- New Features and Fixes
- ======================
-
-These are harder than cleanups but easier than work involving
-fundamental architectural change.
-
---
-
-Hardware watchpoint problems on x86 OSes, including Linux:
-
-1. Delete/disable hardware watchpoints should free hardware debug
-registers.
-2. Watch for different values on a viariable with one hardware debug
-register.
-
-According to Eli Zaretskii <eliz@delorie.com>:
-
-These are not GDB/ia32 issues per se: the above features are all
-implemented in the DJGPP port of GDB and work in v5.0. Every
-x86-based target should be able to lift the relevant parts of
-go32-nat.c and use them almost verbatim. You get debug register
-sharing through reference counts, and the ability to watch large
-regions (up to 16 bytes) using multiple registers. (The required
-infrastructure in high-level GDB application code, mostly in
-breakpoint.c, is also working since v5.0.)
-
---
-
-Add built-by, build-date, tm, xm, nm and anything else into gdb binary
-so that you can see how the GDB was created.
-
---
-
-Add an "info bfd" command that displays supported object formats,
-similarly to objdump -i.
-
-Is there a command already?
-
---
-
-Fix ``I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that.'' from symfile.c.
-
-This requires internationalization.
-
---
-
-Add support for:
-
-(gdb) p fwprintf(stdout,L"%S\n", f)
-No symbol "L" in current context.
-
---
-
-Cleanup configury support for optional sub-directories.
-
-Check how GCC handles multiple front ends for an example of how things
-could work. A tentative first step is to rationalize things so that
-all sub directories are handled in a fashion similar to gdb/mi.
-
-See also automake above.
-
---
-
-Add a transcript mechanism to GDB.
-
-Such a mechanism might log all gdb input and output to a file in a
-form that would allow it to be replayed. It could involve ``gdb
---transcript=FILE'' or it could involve ``(gdb) transcript file''.
-
---
-
-Can the xdep files be replaced by autoconf?
-
---
-
-Document trace machinery
-
---
-
-Document ui-out and ui-file.
-
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-04/msg00121.html
-
---
-
-Update texinfo.tex to latest?
-
---
-
-Incorporate agentexpr.texi into gdb.texinfo
-
-agentexpr.texi mostly describes the details of the byte code used for
-tracepoints, not the internals of the support for this in GDB. So it
-looks like gdb.texinfo is a better place for this information.
-
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb-patches/2000-04/msg00566.html
-
---
-
-Document overlay machinery.
-
---
-
-``(gdb) catch signal SIGNAL''
-
-Overlaps with ``handle SIGNAL'' but the implied behavior is different.
-You can attach commands to a catch but not a handle. A handle has a
-limited number of hardwired actions.
-
---
-
-Get the TUI working on all platforms.
-
---
-
-Add support for ``gdb --- PROGRAM ARGS ...''.
-Add support for ``gdb -cmd=...''
-
-Along with many variations. Check:
-
-????? for a full discussion.
-
-for a discussion.
-
---
-
-Implement ``(gdb) !ls''.
-
-Which is very different from ``(gdb) ! ls''. Implementing the latter
-is trivial.
-
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-q1/msg00034.html
-
---
-
-Change the (char *list[]) to (const char (*)[]) so that dynamic lists can
-be passed.
-
---
-
-When tab expanding something like ``set arch<tab>'' ignore the
-deprecated ``set archdebug'' and expand to ``set architecture''.
-
---
-
-Replace the code that uses the host FPU with an emulator of the target
-FPU.
-
---
-
-The "ocd reset" command needs to flush the dcache, which requires breaking
-the abstraction layer between the target independent and target code. One
-way to address this is provide a generic "reset" command and target vector.
-
-http://sources.redhat.com/ml/gdb-patches/2000-10/msg00011.html
-
---
-
- Thread Support
- ==============
-
---
-
-Generic: lin-thread cannot handle thread exit (Mark Kettenis, Michael
-Snyder) http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-q1/msg00525.html
-
-The thread_db assisted debugging code doesn't handle exiting threads
-properly, at least in combination with glibc 2.1.3 (the framework is
-there, just not the actual code). There are at least two problems
-that prevent this from working.
-
-As an additional reference point, the pre thread_db code did not work
-either.
