @kindex set default-collect
10831 @cindex default collection action
10832 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
10833 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
10834 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
10835 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
10836 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
10837 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
10838
10839 @item show default-collect
10840 @kindex show default-collect
10841 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
10842 tracepoint hit.
10843
10844 @end table
10845
10846 @node Listing Tracepoints
10847 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
10848
10849 @table @code
10850 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10851 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10852 @cindex information about tracepoints
10853 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
10854 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
10855 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
10856 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
10857 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
10858 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
10859
10860 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
10861 tracing:
10862
10863 @itemize @bullet
10864 @item
10865 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
10866 @end itemize
10867
10868 @smallexample
10869 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
10870 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
10871 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
10872 while-stepping 20
10873 collect globfoo, $regs
10874 end
10875 collect globfoo2
10876 end
10877 pass count 1200
10878 (@value{GDBP})
10879 @end smallexample
10880
10881 @noindent
10882 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10883 @end table
10884
10885 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10886 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10887
10888 @table @code
10889 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
10890 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
10891 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
10892 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
10893 program.
10894
10895 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
10896
10897 @table @emph
10898 @item Count
10899 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
10900 stable identifier.
10901 @item ID
10902 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
10903 @item Enabled or Disabled
10904 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
10905 that are not enabled.
10906 @item Address
10907 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
10908 @item What
10909 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
10910 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
10911 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
10912 will be left blank.
10913 @end table
10914
10915 @noindent
10916 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
10917
10918 @table @emph
10919 @item Data
10920 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
10921 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
10922 marker call.
10923 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
10924 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
10925 @end table
10926
10927 @smallexample
10928 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10929 Cnt ID Enb Address What
10930 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
10931 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
10932 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
10933 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
10934 Data: str %s
10935 (@value{GDBP})
10936 @end smallexample
10937 @end table
10938
10939 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10940 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10941
10942 @table @code
10943 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
10944 @cindex start a new trace experiment
10945 @cindex collected data discarded
10946 @item tstart
10947 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
10948 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
10949 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
10950 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
10951 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
10952 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
10953 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
10954 information, and so forth.
10955
10956 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
10957 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
10958 @item tstop
10959 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
10960 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
10961 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
10962 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
10963 needs to be stopped quickly.
10964
10965 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10966 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10967 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10968
10969 @kindex tstatus
10970 @cindex status of trace data collection
10971 @cindex trace experiment, status of
10972 @item tstatus
10973 This command displays the status of the current trace data
10974 collection.
10975 @end table
10976
10977 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10978
10979 @smallexample
10980 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10981 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10982 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10983 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
10984 > while-stepping 11
10985 > collect $regs
10986 > end
10987 > end
10988 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10989 [time passes @dots{}]
10990 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10991 @end smallexample
10992
10993 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
10994 @cindex disconnected tracing
10995 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10996 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10997 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10998 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10999 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
11000 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11001 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11002 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11003
11004 @table @code
11005 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11006 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11007 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11008 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11009 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11010 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11011 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11012 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11013
11014 @item show disconnected-tracing
11015 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11016 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11017
11018 @end table
11019
11020 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11021 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11022 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11023 it will continue after reconnection.
11024
11025 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11026 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11027 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11028 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11029 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11030 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11031 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11032 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11033 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11034 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11035
11036 @cindex circular trace buffer
11037 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11038 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11039 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11040 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11041 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11042 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11043 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11044 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11045 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11046 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11047 the next run.
11048
11049 @table @code
11050 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11051 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11052 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11053 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11054 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11055 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11056 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11057
11058 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11059 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11060 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11061 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11062 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11063 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11064
11065 @end table
11066
11067 @table @code
11068 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11069 @kindex set trace-user
11070
11071 @item show trace-user
11072 @kindex show trace-user
11073
11074 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11075 @kindex set trace-notes
11076 Set the trace run's notes.
11077
11078 @item show trace-notes
11079 @kindex show trace-notes
11080 Show the trace run's notes.
11081
11082 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11083 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11084 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11085 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11086 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11087
11088 @item show trace-stop-notes
11089 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11090 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11091
11092 @end table
11093
11094 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11095 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11096
11097 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11098 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11099 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11100 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11101 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11102 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11103 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11104 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11105 mentioned here.
11106
11107 @itemize @bullet
11108
11109 @item
11110 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11111 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11112 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11113 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11114 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11115 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11116 cannot be collected either.
11117
11118 @item
11119 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11120 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11121 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11122 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11123 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11124 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11125 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11126 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11127 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11128 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11129
11130 @item
11131 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11132 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11133 in a misleading way.
11134
11135 @item
11136 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11137 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11138 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11139 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11140 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11141 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11142 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11143 by @code{ptr}.
11144
11145 @item
11146 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11147 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11148 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11149 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11150 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11151 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11152 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11153 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11154 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11155 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11156 invalid address.
11157
11158 @item
11159 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11160 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11161 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11162 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11163 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11164 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11165 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
11166 it to zero.
11167
11168 @end itemize
11169
11170 @node Analyze Collected Data
11171 @section Using the Collected Data
11172
11173 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
11174 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
11175 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
11176 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
11177 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
11178 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
11179 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
11180 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
11181 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
11182 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
11183 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
11184 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
11185 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
11186 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
11187 the buffer will fail.
11188
11189 @menu
11190 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
11191 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
11192 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
11193 @end menu
11194
11195 @node tfind
11196 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
11197
11198 @kindex tfind
11199 @cindex select trace snapshot
11200 @cindex find trace snapshot
11201 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
11202 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
11203 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
11204 snapshot is selected.
11205
11206 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
11207
11208 @table @code
11209 @item tfind start
11210 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
11211 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
11212
11213 @item tfind none
11214 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
11215
11216 @item tfind end
11217 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
11218
11219 @item tfind
11220 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
11221
11222 @item tfind -
11223 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
11224 retracing earlier steps.
11225
11226 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
11227 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
11228 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
11229 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
11230 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
11231
11232 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
11233 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
11234 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
11235 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
11236 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
11237
11238 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11239 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
11240 addresses (exclusive).
11241
11242 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11243 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
11244 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
11245
11246 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
11247 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
11248 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
11249 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
11250 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
11251 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
11252 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
11253 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
11254 @end table
11255
11256 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
11257 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
11258 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
11259 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
11260 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
11261 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
11262 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
11263 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
11264 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
11265 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
11266 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
11267 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
11268 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
11269 tracepoint as the current one.
11270
11271 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
11272 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
11273 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
11274 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
11275 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
11276
11277 @smallexample
11278 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11279 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11280 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
11281 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
11282 > tfind
11283 > end
11284
11285 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
11286 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
11287 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
11288 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
11289 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
11290 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
11291 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
11292 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
11293 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
11294 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
11295 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
11296 @end smallexample
11297
11298 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
11299 the buffer:
11300
11301 @smallexample
11302 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11303 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11304 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
11305 > tfind line
11306 > end
11307
11308 Frame 0, X = 1
11309 Frame 7, X = 2
11310 Frame 13, X = 255
11311 @end smallexample
11312
11313 @node tdump
11314 @subsection @code{tdump}
11315 @kindex tdump
11316 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
11317 @cindex tracepoint data, display
11318
11319 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
11320 the current trace snapshot.
11321
11322 @smallexample
11323 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
11324 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11325 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
11326 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
11327 > end
11328
11329 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11330
11331 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
11332 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
11333 at gdb_test.c:444
11334 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
11335
11336 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
11337 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
11338 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
11339 d1 0x18 24
11340 d2 0x80 128
11341 d3 0x33 51
11342 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
11343 d5 0x22 34
11344 d6 0xe0 224
11345 d7 0x380035 3670069
11346 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
11347 a1 0x3000668 50333288
11348 a2 0x100 256
11349 a3 0x322000 3284992
11350 a4 0x3000698 50333336
11351 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
11352 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
11353 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
11354 ps 0x0 0
11355 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
11356 fpcontrol 0x0 0
11357 fpstatus 0x0 0
11358 fpiaddr 0x0 0
11359 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
11360 p1 = (void *) 0x11
11361 p2 = (void *) 0x22
11362 p3 = (void *) 0x33
11363 p4 = (void *) 0x44
11364 p5 = (void *) 0x55
11365 p6 = (void *) 0x66
11366 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
11367
11368 (@value{GDBP})
11369 @end smallexample
11370
11371 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
11372 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
11373 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
11374 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
11375
11376 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
11377 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
11378 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
11379 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
11380 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
11381 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
11382 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
11383 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
11384 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
11385 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
11386
11387 @node save tracepoints
11388 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
11389 @kindex save tracepoints
11390 @kindex save-tracepoints
11391 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
11392
11393 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
11394 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
11395 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
11396 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
11397 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
11398 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
11399
11400 @node Tracepoint Variables
11401 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
11402 @cindex tracepoint variables
11403 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
11404
11405 @table @code
11406 @vindex $trace_frame
11407 @item (int) $trace_frame
11408 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
11409 snapshot is selected.
11410
11411 @vindex $tracepoint
11412 @item (int) $tracepoint
11413 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
11414
11415 @vindex $trace_line
11416 @item (int) $trace_line
11417 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
11418
11419 @vindex $trace_file
11420 @item (char []) $trace_file
11421 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
11422
11423 @vindex $trace_func
11424 @item (char []) $trace_func
11425 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
11426 @end table
11427
11428 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
11429 use @code{output} instead.
11430
11431 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
11432 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
11433 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
11434 which are managed by the target.
11435
11436 @smallexample
11437 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11438
11439 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
11440 > output $trace_file
11441 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
11442 > tfind
11443 > end
11444 @end smallexample
11445
11446 @node Trace Files
11447 @section Using Trace Files
11448 @cindex trace files
11449
11450 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
11451 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
11452 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
11453 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
11454 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
11455
11456 @table @code
11457
11458 @kindex tsave
11459 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
11460 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
11461 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
11462 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
11463 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
11464 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
11465 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
11466 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
11467 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
11468
11469 @kindex target tfile
11470 @kindex tfile
11471 @item target tfile @var{filename}
11472 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
11473 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
11474 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
11475 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
11476 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
11477 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
11478
11479 @end table
11480
11481 @node Overlays
11482 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
11483 @cindex overlays
11484
11485 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
11486 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
11487 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
11488 use overlays.
11489
11490 @menu
11491 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
11492 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
11493 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
11494 mapped by asking the inferior.
11495 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
11496 @end menu
11497
11498 @node How Overlays Work
11499 @section How Overlays Work
11500 @cindex mapped overlays
11501 @cindex unmapped overlays
11502 @cindex load address, overlay's
11503 @cindex mapped address
11504 @cindex overlay area
11505
11506 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
11507 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
11508 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
11509 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
11510 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
11511
11512 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
11513 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
11514 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
11515 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
11516 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
11517 largest overlay as well.
11518
11519 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
11520 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
11521 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
11522 there.
11523
11524 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
11525 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
11526 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
11527
11528 @smallexample
11529 @group
11530 Data Instruction Larger
11531 Address Space Address Space Address Space
11532 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
11533 | | | | | |
11534 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
11535 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
11536 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
11537 | and heap | | | | | |
11538 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
11539 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
11540 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
11541 | | | | | |
11542 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
11543 address | | | | | |
11544 | overlay | <-' | | |
11545 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
11546 | | <---. | | load address
11547 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
11548 | | | |
11549 +-----------+ | |
11550 +-----------+
11551 | |
11552 +-----------+
11553
11554 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
11555 @end group
11556 @end smallexample
11557
11558 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
11559 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
11560 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
11561 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
11562 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
11563 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
11564 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
11565 program and the overlay area.
11566
11567 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
11568 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
11569 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
11570 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
11571 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
11572 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
11573 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
11574
11575 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
11576 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
11577 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
11578
11579 @itemize @bullet
11580
11581 @item
11582 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
11583 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
11584 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
11585 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
11586
11587 @item
11588 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
11589 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
11590 your program's performance.
11591
11592 @item
11593 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
11594 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
11595 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
11596 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
11597 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
11598 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
11599 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
11600
11601 @item
11602 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
11603 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
11604 instruction and data spaces.
11605
11606 @end itemize
11607
11608 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
11609 improved in many ways:
11610
11611 @itemize @bullet
11612
11613 @item
11614 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
11615 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
11616 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
11617 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
11618 area in the usual way.
11619
11620 @item
11621 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
11622 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
11623
11624 @item
11625 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
11626 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
11627 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
11628 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
11629 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
11630 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
11631 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
11632
11633 @end itemize
11634
11635
11636 @node Overlay Commands
11637 @section Overlay Commands
11638
11639 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
11640 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
11641 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
11642 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
11643 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
11644 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
11645
11646 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
11647 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
11648
11649 @table @code
11650 @item overlay off
11651 @kindex overlay
11652 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
11653 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
11654 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
11655 overlay support is disabled.
11656
11657 @item overlay manual
11658 @cindex manual overlay debugging
11659 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11660 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
11661 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
11662 commands described below.
11663
11664 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
11665 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
11666 @cindex map an overlay
11667 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
11668 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
11669 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
11670 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
11671 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
11672 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
11673
11674 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
11675 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
11676 @cindex unmap an overlay
11677 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
11678 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
11679 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
11680 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
11681
11682 @item overlay auto
11683 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11684 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
11685 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
11686 Overlay Debugging}.
11687
11688 @item overlay load-target
11689 @itemx overlay load
11690 @cindex reloading the overlay table
11691 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
11692 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
11693 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
11694 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
11695 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
11696
11697 @item overlay list-overlays
11698 @itemx overlay list
11699 @cindex listing mapped overlays
11700 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
11701 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
11702
11703 @end table
11704
11705 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
11706 of the function the address falls in:
11707
11708 @smallexample
11709 (@value{GDBP}) print main
11710 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
11711 @end smallexample
11712 @noindent
11713 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
11714 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
11715 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
11716 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
11717
11718 @smallexample
11719 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11720 No sections are mapped.
11721 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11722 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
11723 @end smallexample
11724 @noindent
11725 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
11726 name normally:
11727
11728 @smallexample
11729 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11730 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
11731 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
11732 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11733 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
11734 @end smallexample
11735
11736 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
11737 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
11738 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
11739 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
11740 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
11741
11742 @itemize @bullet
11743 @item
11744 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
11745 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
11746 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
11747 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
11748 @item
11749 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
11750 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
11751 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
11752 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
11753 breakpoints properly.
11754 @end itemize
11755
11756
11757 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
11758 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
11759 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
11760
11761 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
11762 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
11763 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
11764 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
11765 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
11766 current state of the overlays.
11767
11768 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
11769 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
11770
11771 @table @asis
11772
11773 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
11774 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
11775
11776 @smallexample
11777 struct
11778 @{
11779 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
11780 unsigned long vma;
11781
11782 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
11783 unsigned long size;
11784
11785 /* The overlay's load address. */
11786 unsigned long lma;
11787
11788 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
11789 zero otherwise. */
11790 unsigned long mapped;
11791 @}
11792 @end smallexample
11793
11794 @item @code{_novlys}:
11795 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
11796 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
11797
11798 @end table
11799
11800 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
11801 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
11802 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
11803 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
11804 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
11805 currently mapped.
11806
11807 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
11808 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
11809 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
11810 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
11811 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
11812 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
11813 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
11814 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
11815 are not being executed.
11816
11817 @node Overlay Sample Program
11818 @section Overlay Sample Program
11819 @cindex overlay example program
11820
11821 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
11822 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
11823 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
11824 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
11825 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
11826 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
11827 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
11828
11829 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
11830 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
11831 suite. The program consists of the following files from
11832 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
11833
11834 @table @file
11835 @item overlays.c
11836 The main program file.
11837 @item ovlymgr.c
11838 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
11839 @item foo.c
11840 @itemx bar.c
11841 @itemx baz.c
11842 @itemx grbx.c
11843 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
11844 @item d10v.ld
11845 @itemx m32r.ld
11846 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
11847 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
11848 @end table
11849
11850 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
11851 cross-compiler like this:
11852
11853 @smallexample
11854 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
11855 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
11856 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
11857 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
11858 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
11859 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
11860 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
11861 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
11862 @end smallexample
11863
11864 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
11865 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
11866 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
11867
11868
11869 @node Languages
11870 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
11871 @cindex languages
11872
11873 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
11874 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
11875 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
11876 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
11877 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
11878 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
11879
11880 @cindex working language
11881 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
11882 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
11883 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
11884 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
11885 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
11886 language}.
11887
11888 @menu
11889 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
11890 * Show:: Displaying the language
11891 * Checks:: Type and range checks
11892 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
11893 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
11894 @end menu
11895
11896 @node Setting
11897 @section Switching Between Source Languages
11898
11899 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
11900 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
11901 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
11902 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
11903 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
11904 are printed, etc.
11905
11906 In addition to the working language, every source file that
11907 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
11908 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
11909 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
11910 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
11911 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
11912 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
11913 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
11914 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
11915 Displaying the Language}.
11916
11917 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
11918 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
11919 another language. In that case, make the
11920 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
11921 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
11922 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
11923
11924 @menu
11925 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
11926 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
11927 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
11928 @end menu
11929
11930 @node Filenames
11931 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
11932
11933 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
11934 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
11935
11936 @table @file
11937 @item .ada
11938 @itemx .ads
11939 @itemx .adb
11940 @itemx .a
11941 Ada source file.
11942
11943 @item .c
11944 C source file
11945
11946 @item .C
11947 @itemx .cc
11948 @itemx .cp
11949 @itemx .cpp
11950 @itemx .cxx
11951 @itemx .c++
11952 C@t{++} source file
11953
11954 @item .d
11955 D source file
11956
11957 @item .m
11958 Objective-C source file
11959
11960 @item .f
11961 @itemx .F
11962 Fortran source file
11963
11964 @item .mod
11965 Modula-2 source file
11966
11967 @item .s
11968 @itemx .S
11969 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
11970 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
11971 @end table
11972
11973 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
11974 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
11975
11976 @node Manually
11977 @subsection Setting the Working Language
11978
11979 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
11980 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
11981 your program.
11982
11983 @kindex set language
11984 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
11985 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
11986 a language, such as
11987 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
11988 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
11989
11990 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
11991 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
11992 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11993 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11994 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11995 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11996 command such as:
11997
11998 @smallexample
11999 print a = b + c
12000 @end smallexample
12001
12002 @noindent
12003 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12004 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12005 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12006 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12007
12008 @node Automatically
12009 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12010
12011 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12012 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12013 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12014 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12015 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12016 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12017 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12018 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12019 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12020
12021 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12022 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12023 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12024 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12025 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12026
12027 @node Show
12028 @section Displaying the Language
12029
12030 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12031 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12032
12033 @table @code
12034 @item show language
12035 @kindex show language
12036 Display the current working language. This is the
12037 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12038 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12039
12040 @item info frame
12041 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12042 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12043 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12044 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12045 information listed here.
12046
12047 @item info source
12048 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12049 Display the source language of this source file.
12050 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12051 information listed here.
12052 @end table
12053
12054 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12055 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12056 with a language explicitly:
12057
12058 @table @code
12059 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12060 @kindex set extension-language
12061 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12062 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12063
12064 @item info extensions
12065 @kindex info extensions
12066 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12067 @end table
12068
12069 @node Checks
12070 @section Type and Range Checking
12071
12072 @quotation
12073 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
12074 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
12075 section documents the intended facilities.
12076 @end quotation
12077 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
12078
12079 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12080 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12081 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
12082 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12083 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12084 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
12085 errors when your program is running.
12086
12087 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
12088 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
12089 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
12090 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
12091 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
12092 automatically based on your program's source language.
12093 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
12094 settings of supported languages.
12095
12096 @menu
12097 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12098 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12099 @end menu
12100
12101 @cindex type checking
12102 @cindex checks, type
12103 @node Type Checking
12104 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12105
12106 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12107 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12108 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12109 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12110
12111 @smallexample
12112 1 + 2 @result{} 3
12113 @exdent but
12114 @error{} 1 + 2.3
12115 @end smallexample
12116
12117 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
12118 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
12119
12120 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
12121 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
12122 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12123 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
12124 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
12125 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
12126 also issues a warning.
12127
12128 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
12129 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12130 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12131 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12132 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
12133 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
12134
12135 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
12136 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
12137 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
12138 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
12139 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
12140 details on specific languages.
12141
12142 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
12143
12144 @kindex set check type
12145 @kindex show check type
12146 @table @code
12147 @item set check type auto
12148 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
12149 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12150 each language.
12151
12152 @item set check type on
12153 @itemx set check type off
12154 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12155 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
12156 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
12157 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12158 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12159
12160 @item set check type warn
12161 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
12162 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
12163 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
12164 numbers and structures.
12165
12166 @item show type
12167 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
12168 is setting it automatically.
12169 @end table
12170
12171 @cindex range checking
12172 @cindex checks, range
12173 @node Range Checking
12174 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12175
12176 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12177 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12178 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12179 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12180 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12181
12182 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12183 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12184 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12185 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12186
12187 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12188 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12189 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
12190 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
12191 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
12192 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
12193
12194 @smallexample
12195 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
12196 @end smallexample
12197
12198 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
12199 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
12200 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
12201
12202 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
12203
12204 @kindex set check range
12205 @kindex show check range
12206 @table @code
12207 @item set check range auto
12208 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
12209 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12210 each language.
12211
12212 @item set check range on
12213 @itemx set check range off
12214 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12215 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
12216 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
12217 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
12218
12219 @item set check range warn
12220 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
12221 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
12222 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
12223 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
12224 systems).
12225
12226 @item show range
12227 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
12228 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
12229 @end table
12230
12231 @node Supported Languages
12232 @section Supported Languages
12233
12234 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, OpenCL C, Pascal,
12235 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
12236 @c This is false ...
12237 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
12238 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
12239 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
12240 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
12241 language.
12242
12243 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
12244 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
12245 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
12246 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
12247 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
12248 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
12249 language reference or tutorial.
12250
12251 @menu
12252 * C:: C and C@t{++}
12253 * D:: D
12254 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
12255 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
12256 * Fortran:: Fortran
12257 * Pascal:: Pascal
12258 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
12259 * Ada:: Ada
12260 @end menu
12261
12262 @node C
12263 @subsection C and C@t{++}
12264
12265 @cindex C and C@t{++}
12266 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
12267
12268 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
12269 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
12270 together.
12271
12272 @cindex C@t{++}
12273 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
12274 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
12275 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
12276 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
12277 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
12278 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
12279 compiler (@code{aCC}).
12280
12281 @menu
12282 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
12283 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
12284 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
12285 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
12286 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
12287 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
12288 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
12289 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
12290 @end menu
12291
12292 @node C Operators
12293 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
12294
12295 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
12296
12297 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12298 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12299 often defined on groups of types.
12300
12301 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
12302
12303 @itemize @bullet
12304
12305 @item
12306 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
12307 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
12308
12309 @item
12310 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
12311 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
12312
12313 @item
12314 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
12315
12316 @item
12317 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
12318
12319 @end itemize
12320
12321 @noindent
12322 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
12323 in order of increasing precedence:
12324
12325 @table @code
12326 @item ,
12327 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
12328 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
12329 expression being the last expression evaluated.
12330
12331 @item =
12332 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
12333 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
12334
12335 @item @var{op}=
12336 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
12337 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
12338 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
12339 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
12340 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
12341
12342 @item ?:
12343 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
12344 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
12345 integral type.
12346
12347 @item ||
12348 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12349
12350 @item &&
12351 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12352
12353 @item |
12354 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12355
12356 @item ^
12357 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12358
12359 @item &
12360 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12361
12362 @item ==@r{, }!=
12363 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
12364 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
12365
12366 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
12367 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
12368 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
12369 and non-zero for true.
12370
12371 @item <<@r{, }>>
12372 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
12373
12374 @item @@
12375 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12376
12377 @item +@r{, }-
12378 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
12379 pointer types.
12380
12381 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
12382 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
12383 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
12384 integral types.
12385
12386 @item ++@r{, }--
12387 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
12388 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
12389 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
12390 operation takes place.
12391
12392 @item *
12393 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
12394 @code{++}.
12395
12396 @item &
12397 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
12398
12399 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
12400 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
12401 to examine the address
12402 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
12403 stored.
12404
12405 @item -
12406 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
12407 precedence as @code{++}.
12408
12409 @item !
12410 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12411 @code{++}.
12412
12413 @item ~
12414 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12415 @code{++}.
12416
12417
12418 @item .@r{, }->
12419 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
12420 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
12421 pointer based on the stored type information.
12422 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
12423
12424 @item .*@r{, }->*
12425 Dereferences of pointers to members.
12426
12427 @item []
12428 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
12429 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12430
12431 @item ()
12432 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12433
12434 @item ::
12435 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
12436 and @code{class} types.
12437
12438 @item ::
12439 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
12440 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
12441 above.
12442 @end table
12443
12444 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
12445 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
12446 predefined meaning.
12447
12448 @node C Constants
12449 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
12450
12451 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
12452
12453 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
12454 following ways:
12455
12456 @itemize @bullet
12457 @item
12458 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
12459 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
12460 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
12461 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
12462 @code{long} value.
12463
12464 @item
12465 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
12466 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
12467 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
12468 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
12469 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
12470 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
12471 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
12472 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
12473 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
12474 constant.
12475
12476 @item
12477 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
12478 integral equivalents.
12479
12480 @item
12481 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
12482 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
12483 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
12484 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
12485 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
12486 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
12487 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
12488 @samp{\n} for newline.
12489
12490 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
12491 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
12492 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
12493 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12494
12495 @item
12496 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
12497 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
12498 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
12499 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
12500 characters.
12501
12502 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
12503 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
12504 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12505
12506 @item
12507 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
12508 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
12509
12510 @item
12511 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
12512 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
12513 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
12514 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
12515 @end itemize
12516
12517 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
12518 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
12519
12520 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
12521 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
12522
12523 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
12524 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
12525 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
12526 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
12527 @quotation
12528 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
12529 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
12530 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
12531 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
12532 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
12533 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
12534 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
12535 code. @xref{Compilation}.
12536 @end quotation
12537
12538 @enumerate
12539
12540 @cindex member functions
12541 @item
12542 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
12543
12544 @smallexample
12545 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
12546 @end smallexample
12547
12548 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
12549 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
12550 @item
12551 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
12552 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
12553 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
12554 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
12555 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
12556
12557 @cindex call overloaded functions
12558 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
12559 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
12560 @item
12561 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
12562 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
12563 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
12564 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
12565 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
12566 default arguments.
12567
12568 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
12569 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
12570 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
12571 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
12572 number of function arguments.
12573
12574 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
12575 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
12576 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
12577
12578 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
12579 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
12580 @smallexample
12581 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
12582 @end smallexample
12583
12584 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
12585 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
12586
12587 @cindex reference declarations
12588 @item
12589 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
12590 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
12591 dereferenced.
12592
12593 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
12594 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
12595 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
12596 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
12597 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
12598
12599 @item
12600 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
12601 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
12602 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
12603 necessary, for example in an expression like
12604 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
12605 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
12606 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
12607
12608 @item
12609 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
12610 specification.
12611 @end enumerate
12612
12613 @node C Defaults
12614 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
12615
12616 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
12617
12618 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
12619 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
12620 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12621 selects the working language.
12622
12623 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
12624 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
12625 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
12626 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
12627 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
12628 for further details.
12629
12630 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
12631 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
12632 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
12633
12634 @node C Checks
12635 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
12636
12637 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
12638
12639 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
12640 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
12641 considers two variables type equivalent if:
12642
12643 @itemize @bullet
12644 @item
12645 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
12646 enumerated tag.
12647
12648 @item
12649 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
12650 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
12651
12652 @ignore
12653 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
12654 @c FIXME--beers?
12655 @item
12656 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
12657 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
12658 compilers.)
12659 @end ignore
12660 @end itemize
12661
12662 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
12663 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
12664 that is not itself an array.
12665
12666 @node Debugging C
12667 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
12668
12669 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
12670 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
12671 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
12672 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
12673
12674 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
12675 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
12676 ,Expressions}.
12677
12678 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
12679 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
12680
12681 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
12682
12683 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
12684 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
12685
12686 @table @code
12687 @cindex break in overloaded functions
12688 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
12689 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
12690 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
12691 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
12692 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
12693
12694 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
12695 @item rbreak @var{regex}
12696 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
12697 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
12698 classes.
12699 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12700
12701 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
12702 @item catch throw
12703 @itemx catch catch
12704 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
12705 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
12706
12707 @cindex inheritance
12708 @item ptype @var{typename}
12709 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
12710 @var{typename}.
12711 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
12712
12713 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
12714 @item set print demangle
12715 @itemx show print demangle
12716 @itemx set print asm-demangle
12717 @itemx show print asm-demangle
12718 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
12719 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
12720 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12721
12722 @item set print object
12723 @itemx show print object
12724 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
12725 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12726
12727 @item set print vtbl
12728 @itemx show print vtbl
12729 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
12730 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12731 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
12732 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
12733
12734 @kindex set overload-resolution
12735 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
12736 @item set overload-resolution on
12737 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
12738 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
12739 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
12740 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
12741 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
12742 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
12743
12744 @item set overload-resolution off
12745 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
12746 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12747 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
12748 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
12749 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12750 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
12751 argument types.
12752
12753 @kindex show overload-resolution
12754 @item show overload-resolution
12755 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
12756
12757 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
12758 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
12759 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
12760 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
12761 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
12762 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
12763 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
12764 @end table
12765
12766 @node Decimal Floating Point
12767 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
12768 @cindex decimal floating point format
12769
12770 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
12771 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
12772 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
12773 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
12774
12775 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
12776 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
12777 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
12778 target.
12779
12780 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
12781 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
12782 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
12783
12784 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
12785 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
12786 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
12787
12788 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
12789 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
12790 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
12791
12792 @node D
12793 @subsection D
12794
12795 @cindex D
12796 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
12797 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
12798 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
12799
12800 @node Objective-C
12801 @subsection Objective-C
12802
12803 @cindex Objective-C
12804 This section provides information about some commands and command
12805 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
12806 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
12807 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
12808
12809 @menu
12810 * Method Names in Commands::
12811 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
12812 @end menu
12813
12814 @node Method Names in Commands
12815 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
12816
12817 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
12818 names as line specifications:
12819
12820 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
12821 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
12822 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
12823 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
12824 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
12825 @itemize
12826 @item @code{clear}
12827 @item @code{break}
12828 @item @code{info line}
12829 @item @code{jump}
12830 @item @code{list}
12831 @end itemize
12832
12833 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
12834
12835 @smallexample
12836 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
12837 @end smallexample
12838
12839 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
12840 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
12841 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
12842 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
12843 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
12844 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
12845 debugged, enter:
12846
12847 @smallexample
12848 break -[Fruit create]
12849 @end smallexample
12850
12851 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
12852 enter:
12853
12854 @smallexample
12855 list +[NSText initialize]
12856 @end smallexample
12857
12858 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
12859 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
12860 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
12861 is also possible to specify just a method name:
12862
12863 @smallexample
12864 break create
12865 @end smallexample
12866
12867 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
12868 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
12869 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
12870 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
12871 none apply.
12872
12873 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
12874 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
12875
12876 @smallexample
12877 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
12878 @end smallexample
12879
12880 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
12881 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
12882 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
12883 @kindex print-object
12884 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
12885
12886 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
12887
12888 @smallexample
12889 print -[@var{object} hash]
12890 @end smallexample
12891
12892 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
12893 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
12894 @noindent
12895 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
12896 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
12897 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
12898 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
12899 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
12900 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
12901
12902 @node OpenCL C
12903 @subsection OpenCL C
12904
12905 @cindex OpenCL C
12906 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
12907
12908 @menu
12909 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
12910 * OpenCL C Expressions::
12911 * OpenCL C Operators::
12912 @end menu
12913
12914 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
12915 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
12916
12917 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
12918 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
12919 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
12920 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
12921 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
12922
12923 @node OpenCL C Expressions
12924 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
12925
12926 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
12927 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
12928 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
12929 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
12930
12931 @node OpenCL C Operators
12932 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
12933
12934 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
12935 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
12936 vector data types.
12937
12938 @node Fortran
12939 @subsection Fortran
12940 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
12941
12942 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
12943 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
12944
12945 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
12946 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
12947 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
12948 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
12949 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
12950 underscore.
12951
12952 @menu
12953 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
12954 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
12955 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
12956 @end menu
12957
12958 @node Fortran Operators
12959 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
12960
12961 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
12962
12963 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12964 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
12965 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
12966
12967 @table @code
12968 @item **
12969 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
12970 of the second one.
12971
12972 @item :
12973 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
12974 represent a section of array.
12975
12976 @item %
12977 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
12978 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
12979 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
12980 union type.
12981 @end table
12982
12983 @node Fortran Defaults
12984 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
12985
12986 @cindex Fortran Defaults
12987
12988 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
12989 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
12990 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
12991 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
12992
12993 @node Special Fortran Commands
12994 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
12995
12996 @cindex Special Fortran commands
12997
12998 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
12999 such as displaying common blocks.
13000
13001 @table @code
13002 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13003 @kindex info common
13004 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13005 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13006 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13007 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13008 printed.
13009 @end table
13010
13011 @node Pascal
13012 @subsection Pascal
13013
13014 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13015 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13016 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13017 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13018 syntax.
13019
13020 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13021 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13022 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13023
13024 @node Modula-2
13025 @subsection Modula-2
13026
13027 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13028
13029 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13030 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13031 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13032 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13033 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13034 table.
13035
13036 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13037 @menu
13038 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13039 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13040 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13041 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13042 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13043 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13044 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13045 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13046 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13047 @end menu
13048
13049 @node M2 Operators
13050 @subsubsection Operators
13051 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13052
13053 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13054 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13055 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13056 following definitions hold:
13057
13058 @itemize @bullet
13059
13060 @item
13061 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13062 their subranges.
13063
13064 @item
13065 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13066
13067 @item
13068 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13069
13070 @item
13071 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13072 @var{type}}.
13073
13074 @item
13075 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13076
13077 @item
13078 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13079
13080 @item
13081 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13082 @end itemize
13083
13084 @noindent
13085 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13086 increasing precedence:
13087
13088 @table @code
13089 @item ,
13090 Function argument or array index separator.
13091
13092 @item :=
13093 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13094 @var{value}.
13095
13096 @item <@r{, }>
13097 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13098 types.
13099
13100 @item <=@r{, }>=
13101 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13102 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13103 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13104
13105 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13106 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13107 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13108 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13109 comment character.
13110
13111 @item IN
13112 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13113 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13114
13115 @item OR
13116 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13117
13118 @item AND@r{, }&
13119 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13120
13121 @item @@
13122 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13123
13124 @item +@r{, }-
13125 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13126 and difference on set types.
13127
13128 @item *
13129 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13130 on set types.
13131
13132 @item /
13133 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13134 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13135
13136 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
13137 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13138 precedence as @code{*}.
13139
13140 @item -
13141 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13142
13143 @item ^
13144 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13145
13146 @item NOT
13147 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13148 @code{^}.
13149
13150 @item .
13151 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13152 precedence as @code{^}.
13153
13154 @item []
13155 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
13156
13157 @item ()
13158 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
13159 as @code{^}.
13160
13161 @item ::@r{, }.
13162 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
13163 @end table
13164
13165 @quotation
13166 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
13167 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
13168 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
13169 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
13170 @end quotation
13171
13172
13173 @node Built-In Func/Proc
13174 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
13175 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
13176
13177 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
13178 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
13179
13180 @table @var
13181
13182 @item a
13183 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
13184
13185 @item c
13186 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
13187
13188 @item i
13189 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
13190
13191 @item m
13192 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
13193 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
13194 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
13195
13196 @item n
13197 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
13198
13199 @item r
13200 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
13201
13202 @item t
13203 represents a type.
13204
13205 @item v
13206 represents a variable.
13207
13208 @item x
13209 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
13210 explanation of the function for details.
13211 @end table
13212
13213 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
13214
13215 @table @code
13216 @item ABS(@var{n})
13217 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
13218
13219 @item CAP(@var{c})
13220 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
13221 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
13222
13223 @item CHR(@var{i})
13224 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13225
13226 @item DEC(@var{v})
13227 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13228
13229 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
13230 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13231 new value.
13232
13233 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13234 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
13235 set.
13236
13237 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
13238 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
13239
13240 @item HIGH(@var{a})
13241 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
13242
13243 @item INC(@var{v})
13244 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13245
13246 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
13247 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13248 new value.
13249
13250 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13251 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
13252 there. Returns the new set.
13253
13254 @item MAX(@var{t})
13255 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
13256
13257 @item MIN(@var{t})
13258 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
13259
13260 @item ODD(@var{i})
13261 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
13262
13263 @item ORD(@var{x})
13264 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
13265 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
13266 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
13267 integral, character and enumerated types.
13268
13269 @item SIZE(@var{x})
13270 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13271
13272 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
13273 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
13274
13275 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
13276 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13277
13278 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
13279 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13280 @end table
13281
13282 @quotation
13283 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
13284 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
13285 an error.
13286 @end quotation
13287
13288 @cindex Modula-2 constants
13289 @node M2 Constants
13290 @subsubsection Constants
13291
13292 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
13293 ways:
13294
13295 @itemize @bullet
13296
13297 @item
13298 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
13299 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
13300 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
13301 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
13302
13303 @item
13304 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
13305 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
13306 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
13307 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
13308 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
13309 digits.
13310
13311 @item
13312 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
13313 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
13314 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
13315 followed by a @samp{C}.
13316
13317 @item
13318 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
13319 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
13320 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
13321 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
13322 sequences.
13323
13324 @item
13325 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
13326
13327 @item
13328 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
13329 @code{FALSE}.
13330
13331 @item
13332 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
13333
13334 @item
13335 Set constants are not yet supported.
13336 @end itemize
13337
13338 @node M2 Types
13339 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
13340 @cindex Modula-2 types
13341
13342 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
13343 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
13344 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
13345 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
13346 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
13347 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
13348
13349 The first example contains the following section of code:
13350
13351 @smallexample
13352 VAR
13353 s: SET OF CHAR ;
13354 r: [20..40] ;
13355 @end smallexample
13356
13357 @noindent
13358 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
13359 @code{r} and @code{s}.
13360
13361 @smallexample
13362 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13363 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
13364 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13365 SET OF CHAR
13366 (@value{GDBP}) print r
13367 21
13368 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
13369 [20..40]
13370 @end smallexample
13371
13372 @noindent
13373 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
13374
13375 @smallexample
13376 VAR
13377 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
13378 @end smallexample
13379
13380 @noindent
13381 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
13382
13383 @smallexample
13384 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13385 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
13386 @end smallexample
13387
13388 @noindent
13389 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
13390 expressions using the debugger.
13391
13392 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
13393 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
13394
13395 @smallexample
13396 VAR
13397 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
13398 @end smallexample
13399
13400 @smallexample
13401 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13402 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
13403 @end smallexample
13404
13405 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
13406 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
13407 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
13408 above.
13409
13410 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
13411
13412 @smallexample
13413 TYPE
13414 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
13415 t = [blue..yellow] ;
13416 VAR
13417 s: t ;
13418 BEGIN
13419 s := blue ;
13420 @end smallexample
13421
13422 @noindent
13423 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
13424 and value of a variable.
13425
13426 @smallexample
13427 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13428 $1 = blue
13429 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
13430 type = [blue..yellow]
13431 @end smallexample
13432
13433 @noindent
13434 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
13435 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
13436 their @code{C} counterparts.
13437
13438 @smallexample
13439 VAR
13440 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13441 BEGIN
13442 s[1] := 1 ;
13443 @end smallexample
13444
13445 @smallexample
13446 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13447 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
13448 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13449 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13450 @end smallexample
13451
13452 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
13453 pointer types as shown in this example:
13454
13455 @smallexample
13456 VAR
13457 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13458 BEGIN
13459 NEW(s) ;
13460 s^[1] := 1 ;
13461 @end smallexample
13462
13463 @noindent
13464 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
13465
13466 @smallexample
13467 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13468 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13469 @end smallexample
13470
13471 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
13472 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
13473 types:
13474
13475 @smallexample
13476 TYPE
13477 foo = RECORD
13478 f1: CARDINAL ;
13479 f2: CHAR ;
13480 f3: myarray ;
13481 END ;
13482
13483 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
13484 myrange = [-2..2] ;
13485 VAR
13486 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
13487 @end smallexample
13488
13489 @noindent
13490 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
13491 below.
13492
13493 @smallexample
13494 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13495 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
13496 f1 : CARDINAL;
13497 f2 : CHAR;
13498 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
13499 END
13500 @end smallexample
13501
13502 @node M2 Defaults
13503 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
13504 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
13505
13506 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
13507 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
13508 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13509 selected the working language.
13510
13511 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
13512 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
13513 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
13514 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
13515
13516 @node Deviations
13517 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
13518 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
13519
13520 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
13521 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
13522
13523 @itemize @bullet
13524 @item
13525 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
13526 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
13527 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
13528 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
13529 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
13530 returned a pointer.)
13531
13532 @item
13533 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
13534 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
13535 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
13536 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
13537
13538 @item
13539 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
13540 argument.
13541
13542 @item
13543 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
13544 @end itemize
13545
13546 @node M2 Checks
13547 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
13548 @cindex Modula-2 checks
13549
13550 @quotation
13551 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
13552 range checking.
13553 @end quotation
13554 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
13555
13556 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
13557
13558 @itemize @bullet
13559 @item
13560 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
13561 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
13562
13563 @item
13564 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
13565 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
13566 @end itemize
13567
13568 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
13569 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
13570
13571 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
13572 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
13573
13574 @node M2 Scope
13575 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13576 @cindex scope
13577 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
13578 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
13579 @ifinfo
13580 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
13581 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
13582 @end ifinfo
13583 @ifnotinfo
13584 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
13585 @end ifnotinfo
13586
13587 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
13588 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
13589 similar syntax:
13590
13591 @smallexample
13592
13593 @var{module} . @var{id}
13594 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
13595 @end smallexample
13596
13597 @noindent
13598 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
13599 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
13600 identifier within your program, except another module.
13601
13602 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
13603 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
13604 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
13605 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
13606
13607 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
13608 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
13609 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
13610 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
13611 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
13612 @var{module}.
13613
13614 @node GDB/M2
13615 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13616
13617 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
13618 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
13619 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
13620 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
13621 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
13622 analogue in Modula-2.
13623
13624 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
13625 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
13626 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
13627 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
13628 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
13629 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
13630
13631 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
13632 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
13633 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
13634
13635 @node Ada
13636 @subsection Ada
13637 @cindex Ada
13638
13639 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
13640 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
13641 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
13642 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13643 to be difficult.
13644
13645
13646 @cindex expressions in Ada
13647 @menu
13648 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
13649 and semantics supported by Ada mode
13650 in @value{GDBN}.
13651 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
13652 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
13653 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
13654 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
13655 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13656 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
13657 Profile
13658 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
13659 @end menu
13660
13661 @node Ada Mode Intro
13662 @subsubsection Introduction
13663 @cindex Ada mode, general
13664
13665 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
13666 syntax, with some extensions.
13667 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
13668
13669 @itemize @bullet
13670 @item
13671 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
13672 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
13673 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
13674 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
13675
13676 @item
13677 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
13678 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13679
13680 @item
13681 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13682 @end itemize
13683
13684 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
13685 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
13686 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
13687 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
13688 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
13689
13690 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
13691 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
13692 was translated from an Ada source file.
13693
13694 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
13695 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
13696 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
13697 middle (to allow based literals).
13698
13699 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
13700 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
13701 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
13702 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
13703 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
13704 functions to procedures elsewhere.
13705
13706 @node Omissions from Ada
13707 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
13708 @cindex Ada, omissions from
13709
13710 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
13711
13712 @itemize @bullet
13713 @item
13714 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
13715
13716 @itemize @minus
13717 @item
13718 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
13719 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
13720
13721 @item
13722 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
13723
13724 @item
13725 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
13726
13727 @item
13728 @t{'Tag}.
13729
13730 @item
13731 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
13732 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
13733
13734 @item
13735 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
13736 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
13737
13738 @item
13739 @t{'Address}.
13740 @end itemize
13741
13742 @item
13743 The names in
13744 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
13745 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
13746 not currently available.
13747
13748 @item
13749 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
13750 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
13751 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
13752 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
13753 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
13754 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
13755 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
13756 indeterminate values.
13757
13758 @item
13759 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
13760 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
13761 are not implemented.
13762
13763 @item
13764 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
13765 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
13766 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
13767 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
13768 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
13769
13770 @smallexample
13771 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
13772 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
13773 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
13774 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
13775 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
13776 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
13777 @end smallexample
13778
13779 Changing a
13780 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
13781 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
13782 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
13783 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
13784 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
13785 declared to have a type such as:
13786
13787 @smallexample
13788 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
13789 Id : Integer;
13790 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
13791 end record;
13792 @end smallexample
13793
13794 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
13795 assignments:
13796
13797 @smallexample
13798 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
13799 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
13800 @end smallexample
13801
13802 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
13803 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
13804 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
13805 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
13806 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
13807 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
13808 redundant component associations, although which component values are
13809 assigned in such cases is not defined.
13810
13811 @item
13812 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
13813
13814 @item
13815 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
13816 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
13817 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
13818 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
13819 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
13820 the proper resolution.
13821
13822 @item
13823 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
13824
13825 @item
13826 Entry calls are not implemented.
13827
13828 @item
13829 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
13830 formats are not supported.
13831
13832 @item
13833 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
13834
13835 @item
13836 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
13837 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
13838 context.
13839 Should your program
13840 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
13841 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
13842 @end itemize
13843
13844 @node Additions to Ada
13845 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
13846 @cindex Ada, deviations from
13847
13848 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
13849 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
13850
13851 @itemize @bullet
13852 @item
13853 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
13854 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
13855 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
13856 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
13857 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
13858 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
13859 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
13860 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
13861
13862 @item
13863 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
13864 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
13865 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
13866
13867 @item
13868 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
13869 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
13870
13871 @item
13872 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
13873 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
13874 @end itemize
13875
13876 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
13877 additions specific to Ada:
13878
13879 @itemize @bullet
13880 @item
13881 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
13882 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
13883
13884 @smallexample
13885 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
13886 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
13887 @end smallexample
13888
13889 @item
13890 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
13891 the value of its right-hand operand.
13892 This allows, for example,
13893 complex conditional breaks:
13894
13895 @smallexample
13896 (@value{GDBP}) break f
13897 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
13898 @end smallexample
13899
13900 @item
13901 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
13902 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
13903 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
13904 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
13905 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
13906 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
13907 in strings. For example,
13908 @smallexample
13909 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
13910 @end smallexample
13911 @noindent
13912 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
13913 after each period.
13914
13915 @item
13916 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
13917 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
13918 to write
13919
13920 @smallexample
13921 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
13922 @end smallexample
13923
13924 @item
13925 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
13926 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
13927 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
13928 of 3 might print as
13929
13930 @smallexample
13931 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
13932 @end smallexample
13933
13934 @noindent
13935 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
13936 clause.
13937
13938 @item
13939 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
13940 multi-character subsequence of
13941 their names (an exact match gets preference).
13942 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
13943 in place of @t{a'length}.
13944
13945 @item
13946 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
13947 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
13948 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
13949 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
13950 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
13951 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
13952 For example,
13953 @smallexample
13954 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
13955 @end smallexample
13956
13957 @item
13958 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
13959 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
13960 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
13961 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
13962 object.
13963
13964 @end itemize
13965
13966 @node Stopping Before Main Program
13967 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
13968
13969 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
13970 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
13971 before reaching the main procedure.
13972 As defined in the Ada Reference
13973 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
13974 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
13975 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
13976 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
13977
13978 @node Ada Tasks
13979 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
13980 @cindex Ada, tasking
13981
13982 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
13983 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
13984
13985 @table @code
13986 @kindex info tasks
13987 @item info tasks
13988 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
13989
13990
13991 @smallexample
13992 @iftex
13993 @leftskip=0.5cm
13994 @end iftex
13995 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13996 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13997 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13998 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
13999 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
14000 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14001
14002 @end smallexample
14003
14004 @noindent
14005 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14006 task currently being inspected.
14007
14008 @table @asis
14009 @item ID
14010 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14011
14012 @item TID
14013 The Ada task ID.
14014
14015 @item P-ID
14016 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14017
14018 @item Pri
14019 The base priority of the task.
14020
14021 @item State
14022 Current state of the task.
14023
14024 @table @code
14025 @item Unactivated
14026 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14027 executing.
14028
14029 @item Runnable
14030 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14031 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14032
14033 @item Terminated
14034 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14035 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14036 terminated themselves.
14037
14038 @item Child Activation Wait
14039 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14040
14041 @item Accept Statement
14042 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14043
14044 @item Waiting on entry call
14045 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14046
14047 @item Async Select Wait
14048 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14049 select statement.
14050
14051 @item Delay Sleep
14052 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14053 alternative open.
14054
14055 @item Child Termination Wait
14056 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14057 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14058 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14059
14060 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14061 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14062 finish terminating.
14063
14064 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14065 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14066 @end table
14067
14068 @item Name
14069 Name of the task in the program.
14070
14071 @end table
14072
14073 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14074 @item info task @var{taskno}
14075 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14076 the following example:
14077 @smallexample
14078 @iftex
14079 @leftskip=0.5cm
14080 @end iftex
14081 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14082 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14083 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14084 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14085 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14086 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14087 Name: task_1
14088 Thread: 0x807f378
14089 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14090 Base Priority: 15
14091 State: Runnable
14092 @end smallexample
14093
14094 @item task
14095 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14096 @cindex current Ada task ID
14097 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14098
14099 @smallexample
14100 @iftex
14101 @leftskip=0.5cm
14102 @end iftex
14103 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14104 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14105 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14106 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14107 (@value{GDBP}) task
14108 [Current task is 2]
14109 @end smallexample
14110
14111 @item task @var{taskno}
14112 @cindex Ada task switching
14113 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14114 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14115 from the current task to the given task.
14116
14117 @smallexample
14118 @iftex
14119 @leftskip=0.5cm
14120 @end iftex
14121 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14122 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14123 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14124 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14125 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14126 [Switching to task 1]
14127 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14128 (@value{GDBP}) bt
14129 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14130 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14131 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14132 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14133 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14134 @end smallexample
14135
14136 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14137 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14138 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14139 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14140 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14141 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14142 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14143 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14144 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14145
14146 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14147 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14148 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14149 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14150 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14151
14152 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14153 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
14154 program.
14155
14156 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
14157 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
14158 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
14159
14160 For example,
14161
14162 @smallexample
14163 @iftex
14164 @leftskip=0.5cm
14165 @end iftex
14166 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14167 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14168 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14169 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
14170 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14171 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
14172 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
14173 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
14174 (@value{GDBP}) cont
14175 Continuing.
14176 task # 1 running
14177 task # 2 running
14178
14179 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
14180 15 flush;
14181 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14182 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14183 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14184 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
14185 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14186 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
14187 @end smallexample
14188 @end table
14189
14190 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
14191 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14192 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
14193
14194 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
14195 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
14196 the platform being used.
14197 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
14198 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
14199 as usual.
14200
14201 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
14202 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
14203 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
14204 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
14205 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
14206 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
14207
14208 @node Ravenscar Profile
14209 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
14210 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
14211
14212 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
14213 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
14214 requirements.
14215
14216 @table @code
14217 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
14218 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
14219 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
14220 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14221 Profile. This is the default.
14222
14223 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
14224 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
14225 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14226 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
14227 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
14228 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
14229 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
14230
14231 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
14232 @item show ravenscar task-switching
14233 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
14234 using the Ravenscar Profile.
14235
14236 @end table
14237
14238 @node Ada Glitches
14239 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
14240 @cindex Ada, problems
14241
14242 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
14243 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
14244 @value{GDBN},
14245 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
14246 and the GNU Ada compiler.
14247
14248 @itemize @bullet
14249 @item
14250 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
14251 storage are invisible to the debugger.
14252
14253 @item
14254 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
14255 argument lists are treated as positional).
14256
14257 @item
14258 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
14259
14260 @item
14261 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
14262 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
14263 the host machine.
14264
14265 @item
14266 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
14267 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
14268 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
14269 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
14270 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
14271 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
14272 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
14273 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
14274 you can usually resolve the confusion
14275 by qualifying the problematic names with package
14276 @code{Standard} explicitly.
14277 @end itemize
14278
14279 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
14280 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
14281 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
14282 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
14283 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
14284 enabled.
14285
14286 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14287 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14288 @table @code
14289
14290 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
14291 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
14292 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
14293 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
14294 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
14295 This is the default.
14296
14297 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
14298 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
14299 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
14300 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
14301 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
14302 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
14303 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
14304
14305 @end table
14306
14307 @node Unsupported Languages
14308 @section Unsupported Languages
14309
14310 @cindex unsupported languages
14311 @cindex minimal language
14312 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
14313 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
14314 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
14315 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
14316 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
14317 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
14318
14319 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
14320 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
14321 language.
14322
14323 @node Symbols
14324 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
14325
14326 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
14327 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
14328 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
14329 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
14330 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
14331 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
14332 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14333
14334 @cindex symbol names
14335 @cindex names of symbols
14336 @cindex quoting names
14337 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
14338 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
14339 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
14340 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
14341 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
14342 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
14343 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
14344 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
14345
14346 @smallexample
14347 p 'foo.c'::x
14348 @end smallexample
14349
14350 @noindent
14351 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
14352
14353 @table @code
14354 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
14355 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
14356 @kindex set case-sensitive
14357 @item set case-sensitive on
14358 @itemx set case-sensitive off
14359 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
14360 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
14361 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
14362 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
14363 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
14364 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
14365 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
14366 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
14367 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
14368 case-insensitive matches.
14369
14370 @kindex show case-sensitive
14371 @item show case-sensitive
14372 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
14373 lookups.
14374
14375 @kindex info address
14376 @cindex address of a symbol
14377 @item info address @var{symbol}
14378 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
14379 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
14380 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
14381 is always stored.
14382
14383 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
14384 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
14385 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
14386
14387 @kindex info symbol
14388 @cindex symbol from address
14389 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
14390 @item info symbol @var{addr}
14391 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
14392 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
14393 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
14394
14395 @smallexample
14396 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
14397 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
14398 @end smallexample
14399
14400 @noindent
14401 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
14402 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
14403
14404 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
14405 library containing the symbol is also printed:
14406
14407 @smallexample
14408 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
14409 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
14410 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
14411 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
14412 @end smallexample
14413
14414 @kindex whatis
14415 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
14416 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
14417 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
14418 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14419
14420 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
14421 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
14422 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
14423
14424 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
14425 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
14426 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
14427 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
14428 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
14429 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
14430 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
14431 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
14432 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
14433
14434 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
14435 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
14436 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
14437 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
14438 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
14439 unroll it.
