add maintainer-clean Makefile targets
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
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29a2b744 1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
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2@c Copyright 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
3@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
18fae2a8 4@c
29a2b744 5@c %**start of header
18fae2a8 6@c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
1d7c3357 7@c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
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8@setfilename gdb.info
9@c
361daf65 10@include gdb-cfg.texi
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11@c
12@ifset GENERIC
13@settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14@end ifset
15@ifclear GENERIC
1d7c3357 16@settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN} (@value{TARGET})
18fae2a8 17@end ifclear
af215b1a 18@clear RENAMED
29a2b744 19@setchapternewpage odd
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20@c %**end of header
21
ed447b95 22@iftex
51b65b74 23@c @smallbook
fe715d06 24@c @cropmarks
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25@end iftex
26
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27@finalout
28@syncodeindex ky cp
29
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30@c readline appendices use @vindex
31@syncodeindex vr cp
32
0cb95a9c 33@c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
9a27b06e 34@set EDITION 4.12
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35
36@c !!set GDB manual's revision date
9a27b06e 37@set DATE January 1994
29a2b744 38
d24e0922 39@c GDB CHANGELOG CONSULTED BETWEEN:
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40@c Fri Oct 11 23:27:06 1991 John Gilmore (gnu at cygnus.com)
41@c Sat Dec 22 02:51:40 1990 John Gilmore (gnu at cygint)
42
9c3ad547 43@c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO-2 macros and info-makers to format properly.
29a2b744 44
b7becc8f 45@ifinfo
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46@c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
47@c manuals to an info tree. zoo@cygnus.com is developing this facility.
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48@format
49START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
af215b1a 50* Gdb: (gdb). The @sc{gnu} debugger.
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51END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
52@end format
53@end ifinfo
18fae2a8 54@c
70b88761 55@c
70b88761 56@ifinfo
af215b1a 57This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
70b88761 58
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59
60This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE},
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61of @cite{Debugging with @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger}
62for @value{GDBN} Version @value{GDBVN}.
29a2b744 63
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64Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
65Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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66
67Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
68this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
69are preserved on all copies.
70
71@ignore
72Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
73results, provided the printed document carries copying permission
74notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
75(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
76
77@end ignore
78Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
79manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
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80entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
81permission notice identical to this one.
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82
83Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
d55320a0 84into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
70b88761 85@end ifinfo
1041a570 86
70b88761 87@titlepage
18fae2a8 88@title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
af215b1a 89@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
18fae2a8 90@ifclear GENERIC
a64a6c2b 91@subtitle (@value{TARGET})
18fae2a8 92@end ifclear
70b88761 93@sp 1
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94@subtitle Edition @value{EDITION}, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
95@subtitle @value{DATE}
6b51acad 96@author Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch
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97@page
98@tex
99{\parskip=0pt
18fae2a8 100\hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to bug-gdb\@prep.ai.mit.edu.)\par
ed447b95 101\hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
70b88761 102\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
af215b1a 103\hfill doc\@cygnus.com\par
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104}
105@end tex
106
107@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
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108Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
109Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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110@sp 2
111Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
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11259 Temple Place - Suite 330, @*
113Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA @*
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114Printed copies are available for $20 each. @*
115ISBN 1-882114-11-6 @*
af215b1a 116
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117Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
118this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
119are preserved on all copies.
120
121Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
122manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
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123entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
124permission notice identical to this one.
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125
126Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
d55320a0 127into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
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128@end titlepage
129@page
130
70b88761 131@ifinfo
4eb4cf57 132@node Top
18fae2a8 133@top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
29a2b744 134
af215b1a 135This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
29a2b744 136
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137This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}, for @value{GDBN} Version
138@value{GDBVN}.
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139
140@menu
18fae2a8 141* Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
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142@ifclear BARETARGET
143* Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
144@end ifclear
b0157555 145
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146* Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
147* Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
148* Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
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149* Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
150* Stack:: Examining the stack
151* Source:: Examining source files
152* Data:: Examining data
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153@ifclear CONLY
154* Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
155@end ifclear
156@ifset CONLY
1d7c3357 157* C:: C language support
18fae2a8 158@end ifset
1d7c3357 159@c remnant makeinfo bug, blank line needed after two end-ifs?
18fae2a8 160
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161* Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
162* Altering:: Altering execution
93918348 163* GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
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164* Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
165* Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
166* Sequences:: Canned sequences of commands
18fae2a8 167@ifclear DOSHOST
af215b1a 168* Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
18fae2a8 169@end ifclear
b0157555 170
18fae2a8 171* GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
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172* Command Line Editing:: Facilities of the readline library
173* Using History Interactively::
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174@c @ifset NOVEL
175@c * Renamed Commands::
176@c @end ifset
1d7c3357 177@ifclear PRECONFIGURED
af215b1a 178* Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
18fae2a8 179* Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
18fae2a8 180@end ifclear
b0157555 181
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182* Index:: Index
183@end menu
18fae2a8 184@end ifinfo
70b88761 185
4eb4cf57 186@node Summary
18fae2a8 187@unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
70b88761 188
18fae2a8 189The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
70b88761 190going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
1041a570 191program was doing at the moment it crashed.
70b88761 192
18fae2a8 193@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
1041a570 194these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
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195
196@itemize @bullet
197@item
198Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
199
200@item
201Make your program stop on specified conditions.
202
203@item
204Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
205
206@item
207Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
208effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
209@end itemize
210
18fae2a8 211@ifclear CONLY
9934dce8 212You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C or C++.
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213@c "MOD2" used as a "miscellaneous languages" flag here.
214@c This is acceptable while there is no real doc for Chill and Pascal.
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215@ifclear MOD2
216For more information, see @ref{Support,,Supported languages}.