-
---
-
-GNU/Linux/x86 and random thread signals (and Solaris/SPARC but not
-Solaris/x86).
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-q1/msg00336.html
-
-Christopher Blizzard writes:
-
-So, I've done some more digging into this and it looks like Jim
-Kingdon has reported this problem in the past:
-
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/bug-gdb/1999-10/msg00058.html
-
-I can reproduce this problem both with and without Tom's patch. Has
-anyone seen this before? Maybe have a solution for it hanging around?
-:)
-
-There's a test case for this documented at:
-
-when debugging threaded applications you get extra SIGTRAPs
-http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=9565
-
-[There should be a GDB testcase - cagney]
-
---
-
-GDB5 TOT on unixware 7
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-04/msg00119.html
-
-Robert Lipe writes:
-> I just spun the top of tree of the GDB5 branch on UnixWare 7. As a
-> practical matter, the current thread support is somewhat more annoying
-> than when GDB was thread-unaware.
-
---
-
-Migrate qfThreadInfo packet -> qThreadInfo. (Andrew Cagney)
-
-Add support for packet enable/disable commands with these thread
-packets. General cleanup.
-
-[PATCH] Document the ThreadInfo remote protocol queries
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb-patches/2000-q1/msg00832.html
-
-[PATCH] "info threads" queries for remote.c
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb-patches/2000-q1/msg00831.html
-
---
-
- Language Support
- ================
-
-New languages come onto the scene all the time.
-
---
-
-Re: Various C++ things
-
-value_headof/value_from_vtable_info are worthless, and should be
-removed. The one place in printcmd.c that uses it should use the RTTI
-functions.
-
-RTTI for g++ should be using the typeinfo functions rather than the
-vtables. The typeinfo functions are always at offset 4 from the
-beginning of the vtable, and are always right. The vtables will have
-weird names like E::VB sometimes. The typeinfo function will always
-be "E type_info function", or somesuch.
-
-value_virtual_fn_field needs to be fixed so there are no failures for
-virtual functions for C++ using g++.
-
-Testsuite cases are the major priority right now for C++ support,
-since i have to make a lot of changes that could potentially break
-each other.
-
---
-
-Add support for Modula3
-
-Get DEC/Compaq to contribute their Modula-3 support.
-
---
-
- Remote Protocol Support
- =======================
-
---
-
-Remote protocol doco feedback.
-
-Too much feedback to mention needs to be merged in (901660). Search
-for the word ``remote''.
-
-
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-q1/msg00023.html
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-q1/msg00056.html
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-q1/msg00382.html
-
---
-
-GDB doesn't recover gracefully from remote protocol errors.
-
-GDB wasn't checking for NAKs from the remote target. Instead a NAK is
-ignored and a timeout is required before GDB retries. A pre-cursor to
-fixing this this is making GDB's remote protocol packet more robust.
-
-While downloading to a remote protocol target, gdb ignores packet
-errors in so far as it will continue to download with chunk N+1 even
-if chunk N was not correctly sent. This causes gdb.base/remote.exp to
-take a painfully long time to run. As a PS that test needs to be
-fixed so that it builds on 16 bit machines.
-
---
-
-Add the cycle step command.
-
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-q1/msg00237.html
-
---
-
-Resolve how to scale things to support very large packets.
-
---
-
-Resolve how to handle a target that changes things like its endianess
-on the fly - should it be returned in the ``T'' packet?
-
-Underlying problem is that the register file is target endian. If the
-target endianess changes gdb doesn't know.
-
---
-
-Rename read_register{,_pid}() to read_unsigned_register{,_pid}().
-
---
-
- Symbol Support
- ==============
-
-If / when GDB starts to support the debugging of multi-processor
-(rather than multi-thread) applications the symtab code will need to
-be updated a little so that several independent symbol tables are
-active at a given time.
-
-The other interesting change is a clarification of the exact meaning
-of CORE_ADDR and that has had consequences for a few targets (that
-were abusing that data type).
-
---
-
-Investiagate ways of reducing memory.
-
---
-
-Investigate ways of improving load time.
-
---
-
-Get the d10v to use POINTER_TO_ADDRESS and ADDRESS_TO_POINTER.
-
-Consequence of recent symtab clarification. No marks for figuring out
-who maintains the d10v.