14440
14441 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
14442 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
14443 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
14444
14445 @kindex ptype
14446 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
14447 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
14448 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
14449 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
14450
14451 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
14452 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
14453 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
14454 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
14455 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
14456 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
14457 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
14458 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
14459
14460 For example, for this variable declaration:
14461
14462 @smallexample
14463 typedef double real_t;
14464 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
14465 typedef struct complex complex_t;
14466 complex_t var;
14467 real_t *real_pointer_var;
14468 @end smallexample
14469
14470 @noindent
14471 the two commands give this output:
14472
14473 @smallexample
14474 @group
14475 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
14476 type = complex_t
14477 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
14478 type = struct complex @{
14479 real_t real;
14480 double imag;
14481 @}
14482 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
14483 type = struct complex
14484 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
14485 type = struct complex
14486 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
14487 type = struct complex @{
14488 real_t real;
14489 double imag;
14490 @}
14491 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
14492 type = real_t *
14493 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
14494 type = double *
14495 @end group
14496 @end smallexample
14497
14498 @noindent
14499 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
14500 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14501
14502 @cindex incomplete type
14503 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
14504 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
14505 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
14506 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
14507 given these declarations:
14508
14509 @smallexample
14510 struct foo;
14511 struct foo *fooptr;
14512 @end smallexample
14513
14514 @noindent
14515 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
14516
14517 @smallexample
14518 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
14519 $1 = <incomplete type>
14520 @end smallexample
14521
14522 @noindent
14523 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
14524 completely specified.
14525
14526 @kindex info types
14527 @item info types @var{regexp}
14528 @itemx info types
14529 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
14530 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
14531 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
14532 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
14533 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
14534 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
14535 name is @code{value}.
14536
14537 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
14538 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
14539 lists all source files where a type is defined.
14540
14541 @kindex info scope
14542 @cindex local variables
14543 @item info scope @var{location}
14544 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
14545 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
14546 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
14547 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
14548 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
14549
14550 @smallexample
14551 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
14552 Scope for command_line_handler:
14553 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
14554 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
14555 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
14556 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
14557 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
14558 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
14559 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
14560 @end smallexample
14561
14562 @noindent
14563 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
14564 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
14565 collect}.
14566
14567 @kindex info source
14568 @item info source
14569 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
14570 the function containing the current point of execution:
14571 @itemize @bullet
14572 @item
14573 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
14574 @item
14575 the directory it was compiled in,
14576 @item
14577 its length, in lines,
14578 @item
14579 which programming language it is written in,
14580 @item
14581 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
14582 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
14583 @item
14584 whether the debugging information includes information about
14585 preprocessor macros.
14586 @end itemize
14587
14588
14589 @kindex info sources
14590 @item info sources
14591 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
14592 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
14593 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
14594
14595 @kindex info functions
14596 @item info functions
14597 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
14598
14599 @item info functions @var{regexp}
14600 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
14601 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
14602 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
14603 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
14604 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
14605 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
14606 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
14607
14608 @kindex info variables
14609 @item info variables
14610 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
14611 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
14612
14613 @item info variables @var{regexp}
14614 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
14615 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
14616 @var{regexp}.
14617
14618 @kindex info classes
14619 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
14620 @item info classes
14621 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
14622 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
14623 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14624 expression.
14625
14626 @kindex info selectors
14627 @item info selectors
14628 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
14629 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
14630 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14631 expression.
14632
14633 @ignore
14634 This was never implemented.
14635 @kindex info methods
14636 @item info methods
14637 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
14638 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
14639 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
14640 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
14641 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
14642 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
14643 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
14644 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
14645 @end ignore
14646
14647 @cindex reloading symbols
14648 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
14649 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
14650 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
14651 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
14652 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
14653
14654 @table @code
14655 @kindex set symbol-reloading
14656 @item set symbol-reloading on
14657 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
14658 object file with a particular name is seen again.
14659
14660 @item set symbol-reloading off
14661 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
14662 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
14663 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
14664 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
14665 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
14666 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
14667 name.
14668
14669 @kindex show symbol-reloading
14670 @item show symbol-reloading
14671 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
14672 @end table
14673
14674 @cindex opaque data types
14675 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
14676 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
14677 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
14678 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
14679 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
14680 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
14681 another source file. The default is on.
14682
14683 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
14684 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
14685
14686 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
14687 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
14688 is printed as follows:
14689 @smallexample
14690 @{<no data fields>@}
14691 @end smallexample
14692
14693 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
14694 @item show opaque-type-resolution
14695 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
14696
14697 @kindex maint print symbols
14698 @cindex symbol dump
14699 @kindex maint print psymbols
14700 @cindex partial symbol dump
14701 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
14702 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
14703 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
14704 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
14705 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
14706 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
14707 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
14708 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
14709 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
14710 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
14711 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
14712 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
14713 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
14714 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
14715 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
14716 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
14717 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
14718
14719 @kindex maint info symtabs
14720 @kindex maint info psymtabs
14721 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
14722 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14723 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14724 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14725 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14726 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14727
14728 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
14729 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
14730 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
14731 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
14732 structure in more detail. For example:
14733
14734 @smallexample
14735 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
14736 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14737 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14738 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14739 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
14740 readin no
14741 fullname (null)
14742 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
14743 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
14744 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
14745 dependencies (none)
14746 @}
14747 @}
14748 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14749 (@value{GDBP})
14750 @end smallexample
14751 @noindent
14752 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
14753 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
14754 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
14755 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
14756 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
14757
14758 @smallexample
14759 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
14760 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
14761 line 1574.
14762 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14763 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14764 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14765 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14766 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
14767 dirname (null)
14768 fullname (null)
14769 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
14770 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
14771 debugformat DWARF 2
14772 @}
14773 @}
14774 (@value{GDBP})
14775 @end smallexample
14776 @end table
14777
14778
14779 @node Altering
14780 @chapter Altering Execution
14781
14782 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
14783 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
14784 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
14785 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
14786 program.
14787
14788 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
14789 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
14790 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
14791
14792 @menu
14793 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
14794 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
14795 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
14796 * Returning:: Returning from a function
14797 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
14798 * Patching:: Patching your program
14799 @end menu
14800
14801 @node Assignment
14802 @section Assignment to Variables
14803
14804 @cindex assignment
14805 @cindex setting variables
14806 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
14807 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
14808
14809 @smallexample
14810 print x=4
14811 @end smallexample
14812
14813 @noindent
14814 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
14815 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
14816 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
14817 information on operators in supported languages.
14818
14819 @kindex set variable
14820 @cindex variables, setting
14821 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
14822 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
14823 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
14824 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
14825 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
14826
14827 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
14828 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
14829 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
14830 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
14831 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
14832 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
14833 command @code{set width}:
14834
14835 @smallexample
14836 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
14837 type = double
14838 (@value{GDBP}) p width
14839 $4 = 13
14840 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
14841 Invalid syntax in expression.
14842 @end smallexample
14843
14844 @noindent
14845 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
14846 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
14847
14848 @smallexample
14849 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
14850 @end smallexample
14851
14852 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
14853 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
14854 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
14855 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
14856 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
14857 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
14858
14859 @smallexample
14860 @group
14861 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
14862 type = double
14863 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14864 $1 = 1
14865 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
14866 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14867 $2 = 1
14868 (@value{GDBP}) r
14869 The program being debugged has been started already.
14870 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
14871 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
14872 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
14873 Invalid bfd target.
14874 (@value{GDBP}) show g
14875 The current BFD target is "=4".
14876 @end group
14877 @end smallexample
14878
14879 @noindent
14880 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
14881 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
14882 @code{g}, use
14883
14884 @smallexample
14885 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
14886 @end smallexample
14887
14888 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
14889 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
14890 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
14891 same length or shorter.
14892 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
14893 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
14894
14895 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
14896 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
14897 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
14898 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
14899 and representation in memory), and
14900
14901 @smallexample
14902 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
14903 @end smallexample
14904
14905 @noindent
14906 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
14907
14908 @node Jumping
14909 @section Continuing at a Different Address
14910
14911 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
14912 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
14913 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
14914
14915 @table @code
14916 @kindex jump
14917 @item jump @var{linespec}
14918 @itemx jump @var{location}
14919 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
14920 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
14921 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
14922 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
14923 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
14924 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14925
14926 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
14927 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
14928 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
14929 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
14930 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
14931 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
14932 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
14933 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
14934 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
14935 @end table
14936
14937 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
14938 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
14939 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
14940 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
14941 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
14942 example,
14943
14944 @smallexample
14945 set $pc = 0x485
14946 @end smallexample
14947
14948 @noindent
14949 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
14950 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
14951 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
14952
14953 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
14954 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
14955 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
14956 detail.
14957
14958 @c @group
14959 @node Signaling
14960 @section Giving your Program a Signal
14961 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
14962
14963 @table @code
14964 @kindex signal
14965 @item signal @var{signal}
14966 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
14967 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
14968 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
14969 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
14970
14971 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
14972 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
14973 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
14974 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
14975 signal.
14976
14977 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
14978 after executing the command.
14979 @end table
14980 @c @end group
14981
14982 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
14983 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
14984 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
14985 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
14986 passes the signal directly to your program.
14987
14988
14989 @node Returning
14990 @section Returning from a Function
14991
14992 @table @code
14993 @cindex returning from a function
14994 @kindex return
14995 @item return
14996 @itemx return @var{expression}
14997 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
14998 command. If you give an
14999 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
15000 value.
15001 @end table
15002
15003 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15004 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15005 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15006 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15007
15008 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15009 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15010 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15011 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15012 of functions.
15013
15014 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15015 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15016 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15017 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15018 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15019
15020 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15021 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15022 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15023 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15024 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15025 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15026 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15027 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15028 assignment into the right register(s).
15029
15030 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15031 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15032 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15033 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15034 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15035 into a @code{long long int}:
15036
15037 @smallexample
15038 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15039 29 return 31;
15040 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15041 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15042 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15043 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15044 (@value{GDBP})
15045 @end smallexample
15046
15047 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
15048 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
15049 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
15050 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
15051 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
15052 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
15053 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
15054 an appropriate cast explicitly:
15055
15056 @smallexample
15057 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
15058 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15059 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
15060 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
15061 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
15062 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
15063 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
15064 (@value{GDBP})
15065 @end smallexample
15066
15067 @node Calling
15068 @section Calling Program Functions
15069
15070 @table @code
15071 @cindex calling functions
15072 @cindex inferior functions, calling
15073 @item print @var{expr}
15074 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
15075 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
15076 debugged.
15077
15078 @kindex call
15079 @item call @var{expr}
15080 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15081 returned values.
15082
15083 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15084 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15085 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15086 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15087 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15088 value history.
15089 @end table
15090
15091 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15092 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15093 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15094 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15095
15096 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15097 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15098 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15099 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15100 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15101 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
15102 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
15103 in that case is controlled by the
15104 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
15105
15106 @table @code
15107 @item set unwindonsignal
15108 @kindex set unwindonsignal
15109 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
15110 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
15111 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
15112 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
15113 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
15114 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
15115 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
15116 received.
15117
15118 @item show unwindonsignal
15119 @kindex show unwindonsignal
15120 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15121 @value{GDBN}.
15122
15123 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15124 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15125 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
15126 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
15127 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
15128 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
15129 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
15130 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
15131 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
15132 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
15133
15134 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15135 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15136 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15137 @value{GDBN}.
15138
15139 @end table
15140
15141 @cindex weak alias functions
15142 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
15143 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
15144 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
15145 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
15146 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
15147 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
15148 function instead.
15149
15150 @node Patching
15151 @section Patching Programs
15152
15153 @cindex patching binaries
15154 @cindex writing into executables
15155 @cindex writing into corefiles
15156
15157 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
15158 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
15159 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
15160 patching your program's binary.
15161
15162 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
15163 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
15164 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
15165 repairs.
15166
15167 @table @code
15168 @kindex set write
15169 @item set write on
15170 @itemx set write off
15171 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
15172 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
15173 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
15174
15175 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
15176 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
15177 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
15178
15179 @item show write
15180 @kindex show write
15181 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
15182 as well as reading.
15183 @end table
15184
15185 @node GDB Files
15186 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
15187
15188 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
15189 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
15190 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
15191 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
15192
15193 @menu
15194 * Files:: Commands to specify files
15195 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
15196 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
15197 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
15198 * Data Files:: GDB data files
15199 @end menu
15200
15201 @node Files
15202 @section Commands to Specify Files
15203
15204 @cindex symbol table
15205 @cindex core dump file
15206
15207 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
15208 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
15209 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
15210 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
15211
15212 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
15213 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
15214 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
15215 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
15216 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
15217 new files are useful.
15218
15219 @table @code
15220 @cindex executable file
15221 @kindex file
15222 @item file @var{filename}
15223 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
15224 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
15225 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
15226 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
15227 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
15228 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
15229 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
15230 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
15231
15232 @cindex unlinked object files
15233 @cindex patching object files
15234 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
15235 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
15236 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
15237 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
15238 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
15239 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
15240 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
15241 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
15242
15243 @item file
15244 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
15245 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
15246
15247 @kindex exec-file
15248 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15249 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
15250 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
15251 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
15252 discard information on the executable file.
15253
15254 @kindex symbol-file
15255 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15256 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
15257 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
15258 table and program to run from the same file.
15259
15260 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
15261 program's symbol table.
15262
15263 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
15264 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
15265 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
15266 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
15267 @value{GDBN}.
15268
15269 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
15270 executing it once.
15271
15272 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
15273 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
15274 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
15275 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
15276 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
15277 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
15278 optimized code.
15279
15280 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
15281 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
15282 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
15283 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
15284 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
15285
15286 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
15287 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
15288 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
15289 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
15290 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
15291 Warnings and Messages}.)
15292
15293 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
15294 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
15295 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
15296 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
15297 in stabs format.
15298
15299 @kindex readnow
15300 @cindex reading symbols immediately
15301 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
15302 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15303 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15304 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
15305 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
15306 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
15307 entire symbol table available.
15308
15309 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
15310 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
15311 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
15312 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
15313 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
15314 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
15315 @c files.
15316
15317 @kindex core-file
15318 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
15319 @itemx core
15320 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
15321 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
15322 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
15323 executable file itself for other parts.
15324
15325 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
15326 to be used.
15327
15328 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
15329 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
15330 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
15331 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
15332 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
15333
15334 @kindex add-symbol-file
15335 @cindex dynamic linking
15336 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
15337 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
15338 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
15339 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
15340 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
15341 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
15342 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
15343 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
15344 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
15345 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
15346 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
15347 @var{address} as an expression.
15348
15349 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
15350 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
15351 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
15352 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
15353 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
15354
15355 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
15356 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
15357 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
15358 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
15359 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
15360 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
15361 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
15362 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
15363 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
15364
15365 @itemize @bullet
15366 @item
15367 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
15368 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
15369 @item
15370 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
15371 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
15372 @item
15373 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
15374 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15375 @end itemize
15376
15377 @noindent
15378 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
15379 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
15380 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
15381 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
15382 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
15383 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
15384 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
15385 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
15386 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
15387 way.
15388
15389 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
15390
15391 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
15392 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
15393 @cindex load symbols from memory
15394 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
15395 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
15396 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
15397 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
15398 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
15399 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
15400 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
15401 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
15402 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
15403
15404 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
15405 @kindex assf
15406 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
15407 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
15408 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
15409 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
15410 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
15411 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
15412 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
15413 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
15414 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
15415 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
15416
15417 @kindex section
15418 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
15419 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
15420 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
15421 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
15422 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
15423 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
15424 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
15425 their addresses.
15426
15427 @kindex info files
15428 @kindex info target
15429 @item info files
15430 @itemx info target
15431 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
15432 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
15433 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
15434 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
15435 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
15436 current ones.
15437
15438 @kindex maint info sections
15439 @item maint info sections
15440 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
15441 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
15442 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
15443 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
15444 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
15445 may be arbitrarily combined):
15446
15447 @table @code
15448 @item ALLOBJ
15449 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
15450 @item @var{sections}
15451 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
15452 @item @var{section-flags}
15453 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
15454 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
15455 @table @code
15456 @item ALLOC
15457 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
15458 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
15459 @item LOAD
15460 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
15461 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
15462 @item RELOC
15463 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
15464 @item READONLY
15465 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
15466 @item CODE
15467 Section contains executable code only.
15468 @item DATA
15469 Section contains data only (no executable code).
15470 @item ROM
15471 Section will reside in ROM.
15472 @item CONSTRUCTOR
15473 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
15474 @item HAS_CONTENTS
15475 Section is not empty.
15476 @item NEVER_LOAD
15477 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
15478 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
15479 A notification to the linker that the section contains
15480 COFF shared library information.
15481 @item IS_COMMON
15482 Section contains common symbols.
15483 @end table
15484 @end table
15485 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
15486 @cindex read-only sections
15487 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
15488 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
15489 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
15490 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
15491 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
15492 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
15493 enhancement to debugging performance.
15494
15495 The default is off.
15496
15497 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
15498 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
15499 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
15500 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
15501
15502 @item show trust-readonly-sections
15503 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
15504 @end table
15505
15506 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
15507 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
15508 name and remembers it that way.
15509
15510 @cindex shared libraries
15511 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
15512 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
15513 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
15514
15515 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
15516 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
15517
15518 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
15519 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
15520 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
15521 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
15522 debugging a core file).
15523
15524 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
15525 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
15526
15527 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
15528 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
15529 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
15530
15531 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
15532 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
15533 particularly large or there are many of them.
15534
15535 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
15536 commands:
15537
15538 @table @code
15539 @kindex set auto-solib-add
15540 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
15541 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
15542 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
15543 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
15544 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
15545 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
15546 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
15547
15548 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
15549 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
15550 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
15551 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
15552 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
15553 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
15554 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
15555 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
15556 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
15557
15558 @kindex show auto-solib-add
15559 @item show auto-solib-add
15560 Display the current autoloading mode.
15561 @end table
15562
15563 @cindex load shared library
15564 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
15565 command:
15566
15567 @table @code
15568 @kindex info sharedlibrary
15569 @kindex info share
15570 @item info share @var{regex}
15571 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
15572 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
15573 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
15574 all shared libraries that are loaded.
15575
15576 @kindex sharedlibrary
15577 @kindex share
15578 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
15579 @itemx share @var{regex}
15580 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
15581 Unix regular expression.
15582 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
15583 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
15584 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
15585 loaded.
15586
15587 @item nosharedlibrary
15588 @kindex nosharedlibrary
15589 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
15590 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
15591 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
15592 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
15593 discarded.
15594 @end table
15595
15596 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
15597 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
15598 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
15599 Catchpoints}).
15600
15601 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
15602 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
15603 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
15604 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
15605
15606 @table @code
15607 @item set stop-on-solib-events
15608 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
15609 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
15610 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
15611 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
15612 shared library.
15613
15614 @item show stop-on-solib-events
15615 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
15616 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
15617 library events happen.
15618 @end table
15619
15620 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
15621 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
15622 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
15623 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
15624 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
15625 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
15626 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
15627 not.
15628
15629 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
15630 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
15631 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
15632 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
15633 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
15634
15635 @table @code
15636 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
15637 @cindex system root, alternate
15638 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
15639 @kindex set sysroot
15640 @item set sysroot @var{path}
15641 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
15642 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
15643 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
15644 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
15645 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
15646 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
15647 under @var{path}.
15648
15649 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
15650 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
15651 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
15652 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
15653 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
15654 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
15655 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
15656 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
15657 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
15658
15659 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
15660 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
15661 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
15662 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
15663 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
15664
15665 @smallexample
15666 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
15667 @end smallexample
15668
15669 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
15670 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
15671 system:
15672
15673 @smallexample
15674 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
15675 @end smallexample
15676
15677 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
15678 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
15679 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
15680 colons:
15681
15682 @smallexample
15683 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
15684 @end smallexample
15685
15686 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
15687 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
15688 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
15689 @samp{z}):
15690
15691 @smallexample
15692 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
15693 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15694 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15695 @end smallexample
15696
15697 @noindent
15698 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
15699 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
15700 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
15701
15702 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
15703 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
15704
15705 @smallexample
15706 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
15707 @end smallexample
15708
15709 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
15710 if you don't want or need to.
15711
15712 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
15713 sysroot}.
15714
15715 @cindex default system root
15716 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
15717 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
15718 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
15719 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15720 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
15721 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15722 location.
15723
15724 @kindex show sysroot
15725 @item show sysroot
15726 Display the current shared library prefix.
15727
15728 @kindex set solib-search-path
15729 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
15730 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15731 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
15732 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
15733 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
15734 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
15735 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
15736 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
15737 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
15738 of shared library symbols.
15739
15740 @kindex show solib-search-path
15741 @item show solib-search-path
15742 Display the current shared library search path.
15743
15744 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
15745 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
15746 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
15747 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
15748 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
15749
15750 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
15751 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
15752 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
15753 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
15754 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
15755 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
15756 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
15757 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
15758 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
15759 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
15760 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
15761 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
15762 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
15763 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
15764 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
15765 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
15766 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
15767 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
15768 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
15769 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
15770 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
15771 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
15772
15773 @table @code
15774 @item unix
15775 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
15776 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
15777 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
15778 the forward slash.
15779
15780 @item dos-based
15781 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
15782 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
15783 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
15784 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
15785 considered directory separators.
15786
15787 @item auto
15788 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
15789 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
15790 This is the default.
15791 @end table
15792 @end table
15793
15794 @cindex file name canonicalization
15795 @cindex base name differences
15796 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
15797 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
15798 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
15799 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
15800 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
15801 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
15802 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
15803 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
15804 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
15805 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
15806 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
15807 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
15808 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
15809 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
15810 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
15811
15812 @table @code
15813 @item set basenames-may-differ
15814 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
15815 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
15816
15817 @item show basenames-may-differ
15818 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
15819 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
15820 @end table
15821
15822 @node Separate Debug Files
15823 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
15824 @cindex separate debugging information files
15825 @cindex debugging information in separate files
15826 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
15827 @cindex debugging information directory, global
15828 @cindex global debugging information directory
15829 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
15830 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
15831
15832 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
15833 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
15834 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
15835 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
15836 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
15837 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
15838 install only when they need to debug a problem.
15839
15840 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
15841 file:
15842
15843 @itemize @bullet
15844 @item
15845 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
15846 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
15847 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
15848 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
15849 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
15850 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
15851 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
15852 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
15853
15854 @item
15855 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
15856 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
15857 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
15858 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
15859 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
15860 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
15861 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
15862 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
15863 below.
15864 @end itemize
15865
15866 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
15867 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
15868
15869 @itemize @bullet
15870 @item
15871 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
15872 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
15873 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
15874 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
15875 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
15876
15877 @item
15878 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
15879 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
15880 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
15881 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
15882 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
15883 hex characters, not 10.)
15884 @end itemize
15885
15886 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
15887 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
15888 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
15889 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
15890 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
15891 debug information files, in the indicated order:
15892
15893 @itemize @minus
15894 @item
15895 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
15896 @item
15897 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
15898 @item
15899 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
15900 @item
15901 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
15902 @end itemize
15903
15904 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
15905 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
15906
15907 @table @code
15908
15909 @kindex set debug-file-directory
15910 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
15911 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15912 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
15913 concatenating them by a directory separator.
15914
15915 @kindex show debug-file-directory
15916 @item show debug-file-directory
15917 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15918 information files.
15919
15920 @end table
15921
15922 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
15923 @cindex debug link sections
15924 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
15925 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
15926
15927 @itemize
15928 @item
15929 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
15930 a zero byte,
15931 @item
15932 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
15933 boundary within the section, and
15934 @item
15935 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
15936 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
15937 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
15938 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
15939 @end itemize
15940
15941 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
15942 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
15943 described above.
15944
15945 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
15946 @cindex build ID sections
15947 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
15948 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
15949 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
15950 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
15951 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
15952 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
15953 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
15954 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
15955 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
15956
15957 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
15958 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
15959 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
15960 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
15961 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
15962 in an ordinary executable.
15963
15964 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
15965 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
15966 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
15967 following commands:
15968
15969 @smallexample
15970 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
15971 @kbd{strip -g foo}
15972 @end smallexample
15973
15974 @noindent
15975 These commands remove the debugging
15976 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
15977 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
15978 two files:
15979
15980 @itemize @bullet
15981 @item
15982 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
15983 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
15984
15985 @smallexample
15986 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
15987 @end smallexample
15988
15989 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
15990 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
15991 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
15992 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
15993
15994 @item
15995 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
15996 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
15997 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
15998 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
15999 @end itemize
16000
16001 @noindent
16002
16003 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
16004 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
16005 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
16006
16007 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16008 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16009 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16010 @c different ways!
16011 @ifhtml
16012 @display
16013 @html
16014 <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>
16015 + <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
16016 @end html
16017 @end display
16018 @end ifhtml
16019 @ifnothtml
16020 @display
16021 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16022 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16023 @end display
16024 @end ifnothtml
16025
16026 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16027 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16028 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16029 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16030 CRC.
16031
16032 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16033 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16034 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16035 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16036 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16037 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16038
16039 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16040 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16041 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
16042 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
16043 @code{0xffffffff}.
16044
16045 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
16046 @smallexample
16047 unsigned long
16048 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
16049 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
16050 @{
16051 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
16052 @{
16053 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
16054 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
16055 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
16056 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
16057 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
16058 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
16059 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
16060 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
16061 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
16062 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
16063 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
16064 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
16065 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
16066 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
16067 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
16068 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
16069 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
16070 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
16071 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
16072 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
16073 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
16074 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
16075 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
16076 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
16077 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
16078 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
16079 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
16080 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
16081 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
16082 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
16083 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
16084 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
16085 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16086 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16087 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16088 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16089 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16090 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16091 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16092 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16093 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16094 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16095 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16096 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16097 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
16098 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
16099 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
16100 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
16101 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
16102 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
16103 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
16104 0x2d02ef8d
16105 @};
16106 unsigned char *end;
16107
16108 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16109 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
16110 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
16111 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16112 @}
16113 @end smallexample
16114
16115 @noindent
16116 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
16117
16118
16119 @node Index Files
16120 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
16121 @cindex index files
16122 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
16123
16124 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
16125 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
16126 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
16127 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
16128 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
16129 startup.
16130
16131 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
16132 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
16133 using @command{objcopy}.
16134
16135 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
16136
16137 @table @code
16138 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
16139 @kindex save gdb-index
16140 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
16141 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
16142 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
16143 @var{directory}.
16144 @end table
16145
16146 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
16147 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
16148
16149 @smallexample
16150 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
16151 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
16152 @end smallexample
16153
16154 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
16155 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
16156 currently work for programs using Ada.
16157
16158 @node Symbol Errors
16159 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
16160
16161 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
16162 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
16163 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
16164 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
16165 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
16166 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
16167 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
16168 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
16169 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
16170 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16171 Messages}).
16172
16173 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
16174
16175 @table @code
16176 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
16177
16178 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
16179 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
16180 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
16181 in its outer scope blocks.
16182
16183 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
16184 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
16185 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
16186 function.
16187
16188 @item block at @var{address} out of order
16189
16190 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
16191 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
16192 do so.
16193
16194 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
16195 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
16196 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
16197 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16198 Messages}.)
16199
16200 @item bad block start address patched
16201
16202 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
16203 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
16204 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
16205
16206 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
16207 starting on the previous source line.
16208
16209 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
16210
16211 @cindex foo
16212 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
16213 larger than the size of the string table.
16214
16215 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
16216 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
16217 with this name.
16218
16219 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
16220
16221 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
16222 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
16223 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
16224
16225 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
16226 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
16227 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
16228 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
16229 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
16230 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
16231
16232 @item stub type has NULL name
16233
16234 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
16235
16236 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
16237 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
16238 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
16239 it.
16240
16241 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
16242
16243 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
16244
16245 @end table
16246
16247 @node Data Files
16248 @section GDB Data Files
16249
16250 @cindex prefix for data files
16251 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
16252 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
16253
16254 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
16255 is currently using.
16256
16257 @table @code
16258 @kindex set data-directory
16259 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
16260 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
16261 to @var{directory}.
16262
16263 @kindex show data-directory
16264 @item show data-directory
16265 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
16266 @end table
16267
16268 @cindex default data directory
16269 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
16270 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
16271 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
16272 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16273 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
16274 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16275 location.
16276
16277 The data directory may also be specified with the
16278 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
16279 @xref{Mode Options}.
16280
16281 @node Targets
16282 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
16283
16284 @cindex debugging target
16285 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
16286
16287 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
16288 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
16289 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
16290 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
16291 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
16292 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
16293 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
16294 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
16295
16296 @cindex target architecture
16297 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
16298 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
16299 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
16300 command.
16301
16302 @table @code
16303 @kindex set architecture
16304 @kindex show architecture
16305 @item set architecture @var{arch}
16306 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
16307 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
16308 supported architectures.
16309
16310 @item show architecture
16311 Show the current target architecture.
16312
16313 @item set processor
16314 @itemx processor
16315 @kindex set processor
16316 @kindex show processor
16317 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
16318 and @code{show architecture}.
16319 @end table
16320
16321 @menu
16322 * Active Targets:: Active targets
16323 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
16324 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
16325 @end menu
16326
16327 @node Active Targets
16328 @section Active Targets
16329
16330 @cindex stacking targets
16331 @cindex active targets
16332 @cindex multiple targets
16333
16334 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
16335 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
16336 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
16337 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
16338 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
16339 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
16340 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
16341 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
16342 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
16343
16344 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
16345 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
16346 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
16347 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
16348
16349 @node Target Commands
16350 @section Commands for Managing Targets
16351
16352 @table @code
16353 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
16354 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
16355 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
16356 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
16357 protocol of the target machine.
16358
16359 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
16360 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
16361 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
16362
16363 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
16364 after executing the command.
16365
16366 @kindex help target
16367 @item help target
16368 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
16369 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
16370 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16371
16372 @item help target @var{name}
16373 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
16374 select it.
16375
16376 @kindex set gnutarget
16377 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
16378 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
16379 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
16380 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
16381 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
16382 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
16383
16384 @quotation
16385 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
16386 you must know the actual BFD name.
16387 @end quotation
16388
16389 @noindent
16390 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
16391
16392 @kindex show gnutarget
16393 @item show gnutarget
16394 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
16395 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
16396 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
16397 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
16398 @end table
16399
16400 @cindex common targets
16401 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
16402 configuration):
16403
16404 @table @code
16405 @kindex target
16406 @item target exec @var{program}
16407 @cindex executable file target
16408 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
16409 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
16410
16411 @item target core @var{filename}
16412 @cindex core dump file target
16413 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
16414 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
16415
16416 @item target remote @var{medium}
16417 @cindex remote target
16418 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
16419 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
16420 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
16421
16422 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
16423 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
16424
16425 @smallexample
16426 target remote /dev/ttya
16427 @end smallexample
16428
16429 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
16430 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
16431 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
16432 clobbered by the download.
16433
16434 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
16435 @cindex built-in simulator target
16436 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
16437 In general,
16438 @smallexample
16439 target sim
16440 load
16441 run
16442 @end smallexample
16443 @noindent
16444 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
16445 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
16446 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
16447 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
16448 Processors}.
16449
16450 @end table
16451
16452 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
16453
16454 @table @code
16455
16456 @item target nrom @var{dev}
16457 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
16458 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
16459
16460 @end table
16461
16462 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
16463 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
16464
16465 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
16466 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
16467 various aspects of this process.
16468
16469 @table @code
16470
16471 @item set hash
16472 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16473 @cindex hash mark while downloading
16474 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
16475 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
16476 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
16477 monitor.
16478
16479 @item show hash
16480 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16481 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
16482
16483 @item set debug monitor
16484 @kindex set debug monitor
16485 @cindex display remote monitor communications
16486 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
16487 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16488
16489 @item show debug monitor
16490 @kindex show debug monitor
16491 Show the current status of displaying communications between
16492 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16493 @end table
16494
16495 @table @code
16496
16497 @kindex load @var{filename}
16498 @item load @var{filename}
16499 @anchor{load}
16500 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
16501 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
16502 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
16503 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
16504 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
16505 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16506
16507 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
16508 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
16509 target is @dots{}}''
16510
16511 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
16512 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
16513 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
16514 specifies a fixed address.
16515 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
16516
16517 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
16518 load programs into flash memory.
16519
16520 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
16521 @end table
16522
16523 @node Byte Order
16524 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
16525
16526 @cindex choosing target byte order
16527 @cindex target byte order
16528
16529 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
16530 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
16531 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
16532 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
16533 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
16534 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
16535
16536 @table @code
16537 @kindex set endian
16538 @item set endian big
16539 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
16540
16541 @item set endian little
16542 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
16543
16544 @item set endian auto
16545 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
16546 executable.
16547
16548 @item show endian
16549 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
16550
16551 @end table
16552
16553 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
16554 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
16555 target system.
16556
16557
16558 @node Remote Debugging
16559 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
16560 @cindex remote debugging
16561
16562 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
16563 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
16564 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
16565 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
16566 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
16567
16568 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
16569 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
16570 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
16571 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
16572 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
16573 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
16574
16575 Other remote targets may be available in your
16576 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
16577
16578 @menu
16579 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
16580 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
16581 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
16582 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
16583 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
16584 @end menu
16585
16586 @node Connecting
16587 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
16588
16589 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
16590 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
16591 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
16592 program as the first argument.
16593
16594 @cindex @code{target remote}
16595 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
16596 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
16597 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
16598 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
16599 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
16600 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
16601
16602 @table @code
16603
16604 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
16605 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
16606 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
16607 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
16608
16609 @smallexample
16610 target remote /dev/ttyb
16611 @end smallexample
16612
16613 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
16614 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
16615 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
16616 @code{target} command.
16617
16618 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
16619 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
16620 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
16621 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
16622 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
16623 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
16624 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
16625 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
16626 target.
16627
16628 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
16629 @code{manyfarms}:
16630
16631 @smallexample
16632 target remote manyfarms:2828
16633 @end smallexample
16634
16635 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
16636 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
16637 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
16638 port 1234 on your local machine:
16639
16640 @smallexample
16641 target remote :1234
16642 @end smallexample
16643 @noindent
16644
16645 Note that the colon is still required here.
16646
16647 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
16648 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
16649 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
16650 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
16651
16652 @smallexample
16653 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
16654 @end smallexample
16655
16656 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
16657 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
16658 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
16659 cause havoc with your debugging session.
16660
16661 @item target remote | @var{command}
16662 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
16663 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
16664 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
16665 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
16666 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
16667 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
16668 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
16669 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
16670
16671 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
16672 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
16673 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
16674
16675 @end table
16676
16677 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
16678 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
16679 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
16680 need to use @kbd{run}.
16681
16682 @cindex interrupting remote programs
16683 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
16684 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
16685 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
16686 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
16687 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
16688 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
16689
16690 @smallexample
16691 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
16692 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
16693 @end smallexample
16694
16695 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
16696 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
16697 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
16698 goes back to waiting.
16699
16700 @table @code
16701 @kindex detach (remote)
16702 @item detach
16703 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
16704 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
16705 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
16706 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
16707 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
16708
16709 @kindex disconnect
16710 @item disconnect
16711 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
16712 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
16713 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
16714 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
16715 another target.
16716
16717 @cindex send command to remote monitor
16718 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
16719 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
16720 @kindex monitor
16721 @item monitor @var{cmd}
16722 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
16723 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
16724 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
16725 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
16726 and implement.
16727 @end table
16728
16729 @node File Transfer
16730 @section Sending files to a remote system
16731 @cindex remote target, file transfer
16732 @cindex file transfer
16733 @cindex sending files to remote systems
16734
16735 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
16736 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
16737 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
16738 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
16739 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
16740 the only way to upload or download files.
16741
16742 Not all remote targets support these commands.
16743
16744 @table @code
16745 @kindex remote put
16746 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
16747 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
16748 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
16749
16750 @kindex remote get
16751 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
16752 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
16753 on the host system.
16754
16755 @kindex remote delete
16756 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
16757 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
16758
16759 @end table
16760
16761 @node Server
16762 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
16763
16764 @kindex gdbserver
16765 @cindex remote connection without stubs
16766 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
16767 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
16768 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
16769
16770 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
16771 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
16772 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
16773 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
16774 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
16775 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
16776 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
16777 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
16778 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
16779 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
16780 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
16781 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
16782 choice for debugging.
16783
16784 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
16785 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
16786 protocol.
16787
16788 @quotation
16789 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
16790 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
16791 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
16792 target system with the same privileges as the user running
16793 @code{gdbserver}.
16794 @end quotation
16795
16796 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
16797 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
16798 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
16799
16800 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
16801 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
16802 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
16803 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
16804 system does all the symbol handling.
16805
16806 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
16807 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
16808 syntax is:
16809
16810 @smallexample
16811 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
16812 @end smallexample
16813
16814 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
16815 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
16816 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
16817 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
16818 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
16819 @file{/dev/com1}:
16820
16821 @smallexample
16822 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
16823 @end smallexample
16824
16825 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
16826 with it.
16827
16828 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
16829
16830 @smallexample
16831 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
16832 @end smallexample
16833
16834 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
16835 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
16836 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
16837 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
16838 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
16839 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
16840 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
16841 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
16842 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
16843 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
16844 @code{target remote} command.
16845
16846 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
16847 with ssh:
16848
16849 @smallexample
16850 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
16851 @end smallexample
16852
16853 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
16854 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
16855 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
16856 You could elide it if you want to.
16857
16858 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
16859 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
16860 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
16861 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
16862
16863 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
16864 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
16865 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
16866
16867 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
16868 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
16869
16870 @smallexample
16871 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
16872 @end smallexample
16873
16874 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
16875 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
16876
16877 @pindex pidof
16878 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
16879 @code{pidof} utility:
16880
16881 @smallexample
16882 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
16883 @end smallexample
16884
16885 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
16886 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
16887 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
16888
16889 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
16890 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
16891 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
16892
16893 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
16894 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
16895 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
16896 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
16897
16898 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
16899 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
16900 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
16901 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
16902 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
16903 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
16904 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
16905 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
16906 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
16907
16908 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
16909 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
16910 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
16911 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
16912 the program you want to debug.
16913
16914 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
16915 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
16916 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
16917 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
16918 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
16919 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
16920
16921 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
16922
16923 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
16924
16925 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
16926 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
16927 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
16928 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
16929 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
16930 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
16931 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
16932 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
16933
16934 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
16935 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
16936 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
16937
16938 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
16939 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
16940 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
16941 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
16942 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
16943 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
16944 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
16945 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
16946 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
16947 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
16948 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
16949 instance closes its port after the first connection.
16950
16951 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
16952
16953 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
16954 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
16955 status information about the debugging process.
16956 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
16957 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
16958 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
16959 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
16960
16961 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
16962 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
16963 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
16964 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
16965 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
16966
16967 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
16968 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
16969 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
16970 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
16971
16972 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
16973 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
16974 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
16975 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
16976
16977 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
16978 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
16979 environment:
16980
16981 @smallexample
16982 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
16983 @end smallexample
16984
16985 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
16986
16987 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
16988
16989 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
16990 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
16991 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
16992 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
16993
16994 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
16995 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
16996 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
16997 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
16998 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
16999 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
17000 programs.
17001
17002 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17003 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
17004 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
17005 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
17006 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
17007 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
17008 already on the target.
17009
17010 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
17011 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
17012 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
17013
17014 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
17015 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
17016 Here are the available commands.
17017
17018 @table @code
17019 @item monitor help
17020 List the available monitor commands.
17021
17022 @item monitor set debug 0
17023 @itemx monitor set debug 1
17024 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
17025
17026 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
17027 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
17028 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
17029 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
17030
17031 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
17032 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
17033 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17034 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
17035 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
17036 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
17037
17038 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
17039 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
17040
17041 @item monitor exit
17042 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
17043 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
17044 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
17045 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
17046 of a multi-process mode debug session.
17047
17048 @end table
17049
17050 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17051 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17052
17053 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
17054 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
17055
17056 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
17057 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
17058 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
17059 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
17060 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
17061 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
17062 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
17063 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
17064 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
17065 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
17066 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
17067 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
17068
17069 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
17070
17071 @table @code
17072 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
17073
17074 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
17075 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
17076 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
17077
17078 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
17079
17080 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
17081 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
17082 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
17083 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
17084 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
17085 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
17086
17087 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
17088
17089 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
17090 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
17091 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
17092 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
17093 command for that. For example:
17094
17095 @smallexample
17096 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
17097 @end smallexample
17098
17099 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
17100 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
17101 @end table
17102
17103 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
17104 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
17105 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
17106 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
17107 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
17108 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
17109 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
17110 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
17111 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
17112 @code{gdbserver} like so:
17113
17114 @smallexample
17115 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
17116 @end smallexample
17117
17118 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
17119
17120 @smallexample
17121 $ gdb myprogram
17122 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
17123 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
17124 (@value{GDBP}) b main
17125 (@value{GDBP}) continue
17126 @end smallexample
17127
17128 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
17129 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
17130 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
17131 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
17132 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
17133 tracing.
17134
17135 @node Remote Configuration
17136 @section Remote Configuration
17137
17138 @kindex set remote
17139 @kindex show remote
17140 This section documents the configuration options available when
17141 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
17142 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
17143 system-call-allowed}.
17144
17145 @table @code
17146 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
17147 @cindex address size for remote targets
17148 @cindex bits in remote address
17149 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
17150 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
17151 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
17152 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
17153
17154 @item show remoteaddresssize
17155 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
17156
17157 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
17158 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
17159 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
17160 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
17161 remote targets.
17162
17163 @item show remotebaud
17164 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
17165
17166 @item set remotebreak
17167 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17168 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
17169 @anchor{set remotebreak}
17170 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
17171 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
17172 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
17173 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
17174 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
17175
17176 @item show remotebreak
17177 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
17178 interrupt the remote program.
17179
17180 @item set remoteflow on
17181 @itemx set remoteflow off
17182 @kindex set remoteflow
17183 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
17184 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
17185
17186 @item show remoteflow
17187 @kindex show remoteflow
17188 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
17189
17190 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
17191 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
17192 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
17193 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
17194 @code{ascii}.
17195
17196 @item show remotelogbase
17197 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
17198 protocol.
17199
17200 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
17201 @cindex record serial communications on file
17202 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
17203 default is not to record at all.
17204
17205 @item show remotelogfile.
17206 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
17207 serial communications.
17208
17209 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
17210 @cindex timeout for serial communications
17211 @cindex remote timeout
17212 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
17213 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
17214
17215 @item show remotetimeout
17216 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
17217 responses.
17218
17219 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
17220 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
17221 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
17222 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
17223 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
17224 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
17225 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
17226 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
17227
17228 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
17229 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
17230 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
17231 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
17232 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
17233 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
17234 as unlimited.
17235
17236 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
17237 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
17238 a remote hardware watchpoint.
17239
17240 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
17241 @itemx show remote exec-file
17242 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
17243 @cindex executable file, for remote target
17244 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
17245 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
17246 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
17247 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
17248
17249 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
17250 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17251 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
17252 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
17253 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
17254 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
17255 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
17256 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
17257 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
17258 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
17259
17260 @item show interrupt-sequence
17261 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
17262 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
17263 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
17264 also known as Magic SysRq g.
17265
17266 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
17267 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
17268 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
17269 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
17270 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
17271 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
17272
17273 @item show interrupt-on-connect
17274 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
17275 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
17276
17277 @kindex set tcp
17278 @kindex show tcp
17279 @item set tcp auto-retry on
17280 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
17281 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
17282 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
17283 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
17284 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
17285 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
17286 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
17287 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
17288
17289 @item set tcp auto-retry off
17290 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
17291
17292 @item show tcp auto-retry
17293 Show the current auto-retry setting.
17294
17295 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
17296 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
17297 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
17298 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
17299 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
17300 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
17301 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
17302 value.
17303
17304 @item show tcp connect-timeout
17305 Show the current connection timeout setting.
17306 @end table
17307
17308 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
17309 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
17310 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
17311 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
17312 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
17313 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
17314 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
17315 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
17316 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
17317
17318 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
17319 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
17320 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
17321 @value{GDBN} developers.
17322
17323 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
17324 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
17325 are:
17326
17327 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
17328 @item Command Name
17329 @tab Remote Packet
17330 @tab Related Features
17331
17332 @item @code{fetch-register}
17333 @tab @code{p}
17334 @tab @code{info registers}
17335
17336 @item @code{set-register}
17337 @tab @code{P}
17338 @tab @code{set}
17339
17340 @item @code{binary-download}
17341 @tab @code{X}
17342 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
17343
17344 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
17345 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
17346 @tab @code{info auxv}
17347
17348 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
17349 @tab @code{qSymbol}
17350 @tab Detecting multiple threads
17351
17352 @item @code{attach}
17353 @tab @code{vAttach}
17354 @tab @code{attach}
17355
17356 @item @code{verbose-resume}
17357 @tab @code{vCont}
17358 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
17359
17360 @item @code{run}
17361 @tab @code{vRun}
17362 @tab @code{run}
17363
17364 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
17365 @tab @code{Z0}
17366 @tab @code{break}
17367
17368 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
17369 @tab @code{Z1}
17370 @tab @code{hbreak}
17371
17372 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
17373 @tab @code{Z2}
17374 @tab @code{watch}
17375
17376 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
17377 @tab @code{Z3}
17378 @tab @code{rwatch}
17379
17380 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
17381 @tab @code{Z4}
17382 @tab @code{awatch}
17383
17384 @item @code{target-features}
17385 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
17386 @tab @code{set architecture}
17387
17388 @item @code{library-info}
17389 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
17390 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
17391
17392 @item @code{memory-map}
17393 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
17394 @tab @code{info mem}
17395
17396 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
17397 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
17398 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
17399
17400 @item @code{read-spu-object}
17401 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
17402 @tab @code{info spu}
17403
17404 @item @code{write-spu-object}
17405 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
17406 @tab @code{info spu}
17407
17408 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
17409 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
17410 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
17411
17412 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
17413 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
17414 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
17415
17416 @item @code{threads}
17417 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
17418 @tab @code{info threads}
17419
17420 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
17421 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
17422 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
17423
17424 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
17425 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
17426 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
17427
17428 @item @code{search-memory}
17429 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
17430 @tab @code{find}
17431
17432 @item @code{supported-packets}
17433 @tab @code{qSupported}
17434 @tab Remote communications parameters
17435
17436 @item @code{pass-signals}
17437 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
17438 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
17439
17440 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
17441 @tab @code{vFile:close}
17442 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17443
17444 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
17445 @tab @code{vFile:open}
17446 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17447
17448 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
17449 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
17450 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17451
17452 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
17453 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
17454 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17455
17456 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
17457 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
17458 @tab @code{remote delete}
17459
17460 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
17461 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
17462 @tab Host I/O
17463
17464 @item @code{noack-packet}
17465 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
17466 @tab Packet acknowledgment
17467
17468 @item @code{osdata}
17469 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
17470 @tab @code{info os}
17471
17472 @item @code{query-attached}
17473 @tab @code{qAttached}
17474 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
17475
17476 @item @code{traceframe-info}
17477 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
17478 @tab Traceframe info
17479
17480 @item @code{install-in-trace}
17481 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
17482 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
17483
17484 @item @code{disable-randomization}
17485 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
17486 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
17487 @end multitable
17488
17489 @node Remote Stub
17490 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
17491
17492 @cindex debugging stub, example
17493 @cindex remote stub, example
17494 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
17495 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
17496 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
17497 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
17498 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
17499 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
17500 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
17501 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
17502
17503 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
17504 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
17505 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
17506 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
17507 program, you need:
17508
17509 @enumerate
17510 @item
17511 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
17512 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
17513 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
17514
17515 @item
17516 A C subroutine library to support your program's
17517 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
17518
17519 @item
17520 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
17521 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
17522 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
17523 documentation.
17524 @end enumerate
17525
17526 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
17527 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
17528 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
17529
17530 @table @emph
17531 @item On the host,
17532 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
17533 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
17534 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
17535
17536 @item On the target,
17537 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
17538 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
17539 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
17540
17541 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
17542 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
17543 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
17544 @end table
17545
17546 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
17547 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
17548 @sc{sparc} boards.
17549
17550 @cindex remote serial stub list
17551 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
17552
17553 @table @code
17554
17555 @item i386-stub.c
17556 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
17557 @cindex Intel
17558 @cindex i386
17559 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
17560
17561 @item m68k-stub.c
17562 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
17563 @cindex Motorola 680x0
17564 @cindex m680x0
17565 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
17566
17567 @item sh-stub.c
17568 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
17569 @cindex Renesas
17570 @cindex SH
17571 For Renesas SH architectures.
17572
17573 @item sparc-stub.c
17574 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
17575 @cindex Sparc
17576 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
17577
17578 @item sparcl-stub.c
17579 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
17580 @cindex Fujitsu
17581 @cindex SparcLite
17582 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
17583
17584 @end table
17585
17586 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
17587 recently added stubs.
17588
17589 @menu
17590 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
17591 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
17592 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
17593 @end menu
17594
17595 @node Stub Contents
17596 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
17597
17598 @cindex remote serial stub
17599 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
17600 subroutines:
17601
17602 @table @code
17603 @item set_debug_traps
17604 @findex set_debug_traps
17605 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
17606 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
17607 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
17608 program's startup code.
17609
17610 @item handle_exception
17611 @findex handle_exception
17612 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
17613 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
17614 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
17615 run when a trap is triggered.
17616
17617 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
17618 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
17619 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
17620 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
17621 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
17622 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
17623 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
17624 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
17625 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
17626 machine.
17627
17628 @item breakpoint
17629 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
17630 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
17631 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
17632 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
17633 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
17634 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
17635 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
17636 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
17637 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
17638 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
17639 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
17640
17641 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
17642 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
17643 start of your debugging session.
17644 @end table
17645
17646 @node Bootstrapping
17647 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
17648
17649 @cindex remote stub, support routines
17650 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
17651 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
17652 debugging target machine.
17653
17654 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
17655 serial port.
17656
17657 @table @code
17658 @item int getDebugChar()
17659 @findex getDebugChar
17660 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
17661 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
17662 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
17663
17664 @item void putDebugChar(int)
17665 @findex putDebugChar
17666 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
17667 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
17668 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
17669 @end table
17670
17671 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
17672 @cindex interrupting remote targets
17673 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
17674 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
17675 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
17676 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
17677 remote system to stop.
17678
17679 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
17680 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
17681 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
17682 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
17683
17684 Other routines you need to supply are:
17685
17686 @table @code
17687 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
17688 @findex exceptionHandler
17689 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
17690 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
17691 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
17692 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
17693 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
17694 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
17695 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
17696 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
17697 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
17698 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
17699 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
17700 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
17701 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
17702
17703 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
17704 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
17705 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
17706 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
17707 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
17708
17709 @item void flush_i_cache()
17710 @findex flush_i_cache
17711 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
17712 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
17713 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
17714
17715 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
17716 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
17717 @end table
17718
17719 @noindent
17720 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
17721
17722 @table @code
17723 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
17724 @findex memset
17725 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
17726 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
17727 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
17728 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
17729 @end table
17730
17731 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
17732 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
17733 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
17734 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
17735
17736
17737 @node Debug Session
17738 @subsection Putting it All Together
17739
17740 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
17741 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
17742 steps.
17743
17744 @enumerate
17745 @item
17746 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
17747 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
17748 @display
17749 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
17750 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
17751 @end display
17752
17753 @item
17754 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
17755 procedure is called:
17756
17757 @smallexample
17758 set_debug_traps();
17759 breakpoint();
17760 @end smallexample
17761
17762 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
17763 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
17764 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
17765 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
17766 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
17767 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
17768 progress.
17769
17770 @item
17771 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
17772 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
17773
17774 @smallexample
17775 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
17776 @end smallexample
17777
17778 @noindent
17779 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
17780 function in your program, that function is called when
17781 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
17782 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
17783 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
17784
17785 @item
17786 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
17787 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
17788
17789 @item
17790 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
17791 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
17792
17793 @item
17794 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
17795 @c document that. FIXME.
17796 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
17797 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
17798
17799 @item
17800 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
17801 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17802
17803 @end enumerate
17804
17805 @node Configurations
17806 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
17807
17808 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
17809 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
17810 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
17811
17812 There are three major categories of configurations: native
17813 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
17814 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
17815 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
17816 are quite different from each other.
17817
17818 @menu
17819 * Native::
17820 * Embedded OS::
17821 * Embedded Processors::
17822 * Architectures::
17823 @end menu
17824
17825 @node Native
17826 @section Native
17827
17828 This section describes details specific to particular native
17829 configurations.
17830
17831 @menu
17832 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
17833 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
17834 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
17835 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
17836 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
17837 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
17838 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
17839 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
17840 @end menu
17841
17842 @node HP-UX
17843 @subsection HP-UX
17844
17845 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
17846 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
17847 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
17848
17849
17850 @node BSD libkvm Interface
17851 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
17852
17853 @cindex libkvm
17854 @cindex kernel memory image
17855 @cindex kernel crash dump
17856
17857 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
17858 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
17859 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
17860 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
17861 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
17862 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
17863 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
17864 @code{kvm} target:
17865
17866 @smallexample
17867 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
17868 @end smallexample
17869
17870 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
17871 argument:
17872
17873 @smallexample
17874 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
17875 @end smallexample
17876
17877 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
17878 available:
17879
17880 @table @code
17881 @kindex kvm
17882 @item kvm pcb
17883 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
17884
17885 @item kvm proc
17886 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
17887 modern FreeBSD systems.
17888 @end table
17889
17890 @node SVR4 Process Information
17891 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
17892 @cindex /proc
17893 @cindex examine process image
17894 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
17895
17896 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
17897 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
17898 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
17899 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
17900 proc} is available to report information about the process running
17901 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
17902 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
17903 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
17904 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
17905
17906 @table @code
17907 @kindex info proc
17908 @cindex process ID
17909 @item info proc
17910 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
17911 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
17912 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
17913 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
17914 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
17915 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
17916 executable file's absolute file name.
17917
17918 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
17919 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
17920 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
17921 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
17922 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
17923 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
17924
17925 @item info proc mappings
17926 @cindex memory address space mappings
17927 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
17928 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
17929 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
17930 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
17931 memory access rights to that range.
17932
17933 @item info proc stat
17934 @itemx info proc status
17935 @cindex process detailed status information
17936 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
17937 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
17938 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
17939 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
17940 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
17941 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
17942 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
17943
17944 @item info proc all
17945 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
17946 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
17947
17948 @ignore
17949 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
17950 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
17951 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
17952 @kindex info proc times
17953 @item info proc times
17954 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
17955 its children.
17956
17957 @kindex info proc id
17958 @item info proc id
17959 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
17960 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
17961 @end ignore
17962
17963 @item set procfs-trace
17964 @kindex set procfs-trace
17965 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
17966 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
17967
17968 @item show procfs-trace
17969 @kindex show procfs-trace
17970 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
17971
17972 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
17973 @kindex set procfs-file
17974 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
17975 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
17976 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
17977 standard output.