217@end ifclear
218@ifset MOD2
219For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
220
3f73b7c8 221Support for Modula-2 and Chill is partial. For information on Modula-2,
2ae6d007 222see @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}. There is no further documentation on Chill yet.
3f73b7c8 223
b1955f0b 224Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or nested
22b5dba5 225functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
b1955f0b 226entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal syntax.
af215b1a 227
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228@end ifset
229@ifset FORTRAN
11e7b867 230@cindex Fortran
3ff8a96f 231@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
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232it does not yet support entering expressions, printing values, or
233similar features using Fortran syntax. It may be necessary to refer to
234some variables with a trailing underscore.
09934a2b 235@end ifset
18fae2a8 236@end ifclear
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237
238@menu
ed447b95 239* Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
b80282d5 240* Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
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241@end menu
242
4eb4cf57 243@node Free Software
93928b60 244@unnumberedsec Free software
1041a570 245
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246@value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
247General Public License
1041a570 248(GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
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249program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
250freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
251the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
252Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
253Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
254
255Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
29a2b744 256you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
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257from anyone else.
258
4eb4cf57 259@node Contributors
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260@unnumberedsec Contributors to GDB
261
af215b1a 262Richard Stallman was the original author of GDB, and of many other @sc{gnu}
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263programs. Many others have contributed to its development. This
264section attempts to credit major contributors. One of the virtues of
265free software is that everyone is free to contribute to it; with
266regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The file
af215b1a 267@file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a blow-by-blow
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268account.
269
270Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
271
272@quotation
273@emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
93918348 274or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
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275omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
276@end quotation
277
278So that they may not regard their long labor as thankless, we
356bc67b 279particularly thank those who shepherded GDB through major releases:
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280Stan Shebs (release 4.14),
281Fred Fish (releases 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9),
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282Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4),
283John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
284Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
285and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
af215b1a 286As major maintainer of @value{GDBN} for some period, each
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287contributed significantly to the structure, stability, and capabilities
288of the entire debugger.
70b88761 289
6b51acad 290Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
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291Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
292
1d7c3357 293@ifclear CONLY
af215b1a 294Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C++ support in GDB,
70b88761 295with significant additional contributions from Per Bothner. James
af215b1a 296Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C++ demangler. Early work on C++ was by Peter
70b88761 297TerMaat (who also did much general update work leading to release 3.0).
1d7c3357 298@end ifclear
70b88761 299
af215b1a 300@value{GDBN} 4 uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
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301object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
302Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
70b88761 303
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304David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
305the original support for encapsulated COFF.
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306
307Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
308Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
1041a570 309support.
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310Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
311Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
312Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
313David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
314Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
315Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
316Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
317Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
318Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
319Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
320Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
321Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
322Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
323Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
324Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
70b88761 325
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326Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
327libraries.
70b88761 328
af215b1a 329Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree about
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330several machine instruction sets.
331
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332Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped
333develop remote debugging. Intel Corporation and Wind River Systems
334contributed remote debugging modules for their products.
70b88761 335
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336Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
337command-line editing and command history.
70b88761 338
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339Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code,
340@ifset MOD2
341the Modula-2 support,
342@end ifset
343and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
c2bbbb22 344
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345Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
346@ifclear CONLY
347He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C++ overloaded
348symbols.
349@end ifclear
350
a64a6c2b 351Hitachi America, Ltd. sponsored the support for Hitachi microprocessors.
14d01801 352
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353Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
354watchpoints.
355
356Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
357
358Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
359nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout GDB.
360
18fae2a8 361@ifclear BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 362@node Sample Session
18fae2a8 363@chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
70b88761 364
18fae2a8 365You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
70b88761 366However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
ed447b95 367debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
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368
369@iftex
6ca72cc6 370In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
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371to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
372@end iftex
373
374@c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
375@c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
18fae2a8 376
af215b1a 377One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
70b88761 378processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
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379quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
380definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
70b88761 381session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
29a2b744 382then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
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383same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
384@code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
385procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
386
387@smallexample
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388$ @b{cd gnu/m4}
389$ @b{./m4}
390@b{define(foo,0000)}
70b88761 391
6ca72cc6 392@b{foo}
70b88761 3930000
6ca72cc6 394@b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
70b88761 395
6ca72cc6 396@b{bar}
70b88761 3970000
6ca72cc6 398@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
70b88761 399
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400@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
401@b{baz}
402@b{C-d}
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403m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
404@end smallexample
405
406@noindent
93918348 407Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
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408
409@smallexample
18fae2a8 410$ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
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411@c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
412@c FIXME... format to come out better.
af215b1a 413@value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
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414 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
415 the conditions.
af215b1a 416There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
ed447b95 417 for details.
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418
419@value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1995 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
18fae2a8 420(@value{GDBP})
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421@end smallexample
422
423@noindent
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424@value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
425rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
426We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
427that examples fit in this manual.
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428
429@smallexample
18fae2a8 430(@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
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431@end smallexample
432
e251e767 433@noindent
93918348 434We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
70b88761 435Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
93918348 436@code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
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437@code{break} command.
438
439@smallexample
18fae2a8 440(@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
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441Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
442@end smallexample
443
444@noindent
18fae2a8 445Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
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446control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
447subroutine, the program runs as usual:
448
449@smallexample
18fae2a8 450(@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
e251e767 451Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
6ca72cc6 452@b{define(foo,0000)}
70b88761 453
6ca72cc6 454@b{foo}
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4550000
456@end smallexample
457
458@noindent
18fae2a8 459To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
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460suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
461context where it stops.
462
463@smallexample
6ca72cc6 464@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
70b88761 465
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466Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
467 at builtin.c:879
38962738 468879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
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469@end smallexample
470
471@noindent
472Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
473the next line of the current function.