-
---
-
-Get the MIPS to correctly sign extend all address <-> pointer
-conversions.
-
-Consequence of recent symtab clarification. No marks for figuring out
-who maintains the MIPS.
-
---
-
-GDB truncates 64 bit enums.
-
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb-patches/2000-06/msg00290.html
-
---
-
- Testsuite Support
- =================
-
-There are never to many testcases.
-
---
-
-Better thread testsuite.
-
---
-
-Better C++ testsuite.
-
---
-
-Look at adding a GDB specific testsuite directory so that white box
-tests of key internals can be added (eg ui_file).
-
---
-
-Separate out tests that involve the floating point (FP).
-
-(Something for people brining up new targets). FP and non-fp tests
-are combined. I think there should be set of basic tests that
-exercise pure integer support and then a more expanded set that
-exercise FP and FP/integer interactions.
-
-As an example, the MIPS, for n32 as problems with passing FP's and
-structs. Since most inferior call tests include FP it is difficult to
-determine of the integer tests are ok.
-
---
-
- Architectural Changes: General
- ==============================
-
-These are harder than simple cleanups / fixes and, consequently
-involve more work. Typically an Architectural Change will be broken
-down into a more digestible set of cleanups and fixes.
-
---
-
-Cleanup software single step.
-
-At present many targets implement software single step by directly
-blatting memory (see rs6000-tdep.c). Those targets should register
-the applicable breakpoints using the breakpoint framework. Perhaphs a
-new internal breakpoint class ``step'' is needed.
-
---
-
-Replace READ_FP() with FRAME_HANDLE().
-
-READ_FP() is a hangover from the days of the vax when the ABI really
-did have a frame pointer register. Modern architectures typically
-construct a virtual frame-handle from the stack pointer and various
-other bits of string.
-
-Unfortunately GDB still treats this synthetic FP register as though it
-is real. That in turn really confuses users (arm and ``print $fp'' VS
-``info registers fp''). The synthetic FP should be separated out of
-the true register set presented to the user.
-
---
-
-Register Cache Cleanup (below from Andrew Cagney)
-
-I would depict the current register architecture as something like:
-
- High GDB --> Low GDB
- | |
- \|/ \|/
- --- REG NR -----
- |
- register + REGISTER_BYTE(reg_nr)
- |
- \|/
- -------------------------
- | extern register[] |
- -------------------------
-
-where neither the high (valops.c et.al.) or low gdb (*-tdep.c) are
-really clear on what mechanisms they should be using to manipulate that
-buffer. Further, much code assumes, dangerously, that registers are
-contigious. Having got mips-tdep.c to support multiple ABIs, believe
-me, that is a bad assumption. Finally, that register cache layout is
-determined by the current remote/local target and _not_ the less
-specific target ISA. In fact, in many cases it is determined by the
-somewhat arbitrary layout of the [gG] packets!
-
-
-How I would like the register file to work is more like:
-
-
- High GDB
- |
- \|/
- pseudo reg-nr
- |
- map pseudo <->
- random cache
- bytes
- |
- \|/
- ------------
- | register |
- | cache |
- ------------
- /|\
- |
- map random cache
- bytes to target
- dependent i-face
- /|\
- |
- target dependent
- such as [gG] packet
- or ptrace buffer
-
-The main objectives being:
-
- o a clear separation between the low
- level target and the high level GDB
-
- o a mechanism that solves the general
- problem of register aliases, overlaps
- etc instead of treating them as optional
- extras that can be wedged in as an after
- thought (that is a reasonable description
- of the current code).
-
- Identify then solve the hard case and the
- rest just falls out. GDB solved the easy
- case and then tried to ignore the real
- world :-)
-
- o a removal of the assumption that the
- mapping between the register cache
- and virtual registers is largely static.
- If you flip the USR/SSR stack register
- select bit in the status-register then
- the corresponding stack registers should
- reflect the change.
-
- o a mechanism that clearly separates the
- gdb internal register cache from any
- target (not architecture) dependent
- specifics such as [gG] packets.
-
-Of course, like anything, it sounds good in theory. In reality, it
-would have to contend with many<->many relationships at both the
-virt<->cache and cache<->target level. For instance:
-
- virt<->cache
- Modifying an mmx register may involve
- scattering values across both FP and
- mmpx specific parts of a buffer
-
- cache<->target
- When writing back a SP it may need to
- both be written to both SP and USP.