17978
17979 @item show procfs-file
17980 @kindex show procfs-file
17981 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
17982
17983 @item proc-trace-entry
17984 @itemx proc-trace-exit
17985 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
17986 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
17987 @kindex proc-trace-entry
17988 @kindex proc-trace-exit
17989 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
17990 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
17991 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
17992 from the @code{syscall} interface.
17993
17994 @item info pidlist
17995 @kindex info pidlist
17996 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
17997 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
17998 processes and all the threads within each process.
17999
18000 @item info meminfo
18001 @kindex info meminfo
18002 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
18003 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
18004 @end table
18005
18006 @node DJGPP Native
18007 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
18008 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
18009 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
18010 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
18011
18012 @cindex DPMI
18013 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
18014 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
18015 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
18016 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
18017
18018 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
18019 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
18020 subsection describes those commands.
18021
18022 @table @code
18023 @kindex info dos
18024 @item info dos
18025 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
18026 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18027
18028 @kindex sysinfo
18029 @cindex MS-DOS system info
18030 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
18031 @item info dos sysinfo
18032 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
18033 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
18034 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
18035
18036 @cindex GDT
18037 @cindex LDT
18038 @cindex IDT
18039 @cindex segment descriptor tables
18040 @cindex descriptor tables display
18041 @item info dos gdt
18042 @itemx info dos ldt
18043 @itemx info dos idt
18044 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
18045 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
18046 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
18047 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
18048 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
18049 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
18050 rights.
18051
18052 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
18053 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
18054 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
18055 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
18056 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
18057
18058 @cindex garbled pointers
18059 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
18060 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
18061 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
18062 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
18063 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
18064 debugged program's data segment:
18065
18066 @smallexample
18067 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
18068 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
18069 @end smallexample
18070
18071 @noindent
18072 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
18073 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
18074
18075 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
18076 @item info dos pde
18077 @itemx info dos pte
18078 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
18079 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
18080 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
18081 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
18082 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
18083 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
18084 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
18085 that is currently in use.
18086
18087 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
18088 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
18089 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
18090 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
18091 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
18092 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
18093 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
18094
18095 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
18096 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
18097 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
18098 controller.
18099
18100 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
18101
18102 @cindex physical address from linear address
18103 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
18104 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
18105 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
18106 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
18107 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
18108 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
18109 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
18110
18111 @smallexample
18112 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
18113 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
18114 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
18115 @end smallexample
18116
18117 @noindent
18118 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
18119 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
18120 attributes of that page.
18121
18122 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
18123 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
18124 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
18125 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
18126 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
18127 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
18128
18129 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
18130 transfer buffer:
18131
18132 @smallexample
18133 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
18134 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
18135 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
18136 @end smallexample
18137
18138 @noindent
18139 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
18140 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
18141 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
18142 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
18143 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
18144
18145 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
18146 @end table
18147
18148 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
18149 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
18150 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
18151 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
18152
18153 @table @code
18154 @kindex set com1base
18155 @kindex set com1irq
18156 @kindex set com2base
18157 @kindex set com2irq
18158 @kindex set com3base
18159 @kindex set com3irq
18160 @kindex set com4base
18161 @kindex set com4irq
18162 @item set com1base @var{addr}
18163 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
18164 port.
18165
18166 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
18167 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
18168 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
18169
18170 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
18171 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
18172 other 3 COM ports.
18173
18174 @kindex show com1base
18175 @kindex show com1irq
18176 @kindex show com2base
18177 @kindex show com2irq
18178 @kindex show com3base
18179 @kindex show com3irq
18180 @kindex show com4base
18181 @kindex show com4irq
18182 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
18183 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
18184 lines used by the COM ports.
18185
18186 @item info serial
18187 @kindex info serial
18188 @cindex DOS serial port status
18189 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
18190 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
18191 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
18192 counts of various errors encountered so far.
18193 @end table
18194
18195
18196 @node Cygwin Native
18197 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
18198 @cindex MS Windows debugging
18199 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
18200 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
18201
18202 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
18203 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
18204
18205 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
18206 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
18207 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
18208 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
18209 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
18210 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
18211 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
18212 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
18213
18214 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
18215 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
18216 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
18217
18218 @table @code
18219 @kindex info w32
18220 @item info w32
18221 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
18222 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18223
18224 @item info w32 selector
18225 This command displays information returned by
18226 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
18227 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
18228 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
18229 Without argument, this command displays information
18230 about the six segment registers.
18231
18232 @item info w32 thread-information-block
18233 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
18234 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
18235 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
18236
18237 @kindex info dll
18238 @item info dll
18239 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
18240
18241 @kindex dll-symbols
18242 @item dll-symbols
18243 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
18244 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
18245
18246 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
18247 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
18248 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
18249 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
18250 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
18251 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
18252 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
18253 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
18254 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
18255 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
18256 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
18257
18258 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
18259 @item show cygwin-exceptions
18260 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
18261 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
18262
18263 @kindex set new-console
18264 @item set new-console @var{mode}
18265 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
18266 be started in a new console on next start.
18267 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
18268 be started in the same console as the debugger.
18269
18270 @kindex show new-console
18271 @item show new-console
18272 Displays whether a new console is used
18273 when the debuggee is started.
18274
18275 @kindex set new-group
18276 @item set new-group @var{mode}
18277 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
18278 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
18279 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
18280 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
18281
18282 @kindex show new-group
18283 @item show new-group
18284 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
18285
18286 @kindex set debugevents
18287 @item set debugevents
18288 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
18289 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
18290 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
18291 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
18292 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
18293
18294 @kindex set debugexec
18295 @item set debugexec
18296 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
18297 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
18298
18299 @kindex set debugexceptions
18300 @item set debugexceptions
18301 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
18302 debuggee seen by the debugger.
18303
18304 @kindex set debugmemory
18305 @item set debugmemory
18306 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
18307 and writes by the debugger.
18308
18309 @kindex set shell
18310 @item set shell
18311 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
18312 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
18313
18314 @kindex show shell
18315 @item show shell
18316 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
18317
18318 @end table
18319
18320 @menu
18321 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
18322 @end menu
18323
18324 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
18325 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
18326 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
18327 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
18328
18329 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
18330 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
18331 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
18332 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
18333 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
18334 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
18335 ``minimal symbols''.
18336
18337 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
18338 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
18339 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
18340 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
18341 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
18342 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
18343 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
18344 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
18345 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
18346 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
18347
18348 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
18349
18350 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
18351 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
18352 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
18353 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
18354 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
18355 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
18356 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
18357 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
18358 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
18359
18360 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
18361 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
18362 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
18363 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
18364 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
18365 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
18366
18367 @smallexample
18368 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
18369 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
18370
18371 Non-debugging symbols:
18372 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
18373 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
18374 @end smallexample
18375
18376 @smallexample
18377 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
18378 All functions matching regular expression "!":
18379
18380 Non-debugging symbols:
18381 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
18382 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
18383 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
18384 [etc...]
18385 @end smallexample
18386
18387 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
18388
18389 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
18390 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
18391 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
18392 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
18393 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
18394 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
18395 a function within a DLL without a running program.
18396
18397 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
18398 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
18399 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
18400 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
18401 problem:
18402
18403 @smallexample
18404 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
18405 $1 = 268572168
18406 @end smallexample
18407
18408 @smallexample
18409 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
18410 0x10021610: "\230y\""
18411 @end smallexample
18412
18413 And two possible solutions:
18414
18415 @smallexample
18416 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
18417 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18418 @end smallexample
18419
18420 @smallexample
18421 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
18422 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
18423 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
18424 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
18425 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
18426 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18427 @end smallexample
18428
18429 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
18430 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
18431 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
18432 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
18433 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
18434
18435 @smallexample
18436 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
18437 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
18438 @end smallexample
18439
18440 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
18441 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
18442 safe.
18443
18444 @node Hurd Native
18445 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
18446 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
18447
18448 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
18449 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
18450
18451 @table @code
18452 @item set signals
18453 @itemx set sigs
18454 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
18455 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18456 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
18457 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
18458 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
18459 @code{signals}.
18460
18461 @item show signals
18462 @itemx show sigs
18463 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
18464 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18465 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
18466
18467 @item set signal-thread
18468 @itemx set sigthread
18469 @kindex set signal-thread
18470 @kindex set sigthread
18471 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
18472 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
18473 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
18474 signal-thread}.
18475
18476 @item show signal-thread
18477 @itemx show sigthread
18478 @kindex show signal-thread
18479 @kindex show sigthread
18480 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
18481 delivered a signal.
18482
18483 @item set stopped
18484 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18485 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
18486 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
18487 continued by delivering a signal to it.
18488
18489 @item show stopped
18490 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18491 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
18492 stopped.
18493
18494 @item set exceptions
18495 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18496 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
18497 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
18498 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
18499 trapping on.
18500
18501 @item show exceptions
18502 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18503 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
18504
18505 @item set task pause
18506 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
18507 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18508 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18509 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
18510 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
18511 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
18512 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
18513 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
18514 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
18515
18516 @item show task pause
18517 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
18518 Show the current state of task suspension.
18519
18520 @item set task detach-suspend-count
18521 @cindex task suspend count
18522 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18523 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
18524 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
18525
18526 @item show task detach-suspend-count
18527 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
18528
18529 @item set task exception-port
18530 @itemx set task excp
18531 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18532 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
18533 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
18534 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
18535
18536 @item set noninvasive
18537 @cindex noninvasive task options
18538 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
18539 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
18540 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
18541 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
18542
18543 @item info send-rights
18544 @itemx info receive-rights
18545 @itemx info port-rights
18546 @itemx info port-sets
18547 @itemx info dead-names
18548 @itemx info ports
18549 @itemx info psets
18550 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18551 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18552 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18553 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18554 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18555 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
18556 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
18557 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
18558 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
18559
18560 @item set thread pause
18561 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
18562 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18563 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18564 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
18565 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
18566 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
18567 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
18568 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
18569 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
18570 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
18571 only the current thread.
18572
18573 @item show thread pause
18574 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
18575 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
18576
18577 @item set thread run
18578 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
18579
18580 @item show thread run
18581 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
18582
18583 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
18584 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18585 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18586 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
18587 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
18588 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
18589 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
18590
18591 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
18592 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
18593 detaching.
18594
18595 @item set thread exception-port
18596 @itemx set thread excp
18597 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
18598 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
18599 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
18600
18601 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
18602 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
18603 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
18604 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
18605
18606 @item set thread default
18607 @itemx show thread default
18608 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18609 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
18610 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
18611 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
18612 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
18613 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
18614 the non-default commands.
18615 @end table
18616
18617
18618 @node Neutrino
18619 @subsection QNX Neutrino
18620 @cindex QNX Neutrino
18621
18622 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
18623 Neutrino target:
18624
18625 @table @code
18626 @item set debug nto-debug
18627 @kindex set debug nto-debug
18628 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
18629 Neutrino support.
18630
18631 @item show debug nto-debug
18632 @kindex show debug nto-debug
18633 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
18634 @end table
18635
18636 @node Darwin
18637 @subsection Darwin
18638 @cindex Darwin
18639
18640 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
18641
18642 @table @code
18643 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
18644 @kindex set debug darwin
18645 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
18646 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
18647
18648 @item show debug darwin
18649 @kindex show debug darwin
18650 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
18651
18652 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
18653 @kindex set debug mach-o
18654 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
18655 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
18656 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
18657 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
18658 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
18659 usage.
18660
18661 @item show debug mach-o
18662 @kindex show debug mach-o
18663 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
18664
18665 @item set mach-exceptions on
18666 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
18667 @kindex set mach-exceptions
18668 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
18669 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
18670 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
18671 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
18672
18673 @item show mach-exceptions
18674 @kindex show mach-exceptions
18675 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
18676 @end table
18677
18678
18679 @node Embedded OS
18680 @section Embedded Operating Systems
18681
18682 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
18683 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
18684 architectures.
18685
18686 @menu
18687 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
18688 @end menu
18689
18690 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
18691 various real-time operating systems.
18692
18693 @node VxWorks
18694 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
18695
18696 @cindex VxWorks
18697
18698 @table @code
18699
18700 @kindex target vxworks
18701 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
18702 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
18703 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
18704
18705 @end table
18706
18707 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
18708 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
18709
18710 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
18711 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
18712 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18713 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
18714 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
18715 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
18716 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
18717
18718 @table @code
18719 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
18720 @kindex vxworks-timeout
18721 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
18722 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18723 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
18724 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
18725 of a thin network line.
18726 @end table
18727
18728 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
18729 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
18730 procedures.
18731
18732 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
18733 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
18734 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
18735 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
18736 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
18737 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
18738 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
18739 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
18740 manual.
18741 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
18742
18743 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
18744 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18745 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
18746 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
18747
18748 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18749
18750 @smallexample
18751 (vxgdb)
18752 @end smallexample
18753
18754 @menu
18755 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
18756 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
18757 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
18758 @end menu
18759
18760 @node VxWorks Connection
18761 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
18762
18763 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
18764 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
18765
18766 @smallexample
18767 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
18768 @end smallexample
18769
18770 @need 750
18771 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18772
18773 @smallexample
18774 Attaching remote machine across net...
18775 Connected to tt.
18776 @end smallexample
18777
18778 @need 1000
18779 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
18780 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
18781 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
18782 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
18783 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
18784
18785 @smallexample
18786 prog.o: No such file or directory.
18787 @end smallexample
18788
18789 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
18790 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
18791 command again.
18792
18793 @node VxWorks Download
18794 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
18795
18796 @cindex download to VxWorks
18797 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
18798 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
18799 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
18800 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
18801 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
18802 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
18803 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
18804 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
18805 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
18806 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
18807 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
18808 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
18809 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
18810 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
18811 program, type this on VxWorks:
18812
18813 @smallexample
18814 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
18815 @end smallexample
18816
18817 @noindent
18818 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18819
18820 @smallexample
18821 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
18822 (vxgdb) load prog.o
18823 @end smallexample
18824
18825 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
18826
18827 @smallexample
18828 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
18829 @end smallexample
18830
18831 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
18832 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
18833 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
18834 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
18835 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
18836 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
18837 table.)
18838
18839 @node VxWorks Attach
18840 @subsubsection Running Tasks
18841
18842 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
18843 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
18844 follows:
18845
18846 @smallexample
18847 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
18848 @end smallexample
18849
18850 @noindent
18851 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
18852 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
18853 the time of attachment.
18854
18855 @node Embedded Processors
18856 @section Embedded Processors
18857
18858 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
18859 configurations.
18860
18861 @cindex send command to simulator
18862 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
18863 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
18864
18865 @table @code
18866 @item sim @var{command}
18867 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
18868 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
18869 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
18870 acceptable commands.
18871 @end table
18872
18873
18874 @menu
18875 * ARM:: ARM RDI
18876 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
18877 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
18878 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
18879 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
18880 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
18881 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
18882 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
18883 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
18884 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
18885 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
18886 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
18887 * CRIS:: CRIS
18888 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
18889 @end menu
18890
18891 @node ARM
18892 @subsection ARM
18893 @cindex ARM RDI
18894
18895 @table @code
18896 @kindex target rdi
18897 @item target rdi @var{dev}
18898 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
18899 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
18900 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
18901
18902 @kindex target rdp
18903 @item target rdp @var{dev}
18904 ARM Demon monitor.
18905
18906 @end table
18907
18908 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
18909
18910 @table @code
18911 @item set arm disassembler
18912 @kindex set arm
18913 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
18914 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
18915
18916 @item show arm disassembler
18917 @kindex show arm
18918 Show the current disassembly style.
18919
18920 @item set arm apcs32
18921 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
18922 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
18923
18924 @item show arm apcs32
18925 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
18926
18927 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
18928 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
18929 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
18930
18931 @table @code
18932 @item auto
18933 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
18934 @item softfpa
18935 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
18936 processors.
18937 @item fpa
18938 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
18939 @item softvfp
18940 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
18941 @item vfp
18942 VFP co-processor.
18943 @end table
18944
18945 @item show arm fpu
18946 Show the current type of the FPU.
18947
18948 @item set arm abi
18949 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
18950
18951 @item show arm abi
18952 Show the currently used ABI.
18953
18954 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18955 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
18956 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
18957 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
18958 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
18959 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
18960 register).
18961
18962 @item show arm fallback-mode
18963 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
18964
18965 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18966 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
18967 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
18968 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
18969 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
18970
18971 @item show arm force-mode
18972 Show the current forced instruction mode.
18973
18974 @item set debug arm
18975 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
18976 target support subsystem.
18977
18978 @item show debug arm
18979 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
18980 @end table
18981
18982 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
18983 using the RDI interface:
18984
18985 @table @code
18986 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18987 @kindex rdilogfile
18988 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
18989 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
18990 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
18991 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
18992 @file{rdi.log}.
18993
18994 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
18995 @kindex rdilogenable
18996 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
18997 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
18998 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
18999 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
19000 are logged to a file.
19001
19002 @item set rdiromatzero
19003 @kindex set rdiromatzero
19004 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
19005 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
19006 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
19007 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
19008 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
19009
19010 @item show rdiromatzero
19011 @kindex show rdiromatzero
19012 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
19013
19014 @item set rdiheartbeat
19015 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
19016 @cindex RDI heartbeat
19017 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
19018 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
19019 well as the Angel monitor.
19020
19021 @item show rdiheartbeat
19022 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
19023 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
19024 @end table
19025
19026 @table @code
19027 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19028 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
19029
19030 @table @code
19031 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
19032 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
19033 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
19034 The default value is @code{all}.
19035
19036 @table @code
19037 @item none
19038 @item demon
19039 @item angel
19040 @item redboot
19041 @item all
19042 @end table
19043 @end table
19044 @end table
19045
19046 @node M32R/D
19047 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
19048
19049 @table @code
19050 @kindex target m32r
19051 @item target m32r @var{dev}
19052 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
19053
19054 @kindex target m32rsdi
19055 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
19056 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
19057 @end table
19058
19059 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
19060
19061 @table @code
19062 @item set download-path @var{path}
19063 @kindex set download-path
19064 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
19065 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19066
19067 @item show download-path
19068 @kindex show download-path
19069 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19070
19071 @item set board-address @var{addr}
19072 @kindex set board-address
19073 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
19074 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
19075
19076 @item show board-address
19077 @kindex show board-address
19078 Show the current IP address of the target board.
19079
19080 @item set server-address @var{addr}
19081 @kindex set server-address
19082 @cindex download server address (M32R)
19083 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
19084 host machine.
19085
19086 @item show server-address
19087 @kindex show server-address
19088 Display the IP address of the download server.
19089
19090 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19091 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
19092 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
19093 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
19094 executable file is uploaded.
19095
19096 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19097 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
19098 Test the @code{upload} command.
19099 @end table
19100
19101 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
19102
19103 @table @code
19104 @item sdireset
19105 @kindex sdireset
19106 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
19107 This command resets the SDI connection.
19108
19109 @item sdistatus
19110 @kindex sdistatus
19111 This command shows the SDI connection status.
19112
19113 @item debug_chaos
19114 @kindex debug_chaos
19115 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
19116 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
19117
19118 @item use_debug_dma
19119 @kindex use_debug_dma
19120 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
19121
19122 @item use_mon_code
19123 @kindex use_mon_code
19124 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
19125
19126 @item use_ib_break
19127 @kindex use_ib_break
19128 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
19129
19130 @item use_dbt_break
19131 @kindex use_dbt_break
19132 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
19133 @end table
19134
19135 @node M68K
19136 @subsection M68k
19137
19138 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
19139 target command for the following ROM monitor.
19140
19141 @table @code
19142
19143 @kindex target dbug
19144 @item target dbug @var{dev}
19145 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
19146
19147 @end table
19148
19149 @node MicroBlaze
19150 @subsection MicroBlaze
19151 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
19152 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
19153
19154 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
19155 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
19156 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
19157 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
19158 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
19159 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
19160 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
19161 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
19162 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
19163 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
19164 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
19165
19166 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
19167
19168 @table @code
19169 @item target remote :1234
19170 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
19171 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
19172
19173 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
19174 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
19175 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
19176
19177 @item load
19178 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
19179
19180 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
19181 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
19182
19183 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
19184 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
19185 @end table
19186
19187 @node MIPS Embedded
19188 @subsection MIPS Embedded
19189
19190 @cindex MIPS boards
19191 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
19192 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
19193 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
19194
19195 @need 1000
19196 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
19197
19198 @table @code
19199 @item target mips @var{port}
19200 @kindex target mips @var{port}
19201 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
19202 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
19203 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
19204 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
19205 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
19206 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
19207
19208 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
19209 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
19210 debugger:
19211
19212 @smallexample
19213 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
19214 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
19215 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
19216 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
19217 (@value{GDBP}) run
19218 @end smallexample
19219
19220 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
19221 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
19222 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
19223 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
19224 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
19225
19226 @item target pmon @var{port}
19227 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
19228 PMON ROM monitor.
19229
19230 @item target ddb @var{port}
19231 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
19232 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
19233
19234 @item target lsi @var{port}
19235 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
19236 LSI variant of PMON.
19237
19238 @kindex target r3900
19239 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
19240 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
19241
19242 @kindex target array
19243 @item target array @var{dev}
19244 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
19245
19246 @end table
19247
19248
19249 @noindent
19250 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
19251
19252 @table @code
19253 @item set mipsfpu double
19254 @itemx set mipsfpu single
19255 @itemx set mipsfpu none
19256 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
19257 @itemx show mipsfpu
19258 @kindex set mipsfpu
19259 @kindex show mipsfpu
19260 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
19261 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
19262 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
19263 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
19264 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
19265 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
19266 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
19267 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
19268 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
19269 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
19270 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
19271 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
19272 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
19273
19274 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
19275 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
19276 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
19277
19278 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
19279 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
19280
19281 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
19282 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
19283 @itemx show timeout
19284 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
19285 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
19286 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
19287 @kindex set timeout
19288 @kindex show timeout
19289 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
19290 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
19291 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
19292 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
19293 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
19294 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
19295 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
19296 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
19297 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
19298 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
19299
19300 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
19301 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
19302 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
19303 to run before stopping.
19304
19305 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
19306 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19307 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
19308 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
19309 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
19310 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
19311
19312 @item show syn-garbage-limit
19313 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19314 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
19315 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
19316
19317 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
19318 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19319 @cindex remote monitor prompt
19320 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
19321 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
19322 @table @asis
19323 @item pmon target
19324 @samp{PMON}
19325 @item ddb target
19326 @samp{NEC010}
19327 @item lsi target
19328 @samp{PMON>}
19329 @end table
19330
19331 @item show monitor-prompt
19332 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19333 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
19334 remote monitor.
19335
19336 @item set monitor-warnings
19337 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19338 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
19339 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
19340 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
19341 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
19342
19343 @item show monitor-warnings
19344 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19345 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
19346
19347 @item pmon @var{command}
19348 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
19349 @cindex send PMON command
19350 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
19351 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
19352 @end table
19353
19354 @node OpenRISC 1000
19355 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
19356 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
19357
19358 @cindex or1k boards
19359 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
19360 about platform and commands.
19361
19362 @table @code
19363
19364 @kindex target jtag
19365 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
19366
19367 Connects to remote JTAG server.
19368 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
19369 connected via parallel port to the board.
19370
19371 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
19372
19373 @kindex or1ksim
19374 @item or1ksim @var{command}
19375 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
19376 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
19377
19378 @kindex info or1k spr
19379 @item info or1k spr
19380 Displays spr groups.
19381
19382 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
19383 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
19384 Displays register names in selected group.
19385
19386 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
19387 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
19388 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
19389 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
19390 Shows information about specified spr register.
19391
19392 @kindex spr
19393 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
19394 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
19395 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
19396 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
19397 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
19398 @end table
19399
19400 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
19401 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
19402 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
19403 triggers can be set using:
19404 @table @code
19405 @item $LEA/$LDATA
19406 Load effective address/data
19407 @item $SEA/$SDATA
19408 Store effective address/data
19409 @item $AEA/$ADATA
19410 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
19411 @item $FETCH
19412 Fetch data
19413 @end table
19414
19415 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
19416 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
19417
19418 @code{htrace} commands:
19419 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
19420 @table @code
19421 @kindex hwatch
19422 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
19423 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
19424 or Data. For example:
19425
19426 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19427
19428 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19429
19430 @kindex htrace
19431 @item htrace info
19432 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
19433
19434 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
19435 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
19436
19437 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
19438 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
19439
19440 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
19441 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
19442
19443 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
19444 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
19445 triggered.
19446
19447 @item htrace enable
19448 @itemx htrace disable
19449 Enables/disables the HW trace.
19450
19451 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
19452 Clears currently recorded trace data.
19453
19454 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
19455 will be written there.
19456
19457 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
19458 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
19459
19460 @item htrace mode continuous
19461 Set continuous trace mode.
19462
19463 @item htrace mode suspend
19464 Set suspend trace mode.
19465
19466 @end table
19467
19468 @node PowerPC Embedded
19469 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
19470
19471 @cindex DVC register
19472 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
19473 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
19474
19475 @smallexample
19476 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
19477 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
19478 @end smallexample
19479
19480 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
19481 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
19482 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
19483 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
19484 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
19485 or newer.
19486
19487 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
19488 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
19489 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
19490 watching variables of scalar types.
19491
19492 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
19493 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
19494
19495 @smallexample
19496 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
19497 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
19498 @end smallexample
19499
19500 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
19501 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
19502
19503 @cindex ranged breakpoint
19504 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
19505 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
19506 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
19507 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
19508 use the @code{break-range} command.
19509
19510 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
19511
19512 @table @code
19513 @kindex break-range
19514 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
19515 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
19516 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
19517 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
19518 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
19519 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
19520 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
19521 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
19522 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
19523
19524 @kindex set powerpc
19525 @item set powerpc soft-float
19526 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
19527 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
19528 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
19529 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
19530
19531 @item set powerpc vector-abi
19532 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
19533 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
19534 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
19535 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
19536 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
19537 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
19538 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
19539
19540 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
19541 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
19542 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
19543 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
19544 address of its first byte.
19545
19546 @kindex target dink32
19547 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
19548 DINK32 ROM monitor.
19549
19550 @kindex target ppcbug
19551 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
19552 @kindex target ppcbug1
19553 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
19554 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
19555
19556 @kindex target sds
19557 @item target sds @var{dev}
19558 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
19559 @end table
19560
19561 @cindex SDS protocol
19562 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
19563 by @value{GDBN}:
19564
19565 @table @code
19566 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
19567 @kindex set sdstimeout
19568 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
19569 default is 2 seconds.
19570
19571 @item show sdstimeout
19572 @kindex show sdstimeout
19573 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
19574
19575 @item sds @var{command}
19576 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
19577 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
19578 @end table
19579
19580
19581 @node PA
19582 @subsection HP PA Embedded
19583
19584 @table @code
19585
19586 @kindex target op50n
19587 @item target op50n @var{dev}
19588 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
19589
19590 @kindex target w89k
19591 @item target w89k @var{dev}
19592 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
19593
19594 @end table
19595
19596 @node Sparclet
19597 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
19598
19599 @cindex Sparclet
19600
19601 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
19602 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
19603 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19604 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
19605 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
19606
19607 @table @code
19608 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
19609 @kindex remotetimeout
19610 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
19611 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19612 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
19613 @end table
19614
19615 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
19616 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
19617 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
19618 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
19619 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
19620
19621 @smallexample
19622 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
19623 @end smallexample
19624
19625 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
19626
19627 @smallexample
19628 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
19629 @end smallexample
19630
19631 @cindex running, on Sparclet
19632 Once you have set
19633 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19634 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
19635 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
19636
19637 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19638
19639 @smallexample
19640 (gdbslet)
19641 @end smallexample
19642
19643 @menu
19644 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
19645 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
19646 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
19647 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
19648 @end menu
19649
19650 @node Sparclet File
19651 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
19652
19653 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
19654
19655 @smallexample
19656 (gdbslet) file prog
19657 @end smallexample
19658
19659 @need 1000
19660 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
19661 @value{GDBN} locates
19662 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
19663 path.
19664 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
19665 files will be searched as well.
19666 @value{GDBN} locates
19667 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
19668 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
19669 If it fails
19670 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
19671
19672 @smallexample
19673 prog: No such file or directory.
19674 @end smallexample
19675
19676 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
19677 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
19678 @code{target} command again.
19679
19680 @node Sparclet Connection
19681 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
19682
19683 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
19684 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
19685
19686 @smallexample
19687 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
19688 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
19689 main () at ../prog.c:3
19690 @end smallexample
19691
19692 @need 750
19693 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19694
19695 @smallexample
19696 Connected to ttya.
19697 @end smallexample
19698
19699 @node Sparclet Download
19700 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
19701
19702 @cindex download to Sparclet
19703 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
19704 you can use the @value{GDBN}
19705 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
19706 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
19707 command.
19708 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
19709 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
19710 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
19711 of each of the file's sections.
19712 For instance, if the program
19713 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
19714 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19715
19716 @smallexample
19717 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
19718 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
19719 @end smallexample
19720
19721 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
19722 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
19723 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
19724
19725 @node Sparclet Execution
19726 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
19727
19728 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
19729 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
19730 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
19731 manual for the list of commands.
19732
19733 @smallexample
19734 (gdbslet) b main
19735 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
19736 (gdbslet) run
19737 Starting program: prog
19738 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
19739 3 char *symarg = 0;
19740 (gdbslet) step
19741 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
19742 (gdbslet)
19743 @end smallexample
19744
19745 @node Sparclite
19746 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
19747
19748 @table @code
19749
19750 @kindex target sparclite
19751 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
19752 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
19753 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
19754 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
19755 remote protocol.
19756
19757 @end table
19758
19759 @node Z8000
19760 @subsection Zilog Z8000
19761
19762 @cindex Z8000
19763 @cindex simulator, Z8000
19764 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
19765
19766 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
19767 a Z8000 simulator.
19768
19769 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
19770 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
19771 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
19772 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
19773
19774 @table @code
19775 @item target sim @var{args}
19776 @kindex sim
19777 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
19778 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
19779 options, specify them via @var{args}.
19780 @end table
19781
19782 @noindent
19783 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
19784 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
19785 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
19786 to run your program, and so on.
19787
19788 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
19789 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
19790 additional items of information as specially named registers:
19791
19792 @table @code
19793
19794 @item cycles
19795 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
19796
19797 @item insts
19798 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
19799
19800 @item time
19801 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
19802
19803 @end table
19804
19805 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
19806 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
19807 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
19808 simulated clock ticks.
19809
19810 @node AVR
19811 @subsection Atmel AVR
19812 @cindex AVR
19813
19814 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
19815 following AVR-specific commands:
19816
19817 @table @code
19818 @item info io_registers
19819 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
19820 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
19821 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
19822 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
19823 @end table
19824
19825 @node CRIS
19826 @subsection CRIS
19827 @cindex CRIS
19828
19829 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
19830 following CRIS-specific commands:
19831
19832 @table @code
19833 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
19834 @cindex CRIS version
19835 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
19836 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
19837 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
19838
19839 @item show cris-version
19840 Show the current CRIS version.
19841
19842 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
19843 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
19844 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
19845 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
19846 @code{R59}.
19847
19848 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
19849 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
19850
19851 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
19852 @cindex CRIS mode
19853 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
19854 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
19855 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
19856
19857 @item show cris-mode
19858 Show the current CRIS mode.
19859 @end table
19860
19861 @node Super-H
19862 @subsection Renesas Super-H
19863 @cindex Super-H
19864
19865 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
19866 commands:
19867
19868 @table @code
19869 @item regs
19870 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
19871 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
19872
19873 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
19874 @kindex set sh calling-convention
19875 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
19876 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
19877 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
19878 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
19879 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
19880 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
19881 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
19882 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
19883 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
19884 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
19885
19886 @item show sh calling-convention
19887 @kindex show sh calling-convention
19888 Show the current calling convention setting.
19889
19890 @end table
19891
19892
19893 @node Architectures
19894 @section Architectures
19895
19896 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
19897 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
19898
19899 @menu
19900 * i386::
19901 * A29K::
19902 * Alpha::
19903 * MIPS::
19904 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
19905 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19906 * PowerPC::
19907 @end menu
19908
19909 @node i386
19910 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
19911
19912 @table @code
19913 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
19914 @kindex set struct-convention
19915 @cindex struct return convention
19916 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
19917 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
19918 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
19919 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
19920 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
19921 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
19922 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
19923 be returned in a register.
19924
19925 @item show struct-convention
19926 @kindex show struct-convention
19927 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
19928 from functions.
19929 @end table
19930
19931 @node A29K
19932 @subsection A29K
19933
19934 @table @code
19935
19936 @kindex set rstack_high_address
19937 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
19938 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
19939 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
19940 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
19941 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
19942 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
19943 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
19944 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
19945 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
19946 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
19947 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
19948 hexadecimal.
19949
19950 @kindex show rstack_high_address
19951 @item show rstack_high_address
19952 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
19953 processors.
19954
19955 @end table
19956
19957 @node Alpha
19958 @subsection Alpha
19959
19960 See the following section.
19961
19962 @node MIPS
19963 @subsection MIPS
19964
19965 @cindex stack on Alpha
19966 @cindex stack on MIPS
19967 @cindex Alpha stack
19968 @cindex MIPS stack
19969 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
19970 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
19971 find the beginning of a function.
19972
19973 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
19974 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
19975 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
19976 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
19977 commands:
19978
19979 @table @code
19980 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
19981 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
19982 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
19983 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
19984 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
19985 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
19986 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
19987 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
19988
19989 @item show heuristic-fence-post
19990 Display the current limit.
19991 @end table
19992
19993 @noindent
19994 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
19995 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
19996
19997 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
19998 programs:
19999
20000 @table @code
20001 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
20002 @kindex set mips abi
20003 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
20004 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
20005 values of @var{arg} are:
20006
20007 @table @samp
20008 @item auto
20009 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
20010 default).
20011 @item o32
20012 @item o64
20013 @item n32
20014 @item n64
20015 @item eabi32
20016 @item eabi64
20017 @end table
20018
20019 @item show mips abi
20020 @kindex show mips abi
20021 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20022
20023 @item set mipsfpu
20024 @itemx show mipsfpu
20025 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20026
20027 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20028 @kindex set mips mask-address
20029 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
20030 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20031 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20032 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20033 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20034
20035 @item show mips mask-address
20036 @kindex show mips mask-address
20037 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
20038 not.
20039
20040 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20041 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20042 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
20043 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
20044 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20045 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20046
20047 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20048 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20049 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
20050
20051 @item set debug mips
20052 @kindex set debug mips
20053 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
20054 target code in @value{GDBN}.
20055
20056 @item show debug mips
20057 @kindex show debug mips
20058 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
20059 @end table
20060
20061
20062 @node HPPA
20063 @subsection HPPA
20064 @cindex HPPA support
20065
20066 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
20067 following special commands:
20068
20069 @table @code
20070 @item set debug hppa
20071 @kindex set debug hppa
20072 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
20073 messages are to be displayed.
20074
20075 @item show debug hppa
20076 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
20077
20078 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
20079 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
20080 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
20081 given @var{address}.
20082
20083 @end table
20084
20085
20086 @node SPU
20087 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20088 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
20089 @cindex SPU
20090
20091 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
20092 it provides the following special commands:
20093
20094 @table @code
20095 @item info spu event
20096 @kindex info spu
20097 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
20098 and pending event status.
20099
20100 @item info spu signal
20101 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
20102 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
20103 notification channels.
20104
20105 @item info spu mailbox
20106 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
20107 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
20108 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
20109
20110 @item info spu dma
20111 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20112 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20113 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20114
20115 @item info spu proxydma
20116 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20117 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20118 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20119
20120 @end table
20121
20122 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
20123 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
20124 special commands:
20125
20126 @table @code
20127 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
20128 @kindex set spu
20129 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
20130 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
20131 function. The default is @code{off}.
20132
20133 @item show spu stop-on-load
20134 @kindex show spu
20135 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
20136
20137 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
20138 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
20139 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
20140 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
20141 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
20142 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
20143
20144 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
20145 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
20146
20147 @end table
20148
20149 @node PowerPC
20150 @subsection PowerPC
20151 @cindex PowerPC architecture
20152
20153 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
20154 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
20155 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
20156 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
20157 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
20158
20159 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
20160 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
20161 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
20162
20163 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
20164 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
20165
20166
20167 @node Controlling GDB
20168 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
20169
20170 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
20171 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
20172 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
20173 described here.
20174
20175 @menu
20176 * Prompt:: Prompt
20177 * Editing:: Command editing
20178 * Command History:: Command history
20179 * Screen Size:: Screen size
20180 * Numbers:: Numbers
20181 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
20182 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
20183 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
20184 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
20185 @end menu
20186
20187 @node Prompt
20188 @section Prompt
20189
20190 @cindex prompt
20191
20192 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
20193 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
20194 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
20195 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
20196 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
20197 which one you are talking to.
20198
20199 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
20200 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
20201 or a prompt that does not.
20202
20203 @table @code
20204 @kindex set prompt
20205 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
20206 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
20207
20208 @kindex show prompt
20209 @item show prompt
20210 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
20211 @end table
20212
20213 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
20214 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
20215 are:
20216
20217 @table @code
20218 @kindex set extended-prompt
20219 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
20220 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
20221 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
20222 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
20223 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
20224 is displayed.
20225
20226 For example:
20227
20228 @smallexample
20229 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
20230 @end smallexample
20231
20232 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
20233 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
20234
20235 @kindex show extended-prompt
20236 @item show extended-prompt
20237 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
20238 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
20239 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
20240 @end table
20241
20242 @node Editing
20243 @section Command Editing
20244 @cindex readline
20245 @cindex command line editing
20246
20247 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
20248 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
20249 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
20250 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
20251 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
20252 debugging sessions.
20253
20254 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
20255 command @code{set}.
20256
20257 @table @code
20258 @kindex set editing
20259 @cindex editing
20260 @item set editing
20261 @itemx set editing on
20262 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
20263
20264 @item set editing off
20265 Disable command line editing.
20266
20267 @kindex show editing
20268 @item show editing
20269 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
20270 @end table
20271
20272 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20273 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
20274 @end ifset
20275 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20276 @xref{Command Line Editing},
20277 @end ifclear
20278 for more details about the Readline
20279 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
20280 encouraged to read that chapter.
20281
20282 @node Command History
20283 @section Command History
20284 @cindex command history
20285
20286 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
20287 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
20288 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
20289 history facility.
20290
20291 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
20292 package, to provide the history facility.
20293 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20294 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
20295 @end ifset
20296 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20297 @xref{Using History Interactively},
20298 @end ifclear
20299 for the detailed description of the History library.
20300
20301 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
20302 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
20303 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
20304 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
20305 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
20306 pressed on a line by itself.
20307
20308 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
20309 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
20310 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
20311 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
20312
20313 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
20314 history.
20315
20316 @table @code
20317 @cindex history substitution
20318 @cindex history file
20319 @kindex set history filename
20320 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
20321 @item set history filename @var{fname}
20322 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
20323 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
20324 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
20325 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
20326 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
20327 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
20328 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
20329 is not set.
20330
20331 @cindex save command history
20332 @kindex set history save
20333 @item set history save
20334 @itemx set history save on
20335 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
20336 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
20337
20338 @item set history save off
20339 Stop recording command history in a file.
20340
20341 @cindex history size
20342 @kindex set history size
20343 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
20344 @item set history size @var{size}
20345 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
20346 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
20347 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
20348 @end table
20349
20350 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
20351 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20352 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
20353 @end ifset
20354 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20355 @xref{Event Designators},
20356 @end ifclear
20357 for more details.
20358
20359 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
20360 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
20361 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
20362 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
20363 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
20364 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
20365 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
20366 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
20367
20368 The commands to control history expansion are:
20369
20370 @table @code
20371 @item set history expansion on
20372 @itemx set history expansion
20373 @kindex set history expansion
20374 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
20375
20376 @item set history expansion off
20377 Disable history expansion.
20378
20379 @c @group
20380 @kindex show history
20381 @item show history
20382 @itemx show history filename
20383 @itemx show history save
20384 @itemx show history size
20385 @itemx show history expansion
20386 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
20387 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
20388 @c @end group
20389 @end table
20390
20391 @table @code
20392 @kindex show commands
20393 @cindex show last commands
20394 @cindex display command history
20395 @item show commands
20396 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
20397
20398 @item show commands @var{n}
20399 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
20400
20401 @item show commands +
20402 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
20403 @end table
20404
20405 @node Screen Size
20406 @section Screen Size
20407 @cindex size of screen
20408 @cindex pauses in output
20409
20410 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
20411 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
20412 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
20413 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
20414 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
20415 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
20416 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
20417 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
20418
20419 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
20420 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
20421 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
20422 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
20423 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
20424 width} commands:
20425
20426 @table @code
20427 @kindex set height
20428 @kindex set width
20429 @kindex show width
20430 @kindex show height
20431 @item set height @var{lpp}
20432 @itemx show height
20433 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
20434 @itemx show width
20435 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
20436 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
20437 commands display the current settings.
20438
20439 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
20440 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
20441 file or to an editor buffer.
20442
20443 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
20444 from wrapping its output.
20445
20446 @item set pagination on
20447 @itemx set pagination off
20448 @kindex set pagination
20449 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
20450 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
20451 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
20452 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
20453
20454 @item show pagination
20455 @kindex show pagination
20456 Show the current pagination mode.
20457 @end table
20458
20459 @node Numbers
20460 @section Numbers
20461 @cindex number representation
20462 @cindex entering numbers
20463
20464 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
20465 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
20466 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
20467 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
20468 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
20469 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
20470 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
20471 both input and output with the commands described below.
20472
20473 @table @code
20474 @kindex set input-radix
20475 @item set input-radix @var{base}
20476 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
20477 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20478 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
20479 example, any of
20480
20481 @smallexample
20482 set input-radix 012
20483 set input-radix 10.
20484 set input-radix 0xa
20485 @end smallexample
20486
20487 @noindent
20488 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
20489 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
20490 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
20491 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
20492 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
20493 change the radix.
20494
20495 @kindex set output-radix
20496 @item set output-radix @var{base}
20497 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
20498 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20499 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
20500
20501 @kindex show input-radix
20502 @item show input-radix
20503 Display the current default base for numeric input.
20504
20505 @kindex show output-radix
20506 @item show output-radix
20507 Display the current default base for numeric display.
20508
20509 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
20510 @itemx show radix
20511 @kindex set radix
20512 @kindex show radix
20513 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
20514 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
20515 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
20516 default value of 10.
20517
20518 @end table
20519
20520 @node ABI
20521 @section Configuring the Current ABI
20522
20523 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
20524 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
20525 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
20526 current ABI.
20527
20528 @cindex OS ABI
20529 @kindex set osabi
20530 @kindex show osabi
20531
20532 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
20533 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
20534 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
20535 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
20536 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
20537 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
20538 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
20539 platform provides.
20540
20541 @table @code
20542 @item show osabi
20543 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
20544
20545 @item set osabi
20546 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
20547
20548 @item set osabi @var{abi}
20549 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
20550 @end table
20551
20552 @cindex float promotion
20553
20554 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
20555 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
20556 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
20557 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
20558 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
20559 @code{double} and then passed.
20560
20561 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
20562 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
20563 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
20564
20565 @table @code
20566 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
20567 @item set coerce-float-to-double
20568 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
20569 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
20570 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
20571
20572 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
20573 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
20574 functions.
20575
20576 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
20577 @item show coerce-float-to-double
20578 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
20579 @end table
20580
20581 @kindex set cp-abi
20582 @kindex show cp-abi
20583 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
20584 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
20585 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
20586 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
20587 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
20588 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
20589 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
20590 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
20591 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
20592 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
20593 ``auto''.
20594
20595 @table @code
20596 @item show cp-abi
20597 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
20598
20599 @item set cp-abi
20600 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
20601
20602 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
20603 @itemx set cp-abi auto
20604 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
20605 @end table
20606
20607 @node Messages/Warnings
20608 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
20609
20610 @cindex verbose operation
20611 @cindex optional warnings
20612 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
20613 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
20614 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
20615 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
20616
20617 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
20618 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
20619 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
20620
20621 @table @code
20622 @kindex set verbose
20623 @item set verbose on
20624 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
20625
20626 @item set verbose off
20627 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
20628
20629 @kindex show verbose
20630 @item show verbose
20631 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
20632 @end table
20633
20634 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
20635 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
20636 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
20637 Symbol Files}).
20638
20639 @table @code
20640
20641 @kindex set complaints
20642 @item set complaints @var{limit}
20643 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
20644 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
20645 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
20646 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
20647
20648 @kindex show complaints
20649 @item show complaints
20650 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
20651
20652 @end table
20653
20654 @anchor{confirmation requests}
20655 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
20656 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
20657 you try to run a program which is already running:
20658
20659 @smallexample
20660 (@value{GDBP}) run
20661 The program being debugged has been started already.
20662 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
20663 @end smallexample
20664
20665 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
20666 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
20667
20668 @table @code
20669
20670 @kindex set confirm
20671 @cindex flinching
20672 @cindex confirmation
20673 @cindex stupid questions
20674 @item set confirm off
20675 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
20676 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
20677 automatically disables confirmation requests.
20678
20679 @item set confirm on
20680 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
20681
20682 @kindex show confirm
20683 @item show confirm
20684 Displays state of confirmation requests.
20685
20686 @end table
20687
20688 @cindex command tracing
20689 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
20690 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
20691 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
20692 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
20693
20694 @table @code
20695 @kindex set trace-commands
20696 @cindex command scripts, debugging
20697 @item set trace-commands on
20698 Enable command tracing.
20699 @item set trace-commands off
20700 Disable command tracing.
20701 @item show trace-commands
20702 Display the current state of command tracing.
20703 @end table
20704
20705 @node Debugging Output
20706 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
20707 @cindex optional debugging messages
20708
20709 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
20710 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
20711 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
20712 section documents those commands.
20713
20714 @table @code
20715 @kindex set exec-done-display
20716 @item set exec-done-display
20717 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
20718 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
20719 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
20720 @kindex show exec-done-display
20721 @item show exec-done-display
20722 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
20723 notification.
20724 @kindex set debug
20725 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
20726 @cindex architecture debugging info
20727 @item set debug arch
20728 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
20729 @kindex show debug
20730 @item show debug arch
20731 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
20732 @item set debug aix-thread
20733 @cindex AIX threads
20734 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
20735 module.
20736 @item show debug aix-thread
20737 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
20738 @item set debug check-physname
20739 @cindex physname
20740 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
20741 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
20742 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
20743 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
20744 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
20745 both ways and display any discrepancies.
20746 @item show debug check-physname
20747 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
20748 @item set debug dwarf2-die
20749 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
20750 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
20751 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
20752 A value of zero turns off the display.
20753 @item show debug dwarf2-die
20754 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
20755 @item set debug displaced
20756 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
20757 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
20758 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
20759 @item show debug displaced
20760 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
20761 related to displaced stepping.
20762 @item set debug event
20763 @cindex event debugging info
20764 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
20765 default is off.
20766 @item show debug event
20767 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
20768 info.
20769 @item set debug expression
20770 @cindex expression debugging info
20771 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
20772 expression parsing. The default is off.
20773 @item show debug expression
20774 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
20775 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
20776 @item set debug frame
20777 @cindex frame debugging info
20778 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
20779 default is off.
20780 @item show debug frame
20781 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
20782 info.
20783 @item set debug gnu-nat
20784 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
20785 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
20786 @item show debug gnu-nat
20787 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
20788 @item set debug infrun
20789 @cindex inferior debugging info
20790 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
20791 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
20792 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
20793 @item show debug infrun
20794 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
20795 @item set debug jit
20796 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
20797 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
20798 @item show debug jit
20799 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
20800 @item set debug lin-lwp
20801 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
20802 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
20803 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
20804 @item show debug lin-lwp
20805 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
20806 @item set debug observer
20807 @cindex observer debugging info
20808 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
20809 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
20810 @item show debug observer
20811 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
20812 @item set debug overload
20813 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
20814 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
20815 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
20816 is off.
20817 @item show debug overload
20818 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
20819 debugging info.
20820 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
20821 @cindex debug expression parser
20822 @item set debug parser
20823 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
20824 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
20825 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
20826 details. The default is off.
20827 @item show debug parser
20828 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
20829 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
20830 @cindex serial connections, debugging
20831 @cindex debug remote protocol
20832 @cindex remote protocol debugging
20833 @cindex display remote packets
20834 @item set debug remote
20835 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
20836 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
20837 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
20838 @item show debug remote
20839 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
20840 @item set debug serial
20841 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
20842 default is off.
20843 @item show debug serial
20844 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
20845 info.
20846 @item set debug solib-frv
20847 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
20848 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
20849 @item show debug solib-frv
20850 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
20851 messages.
20852 @item set debug target
20853 @cindex target debugging info
20854 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
20855 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
20856 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
20857 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
20858 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
20859 @item show debug target
20860 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
20861 info.
20862 @item set debug timestamp
20863 @cindex timestampping debugging info
20864 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
20865 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
20866 message.
20867 @item show debug timestamp
20868 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
20869 debugging info.
20870 @item set debugvarobj
20871 @cindex variable object debugging info
20872 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
20873 info. The default is off.
20874 @item show debugvarobj
20875 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
20876 debugging info.
20877 @item set debug xml
20878 @cindex XML parser debugging
20879 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
20880 @item show debug xml
20881 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
20882 @end table
20883
20884 @node Other Misc Settings
20885 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
20886 @cindex miscellaneous settings
20887
20888 @table @code
20889 @kindex set interactive-mode
20890 @item set interactive-mode
20891 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
20892 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
20893 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
20894 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
20895 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
20896 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
20897 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
20898 is, non-interactively otherwise.
20899
20900 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
20901 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
20902 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
20903 inside a cygwin window.
20904
20905 @kindex show interactive-mode
20906 @item show interactive-mode
20907 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
20908 @end table
20909
20910 @node Extending GDB
20911 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
20912 @cindex extending GDB
20913
20914 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
20915 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
20916 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
20917 existing commands.
20918
20919 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
20920 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
20921 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
20922 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
20923 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20924 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
20925
20926 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
20927 setting:
20928
20929 @table @code
20930 @kindex set script-extension
20931 @kindex show script-extension
20932 @item set script-extension off
20933 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20934
20935 @item set script-extension soft
20936 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20937 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
20938 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
20939 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
20940
20941 @item set script-extension strict
20942 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20943 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
20944 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
20945
20946 @item show script-extension
20947 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
20948
20949 @end table
20950
20951 @menu
20952 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
20953 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20954 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
20955 @end menu
20956
20957 @node Sequences
20958 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
20959
20960 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
20961 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
20962 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
20963 files.
20964
20965 @menu
20966 * Define:: How to define your own commands
20967 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
20968 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
20969 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
20970 @end menu
20971
20972 @node Define
20973 @subsection User-defined Commands
20974
20975 @cindex user-defined command
20976 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
20977 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
20978 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
20979 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
20980 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
20981 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
20982
20983 @smallexample
20984 define adder
20985 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20986 end
20987 @end smallexample
20988
20989 @noindent
20990 To execute the command use:
20991
20992 @smallexample
20993 adder 1 2 3
20994 @end smallexample
20995
20996 @noindent
20997 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
20998 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
20999 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
21000 functions calls.
21001
21002 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
21003 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
21004 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
21005 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
21006
21007 @smallexample
21008 define adder
21009 if $argc == 2
21010 print $arg0 + $arg1
21011 end
21012 if $argc == 3
21013 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21014 end
21015 end
21016 @end smallexample
21017
21018 @table @code
21019
21020 @kindex define
21021 @item define @var{commandname}
21022 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
21023 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
21024 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
21025 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
21026 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
21027 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
21028
21029 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
21030 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
21031 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21032
21033 @kindex document
21034 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
21035 @item document @var{commandname}
21036 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
21037 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
21038 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
21039 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
21040 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
21041 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
21042
21043 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
21044 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
21045 does not change the documentation.
21046
21047 @kindex dont-repeat
21048 @cindex don't repeat command
21049 @item dont-repeat
21050 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
21051 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
21052 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
21053
21054 @kindex help user-defined
21055 @item help user-defined
21056 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
21057 (if any) for each.
21058
21059 @kindex show user
21060 @item show user
21061 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
21062 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
21063 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
21064 definitions for all user-defined commands.
21065
21066 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
21067 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
21068 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
21069 @item show max-user-call-depth
21070 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
21071 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
21072 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
21073 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
21074 @end table
21075
21076 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
21077 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
21078
21079 When user-defined commands are executed, the
21080 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
21081 stops execution of the user-defined command.
21082
21083 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
21084 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
21085 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
21086 messages when used in a user-defined command.
21087
21088 @node Hooks
21089 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
21090 @cindex command hooks
21091 @cindex hooks, for commands
21092 @cindex hooks, pre-command
21093
21094 @kindex hook
21095 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
21096 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
21097 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
21098 before that command.
21099
21100 @cindex hooks, post-command
21101 @kindex hookpost
21102 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
21103 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
21104 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
21105 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
21106 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
21107
21108 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
21109 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
21110
21111 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
21112 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
21113
21114 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
21115 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
21116 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
21117 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
21118 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
21119
21120 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
21121 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
21122 you could define:
21123
21124 @smallexample
21125 define hook-stop
21126 handle SIGALRM nopass
21127 end
21128
21129 define hook-run
21130 handle SIGALRM pass
21131 end
21132
21133 define hook-continue
21134 handle SIGALRM pass
21135 end
21136 @end smallexample
21137
21138 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
21139 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
21140 you could define:
21141
21142 @smallexample
21143 define hook-echo
21144 echo <<<---
21145 end
21146
21147 define hookpost-echo
21148 echo --->>>\n
21149 end
21150
21151 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
21152 <<<---Hello World--->>>
21153 (@value{GDBP})
21154
21155 @end smallexample
21156
21157 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
21158 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
21159 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
21160 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
21161 @c or not?
21162 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
21163 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
21164 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
21165
21166 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
21167 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
21168 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
21169
21170 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
21171 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
21172
21173 @node Command Files
21174 @subsection Command Files
21175
21176 @cindex command files
21177 @cindex scripting commands
21178 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
21179 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
21180 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
21181 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
21182 terminal.
21183
21184 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
21185 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
21186 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
21187 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
21188 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
21189
21190 @table @code
21191 @kindex source
21192 @cindex execute commands from a file
21193 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
21194 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
21195 @end table
21196
21197 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
21198 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
21199 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
21200 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
21201 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
21202
21203 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
21204 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
21205 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
21206 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
21207 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
21208 is not relevant to scripts.
21209
21210 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
21211 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
21212 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
21213 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
21214 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
21215 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
21216 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
21217 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
21218 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
21219 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
21220 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
21221 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
21222 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
21223 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
21224
21225 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
21226 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
21227 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
21228
21229 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
21230 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
21231 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
21232 when called from command files.