474
475@smallexample
18fae2a8 476(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
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477882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
478 : nil,
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479@end smallexample
480
481@noindent
482@code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
483by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
484@code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
e251e767 485subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
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486
487@smallexample
18fae2a8 488(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
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489set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
490 at input.c:530
491530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
492@end smallexample
493
494@noindent
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495The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
496suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
497shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
498command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
499in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
500stack frame for each active subroutine.
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501
502@smallexample
18fae2a8 503(@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
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504#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
505 at input.c:530
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506#1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
507 at builtin.c:882
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508#2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
509#3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
510 at macro.c:71
511#4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
512#5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
513@end smallexample
514
515@noindent
9a27b06e 516We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
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517times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
518falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
1041a570 519
70b88761 520@smallexample
18fae2a8 521(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
70b88761 5220x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
18fae2a8 523(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
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5240x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
525def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
18fae2a8 526(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
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RP
527536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
528 : xstrdup(rq);
18fae2a8 529(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
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530538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
531@end smallexample
532
533@noindent
93918348 534The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
70b88761 535@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
93918348 536and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
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537(@code{print}) to see their values.
538
539@smallexample
18fae2a8 540(@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
70b88761 541$1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
18fae2a8 542(@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
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543$2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
544@end smallexample
545
546@noindent
547@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
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548To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
549surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
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550
551@smallexample
18fae2a8 552(@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
70b88761 553533 xfree(rquote);
e251e767 554534
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RP
555535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
556 : xstrdup (lq);
557536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
558 : xstrdup (rq);
e251e767 559537
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560538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
561539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
562540 @}
e251e767 563541
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564542 void
565@end smallexample
566
567@noindent
93918348 568Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
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RP
569@code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
570
571@smallexample
18fae2a8 572(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
70b88761 573539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
18fae2a8 574(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
70b88761 575540 @}
18fae2a8 576(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
70b88761 577$3 = 9
18fae2a8 578(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
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579$4 = 7
580@end smallexample
581
582@noindent
583That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
584@code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
93918348
RP
585@code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
586the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
70b88761 587any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
e251e767 588assignments.
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589
590@smallexample
18fae2a8 591(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
70b88761 592$5 = 7
18fae2a8 593(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
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594$6 = 9
595@end smallexample
596
597@noindent
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598Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
599@code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
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600executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
601example that caused trouble initially:
602
603@smallexample
18fae2a8 604(@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
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605Continuing.
606
6ca72cc6 607@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
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608
609baz
6100000
611@end smallexample
612
613@noindent
614Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
615problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
93918348 616lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
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617
618@smallexample
6ca72cc6 619@b{C-d}
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620Program exited normally.
621@end smallexample
622
e251e767 623@noindent
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RP
624The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
625indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
626session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
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627
628@smallexample
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RP
629(@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
630@end smallexample
631@end ifclear
70b88761 632
4eb4cf57 633@node Invocation
18fae2a8 634@chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
70b88761 635
18fae2a8 636This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
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637The essentials are:
638@itemize @bullet
639@item
640type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start GDB.
641@item
642type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{C-d} to exit.
643@end itemize
29a2b744 644
70b88761 645@menu
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646* Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
647* Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
ed447b95 648* Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
70b88761 649@end menu
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650
651@node Invoking GDB
ed447b95 652@section Invoking @value{GDBN}
18fae2a8 653
a64a6c2b 654@ifset H8EXCLUSIVE
18fae2a8 655For details on starting up @value{GDBP} as a
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656remote debugger attached to a Hitachi microprocessor, see @ref{Hitachi
657Remote,,@value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors}.
18fae2a8 658@end ifset
4eb4cf57 659
ed447b95 660Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
18fae2a8 661@value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
70b88761 662
18fae2a8 663You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
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RP
664to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
665
18fae2a8 666@ifset GENERIC
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667The command-line options described here are designed
668to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
669options may effectively be unavailable.
18fae2a8 670@end ifset
c7cb8acb 671
18fae2a8 672The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
4eb4cf57 673specifying an executable program:
1041a570 674
70b88761 675@example
18fae2a8 676@value{GDBP} @var{program}
70b88761 677@end example
1041a570 678
18fae2a8 679@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761 680@noindent
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681You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
682specified:
1041a570 683
70b88761 684@example
18fae2a8 685@value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
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686@end example
687
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688You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
689to debug a running process:
1041a570 690
b80282d5 691@example
18fae2a8 692@value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
b80282d5 693@end example
1041a570 694
b80282d5 695@noindent
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696would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
697named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
b80282d5 698
c7cb8acb 699Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
18fae2a8 700complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote debugger
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701attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of ``process'',
702and there is often no way to get a core dump.
18fae2a8 703@end ifclear
c7cb8acb 704
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705You can run @code{gdb} without printing the front material, which describes
706@value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
707
708@smallexample
709@value{GDBP} @var{-silent}
710@end smallexample
711
70b88761 712@noindent
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RP
713You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
714options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
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715
716@noindent
717Type
718
70b88761 719@example
18fae2a8 720@value{GDBP} -help
70b88761 721@end example
29a2b744 722
70b88761 723@noindent
29a2b744 724to display all available options and briefly describe their use
18fae2a8 725(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
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726
727All options and command line arguments you give are processed
728in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
e251e767 729@samp{-x} option is used.