-
-
-Hmm,
-
-Rather than let this like the last time it was discussed, just slip, I'm
-first going to add this e-mail (+ references) to TODO. I'd then like to
-sketch out a broad strategy I think could get us there.
-
-
-First thing I'd suggest is separating out the ``extern registers[]''
-code so that we can at least identify what is using it. At present
-things are scattered across many files. That way we can at least
-pretend that there is a cache instead of a global array :-)
-
-I'd then suggest someone putting up a proposal for the pseudo-reg /
-high-level side interface so that code can be adopted to it. For old
-code, initially a blanket rename of write_register_bytes() to
-deprecated_write_register_bytes() would help.
-
-Following that would, finaly be the corresponding changes to the target.
-
---
-
-Check that GDB can handle all BFD architectures (Andrew Cagney)
-
-There should be a test that checks that BFD/GDB are in sync with
-regard to architecture changes. Something like a test that first
-queries GDB for all supported architectures and then feeds each back
-to GDB.. Anyone interested in learning how to write tests? :-)
-
---
-
- Architectural Change: Multi-arch et al.
- =======================================
-
-The long term objective is to remove all assumptions that there is a
-single target with a single address space with a single instruction
-set architecture and single application binary interface.
-
-This is an ongoing effort. The first milestone is to enable
-``multi-arch'' where by all architectural decisions are made at
-runtime.
-
-It should be noted that ``gdbarch'' is really ``gdbabi'' and
-``gdbisa''. Once things are multi-arched breaking that down correctly
-will become much easier.
-
---
-
-GDBARCH cleanup (Andrew Cagney)
-
-The non-generated parts of gdbarch.{sh,h,c} should be separated out
-into arch-utils.[hc].
-
-Document that gdbarch_init_ftype could easily fail because it didn't
-identify an architecture.
-
---
-
-Fix BELIEVE_PPC_PROMOTION. Change it to BELIEVE_PPC_PROMOTION_P?
-
-At present there is still #ifdef BELIEVE_PPC_PROMOTION code in the
-symtab file.
-
---
-
-Fix target_signal_from_host() etc.
-
-The name is wrong for starters. ``target_signal'' should probably be
-``gdb_signal''. ``from_host'' should be ``from_target_signal''.
-After that it needs to be multi-arched and made independent of any
-host signal numbering.
-
---
-
-Update ALPHA so that it uses ``struct frame_extra_info'' instead of
-EXTRA_FRAME_INFO.
-
-This is a barrier to replacing mips_extra_func_info with something
-that works with multi-arch.
-
---
-
-Multi-arch mips_extra_func_info.
-
-This first needs the alpha to be updated so that it uses ``struct
-frame_extra_info''.
-
---
-
-Rationalize TARGET_SINGLE_FORMAT and TARGET_SINGLE_BIT et al.
-
-Surely one of them is redundant.
-
---
-
-Convert ALL architectures to MULTI-ARCH.
-
---
-
-Select the initial multi-arch ISA / ABI based on --target or similar.
-
-At present the default is based on what ever is first in the BFD
-archures table. It should be determined based on the ``--target=...''
-name.
-
---
-
-Make MIPS pure multi-arch.
-
-It is only at the multi-arch enabled stage.
-
---
-
-Truly multi-arch.
-
-Enable the code to recognize --enable-targets=.... like BINUTILS does.
-
-Can the tm.h and nm.h files be eliminated by multi-arch.
-
---
-
- Architectural Change: MI, LIBGDB and scripting languages
- ========================================================
-
-See also architectural changes related to the event loop. LIBGDB
-can't be finished until there is a generic event loop being used by
-all targets.
-
-The long term objective is it to be possible to integrate GDB into
-scripting languages.
-
---
-
-Implement generic ``(gdb) commmand > file''
-
-Once everything is going through ui_file it should be come fairly
-easy.
-
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb/2000-04/msg00104.html
-
---
-
-Replace gdb_stdtarg with gdb_targout (and possibly gdb_targerr).
-
-gdb_stdtarg is easily confused with gdb_stdarg.
-
---
-
-Extra ui_file methods - dump.
-
-Very useful for whitebox testing.