21233
21234 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
21235 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
21236 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
21237 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
21238 the next command.
21239
21240 @smallexample
21241 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
21242 @end smallexample
21243
21244 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
21245 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
21246 would be directed to @file{log}.
21247
21248 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
21249 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
21250 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
21251 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
21252 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
21253 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
21254 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
21255 conditionally, etc.
21256
21257 @table @code
21258 @kindex if
21259 @kindex else
21260 @item if
21261 @itemx else
21262 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
21263 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
21264 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
21265 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
21266 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
21267 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
21268 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21269
21270 @kindex while
21271 @item while
21272 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
21273 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
21274 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
21275 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
21276 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
21277 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
21278
21279 @kindex loop_break
21280 @item loop_break
21281 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
21282 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
21283 line.
21284
21285 @kindex loop_continue
21286 @item loop_continue
21287 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
21288 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
21289 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
21290 the controlling expression.
21291
21292 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
21293 @item end
21294 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
21295 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
21296 @end table
21297
21298
21299 @node Output
21300 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
21301
21302 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
21303 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
21304 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
21305 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
21306 want.
21307
21308 @table @code
21309 @kindex echo
21310 @item echo @var{text}
21311 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
21312 @c because it is not in ANSI.
21313 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
21314 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
21315 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
21316 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
21317 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
21318 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
21319 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
21320 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
21321 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
21322
21323 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
21324 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
21325
21326 @smallexample
21327 echo This is some text\n\
21328 which is continued\n\
21329 onto several lines.\n
21330 @end smallexample
21331
21332 produces the same output as
21333
21334 @smallexample
21335 echo This is some text\n
21336 echo which is continued\n
21337 echo onto several lines.\n
21338 @end smallexample
21339
21340 @kindex output
21341 @item output @var{expression}
21342 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
21343 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
21344 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
21345 on expressions.
21346
21347 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
21348 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
21349 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
21350 Formats}, for more information.
21351
21352 @kindex printf
21353 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
21354 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
21355 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
21356 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
21357 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
21358 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
21359 executing the code below:
21360
21361 @smallexample
21362 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
21363 @end smallexample
21364
21365 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
21366 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
21367 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
21368 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
21369 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
21370 printed.
21371
21372 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
21373
21374 @smallexample
21375 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
21376 @end smallexample
21377
21378 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
21379 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
21380 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
21381
21382 @itemize @bullet
21383 @item
21384 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
21385
21386 @item
21387 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
21388 width.
21389
21390 @item
21391 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
21392 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
21393
21394 @item
21395 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
21396 supported.
21397
21398 @item
21399 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
21400
21401 @item
21402 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
21403 @end itemize
21404
21405 @noindent
21406 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
21407 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
21408 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
21409 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
21410
21411 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
21412 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
21413 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
21414 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
21415 supported.
21416
21417 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
21418 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
21419 together with a floating point specifier.
21420 letters:
21421
21422 @itemize @bullet
21423 @item
21424 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
21425
21426 @item
21427 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
21428
21429 @item
21430 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
21431 @end itemize
21432
21433 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
21434 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
21435 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
21436
21437 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
21438 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
21439
21440 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
21441 @smallexample
21442 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
21443 @end smallexample
21444
21445 @kindex eval
21446 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
21447 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
21448 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
21449
21450 @end table
21451
21452 @node Python
21453 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21454 @cindex python scripting
21455 @cindex scripting with python
21456
21457 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
21458 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
21459 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
21460
21461 @cindex python directory
21462 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
21463 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
21464 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
21465 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
21466 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
21467 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
21468
21469 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
21470 are written in Python and are located in the
21471 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
21472 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
21473 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
21474
21475 @menu
21476 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
21477 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
21478 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
21479 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
21480 @end menu
21481
21482 @node Python Commands
21483 @subsection Python Commands
21484 @cindex python commands
21485 @cindex commands to access python
21486
21487 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
21488 and one related setting:
21489
21490 @table @code
21491 @kindex python
21492 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
21493 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
21494
21495 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
21496 argument as a Python command. For example:
21497
21498 @smallexample
21499 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
21500 23
21501 @end smallexample
21502
21503 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
21504 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
21505 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
21506 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
21507 containing @code{end}. For example:
21508
21509 @smallexample
21510 (@value{GDBP}) python
21511 Type python script
21512 End with a line saying just "end".
21513 >print 23
21514 >end
21515 23
21516 @end smallexample
21517
21518 @kindex set python print-stack
21519 @item set python print-stack
21520 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
21521 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
21522 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
21523 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
21524 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
21525 the message component of the error is printed.
21526 @end table
21527
21528 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
21529 interpreter:
21530
21531 @table @code
21532 @item source @file{script-name}
21533 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
21534 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
21535 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
21536
21537 @item python execfile ("script-name")
21538 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
21539 and thus is always available.
21540 @end table
21541
21542 @node Python API
21543 @subsection Python API
21544 @cindex python api
21545 @cindex programming in python
21546
21547 @cindex python stdout
21548 @cindex python pagination
21549 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
21550 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
21551 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
21552 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
21553 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
21554
21555 @menu
21556 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
21557 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
21558 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
21559 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
21560 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
21561 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
21562 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
21563 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
21564 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
21565 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
21566 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
21567 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
21568 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
21569 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
21570 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
21571 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
21572 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
21573 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
21574 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
21575 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
21576 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
21577 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
21578 using Python.
21579 @end menu
21580
21581 @node Basic Python
21582 @subsubsection Basic Python
21583
21584 @cindex python functions
21585 @cindex python module
21586 @cindex gdb module
21587 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
21588 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
21589 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
21590 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
21591
21592 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
21593 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
21594 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
21595 @end defvar
21596
21597 @findex gdb.execute
21598 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
21599 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
21600 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
21601 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
21602
21603 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
21604 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
21605 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
21606
21607 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
21608 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
21609 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
21610 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
21611 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
21612 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
21613 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
21614 @end defun
21615
21616 @findex gdb.breakpoints
21617 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
21618 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
21619 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
21620 @end defun
21621
21622 @findex gdb.parameter
21623 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
21624 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
21625 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
21626 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
21627 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
21628
21629 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
21630 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
21631 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
21632 type, and returned.
21633 @end defun
21634
21635 @findex gdb.history
21636 @defun gdb.history (number)
21637 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
21638 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
21639 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
21640 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
21641 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
21642 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
21643 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
21644 raised.
21645
21646 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
21647 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
21648 @end defun
21649
21650 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
21651 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
21652 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
21653 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
21654 @var{expression} must be a string.
21655
21656 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
21657 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
21658 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
21659 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
21660 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
21661 @end defun
21662
21663 @findex gdb.post_event
21664 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
21665 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
21666 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
21667 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
21668 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
21669 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
21670 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
21671
21672 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
21673 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
21674 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
21675 this. For example:
21676
21677 @smallexample
21678 (@value{GDBP}) python
21679 >import threading
21680 >
21681 >class Writer():
21682 > def __init__(self, message):
21683 > self.message = message;
21684 > def __call__(self):
21685 > gdb.write(self.message)
21686 >
21687 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
21688 > def run (self):
21689 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
21690 >
21691 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
21692 > def run (self):
21693 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
21694 >
21695 >MyThread1().start()
21696 >MyThread2().start()
21697 >end
21698 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
21699 @end smallexample
21700 @end defun
21701
21702 @findex gdb.write
21703 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
21704 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
21705 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
21706 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
21707 values are:
21708
21709 @table @code
21710 @findex STDOUT
21711 @findex gdb.STDOUT
21712 @item gdb.STDOUT
21713 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
21714
21715 @findex STDERR
21716 @findex gdb.STDERR
21717 @item gdb.STDERR
21718 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
21719
21720 @findex STDLOG
21721 @findex gdb.STDLOG
21722 @item gdb.STDLOG
21723 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
21724 @end table
21725
21726 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
21727 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
21728 relevant stream.
21729 @end defun
21730
21731 @findex gdb.flush
21732 @defun gdb.flush ()
21733 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
21734 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
21735 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
21736 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
21737 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
21738 stream values are:
21739
21740 @table @code
21741 @findex STDOUT
21742 @findex gdb.STDOUT
21743 @item gdb.STDOUT
21744 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
21745
21746 @findex STDERR
21747 @findex gdb.STDERR
21748 @item gdb.STDERR
21749 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
21750
21751 @findex STDLOG
21752 @findex gdb.STDLOG
21753 @item gdb.STDLOG
21754 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
21755
21756 @end table
21757
21758 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
21759 call this function for the relevant stream.
21760 @end defun
21761
21762 @findex gdb.target_charset
21763 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
21764 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
21765 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
21766 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
21767 @end defun
21768
21769 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
21770 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
21771 Return the name of the current target wide character set
21772 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
21773 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
21774 never returned.
21775 @end defun
21776
21777 @findex gdb.solib_name
21778 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
21779 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
21780 as a string, or @code{None}.
21781 @end defun
21782
21783 @findex gdb.decode_line
21784 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
21785 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
21786 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
21787 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
21788 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
21789 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
21790 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
21791 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
21792 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
21793 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
21794 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
21795 @end defun
21796
21797 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
21798 @anchor{prompt_hook}
21799
21800 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
21801 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
21802 @value{GDBN}.
21803
21804 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
21805 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
21806 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
21807 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
21808 the current prompt.
21809
21810 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
21811 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
21812 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
21813 @end defun
21814
21815 @node Exception Handling
21816 @subsubsection Exception Handling
21817 @cindex python exceptions
21818 @cindex exceptions, python
21819
21820 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
21821 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
21822 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
21823 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
21824 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
21825 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
21826 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
21827
21828 @smallexample
21829 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
21830 Traceback (most recent call last):
21831 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
21832 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
21833 @end smallexample
21834
21835 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
21836 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
21837 Python exception depends on the error.
21838
21839 @ftable @code
21840 @item gdb.error
21841 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
21842 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
21843 versions of @value{GDBN}.
21844
21845 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
21846 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
21847
21848 @item gdb.MemoryError
21849 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
21850 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
21851
21852 @item KeyboardInterrupt
21853 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
21854 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
21855 @end ftable
21856
21857 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
21858 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
21859 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
21860 traceback.
21861
21862 @findex gdb.GdbError
21863 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
21864 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
21865 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
21866 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
21867 to handle this case. Example:
21868
21869 @smallexample
21870 (gdb) python
21871 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21872 > """Greet the whole world."""
21873 > def __init__ (self):
21874 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21875 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
21876 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
21877 > if len (argv) != 0:
21878 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
21879 > print "Hello, World!"
21880 >HelloWorld ()
21881 >end
21882 (gdb) hello-world 42
21883 hello-world takes no arguments
21884 @end smallexample
21885
21886 @node Values From Inferior
21887 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
21888 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
21889 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
21890
21891 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
21892 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
21893 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
21894 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
21895 fetching values when necessary.
21896
21897 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
21898 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
21899 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
21900
21901 @smallexample
21902 bar = some_val + 2
21903 @end smallexample
21904
21905 @noindent
21906 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
21907 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
21908
21909 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
21910 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
21911 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
21912 can access its @code{foo} element with:
21913
21914 @smallexample
21915 bar = some_val['foo']
21916 @end smallexample
21917
21918 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
21919
21920 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
21921 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
21922 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
21923 by that prototype.
21924
21925 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
21926 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
21927 execute this function, call it like so:
21928
21929 @smallexample
21930 result = some_val (10,20)
21931 @end smallexample
21932
21933 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
21934 @code{gdb.Value}.
21935
21936 The following attributes are provided:
21937
21938 @table @code
21939 @defvar Value.address
21940 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
21941 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
21942 this attribute holds @code{None}.
21943 @end defvar
21944
21945 @cindex optimized out value in Python
21946 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
21947 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
21948 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
21949 @end defvar
21950
21951 @defvar Value.type
21952 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
21953 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
21954 @end defvar
21955
21956 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
21957 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
21958 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
21959 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
21960 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
21961 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
21962 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
21963 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
21964 type.
21965
21966 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
21967 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
21968 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
21969 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
21970 @end defvar
21971
21972 @defvar Value.is_lazy
21973 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
21974 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
21975 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
21976 For example:
21977
21978 @smallexample
21979 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
21980 @end smallexample
21981
21982 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
21983 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
21984 method is invoked.
21985 @end defvar
21986 @end table
21987
21988 The following methods are provided:
21989
21990 @table @code
21991 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
21992 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
21993 this object initializer. Specifically:
21994
21995 @table @asis
21996 @item Python boolean
21997 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
21998 language.
21999
22000 @item Python integer
22001 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
22002 current architecture.
22003
22004 @item Python long
22005 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
22006 current architecture.
22007
22008 @item Python float
22009 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
22010 current architecture.
22011
22012 @item Python string
22013 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
22014 target encoding.
22015
22016 @item @code{gdb.Value}
22017 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
22018
22019 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
22020 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
22021 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
22022 its result is used.
22023 @end table
22024 @end defun
22025
22026 @defun Value.cast (type)
22027 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
22028 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
22029 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
22030 reason, this method throws an exception.
22031 @end defun
22032
22033 @defun Value.dereference ()
22034 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
22035 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
22036 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
22037
22038 @smallexample
22039 int *foo;
22040 @end smallexample
22041
22042 @noindent
22043 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
22044 @code{foo} points to like this:
22045
22046 @smallexample
22047 bar = foo.dereference ()
22048 @end smallexample
22049
22050 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
22051 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
22052 @end defun
22053
22054 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
22055 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
22056 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
22057 @end defun
22058
22059 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
22060 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
22061 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
22062 @end defun
22063
22064 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
22065 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
22066 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
22067 throw an exception.
22068
22069 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
22070 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
22071 language.
22072
22073 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
22074 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
22075 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
22076 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
22077 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
22078
22079 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
22080 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
22081 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
22082 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
22083 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
22084 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
22085 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
22086 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
22087 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
22088
22089 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
22090 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
22091
22092 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
22093 fetched and converted to the given length.
22094 @end defun
22095
22096 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
22097 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
22098 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
22099 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
22100
22101 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
22102 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
22103 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
22104 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
22105 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
22106
22107 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
22108 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
22109 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
22110 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
22111 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
22112 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
22113
22114 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
22115 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
22116 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
22117 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
22118 @end defun
22119
22120 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
22121 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
22122 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
22123 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
22124 will produce a Python exception.
22125
22126 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
22127 has no effect.
22128
22129 This method does not return a value.
22130 @end defun
22131
22132 @end table
22133
22134 @node Types In Python
22135 @subsubsection Types In Python
22136 @cindex types in Python
22137 @cindex Python, working with types
22138
22139 @tindex gdb.Type
22140 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
22141 @code{gdb.Type}.
22142
22143 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22144 module:
22145
22146 @findex gdb.lookup_type
22147 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
22148 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
22149 type to look up. It must be a string.
22150
22151 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
22152 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
22153
22154 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
22155 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
22156 @end defun
22157
22158 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
22159 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
22160 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
22161 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
22162
22163 @smallexample
22164 bar = some_type['foo']
22165 @end smallexample
22166
22167 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
22168 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
22169 @code{gdb.Field} class.
22170
22171 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
22172
22173 @table @code
22174 @defvar Type.code
22175 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
22176 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
22177 @end defvar
22178
22179 @defvar Type.sizeof
22180 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
22181 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
22182 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
22183 @end defvar
22184
22185 @defvar Type.tag
22186 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
22187 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
22188 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
22189 @code{None} is returned.
22190 @end defvar
22191 @end table
22192
22193 The following methods are provided:
22194
22195 @table @code
22196 @defun Type.fields ()
22197 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
22198 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
22199 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
22200 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
22201 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
22202 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
22203
22204 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
22205 @table @code
22206 @item bitpos
22207 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
22208 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
22209 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
22210 enumeration member's integer representation.
22211
22212 @item name
22213 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
22214
22215 @item artificial
22216 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
22217 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
22218 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
22219
22220 @item is_base_class
22221 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
22222 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
22223 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
22224 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
22225
22226 @item bitsize
22227 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
22228 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
22229 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
22230
22231 @item type
22232 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
22233 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
22234 @end table
22235 @end defun
22236
22237 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
22238 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
22239 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
22240 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
22241 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
22242 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
22243 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
22244 @end defun
22245
22246 @defun Type.const ()
22247 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
22248 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
22249 @end defun
22250
22251 @defun Type.volatile ()
22252 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
22253 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
22254 @end defun
22255
22256 @defun Type.unqualified ()
22257 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
22258 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
22259 @code{volatile}.
22260 @end defun
22261
22262 @defun Type.range ()
22263 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
22264 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
22265 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
22266 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
22267 @end defun
22268
22269 @defun Type.reference ()
22270 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
22271 type.
22272 @end defun
22273
22274 @defun Type.pointer ()
22275 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
22276 type.
22277 @end defun
22278
22279 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
22280 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
22281 after removing all layers of typedefs.
22282 @end defun
22283
22284 @defun Type.target ()
22285 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
22286 of this type.
22287
22288 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
22289 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
22290 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
22291 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
22292 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
22293 target type is the aliased type.
22294
22295 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
22296 exception.
22297 @end defun
22298
22299 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
22300 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
22301 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
22302 @var{n}th template argument.
22303
22304 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
22305 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
22306
22307 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
22308 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
22309 @end defun
22310 @end table
22311
22312
22313 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
22314 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
22315 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22316
22317 @table @code
22318 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
22319 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
22320 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
22321 The type is a pointer.
22322
22323 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22324 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22325 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22326 The type is an array.
22327
22328 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22329 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22330 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22331 The type is a structure.
22332
22333 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
22334 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
22335 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
22336 The type is a union.
22337
22338 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22339 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22340 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22341 The type is an enum.
22342
22343 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22344 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22345 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22346 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
22347
22348 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22349 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22350 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22351 The type is a function.
22352
22353 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
22354 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
22355 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
22356 The type is an integer type.
22357
22358 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
22359 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
22360 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
22361 A floating point type.
22362
22363 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
22364 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
22365 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
22366 The special type @code{void}.
22367
22368 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
22369 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
22370 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
22371 A Pascal set type.
22372
22373 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22374 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22375 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22376 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
22377
22378 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
22379 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
22380 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
22381 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
22382 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
22383
22384 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22385 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22386 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22387 A string of bits.
22388
22389 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22390 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22391 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22392 An unknown or erroneous type.
22393
22394 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22395 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22396 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22397 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
22398
22399 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22400 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22401 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22402 A pointer-to-member-function.
22403
22404 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22405 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22406 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22407 A pointer-to-member.
22408
22409 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
22410 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
22411 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
22412 A reference type.
22413
22414 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22415 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22416 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22417 A character type.
22418
22419 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22420 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22421 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22422 A boolean type.
22423
22424 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22425 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22426 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22427 A complex float type.
22428
22429 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22430 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22431 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22432 A typedef to some other type.
22433
22434 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22435 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22436 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22437 A C@t{++} namespace.
22438
22439 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22440 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22441 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22442 A decimal floating point type.
22443
22444 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22445 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22446 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22447 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
22448 convenience functions.
22449 @end table
22450
22451 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
22452 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
22453
22454 @node Pretty Printing API
22455 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
22456
22457 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
22458
22459 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
22460 specific interface, defined here.
22461
22462 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
22463 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
22464 children of the pretty-printer's value.
22465
22466 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
22467 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
22468 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
22469 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
22470 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
22471
22472 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
22473 as though the value has no children.
22474 @end defun
22475
22476 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
22477 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
22478 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
22479 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
22480 printed.
22481
22482 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
22483 string.
22484
22485 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
22486
22487 @table @samp
22488 @item array
22489 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
22490 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
22491 @code{set print array}.
22492
22493 @item map
22494 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
22495 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
22496 values.
22497
22498 @item string
22499 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
22500 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
22501 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
22502 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
22503 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
22504 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
22505 @end table
22506 @end defun
22507
22508 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
22509 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
22510 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
22511
22512 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
22513 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
22514 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
22515 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
22516 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
22517 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
22518 the result of @code{children}.
22519
22520 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
22521
22522 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
22523 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
22524 another pretty-printer.
22525
22526 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
22527 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
22528 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
22529 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
22530 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
22531
22532 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
22533 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
22534
22535 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
22536 @end defun
22537
22538 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
22539 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
22540
22541 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
22542 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
22543 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
22544 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
22545 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
22546 @end defun
22547
22548 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
22549 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
22550
22551 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
22552 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
22553 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
22554 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
22555 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
22556 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
22557 attribute.
22558
22559 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
22560 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
22561 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
22562 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
22563 @code{None}.
22564
22565 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
22566 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
22567 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
22568 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
22569 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
22570 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
22571 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
22572 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
22573 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
22574 object is returned.
22575
22576 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
22577 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
22578 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
22579 object is returned.
22580
22581 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
22582 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
22583 the pretty-printer is out of date.
22584
22585 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
22586 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
22587 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
22588 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
22589 with a broken printer.
22590
22591 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
22592 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
22593 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
22594 the printer is enabled.
22595
22596 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
22597 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
22598 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
22599
22600 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
22601 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
22602
22603 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
22604 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
22605 must provide.
22606
22607 @smallexample
22608 class StdStringPrinter(object):
22609 "Print a std::string"
22610
22611 def __init__(self, val):
22612 self.val = val
22613
22614 def to_string(self):
22615 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
22616
22617 def display_hint(self):
22618 return 'string'
22619 @end smallexample
22620
22621 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
22622 example above might be written.
22623
22624 @smallexample
22625 def str_lookup_function(val):
22626 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
22627 if lookup_tag == None:
22628 return None
22629 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
22630 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
22631 return StdStringPrinter(val)
22632 return None
22633 @end smallexample
22634
22635 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
22636 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
22637 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
22638 returns @code{None}.
22639
22640 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
22641 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
22642 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
22643 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
22644 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
22645 different names.
22646
22647 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
22648 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
22649 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
22650 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
22651 the current objfile.
22652
22653 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
22654 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
22655 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
22656 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
22657 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
22658 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
22659 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
22660 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
22661 inferior.
22662
22663 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
22664 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
22665
22666 @smallexample
22667 def register_printers(objfile):
22668 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
22669 @end smallexample
22670
22671 @noindent
22672 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
22673
22674 @smallexample
22675 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
22676 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
22677 @end smallexample
22678
22679 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
22680 There are a few things that can be improved on.
22681 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
22682 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
22683 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
22684
22685 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
22686 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
22687 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
22688 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
22689 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
22690 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
22691
22692 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
22693 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
22694 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
22695
22696 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
22697
22698 @smallexample
22699 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
22700 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
22701 @end smallexample
22702
22703 Here are the printers:
22704
22705 @smallexample
22706 class fooPrinter:
22707 """Print a foo object."""
22708
22709 def __init__(self, val):
22710 self.val = val
22711
22712 def to_string(self):
22713 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
22714 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
22715
22716 class barPrinter:
22717 """Print a bar object."""
22718
22719 def __init__(self, val):
22720 self.val = val
22721
22722 def to_string(self):
22723 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
22724 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
22725 @end smallexample
22726
22727 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
22728 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
22729 the object that handles the lookup.
22730
22731 @smallexample
22732 import gdb.printing
22733
22734 def build_pretty_printer():
22735 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
22736 "my_library")
22737 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
22738 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
22739 return pp
22740 @end smallexample
22741
22742 And here is the autoload support:
22743
22744 @smallexample
22745 import gdb.printing
22746 import my_library
22747 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
22748 gdb.current_objfile(),
22749 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
22750 @end smallexample
22751
22752 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
22753 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
22754
22755 @smallexample
22756 (gdb) info pretty-printer
22757 my_library.so:
22758 my_library
22759 foo
22760 bar
22761 @end smallexample
22762
22763 @node Inferiors In Python
22764 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
22765 @cindex inferiors in Python
22766
22767 @findex gdb.Inferior
22768 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
22769 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
22770 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
22771 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
22772
22773 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22774 module:
22775
22776 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
22777 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
22778 @end defun
22779
22780 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
22781 Return an object representing the current inferior.
22782 @end defun
22783
22784 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
22785
22786 @table @code
22787 @defvar Inferior.num
22788 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
22789 @end defvar
22790
22791 @defvar Inferior.pid
22792 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
22793 system.
22794 @end defvar
22795
22796 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
22797 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
22798 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
22799 @end defvar
22800 @end table
22801
22802 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
22803
22804 @table @code
22805 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
22806 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
22807 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
22808 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
22809 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
22810 at the time the method is called.
22811 @end defun
22812
22813 @defun Inferior.threads ()
22814 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
22815 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
22816 return an empty tuple.
22817 @end defun
22818
22819 @findex gdb.read_memory
22820 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
22821 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
22822 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
22823 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
22824 function.
22825 @end defun
22826
22827 @findex gdb.write_memory
22828 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
22829 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
22830 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
22831 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
22832 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
22833 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
22834 @end defun
22835
22836 @findex gdb.search_memory
22837 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
22838 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
22839 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
22840 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
22841 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
22842 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
22843 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
22844 the pattern could not be found.
22845 @end defun
22846 @end table
22847
22848 @node Events In Python
22849 @subsubsection Events In Python
22850 @cindex inferior events in Python
22851
22852 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
22853 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
22854 the inferior.
22855
22856 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
22857 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
22858 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
22859
22860 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
22861 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
22862 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
22863 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
22864
22865 @table @code
22866 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
22867 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
22868 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
22869 @end defun
22870
22871 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
22872 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
22873 will no longer receive notifications of events.
22874 @end defun
22875 @end table
22876
22877 Here is an example:
22878
22879 @smallexample
22880 def exit_handler (event):
22881 print "event type: exit"
22882 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
22883
22884 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
22885 @end smallexample
22886
22887 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
22888 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
22889 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
22890 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
22891 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
22892 the inferior.
22893
22894 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
22895 details of the events they emit:
22896
22897 @table @code
22898
22899 @item events.cont
22900 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22901
22902 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22903 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
22904 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
22905 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
22906 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
22907 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
22908
22909 @table @code
22910 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
22911 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
22912 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
22913 @end defvar
22914 @end table
22915
22916 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22917
22918 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
22919 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
22920
22921 @item events.exited
22922 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
22923 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
22924 @table @code
22925 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
22926 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
22927 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
22928 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
22929 the attribute does not exist.
22930 @end defvar
22931 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
22932 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
22933 @end defvar
22934 @end table
22935
22936 @item events.stop
22937 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22938
22939 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
22940 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
22941 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22942 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
22943
22944 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
22945
22946 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
22947 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
22948
22949 @table @code
22950 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
22951 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
22952 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
22953 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
22954 @end defvar
22955 @end table
22956
22957 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
22958
22959 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
22960 been hit, and has the following attributes:
22961
22962 @table @code
22963 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
22964 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
22965 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
22966 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
22967 @end defvar
22968 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
22969 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
22970 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
22971 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
22972 @end defvar
22973 @end table
22974
22975 @item events.new_objfile
22976 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
22977 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
22978
22979 @table @code
22980 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
22981 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
22982 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
22983 @end defvar
22984 @end table
22985
22986 @end table
22987
22988 @node Threads In Python
22989 @subsubsection Threads In Python
22990 @cindex threads in python
22991
22992 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
22993 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
22994 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
22995
22996 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22997 module:
22998
22999 @findex gdb.selected_thread
23000 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
23001 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
23002 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
23003 @end defun
23004
23005 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
23006
23007 @table @code
23008 @defvar InferiorThread.name
23009 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
23010 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
23011 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
23012 returns @code{None}.
23013
23014 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
23015 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
23016 user-specified thread name.
23017 @end defvar
23018
23019 @defvar InferiorThread.num
23020 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
23021 @end defvar
23022
23023 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
23024 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
23025 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
23026 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
23027 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
23028 does not use that identifier.
23029 @end defvar
23030 @end table
23031
23032 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
23033
23034 @table @code
23035 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
23036 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
23037 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
23038 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
23039 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
23040 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23041 @end defun
23042
23043 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
23044 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
23045 by this object.
23046 @end defun
23047
23048 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
23049 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
23050 @end defun
23051
23052 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
23053 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
23054 @end defun
23055
23056 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
23057 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
23058 @end defun
23059 @end table
23060
23061 @node Commands In Python
23062 @subsubsection Commands In Python
23063
23064 @cindex commands in python
23065 @cindex python commands
23066 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
23067 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
23068 class, most commonly using a subclass.
23069
23070 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
23071 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
23072 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
23073 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
23074
23075 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
23076 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
23077 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
23078 an exception is raised.
23079
23080 There is no support for multi-line commands.
23081
23082 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
23083 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
23084 new command in the help system.
23085
23086 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
23087 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
23088 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
23089 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
23090 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
23091 error will occur when completion is attempted.
23092
23093 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
23094 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
23095 registered.
23096
23097 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
23098 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
23099 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
23100 not documented.'' is used.
23101 @end defun
23102
23103 @cindex don't repeat Python command
23104 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
23105 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
23106 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
23107 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
23108 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
23109 @end defun
23110
23111 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
23112 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
23113
23114 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
23115 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
23116
23117 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
23118 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
23119 that the command came from elsewhere.
23120
23121 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
23122 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
23123
23124 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
23125 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
23126 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
23127 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
23128 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
23129 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
23130 Example:
23131
23132 @smallexample
23133 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
23134 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
23135 @end smallexample
23136
23137 @end defun
23138
23139 @cindex completion of Python commands
23140 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
23141 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
23142 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
23143 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
23144 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
23145 complete}).
23146
23147 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
23148 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
23149 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
23150 using a word-breaking heuristic.
23151
23152 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
23153 @itemize @bullet
23154 @item
23155 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
23156 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
23157 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
23158 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
23159 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
23160 sequence are ignored.
23161
23162 @item
23163 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
23164 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
23165 function is invoked, and its result is used.
23166
23167 @item
23168 All other results are treated as though there were no available
23169 completions.
23170 @end itemize
23171 @end defun
23172
23173 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
23174 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
23175 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
23176 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
23177 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
23178 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23179
23180 @table @code
23181 @findex COMMAND_NONE
23182 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
23183 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
23184 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
23185 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
23186
23187 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
23188 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
23189 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
23190 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
23191 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
23192 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23193 commands in this category.
23194
23195 @findex COMMAND_DATA
23196 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
23197 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
23198 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
23199 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
23200 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
23201 in this category.
23202
23203 @findex COMMAND_STACK
23204 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
23205 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
23206 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
23207 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
23208 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
23209 list of commands in this category.
23210
23211 @findex COMMAND_FILES
23212 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
23213 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
23214 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
23215 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
23216 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23217 commands in this category.
23218
23219 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
23220 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
23221 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
23222 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
23223 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
23224 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
23225 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
23226 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23227 commands in this category.
23228
23229 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
23230 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
23231 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
23232 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
23233 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
23234 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
23235 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
23236
23237 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23238 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23239 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23240 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
23241 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
23242 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
23243 this category.
23244
23245 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23246 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23247 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23248 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
23249 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
23250 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23251 commands in this category.
23252
23253 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
23254 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
23255 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
23256 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
23257 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
23258 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
23259 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
23260 category.
23261
23262 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23263 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23264 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23265 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
23266 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
23267 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23268 commands in this category.
23269 @end table
23270
23271 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
23272 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
23273 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
23274 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23275
23276 @table @code
23277 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
23278 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
23279 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
23280 This constant means that no completion should be done.
23281
23282 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
23283 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
23284 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
23285 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
23286
23287 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
23288 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
23289 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
23290 This constant means that location completion should be done.
23291 @xref{Specify Location}.
23292
23293 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
23294 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
23295 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
23296 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
23297 command names.
23298
23299 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23300 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23301 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23302 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
23303 as the source.
23304 @end table
23305
23306 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
23307 implemented in Python:
23308
23309 @smallexample
23310 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23311 """Greet the whole world."""
23312
23313 def __init__ (self):
23314 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
23315
23316 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
23317 print "Hello, World!"
23318
23319 HelloWorld ()
23320 @end smallexample
23321
23322 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
23323 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
23324 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
23325 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
23326
23327 @node Parameters In Python
23328 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
23329
23330 @cindex parameters in python
23331 @cindex python parameters
23332 @tindex gdb.Parameter
23333 @tindex Parameter
23334 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
23335 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
23336 class.
23337
23338 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
23339 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
23340
23341 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
23342 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
23343 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
23344 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
23345 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
23346
23347 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
23348 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
23349 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
23350 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
23351
23352 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
23353 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
23354 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
23355 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
23356 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
23357 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
23358 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
23359
23360 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
23361 can be found, an exception is raised.
23362
23363 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
23364 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
23365 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
23366
23367 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
23368 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
23369 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
23370 completion.
23371
23372 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
23373 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
23374 represent the possible values for the parameter.
23375
23376 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
23377 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
23378
23379 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
23380 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
23381 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
23382 @end defun
23383
23384 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
23385 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
23386 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
23387 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
23388 have no effect.
23389 @end defvar
23390
23391 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
23392 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
23393 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
23394 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
23395 have no effect.
23396 @end defvar
23397
23398 @defvar Parameter.value
23399 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
23400 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
23401 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
23402 @end defvar
23403
23404 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
23405 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
23406
23407 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
23408 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
23409 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
23410 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
23411 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
23412 @end defun
23413
23414 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
23415 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
23416 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
23417 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
23418 current value. This method must return a string.
23419 @end defun
23420
23421 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
23422 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
23423 module:
23424
23425 @table @code
23426 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
23427 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
23428 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
23429 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
23430 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
23431
23432 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23433 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23434 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23435 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
23436 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
23437 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
23438
23439 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
23440 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
23441 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
23442 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
23443 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
23444
23445 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
23446 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
23447 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
23448 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
23449 to mean ``unlimited''.
23450
23451 @findex PARAM_STRING
23452 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
23453 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
23454 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
23455 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
23456 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
23457 host charset.
23458
23459 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23460 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23461 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23462 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
23463 passed through untranslated.
23464
23465 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23466 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23467 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23468 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
23469
23470 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
23471 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
23472 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
23473 The value is a filename. This is just like
23474 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
23475
23476 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
23477 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
23478 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
23479 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
23480 is interpreted as itself.
23481
23482 @findex PARAM_ENUM
23483 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
23484 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
23485 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
23486 constants provided when the parameter is created.
23487 @end table
23488
23489 @node Functions In Python
23490 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
23491
23492 @cindex writing convenience functions
23493 @cindex convenience functions in python
23494 @cindex python convenience functions
23495 @tindex gdb.Function
23496 @tindex Function
23497 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
23498 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
23499 class @code{gdb.Function}.
23500
23501 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
23502 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
23503 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
23504 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
23505 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
23506 the given @var{name}.
23507
23508 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
23509 string for the new class.
23510 @end defun
23511
23512 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
23513 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
23514 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
23515 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
23516 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
23517 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
23518 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
23519 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
23520
23521 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
23522 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
23523 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
23524 @end defun
23525
23526 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
23527 be implemented in Python:
23528
23529 @smallexample
23530 class Greet (gdb.Function):
23531 """Return string to greet someone.
23532 Takes a name as argument."""
23533
23534 def __init__ (self):
23535 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
23536
23537 def invoke (self, name):
23538 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
23539
23540 Greet ()
23541 @end smallexample
23542
23543 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
23544 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
23545 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
23546 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
23547
23548 @node Progspaces In Python
23549 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
23550
23551 @cindex progspaces in python
23552 @tindex gdb.Progspace
23553 @tindex Progspace
23554 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
23555 of an address space.
23556 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
23557 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23558 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
23559 about program spaces.
23560
23561 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
23562 @code{gdb} module:
23563
23564 @findex gdb.current_progspace
23565 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
23566 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
23567 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
23568 @end defun
23569
23570 @findex gdb.progspaces
23571 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
23572 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
23573 @end defun
23574
23575 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
23576 class.
23577
23578 @defvar Progspace.filename
23579 The file name of the progspace as a string.
23580 @end defvar
23581
23582 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
23583 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
23584 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
23585 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
23586 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
23587 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
23588 information.
23589 @end defvar
23590
23591 @node Objfiles In Python
23592 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
23593
23594 @cindex objfiles in python
23595 @tindex gdb.Objfile
23596 @tindex Objfile
23597 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
23598 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
23599 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
23600 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
23601 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
23602
23603 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
23604 @code{gdb} module:
23605
23606 @findex gdb.current_objfile
23607 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
23608 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
23609 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
23610 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
23611 this function returns @code{None}.
23612 @end defun
23613
23614 @findex gdb.objfiles
23615 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
23616 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
23617 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23618 @end defun
23619
23620 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
23621 class.
23622
23623 @defvar Objfile.filename
23624 The file name of the objfile as a string.
23625 @end defvar
23626
23627 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
23628 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
23629 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
23630 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
23631 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
23632 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
23633 information.
23634 @end defvar
23635
23636 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
23637
23638 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
23639 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
23640 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
23641 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
23642 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
23643 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23644 @end defun
23645
23646 @node Frames In Python
23647 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23648
23649 @cindex frames in python
23650 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
23651 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
23652 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
23653 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
23654 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
23655 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23656
23657 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
23658 operator, like:
23659
23660 @smallexample
23661 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
23662 True
23663 @end smallexample
23664
23665 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
23666
23667 @findex gdb.selected_frame
23668 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
23669 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
23670 @end defun
23671
23672 @findex gdb.newest_frame
23673 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
23674 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
23675 @end defun
23676
23677 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
23678 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
23679 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
23680 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
23681 @end defun
23682
23683 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
23684
23685 @table @code
23686 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
23687 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
23688 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
23689 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
23690 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23691 @end defun
23692
23693 @defun Frame.name ()
23694 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
23695 obtained.
23696 @end defun
23697
23698 @defun Frame.type ()
23699 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
23700 @table @code
23701 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
23702 An ordinary stack frame.
23703
23704 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
23705 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
23706 inferior function call.
23707
23708 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
23709 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
23710 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
23711
23712 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
23713 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
23714
23715 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
23716 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
23717 it calls into a signal handler.
23718
23719 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
23720 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
23721
23722 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
23723 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
23724 newest frame.
23725 @end table
23726 @end defun
23727
23728 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
23729 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
23730 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
23731 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
23732 function to a string. The value can be one of:
23733
23734 @table @code
23735 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
23736 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
23737
23738 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
23739 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
23740
23741 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
23742 This frame is the outermost.
23743
23744 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
23745 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
23746 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
23747
23748 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
23749 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
23750 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
23751 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
23752
23753 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
23754 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
23755 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
23756 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
23757 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
23758 stack corruption.
23759
23760 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
23761 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
23762 one to unwind further.
23763
23764 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
23765 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
23766 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
23767 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
23768 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
23769 versions. Using it, you could write:
23770 @smallexample
23771 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
23772 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
23773 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
23774 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
23775 @end smallexample
23776 @end table
23777
23778 @end defun
23779
23780 @defun Frame.pc ()
23781 Returns the frame's resume address.
23782 @end defun
23783
23784 @defun Frame.block ()
23785 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
23786 @end defun
23787
23788 @defun Frame.function ()
23789 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
23790 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
23791 @end defun
23792
23793 @defun Frame.older ()
23794 Return the frame that called this frame.
23795 @end defun
23796
23797 @defun Frame.newer ()
23798 Return the frame called by this frame.
23799 @end defun
23800
23801 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
23802 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
23803 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
23804 @end defun
23805
23806 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
23807 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
23808 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
23809 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
23810 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
23811 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
23812 @code{gdb.Block} object.
23813 @end defun
23814
23815 @defun Frame.select ()
23816 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
23817 Stack}.
23818 @end defun
23819 @end table
23820
23821 @node Blocks In Python
23822 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
23823
23824 @cindex blocks in python
23825 @tindex gdb.Block
23826
23827 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
23828 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
23829 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
23830 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
23831 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
23832 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
23833 stack.
23834
23835 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23836 module:
23837
23838 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
23839 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
23840 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
23841 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
23842 will return @code{None}.
23843 @end defun
23844
23845 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
23846
23847 @table @code
23848 @defun Block.is_valid ()
23849 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
23850 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
23851 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
23852 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
23853 the time the method is called. This method is also made available to
23854 the Python iterator object that @code{gdb.Block} provides in an iteration
23855 context and via the Python @code{iter} built-in function.
23856 @end defun
23857 @end table
23858
23859 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
23860
23861 @table @code
23862 @defvar Block.start
23863 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
23864 @end defvar
23865
23866 @defvar Block.end
23867 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
23868 @end defvar
23869
23870 @defvar Block.function
23871 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
23872 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
23873 attribute is not writable.
23874 @end defvar
23875
23876 @defvar Block.superblock
23877 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
23878 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23879 @end defvar
23880
23881 @defvar Block.global_block
23882 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
23883 writable.
23884 @end defvar
23885
23886 @defvar Block.static_block
23887 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
23888 writable.
23889 @end defvar
23890
23891 @defvar Block.is_global
23892 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
23893 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
23894 writable.
23895 @end defvar
23896
23897 @defvar Block.is_static
23898 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
23899 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
23900 @end defvar
23901 @end table
23902
23903 @node Symbols In Python
23904 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
23905
23906 @cindex symbols in python
23907 @tindex gdb.Symbol
23908
23909 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
23910 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
23911 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
23912 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
23913
23914 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23915 module:
23916
23917 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
23918 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
23919 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
23920 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
23921 arguments.
23922
23923 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
23924 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
23925 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
23926 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
23927 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
23928 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
23929 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
23930 in this chapter.
23931
23932 The result is a tuple of two elements.
23933 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
23934 is not found.
23935 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
23936 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
23937 otherwise it is @code{False}.
23938 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
23939 @end defun
23940
23941 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
23942 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
23943 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
23944 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
23945
23946 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
23947 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
23948 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
23949 module and described later in this chapter.
23950
23951 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
23952 is not found.
23953 @end defun
23954
23955 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
23956
23957 @table @code
23958 @defvar Symbol.type
23959 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
23960 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
23961 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
23962 @end defvar
23963
23964 @defvar Symbol.symtab
23965 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
23966 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
23967 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
23968 @end defvar
23969
23970 @defvar Symbol.line
23971 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
23972 This is an integer.
23973 @end defvar
23974
23975 @defvar Symbol.name
23976 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
23977 @end defvar
23978
23979 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
23980 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
23981 This attribute is not writable.
23982 @end defvar
23983
23984 @defvar Symbol.print_name
23985 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
23986 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
23987 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
23988 @end defvar
23989
23990 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
23991 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
23992 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
23993 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
23994 @end defvar
23995
23996 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
23997 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
23998 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
23999 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
24000
24001 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
24002 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
24003 @end defvar
24004
24005 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
24006 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
24007 @end defvar
24008
24009 @defvar Symbol.is_function
24010 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
24011 @end defvar
24012
24013 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
24014 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
24015 @end defvar
24016 @end table
24017
24018 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
24019
24020 @table @code
24021 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
24022 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
24023 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
24024 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
24025 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
24026 invalid at the time the method is called.
24027 @end defun
24028
24029 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
24030 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
24031 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
24032 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
24033 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
24034 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
24035 exception.
24036 @end defun
24037 @end table
24038
24039 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
24040 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
24041
24042 @table @code
24043 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24044 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24045 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24046 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
24047 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
24048 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
24049 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24050 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24051 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24052 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
24053 type values.
24054 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24055 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24056 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24057 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
24058 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24059 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24060 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24061 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
24062 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24063 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24064 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24065 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
24066 contains everything minus functions and types.
24067 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
24068 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
24069 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
24070 This domain contains all functions.
24071 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24072 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24073 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24074 This domain contains all types.
24075 @end table
24076
24077 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
24078 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
24079
24080 @table @code
24081 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24082 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24083 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24084 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
24085 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
24086 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24087 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24088 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24089 Value is constant int.
24090 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24091 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24092 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24093 Value is at a fixed address.
24094 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24095 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24096 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24097 Value is in a register.
24098 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24099 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24100 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24101 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
24102 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
24103 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24104 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24105 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24106 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
24107 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
24108 offset, not the value itself.
24109 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24110 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24111 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24112 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
24113 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
24114 itself.
24115 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24116 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24117 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24118 Value is a local variable.
24119 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24120 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24121 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24122 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
24123 have this class.
24124 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24125 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24126 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24127 Value is a block.
24128 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24129 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24130 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24131 Value is a byte-sequence.
24132 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24133 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24134 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24135 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
24136 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
24137 referenced.
24138 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24139 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24140 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24141 The value does not actually exist in the program.
24142 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24143 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24144 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24145 The value's address is a computed location.
24146 @end table
24147
24148 @node Symbol Tables In Python
24149 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
24150
24151 @cindex symbol tables in python
24152 @tindex gdb.Symtab
24153 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
24154
24155 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
24156 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
24157 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
24158 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
24159 @xref{Frames In Python}.
24160
24161 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
24162 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
24163
24164 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
24165
24166 @table @code
24167 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
24168 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
24169 This attribute is not writable.
24170 @end defvar
24171
24172 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
24173 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
24174 writable.
24175 @end defvar
24176
24177 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
24178 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
24179 attribute is not writable.
24180 @end defvar
24181 @end table
24182
24183 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
24184
24185 @table @code
24186 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
24187 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
24188 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
24189 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
24190 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
24191 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
24192 invalid at the time the method is called.
24193 @end defun
24194 @end table
24195
24196 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
24197
24198 @table @code
24199 @defvar Symtab.filename
24200 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
24201 @end defvar
24202
24203 @defvar Symtab.objfile
24204 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24205 This attribute is not writable.
24206 @end defvar
24207 @end table
24208
24209 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
24210
24211 @table @code
24212 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
24213 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
24214 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
24215 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
24216 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
24217 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24218 @end defun
24219
24220 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
24221 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
24222 @end defun
24223 @end table
24224
24225 @node Breakpoints In Python
24226 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
24227
24228 @cindex breakpoints in python
24229 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
24230
24231 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
24232 class.
24233
24234 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
24235 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
24236 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
24237 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
24238 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
24239 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
24240 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
24241 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
24242 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
24243 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
24244 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
24245 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
24246 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
24247 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
24248 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
24249 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
24250 @end defun
24251
24252 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
24253 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
24254 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
24255 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
24256 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
24257 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
24258 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
24259 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
24260
24261 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
24262 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
24263 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
24264 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
24265 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
24266 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
24267
24268 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
24269 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
24270 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
24271 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
24272 at this time.
24273
24274 Example @code{stop} implementation:
24275
24276 @smallexample
24277 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
24278 def stop (self):
24279 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
24280 if inf_val == 3:
24281 return True
24282 return False
24283 @end smallexample
24284 @end defun
24285
24286 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
24287 @code{gdb} module:
24288
24289 @table @code
24290 @findex WP_READ
24291 @findex gdb.WP_READ
24292 @item gdb.WP_READ
24293 Read only watchpoint.
24294
24295 @findex WP_WRITE
24296 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
24297 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
24298 Write only watchpoint.
24299
24300 @findex WP_ACCESS
24301 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
24302 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
24303 Read/Write watchpoint.
24304 @end table
24305
24306 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
24307 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
24308 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
24309 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
24310 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
24311 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
24312 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
24313 @end defun
24314
24315 @defun Breakpoint.delete
24316 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
24317 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
24318 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
24319 @end defun
24320
24321 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
24322 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
24323 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
24324 @end defvar
24325
24326 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
24327 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
24328 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
24329
24330 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
24331 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
24332 @code{silent} attribute.
24333 @end defvar
24334
24335 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
24336 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
24337 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
24338 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
24339 @end defvar
24340
24341 @defvar Breakpoint.task
24342 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
24343 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
24344 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
24345 is writable.
24346 @end defvar
24347
24348 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
24349 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
24350 This attribute is writable.
24351 @end defvar
24352
24353 @defvar Breakpoint.number
24354 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
24355 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
24356 @end defvar
24357
24358 @defvar Breakpoint.type
24359 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
24360 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
24361 writable.
24362 @end defvar
24363
24364 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
24365 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
24366 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
24367 attribute is not writable.
24368 @end defvar
24369
24370 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24371 module:
24372
24373 @table @code
24374 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
24375 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
24376 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
24377 Normal code breakpoint.
24378
24379 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
24380 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
24381 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
24382 Watchpoint breakpoint.
24383
24384 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24385 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24386 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24387 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
24388
24389 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24390 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24391 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24392 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
24393
24394 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24395 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24396 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24397 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
24398 @end table
24399
24400 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
24401 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
24402 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
24403 @end defvar
24404
24405 @defvar Breakpoint.location
24406 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
24407 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
24408 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
24409 attribute is not writable.
24410 @end defvar
24411
24412 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
24413 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
24414 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
24415 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
24416 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24417 @end defvar
24418
24419 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
24420 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
24421 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
24422 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
24423 @end defvar
24424
24425 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
24426 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
24427 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
24428 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
24429 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24430 @end defvar
24431
24432 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
24433 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
24434
24435 @cindex python finish breakpoints
24436 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
24437
24438 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
24439 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
24440 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
24441 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
24442 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
24443 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
24444 thread selected.
24445
24446 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
24447 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
24448 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
24449 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
24450 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
24451 details about this argument.
24452 @end defun
24453
24454 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
24455 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
24456 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
24457 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
24458 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
24459
24460 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
24461 method:
24462
24463 @smallexample
24464 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
24465 def stop (self):
24466 print "normal finish"
24467 return True
24468
24469 def out_of_scope ():
24470 print "abnormal finish"
24471 @end smallexample
24472 @end defun
24473
24474 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
24475 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
24476 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
24477 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
24478 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
24479 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
24480 is not writable.
24481 @end defvar
24482
24483 @node Lazy Strings In Python
24484 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
24485
24486 @cindex lazy strings in python
24487 @tindex gdb.LazyString
24488
24489 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
24490 encoded until it is needed.
24491
24492 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
24493 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
24494 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
24495 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
24496 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
24497 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
24498 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
24499 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
24500 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
24501
24502 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
24503
24504 @defun LazyString.value ()
24505 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
24506 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
24507 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
24508 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
24509 @end defun
24510
24511 @defvar LazyString.address
24512 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
24513 writable.
24514 @end defvar
24515
24516 @defvar LazyString.length
24517 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
24518 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
24519 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
24520 @end defvar
24521
24522 @defvar LazyString.encoding
24523 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
24524 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
24525 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
24526 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
24527 is not writable.
24528 @end defvar
24529
24530 @defvar LazyString.type
24531 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
24532 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
24533 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
24534 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
24535 writable.
24536 @end defvar
24537
24538 @node Auto-loading
24539 @subsection Auto-loading
24540 @cindex auto-loading, Python
24541
24542 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
24543 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
24544 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
24545 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
24546
24547 @menu
24548 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
24549 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24550 * Which flavor to choose?::
24551 @end menu
24552
24553 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
24554 debugging commands and scripts.
24555
24556 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
24557 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
24558
24559 @table @code
24560 @kindex set auto-load-scripts
24561 @item set auto-load-scripts [yes|no]
24562 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
24563
24564 @kindex show auto-load-scripts
24565 @item show auto-load-scripts
24566 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
24567
24568 @kindex info auto-load-scripts
24569 @cindex print list of auto-loaded scripts
24570 @item info auto-load-scripts [@var{regexp}]
24571 Print the list of all scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
24572
24573 Also printed is the list of scripts that were mentioned in
24574 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
24575 (@pxref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}).
24576 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
24577 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
24578 an error message for each one is problematic.
24579
24580 If @var{regexp} is supplied only scripts with matching names are printed.
24581
24582 Example:
24583
24584 @smallexample
24585 (gdb) info auto-load-scripts
24586 Loaded Script
24587 Yes py-section-script.py
24588 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
24589 Missing my-foo-pretty-printers.py
24590 @end smallexample
24591 @end table
24592
24593 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
24594 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
24595 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
24596 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
24597
24598 @node objfile-gdb.py file
24599 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
24600 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
24601
24602 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
24603 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
24604 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
24605 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
24606 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
24607 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
24608
24609 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
24610 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
24611 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
24612 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
24613
24614 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
24615 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
24616 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
24617 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
24618 is the object file's real name, as described above.
24619
24620 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
24621 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
24622 @var{objfile} is opened.
24623 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
24624 is evaluated more than once.
24625
24626 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
24627 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24628 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24629
24630 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
24631 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
24632 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24633 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
24634
24635 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
24636 current directory and then along the source search path
24637 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
24638 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
24639 directory is not relevant to scripts.
24640
24641 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
24642 for example, this GCC macro:
24643
24644 @example
24645 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
24646 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
24647 asm("\
24648 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
24649 .byte 1\n\
24650 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
24651 .popsection \n\
24652 ");
24653 @end example
24654
24655 @noindent
24656 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
24657
24658 @example
24659 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
24660 @end example
24661
24662 The script name may include directories if desired.
24663
24664 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
24665 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
24666
24667 @node Which flavor to choose?
24668 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
24669
24670 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
24671 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
24672
24673 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
24674
24675 @itemize @bullet
24676 @item
24677 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
24678
24679 @item
24680 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
24681
24682 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
24683 in the source search path.
24684 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
24685 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
24686
24687 @item
24688 Doesn't require source code additions.
24689 @end itemize
24690
24691 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
24692
24693 @itemize @bullet
24694 @item
24695 Works with static linking.
24696
24697 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
24698 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
24699 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
24700 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
24701
24702 @item
24703 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
24704
24705 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
24706 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
24707
24708 @item
24709 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
24710
24711 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
24712 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
24713 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
24714 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
24715 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
24716 top of the source tree to the source search path.
24717 @end itemize
24718
24719 @node Python modules
24720 @subsection Python modules
24721 @cindex python modules
24722
24723 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
24724
24725 @menu
24726 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
24727 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
24728 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
24729 @end menu
24730
24731 @node gdb.printing
24732 @subsubsection gdb.printing
24733 @cindex gdb.printing
24734
24735 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
24736 pretty-printers.
24737
24738 @table @code
24739 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
24740 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
24741 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
24742 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
24743
24744 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
24745 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
24746 corresponding API for the subprinters.
24747
24748 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
24749 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
24750 regular expressions.
24751 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
24752
24753 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
24754 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
24755 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
24756 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
24757 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
24758 the @code{enum} type to look up.
24759
24760 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
24761 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
24762 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
24763 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
24764 if a printer with the same name already exists.