70b88761 730
18fae2a8 731
70b88761 732@menu
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RP
733@ifclear GENERIC
734@ifset REMOTESTUB
735* Remote Serial:: @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol
736@end ifset
a64a6c2b 737@ifset I960
18fae2a8
RP
738* i960-Nindy Remote:: @value{GDBN} with a remote i960 (Nindy)
739@end ifset
a64a6c2b 740@ifset AMD29K
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RP
741* UDI29K Remote:: The UDI protocol for AMD29K
742* EB29K Remote:: The EBMON protocol for AMD29K
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RP
743@end ifset
744@ifset VXWORKS
745* VxWorks Remote:: @value{GDBN} and VxWorks
746@end ifset
a64a6c2b 747@ifset ST2000
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RP
748* ST2000 Remote:: @value{GDBN} with a Tandem ST2000
749@end ifset
a64a6c2b
RP
750@ifset H8
751* Hitachi Remote:: @value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors
18fae2a8 752@end ifset
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753@ifset MIPS
754* MIPS Remote:: @value{GDBN} and MIPS boards
755@end ifset
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RP
756@ifset SIMS
757* Simulator:: Simulated CPU target
18fae2a8
RP
758@end ifset
759@end ifclear
1d7c3357 760@c remnant makeinfo bug requires this blank line after *two* end-ifblahs:
18fae2a8 761
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762* File Options:: Choosing files
763* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
18fae2a8 764@end menu
18fae2a8
RP
765
766@ifclear GENERIC
4af6d502 767@include remote.texi
18fae2a8 768@end ifclear
4eb4cf57
RP
769
770@node File Options
93928b60 771@subsection Choosing files
70b88761 772
18fae2a8
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773@ifclear BARETARGET
774When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
29a2b744
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775specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
776the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
18fae2a8 777@samp{-c} options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the first argument
29a2b744
RP
778that does not have an associated option flag as equivalent to the
779@samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the second argument
780that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as equivalent to
781the @samp{-c} option followed by that argument.)
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RP
782@end ifclear
783@ifset BARETARGET
784When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any argument other than options as
4eb4cf57
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785specifying an executable file. This is the same as if the argument was
786specified by the @samp{-se} option.
18fae2a8 787@end ifset
29a2b744
RP
788
789Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
18fae2a8 790following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
29a2b744
RP
791them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
792(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
793than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
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794
795@table @code
6b51acad 796@item -symbols @var{file}
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797@itemx -s @var{file}
798Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
799
6b51acad 800@item -exec @var{file}
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801@itemx -e @var{file}
802Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
1d7c3357
RP
803@ifset BARETARGET
804appropriate.
805@end ifset
806@ifclear BARETARGET
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807appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
808dump.
1d7c3357 809@end ifclear
70b88761 810
6b51acad 811@item -se @var{file}
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812Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
813file.
814
18fae2a8 815@ifclear BARETARGET
6b51acad 816@item -core @var{file}
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817@itemx -c @var{file}
818Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
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819
820@item -c @var{number}
821Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command
822(unless there is a file in core-dump format named @var{number}, in which
823case @samp{-c} specifies that file as a core dump to read).
18fae2a8 824@end ifclear
70b88761 825
6b51acad 826@item -command @var{file}
70b88761 827@itemx -x @var{file}
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828Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
829Files,, Command files}.
70b88761 830
6b51acad 831@item -directory @var{directory}
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832@itemx -d @var{directory}
833Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
14d01801 834
18fae2a8 835@ifclear BARETARGET
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RP
836@item -m
837@itemx -mapped
838@emph{Warning: this option depends on operating system facilities that are not
839supported on all systems.}@*
77b46d13
JG
840If memory-mapped files are available on your system through the @code{mmap}
841system call, you can use this option
18fae2a8 842to have @value{GDBN} write the symbols from your
77b46d13 843program into a reusable file in the current directory. If the program you are debugging is
9a27b06e
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844called @file{/tmp/fred}, the mapped symbol file is @file{./fred.syms}.
845Future @value{GDBN} debugging sessions notice the presence of this file,
846and can quickly map in symbol information from it, rather than reading
77b46d13
JG
847the symbol table from the executable program.
848
1d7c3357
RP
849The @file{.syms} file is specific to the host machine where @value{GDBN}
850is run. It holds an exact image of the internal @value{GDBN} symbol
851table. It cannot be shared across multiple host platforms.
18fae2a8 852@end ifclear
77b46d13
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853
854@item -r
855@itemx -readnow
856Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
857the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
858This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
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859@end table
860
18fae2a8 861@ifclear BARETARGET
93918348
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862The @code{-mapped} and @code{-readnow} options are typically combined in
863order to build a @file{.syms} file that contains complete symbol
93928b60 864information. (@xref{Files,,Commands to specify files}, for information
af215b1a 865
93918348 866a @file{.syms} file for future use is:
77b46d13
JG
867
868@example
869 gdb -batch -nx -mapped -readnow programname
870@end example
18fae2a8 871@end ifclear
77b46d13 872
4eb4cf57 873@node Mode Options
93928b60 874@subsection Choosing modes
1041a570 875
18fae2a8 876You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
29a2b744 877batch mode or quiet mode.
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878
879@table @code
880@item -nx
881@itemx -n
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882Do not execute commands from any initialization files (normally called
883@file{@value{GDBINIT}}). Normally, the commands in these files are
884executed after all the command options and arguments have been
885processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command files}.
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886
887@item -quiet
888@itemx -q
889``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
c338a2fd 890messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
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891
892@item -batch
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893Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
894command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
895initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
896nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
897in the command files.
70b88761 898
18fae2a8 899Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
70b88761 900download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
e251e767 901more useful, the message
1041a570 902
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903@example
904Program exited normally.
905@end example
1041a570 906
70b88761 907@noindent
18fae2a8 908(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
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909terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
910
6b51acad 911@item -cd @var{directory}
18fae2a8 912Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
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913instead of the current directory.
914
18fae2a8 915@ifset LUCID
45c53080 916@item -context @var{authentication}
18fae2a8 917When the Energize programming system starts up @value{GDBN}, it uses this
6ca72cc6 918option to trigger an alternate mode of interaction.