-
---
-
-Eliminate error_begin().
-
-With ui_file, there is no need for the statefull error_begin ()
-function.
-
---
-
-Send normal output to gdb_stdout.
-Send error messages to gdb_stderror.
-Send debug and log output log gdb_stdlog.
-
-GDB still contains many cases where (f)printf or printf_filtered () is
-used when it should be sending the messages to gdb_stderror or
-gdb_stdlog. The thought of #defining printf to something has crossed
-peoples minds ;-)
-
---
-
-Re-do GDB's output pager.
-
-GDB's output pager still relies on people correctly using *_filtered
-for gdb_stdout and *_unfiltered for gdb_stdlog / gdb_stderr.
-Hopefully, with all normal output going to gdb_stdout, the pager can
-just look at the ui_file that the output is on and then use that to
-decide what to do about paging. Sounds good in theory.
-
---
-
-Check/cleanup MI documentation.
-
-The list of commands specified in the documentation needs to be
-checked against the mi-cmds.c table in a mechanical way (so that they
-two can be kept up-to-date).
-
---
-
-Convert MI into libgdb
-
-MI provides a text interface into what should be many of the libgdb
-functions. The implementation of those functions should be separated
-into the MI interface and the functions proper. Those functions being
-moved to gdb/lib say.
-
---
-
-Create libgdb.h
-
-The first part can already be found in defs.h.
-
---
-
-MI's input does not use buffering.
-
-At present the MI interface reads raw characters of from an unbuffered
-FD. This is to avoid several nasty buffer/race conditions. That code
-should be changed so that it registers its self with the event loop
-(on the input FD) and then push commands up to MI as they arrive.
-
-The serial code already does this.
-
---
-
-Make MI interface accessible from existing CLI.
-
---
-
-Add a breakpoint-edit command to MI.
-
-It would be similar to MI's breakpoint create but would apply to an
-existing breakpoint. It saves the need to delete/create breakpoints
-when ever they are changed.
-
---
-
-Add directory path to MI breakpoint.
-
-That way the GUI's task of finding the file within which the
-breakpoint was set is simplified.
-
---
-
-Add a mechanism to reject certain expression classes to MI
-
-There are situtations where you don't want GDB's expression
-parser/evaluator to perform inferior function calls or variable
-assignments. A way of restricting the expression parser so that such
-operations are not accepted would be very helpful.
-
---
-
-Remove sideffects from libgdb breakpoint create function.
-
-The user can use the CLI to create a breakpoint with partial
-information - no file (gdb would use the file from the last
-breakpoint).
-
-The libgdb interface currently affects that environment which can lead
-to confusion when a user is setting breakpoints via both the MI and
-the CLI.
-
-This is also a good example of how getting the CLI ``right'' will be
-hard.
-
---
-
-Move gdb_lasterr to ui_out?
-
-The way GDB throws errors and records them needs a re-think. ui_out
-handles the correct output well. It doesn't resolve what to do with
-output / error-messages when things go wrong.
-
---
-
-do_setshow_command contains a 1024 byte buffer.
-
-The function assumes that there will never be any more than 1024 bytes
-of enum. It should use mem_file.
-
---
-
-Should struct cmd_list_element . completer take the command as an
-argument?
-
---
-
-Should the bulk of top.c:line_completion_function() be moved to
-command.[hc]? complete_on_cmdlist() and complete_on_enums() could
-then be made private.
-
---
-
-top.c (execute_command): Should a command being valid when the target
-is running be made an attribute (predicate) to the command rather than
-an explicit set of tests.
-
---
-
-top.c (execute_command): Should the bulk of this function be moved
-into command.[hc] so that top.c doesn't grub around in the command
-internals?
-
---
-
- Architectural Change: Async
- ===========================
-
-While GDB uses an event loop when prompting the user for input. That
-event loop is not exploited by targets when they allow the target
-program to continue. Typically targets still block in (target_wait())
-until the program again halts.
-
-The closest a target comes to supporting full asynchronous mode are
-the remote targets ``async'' and ``extended-async''.
-
---
-
-Asynchronous expression evaluator
-
-Inferior function calls hang GDB.
-
---
-
-Fix implementation of ``target xxx''.