24765 @end table
24766
24767 @node gdb.types
24768 @subsubsection gdb.types
24769 @cindex gdb.types
24770
24771 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
24772 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
24773
24774 @table @code
24775 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
24776 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
24777 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
24778
24779 C@t{++} example:
24780
24781 @smallexample
24782 typedef const int const_int;
24783 const_int foo (3);
24784 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
24785 int main () @{ return 0; @}
24786 @end smallexample
24787
24788 Then in gdb:
24789
24790 @smallexample
24791 (gdb) start
24792 (gdb) python import gdb.types
24793 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
24794 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
24795 int
24796 @end smallexample
24797
24798 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
24799 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
24800 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
24801
24802 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
24803 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
24804
24805 @item deep_items (@var{type})
24806 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
24807 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
24808 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
24809 union fields. For example:
24810
24811 @smallexample
24812 struct A
24813 @{
24814 int a;
24815 union @{
24816 int b0;
24817 int b1;
24818 @};
24819 @};
24820 @end smallexample
24821
24822 @noindent
24823 Then in @value{GDBN}:
24824 @smallexample
24825 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
24826 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
24827 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
24828 @{['a', '']@}
24829 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
24830 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
24831 @end smallexample
24832
24833 @end table
24834
24835 @node gdb.prompt
24836 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
24837 @cindex gdb.prompt
24838
24839 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
24840
24841 @table @code
24842 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
24843 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
24844 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
24845 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
24846
24847 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
24848
24849 @table @code
24850 @item \\
24851 Substitute a backslash.
24852 @item \e
24853 Substitute an ESC character.
24854 @item \f
24855 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
24856 @item \n
24857 Substitute a newline.
24858 @item \p
24859 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
24860 @item \r
24861 Substitute a carriage return.
24862 @item \t
24863 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
24864 @item \v
24865 Substitute the version of GDB.
24866 @item \w
24867 Substitute the current working directory.
24868 @item \[
24869 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
24870 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
24871 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
24872 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
24873 @item \]
24874 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
24875 @end table
24876
24877 For example:
24878
24879 @smallexample
24880 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
24881 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
24882 @end smallexample
24883
24884 @exdent will return the string:
24885
24886 @smallexample
24887 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
24888 @end smallexample
24889 @end table
24890
24891 @node Aliases
24892 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
24893 @cindex aliases for commands
24894
24895 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
24896 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
24897 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
24898 that involves less typing.
24899
24900 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
24901 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
24902 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
24903
24904 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
24905 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
24906 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
24907
24908 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
24909
24910 @table @code
24911
24912 @kindex alias
24913 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
24914
24915 @end table
24916
24917 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
24918 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
24919 underscores.
24920
24921 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
24922 that is being aliased.
24923
24924 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
24925 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
24926 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
24927
24928 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
24929 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
24930
24931 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
24932 of a command so that there is less to type.
24933 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
24934 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
24935 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
24936 The following will accomplish this.
24937
24938 @smallexample
24939 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
24940 @end smallexample
24941
24942 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
24943 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
24944 for it with the @samp{document} command.
24945 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
24946
24947 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
24948 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
24949 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
24950 of a command.
24951
24952 @smallexample
24953 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
24954 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
24955 (gdb) set p elms 20
24956 (gdb) show p elms
24957 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
24958 @end smallexample
24959
24960 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
24961 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
24962 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
24963
24964 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
24965 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
24966
24967 @smallexample
24968 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
24969 @end smallexample
24970
24971 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
24972 alias for a more complex command.
24973 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
24974
24975 @smallexample
24976 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
24977 (gdb) spe 20
24978 @end smallexample
24979
24980 @node Interpreters
24981 @chapter Command Interpreters
24982 @cindex command interpreters
24983
24984 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
24985 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
24986 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
24987
24988 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
24989 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
24990 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
24991 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
24992
24993 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
24994 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
24995 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
24996 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
24997
24998 @table @code
24999 @item console
25000 @cindex console interpreter
25001 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
25002 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
25003 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
25004
25005 @item mi
25006 @cindex mi interpreter
25007 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
25008 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
25009 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
25010 Interface}.
25011
25012 @item mi2
25013 @cindex mi2 interpreter
25014 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
25015
25016 @item mi1
25017 @cindex mi1 interpreter
25018 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
25019
25020 @end table
25021
25022 @cindex invoke another interpreter
25023 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
25024 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
25025 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
25026 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
25027 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
25028 the IDE inoperable!
25029
25030 @kindex interpreter-exec
25031 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
25032 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
25033 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
25034 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
25035
25036 @smallexample
25037 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
25038 @end smallexample
25039
25040 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
25041 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
25042
25043 @node TUI
25044 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
25045 @cindex TUI
25046 @cindex Text User Interface
25047
25048 @menu
25049 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
25050 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
25051 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
25052 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
25053 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
25054 @end menu
25055
25056 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
25057 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
25058 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
25059 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
25060 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
25061 is available.
25062
25063 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
25064 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
25065 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
25066 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
25067 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
25068
25069 @node TUI Overview
25070 @section TUI Overview
25071
25072 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
25073
25074 @table @emph
25075 @item command
25076 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
25077 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
25078 managed using readline.
25079
25080 @item source
25081 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
25082 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
25083
25084 @item assembly
25085 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
25086
25087 @item register
25088 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
25089 when their values change.
25090 @end table
25091
25092 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
25093 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
25094 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
25095 indicates the breakpoint type:
25096
25097 @table @code
25098 @item B
25099 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
25100
25101 @item b
25102 Breakpoint which was never hit.
25103
25104 @item H
25105 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
25106
25107 @item h
25108 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
25109 @end table
25110
25111 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
25112
25113 @table @code
25114 @item +
25115 Breakpoint is enabled.
25116
25117 @item -
25118 Breakpoint is disabled.
25119 @end table
25120
25121 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
25122 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
25123 changes.
25124
25125 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
25126 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
25127 layouts:
25128
25129 @itemize @bullet
25130 @item
25131 source only,
25132
25133 @item
25134 assembly only,
25135
25136 @item
25137 source and assembly,
25138
25139 @item
25140 source and registers, or
25141
25142 @item
25143 assembly and registers.
25144 @end itemize
25145
25146 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
25147
25148 @table @emph
25149 @item target
25150 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
25151 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
25152
25153 @item process
25154 Gives the current process or thread number.
25155 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
25156
25157 @item function
25158 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
25159 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
25160 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
25161 the string @code{??} is displayed.
25162
25163 @item line
25164 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
25165 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
25166
25167 @item pc
25168 Indicates the current program counter address.
25169 @end table
25170
25171 @node TUI Keys
25172 @section TUI Key Bindings
25173 @cindex TUI key bindings
25174
25175 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
25176 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
25177 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
25178 @end ifset
25179 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
25180 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
25181 @end ifclear
25182 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
25183 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
25184
25185 @table @kbd
25186 @kindex C-x C-a
25187 @item C-x C-a
25188 @kindex C-x a
25189 @itemx C-x a
25190 @kindex C-x A
25191 @itemx C-x A
25192 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
25193 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
25194 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
25195 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
25196 The screen is then refreshed.
25197
25198 @kindex C-x 1
25199 @item C-x 1
25200 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
25201 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
25202 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
25203
25204 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
25205
25206 @kindex C-x 2
25207 @item C-x 2
25208 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
25209 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
25210 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
25211 previous layout and the new one.
25212
25213 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
25214
25215 @kindex C-x o
25216 @item C-x o
25217 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
25218 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
25219 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
25220
25221 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
25222
25223 @kindex C-x s
25224 @item C-x s
25225 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
25226 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
25227 @end table
25228
25229 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
25230
25231 @table @asis
25232 @kindex PgUp
25233 @item @key{PgUp}
25234 Scroll the active window one page up.
25235
25236 @kindex PgDn
25237 @item @key{PgDn}
25238 Scroll the active window one page down.
25239
25240 @kindex Up
25241 @item @key{Up}
25242 Scroll the active window one line up.
25243
25244 @kindex Down
25245 @item @key{Down}
25246 Scroll the active window one line down.
25247
25248 @kindex Left
25249 @item @key{Left}
25250 Scroll the active window one column left.
25251
25252 @kindex Right
25253 @item @key{Right}
25254 Scroll the active window one column right.
25255
25256 @kindex C-L
25257 @item @kbd{C-L}
25258 Refresh the screen.
25259 @end table
25260
25261 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
25262 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
25263 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
25264 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
25265 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
25266
25267 @node TUI Single Key Mode
25268 @section TUI Single Key Mode
25269 @cindex TUI single key mode
25270
25271 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
25272 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
25273 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
25274
25275 @table @kbd
25276 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25277 @item c
25278 continue
25279
25280 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25281 @item d
25282 down
25283
25284 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25285 @item f
25286 finish
25287
25288 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25289 @item n
25290 next
25291
25292 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25293 @item q
25294 exit the SingleKey mode.
25295
25296 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25297 @item r
25298 run
25299
25300 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25301 @item s
25302 step
25303
25304 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25305 @item u
25306 up
25307
25308 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25309 @item v
25310 info locals
25311
25312 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25313 @item w
25314 where
25315 @end table
25316
25317 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25318 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
25319 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
25320 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
25321 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
25322 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
25323
25324
25325 @node TUI Commands
25326 @section TUI-specific Commands
25327 @cindex TUI commands
25328
25329 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
25330 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
25331 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
25332 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
25333
25334 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
25335 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
25336 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
25337 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
25338 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
25339
25340 @table @code
25341 @item info win
25342 @kindex info win
25343 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
25344
25345 @item layout next
25346 @kindex layout
25347 Display the next layout.
25348
25349 @item layout prev
25350 Display the previous layout.
25351
25352 @item layout src
25353 Display the source window only.
25354
25355 @item layout asm
25356 Display the assembly window only.
25357
25358 @item layout split
25359 Display the source and assembly window.
25360
25361 @item layout regs
25362 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
25363
25364 @item focus next
25365 @kindex focus
25366 Make the next window active for scrolling.
25367
25368 @item focus prev
25369 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
25370
25371 @item focus src
25372 Make the source window active for scrolling.
25373
25374 @item focus asm
25375 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
25376
25377 @item focus regs
25378 Make the register window active for scrolling.
25379
25380 @item focus cmd
25381 Make the command window active for scrolling.
25382
25383 @item refresh
25384 @kindex refresh
25385 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
25386
25387 @item tui reg float
25388 @kindex tui reg
25389 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
25390
25391 @item tui reg general
25392 Show the general registers in the register window.
25393
25394 @item tui reg next
25395 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
25396 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
25397 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
25398 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
25399
25400 @item tui reg system
25401 Show the system registers in the register window.
25402
25403 @item update
25404 @kindex update
25405 Update the source window and the current execution point.
25406
25407 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
25408 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
25409 @kindex winheight
25410 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
25411 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
25412 decrease it.
25413
25414 @item tabset @var{nchars}
25415 @kindex tabset
25416 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
25417 @end table
25418
25419 @node TUI Configuration
25420 @section TUI Configuration Variables
25421 @cindex TUI configuration variables
25422
25423 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
25424
25425 @table @code
25426 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
25427 @kindex set tui border-kind
25428 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
25429 The possible values are the following:
25430 @table @code
25431 @item space
25432 Use a space character to draw the border.
25433
25434 @item ascii
25435 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
25436
25437 @item acs
25438 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
25439 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
25440 @end table
25441
25442 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
25443 @kindex set tui border-mode
25444 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
25445 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
25446 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
25447 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
25448 @table @code
25449 @item normal
25450 Use normal attributes to display the border.
25451
25452 @item standout
25453 Use standout mode.
25454
25455 @item reverse
25456 Use reverse video mode.
25457
25458 @item half
25459 Use half bright mode.
25460
25461 @item half-standout
25462 Use half bright and standout mode.
25463
25464 @item bold
25465 Use extra bright or bold mode.
25466
25467 @item bold-standout
25468 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
25469 @end table
25470 @end table
25471
25472 @node Emacs
25473 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
25474
25475 @cindex Emacs
25476 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
25477 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
25478 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
25479 @value{GDBN}.
25480
25481 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
25482 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
25483 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
25484 created Emacs buffer.
25485 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
25486
25487 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
25488 things:
25489
25490 @itemize @bullet
25491 @item
25492 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
25493 the GUD buffer.
25494
25495 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
25496 and output done by the program you are debugging.
25497
25498 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
25499 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
25500 in this way.
25501
25502 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
25503 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
25504 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
25505 stop.
25506
25507 @item
25508 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
25509
25510 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
25511 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
25512 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
25513 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
25514 and the source.
25515
25516 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
25517 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
25518 @end itemize
25519
25520 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
25521 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
25522 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
25523 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
25524
25525 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
25526 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
25527 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
25528 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
25529 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
25530 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
25531 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
25532 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
25533 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
25534
25535 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
25536 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
25537 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
25538 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
25539
25540 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
25541 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
25542 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
25543 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
25544 one you want.
25545
25546 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
25547 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
25548
25549 @table @kbd
25550 @item C-h m
25551 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
25552
25553 @item C-c C-s
25554 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
25555 update the display window to show the current file and location.
25556
25557 @item C-c C-n
25558 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
25559 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
25560 to show the current file and location.
25561
25562 @item C-c C-i
25563 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
25564 display window accordingly.
25565
25566 @item C-c C-f
25567 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
25568 @code{finish} command.
25569
25570 @item C-c C-r
25571 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
25572 command.
25573
25574 @item C-c <
25575 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
25576 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
25577 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
25578
25579 @item C-c >
25580 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
25581 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
25582 @end table
25583
25584 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
25585 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
25586
25587 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
25588 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
25589 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
25590 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
25591 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
25592 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
25593 speedbar displays watch expressions.
25594
25595 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
25596 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
25597 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
25598 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
25599 frame.
25600
25601 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
25602 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
25603 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
25604 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
25605 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
25606 to correspond properly with the code.
25607
25608 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
25609 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
25610 Emacs Manual}).
25611
25612 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
25613 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
25614 @ignore
25615 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
25616 @kindex Epoch
25617 @kindex inspect
25618
25619 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
25620 called the @code{epoch}
25621 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
25622 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
25623 each value is printed in its own window.
25624 @end ignore
25625
25626
25627 @node GDB/MI
25628 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
25629
25630 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
25631
25632 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
25633 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
25634 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
25635 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
25636 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
25637 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
25638
25639 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
25640 in the form of a reference manual.
25641
25642 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
25643 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
25644 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
25645
25646 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
25647
25648 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
25649 This chapter uses the following notation:
25650
25651 @itemize @bullet
25652 @item
25653 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
25654
25655 @item
25656 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
25657 it may or may not be given.
25658
25659 @item
25660 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25661 may repeat zero or more times.
25662
25663 @item
25664 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25665 may repeat one or more times.
25666
25667 @item
25668 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
25669 @end itemize
25670
25671 @ignore
25672 @heading Dependencies
25673 @end ignore
25674
25675 @menu
25676 * GDB/MI General Design::
25677 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
25678 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
25679 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
25680 * GDB/MI Output Records::
25681 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
25682 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
25683 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
25684 * GDB/MI Program Context::
25685 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
25686 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
25687 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
25688 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
25689 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
25690 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
25691 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
25692 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
25693 * GDB/MI File Commands::
25694 @ignore
25695 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
25696 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
25697 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
25698 @end ignore
25699 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
25700 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
25701 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
25702 @end menu
25703
25704 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25705 @node GDB/MI General Design
25706 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
25707 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
25708
25709 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
25710 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
25711 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
25712 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
25713 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
25714 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
25715 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
25716 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
25717 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
25718 a command and reported as part of that command response.
25719
25720 The important examples of notifications are:
25721 @itemize @bullet
25722
25723 @item
25724 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
25725 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
25726 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
25727 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
25728 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
25729 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
25730 command itself was successfully executed.
25731
25732 @item
25733 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
25734 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
25735 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
25736 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
25737 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
25738 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
25739
25740 @item
25741 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
25742 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
25743 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
25744 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
25745 orthogonal frontend design.
25746
25747 @end itemize
25748
25749 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
25750 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
25751 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
25752 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
25753 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
25754 the user interface.
25755
25756
25757 @menu
25758 * Context management::
25759 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
25760 * Thread groups::
25761 @end menu
25762
25763 @node Context management
25764 @subsection Context management
25765
25766 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
25767 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
25768 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
25769 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
25770 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
25771 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
25772 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
25773 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
25774 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
25775
25776 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
25777 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
25778 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
25779 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
25780 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
25781 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
25782 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
25783 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
25784 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
25785 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
25786 for thread and frame to operate on.
25787
25788 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
25789 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
25790 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
25791 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
25792 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
25793 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
25794 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
25795 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
25796 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
25797 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
25798
25799 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
25800 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
25801 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
25802 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
25803 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
25804 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
25805 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
25806 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
25807 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
25808 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
25809 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
25810 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
25811 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
25812 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
25813 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
25814 @samp{--frame} options.
25815
25816 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
25817 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
25818
25819 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
25820 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
25821 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
25822 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
25823 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
25824 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
25825 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
25826 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
25827 @code{-list-target-features} command.
25828
25829 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
25830 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
25831 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
25832 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
25833 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
25834 are running.
25835
25836 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
25837 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
25838 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
25839 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
25840 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
25841 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
25842 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
25843 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
25844 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
25845 @samp{--thread} option).
25846
25847 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
25848 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
25849 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
25850 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
25851
25852 @node Thread groups
25853 @subsection Thread groups
25854 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
25855 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
25856 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
25857 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
25858 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
25859
25860 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
25861 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
25862 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
25863 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
25864 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
25865 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
25866 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
25867 into processes.
25868
25869 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
25870 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
25871 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
25872 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
25873 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
25874 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
25875 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
25876 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
25877 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
25878 the members of specific thread group.
25879
25880 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
25881 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
25882 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
25883 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
25884 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
25885 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
25886 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
25887 after attaching to that thread group.
25888
25889 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
25890 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
25891 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
25892 such thread groups.
25893
25894 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25895 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
25896 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
25897
25898 @menu
25899 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
25900 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
25901 @end menu
25902
25903 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
25904 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
25905
25906 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
25907 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
25908 @table @code
25909 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
25910 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
25911
25912 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
25913 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
25914 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
25915
25916 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
25917 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
25918 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
25919
25920 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
25921 "any sequence of digits"
25922
25923 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
25924 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
25925
25926 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
25927 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
25928
25929 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
25930 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
25931
25932 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
25933 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
25934 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
25935
25936 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
25937 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
25938
25939 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25940 @code{CR | CR-LF}
25941 @end table
25942
25943 @noindent
25944 Notes:
25945
25946 @itemize @bullet
25947 @item
25948 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
25949 output is described below.
25950
25951 @item
25952 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
25953 finishes.
25954
25955 @item
25956 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
25957 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
25958 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
25959 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
25960 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
25961 @end itemize
25962
25963 Pragmatics:
25964
25965 @itemize @bullet
25966 @item
25967 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
25968
25969 @item
25970 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
25971 @end itemize
25972
25973 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
25974 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
25975
25976 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
25977 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
25978 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
25979 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
25980 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
25981 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
25982
25983 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
25984 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
25985 @var{token}.
25986
25987 @table @code
25988 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
25989 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
25990
25991 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
25992 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
25993
25994 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
25995 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
25996
25997 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
25998 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
25999
26000 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
26001 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
26002
26003 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
26004 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
26005
26006 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
26007 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
26008
26009 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
26010 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
26011
26012 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
26013 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
26014
26015 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
26016 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
26017 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
26018
26019 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
26020 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
26021
26022 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
26023 @code{ @var{string} }
26024
26025 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
26026 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
26027
26028 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
26029 @code{@var{c-string}}
26030
26031 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
26032 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
26033
26034 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
26035 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
26036 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
26037
26038 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
26039 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
26040
26041 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
26042 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
26043
26044 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
26045 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
26046
26047 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
26048 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
26049
26050 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
26051 @code{CR | CR-LF}
26052
26053 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
26054 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
26055 @end table
26056
26057 @noindent
26058 Notes:
26059
26060 @itemize @bullet
26061 @item
26062 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
26063
26064 @item
26065 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
26066 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
26067 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
26068 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
26069 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
26070 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
26071 prior command.
26072
26073 @item
26074 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26075 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
26076 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
26077 prefixed by @samp{+}.
26078
26079 @item
26080 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26081 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
26082 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
26083 @samp{*}.
26084
26085 @item
26086 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26087 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
26088 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
26089 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
26090
26091 @item
26092 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26093 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
26094 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
26095 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
26096
26097 @item
26098 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26099 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
26100 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
26101
26102 @item
26103 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26104 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
26105 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
26106 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
26107
26108 @item
26109 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26110 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
26111 @var{values}.
26112
26113
26114 @end itemize
26115
26116 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
26117 details about the various output records.
26118
26119 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26120 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
26121 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
26122
26123 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
26124 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
26125
26126 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
26127 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
26128 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
26129 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
26130 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
26131 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
26132
26133 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
26134 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
26135 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
26136
26137 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26138 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
26139 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
26140 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
26141
26142 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
26143 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
26144
26145 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
26146 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
26147 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
26148 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
26149 might change.
26150
26151 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
26152 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
26153 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
26154 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
26155
26156 @itemize @bullet
26157 @item
26158 New MI commands may be added.
26159
26160 @item
26161 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
26162
26163 @item
26164 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
26165 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
26166
26167 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
26168 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
26169
26170 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
26171 @c resolve inconsistencies.
26172 @end itemize
26173
26174 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
26175 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
26176 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
26177 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
26178 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
26179
26180 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
26181 @c version?
26182
26183 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
26184 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
26185 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
26186 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
26187 @cindex mailing lists
26188
26189 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26190 @node GDB/MI Output Records
26191 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
26192
26193 @menu
26194 * GDB/MI Result Records::
26195 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
26196 * GDB/MI Async Records::
26197 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
26198 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
26199 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
26200 @end menu
26201
26202 @node GDB/MI Result Records
26203 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
26204
26205 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26206 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
26207 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
26208 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
26209
26210 @table @code
26211 @findex ^done
26212 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
26213 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
26214 values.
26215
26216 @item "^running"
26217 @findex ^running
26218 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
26219 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
26220 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
26221 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
26222 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
26223 which threads are resumed.
26224
26225 @item "^connected"
26226 @findex ^connected
26227 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
26228
26229 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
26230 @findex ^error
26231 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
26232 error message.
26233
26234 @item "^exit"
26235 @findex ^exit
26236 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
26237
26238 @end table
26239
26240 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
26241 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
26242
26243 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
26244 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26245 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
26246 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
26247 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
26248
26249 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
26250 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
26251 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
26252 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
26253 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
26254
26255 @table @code
26256 @item "~" @var{string-output}
26257 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
26258 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
26259
26260 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
26261 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
26262 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
26263 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
26264
26265 @item "&" @var{string-output}
26266 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
26267 internals.
26268 @end table
26269
26270 @node GDB/MI Async Records
26271 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
26272
26273 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26274 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
26275 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
26276 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
26277 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
26278 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
26279
26280 The following is the list of possible async records:
26281
26282 @table @code
26283
26284 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
26285 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
26286 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
26287 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
26288 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
26289 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
26290 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
26291 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
26292 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
26293 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
26294
26295 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
26296 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
26297 following values:
26298
26299 @table @code
26300 @item breakpoint-hit
26301 A breakpoint was reached.
26302 @item watchpoint-trigger
26303 A watchpoint was triggered.
26304 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
26305 A read watchpoint was triggered.
26306 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
26307 An access watchpoint was triggered.
26308 @item function-finished
26309 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26310 @item location-reached
26311 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26312 @item watchpoint-scope
26313 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
26314 @item end-stepping-range
26315 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
26316 similar CLI command was accomplished.
26317 @item exited-signalled
26318 The inferior exited because of a signal.
26319 @item exited
26320 The inferior exited.
26321 @item exited-normally
26322 The inferior exited normally.
26323 @item signal-received
26324 A signal was received by the inferior.
26325 @item solib-event
26326 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
26327 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
26328 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
26329 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
26330 @item fork
26331 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
26332 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26333 @item vfork
26334 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
26335 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26336 @item syscall-entry
26337 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
26338 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26339 @item syscall-entry
26340 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
26341 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26342 @item exec
26343 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
26344 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26345 @end table
26346
26347 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
26348 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
26349 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
26350 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
26351 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
26352 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
26353 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
26354 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
26355 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
26356 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
26357 if such information is not available.
26358
26359 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
26360 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
26361 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
26362 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
26363 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
26364 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
26365 cannot be used in any way.
26366
26367 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
26368 A thread group became associated with a running program,
26369 either because the program was just started or the thread group
26370 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
26371 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
26372 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
26373
26374 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
26375 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
26376 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
26377 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
26378 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
26379 only when the inferior exited with some code.
26380
26381 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26382 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26383 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
26384 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
26385 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
26386
26387 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
26388 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
26389 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
26390 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
26391 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
26392 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
26393 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
26394
26395 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
26396 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
26397 that thread.
26398
26399 @item =library-loaded,...
26400 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
26401 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
26402 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
26403 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
26404 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
26405 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
26406 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
26407 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
26408 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
26409 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
26410 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
26411 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
26412 thread groups.
26413
26414 @item =library-unloaded,...
26415 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
26416 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
26417 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
26418 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
26419 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
26420 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
26421 thread groups.
26422
26423 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
26424 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
26425 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,bkpt=@{...@}
26426 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
26427 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
26428 user.
26429
26430 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
26431 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}.
26432
26433 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
26434 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
26435
26436 @end table
26437
26438 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
26439 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
26440
26441 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
26442 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
26443 fields:
26444
26445 @table @code
26446 @item level
26447 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
26448 zero. This field is always present.
26449
26450 @item func
26451 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
26452 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
26453
26454 @item addr
26455 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
26456
26457 @item file
26458 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
26459 address. This field may be absent.
26460
26461 @item line
26462 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
26463 may be absent.
26464
26465 @item from
26466 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
26467 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
26468
26469 @end table
26470
26471 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
26472 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
26473
26474 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
26475 uses a tuple with the following fields:
26476
26477 @table @code
26478 @item id
26479 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
26480 always present.
26481
26482 @item target-id
26483 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
26484
26485 @item details
26486 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
26487 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
26488 frontend. This field is optional.
26489
26490 @item state
26491 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
26492 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
26493
26494 @item core
26495 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
26496 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
26497 @end table
26498
26499 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
26500 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
26501
26502 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
26503 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
26504 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
26505 the @code{exception-name} field.
26506
26507 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26508 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
26509 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
26510 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
26511
26512 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
26513 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
26514 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
26515 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
26516
26517 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
26518 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
26519
26520 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
26521
26522 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
26523 information of the breakpoint.
26524
26525 @smallexample
26526 -> -break-insert main
26527 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26528 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26529 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
26530 <- (gdb)
26531 @end smallexample
26532
26533 @subheading Program Execution
26534
26535 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
26536 reason that execution stopped.
26537
26538 @smallexample
26539 -> -exec-run
26540 <- ^running
26541 <- (gdb)
26542 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26543 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
26544 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
26545 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
26546 <- (gdb)
26547 -> -exec-continue
26548 <- ^running
26549 <- (gdb)
26550 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26551 <- (gdb)
26552 @end smallexample
26553
26554 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
26555
26556 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
26557
26558 @smallexample
26559 -> (gdb)
26560 <- -gdb-exit
26561 <- ^exit
26562 @end smallexample
26563
26564 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
26565 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
26566 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
26567 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
26568 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
26569 fails to exit in reasonable time.
26570
26571 @subheading A Bad Command
26572
26573 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
26574
26575 @smallexample
26576 -> -rubbish
26577 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
26578 <- (gdb)
26579 @end smallexample
26580
26581
26582 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26583 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
26584 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
26585
26586 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
26587 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
26588
26589 @subheading Motivation
26590
26591 The motivation for this collection of commands.
26592
26593 @subheading Introduction
26594
26595 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
26596
26597 @subheading Commands
26598
26599 For each command in the block, the following is described:
26600
26601 @subsubheading Synopsis
26602
26603 @smallexample
26604 -command @var{args}@dots{}
26605 @end smallexample
26606
26607 @subsubheading Result
26608
26609 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26610
26611 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
26612
26613 @subsubheading Example
26614
26615 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
26616 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
26617
26618
26619 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26620 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
26621 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
26622
26623 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
26624 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
26625 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
26626 breakpoints.
26627
26628 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
26629 @findex -break-after
26630
26631 @subsubheading Synopsis
26632
26633 @smallexample
26634 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
26635 @end smallexample
26636
26637 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
26638 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
26639 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
26640 @samp{-break-list} command below.
26641
26642 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26643
26644 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
26645
26646 @subsubheading Example
26647
26648 @smallexample
26649 (gdb)
26650 -break-insert main
26651 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26652 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26653 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
26654 (gdb)
26655 -break-after 1 3
26656 ~
26657 ^done
26658 (gdb)
26659 -break-list
26660 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26661 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26662 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26663 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26664 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26665 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26666 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26667 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26668 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26669 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26670 (gdb)
26671 @end smallexample
26672
26673 @ignore
26674 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
26675 @findex -break-catch
26676 @end ignore
26677
26678 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
26679 @findex -break-commands
26680
26681 @subsubheading Synopsis
26682
26683 @smallexample
26684 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
26685 @end smallexample
26686
26687 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
26688 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
26689 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
26690 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
26691 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
26692 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
26693
26694 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26695
26696 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
26697
26698 @subsubheading Example
26699
26700 @smallexample
26701 (gdb)
26702 -break-insert main
26703 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26704 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26705 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
26706 (gdb)
26707 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
26708 ^done
26709 (gdb)
26710 @end smallexample
26711
26712 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
26713 @findex -break-condition
26714
26715 @subsubheading Synopsis
26716
26717 @smallexample
26718 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
26719 @end smallexample
26720
26721 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
26722 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
26723 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
26724 command below).
26725
26726 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26727
26728 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
26729
26730 @subsubheading Example
26731
26732 @smallexample
26733 (gdb)
26734 -break-condition 1 1
26735 ^done
26736 (gdb)
26737 -break-list
26738 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26739 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26740 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26741 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26742 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26743 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26744 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26745 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26746 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26747 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26748 (gdb)
26749 @end smallexample
26750
26751 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
26752 @findex -break-delete
26753
26754 @subsubheading Synopsis
26755
26756 @smallexample
26757 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26758 @end smallexample
26759
26760 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
26761 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
26762
26763 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26764
26765 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
26766
26767 @subsubheading Example
26768
26769 @smallexample
26770 (gdb)
26771 -break-delete 1
26772 ^done
26773 (gdb)
26774 -break-list
26775 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26776 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26777 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26778 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26779 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26780 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26781 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26782 body=[]@}
26783 (gdb)
26784 @end smallexample
26785
26786 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
26787 @findex -break-disable
26788
26789 @subsubheading Synopsis
26790
26791 @smallexample
26792 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26793 @end smallexample
26794
26795 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
26796 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
26797
26798 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26799
26800 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
26801
26802 @subsubheading Example
26803
26804 @smallexample
26805 (gdb)
26806 -break-disable 2
26807 ^done
26808 (gdb)
26809 -break-list
26810 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26811 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26812 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26813 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26814 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26815 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26816 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26817 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
26818 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26819 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
26820 (gdb)
26821 @end smallexample
26822
26823 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
26824 @findex -break-enable
26825
26826 @subsubheading Synopsis
26827
26828 @smallexample
26829 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26830 @end smallexample
26831
26832 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
26833
26834 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26835
26836 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
26837
26838 @subsubheading Example
26839
26840 @smallexample
26841 (gdb)
26842 -break-enable 2
26843 ^done
26844 (gdb)
26845 -break-list
26846 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26847 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26848 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26849 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26850 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26851 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26852 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26853 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26854 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26855 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
26856 (gdb)
26857 @end smallexample
26858
26859 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
26860 @findex -break-info
26861
26862 @subsubheading Synopsis
26863
26864 @smallexample
26865 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
26866 @end smallexample
26867
26868 @c REDUNDANT???
26869 Get information about a single breakpoint.
26870
26871 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26872
26873 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
26874
26875 @subsubheading Example
26876 N.A.
26877
26878 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
26879 @findex -break-insert
26880
26881 @subsubheading Synopsis
26882
26883 @smallexample
26884 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
26885 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
26886 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
26887 @end smallexample
26888
26889 @noindent
26890 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
26891
26892 @itemize @bullet
26893 @item function
26894 @c @item +offset
26895 @c @item -offset
26896 @c @item linenum
26897 @item filename:linenum
26898 @item filename:function
26899 @item *address
26900 @end itemize
26901
26902 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
26903
26904 @table @samp
26905 @item -t
26906 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
26907 @item -h
26908 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
26909 @item -c @var{condition}
26910 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26911 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
26912 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
26913 @item -f
26914 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
26915 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
26916 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
26917 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
26918 cannot be parsed.
26919 @item -d
26920 Create a disabled breakpoint.
26921 @item -a
26922 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
26923 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
26924 @end table
26925
26926 @subsubheading Result
26927
26928 The result is in the form:
26929
26930 @smallexample
26931 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
26932 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
26933 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
26934 times="@var{times}"@}
26935 @end smallexample
26936
26937 @noindent
26938 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
26939 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
26940 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
26941 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
26942 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
26943 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
26944 which use the same output).
26945
26946 Note: this format is open to change.
26947 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
26948
26949 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26950
26951 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
26952 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
26953
26954 @subsubheading Example
26955
26956 @smallexample
26957 (gdb)
26958 -break-insert main
26959 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
26960 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
26961 (gdb)
26962 -break-insert -t foo
26963 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
26964 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
26965 (gdb)
26966 -break-list
26967 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26968 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26969 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26970 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26971 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26972 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26973 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26974 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26975 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
26976 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
26977 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
26978 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
26979 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
26980 (gdb)
26981 -break-insert -r foo.*
26982 ~int foo(int, int);
26983 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
26984 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
26985 (gdb)
26986 @end smallexample
26987
26988 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
26989 @findex -break-list
26990
26991 @subsubheading Synopsis
26992
26993 @smallexample
26994 -break-list
26995 @end smallexample
26996
26997 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
26998
26999 @table @samp
27000 @item Number
27001 number of the breakpoint
27002 @item Type
27003 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
27004 @item Disposition
27005 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
27006 or @samp{nokeep}
27007 @item Enabled
27008 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
27009 @item Address
27010 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
27011 @item What
27012 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
27013 name, line number
27014 @item Times
27015 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
27016 @end table
27017
27018 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
27019 @code{body} field is an empty list.
27020
27021 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27022
27023 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
27024
27025 @subsubheading Example
27026
27027 @smallexample
27028 (gdb)
27029 -break-list
27030 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27031 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27032 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27033 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27034 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27035 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27036 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27037 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27038 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
27039 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27040 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27041 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
27042 (gdb)
27043 @end smallexample
27044
27045 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
27046
27047 @smallexample
27048 (gdb)
27049 -break-list
27050 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27051 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27052 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27053 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27054 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27055 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27056 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27057 body=[]@}
27058 (gdb)
27059 @end smallexample
27060
27061 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
27062 @findex -break-passcount
27063
27064 @subsubheading Synopsis
27065
27066 @smallexample
27067 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
27068 @end smallexample
27069
27070 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
27071 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
27072 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
27073 command @samp{passcount}.
27074
27075 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
27076 @findex -break-watch
27077
27078 @subsubheading Synopsis
27079
27080 @smallexample
27081 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
27082 @end smallexample
27083
27084 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
27085 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
27086 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
27087 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
27088 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
27089 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
27090 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
27091 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
27092
27093 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
27094 breakpoints inserted.
27095
27096 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27097
27098 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
27099 @samp{rwatch}.
27100
27101 @subsubheading Example
27102
27103 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
27104
27105 @smallexample
27106 (gdb)
27107 -break-watch x
27108 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
27109 (gdb)
27110 -exec-continue
27111 ^running
27112 (gdb)
27113 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
27114 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
27115 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27116 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
27117 (gdb)
27118 @end smallexample
27119
27120 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
27121 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
27122 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
27123
27124 @smallexample
27125 (gdb)
27126 -break-watch C
27127 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
27128 (gdb)
27129 -exec-continue
27130 ^running
27131 (gdb)
27132 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
27133 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27134 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27135 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27136 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27137 (gdb)
27138 -exec-continue
27139 ^running
27140 (gdb)
27141 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
27142 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27143 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27144 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27145 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27146 (gdb)
27147 @end smallexample
27148
27149 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
27150 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
27151 deleted.
27152
27153 @smallexample
27154 (gdb)
27155 -break-watch C
27156 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
27157 (gdb)
27158 -break-list
27159 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27160 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27161 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27162 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27163 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27164 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27165 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27166 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27167 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27168 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27169 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
27170 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27171 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
27172 (gdb)
27173 -exec-continue
27174 ^running
27175 (gdb)
27176 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
27177 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27178 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27179 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27180 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27181 (gdb)
27182 -break-list
27183 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27184 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27185 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27186 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27187 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27188 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27189 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27190 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27191 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27192 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27193 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
27194 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27195 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
27196 (gdb)
27197 -exec-continue
27198 ^running
27199 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
27200 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27201 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27202 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27203 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27204 (gdb)
27205 -break-list
27206 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27207 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27208 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27209 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27210 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27211 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27212 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27213 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27214 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27215 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27216 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
27217 times="1"@}]@}
27218 (gdb)
27219 @end smallexample
27220
27221 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27222 @node GDB/MI Program Context
27223 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
27224
27225 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
27226 @findex -exec-arguments
27227
27228
27229 @subsubheading Synopsis
27230
27231 @smallexample
27232 -exec-arguments @var{args}
27233 @end smallexample
27234
27235 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
27236 @samp{-exec-run}.
27237
27238 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27239
27240 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
27241
27242 @subsubheading Example
27243
27244 @smallexample
27245 (gdb)
27246 -exec-arguments -v word
27247 ^done
27248 (gdb)
27249 @end smallexample
27250
27251
27252 @ignore
27253 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
27254 @findex -exec-show-arguments
27255
27256 @subsubheading Synopsis
27257
27258 @smallexample
27259 -exec-show-arguments
27260 @end smallexample
27261
27262 Print the arguments of the program.
27263
27264 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27265
27266 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
27267
27268 @subsubheading Example
27269 N.A.
27270 @end ignore
27271
27272
27273 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
27274 @findex -environment-cd
27275
27276 @subsubheading Synopsis
27277
27278 @smallexample
27279 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
27280 @end smallexample
27281
27282 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
27283
27284 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27285
27286 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
27287
27288 @subsubheading Example
27289
27290 @smallexample
27291 (gdb)
27292 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27293 ^done
27294 (gdb)
27295 @end smallexample
27296
27297
27298 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
27299 @findex -environment-directory
27300
27301 @subsubheading Synopsis
27302
27303 @smallexample
27304 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27305 @end smallexample
27306
27307 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
27308 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
27309 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
27310 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27311 occurs as normal.
27312 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27313 multiple directories in a single command
27314 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27315 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27316 If blanks are needed as
27317 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27318 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27319 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27320 character must not be used
27321 in any directory name.
27322 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
27323
27324 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27325
27326 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
27327
27328 @subsubheading Example
27329
27330 @smallexample
27331 (gdb)
27332 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27333 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27334 (gdb)
27335 -environment-directory ""
27336 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27337 (gdb)
27338 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
27339 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
27340 (gdb)
27341 -environment-directory -r
27342 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
27343 (gdb)
27344 @end smallexample
27345
27346
27347 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
27348 @findex -environment-path
27349
27350 @subsubheading Synopsis
27351
27352 @smallexample
27353 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27354 @end smallexample
27355
27356 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
27357 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
27358 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
27359 supplied in addition to the
27360 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27361 occurs as normal.
27362 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27363 multiple directories in a single command
27364 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27365 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27366 If blanks are needed as
27367 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27368 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27369 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27370 character must not be used
27371 in any directory name.
27372 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
27373
27374
27375 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27376
27377 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
27378
27379 @subsubheading Example
27380
27381 @smallexample
27382 (gdb)
27383 -environment-path
27384 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
27385 (gdb)
27386 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
27387 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
27388 (gdb)
27389 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
27390 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
27391 (gdb)
27392 @end smallexample
27393
27394
27395 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
27396 @findex -environment-pwd
27397
27398 @subsubheading Synopsis
27399
27400 @smallexample
27401 -environment-pwd
27402 @end smallexample
27403
27404 Show the current working directory.
27405
27406 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27407
27408 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
27409
27410 @subsubheading Example
27411
27412 @smallexample
27413 (gdb)
27414 -environment-pwd
27415 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
27416 (gdb)
27417 @end smallexample
27418
27419 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27420 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
27421 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
27422
27423
27424 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
27425 @findex -thread-info
27426
27427 @subsubheading Synopsis
27428
27429 @smallexample
27430 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
27431 @end smallexample
27432
27433 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
27434 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
27435 threads. When printing information about all threads,
27436 also reports the current thread.
27437
27438 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27439
27440 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
27441 about all threads.
27442
27443 @subsubheading Result
27444
27445 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
27446 defined for a given thread:
27447
27448 @table @samp
27449 @item current
27450 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27451
27452 @item id
27453 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
27454
27455 @item target-id
27456 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
27457
27458 @item details
27459 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
27460 field is optional.
27461
27462 @item name
27463 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
27464 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
27465 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
27466 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
27467 field is omitted.
27468
27469 @item frame
27470 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
27471
27472 @item state
27473 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
27474 values:
27475
27476 @table @code
27477 @item stopped
27478 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
27479 threads.
27480
27481 @item running
27482 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
27483 threads.
27484
27485 @end table
27486
27487 @item core
27488 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
27489 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
27490
27491 @end table
27492
27493 @subsubheading Example
27494
27495 @smallexample
27496 -thread-info
27497 ^done,threads=[
27498 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
27499 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
27500 args=[]@},state="running"@},
27501 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
27502 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
27503 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
27504 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
27505 state="running"@}],
27506 current-thread-id="1"
27507 (gdb)
27508 @end smallexample
27509
27510 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
27511 @findex -thread-list-ids
27512
27513 @subsubheading Synopsis
27514
27515 @smallexample
27516 -thread-list-ids
27517 @end smallexample
27518
27519 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
27520 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
27521
27522 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
27523 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
27524
27525 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27526
27527 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
27528
27529 @subsubheading Example
27530
27531 @smallexample
27532 (gdb)
27533 -thread-list-ids
27534 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27535 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
27536 (gdb)
27537 @end smallexample
27538
27539
27540 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
27541 @findex -thread-select
27542
27543 @subsubheading Synopsis
27544
27545 @smallexample
27546 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
27547 @end smallexample
27548
27549 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
27550 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
27551
27552 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
27553 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
27554
27555 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27556
27557 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
27558
27559 @subsubheading Example
27560
27561 @smallexample
27562 (gdb)
27563 -exec-next
27564 ^running
27565 (gdb)
27566 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
27567 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
27568 (gdb)
27569 -thread-list-ids
27570 ^done,
27571 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27572 number-of-threads="3"
27573 (gdb)
27574 -thread-select 3
27575 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
27576 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
27577 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
27578 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
27579 (gdb)
27580 @end smallexample
27581
27582 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27583 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
27584 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
27585
27586 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
27587 @findex -ada-task-info
27588
27589 @subsubheading Synopsis
27590
27591 @smallexample
27592 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
27593 @end smallexample
27594
27595 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
27596 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
27597
27598 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27599
27600 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
27601 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
27602
27603 @subsubheading Result
27604
27605 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
27606 defined for each Ada task:
27607
27608 @table @samp
27609 @item current
27610 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27611
27612 @item id
27613 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
27614
27615 @item task-id
27616 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
27617
27618 @item thread-id
27619 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
27620
27621 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
27622 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
27623 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
27624
27625 @item parent-id
27626 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
27627 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
27628
27629 @item priority
27630 The base priority of the task.
27631
27632 @item state
27633 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
27634 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
27635
27636 @item name
27637 The name of the task.
27638
27639 @end table
27640
27641 @subsubheading Example
27642
27643 @smallexample
27644 -ada-task-info
27645 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
27646 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
27647 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
27648 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
27649 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
27650 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
27651 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
27652 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
27653 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
27654 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
27655 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
27656 (gdb)
27657 @end smallexample
27658
27659 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27660 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
27661 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
27662
27663 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
27664 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
27665 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
27666 other cases.
27667
27668 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
27669 @findex -exec-continue
27670
27671 @subsubheading Synopsis
27672
27673 @smallexample
27674 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
27675 @end smallexample
27676
27677 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
27678 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
27679 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
27680 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
27681 @itemize @bullet
27682 @item
27683 breakpoints or watchpoints
27684 @item
27685 signals or exceptions
27686 @item
27687 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
27688 @item
27689 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
27690 @end itemize
27691 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
27692 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
27693 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
27694 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
27695 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
27696 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
27697
27698 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27699
27700 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
27701
27702 @subsubheading Example
27703
27704 @smallexample
27705 -exec-continue
27706 ^running
27707 (gdb)
27708 @@Hello world
27709 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
27710 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
27711 line="13"@}
27712 (gdb)
27713 @end smallexample
27714
27715
27716 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
27717 @findex -exec-finish
27718
27719 @subsubheading Synopsis
27720
27721 @smallexample
27722 -exec-finish [--reverse]
27723 @end smallexample
27724
27725 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
27726 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
27727 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
27728 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
27729 function was called.
27730
27731 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27732
27733 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
27734
27735 @subsubheading Example
27736
27737 Function returning @code{void}.
27738
27739 @smallexample
27740 -exec-finish
27741 ^running
27742 (gdb)
27743 @@hello from foo
27744 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
27745 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
27746 (gdb)
27747 @end smallexample
27748
27749 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
27750 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
27751 value itself.
27752
27753 @smallexample
27754 -exec-finish
27755 ^running
27756 (gdb)
27757 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
27758 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
27759 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27760 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
27761 (gdb)
27762 @end smallexample
27763
27764
27765 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
27766 @findex -exec-interrupt
27767
27768 @subsubheading Synopsis
27769
27770 @smallexample
27771 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
27772 @end smallexample
27773
27774 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
27775 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
27776 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
27777 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
27778 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
27779
27780 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
27781 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
27782 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
27783 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
27784
27785 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
27786 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
27787 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
27788 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
27789
27790 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27791
27792 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
27793
27794 @subsubheading Example
27795
27796 @smallexample
27797 (gdb)
27798 111-exec-continue
27799 111^running
27800
27801 (gdb)
27802 222-exec-interrupt
27803 222^done
27804 (gdb)
27805 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
27806 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27807 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
27808 (gdb)
27809
27810 (gdb)
27811 -exec-interrupt
27812 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
27813 (gdb)
27814 @end smallexample
27815
27816 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
27817 @findex -exec-jump
27818
27819 @subsubheading Synopsis
27820
27821 @smallexample
27822 -exec-jump @var{location}
27823 @end smallexample
27824
27825 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
27826 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
27827 different forms of @var{location}.
27828
27829 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27830
27831 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
27832
27833 @subsubheading Example
27834
27835 @smallexample
27836 -exec-jump foo.c:10
27837 *running,thread-id="all"
27838 ^running
27839 @end smallexample
27840
27841
27842 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
27843 @findex -exec-next
27844
27845 @subsubheading Synopsis
27846
27847 @smallexample
27848 -exec-next [--reverse]
27849 @end smallexample
27850
27851 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
27852 of the next source line is reached.
27853
27854 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27855 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
27856 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
27857 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
27858 source line where the function was called.
27859
27860
27861 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27862
27863 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
27864
27865 @subsubheading Example
27866
27867 @smallexample
27868 -exec-next
27869 ^running
27870 (gdb)
27871 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
27872 (gdb)
27873 @end smallexample
27874
27875
27876 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
27877 @findex -exec-next-instruction
27878
27879 @subsubheading Synopsis
27880
27881 @smallexample
27882 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
27883 @end smallexample
27884
27885 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
27886 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
27887 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
27888 printed as well.
27889
27890 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27891 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
27892 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
27893 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
27894 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
27895
27896 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27897
27898 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
27899
27900 @subsubheading Example
27901
27902 @smallexample
27903 (gdb)
27904 -exec-next-instruction
27905 ^running
27906
27907 (gdb)
27908 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27909 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
27910 (gdb)
27911 @end smallexample
27912
27913
27914 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
27915 @findex -exec-return
27916
27917 @subsubheading Synopsis
27918
27919 @smallexample
27920 -exec-return
27921 @end smallexample
27922
27923 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
27924 Displays the new current frame.
27925
27926 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27927
27928 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
27929
27930 @subsubheading Example
27931
27932 @smallexample
27933 (gdb)
27934 200-break-insert callee4
27935 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
27936 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
27937 (gdb)
27938 000-exec-run
27939 000^running
27940 (gdb)
27941 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
27942 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27943 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27944 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
27945 (gdb)
27946 205-break-delete
27947 205^done
27948 (gdb)
27949 111-exec-return
27950 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
27951 args=[@{name="strarg",
27952 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27953 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27954 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27955 (gdb)
27956 @end smallexample
27957
27958
27959 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
27960 @findex -exec-run
27961
27962 @subsubheading Synopsis
27963
27964 @smallexample
27965 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
27966 @end smallexample
27967
27968 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
27969 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
27970 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
27971 the program has exited exceptionally.
27972
27973 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
27974 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
27975 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
27976 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
27977
27978 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27979
27980 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
27981
27982 @subsubheading Examples
27983
27984 @smallexample
27985 (gdb)
27986 -break-insert main
27987 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
27988 (gdb)
27989 -exec-run
27990 ^running
27991 (gdb)
27992 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
27993 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27994 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
27995 (gdb)
27996 @end smallexample
27997
27998 @noindent
27999 Program exited normally:
28000
28001 @smallexample
28002 (gdb)
28003 -exec-run
28004 ^running
28005 (gdb)
28006 x = 55
28007 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
28008 (gdb)
28009 @end smallexample
28010
28011 @noindent
28012 Program exited exceptionally:
28013
28014 @smallexample
28015 (gdb)
28016 -exec-run
28017 ^running
28018 (gdb)
28019 x = 55
28020 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
28021 (gdb)
28022 @end smallexample
28023
28024 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
28025 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
28026
28027 @smallexample
28028 (gdb)
28029 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
28030 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
28031 @end smallexample
28032
28033
28034 @c @subheading -exec-signal
28035
28036
28037 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
28038 @findex -exec-step
28039
28040 @subsubheading Synopsis
28041
28042 @smallexample
28043 -exec-step [--reverse]
28044 @end smallexample
28045
28046 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28047 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
28048 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
28049 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
28050 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
28051 previously executed source line.
28052
28053 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28054
28055 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
28056
28057 @subsubheading Example
28058
28059 Stepping into a function:
28060
28061 @smallexample
28062 -exec-step
28063 ^running
28064 (gdb)
28065 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28066 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
28067 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
28068 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
28069 (gdb)
28070 @end smallexample
28071
28072 Regular stepping:
28073
28074 @smallexample
28075 -exec-step
28076 ^running
28077 (gdb)
28078 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
28079 (gdb)
28080 @end smallexample
28081
28082
28083 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
28084 @findex -exec-step-instruction
28085
28086 @subsubheading Synopsis
28087
28088 @smallexample
28089 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
28090 @end smallexample
28091
28092 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
28093 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
28094 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
28095 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
28096 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
28097 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
28098 as well.
28099
28100 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28101
28102 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
28103
28104 @subsubheading Example
28105
28106 @smallexample
28107 (gdb)
28108 -exec-step-instruction
28109 ^running
28110
28111 (gdb)
28112 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28113 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28114 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28115 (gdb)
28116 -exec-step-instruction
28117 ^running
28118
28119 (gdb)
28120 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28121 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28122 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28123 (gdb)
28124 @end smallexample
28125
28126
28127 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
28128 @findex -exec-until
28129
28130 @subsubheading Synopsis
28131
28132 @smallexample
28133 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
28134 @end smallexample
28135
28136 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
28137 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
28138 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
28139 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
28140
28141 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28142
28143 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
28144
28145 @subsubheading Example
28146
28147 @smallexample
28148 (gdb)
28149 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
28150 ^running
28151 (gdb)
28152 x = 55
28153 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28154 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
28155 (gdb)
28156 @end smallexample
28157
28158 @ignore
28159 @subheading -file-clear
28160 Is this going away????
28161 @end ignore
28162
28163 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28164 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
28165 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
28166
28167
28168 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
28169 @findex -stack-info-frame
28170
28171 @subsubheading Synopsis
28172
28173 @smallexample
28174 -stack-info-frame
28175 @end smallexample
28176
28177 Get info on the selected frame.
28178
28179 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28180
28181 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
28182 (without arguments).
28183
28184 @subsubheading Example
28185
28186 @smallexample
28187 (gdb)
28188 -stack-info-frame
28189 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28190 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28191 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
28192 (gdb)
28193 @end smallexample
28194
28195 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
28196 @findex -stack-info-depth
28197
28198 @subsubheading Synopsis
28199
28200 @smallexample
28201 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
28202 @end smallexample
28203
28204 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
28205 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
28206
28207 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28208
28209 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
28210
28211 @subsubheading Example
28212
28213 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
28214
28215 @smallexample
28216 (gdb)
28217 -stack-info-depth
28218 ^done,depth="12"
28219 (gdb)
28220 -stack-info-depth 4
28221 ^done,depth="4"
28222 (gdb)
28223 -stack-info-depth 12
28224 ^done,depth="12"
28225 (gdb)
28226 -stack-info-depth 11
28227 ^done,depth="11"
28228 (gdb)
28229 -stack-info-depth 13
28230 ^done,depth="12"
28231 (gdb)
28232 @end smallexample
28233
28234 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
28235 @findex -stack-list-arguments
28236
28237 @subsubheading Synopsis
28238
28239 @smallexample
28240 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
28241 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28242 @end smallexample
28243
28244 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
28245 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
28246 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
28247 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
28248 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
28249 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
28250 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
28251 which case only existing frames will be returned.
28252
28253 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28254 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28255 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28256 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28257 structures and unions.
28258
28259 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
28260 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28261
28262 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28263
28264 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
28265 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
28266 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
28267
28268 @subsubheading Example
28269
28270 @smallexample
28271 (gdb)
28272 -stack-list-frames
28273 ^done,
28274 stack=[
28275 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28276 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28277 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
28278 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28279 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28280 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
28281 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
28282 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28283 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
28284 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
28285 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28286 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
28287 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
28288 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28289 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
28290 (gdb)
28291 -stack-list-arguments 0
28292 ^done,
28293 stack-args=[
28294 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28295 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
28296 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
28297 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
28298 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28299 (gdb)
28300 -stack-list-arguments 1
28301 ^done,
28302 stack-args=[
28303 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28304 frame=@{level="1",
28305 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28306 frame=@{level="2",args=[
28307 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28308 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28309 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
28310 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28311 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
28312 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
28313 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28314 (gdb)
28315 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
28316 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
28317 (gdb)
28318 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
28319 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
28320 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28321 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
28322 (gdb)
28323 @end smallexample
28324
28325 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
28326
28327
28328 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
28329 @findex -stack-list-frames
28330
28331 @subsubheading Synopsis
28332
28333 @smallexample
28334 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28335 @end smallexample
28336
28337 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
28338 following info:
28339
28340 @table @samp
28341 @item @var{level}
28342 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
28343 @item @var{addr}
28344 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
28345 @item @var{func}
28346 Function name.
28347 @item @var{file}
28348 File name of the source file where the function lives.
28349 @item @var{fullname}
28350 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
28351 @item @var{line}
28352 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
28353 @item @var{from}
28354 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
28355 if the frame's function is not known.