18fae2a8 919@var{authentication} is a pair of numeric codes that identify @value{GDBN}
6ca72cc6 920as a client in the Energize environment. Avoid this option when you run
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RP
921@value{GDBN} directly from the command line. See @ref{Energize,,Using
922@value{GDBN} with Energize} for more discussion of using @value{GDBN} with Energize.
923@end ifset
6ca72cc6 924
1d7c3357 925@ifclear DOSHOST
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926@item -fullname
927@itemx -f
af215b1a 928@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN}
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929to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
930recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
29a2b744 931includes each time your program stops). This recognizable format looks
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932like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
933and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
18fae2a8 934Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032} characters as
70b88761 935a signal to display the source code for the frame.
1d7c3357 936@end ifclear
70b88761 937
18fae2a8 938@ifset SERIAL
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939@item -b @var{bps}
940Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
18fae2a8 941interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
70b88761 942
6b51acad 943@item -tty @var{device}
70b88761 944Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
29a2b744 945@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
18fae2a8 946@end ifset
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947@end table
948
ed447b95
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949@node Quitting GDB
950@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
18fae2a8 951@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
ed447b95 952@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1041a570 953
70b88761 954@table @code
f94cadf9 955@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
70b88761 956@kindex q
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VM
957@item quit
958To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated @code{q}), or
f94cadf9
SS
959type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{C-d}). If you do not supply
960@var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally; otherwise it will
961terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the error code.
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962@end table
963
964@cindex interrupt
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RP
965An interrupt (often @kbd{C-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
966terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
967returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
18fae2a8 968character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
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969until a time when it is safe.
970
18fae2a8 971@ifclear BARETARGET
ed447b95
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972If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
973device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
93928b60 974(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an already-running process}).
18fae2a8 975@end ifclear
70b88761 976
4eb4cf57 977@node Shell Commands
93928b60 978@section Shell commands
1041a570 979
70b88761 980If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
18fae2a8 981debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
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982just use the @code{shell} command.
983
984@table @code
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985@kindex shell
986@cindex shell escape
af215b1a 987@item shell @var{command string}
75f844cc 988Invoke a the standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
a1eff6c2 989@ifclear DOSHOST
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990If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
991shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses @code{/bin/sh}.
a1eff6c2 992@end ifclear
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993@end table
994
995The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
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996You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
997@value{GDBN}:
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998
999@table @code
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1000@kindex make
1001@cindex calling make
af215b1a 1002@item make @var{make-args}
a1eff6c2 1003Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
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1004arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1005@end table
1006
4eb4cf57 1007@node Commands
18fae2a8 1008@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
70b88761 1009
18fae2a8 1010You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
6f3ec223 1011name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
18fae2a8
RP
1012@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1013key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
93918348 1014show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
29a2b744 1015
70b88761 1016@menu
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1017* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1018* Completion:: Command completion
1019* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
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1020@end menu
1021
4eb4cf57 1022@node Command Syntax
93928b60 1023@section Command syntax
1041a570 1024
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1025A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1026how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1027arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1028command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1029step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1030with no arguments. Some command names do not allow any arguments.
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1031
1032@cindex abbreviation
18fae2a8 1033@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
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RP
1034unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1035documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1036abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1037equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1038names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
7463aadd 1039arguments to the @code{help} command.
70b88761 1040
e251e767 1041@cindex repeating commands
70b88761 1042@kindex RET
18fae2a8 1043A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
70b88761 1044repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
9a27b06e 1045will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
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1046repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1047repeat.
1048
1049The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1050@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1051exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1052
18fae2a8 1053@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
b80282d5 1054output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
93928b60
RP
1055(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen size}). Since it is easy to press one
1056@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1057repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
b80282d5 1058
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1059@kindex #
1060@cindex comment
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RP
1061Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1062nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1063Files,,Command files}).
70b88761 1064
4eb4cf57 1065@node Completion
93928b60 1066@section Command completion
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RP
1067
1068@cindex completion
1069@cindex word completion
93918348 1070@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
6f3ec223 1071only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
18fae2a8
RP
1072are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1073commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
6f3ec223 1074
18fae2a8 1075Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
9a27b06e
RP
1076of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1077word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
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RP
1078enter it). For example, if you type
1079
93918348 1080@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
0fdc6e27
RP
1081@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1082@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1083@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
6f3ec223 1084@example
18fae2a8 1085(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
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1086@end example
1087
1088@noindent
93918348 1089@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
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1090the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1091
1092@example
18fae2a8 1093(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
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RP
1094@end example
1095
1096@noindent
1097You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1098breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
93918348 1099@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
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1100were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1101might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1102to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1103
1104If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
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RP
1105@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1106characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1107@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
6f3ec223 1108example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
18fae2a8 1109begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
9a27b06e 1110just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
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1111function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1112example:
1113
1114@example
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RP
1115(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1116@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
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1117make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1118make_abs_section make_function_type
1119make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1120make_cleanup make_reference_type
1121make_command make_symbol_completion_list
18fae2a8 1122(@value{GDBP}) b make_
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1123@end example
1124
1125@noindent
18fae2a8 1126After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
b1385986 1127partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
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1128command.
1129
1130If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
b1385986 1131can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
0f153e74 1132means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this
18fae2a8 1133@ifclear DOSHOST
0f153e74 1134either by holding down a
b1385986 1135key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
0f153e74 1136one) while typing @kbd{?}, or
18fae2a8 1137@end ifclear
0f153e74 1138as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
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1139
1140@cindex quotes in commands
1141@cindex completion of quoted strings
1142Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
18fae2a8 1143parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from its
6f3ec223 1144notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this situation,
18fae2a8 1145you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in @value{GDBN} commands.