-
-At present when the user specifies ``target xxxx'', the CLI maps that
-directly onto a target open method. It is then assumed that the
-target open method should do all sorts of complicated things as this
-is the only chance it has. Check how the various remote targets
-duplicate the target operations. Check also how the various targets
-behave differently for purely arbitrary reasons.
-
-What should happen is that ``target xxxx'' should call a generic
-``target'' function and that should then co-ordinate the opening of
-``xxxx''. This becomes especially important when you're trying to
-open an asynchronous target that may need to perform background tasks
-as part of the ``attach'' phase.
-
-Unfortunately, due to limitations in the old/creaking command.h
-interface, that isn't possible. The function being called isn't told
-of the ``xxx'' or any other context information.
-
-Consequently a precursor to fixing ``target xxxx'' is to clean up the
-CLI code so that it passes to the callback function (attatched to a
-command) useful information such as the actual command and a context
-for that command. Other changes such as making ``struct command''
-opaque may also help.
-
-See also:
-http://sourceware.cygnus.com/ml/gdb-patches/2000-06/msg00062.html
-
---
-
-Make "target xxx" command interruptible.
-
-As things become async this becomes possible. A target would start
-the connect and then return control to the event loop. A cntrl-c
-would notify the target that the operation is to be abandoned and the
-target code could respond.
-
---
-
-Add a "suspend" subcommand of the "continue" command to suspend gdb
-while continuing execution of the subprocess. Useful when you are
-debugging servers and you want to dodge out and initiate a connection
-to a server running under gdb.
-
-[hey async!!]
-
---
-
- TODO FAQ
- ========
-
-Frequently requested but not approved requests.
-
---
-
-Eliminate unused argument warnings using ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED.
-
-The benefits on this one are thought to be marginal - GDBs design
-means that unused parameters are very common. GCC 3.0 will also
-include the option -Wno-unused-parameter which means that ``-Wall
--Wno-unused-parameters -Werror'' can be specified.
-
---
-
-
-
- Legacy Wish List
- ================
-
-This list is not up to date, and opinions vary about the importance or
-even desirability of some of the items. If you do fix something, it
-always pays to check the below.
-
---
-
-@c This does not work (yet if ever). FIXME.
-@c @item --parse=@var{lang} @dots{}
-@c Configure the @value{GDBN} expression parser to parse the listed languages.
-@c @samp{all} configures @value{GDBN} for all supported languages. To get a
-@c list of all supported languages, omit the argument. Without this
-@c option, @value{GDBN} is configured to parse all supported languages.
-
---
-
-START_INFERIOR_TRAPS_EXPECTED need never be defined to 2, since that
-is its default value. Clean this up.
-
---
-
-It should be possible to use symbols from shared libraries before we know
-exactly where the libraries will be loaded. E.g. "b perror" before running
-the program. This could maybe be done as an extension of the "breakpoint
-re-evaluation" after new symbols are loaded.
-
---
-
-Make single_step() insert and remove breakpoints in one operation.
-
-[If this is talking about having single_step() insert the breakpoints,
-run the target then pull the breakpoints then it is wrong. The
-function has to return as control has to eventually be passed back to
-the main event loop.]
-
---
-
-Speed up single stepping by avoiding extraneous ptrace calls.
-
---
-
-Speed up single stepping by not inserting and removing breakpoints
-each time the inferior starts and stops.
-
-Breakpoints should not be inserted and deleted all the time. Only the
-one(s) there should be removed when we have to step over one. Support
-breakpoints that don't have to be removed to step over them.
-
-[this has resulted in numerous debates. The issue isn't clear cut]
-
---
-
-Provide "voodoo" debugging of core files. This creates a zombie
-process as a child of the debugger, and loads it up with the data,
-stack, and regs of the core file. This allows you to call functions
-in the executable, to manipulate the data in the core file.
-
-[you wish]
-
---
-
-GDB reopens the source file on every line, as you "next" through it.
-
-[still true? I've a memory of this being fixed]
-
---
-
-Perhaps "i source" should take an argument like that of "list".
-
---
-
-Remove "at 0xnnnn" from the "b foo" response, if `print address off' and if
-it matches the source line indicated.
-
---
-
-The prompt at end of screen should accept space as well as CR.