28356 @end table
28357
28358 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
28359 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
28360 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
28361 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
28362 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
28363 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
28364 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
28365
28366 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28367
28368 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
28369
28370 @subsubheading Example
28371
28372 Full stack backtrace:
28373
28374 @smallexample
28375 (gdb)
28376 -stack-list-frames
28377 ^done,stack=
28378 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
28379 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
28380 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28381 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28382 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28383 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28384 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28385 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28386 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28387 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28388 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28389 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28390 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28391 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28392 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28393 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28394 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28395 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28396 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28397 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28398 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28399 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28400 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
28401 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
28402 (gdb)
28403 @end smallexample
28404
28405 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
28406
28407 @smallexample
28408 (gdb)
28409 -stack-list-frames 3 5
28410 ^done,stack=
28411 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28412 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28413 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28414 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28415 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28416 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28417 (gdb)
28418 @end smallexample
28419
28420 Show a single frame:
28421
28422 @smallexample
28423 (gdb)
28424 -stack-list-frames 3 3
28425 ^done,stack=
28426 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28427 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28428 (gdb)
28429 @end smallexample
28430
28431
28432 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
28433 @findex -stack-list-locals
28434
28435 @subsubheading Synopsis
28436
28437 @smallexample
28438 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
28439 @end smallexample
28440
28441 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
28442 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28443 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28444 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28445 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28446 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
28447 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
28448 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
28449 more detail.
28450
28451 This command is deprecated in favor of the
28452 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28453
28454 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28455
28456 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
28457
28458 @subsubheading Example
28459
28460 @smallexample
28461 (gdb)
28462 -stack-list-locals 0
28463 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
28464 (gdb)
28465 -stack-list-locals --all-values
28466 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
28467 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
28468 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
28469 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
28470 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
28471 (gdb)
28472 @end smallexample
28473
28474 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
28475 @findex -stack-list-variables
28476
28477 @subsubheading Synopsis
28478
28479 @smallexample
28480 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
28481 @end smallexample
28482
28483 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
28484 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28485 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28486 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28487 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28488 structures and unions.
28489
28490 @subsubheading Example
28491
28492 @smallexample
28493 (gdb)
28494 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
28495 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
28496 (gdb)
28497 @end smallexample
28498
28499
28500 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
28501 @findex -stack-select-frame
28502
28503 @subsubheading Synopsis
28504
28505 @smallexample
28506 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
28507 @end smallexample
28508
28509 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
28510 the stack.
28511
28512 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
28513 option to every command.
28514
28515 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28516
28517 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
28518 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
28519
28520 @subsubheading Example
28521
28522 @smallexample
28523 (gdb)
28524 -stack-select-frame 2
28525 ^done
28526 (gdb)
28527 @end smallexample
28528
28529 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28530 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
28531 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
28532
28533 @ignore
28534
28535 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28536
28537 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
28538 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
28539 used by @code{Insight}.
28540
28541 The two main reasons for that are:
28542
28543 @enumerate 1
28544 @item
28545 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
28546
28547 @item
28548 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
28549 now).
28550 @end enumerate
28551
28552 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
28553 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
28554 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
28555 hints about their use.
28556
28557 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
28558 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
28559 least, the following operations:
28560
28561 @itemize @bullet
28562 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
28563 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
28564 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
28565 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
28566 @end itemize
28567
28568 @end ignore
28569
28570 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
28571
28572 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28573
28574 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
28575 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
28576 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
28577 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
28578 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
28579 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
28580 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
28581 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
28582 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
28583 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
28584 object, or to change display format.
28585
28586 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
28587 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
28588 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
28589 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
28590 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
28591 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
28592 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
28593 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
28594 child will be created.
28595
28596 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
28597 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
28598 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
28599 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
28600 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
28601
28602 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
28603 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
28604 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
28605 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
28606 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
28607 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
28608 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
28609 variables that frontend has created.
28610
28611 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
28612 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
28613 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
28614 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
28615 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
28616 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
28617 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
28618 implicitly updated.
28619
28620 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
28621 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
28622 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
28623 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
28624 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
28625 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
28626 frame. Consider this example:
28627
28628 @smallexample
28629 void do_work(...)
28630 @{
28631 struct work_state state;
28632
28633 if (...)
28634 do_work(...);
28635 @}
28636 @end smallexample
28637
28638 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
28639 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
28640 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
28641 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
28642 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
28643
28644 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
28645 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
28646 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
28647 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
28648 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
28649 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
28650
28651 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
28652 access this functionality:
28653
28654 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
28655 @item @strong{Operation}
28656 @tab @strong{Description}
28657
28658 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
28659 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
28660 @item @code{-var-create}
28661 @tab create a variable object
28662 @item @code{-var-delete}
28663 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
28664 @item @code{-var-set-format}
28665 @tab set the display format of this variable
28666 @item @code{-var-show-format}
28667 @tab show the display format of this variable
28668 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
28669 @tab tells how many children this object has
28670 @item @code{-var-list-children}
28671 @tab return a list of the object's children
28672 @item @code{-var-info-type}
28673 @tab show the type of this variable object
28674 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
28675 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
28676 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
28677 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
28678 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
28679 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
28680 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
28681 @tab get the value of this variable
28682 @item @code{-var-assign}
28683 @tab set the value of this variable
28684 @item @code{-var-update}
28685 @tab update the variable and its children
28686 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
28687 @tab set frozeness attribute
28688 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
28689 @tab set range of children to display on update
28690 @end multitable
28691
28692 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
28693 how it can be used.
28694
28695 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
28696
28697 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
28698 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
28699
28700 @smallexample
28701 -enable-pretty-printing
28702 @end smallexample
28703
28704 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
28705 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
28706 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
28707 request that this functionality be enabled.
28708
28709 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
28710
28711 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
28712 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
28713
28714 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
28715 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
28716
28717 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
28718 @findex -var-create
28719
28720 @subsubheading Synopsis
28721
28722 @smallexample
28723 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
28724 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
28725 @end smallexample
28726
28727 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
28728 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
28729 register.
28730
28731 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
28732 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
28733 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
28734 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
28735 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
28736
28737 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
28738 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
28739 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
28740 object must be created.
28741
28742 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
28743 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
28744
28745 @itemize @bullet
28746 @item
28747 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
28748
28749 @item
28750 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
28751
28752 @item
28753 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
28754 @end itemize
28755
28756 @cindex dynamic varobj
28757 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
28758 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
28759 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
28760 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
28761 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
28762 compatibility for existing clients.
28763
28764 @subsubheading Result
28765
28766 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
28767 are:
28768
28769 @table @samp
28770 @item name
28771 The name of the varobj.
28772
28773 @item numchild
28774 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
28775 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
28776 @samp{has_more} attribute.
28777
28778 @item value
28779 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
28780 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
28781 will not be interesting.
28782
28783 @item type
28784 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
28785 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
28786
28787 @item thread-id
28788 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
28789 thread's identifier.
28790
28791 @item has_more
28792 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
28793 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
28794
28795 @item dynamic
28796 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
28797 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
28798 then this attribute will not be present.
28799
28800 @item displayhint
28801 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28802 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28803 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28804 @end table
28805
28806 Typical output will look like this:
28807
28808 @smallexample
28809 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
28810 has_more="@var{has_more}"
28811 @end smallexample
28812
28813
28814 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
28815 @findex -var-delete
28816
28817 @subsubheading Synopsis
28818
28819 @smallexample
28820 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
28821 @end smallexample
28822
28823 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
28824 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
28825
28826 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
28827
28828
28829 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
28830 @findex -var-set-format
28831
28832 @subsubheading Synopsis
28833
28834 @smallexample
28835 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
28836 @end smallexample
28837
28838 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
28839 @var{format-spec}.
28840
28841 @anchor{-var-set-format}
28842 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
28843
28844 @smallexample
28845 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
28846 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
28847 @end smallexample
28848
28849 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
28850 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
28851 for pointers, etc.).
28852
28853 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
28854 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
28855
28856 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
28857 @findex -var-show-format
28858
28859 @subsubheading Synopsis
28860
28861 @smallexample
28862 -var-show-format @var{name}
28863 @end smallexample
28864
28865 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
28866
28867 @smallexample
28868 @var{format} @expansion{}
28869 @var{format-spec}
28870 @end smallexample
28871
28872
28873 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
28874 @findex -var-info-num-children
28875
28876 @subsubheading Synopsis
28877
28878 @smallexample
28879 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
28880 @end smallexample
28881
28882 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
28883
28884 @smallexample
28885 numchild=@var{n}
28886 @end smallexample
28887
28888 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
28889 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
28890 be available.
28891
28892
28893 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
28894 @findex -var-list-children
28895
28896 @subsubheading Synopsis
28897
28898 @smallexample
28899 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
28900 @end smallexample
28901 @anchor{-var-list-children}
28902
28903 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
28904 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
28905 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
28906 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
28907 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
28908 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
28909 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
28910 and unions.
28911
28912 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
28913 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
28914 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
28915 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
28916 reported.
28917
28918 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
28919 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
28920 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
28921 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
28922 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
28923 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
28924 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
28925 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
28926 the visible items.
28927
28928 For each child the following results are returned:
28929
28930 @table @var
28931
28932 @item name
28933 Name of the variable object created for this child.
28934
28935 @item exp
28936 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
28937 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
28938
28939 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
28940 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
28941
28942 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
28943 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
28944 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
28945 type and value are not present.
28946
28947 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
28948 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
28949 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
28950
28951 @item numchild
28952 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
28953 0.
28954
28955 @item type
28956 The type of the child.
28957
28958 @item value
28959 If values were requested, this is the value.
28960
28961 @item thread-id
28962 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
28963 Otherwise this result is not present.
28964
28965 @item frozen
28966 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
28967 @end table
28968
28969 The result may have its own attributes:
28970
28971 @table @samp
28972 @item displayhint
28973 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28974 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28975 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28976
28977 @item has_more
28978 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
28979 remaining after the end of the selected range.
28980 @end table
28981
28982 @subsubheading Example
28983
28984 @smallexample
28985 (gdb)
28986 -var-list-children n
28987 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
28988 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
28989 (gdb)
28990 -var-list-children --all-values n
28991 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
28992 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
28993 @end smallexample
28994
28995
28996 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
28997 @findex -var-info-type
28998
28999 @subsubheading Synopsis
29000
29001 @smallexample
29002 -var-info-type @var{name}
29003 @end smallexample
29004
29005 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
29006 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
29007 @value{GDBN} CLI:
29008
29009 @smallexample
29010 type=@var{typename}
29011 @end smallexample
29012
29013
29014 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
29015 @findex -var-info-expression
29016
29017 @subsubheading Synopsis
29018
29019 @smallexample
29020 -var-info-expression @var{name}
29021 @end smallexample
29022
29023 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
29024 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
29025 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
29026
29027 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
29028 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
29029
29030 @smallexample
29031 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
29032 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
29033 @end smallexample
29034
29035 @noindent
29036 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
29037
29038 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
29039 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
29040 is of limited use.
29041
29042 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
29043 @findex -var-info-path-expression
29044
29045 @subsubheading Synopsis
29046
29047 @smallexample
29048 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
29049 @end smallexample
29050
29051 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
29052 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
29053 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
29054 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
29055 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
29056 watchpoint from a variable object.
29057
29058 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
29059 and will give an error when invoked on one.
29060
29061 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
29062 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
29063 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
29064 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
29065 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
29066 @smallexample
29067 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
29068 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
29069 @end smallexample
29070
29071 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
29072 @findex -var-show-attributes
29073
29074 @subsubheading Synopsis
29075
29076 @smallexample
29077 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
29078 @end smallexample
29079
29080 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
29081
29082 @smallexample
29083 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
29084 @end smallexample
29085
29086 @noindent
29087 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
29088
29089 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
29090 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
29091
29092 @subsubheading Synopsis
29093
29094 @smallexample
29095 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
29096 @end smallexample
29097
29098 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
29099 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
29100 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
29101 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
29102 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
29103 the current display format will be used. The current display format
29104 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
29105
29106 @smallexample
29107 value=@var{value}
29108 @end smallexample
29109
29110 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
29111 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
29112
29113 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
29114 @findex -var-assign
29115
29116 @subsubheading Synopsis
29117
29118 @smallexample
29119 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
29120 @end smallexample
29121
29122 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
29123 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
29124 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
29125 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
29126
29127 @subsubheading Example
29128
29129 @smallexample
29130 (gdb)
29131 -var-assign var1 3
29132 ^done,value="3"
29133 (gdb)
29134 -var-update *
29135 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
29136 (gdb)
29137 @end smallexample
29138
29139 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
29140 @findex -var-update
29141
29142 @subsubheading Synopsis
29143
29144 @smallexample
29145 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
29146 @end smallexample
29147
29148 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
29149 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
29150 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
29151 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
29152 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
29153 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
29154 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
29155 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
29156 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
29157 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
29158 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
29159 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
29160 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
29161
29162 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
29163 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
29164 diagnostic.
29165
29166 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
29167 only the selected range of children will be reported.
29168
29169 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
29170 @samp{changelist}.
29171
29172 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
29173
29174 @table @samp
29175 @item name
29176 The name of the varobj.
29177
29178 @item value
29179 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
29180 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
29181
29182 @item in_scope
29183 @anchor{-var-update}
29184 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
29185
29186 @table @code
29187 @item "true"
29188 The variable object's current value is valid.
29189
29190 @item "false"
29191 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
29192 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
29193 scope.
29194
29195 @item "invalid"
29196 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
29197 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
29198 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
29199 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
29200 objects.
29201 @end table
29202
29203 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
29204 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
29205
29206 @item type_changed
29207 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
29208 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
29209 be @samp{false}.
29210
29211 @item new_type
29212 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
29213 hold the new type.
29214
29215 @item new_num_children
29216 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
29217 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
29218
29219 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
29220 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
29221 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
29222 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
29223 children which may be available.
29224
29225 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
29226 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
29227 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
29228 only happen at the end of the update range).
29229
29230 @item displayhint
29231 The display hint, if any.
29232
29233 @item has_more
29234 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
29235 available outside the varobj's update range.
29236
29237 @item dynamic
29238 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29239 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29240 then this attribute will not be present.
29241
29242 @item new_children
29243 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
29244 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
29245 be listed in this attribute.
29246 @end table
29247
29248 @subsubheading Example
29249
29250 @smallexample
29251 (gdb)
29252 -var-assign var1 3
29253 ^done,value="3"
29254 (gdb)
29255 -var-update --all-values var1
29256 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
29257 type_changed="false"@}]
29258 (gdb)
29259 @end smallexample
29260
29261 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
29262 @findex -var-set-frozen
29263 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
29264
29265 @subsubheading Synopsis
29266
29267 @smallexample
29268 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
29269 @end smallexample
29270
29271 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
29272 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
29273 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
29274 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
29275 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
29276 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
29277 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
29278 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
29279 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
29280 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
29281 @code{-var-update} does.
29282
29283 @subsubheading Example
29284
29285 @smallexample
29286 (gdb)
29287 -var-set-frozen V 1
29288 ^done
29289 (gdb)
29290 @end smallexample
29291
29292 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
29293 @findex -var-set-update-range
29294 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
29295
29296 @subsubheading Synopsis
29297
29298 @smallexample
29299 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
29300 @end smallexample
29301
29302 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
29303 @code{-var-update}.
29304
29305 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
29306 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
29307 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
29308 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
29309
29310 @subsubheading Example
29311
29312 @smallexample
29313 (gdb)
29314 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
29315 ^done
29316 @end smallexample
29317
29318 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
29319 @findex -var-set-visualizer
29320 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
29321
29322 @subsubheading Synopsis
29323
29324 @smallexample
29325 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
29326 @end smallexample
29327
29328 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
29329
29330 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
29331 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
29332
29333 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
29334 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
29335 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
29336 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
29337 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
29338 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
29339 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
29340
29341 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
29342 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
29343 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
29344 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
29345
29346 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
29347 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
29348 can be used to check this.
29349
29350 @subsubheading Example
29351
29352 Resetting the visualizer:
29353
29354 @smallexample
29355 (gdb)
29356 -var-set-visualizer V None
29357 ^done
29358 @end smallexample
29359
29360 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
29361
29362 @smallexample
29363 (gdb)
29364 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
29365 ^done
29366 @end smallexample
29367
29368 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
29369 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
29370
29371 @smallexample
29372 (gdb)
29373 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
29374 ^done
29375 @end smallexample
29376
29377 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29378 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
29379 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
29380
29381 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
29382 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
29383 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
29384 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
29385
29386 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
29387 @c @subheading -data-assign
29388 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
29389 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
29390 @c set variable
29391 @c @subsubheading Example
29392 @c N.A.
29393
29394 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
29395 @findex -data-disassemble
29396
29397 @subsubheading Synopsis
29398
29399 @smallexample
29400 -data-disassemble
29401 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
29402 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
29403 -- @var{mode}
29404 @end smallexample
29405
29406 @noindent
29407 Where:
29408
29409 @table @samp
29410 @item @var{start-addr}
29411 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
29412 @item @var{end-addr}
29413 is the end address
29414 @item @var{filename}
29415 is the name of the file to disassemble
29416 @item @var{linenum}
29417 is the line number to disassemble around
29418 @item @var{lines}
29419 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
29420 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
29421 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
29422 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
29423 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
29424 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
29425 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
29426 are displayed.
29427 @item @var{mode}
29428 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
29429 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
29430 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
29431 @end table
29432
29433 @subsubheading Result
29434
29435 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
29436
29437 @itemize @bullet
29438 @item Address
29439 @item Func-name
29440 @item Offset
29441 @item Instruction
29442 @end itemize
29443
29444 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
29445 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
29446
29447 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29448
29449 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
29450
29451 @subsubheading Example
29452
29453 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
29454
29455 @smallexample
29456 (gdb)
29457 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
29458 ^done,
29459 asm_insns=[
29460 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29461 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29462 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29463 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29464 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
29465 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
29466 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
29467 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29468 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
29469 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
29470 (gdb)
29471 @end smallexample
29472
29473 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
29474 @code{main}.
29475
29476 @smallexample
29477 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
29478 ^done,asm_insns=[
29479 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29480 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29481 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29482 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29483 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29484 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29485 [@dots{}]
29486 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
29487 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
29488 (gdb)
29489 @end smallexample
29490
29491 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
29492
29493 @smallexample
29494 (gdb)
29495 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
29496 ^done,asm_insns=[
29497 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29498 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29499 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29500 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29501 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29502 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
29503 (gdb)
29504 @end smallexample
29505
29506 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
29507
29508 @smallexample
29509 (gdb)
29510 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
29511 ^done,asm_insns=[
29512 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
29513 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
29514 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
29515 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29516 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
29517 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
29518 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
29519 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
29520 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29521 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29522 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29523 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
29524 (gdb)
29525 @end smallexample
29526
29527
29528 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
29529 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
29530
29531 @subsubheading Synopsis
29532
29533 @smallexample
29534 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
29535 @end smallexample
29536
29537 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
29538 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
29539 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
29540
29541 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29542
29543 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
29544 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
29545 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
29546
29547 @subsubheading Example
29548
29549 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
29550 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
29551 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
29552 output.
29553
29554 @smallexample
29555 211-data-evaluate-expression A
29556 211^done,value="1"
29557 (gdb)
29558 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
29559 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
29560 (gdb)
29561 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
29562 411^done,value="4"
29563 (gdb)
29564 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
29565 511^done,value="4"
29566 (gdb)
29567 @end smallexample
29568
29569
29570 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
29571 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
29572
29573 @subsubheading Synopsis
29574
29575 @smallexample
29576 -data-list-changed-registers
29577 @end smallexample
29578
29579 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
29580
29581 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29582
29583 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
29584 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
29585
29586 @subsubheading Example
29587
29588 On a PPC MBX board:
29589
29590 @smallexample
29591 (gdb)
29592 -exec-continue
29593 ^running
29594
29595 (gdb)
29596 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
29597 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
29598 line="5"@}
29599 (gdb)
29600 -data-list-changed-registers
29601 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
29602 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
29603 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
29604 (gdb)
29605 @end smallexample
29606
29607
29608 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
29609 @findex -data-list-register-names
29610
29611 @subsubheading Synopsis
29612
29613 @smallexample
29614 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
29615 @end smallexample
29616
29617 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
29618 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
29619 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
29620 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
29621 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
29622 include empty register names.
29623
29624 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29625
29626 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
29627 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
29628 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
29629
29630 @subsubheading Example
29631
29632 For the PPC MBX board:
29633 @smallexample
29634 (gdb)
29635 -data-list-register-names
29636 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
29637 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
29638 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
29639 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
29640 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
29641 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
29642 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
29643 (gdb)
29644 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
29645 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
29646 (gdb)
29647 @end smallexample
29648
29649 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
29650 @findex -data-list-register-values
29651
29652 @subsubheading Synopsis
29653
29654 @smallexample
29655 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
29656 @end smallexample
29657
29658 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
29659 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
29660 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
29661 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
29662
29663 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
29664
29665 @table @code
29666 @item x
29667 Hexadecimal
29668 @item o
29669 Octal
29670 @item t
29671 Binary
29672 @item d
29673 Decimal
29674 @item r
29675 Raw
29676 @item N
29677 Natural
29678 @end table
29679
29680 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29681
29682 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
29683 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
29684
29685 @subsubheading Example
29686
29687 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
29688 don't appear in the actual output):
29689
29690 @smallexample
29691 (gdb)
29692 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
29693 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29694 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
29695 (gdb)
29696 -data-list-register-values x
29697 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
29698 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29699 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
29700 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
29701 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
29702 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
29703 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
29704 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
29705 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
29706 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29707 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
29708 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
29709 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
29710 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
29711 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
29712 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
29713 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
29714 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
29715 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
29716 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
29717 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
29718 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
29719 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
29720 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
29721 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
29722 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
29723 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
29724 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
29725 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
29726 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
29727 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
29728 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
29729 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29730 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
29731 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
29732 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
29733 (gdb)
29734 @end smallexample
29735
29736
29737 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
29738 @findex -data-read-memory
29739
29740 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
29741
29742 @subsubheading Synopsis
29743
29744 @smallexample
29745 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29746 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
29747 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
29748 @end smallexample
29749
29750 @noindent
29751 where:
29752
29753 @table @samp
29754 @item @var{address}
29755 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29756 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29757 quoted using the C convention.
29758
29759 @item @var{word-format}
29760 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
29761 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
29762 ,Output Formats}).
29763
29764 @item @var{word-size}
29765 The size of each memory word in bytes.
29766
29767 @item @var{nr-rows}
29768 The number of rows in the output table.
29769
29770 @item @var{nr-cols}
29771 The number of columns in the output table.
29772
29773 @item @var{aschar}
29774 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
29775 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
29776 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
29777 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
29778
29779 @item @var{byte-offset}
29780 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
29781 @end table
29782
29783 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
29784 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
29785 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
29786 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
29787 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
29788 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
29789 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
29790 @samp{addr}.
29791
29792 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
29793 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
29794 @samp{prev-page}.
29795
29796 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29797
29798 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
29799 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
29800
29801 @subsubheading Example
29802
29803 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
29804 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
29805 word. Display each word in hex.
29806
29807 @smallexample
29808 (gdb)
29809 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
29810 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
29811 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
29812 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
29813 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
29814 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
29815 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
29816 (gdb)
29817 @end smallexample
29818
29819 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
29820 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
29821
29822 @smallexample
29823 (gdb)
29824 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
29825 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
29826 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
29827 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
29828 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
29829 (gdb)
29830 @end smallexample
29831
29832 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
29833 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
29834 used as the non-printable character.
29835
29836 @smallexample
29837 (gdb)
29838 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
29839 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
29840 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
29841 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
29842 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29843 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29844 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29845 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29846 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
29847 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
29848 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
29849 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
29850 (gdb)
29851 @end smallexample
29852
29853 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
29854 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
29855
29856 @subsubheading Synopsis
29857
29858 @smallexample
29859 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29860 @var{address} @var{count}
29861 @end smallexample
29862
29863 @noindent
29864 where:
29865
29866 @table @samp
29867 @item @var{address}
29868 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29869 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29870 quoted using the C convention.
29871
29872 @item @var{count}
29873 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
29874
29875 @item @var{byte-offset}
29876 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
29877 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
29878 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
29879 perform address arithmetics itself.
29880
29881 @end table
29882
29883 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
29884 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
29885 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
29886 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
29887 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
29888 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
29889
29890 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
29891 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
29892 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
29893 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
29894 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
29895 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
29896 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
29897 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
29898
29899 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
29900 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
29901 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
29902 and has the following fields:
29903
29904 @table @code
29905 @item begin
29906 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29907
29908 @item end
29909 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29910
29911 @item offset
29912 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
29913 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
29914
29915 @item contents
29916 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
29917
29918 @end table
29919
29920
29921
29922 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29923
29924 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
29925
29926 @subsubheading Example
29927
29928 @smallexample
29929 (gdb)
29930 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
29931 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
29932 end="0xbffff15e",
29933 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
29934 (gdb)
29935 @end smallexample
29936
29937
29938 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
29939 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
29940
29941 @subsubheading Synopsis
29942
29943 @smallexample
29944 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
29945 @end smallexample
29946
29947 @noindent
29948 where:
29949
29950 @table @samp
29951 @item @var{address}
29952 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29953 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29954 quoted using the C convention.
29955
29956 @item @var{contents}
29957 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
29958
29959 @end table
29960
29961 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29962
29963 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
29964
29965 @subsubheading Example
29966
29967 @smallexample
29968 (gdb)
29969 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
29970 ^done
29971 (gdb)
29972 @end smallexample
29973
29974
29975 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29976 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
29977 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
29978
29979 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
29980 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
29981
29982 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
29983 @findex -trace-find
29984
29985 @subsubheading Synopsis
29986
29987 @smallexample
29988 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
29989 @end smallexample
29990
29991 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
29992 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
29993 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
29994
29995 @table @samp
29996
29997 @item none
29998 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
29999
30000 @item frame-number
30001 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
30002 that index.
30003
30004 @item tracepoint-number
30005 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
30006 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
30007
30008 @item pc
30009 An address is required as parameter. Finds
30010 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
30011 address.
30012
30013 @item pc-inside-range
30014 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
30015 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
30016 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
30017
30018 @item pc-outside-range
30019 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
30020 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
30021 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
30022
30023 @item line
30024 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
30025 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
30026 the specified location.
30027
30028 @end table
30029
30030 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
30031 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
30032
30033 @table @samp
30034 @item found
30035 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
30036 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
30037
30038 @item traceframe
30039 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
30040 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30041
30042 @item tracepoint
30043 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
30044 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30045
30046 @item frame
30047 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
30048 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
30049 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
30050
30051 @end table
30052
30053 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30054
30055 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
30056
30057 @subheading -trace-define-variable
30058 @findex -trace-define-variable
30059
30060 @subsubheading Synopsis
30061
30062 @smallexample
30063 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
30064 @end smallexample
30065
30066 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
30067 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
30068 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
30069 with the @samp{$} character.
30070
30071 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30072
30073 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
30074
30075 @subheading -trace-list-variables
30076 @findex -trace-list-variables
30077
30078 @subsubheading Synopsis
30079
30080 @smallexample
30081 -trace-list-variables
30082 @end smallexample
30083
30084 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
30085 table has the following fields:
30086
30087 @table @samp
30088 @item name
30089 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
30090
30091 @item initial
30092 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
30093 field is always present.
30094
30095 @item current
30096 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
30097 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
30098 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
30099 presently running.
30100
30101 @end table
30102
30103 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30104
30105 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
30106
30107 @subsubheading Example
30108
30109 @smallexample
30110 (gdb)
30111 -trace-list-variables
30112 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
30113 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
30114 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
30115 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
30116 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
30117 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
30118 (gdb)
30119 @end smallexample
30120
30121 @subheading -trace-save
30122 @findex -trace-save
30123
30124 @subsubheading Synopsis
30125
30126 @smallexample
30127 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
30128 @end smallexample
30129
30130 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
30131 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
30132 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
30133 to perform the save.
30134
30135 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30136
30137 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
30138
30139
30140 @subheading -trace-start
30141 @findex -trace-start
30142
30143 @subsubheading Synopsis
30144
30145 @smallexample
30146 -trace-start
30147 @end smallexample
30148
30149 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
30150 have any fields.
30151
30152 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30153
30154 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
30155
30156 @subheading -trace-status
30157 @findex -trace-status
30158
30159 @subsubheading Synopsis
30160
30161 @smallexample
30162 -trace-status
30163 @end smallexample
30164
30165 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
30166 the following fields:
30167
30168 @table @samp
30169
30170 @item supported
30171 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
30172 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
30173 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
30174 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
30175 started. This field is always present.
30176
30177 @item running
30178 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
30179 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
30180 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30181
30182 @item stop-reason
30183 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
30184 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
30185 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
30186 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
30187 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
30188 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
30189 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
30190 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
30191 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30192
30193 @item stopping-tracepoint
30194 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
30195 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
30196 @samp{passcount}.
30197
30198 @item frames
30199 @itemx frames-created
30200 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
30201 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
30202 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
30203 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
30204
30205 @item buffer-size
30206 @itemx buffer-free
30207 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
30208 remaining space. These fields are optional.
30209
30210 @item circular
30211 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
30212 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
30213 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
30214 and may fill up.
30215
30216 @item disconnected
30217 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
30218 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
30219 that the trace run will stop.
30220
30221 @end table
30222
30223 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30224
30225 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
30226
30227 @subheading -trace-stop
30228 @findex -trace-stop
30229
30230 @subsubheading Synopsis
30231
30232 @smallexample
30233 -trace-stop
30234 @end smallexample
30235
30236 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
30237 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
30238 @samp{running} fields are not output.
30239
30240 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30241
30242 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
30243
30244
30245 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30246 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
30247 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
30248
30249
30250 @ignore
30251 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
30252 @findex -symbol-info-address
30253
30254 @subsubheading Synopsis
30255
30256 @smallexample
30257 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
30258 @end smallexample
30259
30260 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
30261
30262 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30263
30264 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
30265
30266 @subsubheading Example
30267 N.A.
30268
30269
30270 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
30271 @findex -symbol-info-file
30272
30273 @subsubheading Synopsis
30274
30275 @smallexample
30276 -symbol-info-file
30277 @end smallexample
30278
30279 Show the file for the symbol.
30280
30281 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30282
30283 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
30284 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
30285
30286 @subsubheading Example
30287 N.A.
30288
30289
30290 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
30291 @findex -symbol-info-function
30292
30293 @subsubheading Synopsis
30294
30295 @smallexample
30296 -symbol-info-function
30297 @end smallexample
30298
30299 Show which function the symbol lives in.
30300
30301 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30302
30303 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
30304
30305 @subsubheading Example
30306 N.A.
30307
30308
30309 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
30310 @findex -symbol-info-line
30311
30312 @subsubheading Synopsis
30313
30314 @smallexample
30315 -symbol-info-line
30316 @end smallexample
30317
30318 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
30319
30320 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30321
30322 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
30323 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
30324
30325 @subsubheading Example
30326 N.A.
30327
30328
30329 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
30330 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
30331
30332 @subsubheading Synopsis
30333
30334 @smallexample
30335 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
30336 @end smallexample
30337
30338 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
30339
30340 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30341
30342 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
30343
30344 @subsubheading Example
30345 N.A.
30346
30347
30348 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
30349 @findex -symbol-list-functions
30350
30351 @subsubheading Synopsis
30352
30353 @smallexample
30354 -symbol-list-functions
30355 @end smallexample
30356
30357 List the functions in the executable.
30358
30359 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30360
30361 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
30362 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30363
30364 @subsubheading Example
30365 N.A.
30366 @end ignore
30367
30368
30369 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
30370 @findex -symbol-list-lines
30371
30372 @subsubheading Synopsis
30373
30374 @smallexample
30375 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
30376 @end smallexample
30377
30378 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
30379 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
30380 ascending PC order.
30381
30382 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30383
30384 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30385
30386 @subsubheading Example
30387 @smallexample
30388 (gdb)
30389 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
30390 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
30391 (gdb)
30392 @end smallexample
30393
30394
30395 @ignore
30396 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
30397 @findex -symbol-list-types
30398
30399 @subsubheading Synopsis
30400
30401 @smallexample
30402 -symbol-list-types
30403 @end smallexample
30404
30405 List all the type names.
30406
30407 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30408
30409 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
30410 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30411
30412 @subsubheading Example
30413 N.A.
30414
30415
30416 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
30417 @findex -symbol-list-variables
30418
30419 @subsubheading Synopsis
30420
30421 @smallexample
30422 -symbol-list-variables
30423 @end smallexample
30424
30425 List all the global and static variable names.
30426
30427 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30428
30429 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30430
30431 @subsubheading Example
30432 N.A.
30433
30434
30435 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
30436 @findex -symbol-locate
30437
30438 @subsubheading Synopsis
30439
30440 @smallexample
30441 -symbol-locate
30442 @end smallexample
30443
30444 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30445
30446 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
30447
30448 @subsubheading Example
30449 N.A.
30450
30451
30452 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
30453 @findex -symbol-type
30454
30455 @subsubheading Synopsis
30456
30457 @smallexample
30458 -symbol-type @var{variable}
30459 @end smallexample
30460
30461 Show type of @var{variable}.
30462
30463 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30464
30465 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
30466 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
30467
30468 @subsubheading Example
30469 N.A.
30470 @end ignore
30471
30472
30473 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30474 @node GDB/MI File Commands
30475 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
30476
30477 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
30478 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
30479
30480 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
30481 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
30482
30483 @subsubheading Synopsis
30484
30485 @smallexample
30486 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
30487 @end smallexample
30488
30489 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
30490 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
30491 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
30492 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
30493 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
30494 notification.
30495
30496 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30497
30498 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
30499
30500 @subsubheading Example
30501
30502 @smallexample
30503 (gdb)
30504 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30505 ^done
30506 (gdb)
30507 @end smallexample
30508
30509
30510 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
30511 @findex -file-exec-file
30512
30513 @subsubheading Synopsis
30514
30515 @smallexample
30516 -file-exec-file @var{file}
30517 @end smallexample
30518
30519 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
30520 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
30521 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
30522 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
30523 notification.
30524
30525 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30526
30527 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
30528
30529 @subsubheading Example
30530
30531 @smallexample
30532 (gdb)
30533 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30534 ^done
30535 (gdb)
30536 @end smallexample
30537
30538
30539 @ignore
30540 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
30541 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
30542
30543 @subsubheading Synopsis
30544
30545 @smallexample
30546 -file-list-exec-sections
30547 @end smallexample
30548
30549 List the sections of the current executable file.
30550
30551 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30552
30553 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
30554 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
30555 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
30556
30557 @subsubheading Example
30558 N.A.
30559 @end ignore
30560
30561
30562 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
30563 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
30564
30565 @subsubheading Synopsis
30566
30567 @smallexample
30568 -file-list-exec-source-file
30569 @end smallexample
30570
30571 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
30572 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
30573 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
30574 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
30575
30576 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30577
30578 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
30579
30580 @subsubheading Example
30581
30582 @smallexample
30583 (gdb)
30584 123-file-list-exec-source-file
30585 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
30586 (gdb)
30587 @end smallexample
30588
30589
30590 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
30591 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
30592
30593 @subsubheading Synopsis
30594
30595 @smallexample
30596 -file-list-exec-source-files
30597 @end smallexample
30598
30599 List the source files for the current executable.
30600
30601 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
30602 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
30603
30604 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30605
30606 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
30607 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
30608
30609 @subsubheading Example
30610 @smallexample
30611 (gdb)
30612 -file-list-exec-source-files
30613 ^done,files=[
30614 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
30615 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
30616 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
30617 (gdb)
30618 @end smallexample
30619
30620 @ignore
30621 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
30622 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
30623
30624 @subsubheading Synopsis
30625
30626 @smallexample
30627 -file-list-shared-libraries
30628 @end smallexample
30629
30630 List the shared libraries in the program.
30631
30632 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30633
30634 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
30635
30636 @subsubheading Example
30637 N.A.
30638
30639
30640 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
30641 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
30642
30643 @subsubheading Synopsis
30644
30645 @smallexample
30646 -file-list-symbol-files
30647 @end smallexample
30648
30649 List symbol files.
30650
30651 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30652
30653 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
30654
30655 @subsubheading Example
30656 N.A.
30657 @end ignore
30658
30659
30660 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
30661 @findex -file-symbol-file
30662
30663 @subsubheading Synopsis
30664
30665 @smallexample
30666 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
30667 @end smallexample
30668
30669 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
30670 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
30671 produced, except for a completion notification.
30672
30673 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30674
30675 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
30676
30677 @subsubheading Example
30678
30679 @smallexample
30680 (gdb)
30681 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30682 ^done
30683 (gdb)
30684 @end smallexample
30685
30686 @ignore
30687 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30688 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
30689 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
30690
30691 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
30692
30693 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
30694
30695 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
30696
30697 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
30698
30699 @c @subheading -overlay-map
30700
30701 @c @subheading -overlay-off
30702
30703 @c @subheading -overlay-on
30704
30705 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
30706
30707 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30708 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
30709 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
30710
30711 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
30712
30713 @c @subheading -signal-handle
30714
30715 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
30716
30717 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
30718 @end ignore
30719
30720
30721 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30722 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
30723 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
30724
30725
30726 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
30727 @findex -target-attach
30728
30729 @subsubheading Synopsis
30730
30731 @smallexample
30732 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
30733 @end smallexample
30734
30735 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
30736 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
30737 group, the id previously returned by
30738 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
30739
30740 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30741
30742 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
30743
30744 @subsubheading Example
30745 @smallexample
30746 (gdb)
30747 -target-attach 34
30748 =thread-created,id="1"
30749 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
30750 ^done
30751 (gdb)
30752 @end smallexample
30753
30754 @ignore
30755 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
30756 @findex -target-compare-sections
30757
30758 @subsubheading Synopsis
30759
30760 @smallexample
30761 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
30762 @end smallexample
30763
30764 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
30765 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
30766
30767 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30768
30769 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
30770
30771 @subsubheading Example
30772 N.A.
30773 @end ignore
30774
30775
30776 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
30777 @findex -target-detach
30778
30779 @subsubheading Synopsis
30780
30781 @smallexample
30782 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
30783 @end smallexample
30784
30785 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
30786 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
30787 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
30788
30789 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30790
30791 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
30792
30793 @subsubheading Example
30794
30795 @smallexample
30796 (gdb)
30797 -target-detach
30798 ^done
30799 (gdb)
30800 @end smallexample
30801
30802
30803 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
30804 @findex -target-disconnect
30805
30806 @subsubheading Synopsis
30807
30808 @smallexample
30809 -target-disconnect
30810 @end smallexample
30811
30812 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
30813 generally not resumed.
30814
30815 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30816
30817 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
30818
30819 @subsubheading Example
30820
30821 @smallexample
30822 (gdb)
30823 -target-disconnect
30824 ^done
30825 (gdb)
30826 @end smallexample
30827
30828
30829 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
30830 @findex -target-download
30831
30832 @subsubheading Synopsis
30833
30834 @smallexample
30835 -target-download
30836 @end smallexample
30837
30838 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
30839 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
30840
30841 @table @samp
30842 @item section
30843 The name of the section.
30844 @item section-sent
30845 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
30846 @item section-size
30847 The size of the section.
30848 @item total-sent
30849 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
30850 @item total-size
30851 The size of the overall executable to download.
30852 @end table
30853
30854 @noindent
30855 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
30856 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
30857
30858 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
30859 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
30860
30861 @table @samp
30862 @item section
30863 The name of the section.
30864 @item section-size
30865 The size of the section.
30866 @item total-size
30867 The size of the overall executable to download.
30868 @end table
30869
30870 @noindent
30871 At the end, a summary is printed.
30872
30873 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30874
30875 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
30876
30877 @subsubheading Example
30878
30879 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
30880 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
30881
30882 @smallexample
30883 (gdb)
30884 -target-download
30885 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
30886 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
30887 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
30888 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
30889 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
30890 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
30891 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
30892 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
30893 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
30894 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
30895 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
30896 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
30897 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
30898 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
30899 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
30900 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
30901 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
30902 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
30903 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
30904 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
30905 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
30906 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
30907 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
30908 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
30909 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
30910 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
30911 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
30912 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30913 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30914 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
30915 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
30916 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
30917 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
30918 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
30919 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
30920 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
30921 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
30922 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
30923 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
30924 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
30925 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
30926 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
30927 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
30928 write-rate="429"
30929 (gdb)
30930 @end smallexample
30931
30932
30933 @ignore
30934 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
30935 @findex -target-exec-status
30936
30937 @subsubheading Synopsis
30938
30939 @smallexample
30940 -target-exec-status
30941 @end smallexample
30942
30943 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
30944 not, for instance).
30945
30946 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30947
30948 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
30949
30950 @subsubheading Example
30951 N.A.
30952
30953
30954 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
30955 @findex -target-list-available-targets
30956
30957 @subsubheading Synopsis
30958
30959 @smallexample
30960 -target-list-available-targets
30961 @end smallexample
30962
30963 List the possible targets to connect to.
30964
30965 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30966
30967 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
30968
30969 @subsubheading Example
30970 N.A.
30971
30972
30973 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
30974 @findex -target-list-current-targets
30975
30976 @subsubheading Synopsis
30977
30978 @smallexample
30979 -target-list-current-targets
30980 @end smallexample
30981
30982 Describe the current target.
30983
30984 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30985
30986 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
30987 other things).
30988
30989 @subsubheading Example
30990 N.A.
30991
30992
30993 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
30994 @findex -target-list-parameters
30995
30996 @subsubheading Synopsis
30997
30998 @smallexample
30999 -target-list-parameters
31000 @end smallexample
31001
31002 @c ????
31003 @end ignore
31004
31005 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31006
31007 No equivalent.
31008
31009 @subsubheading Example
31010 N.A.
31011
31012
31013 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
31014 @findex -target-select
31015
31016 @subsubheading Synopsis
31017
31018 @smallexample
31019 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
31020 @end smallexample
31021
31022 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
31023
31024 @table @samp
31025 @item @var{type}
31026 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
31027 @item @var{parameters}
31028 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
31029 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
31030 @end table
31031
31032 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
31033 which the target program is, in the following form:
31034
31035 @smallexample
31036 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
31037 args=[@var{arg list}]
31038 @end smallexample
31039
31040 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31041
31042 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
31043
31044 @subsubheading Example
31045
31046 @smallexample
31047 (gdb)
31048 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
31049 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
31050 (gdb)
31051 @end smallexample
31052
31053 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31054 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
31055 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
31056
31057
31058 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
31059 @findex -target-file-put
31060
31061 @subsubheading Synopsis
31062
31063 @smallexample
31064 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
31065 @end smallexample
31066
31067 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
31068 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
31069
31070 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31071
31072 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
31073
31074 @subsubheading Example
31075
31076 @smallexample
31077 (gdb)
31078 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
31079 ^done
31080 (gdb)
31081 @end smallexample
31082
31083
31084 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
31085 @findex -target-file-get
31086
31087 @subsubheading Synopsis
31088
31089 @smallexample
31090 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
31091 @end smallexample
31092
31093 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
31094 on the host system.
31095
31096 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31097
31098 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
31099
31100 @subsubheading Example
31101
31102 @smallexample
31103 (gdb)
31104 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
31105 ^done
31106 (gdb)
31107 @end smallexample
31108
31109
31110 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
31111 @findex -target-file-delete
31112
31113 @subsubheading Synopsis
31114
31115 @smallexample
31116 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
31117 @end smallexample
31118
31119 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
31120
31121 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31122
31123 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
31124
31125 @subsubheading Example
31126
31127 @smallexample
31128 (gdb)
31129 -target-file-delete remotefile
31130 ^done
31131 (gdb)
31132 @end smallexample
31133
31134
31135 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31136 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
31137 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31138
31139 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
31140
31141 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
31142 @findex -gdb-exit
31143
31144 @subsubheading Synopsis
31145
31146 @smallexample
31147 -gdb-exit
31148 @end smallexample
31149
31150 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
31151
31152 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31153
31154 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
31155
31156 @subsubheading Example
31157
31158 @smallexample
31159 (gdb)
31160 -gdb-exit
31161 ^exit
31162 @end smallexample
31163
31164
31165 @ignore
31166 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
31167 @findex -exec-abort
31168
31169 @subsubheading Synopsis
31170
31171 @smallexample
31172 -exec-abort
31173 @end smallexample
31174
31175 Kill the inferior running program.
31176
31177 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31178
31179 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
31180
31181 @subsubheading Example
31182 N.A.
31183 @end ignore
31184
31185
31186 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
31187 @findex -gdb-set
31188
31189 @subsubheading Synopsis
31190
31191 @smallexample
31192 -gdb-set
31193 @end smallexample
31194
31195 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
31196 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
31197
31198 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31199
31200 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
31201
31202 @subsubheading Example
31203
31204 @smallexample
31205 (gdb)
31206 -gdb-set $foo=3
31207 ^done
31208 (gdb)
31209 @end smallexample
31210
31211
31212 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
31213 @findex -gdb-show
31214
31215 @subsubheading Synopsis
31216
31217 @smallexample
31218 -gdb-show
31219 @end smallexample
31220
31221 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
31222
31223 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31224
31225 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
31226
31227 @subsubheading Example
31228
31229 @smallexample
31230 (gdb)
31231 -gdb-show annotate
31232 ^done,value="0"
31233 (gdb)
31234 @end smallexample
31235
31236 @c @subheading -gdb-source
31237
31238
31239 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
31240 @findex -gdb-version
31241
31242 @subsubheading Synopsis
31243
31244 @smallexample
31245 -gdb-version
31246 @end smallexample
31247
31248 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
31249
31250 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31251
31252 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
31253 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
31254
31255 @subsubheading Example
31256
31257 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
31258 @c box in TeX.
31259 @smallexample
31260 (gdb)
31261 -gdb-version
31262 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
31263 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31264 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
31265 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
31266 ~ certain conditions.
31267 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31268 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
31269 ~ details.
31270 ~This GDB was configured as
31271 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
31272 ^done
31273 (gdb)
31274 @end smallexample
31275
31276 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
31277 @findex -list-features
31278
31279 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
31280 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
31281 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
31282 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
31283 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
31284 startup.
31285
31286 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
31287 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
31288 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
31289 is given below.
31290
31291 Example output:
31292
31293 @smallexample
31294 (gdb) -list-features
31295 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
31296 @end smallexample
31297
31298 The current list of features is:
31299
31300 @table @samp
31301 @item frozen-varobjs
31302 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
31303 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
31304 of @code{-varobj-create}.
31305 @item pending-breakpoints
31306 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
31307 command.
31308 @item python
31309 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
31310 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
31311 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
31312 @item thread-info
31313 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
31314 @item data-read-memory-bytes
31315 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
31316 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
31317 @item breakpoint-notifications
31318 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
31319 CLI will be announced via async records.
31320 @item ada-task-info
31321 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
31322 @end table
31323
31324 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
31325 @findex -list-target-features
31326
31327 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
31328 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
31329 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
31330 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
31331 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
31332 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
31333 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
31334 Example output:
31335
31336 @smallexample
31337 (gdb) -list-features
31338 ^done,result=["async"]
31339 @end smallexample
31340
31341 The current list of features is:
31342
31343 @table @samp
31344 @item async
31345 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
31346 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
31347 while the target is running.
31348
31349 @item reverse
31350 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
31351 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31352
31353 @end table
31354
31355 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
31356 @findex -list-thread-groups
31357
31358 @subheading Synopsis
31359
31360 @smallexample
31361 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
31362 @end smallexample
31363
31364 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
31365 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
31366 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
31367 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
31368 top-level thread groups.
31369
31370 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
31371 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
31372 available on the target.
31373
31374 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
31375 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
31376 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
31377 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
31378 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
31379 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
31380 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
31381 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
31382
31383 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
31384 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
31385 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
31386 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
31387 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
31388 @samp{threads} field.
31389
31390 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
31391 the following caveats:
31392
31393 @itemize @bullet
31394 @item
31395 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
31396 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
31397 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
31398
31399 @item
31400 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
31401 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
31402 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
31403 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
31404 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
31405 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
31406
31407 @end itemize
31408
31409 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
31410 have the following fields:
31411
31412 @table @code
31413 @item id
31414 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
31415 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
31416 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
31417
31418 @item type
31419 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
31420 valid type.
31421
31422 @item pid
31423 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
31424 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
31425
31426 @item num_children
31427 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
31428 absent for an available thread group.
31429
31430 @item threads
31431 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
31432 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
31433 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
31434
31435 @item cores
31436 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
31437 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
31438 such information is not available.
31439
31440 @item executable
31441 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
31442 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
31443 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
31444
31445 @end table
31446
31447 @subheading Example
31448
31449 @smallexample
31450 @value{GDBP}
31451 -list-thread-groups
31452 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
31453 -list-thread-groups 17
31454 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
31455 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
31456 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
31457 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
31458 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
31459 -list-thread-groups --available
31460 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
31461 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
31462 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31463 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31464 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
31465 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
31466 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31467 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31468 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
31469 @end smallexample
31470
31471
31472 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
31473 @findex -add-inferior
31474
31475 @subheading Synopsis
31476
31477 @smallexample
31478 -add-inferior
31479 @end smallexample
31480
31481 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
31482 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
31483 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
31484 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
31485 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
31486 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
31487
31488 @subheading Example
31489
31490 @smallexample
31491 @value{GDBP}
31492 -add-inferior
31493 ^done,thread-group="i3"
31494 @end smallexample
31495
31496 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
31497 @findex -interpreter-exec
31498
31499 @subheading Synopsis
31500
31501 @smallexample
31502 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
31503 @end smallexample
31504 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
31505
31506 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
31507
31508 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31509
31510 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
31511
31512 @subheading Example
31513
31514 @smallexample
31515 (gdb)
31516 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
31517 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
31518 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
31519 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
31520 ^done
31521 (gdb)
31522 @end smallexample
31523
31524 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
31525 @findex -inferior-tty-set
31526
31527 @subheading Synopsis
31528
31529 @smallexample
31530 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31531 @end smallexample
31532
31533 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
31534
31535 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31536
31537 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
31538
31539 @subheading Example
31540
31541 @smallexample
31542 (gdb)
31543 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31544 ^done
31545 (gdb)
31546 @end smallexample
31547
31548 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
31549 @findex -inferior-tty-show
31550
31551 @subheading Synopsis
31552
31553 @smallexample
31554 -inferior-tty-show
31555 @end smallexample
31556
31557 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
31558
31559 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31560
31561 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
31562
31563 @subheading Example
31564
31565 @smallexample
31566 (gdb)
31567 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31568 ^done
31569 (gdb)
31570 -inferior-tty-show
31571 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
31572 (gdb)
31573 @end smallexample
31574
31575 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
31576 @findex -enable-timings
31577
31578 @subheading Synopsis
31579
31580 @smallexample
31581 -enable-timings [yes | no]
31582 @end smallexample
31583
31584 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
31585 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
31586 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
31587 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
31588
31589 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31590
31591 No equivalent.
31592
31593 @subheading Example
31594
31595 @smallexample
31596 (gdb)
31597 -enable-timings
31598 ^done
31599 (gdb)
31600 -break-insert main
31601 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
31602 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
31603 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
31604 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
31605 (gdb)
31606 -enable-timings no
31607 ^done
31608 (gdb)
31609 -exec-run
31610 ^running
31611 (gdb)
31612 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
31613 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
31614 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
31615 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
31616 (gdb)
31617 @end smallexample
31618
31619 @node Annotations
31620 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
31621
31622 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
31623 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
31624 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
31625 relatively high level.
31626
31627 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
31628 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
31629
31630 @ignore
31631 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
31632 @end ignore
31633
31634 @menu
31635 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
31636 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
31637 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
31638 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
31639 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
31640 * Annotations for Running::
31641 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
31642 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
31643 @end menu
31644
31645 @node Annotations Overview
31646 @section What is an Annotation?
31647 @cindex annotations
31648
31649 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
31650 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
31651 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
31652 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
31653 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
31654 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
31655 cannot contain newline characters.
31656
31657 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
31658 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
31659 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
31660 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
31661 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
31662 means those three characters as output.
31663
31664 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
31665 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
31666 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
31667 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
31668 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
31669 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
31670 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
31671 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
31672 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
31673
31674 @table @code
31675 @kindex set annotate
31676 @item set annotate @var{level}
31677 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
31678 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
31679
31680 @item show annotate
31681 @kindex show annotate
31682 Show the current annotation level.
31683 @end table
31684
31685 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
31686
31687 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
31688
31689 @smallexample
31690 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
31691 GNU gdb 6.0
31692 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31693 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
31694 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
31695 under certain conditions.
31696 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31697 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
31698 for details.
31699 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
31700
31701 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
31702 (@value{GDBP})
31703 ^Z^Zprompt
31704 @kbd{quit}
31705
31706 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
31707 $
31708 @end smallexample
31709
31710 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
31711 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
31712 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
31713 output from @value{GDBN}.
31714
31715 @node Server Prefix
31716 @section The Server Prefix
31717 @cindex server prefix
31718
31719 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
31720 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
31721 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
31722 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
31723 a transparent manner.
31724
31725 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
31726 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
31727 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
31728 @code{print} command.
31729
31730 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
31731 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
31732
31733 @node Prompting
31734 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
31735
31736 @cindex annotations for prompts
31737 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
31738 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
31739 over, etc.
31740
31741 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
31742 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
31743 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
31744 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
31745 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
31746 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
31747 features the following annotations:
31748
31749 @smallexample
31750 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
31751 ^Z^Zprompt
31752 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
31753 @end smallexample
31754
31755 The input types are
31756
31757 @table @code
31758 @findex pre-prompt annotation
31759 @findex prompt annotation
31760 @findex post-prompt annotation
31761 @item prompt
31762 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
31763
31764 @findex pre-commands annotation
31765 @findex commands annotation
31766 @findex post-commands annotation
31767 @item commands
31768 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
31769 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
31770
31771 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
31772 @findex overload-choice annotation
31773 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
31774 @item overload-choice
31775 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
31776
31777 @findex pre-query annotation
31778 @findex query annotation
31779 @findex post-query annotation
31780 @item query
31781 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
31782
31783 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
31784 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
31785 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
31786 @item prompt-for-continue
31787 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
31788 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
31789 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
31790 presence of annotations.
31791 @end table
31792
31793 @node Errors
31794 @section Errors
31795 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
31796
31797 @findex quit annotation
31798 @smallexample
31799 ^Z^Zquit
31800 @end smallexample
31801
31802 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
31803
31804 @findex error annotation
31805 @smallexample
31806 ^Z^Zerror
31807 @end smallexample
31808
31809 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
31810
31811 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
31812 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
31813 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
31814 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
31815 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
31816 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
31817 to the top level.