6f3ec223 1146
1d7c3357 1147@ifclear CONLY
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1148The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1149name of a C++ function. This is because C++ allows function overloading
1150(multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished by argument
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1151type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you may need to
1152distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name} that takes an
1153@code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version that takes a
1154@code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the word-completion
1155facilities in this situation, type a single quote @code{'} at the
18fae2a8 1156beginning of the function name. This alerts @value{GDBN} that it may need to
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1157consider more information than usual when you press @key{TAB} or
1158@kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
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1159
1160@example
18fae2a8 1161(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @key{M-?}
0fdc6e27 1162bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
18fae2a8 1163(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
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RP
1164@end example
1165
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1166In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1167quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
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RP
1168completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1169place:
1170
1171@example
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RP
1172(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1173@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1174(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
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RP
1175@end example
1176
1177@noindent
18fae2a8 1178In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
0fdc6e27
RP
1179you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1180completion on an overloaded symbol.
1d7c3357 1181@end ifclear
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1182
1183
4eb4cf57 1184@node Help
93928b60 1185@section Getting help
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1186@cindex online documentation
1187@kindex help
1041a570 1188
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1189You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1190using the command @code{help}.
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1191
1192@table @code
af215b1a 1193@kindex h
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1194@item help
1195@itemx h
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1196You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1197display a short list of named classes of commands:
1041a570 1198
70b88761 1199@smallexample
18fae2a8 1200(@value{GDBP}) help
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1201List of classes of commands:
1202
1203running -- Running the program
1204stack -- Examining the stack
1205data -- Examining data
1206breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1207files -- Specifying and examining files
1208status -- Status inquiries
1209support -- Support facilities
1210user-defined -- User-defined commands
1211aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1212obscure -- Obscure features
1213
203eea5d
RP
1214Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1215commands in that class.
1216Type "help" followed by command name for full
1217documentation.
70b88761 1218Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
18fae2a8 1219(@value{GDBP})
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RP
1220@end smallexample
1221
1222@item help @var{class}
1223Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1224list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1225help display for the class @code{status}:
1041a570 1226
70b88761 1227@smallexample
18fae2a8 1228(@value{GDBP}) help status
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1229Status inquiries.
1230
1231List of commands:
1232
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1233@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1234@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1235show -- Generic command for showing things set
1236 with "set"
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1237info -- Generic command for printing status
1238
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1239Type "help" followed by command name for full
1240documentation.
70b88761 1241Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
18fae2a8 1242(@value{GDBP})
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1243@end smallexample
1244
1245@item help @var{command}
9a27b06e 1246With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
e251e767 1247short paragraph on how to use that command.
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VM
1248
1249@kindex complete
1250@item complete @var{args}
1251The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1252for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1253command you want completed. For example:
1254
1255@smallexample
1256complete i
1257@end smallexample
1258
1259@noindent results in:
1260
1261@smallexample
1262info
1263inspect
1264ignore
1265@end smallexample
1266
1267@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
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1268@end table
1269
18fae2a8 1270In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
70b88761 1271and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
18fae2a8 1272of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
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RP
1273manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1274under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
29a2b744 1275all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
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1276
1277@c @group
1278@table @code
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1279@kindex info
1280@kindex i
af215b1a 1281@item info
70b88761 1282This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
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1283program. For example, you can list the arguments given to your program
1284with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1285registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
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1286You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1287@w{@code{help info}}.
1288
af215b1a
VM
1289@kindex set
1290@item set
1291You can assign the result of an expresson to an environment variable with
1292@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1293@code{set prompt $}.
1294
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1295@kindex show
1296@item show
af215b1a
VM
1297In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1298@value{GDBN} itself.
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1299You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1300related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1301system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
e251e767 1302which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
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1303
1304@kindex info set
1305To display all the settable parameters and their current
1306values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1307@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1308@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1309@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1310@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1311@end table
1312@c @end group
1313
1314Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1315exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1316
1317@table @code
1318@kindex show version
3d3ab540 1319@cindex version number
70b88761 1320@item show version
18fae2a8
RP
1321Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1322information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of @value{GDBN} are in
ed447b95 1323use at your site, you may occasionally want to determine which version
18fae2a8 1324of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new commands are introduced,
1041a570 1325and old ones may wither away. The version number is also announced
d55320a0 1326when you start @value{GDBN}.
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1327
1328@kindex show copying
1329@item show copying
18fae2a8 1330Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
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1331
1332@kindex show warranty
1333@item show warranty
af215b1a 1334Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement.
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1335@end table
1336
4eb4cf57 1337@node Running
18fae2a8 1338@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
70b88761 1339
ed447b95 1340When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1d7c3357 1341debugging information when you compile it.
18fae2a8 1342@ifclear BARETARGET
af215b1a
VM
1343You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1344of your choice. You may redirect your program's input and output, debug an
1d7c3357 1345already running process, or kill a child process.
18fae2a8 1346@end ifclear
18fae2a8 1347
18fae2a8 1348@menu
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1349* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1350* Starting:: Starting your program
1d7c3357 1351@ifclear BARETARGET
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1352* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1353* Environment:: Your program's environment
1354* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1355* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1356* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1357* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1358* Process Information:: Additional process information
0cb95a9c 1359* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1b0c5a4f 1360* Processes:: Debugging programs with multiple processes
18fae2a8 1361@end ifclear
18fae2a8 1362@end menu
70b88761 1363
4eb4cf57 1364@node Compilation
93928b60 1365@section Compiling for debugging
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RP
1366
1367In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1368debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1369is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1370variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1371and addresses in the executable code.
1372
1373To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1374the compiler.
1375
1376Many C compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O}
1377options together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1378executables containing debugging information.
1379
af215b1a 1380@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or without
c7cb8acb
RP
1381@samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We recommend
1382that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a program.
1383You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense in pushing
1384your luck.