-
---
-
-Backtrace should point out what the currently selected frame is, in
-its display, perhaps showing "@3 foo (bar, ...)" or ">3 foo (bar,
-...)" rather than "#3 foo (bar, ...)".
-
---
-
-"i program" should work for core files, and display more info, like what
-actually caused it to die.
-
---
-
-"x/10i" should shorten the long name, if any, on subsequent lines.
-
---
-
-"next" over a function that longjumps, never stops until next time you happen
-to get to that spot by accident. E.g. "n" over execute_command which has
-an error.
-
---
-
-"set zeroprint off", don't bother printing members of structs which
-are entirely zero. Useful for those big structs with few useful
-members.
-
---
-
-GDB does four ioctl's for every command, probably switching terminal modes
-to/from inferior or for readline or something.
-
---
-
-terminal_ours versus terminal_inferior: cache state. Switch should be a noop
-if the state is the same, too.
-
---
-
-"i frame" shows wrong "arglist at" location, doesn't show where the args
-should be found, only their actual values.
-
---
-
-There should be a way for "set" commands to validate the new setting
-before it takes effect.
-
---
-
-"ena d" is ambiguous, why? "ena delete" seems to think it is a command!
-
---
-
-i line VAR produces "Line number not known for symbol ``var''.". I
-thought we were stashing that info now!
-
---
-
-We should be able to write to random files at hex offsets like adb.
-
---
-
-[elena - delete this]
-
-Handle add_file with separate text, data, and bss addresses. Maybe
-handle separate addresses for each segment in the object file?
-
---
-
-[Jimb/Elena delete this one]
-
-Handle free_named_symtab to cope with multiply-loaded object files
-in a dynamic linking environment. Should remember the last copy loaded,
-but not get too snowed if it finds references to the older copy.
-
---
-
-[elena delete this also]
-
-Remove all references to:
- text_offset
- data_offset
- text_data_start
- text_end
- exec_data_offset
- ...
-now that we have BFD. All remaining are in machine dependent files.
-
---
-
-Re-organize help categories into things that tend to fit on a screen
-and hang together.
-
---
-
-Add in commands like ADB's for searching for patterns, etc. We should
-be able to examine and patch raw unsymboled binaries as well in gdb as
-we can in adb. (E.g. increase the timeout in /bin/login without source).
-
-[actually, add ADB interface :-]
-
---
-
-When doing "step" or "next", if a few lines of source are skipped between
-the previous line and the current one, print those lines, not just the
-last line of a multiline statement.
-
---
-
-Handling of "&" address-of operator needs some serious overhaul
-for ANSI C and consistency on arrays and functions.
- For "float point[15];":
-ptype &point[4] ==> Attempt to take address of non-lvalue.
- For "char *malloc();":
-ptype malloc ==> "char *()"; should be same as
-ptype &malloc ==> "char *(*)()"
-call printf ("%x\n", malloc) ==> weird value, should be same as
-call printf ("%x\n", &malloc) ==> correct value
-
---
-
-Fix dbxread.c symbol reading in the presence of interrupts. It
-currently leaves a cleanup to blow away the entire symbol table when a
-QUIT occurs. (What's wrong with that? -kingdon, 28 Oct 1993).
-
-[I suspect that the grype was that, on a slow system, you might want
-to cntrl-c and get just half the symbols and then load the rest later
-- scary to be honest]
-
---
-
-Mipsread.c reads include files depth-first, because the dependencies
-in the psymtabs are way too inclusive (it seems to me). Figure out what
-really depends on what, to avoid recursing 20 or 30 times while reading
-real symtabs.
-
---
-
-value_add() should be subtracting the lower bound of arrays, if known,
-and possibly checking against the upper bound for error reporting.
-
---
-
-When listing source lines, check for a preceding \n, to verify that
-the file hasn't changed out from under us.
-
-[fixed by some other means I think. That hack wouldn't actually work
-reliably - the file might move such that another \n appears. ]
-
---
-
-Get all the remote systems (where the protocol allows it) to be able to
-stop the remote system when the GDB user types ^C (like remote.c
-does). For ebmon, use ^Ak.
-
---
-
-Possible feature: A version of the "disassemble" command which shows
-both source and assembly code ("set symbol-filename on" is a partial
-solution).