31818
31819 @findex error-begin annotation
31820 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
31821
31822 @smallexample
31823 ^Z^Zerror-begin
31824 @end smallexample
31825
31826 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
31827 message.
31828
31829 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
31830 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
31831 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
31832
31833 @node Invalidation
31834 @section Invalidation Notices
31835
31836 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
31837 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
31838 changed.
31839
31840 @table @code
31841 @findex frames-invalid annotation
31842 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
31843
31844 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
31845 have changed.
31846
31847 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
31848 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
31849
31850 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
31851 deleted a breakpoint.
31852 @end table
31853
31854 @node Annotations for Running
31855 @section Running the Program
31856 @cindex annotations for running programs
31857
31858 @findex starting annotation
31859 @findex stopping annotation
31860 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
31861 @code{step} or @code{continue},
31862
31863 @smallexample
31864 ^Z^Zstarting
31865 @end smallexample
31866
31867 is output. When the program stops,
31868
31869 @smallexample
31870 ^Z^Zstopped
31871 @end smallexample
31872
31873 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
31874 annotations describe how the program stopped.
31875
31876 @table @code
31877 @findex exited annotation
31878 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
31879 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
31880 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
31881
31882 @findex signalled annotation
31883 @findex signal-name annotation
31884 @findex signal-name-end annotation
31885 @findex signal-string annotation
31886 @findex signal-string-end annotation
31887 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
31888 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
31889 annotation continues:
31890
31891 @smallexample
31892 @var{intro-text}
31893 ^Z^Zsignal-name
31894 @var{name}
31895 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
31896 @var{middle-text}
31897 ^Z^Zsignal-string
31898 @var{string}
31899 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
31900 @var{end-text}
31901 @end smallexample
31902
31903 @noindent
31904 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
31905 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
31906 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
31907 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
31908 user's benefit and have no particular format.
31909
31910 @findex signal annotation
31911 @item ^Z^Zsignal
31912 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
31913 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
31914 terminated with it.
31915
31916 @findex breakpoint annotation
31917 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
31918 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
31919
31920 @findex watchpoint annotation
31921 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
31922 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
31923 @end table
31924
31925 @node Source Annotations
31926 @section Displaying Source
31927 @cindex annotations for source display
31928
31929 @findex source annotation
31930 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
31931
31932 @smallexample
31933 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
31934 @end smallexample
31935
31936 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
31937 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
31938 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
31939 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
31940 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
31941 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
31942 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
31943 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
31944 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
31945 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
31946 depend on the language).
31947
31948 @node JIT Interface
31949 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
31950 @cindex just-in-time compilation
31951 @cindex JIT compilation interface
31952
31953 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
31954 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
31955 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
31956 performance while maintaining platform independence.
31957
31958 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
31959 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
31960 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
31961 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
31962 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
31963 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
31964
31965 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
31966 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
31967 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
31968 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
31969 LLVM JIT.
31970
31971 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
31972 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
31973 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
31974 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
31975 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
31976 out about additional code.
31977
31978 @menu
31979 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
31980 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
31981 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
31982 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
31983 @end menu
31984
31985 @node Declarations
31986 @section JIT Declarations
31987
31988 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
31989 implement the interface:
31990
31991 @smallexample
31992 typedef enum
31993 @{
31994 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
31995 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
31996 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
31997 @} jit_actions_t;
31998
31999 struct jit_code_entry
32000 @{
32001 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
32002 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
32003 const char *symfile_addr;
32004 uint64_t symfile_size;
32005 @};
32006
32007 struct jit_descriptor
32008 @{
32009 uint32_t version;
32010 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
32011 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
32012 uint32_t action_flag;
32013 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
32014 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
32015 @};
32016
32017 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
32018 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
32019
32020 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
32021 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
32022 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
32023 @end smallexample
32024
32025 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
32026 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
32027 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
32028
32029 @node Registering Code
32030 @section Registering Code
32031
32032 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
32033
32034 @itemize @bullet
32035 @item
32036 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
32037 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
32038
32039 @item
32040 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
32041 file.
32042
32043 @item
32044 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
32045
32046 @item
32047 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
32048
32049 @item
32050 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
32051 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32052 @end itemize
32053
32054 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
32055 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
32056 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
32057 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
32058
32059 @node Unregistering Code
32060 @section Unregistering Code
32061
32062 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
32063
32064 @itemize @bullet
32065 @item
32066 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
32067
32068 @item
32069 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
32070
32071 @item
32072 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
32073 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32074 @end itemize
32075
32076 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
32077 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
32078
32079 @node Custom Debug Info
32080 @section Custom Debug Info
32081 @cindex custom JIT debug info
32082 @cindex JIT debug info reader
32083
32084 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
32085 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
32086 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
32087 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
32088 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
32089 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
32090 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
32091 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
32092 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
32093
32094 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
32095 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
32096 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
32097 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
32098 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
32099 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
32100 compiler.
32101
32102 @menu
32103 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
32104 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
32105 @end menu
32106
32107 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32108 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32109 @kindex jit-reader-load
32110 @kindex jit-reader-unload
32111
32112 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
32113 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
32114
32115 @table @code
32116 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader-name}
32117 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader-name}. On a UNIX system, this
32118 will usually load @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/@var{reader-name}}, where
32119 @var{libdir} is the system library directory, usually
32120 @file{/usr/local/lib}. Only one reader can be active at a time;
32121 trying to load a second reader when one is already loaded will result
32122 in @value{GDBN} reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by
32123 first unloading the current one using @code{jit-reader-load} and then
32124 invoking @code{jit-reader-load}.
32125
32126 @item jit-reader-unload
32127 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
32128
32129 @end table
32130
32131 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32132 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32133 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
32134
32135 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
32136 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
32137
32138 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
32139 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
32140 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
32141 the system include directory.
32142
32143 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
32144 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
32145 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
32146
32147 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
32148 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
32149
32150 @findex gdb_init_reader
32151 @smallexample
32152 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
32153 @end smallexample
32154
32155 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
32156
32157 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
32158 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
32159 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
32160 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
32161 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
32162 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
32163
32164 @smallexample
32165 struct gdb_reader_funcs
32166 @{
32167 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
32168 int reader_version;
32169
32170 /* For use by the reader. */
32171 void *priv_data;
32172
32173 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
32174 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
32175 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
32176 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
32177 @};
32178 @end smallexample
32179
32180 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
32181 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
32182
32183 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
32184 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
32185 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
32186 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
32187 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
32188 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
32189 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
32190 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
32191 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
32192 target's address space.
32193
32194 @node GDB Bugs
32195 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
32196 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
32197 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
32198
32199 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
32200
32201 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
32202 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
32203 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
32204 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
32205
32206 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
32207 information that enables us to fix the bug.
32208
32209 @menu
32210 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
32211 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
32212 @end menu
32213
32214 @node Bug Criteria
32215 @section Have You Found a Bug?
32216 @cindex bug criteria
32217
32218 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
32219
32220 @itemize @bullet
32221 @cindex fatal signal
32222 @cindex debugger crash
32223 @cindex crash of debugger
32224 @item
32225 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
32226 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
32227
32228 @cindex error on valid input
32229 @item
32230 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
32231 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
32232 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
32233
32234 @cindex invalid input
32235 @item
32236 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
32237 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
32238 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
32239 for traditional practice''.
32240
32241 @item
32242 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
32243 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
32244 @end itemize
32245
32246 @node Bug Reporting
32247 @section How to Report Bugs
32248 @cindex bug reports
32249 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
32250
32251 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
32252 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
32253 contact that organization first.
32254
32255 You can find contact information for many support companies and
32256 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
32257 distribution.
32258 @c should add a web page ref...
32259
32260 @ifset BUGURL
32261 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
32262 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
32263 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
32264 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
32265 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
32266 be used.
32267
32268 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
32269 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
32270 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
32271 @samp{bug-gdb}.
32272
32273 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
32274 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
32275 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
32276 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
32277 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
32278 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
32279 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
32280 bug reports to the mailing list.
32281 @end ifset
32282 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
32283 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
32284 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
32285 @end ifclear
32286 @end ifset
32287
32288 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
32289 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
32290 fact or leave it out, state it!
32291
32292 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
32293 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
32294 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
32295 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
32296 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
32297 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
32298 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
32299 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
32300 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
32301
32302 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
32303 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
32304 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
32305 self-contained.
32306
32307 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
32308 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
32309 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
32310 bugs properly.
32311
32312 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
32313
32314 @itemize @bullet
32315 @item
32316 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
32317 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
32318 version}.
32319
32320 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
32321 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
32322
32323 @item
32324 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
32325 version number.
32326
32327 @item
32328 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
32329 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
32330
32331 @item
32332 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
32333 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
32334 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
32335 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
32336 those compilers.
32337
32338 @item
32339 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
32340 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
32341 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
32342 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
32343
32344 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
32345 and then we might not encounter the bug.
32346
32347 @item
32348 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
32349 reproduce the bug.
32350
32351 @item
32352 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
32353 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
32354
32355 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
32356 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
32357 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
32358 a chance to make a mistake.
32359
32360 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
32361 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
32362 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
32363 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
32364 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
32365 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
32366 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
32367 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
32368
32369 @pindex script
32370 @cindex recording a session script
32371 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
32372 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
32373 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
32374 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
32375
32376 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
32377 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
32378
32379 @item
32380 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
32381 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
32382 it by context, not by line number.
32383
32384 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
32385 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
32386
32387 @end itemize
32388
32389 Here are some things that are not necessary:
32390
32391 @itemize @bullet
32392 @item
32393 A description of the envelope of the bug.
32394
32395 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
32396 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
32397 changes will not affect it.
32398
32399 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
32400 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
32401 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
32402 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
32403
32404 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
32405 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
32406 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
32407 less time, and so on.
32408
32409 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
32410 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
32411
32412 @item
32413 A patch for the bug.
32414
32415 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
32416 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
32417 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
32418 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
32419
32420 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
32421 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
32422 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
32423 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
32424
32425 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
32426 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
32427 help us to understand.
32428
32429 @item
32430 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
32431
32432 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
32433 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
32434 @end itemize
32435
32436 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
32437 @c and consists of the two following files:
32438 @c rluser.texi
32439 @c hsuser.texi
32440 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
32441 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
32442 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
32443 @include rluser.texi
32444 @include hsuser.texi
32445 @end ifclear
32446
32447 @node In Memoriam
32448 @appendix In Memoriam
32449
32450 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
32451 contributors:
32452
32453 @table @code
32454 @item Fred Fish
32455 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
32456 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
32457 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
32458
32459 @item Michael Snyder
32460 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
32461 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
32462 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
32463 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
32464 @end table
32465
32466 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
32467 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
32468
32469 @node Formatting Documentation
32470 @appendix Formatting Documentation
32471
32472 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
32473 @cindex reference card
32474 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
32475 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
32476 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
32477 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
32478 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
32479 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
32480
32481 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
32482 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
32483
32484 @smallexample
32485 make refcard.dvi
32486 @end smallexample
32487
32488 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
32489 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
32490 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
32491 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
32492 your @sc{dvi} output program.
32493
32494 @cindex documentation
32495
32496 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
32497 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
32498 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
32499 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
32500 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
32501 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
32502
32503 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
32504 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
32505 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
32506 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
32507 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
32508 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
32509 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
32510 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
32511
32512 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
32513 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
32514 @code{makeinfo}.
32515
32516 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
32517 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
32518 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
32519
32520 @smallexample
32521 cd gdb
32522 make gdb.info
32523 @end smallexample
32524
32525 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
32526 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
32527 Texinfo definitions file.
32528
32529 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
32530 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
32531 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
32532 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
32533 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
32534 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
32535 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
32536
32537 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
32538 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
32539 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
32540 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
32541 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
32542 directory.
32543
32544 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
32545 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
32546 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
32547 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
32548
32549 @smallexample
32550 make gdb.dvi
32551 @end smallexample
32552
32553 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
32554
32555 @node Installing GDB
32556 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
32557 @cindex installation
32558
32559 @menu
32560 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
32561 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
32562 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
32563 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
32564 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
32565 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
32566 @end menu
32567
32568 @node Requirements
32569 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
32570 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
32571
32572 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
32573 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
32574
32575 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
32576 @table @asis
32577 @item ISO C90 compiler
32578 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
32579 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
32580
32581 @end table
32582
32583 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
32584 @table @asis
32585 @item Expat
32586 @anchor{Expat}
32587 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
32588 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
32589 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
32590 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
32591 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
32592 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
32593
32594 Expat is used for:
32595
32596 @itemize @bullet
32597 @item
32598 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
32599 @item
32600 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
32601 @item
32602 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
32603 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
32604 @item
32605 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
32606 @item
32607 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
32608 @end itemize
32609
32610 @item zlib
32611 @cindex compressed debug sections
32612 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
32613 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
32614 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
32615 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
32616 information in such binaries.
32617
32618 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
32619 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
32620 @url{http://zlib.net}.
32621
32622 @item iconv
32623 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
32624 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
32625 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
32626 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
32627
32628 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
32629 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
32630 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
32631 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
32632
32633 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
32634 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
32635 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
32636
32637 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
32638 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
32639 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
32640 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
32641 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
32642 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
32643 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
32644 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
32645 @end table
32646
32647 @node Running Configure
32648 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
32649 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
32650 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
32651 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
32652 build the @code{gdb} program.
32653 @iftex
32654 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
32655 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
32656 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
32657 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
32658 @end iftex
32659
32660 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
32661 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
32662 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
32663
32664 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
32665 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
32666
32667 @table @code
32668 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
32669 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
32670
32671 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
32672 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
32673
32674 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
32675 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
32676
32677 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
32678 @sc{gnu} include files
32679
32680 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
32681 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
32682
32683 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
32684 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
32685
32686 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
32687 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
32688
32689 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
32690 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
32691
32692 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
32693 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
32694 @end table
32695
32696 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
32697 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
32698 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
32699
32700 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
32701 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
32702 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
32703 argument.
32704
32705 For example:
32706
32707 @smallexample
32708 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
32709 ./configure @var{host}
32710 make
32711 @end smallexample
32712
32713 @noindent
32714 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
32715 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
32716 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
32717 correct value by examining your system.)
32718
32719 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
32720 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
32721 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
32722 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
32723
32724 @need 750
32725 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
32726 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
32727 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
32728
32729 @smallexample
32730 sh configure @var{host}
32731 @end smallexample
32732
32733 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
32734 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
32735 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
32736 @file{configure}
32737 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
32738 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
32739
32740 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
32741 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
32742 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
32743 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
32744 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
32745 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
32746 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
32747 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
32748 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
32749
32750 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
32751 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
32752 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
32753 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
32754 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
32755
32756 @node Separate Objdir
32757 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
32758
32759 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
32760 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
32761 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
32762 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
32763 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
32764 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
32765 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
32766 program specified there.
32767
32768 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
32769 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
32770 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
32771 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
32772 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
32773 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
32774
32775 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
32776 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
32777
32778 @smallexample
32779 @group
32780 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
32781 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
32782 cd ../gdb-sun4
32783 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
32784 make
32785 @end group
32786 @end smallexample
32787
32788 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
32789 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
32790 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
32791 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
32792 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
32793 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
32794
32795 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
32796 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
32797 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
32798 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
32799 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
32800
32801 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
32802 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
32803 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
32804 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
32805 You specify a cross-debugging target by
32806 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
32807
32808 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
32809 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
32810 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
32811
32812 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
32813 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
32814 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
32815 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
32816 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
32817
32818 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
32819 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
32820 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
32821 with each other.
32822
32823 @node Config Names
32824 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
32825
32826 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
32827 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
32828 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
32829 of information in the following pattern:
32830
32831 @smallexample
32832 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
32833 @end smallexample
32834
32835 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
32836 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
32837 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
32838
32839 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
32840 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
32841 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
32842 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
32843 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
32844 abbreviations---for example:
32845
32846 @smallexample
32847 % sh config.sub i386-linux
32848 i386-pc-linux-gnu
32849 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
32850 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
32851 % sh config.sub hp9k700
32852 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
32853 % sh config.sub sun4
32854 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
32855 % sh config.sub sun3
32856 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
32857 % sh config.sub i986v
32858 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
32859 @end smallexample
32860
32861 @noindent
32862 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
32863 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
32864
32865 @node Configure Options
32866 @section @file{configure} Options
32867
32868 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
32869 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
32870 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
32871 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
32872
32873 @smallexample
32874 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
32875 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
32876 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
32877 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
32878 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
32879 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
32880 @var{host}
32881 @end smallexample
32882
32883 @noindent
32884 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
32885 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
32886 @samp{--}.
32887
32888 @table @code
32889 @item --help
32890 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
32891
32892 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
32893 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
32894 @file{@var{dir}}.
32895
32896 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
32897 Configure the source to install programs under directory
32898 @file{@var{dir}}.
32899
32900 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
32901 @need 2000
32902 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
32903 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
32904 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
32905 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
32906 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
32907 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
32908 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
32909 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
32910 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
32911 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
32912 @var{dirname}.
32913
32914 @item --norecursion
32915 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
32916 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
32917
32918 @item --target=@var{target}
32919 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
32920 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
32921 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
32922
32923 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
32924
32925 @item @var{host} @dots{}
32926 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
32927
32928 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
32929 @end table
32930
32931 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
32932 needed for special purposes only.
32933
32934 @node System-wide configuration
32935 @section System-wide configuration and settings
32936 @cindex system-wide init file
32937
32938 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
32939 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
32940 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
32941
32942 Here is the corresponding configure option:
32943
32944 @table @code
32945 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
32946 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
32947 @var{file}.
32948 @end table
32949
32950 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
32951 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
32952
32953 @itemize @bullet
32954 @item
32955 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
32956 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
32957 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
32958 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
32959 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
32960 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
32961
32962 @item
32963 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
32964 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
32965 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
32966 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
32967 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
32968 @end itemize
32969
32970 @node Maintenance Commands
32971 @appendix Maintenance Commands
32972 @cindex maintenance commands
32973 @cindex internal commands
32974
32975 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
32976 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
32977 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
32978 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
32979 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
32980
32981 @table @code
32982 @kindex maint agent
32983 @kindex maint agent-eval
32984 @item maint agent @var{expression}
32985 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
32986 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
32987 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
32988 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
32989 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
32990 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
32991 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
32992 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
32993 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
32994 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
32995 addition and return the sum.
32996
32997 @kindex maint info breakpoints
32998 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
32999 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
33000 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
33001 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
33002 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
33003 is shown:
33004
33005 @table @code
33006 @item breakpoint
33007 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
33008
33009 @item watchpoint
33010 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
33011
33012 @item longjmp
33013 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
33014 @code{longjmp} calls.
33015
33016 @item longjmp resume
33017 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
33018
33019 @item until
33020 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
33021
33022 @item finish
33023 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
33024
33025 @item shlib events
33026 Shared library events.
33027
33028 @end table
33029
33030 @kindex set displaced-stepping
33031 @kindex show displaced-stepping
33032 @cindex displaced stepping support
33033 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
33034 @item set displaced-stepping
33035 @itemx show displaced-stepping
33036 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
33037 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
33038 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
33039 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
33040 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
33041
33042 @table @code
33043 @item set displaced-stepping on
33044 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
33045 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
33046
33047 @item set displaced-stepping off
33048 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
33049 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
33050
33051 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
33052 @item set displaced-stepping auto
33053 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
33054 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
33055 architecture supports displaced stepping.
33056 @end table
33057
33058 @kindex maint check-symtabs
33059 @item maint check-symtabs
33060 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
33061
33062 @kindex maint cplus first_component
33063 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
33064 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
33065
33066 @kindex maint cplus namespace
33067 @item maint cplus namespace
33068 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
33069
33070 @kindex maint demangle
33071 @item maint demangle @var{name}
33072 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
33073
33074 @kindex maint deprecate
33075 @kindex maint undeprecate
33076 @cindex deprecated commands
33077 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
33078 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
33079 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
33080 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
33081 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
33082 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
33083 the replacement as part of the warning.
33084
33085 @kindex maint dump-me
33086 @item maint dump-me
33087 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
33088 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
33089 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
33090 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
33091
33092 @kindex maint internal-error
33093 @kindex maint internal-warning
33094 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33095 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33096 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
33097 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
33098 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
33099 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
33100 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
33101 @value{GDBN} session.
33102
33103 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
33104 used as the text of the error or warning message.
33105
33106 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
33107
33108 @smallexample
33109 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
33110 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
33111 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
33112 debugging may prove unreliable.
33113 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
33114 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
33115 (@value{GDBP})
33116 @end smallexample
33117
33118 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
33119 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
33120
33121 @kindex maint set internal-error
33122 @kindex maint show internal-error
33123 @kindex maint set internal-warning
33124 @kindex maint show internal-warning
33125 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33126 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
33127 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33128 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
33129 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
33130 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
33131 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
33132 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
33133 described in the table below.
33134
33135 @table @samp
33136 @item quit
33137 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
33138 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
33139
33140 @item corefile
33141 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
33142 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
33143 @end table
33144
33145 @kindex maint packet
33146 @item maint packet @var{text}
33147 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
33148 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
33149 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
33150 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
33151 checksum.
33152
33153 @kindex maint print architecture
33154 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33155 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
33156 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
33157
33158 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
33159 @item maint print c-tdesc
33160 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
33161 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
33162 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
33163
33164 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
33165 @item maint print dummy-frames
33166 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
33167
33168 @smallexample
33169 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
33170 @dots{}
33171 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
33172 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
33173 58 return (a + b);
33174 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
33175 @dots{}
33176 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
33177 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
33178 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
33179 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
33180 (@value{GDBP})
33181 @end smallexample
33182
33183 Takes an optional file parameter.
33184
33185 @kindex maint print registers
33186 @kindex maint print raw-registers
33187 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
33188 @kindex maint print register-groups
33189 @kindex maint print remote-registers
33190 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33191 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33192 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33193 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33194 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33195 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
33196
33197 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
33198 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
33199 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
33200 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
33201 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
33202 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
33203 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
33204 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
33205 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
33206
33207 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
33208 write the information.
33209
33210 @kindex maint print reggroups
33211 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33212 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
33213 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
33214 information.
33215
33216 The register groups info looks like this:
33217
33218 @smallexample
33219 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
33220 Group Type
33221 general user
33222 float user
33223 all user
33224 vector user
33225 system user
33226 save internal
33227 restore internal
33228 @end smallexample
33229
33230 @kindex flushregs
33231 @item flushregs
33232 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
33233
33234 @kindex maint print objfiles
33235 @cindex info for known object files
33236 @item maint print objfiles
33237 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
33238 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
33239 and symtabs.
33240
33241 @kindex maint print section-scripts
33242 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
33243 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
33244 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
33245 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
33246 matching @var{regexp}.
33247 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
33248 and the full path if known.
33249 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
33250
33251 @kindex maint print statistics
33252 @cindex bcache statistics
33253 @item maint print statistics
33254 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
33255 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
33256 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
33257 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
33258 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
33259 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
33260 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
33261 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
33262 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
33263 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
33264 lengths.
33265
33266 @kindex maint print target-stack
33267 @cindex target stack description
33268 @item maint print target-stack
33269 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
33270 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
33271 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
33272 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
33273 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
33274 address.
33275
33276 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
33277 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
33278
33279 @kindex maint print type
33280 @cindex type chain of a data type
33281 @item maint print type @var{expr}
33282 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
33283 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
33284 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
33285 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
33286 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
33287
33288 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
33289 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
33290 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
33291 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
33292 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
33293 information.
33294
33295 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
33296 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
33297 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
33298 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
33299 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
33300 always see the disassembly form.
33301
33302 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
33303
33304 @smallexample
33305 (gdb) info addr argc
33306 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
33307 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
33308 @end smallexample
33309
33310 For more information on these expressions, see
33311 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
33312
33313 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
33314 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
33315 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
33316 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
33317 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
33318
33319 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
33320 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
33321 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
33322 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
33323 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
33324 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
33325 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
33326 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
33327 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
33328
33329 @kindex maint set profile
33330 @kindex maint show profile
33331 @cindex profiling GDB
33332 @item maint set profile
33333 @itemx maint show profile
33334 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
33335
33336 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
33337 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
33338 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
33339 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
33340 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
33341 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
33342 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
33343
33344 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
33345 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
33346
33347 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
33348 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
33349 @cindex hardware debug registers
33350 @item maint set show-debug-regs
33351 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
33352 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
33353 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
33354 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
33355 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
33356 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
33357
33358 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
33359 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
33360 @item maint set show-all-tib
33361 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
33362 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
33363 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
33364 command.
33365
33366 @kindex maint space
33367 @cindex memory used by commands
33368 @item maint space
33369 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
33370 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
33371 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
33372 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
33373 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33374
33375 @kindex maint time
33376 @cindex time of command execution
33377 @item maint time
33378 Control whether to display the execution time of @value{GDBN} for each command.
33379 If set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
33380 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
33381 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
33382 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
33383 CPU or, e.g., disk/network, latency.
33384 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
33385 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
33386 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
33387 spent by the program been debugged.
33388 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
33389 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33390
33391 @kindex maint translate-address
33392 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
33393 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
33394 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
33395 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
33396 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
33397 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
33398 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
33399
33400 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
33401 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
33402 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
33403
33404 @end table
33405
33406 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
33407 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
33408
33409 @table @code
33410 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
33411 @kindex set watchdog
33412 @cindex watchdog timer
33413 @cindex timeout for commands
33414 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
33415 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
33416 reports and error and the command is aborted.
33417
33418 @item show watchdog
33419 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
33420 @end table
33421
33422 @node Remote Protocol
33423 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
33424
33425 @menu
33426 * Overview::
33427 * Packets::
33428 * Stop Reply Packets::
33429 * General Query Packets::
33430 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
33431 * Tracepoint Packets::
33432 * Host I/O Packets::
33433 * Interrupts::
33434 * Notification Packets::
33435 * Remote Non-Stop::
33436 * Packet Acknowledgment::
33437 * Examples::
33438 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
33439 * Library List Format::
33440 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
33441 * Memory Map Format::
33442 * Thread List Format::
33443 * Traceframe Info Format::
33444 @end menu
33445
33446 @node Overview
33447 @section Overview
33448
33449 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
33450 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
33451 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
33452 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
33453
33454 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
33455 transmitted and received data, respectively.
33456
33457 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
33458 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
33459 @cindex remote serial protocol
33460 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
33461 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
33462 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
33463 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
33464 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
33465
33466 @smallexample
33467 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33468 @end smallexample
33469 @noindent
33470
33471 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
33472 @noindent
33473 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
33474 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
33475 eight bit unsigned checksum).
33476
33477 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
33478 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
33479
33480 @smallexample
33481 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33482 @end smallexample
33483
33484 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
33485 @noindent
33486 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
33487 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
33488 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
33489
33490 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
33491 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
33492 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
33493 retransmission):
33494
33495 @smallexample
33496 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33497 <- @code{+}
33498 @end smallexample
33499 @noindent
33500
33501 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
33502 once a connection is established.
33503 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
33504
33505 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
33506 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
33507 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
33508 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
33509 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
33510 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
33511 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
33512
33513 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
33514 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
33515 exceptions).
33516
33517 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
33518 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
33519 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
33520 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
33521
33522 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
33523 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
33524 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
33525
33526 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
33527 @anchor{Binary Data}
33528 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
33529 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
33530 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
33531 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
33532 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
33533 binary data.
33534
33535 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
33536 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
33537 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
33538 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
33539 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
33540 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
33541 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
33542 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
33543 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
33544 (described next).
33545
33546 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
33547 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
33548 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
33549 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
33550 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
33551 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
33552 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
33553 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
33554 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
33555 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
33556 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
33557 3}} more times.
33558
33559 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
33560 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
33561 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
33562 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
33563 @samp{0*"00}.
33564
33565 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
33566 error number. That number is not well defined.
33567
33568 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
33569 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
33570 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
33571 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
33572 on that response.
33573
33574 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
33575 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
33576 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
33577 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
33578 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
33579 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
33580
33581 @node Packets
33582 @section Packets
33583
33584 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
33585 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
33586 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
33587 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
33588
33589 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
33590 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
33591 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
33592 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
33593 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
33594 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
33595 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
33596 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
33597 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
33598 @var{baz}.
33599
33600 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
33601 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
33602 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
33603 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
33604 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
33605 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
33606 pick any thread.
33607
33608 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
33609 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
33610 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
33611 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
33612 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
33613 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
33614 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
33615 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
33616 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
33617 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
33618 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
33619 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
33620 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
33621
33622 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
33623 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
33624 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
33625 more information.
33626
33627 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
33628 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
33629
33630 Here are the packet descriptions.
33631
33632 @table @samp
33633
33634 @item !
33635 @cindex @samp{!} packet
33636 @anchor{extended mode}
33637 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
33638 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
33639 debugged.
33640
33641 Reply:
33642 @table @samp
33643 @item OK
33644 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
33645 @end table
33646
33647 @item ?
33648 @cindex @samp{?} packet
33649 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
33650 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
33651 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
33652
33653 Reply:
33654 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33655
33656 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
33657 @cindex @samp{A} packet
33658 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
33659 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
33660 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
33661
33662 Reply:
33663 @table @samp
33664 @item OK
33665 The arguments were set.
33666 @item E @var{NN}
33667 An error occurred.
33668 @end table
33669
33670 @item b @var{baud}
33671 @cindex @samp{b} packet
33672 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
33673 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
33674
33675 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
33676 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
33677 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
33678
33679 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
33680 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
33681 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
33682 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
33683 of view, nothing actually happened.}
33684
33685 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
33686 @cindex @samp{B} packet
33687 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
33688 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
33689
33690 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
33691 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
33692
33693 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
33694 @anchor{bc}
33695 @item bc
33696 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
33697 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33698
33699 Reply:
33700 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33701
33702 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
33703 @anchor{bs}
33704 @item bs
33705 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
33706 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33707
33708 Reply:
33709 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33710
33711 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
33712 @cindex @samp{c} packet
33713 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
33714 resume at current address.
33715
33716 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33717 packet}.
33718
33719 Reply:
33720 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33721
33722 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
33723 @cindex @samp{C} packet
33724 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
33725 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
33726
33727 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33728 packet}.
33729
33730 Reply:
33731 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33732
33733 @item d
33734 @cindex @samp{d} packet
33735 Toggle debug flag.
33736
33737 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
33738 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
33739
33740 @item D
33741 @itemx D;@var{pid}
33742 @cindex @samp{D} packet
33743 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
33744 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
33745 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
33746
33747 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
33748 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
33749 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
33750 big-endian hex string.
33751
33752 Reply:
33753 @table @samp
33754 @item OK
33755 for success
33756 @item E @var{NN}
33757 for an error
33758 @end table
33759
33760 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
33761 @cindex @samp{F} packet
33762 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
33763 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
33764 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
33765
33766 @item g
33767 @anchor{read registers packet}
33768 @cindex @samp{g} packet
33769 Read general registers.
33770
33771 Reply:
33772 @table @samp
33773 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33774 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
33775 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
33776 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
33777 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
33778 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
33779 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
33780
33781 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
33782 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
33783 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
33784 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
33785 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
33786 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
33787 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
33788 have been collected, and both have zero value:
33789
33790 @smallexample
33791 -> @code{g}
33792 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
33793 @end smallexample
33794
33795 @item E @var{NN}
33796 for an error.
33797 @end table
33798
33799 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
33800 @cindex @samp{G} packet
33801 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
33802 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
33803
33804 Reply:
33805 @table @samp
33806 @item OK
33807 for success
33808 @item E @var{NN}
33809 for an error
33810 @end table
33811
33812 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
33813 @cindex @samp{H} packet
33814 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
33815 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
33816 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
33817 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
33818 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
33819 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
33820 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
33821
33822 Reply:
33823 @table @samp
33824 @item OK
33825 for success
33826 @item E @var{NN}
33827 for an error
33828 @end table
33829
33830 @c FIXME: JTC:
33831 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
33832 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
33833 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
33834 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
33835 @c described. For example:
33836 @c
33837 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
33838 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
33839 @c otherwise returns current registers.
33840 @c
33841 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
33842 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
33843 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
33844
33845 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
33846 @anchor{cycle step packet}
33847 @cindex @samp{i} packet
33848 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
33849 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
33850 step starting at that address.
33851
33852 @item I
33853 @cindex @samp{I} packet
33854 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
33855 step packet}.
33856
33857 @item k
33858 @cindex @samp{k} packet
33859 Kill request.
33860
33861 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
33862 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
33863 thread?)}.
33864
33865 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
33866 @cindex @samp{m} packet
33867 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
33868 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
33869
33870 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
33871 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
33872 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
33873 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
33874 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
33875 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
33876 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
33877 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
33878
33879 Reply:
33880 @table @samp
33881 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33882 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
33883 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
33884 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
33885 @item E @var{NN}
33886 @var{NN} is errno
33887 @end table
33888
33889 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
33890 @cindex @samp{M} packet
33891 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
33892 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
33893 hexadecimal number.
33894
33895 Reply:
33896 @table @samp
33897 @item OK
33898 for success
33899 @item E @var{NN}
33900 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
33901 written).
33902 @end table
33903
33904 @item p @var{n}
33905 @cindex @samp{p} packet
33906 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
33907 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
33908 register value is encoded.
33909
33910 Reply:
33911 @table @samp
33912 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33913 the register's value
33914 @item E @var{NN}
33915 for an error
33916 @item
33917 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
33918 @end table
33919
33920 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
33921 @anchor{write register packet}
33922 @cindex @samp{P} packet
33923 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
33924 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
33925 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
33926
33927 Reply:
33928 @table @samp
33929 @item OK
33930 for success
33931 @item E @var{NN}
33932 for an error
33933 @end table
33934
33935 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
33936 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
33937 @cindex @samp{q} packet
33938 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
33939 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
33940 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
33941
33942 @item r
33943 @cindex @samp{r} packet
33944 Reset the entire system.
33945
33946 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
33947
33948 @item R @var{XX}
33949 @cindex @samp{R} packet
33950 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
33951 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
33952
33953 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
33954
33955 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
33956 @cindex @samp{s} packet
33957 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
33958 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
33959
33960 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33961 packet}.
33962
33963 Reply:
33964 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33965
33966 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
33967 @anchor{step with signal packet}
33968 @cindex @samp{S} packet
33969 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
33970 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
33971
33972 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33973 packet}.
33974
33975 Reply:
33976 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33977
33978 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
33979 @cindex @samp{t} packet
33980 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
33981 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
33982 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
33983
33984 @item T @var{thread-id}
33985 @cindex @samp{T} packet
33986 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
33987
33988 Reply:
33989 @table @samp
33990 @item OK
33991 thread is still alive
33992 @item E @var{NN}
33993 thread is dead
33994 @end table
33995
33996 @item v
33997 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
33998 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
33999
34000 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
34001 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
34002 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
34003 The process ID is a
34004 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
34005 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
34006 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
34007
34008 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
34009 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
34010 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
34011 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
34012 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
34013 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
34014 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
34015 @c stopping or restarting threads.
34016
34017 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34018
34019 Reply:
34020 @table @samp
34021 @item E @var{nn}
34022 for an error
34023 @item @r{Any stop packet}
34024 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34025 @item OK
34026 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
34027 @end table
34028
34029 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
34030 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
34031 @anchor{vCont packet}
34032 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
34033 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
34034 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
34035 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
34036 in their current state in non-stop mode.
34037 Specifying multiple
34038 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
34039 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34040
34041 Currently supported actions are:
34042
34043 @table @samp
34044 @item c
34045 Continue.
34046 @item C @var{sig}
34047 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
34048 @item s
34049 Step.
34050 @item S @var{sig}
34051 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
34052 @item t
34053 Stop.
34054 @end table
34055
34056 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
34057 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
34058 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
34059
34060 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
34061 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
34062 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
34063 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
34064 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
34065 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
34066 as an implementation detail.
34067
34068 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
34069 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
34070 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
34071 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
34072 @var{thread-id}.
34073
34074 Reply:
34075 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34076
34077 @item vCont?
34078 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
34079 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
34080
34081 Reply:
34082 @table @samp
34083 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
34084 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
34085 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
34086 @item
34087 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
34088 @end table
34089
34090 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
34091 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
34092 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
34093 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
34094
34095 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
34096 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
34097 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
34098 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
34099 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
34100 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
34101 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
34102 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
34103 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
34104 packet is received.
34105
34106 Reply:
34107 @table @samp
34108 @item OK
34109 for success
34110 @item E @var{NN}
34111 for an error
34112 @end table
34113
34114 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34115 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
34116 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
34117 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
34118 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
34119 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
34120 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
34121 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
34122 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
34123 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
34124 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
34125 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
34126
34127
34128 Reply:
34129 @table @samp
34130 @item OK
34131 for success
34132 @item E.memtype
34133 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
34134 @item E @var{NN}
34135 for an error
34136 @end table
34137
34138 @item vFlashDone
34139 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
34140 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
34141 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
34142 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
34143 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
34144 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
34145 request is completed.
34146
34147 @item vKill;@var{pid}
34148 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
34149 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
34150 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
34151 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
34152 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
34153
34154 Reply:
34155 @table @samp
34156 @item E @var{nn}
34157 for an error
34158 @item OK
34159 for success
34160 @end table
34161
34162 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
34163 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
34164 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
34165 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
34166 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
34167 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
34168 state.
34169
34170 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
34171
34172 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34173
34174 Reply:
34175 @table @samp
34176 @item E @var{nn}
34177 for an error
34178 @item @r{Any stop packet}
34179 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34180 @end table
34181
34182 @item vStopped
34183 @anchor{vStopped packet}
34184 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
34185
34186 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
34187 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
34188
34189 Reply:
34190 @table @samp
34191 @item @r{Any stop packet}
34192 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34193 @item OK
34194 if there are no unreported stop events
34195 @end table
34196
34197 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34198 @anchor{X packet}
34199 @cindex @samp{X} packet
34200 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
34201 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
34202 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
34203
34204 Reply:
34205 @table @samp
34206 @item OK
34207 for success
34208 @item E @var{NN}
34209 for an error
34210 @end table
34211
34212 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
34213 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
34214 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
34215 @cindex @samp{z} packet
34216 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
34217 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
34218 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
34219
34220 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
34221 separately.
34222
34223 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
34224 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
34225 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
34226 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
34227 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
34228 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
34229
34230 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34231 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34232 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
34233 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
34234 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
34235 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
34236
34237 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
34238 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
34239 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
34240 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
34241 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
34242 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
34243 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
34244
34245 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
34246 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
34247 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
34248 target, is not defined.}
34249
34250 Reply:
34251 @table @samp
34252 @item OK
34253 success
34254 @item
34255 not supported
34256 @item E @var{NN}
34257 for an error
34258 @end table
34259
34260 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34261 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34262 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
34263 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
34264 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
34265 address @var{addr}.
34266
34267 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
34268 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
34269 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
34270
34271 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
34272 movement.}
34273
34274 Reply:
34275 @table @samp
34276 @item OK
34277 success
34278 @item
34279 not supported
34280 @item E @var{NN}
34281 for an error
34282 @end table
34283
34284 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34285 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34286 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
34287 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
34288 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34289 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34290
34291 Reply:
34292 @table @samp
34293 @item OK
34294 success
34295 @item
34296 not supported
34297 @item E @var{NN}
34298 for an error
34299 @end table
34300
34301 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34302 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34303 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
34304 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
34305 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34306 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34307
34308 Reply:
34309 @table @samp
34310 @item OK
34311 success
34312 @item
34313 not supported
34314 @item E @var{NN}
34315 for an error
34316 @end table
34317
34318 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34319 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34320 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
34321 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
34322 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34323 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34324
34325 Reply:
34326 @table @samp
34327 @item OK
34328 success
34329 @item
34330 not supported
34331 @item E @var{NN}
34332 for an error
34333 @end table
34334
34335 @end table
34336
34337 @node Stop Reply Packets
34338 @section Stop Reply Packets
34339 @cindex stop reply packets
34340
34341 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
34342 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
34343 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
34344 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
34345 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
34346 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
34347 @value{GDBN} source code.
34348
34349 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
34350 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
34351 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
34352 components.
34353
34354 @table @samp
34355
34356 @item S @var{AA}
34357 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
34358 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
34359 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
34360
34361 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
34362 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
34363 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
34364 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
34365 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
34366 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
34367 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
34368 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
34369
34370 @itemize @bullet
34371 @item
34372 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
34373 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
34374 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
34375 two-digit hex number.
34376
34377 @item
34378 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
34379 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34380
34381 @item
34382 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
34383 the core on which the stop event was detected.
34384
34385 @item
34386 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
34387 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
34388 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
34389 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
34390
34391 @item
34392 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
34393 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
34394 future.
34395 @end itemize
34396
34397 The currently defined stop reasons are:
34398
34399 @table @samp
34400 @item watch
34401 @itemx rwatch
34402 @itemx awatch
34403 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
34404 hex.
34405
34406 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
34407 @item library
34408 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
34409 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
34410 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
34411
34412 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
34413 @item replaylog
34414 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
34415 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
34416 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
34417 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
34418 for more information.
34419 @end table
34420
34421 @item W @var{AA}
34422 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
34423 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
34424 applicable to certain targets.
34425
34426 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
34427 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
34428 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
34429 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
34430
34431 @item X @var{AA}
34432 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
34433 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
34434
34435 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
34436 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
34437 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
34438 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
34439
34440 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
34441 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
34442 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
34443 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
34444 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
34445
34446 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
34447 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
34448 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
34449 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
34450 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
34451 system calls.
34452
34453 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
34454 this very system call.
34455
34456 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
34457 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
34458 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
34459 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
34460 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
34461 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
34462
34463 @end table
34464
34465 @node General Query Packets
34466 @section General Query Packets
34467 @cindex remote query requests
34468
34469 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
34470 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
34471 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
34472 sending information to and from the stub.
34473
34474 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
34475 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
34476 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
34477 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
34478 conventions:
34479
34480 @itemize @bullet
34481 @item
34482 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
34483 @item
34484 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
34485 letter.
34486 @item
34487 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
34488 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
34489 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
34490 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
34491 @end itemize
34492
34493 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
34494 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
34495 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
34496 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
34497 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
34498 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
34499 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
34500 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
34501 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
34502 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
34503 packet.}.
34504
34505 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
34506 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
34507 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
34508 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
34509 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
34510
34511 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
34512
34513 @table @samp
34514
34515 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
34516 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
34517 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
34518 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
34519 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
34520 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
34521 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
34522 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
34523 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
34524 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
34525 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
34526
34527 @item qC
34528 @cindex current thread, remote request
34529 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
34530 Return the current thread ID.
34531
34532 Reply:
34533 @table @samp
34534 @item QC @var{thread-id}
34535 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
34536 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34537 @item @r{(anything else)}
34538 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
34539 @end table
34540
34541 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
34542 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
34543 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
34544 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
34545 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
34546 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
34547 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
34548
34549 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
34550 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
34551 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
34552 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
34553 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
34554 detect trailing zeros.
34555
34556 Reply:
34557 @table @samp
34558 @item E @var{NN}
34559 An error (such as memory fault)
34560 @item C @var{crc32}
34561 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
34562 @end table
34563
34564 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
34565 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
34566 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
34567 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
34568 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
34569 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
34570 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
34571 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
34572 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
34573 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
34574 randomization.
34575
34576 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34577
34578 Reply:
34579 @table @samp
34580 @item OK
34581 The request succeeded.
34582
34583 @item E @var{nn}
34584 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34585
34586 @item
34587 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
34588 by the stub.
34589 @end table
34590
34591 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34592 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34593 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
34594 address space randomization.
34595
34596 @item qfThreadInfo
34597 @itemx qsThreadInfo
34598 @cindex list active threads, remote request
34599 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
34600 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
34601 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
34602 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
34603 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
34604 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
34605 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
34606 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
34607
34608 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
34609
34610 Reply:
34611 @table @samp
34612 @item m @var{thread-id}
34613 A single thread ID
34614 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
34615 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
34616 @item l
34617 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
34618 @end table
34619
34620 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
34621 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
34622 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
34623 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
34624 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
34625 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
34626 fields.
34627
34628 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
34629 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
34630 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
34631 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
34632 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
34633
34634 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
34635 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
34636
34637 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
34638 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
34639 information associated with the variable.)
34640
34641 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
34642 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
34643 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
34644 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
34645 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
34646 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
34647
34648 Reply:
34649 @table @samp
34650 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34651 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
34652 local storage requested.
34653
34654 @item E @var{nn}
34655 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34656
34657 @item
34658 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
34659 @end table
34660
34661 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
34662 @cindex get thread information block address
34663 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
34664 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
34665
34666 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
34667
34668 Reply:
34669 @table @samp
34670 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34671 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
34672 thread information block.
34673
34674 @item E @var{nn}
34675 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
34676 address could not be retrieved.
34677
34678 @item
34679 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
34680 @end table
34681
34682 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
34683 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
34684 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
34685 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
34686 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
34687 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
34688 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
34689
34690 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
34691
34692 Reply:
34693 @table @samp
34694 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
34695 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
34696 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
34697 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
34698 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
34699 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
34700 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
34701 @end table
34702
34703 @item qOffsets
34704 @cindex section offsets, remote request
34705 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
34706 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
34707 image.
34708
34709 Reply:
34710 @table @samp
34711 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
34712 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
34713 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
34714 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
34715 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
34716 segments by the supplied offsets.
34717
34718 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
34719 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
34720 to the @code{Bss} section.}
34721
34722 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
34723 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
34724 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
34725 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
34726 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
34727 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
34728 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
34729 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
34730 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
34731 @end table
34732
34733 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
34734 @cindex thread information, remote request
34735 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
34736 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
34737 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
34738 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
34739
34740 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
34741 (see below).
34742
34743 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
34744
34745 @item QNonStop:1
34746 @item QNonStop:0
34747 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
34748 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
34749 @anchor{QNonStop}
34750 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
34751 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
34752
34753 Reply:
34754 @table @samp
34755 @item OK
34756 The request succeeded.
34757
34758 @item E @var{nn}
34759 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34760
34761 @item
34762 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
34763 the stub.
34764 @end table
34765
34766 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34767 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34768 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
34769 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
34770
34771 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
34772 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
34773 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
34774 @anchor{QPassSignals}
34775 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
34776 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
34777 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
34778 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
34779 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
34780 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
34781 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
34782 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
34783 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
34784
34785 Reply:
34786 @table @samp
34787 @item OK
34788 The request succeeded.
34789
34790 @item E @var{nn}
34791 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34792
34793 @item
34794 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
34795 the stub.
34796 @end table
34797
34798 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
34799 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
34800 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34801 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34802
34803 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
34804 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
34805 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
34806 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
34807 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
34808 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
34809 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
34810 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
34811 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
34812
34813 Reply:
34814 @table @samp
34815 @item OK
34816 A command response with no output.
34817 @item @var{OUTPUT}
34818 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
34819 @item E @var{NN}
34820 Indicate a badly formed request.
34821 @item
34822 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
34823 @end table
34824
34825 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
34826 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
34827 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
34828 packets.)
34829
34830 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
34831 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
34832 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
34833 @anchor{qSearch memory}
34834 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
34835 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
34836 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
34837
34838 Reply:
34839 @table @samp
34840 @item 0
34841 The pattern was not found.
34842 @item 1,address
34843 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
34844 @item E @var{NN}
34845 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
34846 @item
34847 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
34848 @end table
34849
34850 @item QStartNoAckMode
34851 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
34852 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
34853 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
34854 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
34855
34856 Reply:
34857 @table @samp
34858 @item OK
34859 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
34860 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
34861 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
34862 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
34863 @item
34864 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
34865 @end table
34866
34867 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
34868 @cindex supported packets, remote query
34869 @cindex features of the remote protocol
34870 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
34871 @anchor{qSupported}
34872 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
34873 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
34874 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
34875 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
34876 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
34877 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
34878 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
34879 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
34880 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
34881 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
34882 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
34883 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
34884 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
34885 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
34886
34887 Reply:
34888 @table @samp
34889 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
34890 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
34891 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
34892 possible forms).
34893 @item
34894 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
34895 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
34896 @end table
34897
34898 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
34899 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
34900 are:
34901
34902 @table @samp
34903 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
34904 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
34905 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
34906 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
34907 @item @var{name}+
34908 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
34909 need an associated value.
34910 @item @var{name}-
34911 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
34912 @item @var{name}?
34913 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
34914 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
34915 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
34916 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
34917 @end table
34918
34919 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
34920 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
34921 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
34922 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
34923 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
34924
34925 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
34926 are defined:
34927
34928 @table @samp
34929 @item multiprocess
34930 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
34931 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
34932 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
34933 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
34934 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
34935
34936 @item xmlRegisters
34937 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
34938 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
34939 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
34940 description.
34941
34942 @item qRelocInsn
34943 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
34944 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
34945 instruction reply packet}).
34946 @end table
34947
34948 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
34949 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
34950 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
34951 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
34952 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
34953 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
34954 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
34955 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
34956 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
34957 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
34958 all the features it supports.
34959
34960 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
34961 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
34962
34963 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
34964 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
34965 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
34966 form response.
34967
34968 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
34969 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
34970 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
34971 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
34972
34973 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
34974 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
34975 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
34976 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
34977 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
34978
34979 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
34980
34981 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
34982 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
34983 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
34984 @item Feature Name
34985 @tab Value Required
34986 @tab Default
34987 @tab Probe Allowed
34988
34989 @item @samp{PacketSize}
34990 @tab Yes
34991 @tab @samp{-}
34992 @tab No
34993
34994 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
34995 @tab No
34996 @tab @samp{-}
34997 @tab Yes
34998
34999 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
35000 @tab No
35001 @tab @samp{-}
35002 @tab Yes
35003
35004 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
35005 @tab No
35006 @tab @samp{-}
35007 @tab Yes
35008
35009 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
35010 @tab No
35011 @tab @samp{-}
35012 @tab Yes
35013
35014 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
35015 @tab No
35016 @tab @samp{-}
35017 @tab Yes
35018
35019 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
35020 @tab No
35021 @tab @samp{-}
35022 @tab Yes
35023
35024 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
35025 @tab No
35026 @tab @samp{-}
35027 @tab Yes
35028
35029 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
35030 @tab No
35031 @tab @samp{-}
35032 @tab Yes
35033
35034 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
35035 @tab No
35036 @tab @samp{-}
35037 @tab Yes
35038
35039 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
35040 @tab No
35041 @tab @samp{-}
35042 @tab Yes
35043
35044 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
35045 @tab No
35046 @tab @samp{-}
35047 @tab Yes
35048
35049 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
35050 @tab No
35051 @tab @samp{-}
35052 @tab Yes
35053
35054 @item @samp{QNonStop}
35055 @tab No
35056 @tab @samp{-}
35057 @tab Yes
35058
35059 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
35060 @tab No
35061 @tab @samp{-}
35062 @tab Yes
35063
35064 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
35065 @tab No
35066 @tab @samp{-}
35067 @tab Yes
35068
35069 @item @samp{multiprocess}
35070 @tab No
35071 @tab @samp{-}
35072 @tab No
35073
35074 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
35075 @tab No
35076 @tab @samp{-}
35077 @tab No
35078
35079 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
35080 @tab No
35081 @tab @samp{-}
35082 @tab No
35083
35084 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
35085 @tab No
35086 @tab @samp{-}
35087 @tab No
35088
35089 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
35090 @tab No
35091 @tab @samp{-}
35092 @tab No
35093
35094 @item @samp{QAllow}
35095 @tab No
35096 @tab @samp{-}
35097 @tab No
35098
35099 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
35100 @tab No
35101 @tab @samp{-}
35102 @tab No
35103
35104 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
35105 @tab No
35106 @tab @samp{-}
35107 @tab No
35108
35109 @item @samp{tracenz}
35110 @tab No
35111 @tab @samp{-}
35112 @tab No
35113
35114 @end multitable
35115
35116 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
35117
35118 @table @samp
35119 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
35120 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
35121 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
35122 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
35123 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
35124 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
35125 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
35126 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
35127 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
35128 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
35129
35130 @item qXfer:auxv:read
35131 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
35132 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
35133
35134 @item qXfer:features:read
35135 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
35136 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
35137
35138 @item qXfer:libraries:read
35139 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
35140 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
35141
35142 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
35143 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
35144 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
35145
35146 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
35147 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
35148 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
35149
35150 @item qXfer:sdata:read
35151 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
35152 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
35153
35154 @item qXfer:spu:read
35155 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
35156 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
35157
35158 @item qXfer:spu:write
35159 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
35160 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
35161
35162 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
35163 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
35164 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
35165
35166 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
35167 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
35168 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
35169
35170 @item qXfer:threads:read
35171 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
35172 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
35173
35174 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
35175 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
35176 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
35177
35178 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
35179 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
35180 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
35181
35182 @item QNonStop
35183 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
35184 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
35185
35186 @item QPassSignals
35187 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
35188 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
35189
35190 @item QStartNoAckMode
35191 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
35192 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
35193
35194 @item multiprocess
35195 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
35196 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
35197 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
35198 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
35199 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
35200 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
35201 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
35202 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
35203 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
35204 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
35205 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
35206
35207 @item qXfer:osdata:read
35208 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
35209 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
35210
35211 @item ConditionalTracepoints
35212 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
35213 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
35214
35215 @item ReverseContinue
35216 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
35217 (@pxref{bc}).
35218
35219 @item ReverseStep
35220 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
35221 (@pxref{bs}).
35222
35223 @item TracepointSource
35224 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
35225 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
35226
35227 @item QAllow
35228 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
35229
35230 @item QDisableRandomization
35231 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
35232
35233 @item StaticTracepoint
35234 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
35235 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
35236
35237 @item InstallInTrace
35238 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
35239 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
35240
35241 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
35242 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
35243 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
35244 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
35245
35246 @item tracenz
35247 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
35248 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
35249 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
35250
35251 @end table
35252
35253 @item qSymbol::
35254 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
35255 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
35256 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
35257 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
35258
35259 Reply:
35260 @table @samp
35261 @item OK
35262 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
35263 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
35264 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
35265 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
35266 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
35267 below.
35268 @end table
35269
35270 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
35271 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
35272
35273 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
35274 target has previously requested.
35275
35276 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
35277 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
35278 will be empty.
35279
35280 Reply:
35281 @table @samp
35282 @item OK
35283 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
35284 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
35285 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
35286 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
35287 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
35288 @end table
35289
35290 @item qTBuffer
35291 @item QTBuffer
35292 @item QTDisconnected
35293 @itemx QTDP
35294 @itemx QTDPsrc
35295 @itemx QTDV
35296 @itemx qTfP
35297 @itemx qTfV
35298 @itemx QTFrame
35299 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
35300
35301 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
35302
35303 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
35304 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
35305 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
35306 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
35307 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
35308 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
35309 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
35310 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
35311 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
35312 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
35313 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
35314
35315 Reply:
35316 @table @samp
35317 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
35318 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
35319 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
35320 the thread's attributes.