70b88761 1385
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1386@cindex optimized code, debugging
1387@cindex debugging optimized code
1388When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9a27b06e 1389optimizer is rearranging your code; the debugger shows you what is
93918348 1390really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
6ca72cc6 1391exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9a27b06e 1392variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
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RP
1393variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
1394
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1395Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
1396@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
1397doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
af215b1a 1398please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
70b88761 1399
af215b1a 1400Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
18fae2a8 1401@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
af215b1a 1402format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
70b88761 1403
d55320a0 1404@need 2000
4eb4cf57 1405@node Starting
93928b60 1406@section Starting your program
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1407@cindex starting
1408@cindex running
1041a570 1409
70b88761 1410@table @code
af215b1a 1411@kindex run
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1412@item run
1413@itemx r
18fae2a8 1414Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}. You must
1041a570 1415first specify the program name
18fae2a8 1416@ifset VXWORKS
7463aadd 1417(except on VxWorks)
18fae2a8 1418@end ifset
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RP
1419with an argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and
1420Out of @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file}
93928b60 1421command (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
1041a570 1422
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1423@end table
1424
18fae2a8 1425@ifclear BARETARGET
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1426If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1427supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1428that process run your program. (In environments without processes,
1429@code{run} jumps to the start of your program.)
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1430
1431The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
18fae2a8 1432receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
6ca72cc6 1433information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
9a27b06e 1434can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
29a2b744 1435your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
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1436divided into four categories:
1437
1438@table @asis
6ca72cc6 1439@item The @emph{arguments.}
29a2b744 1440Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
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RP
1441@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1442is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1443(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1444the arguments. In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used
1445with the @code{SHELL} environment variable. @xref{Arguments, ,Your
93928b60 1446program's arguments}.
70b88761 1447
6ca72cc6 1448@item The @emph{environment.}
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RP
1449Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1450use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
9a27b06e 1451environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
93928b60 1452your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your program's environment}.
70b88761 1453
6ca72cc6 1454@item The @emph{working directory.}
18fae2a8 1455Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
93918348 1456the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
93928b60 1457@xref{Working Directory, ,Your program's working directory}.
70b88761 1458
6ca72cc6 1459@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
70b88761 1460Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
18fae2a8 1461standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
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1462in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1463set a different device for your program.
93928b60 1464@xref{Input/Output, ,Your program's input and output}.
3d3ab540
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1465
1466@cindex pipes
29a2b744
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1467@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1468pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
18fae2a8 1469program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
3d3ab540 1470wrong program.
70b88761 1471@end table
18fae2a8 1472@end ifclear
70b88761 1473
1041a570 1474When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
93928b60 1475immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and continuing}, for discussion
4eb4cf57 1476of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
6b51acad 1477stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
4eb4cf57 1478or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
70b88761 1479
9a27b06e
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1480If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1481time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1482table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1483your current breakpoints.
70b88761 1484
18fae2a8 1485@ifclear BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 1486@node Arguments
93928b60 1487@section Your program's arguments
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1488
1489@cindex arguments (to your program)
1490The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
1491@code{run} command. They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard
29a2b744 1492characters and performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program.
34ae25cd 1493Your @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what
ac74588e
JK
1494shell @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
1495@value{GDBN} uses @code{/bin/sh}.
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1496
1497@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
1498@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
1499
1500@kindex set args
1501@table @code
1502@item set args
1503Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
9a27b06e 1504@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
e251e767 1505with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
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1506using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
1507it again without arguments.
1508
70b88761 1509@kindex show args
af215b1a 1510@item show args
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1511Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
1512@end table
1513
4eb4cf57 1514@node Environment
93928b60 1515@section Your program's environment
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1516
1517@cindex environment (of your program)
1518The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
1519their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
1520your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
1521path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
1522the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
29a2b744 1523debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
18fae2a8 1524environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
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1525
1526@table @code
70b88761 1527@kindex path
af215b1a 1528@item path @var{directory}
70b88761 1529Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
18fae2a8 1530(the search path for executables), for both @value{GDBN} and your program.
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1531You may specify several directory names, separated by @samp{:} or
1532whitespace. If @var{directory} is already in the path, it is moved to
9a27b06e 1533the front, so it is searched sooner.
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1534
1535You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
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RP
1536working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
1537use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
1538@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
1539@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
1540@var{directory} to the search path.
29a2b744 1541@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
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1542@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
1543
70b88761 1544@kindex show paths
af215b1a 1545@item show paths
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RP
1546Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
1547environment variable).
1548
70b88761 1549@kindex show environment
af215b1a 1550@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
70b88761 1551Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
29a2b744 1552your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
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RP
1553print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
1554your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
1555
70b88761 1556@kindex set environment
af215b1a 1557@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@r{]} @var{value}
ed447b95 1558Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
18fae2a8 1559changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
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1560be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
1561any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
1562parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
1563null value.
29a2b744 1564@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
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1565@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
1566
1567For example, this command:
1568
1569@example
1570set env USER = foo
1571@end example
1572
1573@noindent
1574tells a Unix program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
1575@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
1576are not actually required.)
1577
70b88761 1578@kindex unset environment
af215b1a 1579@item unset environment @var{varname}
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1580Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
1581program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
1582@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
e251e767 1583rather than assigning it an empty value.
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1584@end table
1585
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RP
1586@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} runs your program using the shell indicated
1587by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
1588@code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
1589that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
9a27b06e 1590@file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
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1591your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
1592files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
1593@file{.profile}.
562a18b2 1594
4eb4cf57 1595@node Working Directory
93928b60 1596@section Your program's working directory
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1597
1598@cindex working directory (of your program)
1599Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
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RP
1600working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
1601The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
1602from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
1603working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
70b88761 1604
18fae2a8
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1605The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
1606that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
93928b60 1607specify files}.