-
-[has this been done? It was certainly done for MI and GDBtk]
-
---
-
-investigate "x/s 0" (right now stops early) (I think maybe GDB is
-using a 0 address for bad purposes internally).
-
---
-
-Make "info path" and path_command work again (but independent of the
-environment either of gdb or that we'll pass to the inferior).
-
---
-
-Make GDB understand the GCC feature for putting octal constants in
-enums. Make it so overflow on an enum constant does not error_type
-the whole type. Allow arbitrarily large enums with type attributes.
-Put all this stuff in the testsuite.
-
---
-
-Make TYPE_CODE_ERROR with a non-zero TYPE_LENGTH more useful (print
-the value in hex; process type attributes). Add this to the
-testsuite. This way future compilers can add new types and old
-versions of GDB can do something halfway reasonable.
-
---
-
-Fix mdebugread.c:parse_type to do fundamental types right (see
-rs6000_builtin_type in stabsread.c for what "right" is--the point is
-that the debug format fixes the sizes of these things and it shouldn't
-depend on stuff like TARGET_PTR_BIT and so on. For mdebug, there seem
-to be separate bt* codes for 64 bit and 32 bit things, and GDB should
-be aware of that). Also use a switch statement for clarity and speed.
-
---
-
-Investigate adding symbols in target_load--some targets do, some
-don't.
-
---
-
-Put dirname in psymtabs and change lookup*symtab to use dirname (so
-/foo/bar.c works whether compiled by cc /foo/bar.c, or cd /foo; cc
-bar.c).
-
---
-
-Merge xcoffread.c and coffread.c. Use breakpoint_re_set instead of
-fixup_breakpoints.
-
---
-
-Make a watchpoint which contains a function call an error (it is
-broken now, making it work is probably not worth the effort).
-
---
-
-New test case based on weird.exp but in which type numbers are not
-renumbered (thus multiply defining a type). This currently causes an
-infinite loop on "p v_comb".
-
---
-
-[Hey! Hint Hint Delete Delete!!!]
-
-Fix 386 floating point so that floating point registers are real
-registers (but code can deal at run-time if they are missing, like
-mips and 68k). This would clean up "info float" and related stuff.
-
---
-
-gcc -g -c enummask.c then gdb enummask.o, then "p v". GDB complains
-about not being able to access memory location 0.
-
--------------------- enummask.c
-enum mask
-{
- ANIMAL = 0,
- VEGETABLE = 1,
- MINERAL = 2,
- BASIC_CATEGORY = 3,
-
- WHITE = 0,
- BLUE = 4,
- GREEN = 8,
- BLACK = 0xc,
- COLOR = 0xc,
-
- ALIVE = 0x10,
-
- LARGE = 0x20
-} v;
-
---
-
-If try to modify value in file with "set write off" should give
-appropriate error not "cannot access memory at address 0x65e0".
-
---
-
-Allow core file without exec file on RS/6000.
-
---
-
-Make sure "shell" with no arguments works right on DOS.
-
---
-
-Make gdb.ini (as well as .gdbinit) be checked on all platforms, so
-the same directory can be NFS-mounted on unix or DOS, and work the
-same way.
-
---
-
-[Is this another delete???]
-
-Get SECT_OFF_TEXT stuff out of objfile_relocate (might be needed to
-get RS/6000 to work right, might not be immediately relevant).
-
---
-
-Work out some kind of way to allow running the inferior to be done as
-a sub-execution of, eg. breakpoint command lists. Currently running
-the inferior interupts any command list execution. This would require
-some rewriting of wait_for_inferior & friends, and hence should
-probably be done in concert with the above.
-
---
-
-Add function arguments to gdb user defined functions.
-
---
-
-Add convenience variables that refer to exec file, symbol file,
-selected frame source file, selected frame function, selected frame
-line number, etc.
-
---
-
-Modify the handling of symbols grouped through BINCL/EINCL stabs to
-allocate a partial symtab for each BINCL/EINCL grouping. This will
-seriously decrease the size of inter-psymtab dependencies and hence
-lessen the amount that needs to be read in when a new source file is
-accessed.
-
---
-
-Add a command for searching memory, a la adb. It specifies size,
-mask, value, start address. ADB searches until it finds it or hits
-an error (or is interrupted).
-
---
-
-Remove the range and type checking code and documentation, if not
-going to implement.
-