35321 @end table
35322
35323 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
35324 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
35325 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
35326 packets.)
35327
35328 @item QTNotes
35329 @item qTP
35330 @item QTSave
35331 @item qTsP
35332 @item qTsV
35333 @itemx QTStart
35334 @itemx QTStop
35335 @itemx QTEnable
35336 @itemx QTDisable
35337 @itemx QTinit
35338 @itemx QTro
35339 @itemx qTStatus
35340 @itemx qTV
35341 @itemx qTfSTM
35342 @itemx qTsSTM
35343 @itemx qTSTMat
35344 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
35345
35346 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35347 @cindex read special object, remote request
35348 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
35349 @anchor{qXfer read}
35350 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
35351 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
35352 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
35353 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
35354 additional details about what data to access.
35355
35356 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
35357 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
35358 formats, listed below.
35359
35360 @table @samp
35361 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35362 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
35363 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
35364 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
35365
35366 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35367 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35368
35369 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35370 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
35371 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
35372 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
35373 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
35374
35375 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35376 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35377
35378 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35379 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
35380 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
35381 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35382 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35383
35384 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
35385 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
35386 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
35387
35388 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35389 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35390
35391 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35392 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
35393 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
35394 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
35395 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35396
35397 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
35398 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
35399
35400 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35401 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35402
35403 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35404 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
35405 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
35406 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35407 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35408
35409 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35410 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35411
35412 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35413 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
35414
35415 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
35416 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
35417 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
35418 Action Lists}.
35419
35420 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35421 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35422 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35423
35424 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35425 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
35426 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
35427 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
35428 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35429
35430 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35431 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35432 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35433
35434 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35435 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
35436 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
35437 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
35438 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
35439 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
35440 in that context to be accessed.
35441
35442 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35443 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35444 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35445
35446 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35447 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
35448 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
35449 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35450 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35451
35452 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35453 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35454
35455 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35456 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
35457
35458 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
35459 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
35460 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35461
35462 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35463 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35464
35465 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35466 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
35467 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
35468 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
35469 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
35470
35471 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35472 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35473
35474 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35475 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
35476 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
35477 @xref{Operating System Information}.
35478
35479 @end table
35480
35481 Reply:
35482 @table @samp
35483 @item m @var{data}
35484 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
35485 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
35486 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
35487 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
35488 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
35489 request.
35490
35491 @item l @var{data}
35492 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
35493 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
35494 than the @var{length} in the request.
35495
35496 @item l
35497 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
35498 There is no more data to be read.
35499
35500 @item E00
35501 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
35502
35503 @item E @var{nn}
35504 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
35505 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
35506
35507 @item
35508 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
35509 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
35510 @end table
35511
35512 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35513 @cindex write data into object, remote request
35514 @anchor{qXfer write}
35515 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
35516 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
35517 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
35518 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
35519 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
35520 to access.
35521
35522 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
35523 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
35524 formats, listed below.
35525
35526 @table @samp
35527 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35528 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
35529 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
35530 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
35531 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
35532
35533 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35534 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35535 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35536
35537 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35538 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
35539 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
35540 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
35541 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
35542 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
35543 in that context to be accessed.
35544
35545 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35546 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35547 @end table
35548
35549 Reply:
35550 @table @samp
35551 @item @var{nn}
35552 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
35553 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
35554
35555 @item E00
35556 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
35557
35558 @item E @var{nn}
35559 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
35560 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
35561
35562 @item
35563 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
35564 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
35565 @end table
35566
35567 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
35568 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
35569 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
35570 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
35571 must respond with an empty packet.
35572
35573 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
35574 @cindex query attached, remote request
35575 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
35576 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
35577 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
35578 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
35579 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
35580 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
35581 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
35582
35583 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
35584 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
35585 the @code{quit} command.
35586
35587 Reply:
35588 @table @samp
35589 @item 1
35590 The remote server attached to an existing process.
35591 @item 0
35592 The remote server created a new process.
35593 @item E @var{NN}
35594 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
35595 @end table
35596
35597 @end table
35598
35599 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
35600 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
35601
35602 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
35603 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
35604 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
35605
35606 @subsection ARM
35607
35608 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
35609
35610 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
35611
35612 @table @r
35613
35614 @item 2
35615 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
35616
35617 @item 3
35618 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
35619
35620 @item 4
35621 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
35622
35623 @end table
35624
35625 @subsection MIPS
35626
35627 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
35628
35629 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
35630 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
35631 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
35632 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
35633 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
35634 most-significant - least-significant.
35635
35636 @table @r
35637
35638 @item MIPS32
35639
35640 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
35641 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
35642 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
35643
35644 @item MIPS64
35645
35646 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
35647 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
35648 as @code{MIPS32}.
35649
35650 @end table
35651
35652 @node Tracepoint Packets
35653 @section Tracepoint Packets
35654 @cindex tracepoint packets
35655 @cindex packets, tracepoint
35656
35657 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
35658 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
35659
35660 @table @samp
35661
35662 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
35663 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
35664 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
35665 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
35666 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
35667 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
35668 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
35669 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
35670 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
35671 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
35672 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
35673 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
35674 actions.
35675
35676 Replies:
35677 @table @samp
35678 @item OK
35679 The packet was understood and carried out.
35680 @item qRelocInsn
35681 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
35682 @item
35683 The packet was not recognized.
35684 @end table
35685
35686 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
35687 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
35688 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
35689 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
35690 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
35691 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
35692 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
35693
35694 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
35695 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
35696 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
35697 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
35698 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
35699 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
35700 tracepoint actions.
35701
35702 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
35703 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
35704 following forms:
35705
35706 @table @samp
35707
35708 @item R @var{mask}
35709 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
35710 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
35711 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
35712 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
35713 not fit in a 32-bit word.
35714
35715 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
35716 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
35717 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
35718 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
35719 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
35720 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
35721 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
35722
35723 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35724 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
35725 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
35726 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
35727 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
35728 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
35729 packet).
35730
35731 @end table
35732
35733 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
35734 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
35735 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
35736 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
35737 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
35738 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
35739 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
35740 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
35741
35742 Replies:
35743 @table @samp
35744 @item OK
35745 The packet was understood and carried out.
35746 @item qRelocInsn
35747 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
35748 @item
35749 The packet was not recognized.
35750 @end table
35751
35752 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
35753 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
35754 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
35755 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
35756 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
35757 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
35758 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
35759 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
35760
35761 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
35762 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
35763 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
35764 fit in a single packet.
35765 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
35766 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
35767
35768 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
35769 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
35770 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
35771 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
35772
35773 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
35774 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
35775 query packets.
35776
35777 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
35778 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
35779 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
35780 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
35781 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
35782 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
35783 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
35784 be found.
35785
35786 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
35787 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
35788 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
35789 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
35790 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
35791 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
35792 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
35793 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
35794 mentioned in expressions.
35795
35796 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
35797 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
35798 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
35799 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
35800
35801 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
35802 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
35803 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
35804 one of the following forms:
35805
35806 @table @samp
35807 @item F @var{f}
35808 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
35809 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
35810 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
35811
35812 @item T @var{t}
35813 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
35814 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
35815
35816 @end table
35817
35818 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
35819 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35820 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
35821 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
35822
35823 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
35824 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35825 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
35826 is a hexadecimal number.
35827
35828 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
35829 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35830 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
35831 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
35832 numbers.
35833
35834 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
35835 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
35836 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
35837
35838 @item qTMinFTPILen
35839 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
35840 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
35841 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
35842 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
35843 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
35844 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
35845 arrange for that.
35846
35847 Replies:
35848
35849 @table @samp
35850 @item 0
35851 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
35852 @item @var{length}
35853 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
35854 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
35855 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
35856 @item E
35857 An error has occurred.
35858 @item
35859 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
35860 @end table
35861
35862 @item QTStart
35863 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
35864 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
35865 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
35866 instruction reply packet}).
35867
35868 @item QTStop
35869 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
35870
35871 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
35872 @anchor{QTEnable}
35873 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
35874 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
35875 of data from it will resume.
35876
35877 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
35878 @anchor{QTDisable}
35879 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
35880 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
35881 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
35882
35883 @item QTinit
35884 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
35885
35886 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
35887 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
35888 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
35889 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
35890
35891 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
35892 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
35893 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
35894 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
35895
35896 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
35897 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
35898 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
35899 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
35900 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
35901
35902 @item qTStatus
35903 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
35904
35905 The reply has the form:
35906
35907 @table @samp
35908
35909 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
35910 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
35911 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
35912 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
35913
35914 @end table
35915
35916 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
35917 explanations as one of the optional fields:
35918
35919 @table @samp
35920
35921 @item tnotrun:0
35922 No trace has been run yet.
35923
35924 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
35925 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
35926 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
35927 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
35928 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
35929
35930 @item tfull:0
35931 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
35932
35933 @item tdisconnected:0
35934 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
35935
35936 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
35937 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
35938
35939 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
35940 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
35941 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
35942 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
35943 @var{text} is hex encoded.
35944
35945 @item tunknown:0
35946 The trace stopped for some other reason.
35947
35948 @end table
35949
35950 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
35951 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
35952 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
35953 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
35954 trace.
35955
35956 @table @samp
35957
35958 @item tframes:@var{n}
35959 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
35960
35961 @item tcreated:@var{n}
35962 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
35963 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
35964
35965 @item tsize:@var{n}
35966 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
35967
35968 @item tfree:@var{n}
35969 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
35970
35971 @item circular:@var{n}
35972 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
35973 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
35974 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
35975 and may fill up.
35976
35977 @item disconn:@var{n}
35978 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
35979 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
35980 that the trace run will stop.
35981
35982 @end table
35983
35984 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
35985 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
35986 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
35987 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
35988 address @var{addr}.
35989
35990 Replies:
35991 @table @samp
35992 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
35993 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
35994 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
35995 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
35996 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
35997
35998 @end table
35999
36000 @item qTV:@var{var}
36001 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
36002 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
36003 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
36004
36005 Replies:
36006 @table @samp
36007 @item V@var{value}
36008 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
36009 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
36010 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
36011 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
36012 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
36013 program is running.
36014
36015 @item U
36016 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
36017 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
36018 was not collected.
36019 @end table
36020
36021 @item qTfP
36022 @itemx qTsP
36023 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
36024 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
36025 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
36026 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
36027 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
36028
36029 @item qTfV
36030 @itemx qTsV
36031 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
36032 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
36033 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
36034 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
36035 trace state variables.
36036
36037 @item qTfSTM
36038 @itemx qTsSTM
36039 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
36040 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
36041 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
36042 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
36043
36044 Reply:
36045 @table @samp
36046 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
36047 A single marker
36048 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
36049 a comma-separated list of markers
36050 @item l
36051 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
36052 @item E @var{nn}
36053 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36054 @item
36055 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
36056 stub.
36057 @end table
36058
36059 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
36060 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
36061
36062 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
36063 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
36064 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
36065 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
36066 @dfn{last}).
36067
36068 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
36069 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
36070 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
36071 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
36072 tracepoint markers.
36073
36074 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
36075 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
36076 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
36077 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
36078 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
36079
36080 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
36081 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
36082 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
36083 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
36084 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
36085 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
36086 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
36087 available.
36088
36089 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
36090 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
36091 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
36092
36093 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
36094 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
36095 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
36096 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
36097
36098 @end table
36099
36100 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
36101 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
36102 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
36103 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
36104 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
36105 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
36106 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
36107 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
36108 it had executed in the original location.
36109
36110 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
36111 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
36112 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
36113 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
36114 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
36115 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
36116 format of the request is:
36117
36118 @table @samp
36119 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
36120
36121 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
36122 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
36123 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
36124 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
36125 memory starting at @var{to}.
36126 @end table
36127
36128 Replies:
36129 @table @samp
36130 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
36131 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
36132 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
36133 @item E @var{NN}
36134 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
36135 relocating the instruction.
36136 @end table
36137
36138 @node Host I/O Packets
36139 @section Host I/O Packets
36140 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
36141 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
36142
36143 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
36144 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
36145 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
36146 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
36147 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
36148 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
36149 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
36150 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
36151 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
36152 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
36153
36154 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
36155 its arguments. They have this format:
36156
36157 @table @samp
36158
36159 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
36160 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
36161 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
36162 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
36163 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
36164 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
36165 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
36166 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
36167 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
36168
36169 @end table
36170
36171 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
36172
36173 @table @samp
36174
36175 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
36176 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
36177 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
36178 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
36179 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
36180 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
36181 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
36182 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
36183 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
36184 @var{attachment}.
36185
36186 @item
36187 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
36188
36189 @end table
36190
36191 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
36192
36193 @table @samp
36194 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
36195 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
36196 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
36197 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
36198 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
36199 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
36200 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
36201
36202 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
36203 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
36204 -1 if an error occurs.
36205
36206 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
36207 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
36208 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
36209 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
36210 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
36211 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
36212 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
36213 @var{count} was zero.
36214
36215 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
36216 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
36217 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
36218 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
36219 some characters were escaped.
36220
36221 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
36222 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
36223 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
36224 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
36225 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
36226 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
36227 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
36228 error occurred.
36229
36230 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
36231 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
36232 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
36233
36234 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
36235 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
36236 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
36237
36238 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
36239 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
36240 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
36241 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
36242 some characters were escaped.
36243
36244 @end table
36245
36246 @node Interrupts
36247 @section Interrupts
36248 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
36249
36250 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
36251 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
36252 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
36253 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
36254
36255 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
36256 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
36257 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
36258 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
36259 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
36260
36261 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
36262 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
36263 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
36264 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
36265 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
36266 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
36267 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
36268 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
36269
36270 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
36271 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
36272 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
36273
36274 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
36275 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
36276 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
36277 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
36278 currently-executing threads and processes.
36279 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
36280 running program, it should send one of the stop
36281 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
36282 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
36283 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
36284 Interrupts received while the
36285 program is stopped are discarded.
36286
36287 @node Notification Packets
36288 @section Notification Packets
36289 @cindex notification packets
36290 @cindex packets, notification
36291
36292 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
36293 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
36294 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
36295 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
36296 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
36297 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
36298 is not a problem.
36299
36300 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
36301 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
36302 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
36303 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
36304 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
36305 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
36306 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
36307
36308 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
36309 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
36310
36311 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
36312 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
36313 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
36314 not they understand it.
36315
36316 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
36317 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
36318 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
36319 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
36320 recipients.
36321
36322 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
36323 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
36324 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
36325 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
36326 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
36327
36328 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
36329 defined:
36330
36331 @table @samp
36332 @item Stop: @var{reply}
36333 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
36334 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
36335 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
36336 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
36337 @value{GDBN}.
36338 @end table
36339
36340 @node Remote Non-Stop
36341 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
36342
36343 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
36344 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
36345 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
36346 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36347
36348 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
36349 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
36350 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
36351 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
36352 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
36353 probe the target state after a mode change.
36354
36355 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
36356 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
36357 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
36358 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
36359 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
36360 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
36361 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
36362 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
36363 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
36364 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
36365 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
36366
36367 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
36368 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
36369 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
36370 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
36371 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
36372 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
36373 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
36374 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
36375 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
36376 sending any queued stop events.
36377
36378 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
36379 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
36380 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
36381 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
36382 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
36383 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
36384 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
36385
36386 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
36387 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
36388 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
36389 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
36390 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
36391 process normally.
36392
36393 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
36394 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
36395 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
36396 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
36397 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
36398 should process normally.
36399
36400 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
36401 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
36402 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
36403 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
36404 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
36405
36406 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
36407 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
36408 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
36409 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
36410 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
36411 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
36412 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
36413 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
36414 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
36415 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
36416 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
36417 @samp{OK}.
36418
36419 @node Packet Acknowledgment
36420 @section Packet Acknowledgment
36421
36422 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
36423 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
36424 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
36425 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
36426 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
36427 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
36428 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
36429
36430 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
36431 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
36432 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
36433 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
36434 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
36435
36436 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
36437 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
36438 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
36439 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
36440
36441 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
36442 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
36443 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
36444 @pxref{qSupported}.
36445 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
36446 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
36447 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
36448 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
36449 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
36450 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
36451 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
36452
36453 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
36454 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
36455 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
36456 connection.
36457 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
36458 new connection is established,
36459 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
36460 for the current connection, once disabled.
36461
36462 @node Examples
36463 @section Examples
36464
36465 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
36466 does not get any direct output:
36467
36468 @smallexample
36469 -> @code{R00}
36470 <- @code{+}
36471 @emph{target restarts}
36472 -> @code{?}
36473 <- @code{+}
36474 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
36475 -> @code{+}
36476 @end smallexample
36477
36478 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
36479
36480 @smallexample
36481 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
36482 <- @code{+}
36483 -> @code{s}
36484 <- @code{+}
36485 @emph{time passes}
36486 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
36487 -> @code{+}
36488 -> @code{g}
36489 <- @code{+}
36490 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
36491 -> @code{+}
36492 @end smallexample
36493
36494 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
36495 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
36496 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
36497
36498 @menu
36499 * File-I/O Overview::
36500 * Protocol Basics::
36501 * The F Request Packet::
36502 * The F Reply Packet::
36503 * The Ctrl-C Message::
36504 * Console I/O::
36505 * List of Supported Calls::
36506 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
36507 * Constants::
36508 * File-I/O Examples::
36509 @end menu
36510
36511 @node File-I/O Overview
36512 @subsection File-I/O Overview
36513 @cindex file-i/o overview
36514
36515 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
36516 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
36517 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
36518 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
36519 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
36520 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
36521
36522 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
36523 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
36524 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
36525 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
36526 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
36527
36528 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
36529 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
36530 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
36531 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
36532 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
36533 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
36534 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
36535
36536 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
36537 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
36538 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
36539 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
36540 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
36541
36542 @smallexample
36543 (@value{GDBP}) continue
36544 <- target requests 'system call X'
36545 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
36546 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
36547 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
36548 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
36549 @end smallexample
36550
36551 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
36552 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
36553 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
36554 system are not supported by this protocol.
36555
36556 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
36557
36558 @node Protocol Basics
36559 @subsection Protocol Basics
36560 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
36561
36562 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
36563 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
36564 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
36565 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
36566 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
36567 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
36568 to call the appropriate host system call:
36569
36570 @itemize @bullet
36571 @item
36572 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
36573
36574 @item
36575 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
36576 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
36577 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
36578 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
36579
36580 @end itemize
36581
36582 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
36583
36584 @itemize @bullet
36585 @item
36586 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
36587 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
36588 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
36589 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
36590 packet.
36591
36592 @item
36593 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
36594 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
36595
36596 @item
36597 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
36598
36599 @item
36600 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
36601
36602 @item
36603 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
36604 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
36605 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
36606 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
36607 packet.
36608
36609 @end itemize
36610
36611 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
36612 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
36613
36614 @itemize @bullet
36615 @item
36616 Return value.
36617
36618 @item
36619 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
36620
36621 @item
36622 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
36623
36624 @end itemize
36625
36626 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
36627 the latest continue or step action.
36628
36629 @node The F Request Packet
36630 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
36631 @cindex file-i/o request packet
36632 @cindex @code{F} request packet
36633
36634 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
36635
36636 @table @samp
36637 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
36638
36639 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
36640 This is just the name of the function.
36641
36642 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
36643 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
36644 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
36645 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
36646 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
36647 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
36648 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
36649
36650 @end table
36651
36652
36653
36654 @node The F Reply Packet
36655 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
36656 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
36657 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
36658
36659 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
36660
36661 @table @samp
36662
36663 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
36664
36665 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
36666
36667 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
36668 representation.
36669 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
36670
36671 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
36672 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
36673 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
36674
36675 @smallexample
36676 F0,0,C
36677 @end smallexample
36678
36679 @noindent
36680 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
36681
36682 @smallexample
36683 F-1,4,C
36684 @end smallexample
36685
36686 @noindent
36687 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
36688
36689 @end table
36690
36691
36692 @node The Ctrl-C Message
36693 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
36694 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
36695
36696 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
36697 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
36698 the target should behave as if it had
36699 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
36700 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
36701 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
36702 packet.
36703
36704 It's important for the target to know in which
36705 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
36706
36707 @itemize @bullet
36708 @item
36709 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
36710
36711 @item
36712 The system call on the host has been finished.
36713
36714 @end itemize
36715
36716 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
36717 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
36718 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
36719 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
36720 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
36721 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
36722
36723 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
36724 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
36725 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
36726 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
36727 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
36728 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
36729 or the full action has been completed.
36730
36731 @node Console I/O
36732 @subsection Console I/O
36733 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
36734
36735 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
36736 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
36737 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
36738 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
36739 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
36740 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
36741 conditions is met:
36742
36743 @itemize @bullet
36744 @item
36745 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
36746 @code{read}
36747 system call is treated as finished.
36748
36749 @item
36750 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
36751 newline.
36752
36753 @item
36754 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
36755 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
36756
36757 @end itemize
36758
36759 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
36760 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
36761 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
36762 is stopped at the user's request.
36763
36764
36765 @node List of Supported Calls
36766 @subsection List of Supported Calls
36767 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
36768
36769 @menu
36770 * open::
36771 * close::
36772 * read::
36773 * write::
36774 * lseek::
36775 * rename::
36776 * unlink::
36777 * stat/fstat::
36778 * gettimeofday::
36779 * isatty::
36780 * system::
36781 @end menu
36782
36783 @node open
36784 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
36785 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
36786
36787 @table @asis
36788 @item Synopsis:
36789 @smallexample
36790 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
36791 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
36792 @end smallexample
36793
36794 @item Request:
36795 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
36796
36797 @noindent
36798 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
36799
36800 @table @code
36801 @item O_CREAT
36802 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
36803 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
36804 are concerned.
36805
36806 @item O_EXCL
36807 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
36808 an error and open() fails.
36809
36810 @item O_TRUNC
36811 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
36812 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
36813 truncated to zero length.
36814
36815 @item O_APPEND
36816 The file is opened in append mode.
36817
36818 @item O_RDONLY
36819 The file is opened for reading only.
36820
36821 @item O_WRONLY
36822 The file is opened for writing only.
36823
36824 @item O_RDWR
36825 The file is opened for reading and writing.
36826 @end table
36827
36828 @noindent
36829 Other bits are silently ignored.
36830
36831
36832 @noindent
36833 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
36834
36835 @table @code
36836 @item S_IRUSR
36837 User has read permission.
36838
36839 @item S_IWUSR
36840 User has write permission.
36841
36842 @item S_IRGRP
36843 Group has read permission.
36844
36845 @item S_IWGRP
36846 Group has write permission.
36847
36848 @item S_IROTH
36849 Others have read permission.
36850
36851 @item S_IWOTH
36852 Others have write permission.
36853 @end table
36854
36855 @noindent
36856 Other bits are silently ignored.
36857
36858
36859 @item Return value:
36860 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
36861 occurred.
36862
36863 @item Errors:
36864
36865 @table @code
36866 @item EEXIST
36867 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
36868
36869 @item EISDIR
36870 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
36871
36872 @item EACCES
36873 The requested access is not allowed.
36874
36875 @item ENAMETOOLONG
36876 @var{pathname} was too long.
36877
36878 @item ENOENT
36879 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
36880
36881 @item ENODEV
36882 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
36883
36884 @item EROFS
36885 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
36886 write access was requested.
36887
36888 @item EFAULT
36889 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
36890
36891 @item ENOSPC
36892 No space on device to create the file.
36893
36894 @item EMFILE
36895 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
36896
36897 @item ENFILE
36898 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
36899 has been reached.
36900
36901 @item EINTR
36902 The call was interrupted by the user.
36903 @end table
36904
36905 @end table
36906
36907 @node close
36908 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
36909 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
36910
36911 @table @asis
36912 @item Synopsis:
36913 @smallexample
36914 int close(int fd);
36915 @end smallexample
36916
36917 @item Request:
36918 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
36919
36920 @item Return value:
36921 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
36922
36923 @item Errors:
36924
36925 @table @code
36926 @item EBADF
36927 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
36928
36929 @item EINTR
36930 The call was interrupted by the user.
36931 @end table
36932
36933 @end table
36934
36935 @node read
36936 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
36937 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
36938
36939 @table @asis
36940 @item Synopsis:
36941 @smallexample
36942 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
36943 @end smallexample
36944
36945 @item Request:
36946 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
36947
36948 @item Return value:
36949 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
36950 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
36951 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
36952
36953 @item Errors:
36954
36955 @table @code
36956 @item EBADF
36957 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
36958 reading.
36959
36960 @item EFAULT
36961 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36962
36963 @item EINTR
36964 The call was interrupted by the user.
36965 @end table
36966
36967 @end table
36968
36969 @node write
36970 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
36971 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
36972
36973 @table @asis
36974 @item Synopsis:
36975 @smallexample
36976 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
36977 @end smallexample
36978
36979 @item Request:
36980 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
36981
36982 @item Return value:
36983 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
36984 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
36985 is returned.
36986
36987 @item Errors:
36988
36989 @table @code
36990 @item EBADF
36991 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
36992 writing.
36993
36994 @item EFAULT
36995 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36996
36997 @item EFBIG
36998 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
36999 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
37000
37001 @item ENOSPC
37002 No space on device to write the data.
37003
37004 @item EINTR
37005 The call was interrupted by the user.
37006 @end table
37007
37008 @end table
37009
37010 @node lseek
37011 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
37012 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
37013
37014 @table @asis
37015 @item Synopsis:
37016 @smallexample
37017 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
37018 @end smallexample
37019
37020 @item Request:
37021 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
37022
37023 @var{flag} is one of:
37024
37025 @table @code
37026 @item SEEK_SET
37027 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
37028
37029 @item SEEK_CUR
37030 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
37031 bytes.
37032
37033 @item SEEK_END
37034 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
37035 bytes.
37036 @end table
37037
37038 @item Return value:
37039 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
37040 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
37041 value of -1 is returned.
37042
37043 @item Errors:
37044
37045 @table @code
37046 @item EBADF
37047 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
37048
37049 @item ESPIPE
37050 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
37051
37052 @item EINVAL
37053 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
37054
37055 @item EINTR
37056 The call was interrupted by the user.
37057 @end table
37058
37059 @end table
37060
37061 @node rename
37062 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
37063 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
37064
37065 @table @asis
37066 @item Synopsis:
37067 @smallexample
37068 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
37069 @end smallexample
37070
37071 @item Request:
37072 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
37073
37074 @item Return value:
37075 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37076
37077 @item Errors:
37078
37079 @table @code
37080 @item EISDIR
37081 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
37082 directory.
37083
37084 @item EEXIST
37085 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
37086
37087 @item EBUSY
37088 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
37089 process.
37090
37091 @item EINVAL
37092 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
37093 of itself.
37094
37095 @item ENOTDIR
37096 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
37097 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
37098 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
37099
37100 @item EFAULT
37101 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
37102
37103 @item EACCES
37104 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37105
37106 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37107
37108 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
37109
37110 @item ENOENT
37111 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
37112
37113 @item EROFS
37114 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
37115
37116 @item ENOSPC
37117 The device containing the file has no room for the new
37118 directory entry.
37119
37120 @item EINTR
37121 The call was interrupted by the user.
37122 @end table
37123
37124 @end table
37125
37126 @node unlink
37127 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
37128 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
37129
37130 @table @asis
37131 @item Synopsis:
37132 @smallexample
37133 int unlink(const char *pathname);
37134 @end smallexample
37135
37136 @item Request:
37137 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
37138
37139 @item Return value:
37140 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37141
37142 @item Errors:
37143
37144 @table @code
37145 @item EACCES
37146 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37147
37148 @item EPERM
37149 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
37150
37151 @item EBUSY
37152 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
37153 being used by another process.
37154
37155 @item EFAULT
37156 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37157
37158 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37159 @var{pathname} was too long.
37160
37161 @item ENOENT
37162 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
37163
37164 @item ENOTDIR
37165 A component of the path is not a directory.
37166
37167 @item EROFS
37168 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
37169
37170 @item EINTR
37171 The call was interrupted by the user.
37172 @end table
37173
37174 @end table
37175
37176 @node stat/fstat
37177 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
37178 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
37179 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
37180
37181 @table @asis
37182 @item Synopsis:
37183 @smallexample
37184 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
37185 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
37186 @end smallexample
37187
37188 @item Request:
37189 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
37190 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
37191
37192 @item Return value:
37193 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37194
37195 @item Errors:
37196
37197 @table @code
37198 @item EBADF
37199 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
37200
37201 @item ENOENT
37202 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
37203 path is an empty string.
37204
37205 @item ENOTDIR
37206 A component of the path is not a directory.
37207
37208 @item EFAULT
37209 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37210
37211 @item EACCES
37212 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37213
37214 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37215 @var{pathname} was too long.
37216
37217 @item EINTR
37218 The call was interrupted by the user.
37219 @end table
37220
37221 @end table
37222
37223 @node gettimeofday
37224 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
37225 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
37226
37227 @table @asis
37228 @item Synopsis:
37229 @smallexample
37230 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
37231 @end smallexample
37232
37233 @item Request:
37234 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
37235
37236 @item Return value:
37237 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
37238
37239 @item Errors:
37240
37241 @table @code
37242 @item EINVAL
37243 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
37244
37245 @item EFAULT
37246 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37247 @end table
37248
37249 @end table
37250
37251 @node isatty
37252 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
37253 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
37254
37255 @table @asis
37256 @item Synopsis:
37257 @smallexample
37258 int isatty(int fd);
37259 @end smallexample
37260
37261 @item Request:
37262 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
37263
37264 @item Return value:
37265 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
37266
37267 @item Errors:
37268
37269 @table @code
37270 @item EINTR
37271 The call was interrupted by the user.
37272 @end table
37273
37274 @end table
37275
37276 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
37277 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
37278 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
37279 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
37280 needed.
37281
37282
37283 @node system
37284 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
37285 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
37286
37287 @table @asis
37288 @item Synopsis:
37289 @smallexample
37290 int system(const char *command);
37291 @end smallexample
37292
37293 @item Request:
37294 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
37295
37296 @item Return value:
37297 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
37298 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
37299 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
37300 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
37301 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
37302 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
37303 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
37304
37305 @item Errors:
37306
37307 @table @code
37308 @item EINTR
37309 The call was interrupted by the user.
37310 @end table
37311
37312 @end table
37313
37314 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
37315 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
37316 the host is simplified before it's returned
37317 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
37318 is discarded, and the return value consists
37319 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
37320
37321 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
37322 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
37323 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
37324
37325 @table @code
37326 @item set remote system-call-allowed
37327 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
37328 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
37329 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
37330
37331 @item show remote system-call-allowed
37332 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
37333 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
37334 protocol.
37335 @end table
37336
37337 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
37338 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
37339 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
37340
37341 @menu
37342 * Integral Datatypes::
37343 * Pointer Values::
37344 * Memory Transfer::
37345 * struct stat::
37346 * struct timeval::
37347 @end menu
37348
37349 @node Integral Datatypes
37350 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
37351 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
37352
37353 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
37354 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
37355 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
37356
37357 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
37358 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
37359
37360 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
37361
37362 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
37363 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
37364
37365 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
37366
37367 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
37368 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
37369 byte order.
37370
37371 @node Pointer Values
37372 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
37373 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
37374
37375 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
37376 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
37377 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
37378 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
37379
37380 @smallexample
37381 @code{1aaf/12}
37382 @end smallexample
37383
37384 @noindent
37385 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
37386 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
37387 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
37388 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
37389
37390 @smallexample
37391 @code{123456/d}
37392 @end smallexample
37393
37394 @node Memory Transfer
37395 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
37396 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
37397
37398 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
37399 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
37400 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
37401 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
37402 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
37403 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
37404 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
37405
37406
37407 @node struct stat
37408 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
37409 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
37410
37411 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
37412 is defined as follows:
37413
37414 @smallexample
37415 struct stat @{
37416 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
37417 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
37418 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
37419 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
37420 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
37421 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
37422 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
37423 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
37424 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
37425 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
37426 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
37427 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
37428 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
37429 @};
37430 @end smallexample
37431
37432 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
37433 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
37434 structure is of size 64 bytes.
37435
37436 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
37437 range of values.
37438
37439 @table @code
37440
37441 @item st_dev
37442 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
37443
37444 @item st_ino
37445 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
37446
37447 @item st_mode
37448 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
37449 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
37450
37451 @item st_uid
37452 @itemx st_gid
37453 @itemx st_rdev
37454 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
37455
37456 @item st_atime
37457 @itemx st_mtime
37458 @itemx st_ctime
37459 These values have a host and file system dependent
37460 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
37461 support exact timing values.
37462 @end table
37463
37464 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
37465 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
37466 continuing.
37467
37468 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
37469 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
37470 get truncated on the target.
37471
37472 @node struct timeval
37473 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
37474 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
37475
37476 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
37477 is defined as follows:
37478
37479 @smallexample
37480 struct timeval @{
37481 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
37482 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
37483 @};
37484 @end smallexample
37485
37486 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
37487 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
37488 structure is of size 8 bytes.
37489
37490 @node Constants
37491 @subsection Constants
37492 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
37493
37494 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
37495 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
37496 values before and after the call as needed.
37497
37498 @menu
37499 * Open Flags::
37500 * mode_t Values::
37501 * Errno Values::
37502 * Lseek Flags::
37503 * Limits::
37504 @end menu
37505
37506 @node Open Flags
37507 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
37508 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
37509
37510 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
37511
37512 @smallexample
37513 O_RDONLY 0x0
37514 O_WRONLY 0x1
37515 O_RDWR 0x2
37516 O_APPEND 0x8
37517 O_CREAT 0x200
37518 O_TRUNC 0x400
37519 O_EXCL 0x800
37520 @end smallexample
37521
37522 @node mode_t Values
37523 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
37524 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
37525
37526 All values are given in octal representation.
37527
37528 @smallexample
37529 S_IFREG 0100000
37530 S_IFDIR 040000
37531 S_IRUSR 0400
37532 S_IWUSR 0200
37533 S_IXUSR 0100
37534 S_IRGRP 040
37535 S_IWGRP 020
37536 S_IXGRP 010
37537 S_IROTH 04
37538 S_IWOTH 02
37539 S_IXOTH 01
37540 @end smallexample
37541
37542 @node Errno Values
37543 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
37544 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
37545
37546 All values are given in decimal representation.
37547
37548 @smallexample
37549 EPERM 1
37550 ENOENT 2
37551 EINTR 4
37552 EBADF 9
37553 EACCES 13
37554 EFAULT 14
37555 EBUSY 16
37556 EEXIST 17
37557 ENODEV 19
37558 ENOTDIR 20
37559 EISDIR 21
37560 EINVAL 22
37561 ENFILE 23
37562 EMFILE 24
37563 EFBIG 27
37564 ENOSPC 28
37565 ESPIPE 29
37566 EROFS 30
37567 ENAMETOOLONG 91
37568 EUNKNOWN 9999
37569 @end smallexample
37570
37571 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
37572 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
37573
37574 @node Lseek Flags
37575 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
37576 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
37577
37578 @smallexample
37579 SEEK_SET 0
37580 SEEK_CUR 1
37581 SEEK_END 2
37582 @end smallexample
37583
37584 @node Limits
37585 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
37586 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
37587
37588 All values are given in decimal representation.
37589
37590 @smallexample
37591 INT_MIN -2147483648
37592 INT_MAX 2147483647
37593 UINT_MAX 4294967295
37594 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
37595 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
37596 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
37597 @end smallexample
37598
37599 @node File-I/O Examples
37600 @subsection File-I/O Examples
37601 @cindex file-i/o examples
37602
37603 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
37604 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
37605
37606 @smallexample
37607 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
37608 @emph{request memory read from target}
37609 -> @code{m1234,6}
37610 <- XXXXXX
37611 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
37612 -> @code{F6}
37613 @end smallexample
37614
37615 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
37616 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
37617
37618 @smallexample
37619 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37620 @emph{request memory write to target}
37621 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
37622 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
37623 -> @code{F6}
37624 @end smallexample
37625
37626 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
37627 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
37628
37629 @smallexample
37630 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37631 -> @code{F-1,9}
37632 @end smallexample
37633
37634 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
37635 host is called:
37636
37637 @smallexample
37638 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37639 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
37640 <- @code{T02}
37641 @end smallexample
37642
37643 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
37644 host is called:
37645
37646 @smallexample
37647 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37648 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
37649 <- @code{T02}
37650 @end smallexample
37651
37652 @node Library List Format
37653 @section Library List Format
37654 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
37655
37656 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
37657 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
37658 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
37659 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
37660 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
37661 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
37662 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
37663 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
37664 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
37665 are loaded.
37666
37667 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
37668 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
37669 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
37670 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
37671
37672 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
37673 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
37674 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
37675 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
37676 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
37677 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
37678
37679 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37680 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
37681
37682 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
37683 offset, looks like this:
37684
37685 @smallexample
37686 <library-list>
37687 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
37688 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
37689 </library>
37690 </library-list>
37691 @end smallexample
37692
37693 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
37694 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
37695
37696 @smallexample
37697 <library-list>
37698 <library name="sharedlib.o">
37699 <section address="0x10000000"/>
37700 <section address="0x20000000"/>
37701 <section address="0x30000000"/>
37702 </library>
37703 </library-list>
37704 @end smallexample
37705
37706 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
37707
37708 @smallexample
37709 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
37710 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
37711 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37712 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
37713 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37714 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
37715 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
37716 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
37717 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
37718 @end smallexample
37719
37720 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
37721 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
37722 section for each library.
37723
37724 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
37725 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
37726 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
37727
37728 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
37729 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
37730 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
37731 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
37732
37733 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
37734 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
37735 target, the following parameters are reported:
37736
37737 @itemize @minus
37738 @item
37739 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
37740 @code{struct link_map}.
37741 @item
37742 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
37743 (Thread Local Storage) access.
37744 @item
37745 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
37746 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
37747 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
37748 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
37749 @item
37750 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
37751 @end itemize
37752
37753 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
37754 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
37755 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
37756
37757 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37758 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
37759
37760 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
37761 looks like this:
37762
37763 @smallexample
37764 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
37765 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
37766 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
37767 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
37768 l_ld="0x152350"/>
37769 </library-list-svr>
37770 @end smallexample
37771
37772 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
37773
37774 @smallexample
37775 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
37776 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
37777 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37778 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
37779 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
37780 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37781 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
37782 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
37783 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
37784 @end smallexample
37785
37786 @node Memory Map Format
37787 @section Memory Map Format
37788 @cindex memory map format
37789
37790 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
37791 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
37792 memory map.
37793
37794 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
37795 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
37796 lists memory regions.
37797
37798 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37799 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
37800
37801 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
37802
37803 @smallexample
37804 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37805 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
37806 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
37807 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
37808 <memory-map>
37809 region...
37810 </memory-map>
37811 @end smallexample
37812
37813 Each region can be either:
37814
37815 @itemize
37816
37817 @item
37818 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
37819 bytes from there:
37820
37821 @smallexample
37822 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37823 @end smallexample
37824
37825
37826 @item
37827 A region of read-only memory:
37828
37829 @smallexample
37830 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37831 @end smallexample
37832
37833
37834 @item
37835 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
37836 bytes in length:
37837
37838 @smallexample
37839 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
37840 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
37841 </memory>
37842 @end smallexample
37843
37844 @end itemize
37845
37846 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
37847 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
37848 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
37849
37850 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
37851
37852 @smallexample
37853 <!-- ................................................... -->
37854 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
37855 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
37856 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
37857 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
37858 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
37859 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
37860 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
37861 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
37862 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
37863 and its type, or device. -->
37864 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
37865 start CDATA #REQUIRED
37866 length CDATA #REQUIRED
37867 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
37868 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
37869 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
37870 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37871 @end smallexample
37872
37873 @node Thread List Format
37874 @section Thread List Format
37875 @cindex thread list format
37876
37877 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
37878 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
37879 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
37880 the following structure:
37881
37882 @smallexample
37883 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37884 <threads>
37885 <thread id="id" core="0">
37886 ... description ...
37887 </thread>
37888 </threads>
37889 @end smallexample
37890
37891 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
37892 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
37893 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
37894 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
37895 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
37896
37897 @node Traceframe Info Format
37898 @section Traceframe Info Format
37899 @cindex traceframe info format
37900
37901 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
37902 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
37903 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
37904 collected in a traceframe.
37905
37906 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
37907 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
37908
37909 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37910 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
37911
37912 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
37913
37914 @smallexample
37915 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37916 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
37917 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
37918 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
37919 <traceframe-info>
37920 block...
37921 </traceframe-info>
37922 @end smallexample
37923
37924 Each traceframe block can be either:
37925
37926 @itemize
37927
37928 @item
37929 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
37930 @var{length} bytes from there:
37931
37932 @smallexample
37933 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37934 @end smallexample
37935
37936 @end itemize
37937
37938 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
37939
37940 @smallexample
37941 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
37942 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37943
37944 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
37945 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
37946 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
37947 @end smallexample
37948
37949 @include agentexpr.texi
37950
37951 @node Target Descriptions
37952 @appendix Target Descriptions
37953 @cindex target descriptions
37954
37955 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
37956 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
37957 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
37958 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
37959 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
37960 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
37961 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
37962
37963 @itemize @bullet
37964 @item
37965 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
37966 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
37967 @item
37968 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
37969 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
37970 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
37971 @item
37972 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
37973 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
37974 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
37975 @end itemize
37976
37977 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
37978 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
37979 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
37980 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
37981 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
37982
37983 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37984 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
37985
37986 @menu
37987 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
37988 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
37989 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
37990 descriptions.
37991 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
37992 @end menu
37993
37994 @node Retrieving Descriptions
37995 @section Retrieving Descriptions
37996
37997 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
37998 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
37999 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
38000 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
38001 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
38002 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
38003 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
38004 Format}.
38005
38006 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
38007 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
38008 specify a file are:
38009
38010 @table @code
38011 @cindex set tdesc filename
38012 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
38013 Read the target description from @var{path}.
38014
38015 @cindex unset tdesc filename
38016 @item unset tdesc filename
38017 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
38018 will use the description supplied by the current target.
38019
38020 @cindex show tdesc filename
38021 @item show tdesc filename
38022 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
38023 @end table
38024
38025
38026 @node Target Description Format
38027 @section Target Description Format
38028 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
38029
38030 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
38031 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
38032 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
38033 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
38034 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
38035 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
38036 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
38037
38038 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
38039 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
38040 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
38041 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
38042 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
38043
38044 Here is a simple target description:
38045
38046 @smallexample
38047 <target version="1.0">
38048 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
38049 </target>
38050 @end smallexample
38051
38052 @noindent
38053 This minimal description only says that the target uses
38054 the x86-64 architecture.
38055
38056 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
38057 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
38058 are explained further below.
38059
38060 @smallexample
38061 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38062 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
38063 <target version="1.0">
38064 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
38065 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
38066 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
38067 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
38068 </target>
38069 @end smallexample
38070
38071 @noindent
38072 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
38073 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
38074 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
38075 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
38076 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
38077 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
38078 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
38079 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
38080 the version mismatch.
38081
38082 @subsection Inclusion
38083 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
38084 @cindex XInclude
38085 @ifnotinfo
38086 @cindex <xi:include>
38087 @end ifnotinfo
38088
38089 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
38090 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
38091 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
38092 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
38093 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
38094
38095 @smallexample
38096 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
38097 @end smallexample
38098
38099 @noindent
38100 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
38101 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
38102 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
38103 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
38104 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
38105 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
38106 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
38107 original description.
38108
38109 @subsection Architecture
38110 @cindex <architecture>
38111
38112 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
38113
38114 @smallexample
38115 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
38116 @end smallexample
38117
38118 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
38119 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
38120
38121 @subsection OS ABI
38122 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
38123
38124 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
38125 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
38126
38127 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
38128
38129 @smallexample
38130 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
38131 @end smallexample
38132
38133 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
38134 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
38135
38136 @subsection Compatible Architecture
38137 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
38138
38139 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
38140 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
38141
38142 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
38143
38144 @smallexample
38145 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
38146 @end smallexample
38147
38148 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
38149 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
38150
38151 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
38152 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
38153 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
38154 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
38155 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
38156 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
38157 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
38158
38159 @smallexample
38160 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
38161 <compatible>spu</compatible>
38162 @end smallexample
38163
38164 @subsection Features
38165 @cindex <feature>
38166
38167 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
38168 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
38169 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
38170 has this form:
38171
38172 @smallexample
38173 <feature name="@var{name}">
38174 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
38175 @var{reg}@dots{}
38176 </feature>
38177 @end smallexample
38178
38179 @noindent
38180 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
38181 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
38182 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
38183 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
38184
38185 @subsection Types
38186
38187 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
38188 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
38189 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
38190 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
38191 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
38192
38193 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
38194 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
38195 Types must be defined before they are used.
38196
38197 @cindex <vector>
38198 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
38199 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
38200 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
38201 @var{count}:
38202
38203 @smallexample
38204 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
38205 @end smallexample
38206
38207 @cindex <union>
38208 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
38209 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
38210 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
38211 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
38212
38213 @smallexample
38214 <union id="@var{id}">
38215 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
38216 @dots{}
38217 </union>
38218 @end smallexample
38219
38220 @cindex <struct>
38221 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
38222 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
38223 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
38224 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
38225 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
38226 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
38227 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
38228 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
38229
38230 @smallexample
38231 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
38232 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
38233 @dots{}
38234 </struct>
38235 @end smallexample
38236
38237 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
38238 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
38239
38240 @smallexample
38241 <struct id="@var{id}">
38242 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
38243 @dots{}
38244 </struct>
38245 @end smallexample
38246
38247 @cindex <flags>
38248 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
38249 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
38250 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
38251 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
38252 are supported.
38253
38254 @smallexample
38255 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
38256 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
38257 @dots{}
38258 </flags>
38259 @end smallexample
38260
38261 @subsection Registers
38262 @cindex <reg>
38263
38264 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
38265
38266 @smallexample
38267 <reg name="@var{name}"
38268 bitsize="@var{size}"
38269 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
38270 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
38271 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
38272 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
38273 @end smallexample
38274
38275 @noindent
38276 The components are as follows:
38277
38278 @table @var
38279
38280 @item name
38281 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
38282
38283 @item bitsize
38284 The register's size, in bits.
38285
38286 @item regnum
38287 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
38288 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
38289 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
38290 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
38291 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
38292 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
38293 in order of increasing register number.
38294
38295 @item save-restore
38296 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
38297 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
38298 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
38299 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
38300 ABI.
38301
38302 @item type
38303 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
38304 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
38305 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
38306 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
38307 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
38308 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
38309
38310 @item group
38311 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
38312 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
38313 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
38314 in @code{info registers}.
38315
38316 @end table
38317
38318 @node Predefined Target Types
38319 @section Predefined Target Types
38320 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
38321
38322 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
38323 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
38324 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
38325 types. The currently supported types are:
38326
38327 @table @code
38328
38329 @item int8
38330 @itemx int16
38331 @itemx int32
38332 @itemx int64
38333 @itemx int128
38334 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
38335
38336 @item uint8
38337 @itemx uint16
38338 @itemx uint32
38339 @itemx uint64
38340 @itemx uint128
38341 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
38342
38343 @item code_ptr
38344 @itemx data_ptr
38345 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
38346 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
38347 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
38348 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
38349 may be marked as data pointers.
38350
38351 @item ieee_single
38352 Single precision IEEE floating point.
38353
38354 @item ieee_double
38355 Double precision IEEE floating point.
38356
38357 @item arm_fpa_ext
38358 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
38359
38360 @item i387_ext
38361 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
38362
38363 @item i386_eflags
38364 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
38365
38366 @item i386_mxcsr
38367 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
38368
38369 @end table
38370
38371 @node Standard Target Features
38372 @section Standard Target Features
38373 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
38374
38375 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
38376 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
38377 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
38378 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
38379 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
38380 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
38381 can recognize them.
38382
38383 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
38384 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
38385 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
38386 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
38387 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
38388 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
38389 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
38390 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
38391
38392 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
38393 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
38394 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
38395
38396 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
38397 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
38398 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
38399 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
38400
38401 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
38402 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
38403 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
38404
38405 @menu
38406 * ARM Features::
38407 * i386 Features::
38408 * MIPS Features::
38409 * M68K Features::
38410 * PowerPC Features::
38411 * TIC6x Features::
38412 @end menu
38413
38414
38415 @node ARM Features
38416 @subsection ARM Features
38417 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
38418
38419 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
38420 ARM targets.
38421 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
38422 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
38423
38424 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
38425 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
38426 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
38427 and @samp{xpsr}.
38428
38429 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
38430 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
38431
38432 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
38433 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
38434 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
38435 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
38436
38437 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
38438 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
38439 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
38440 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
38441 halves of the double-precision registers.
38442
38443 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
38444 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
38445 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
38446 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
38447 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
38448 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
38449
38450 @node i386 Features
38451 @subsection i386 Features
38452 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
38453
38454 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
38455 targets. It should describe the following registers:
38456
38457 @itemize @minus
38458 @item
38459 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
38460 @item
38461 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
38462 @item
38463 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
38464 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
38465 @item
38466 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
38467 @item
38468 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
38469 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
38470 @end itemize
38471
38472 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
38473
38474 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
38475 describe registers:
38476
38477 @itemize @minus
38478 @item
38479 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
38480 @item
38481 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
38482 @item
38483 @samp{mxcsr}
38484 @end itemize
38485
38486 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
38487 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
38488 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
38489
38490 @itemize @minus
38491 @item
38492 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
38493 @item
38494 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
38495 @end itemize
38496
38497 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
38498 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
38499
38500 @node MIPS Features
38501 @subsection MIPS Features
38502 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
38503
38504 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
38505 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
38506 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
38507 on the target.
38508
38509 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
38510 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
38511 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38512
38513 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
38514 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
38515 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
38516 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38517
38518 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
38519 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
38520 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
38521
38522 @node M68K Features
38523 @subsection M68K Features
38524 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
38525
38526 @table @code
38527 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
38528 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
38529 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
38530 One of those features must be always present.
38531 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
38532 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
38533 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
38534 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
38535
38536 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
38537 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
38538 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
38539 @samp{fpiaddr}.
38540 @end table
38541
38542 @node PowerPC Features
38543 @subsection PowerPC Features
38544 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
38545
38546 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
38547 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
38548 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
38549 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38550
38551 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
38552 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
38553
38554 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
38555 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
38556 and @samp{vrsave}.
38557
38558 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
38559 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
38560 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
38561 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
38562 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
38563 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
38564
38565 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
38566 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
38567 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
38568 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
38569 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
38570 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
38571 user.
38572
38573 @node TIC6x Features
38574 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
38575 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
38576 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
38577 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
38578 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
38579 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
38580
38581 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
38582 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
38583 through @samp{B31}.
38584
38585 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
38586 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
38587
38588 @node Operating System Information
38589 @appendix Operating System Information
38590 @cindex operating system information
38591
38592 @menu
38593 * Process list::
38594 @end menu
38595
38596 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
38597 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
38598 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
38599 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
38600 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
38601 on a different aspect of target.
38602
38603 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
38604 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
38605 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
38606 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
38607
38608 @node Process list
38609 @appendixsection Process list
38610 @cindex operating system information, process list
38611
38612 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
38613 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
38614 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
38615 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
38616
38617 An example document is:
38618
38619 @smallexample
38620 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38621 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
38622 <osdata type="processes">
38623 <item>
38624 <column name="pid">1</column>
38625 <column name="user">root</column>
38626 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
38627 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
38628 </item>
38629 </osdata>
38630 @end smallexample
38631
38632 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
38633 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
38634 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
38635 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
38636 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
38637 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
38638 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
38639
38640 @node Trace File Format
38641 @appendix Trace File Format
38642 @cindex trace file format
38643
38644 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
38645 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
38646
38647 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
38648 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
38649 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
38650 in the future.
38651
38652 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
38653 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
38654 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
38655 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
38656 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
38657 of this section.
38658
38659 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
38660
38661 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
38662 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
38663 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
38664 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
38665 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
38666 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
38667 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
38668 endianness.
38669
38670 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
38671
38672 @table @code
38673 @item R @var{bytes}
38674 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
38675 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
38676 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
38677 hexadecimal encoding.
38678
38679 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
38680 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
38681 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
38682 @var{length} bytes.
38683
38684 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
38685 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
38686 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
38687
38688 @end table
38689
38690 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
38691 of blocks.
38692
38693 @node Index Section Format
38694 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
38695 @cindex .gdb_index section format
38696 @cindex index section format
38697
38698 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
38699 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
38700 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
38701 description.
38702
38703 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
38704 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
38705 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
38706 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
38707 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
38708 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
38709
38710 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
38711
38712 @enumerate
38713 @item
38714 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
38715 unless otherwise noted:
38716
38717 @enumerate
38718 @item
38719 The version number, currently 5. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
38720 Version 4 differs by its hashing function.
38721
38722 @item
38723 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
38724
38725 @item
38726 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
38727 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
38728 to the next offset.
38729
38730 @item
38731 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
38732
38733 @item
38734 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
38735
38736 @item
38737 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
38738 @end enumerate
38739
38740 @item
38741 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
38742 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
38743 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
38744 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
38745 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
38746 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
38747 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
38748 CU indices.
38749
38750 @item
38751 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
38752 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
38753 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
38754 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
38755
38756 @item
38757 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
38758 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
38759
38760 @enumerate
38761 @item
38762 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
38763
38764 @item
38765 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
38766 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
38767
38768 @item
38769 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
38770 @end enumerate
38771
38772 @item
38773 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
38774 the hash table is always a power of 2.
38775
38776 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
38777 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
38778 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
38779 constant pool.
38780
38781 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
38782 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
38783 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
38784
38785 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
38786 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
38787 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
38788 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
38789 index version:
38790
38791 @table @asis
38792 @item Version 4
38793 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
38794
38795 @item Version 5
38796 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
38797 @end table
38798
38799 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
38800
38801 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
38802 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
38803 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
38804 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
38805 collision.
38806
38807 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
38808 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
38809 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
38810 the code.
38811
38812 @item
38813 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
38814 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
38815 strings.
38816
38817 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
38818 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
38819 Each subsequent value is the index of a CU in the CU list. This
38820 element in the hash table is used to indicate which CUs define the
38821 symbol.
38822
38823 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
38824 @end enumerate
38825
38826 @include gpl.texi
38827
38828 @node GNU Free Documentation License
38829 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
38830 @include fdl.texi
38831
38832 @node Index
38833 @unnumbered Index
38834
38835 @printindex cp
38836
38837 @tex
38838 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
38839 % meantime:
38840 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
38841 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
38842 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
38843 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
38844 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
38845 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
38846 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
38847 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
38848 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
38849 \page\colophon
38850 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
38851 @end tex
38852
38853 @bye