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1608
1609@table @code
70b88761 1610@kindex cd
af215b1a 1611@item cd @var{directory}
93918348 1612Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
70b88761 1613
70b88761 1614@kindex pwd
af215b1a 1615@item pwd
93918348 1616Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
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1617@end table
1618
4eb4cf57 1619@node Input/Output
93928b60 1620@section Your program's input and output
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1621
1622@cindex redirection
1623@cindex i/o
1624@cindex terminal
18fae2a8 1625By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
af215b1a
VM
1626the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
1627to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
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1628modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
1629running your program.
1630
1631@table @code
70b88761 1632@kindex info terminal
af215b1a 1633@item info terminal
93918348 1634Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
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1635program is using.
1636@end table
1637
29a2b744 1638You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
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1639redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
1640
18fae2a8 1641@example
70b88761 1642run > outfile
18fae2a8 1643@end example
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1644
1645@noindent
29a2b744 1646starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
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1647
1648@kindex tty
1649@cindex controlling terminal
29a2b744 1650Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
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1651with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
1652argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
1653commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
1654process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
1655
1656@example
1657tty /dev/ttyb
1658@end example
1659
1660@noindent
1661directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
1662default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
1663that as their controlling terminal.
1664
1665An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
1666effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
1667terminal.
1668
1669When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
1670command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
18fae2a8 1671for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal.
70b88761 1672
4eb4cf57 1673@node Attach
93928b60 1674@section Debugging an already-running process
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1675@kindex attach
1676@cindex attach
1677
1678@table @code
1679@item attach @var{process-id}
1d7c3357 1680This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
9a27b06e 1681outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
1d7c3357
RP
1682targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
1683find out the process-id of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
1684or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
70b88761 1685
9a27b06e 1686@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
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1687executing the command.
1688@end table
1689
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1690To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
1691which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
1692programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
1693also have permission to send the process a signal.
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1694
1695When using @code{attach}, you should first use the @code{file} command
1696to specify the program running in the process and load its symbol table.
29a2b744 1697@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
70b88761 1698
18fae2a8 1699The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
70b88761 1700process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
18fae2a8 1701with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when you start
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1702processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you can step and
1703continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the process
1704continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
18fae2a8 1705attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
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1706
1707@table @code
70b88761 1708@kindex detach
af215b1a 1709@item detach
70b88761 1710When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
93918348 1711@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
70b88761 1712the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
18fae2a8 1713that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
70b88761 1714are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
9a27b06e 1715@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
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1716executing the command.
1717@end table
1718
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RP
1719If you exit @value{GDBN} or use the @code{run} command while you have an
1720attached process, you kill that process. By default, @value{GDBN} asks
1721for confirmation if you try to do either of these things; you can
1722control whether or not you need to confirm by using the @code{set
1723confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
1724messages}).
70b88761 1725
4eb4cf57 1726@node Kill Process
70b88761 1727@c @group
93928b60 1728@section Killing the child process
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1729
1730@table @code
70b88761 1731@kindex kill
af215b1a 1732@item kill
18fae2a8 1733Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
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1734@end table
1735
1736This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
18fae2a8 1737running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
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1738is running.
1739@c @end group
1740
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RP
1741On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
1742while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
29a2b744 1743@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
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1744outside the debugger.
1745
1746The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
29a2b744 1747relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
70b88761 1748executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
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1749next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
1750reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
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1751breakpoint settings).
1752
4eb4cf57 1753@node Process Information
93928b60 1754@section Additional process information
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1755
1756@kindex /proc
1757@cindex process image
1758Some operating systems provide a facility called @samp{/proc} that can
cc9bc574 1759be used to examine the image of a running process using file-system
18fae2a8 1760subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
cc9bc574 1761facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report on several
af215b1a
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1762kinds of information about the process running your program.
1763@code{info proc} works only on SVR4 systems that support @code{procfs}.
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1764
1765@table @code
d24e0922 1766@kindex info proc
af215b1a 1767@item info proc
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1768Summarize available information about the process.
1769
d24e0922 1770@kindex info proc mappings
af215b1a 1771@item info proc mappings
d24e0922
RP
1772Report on the address ranges accessible in the program, with information
1773on whether your program may read, write, or execute each range.
1774
d24e0922 1775@kindex info proc times
af215b1a 1776@item info proc times
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RP
1777Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
1778its children.
1779
d24e0922 1780@kindex info proc id
af215b1a 1781@item info proc id
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1782Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
1783the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
d24e0922 1784
d24e0922 1785@kindex info proc status
af215b1a 1786@item info proc status
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RP
1787General information on the state of the process. If the process is
1788stopped, this report includes the reason for stopping, and any signal
1789received.
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1790
1791@item info proc all
1792Show all the above information about the process.
d24e0922 1793@end table
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1794
1795@node Threads
1796@section Debugging programs with multiple threads
1797
1798@cindex threads of execution
1799@cindex multiple threads
1800@cindex switching threads
1801In some operating systems, a single program may have more than one
1802@dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics of threads differ from
1803one operating system to another, but in general the threads of a single
1804program are akin to multiple processes---except that they share one
1805address space (that is, they can all examine and modify the same
1806variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own registers and
1807execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
1808
22b5dba5 1809@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
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RP
1810programs:
1811
1812@itemize @bullet
1813@item automatic notification of new threads
1814@item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
1815@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
af215b1a
VM
1816@item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
1817a command to apply a command to a list of threads
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1818@item thread-specific breakpoints
1819@end itemize
1820
1821@quotation
1822@emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
1823@value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
1824If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
1825effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
1826from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
1827like this:
1828
1829@smallexample
1830(@value{GDBP}) info threads
1831(@value{GDBP}) thread 1
1832Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
1833see the IDs of currently known threads.
1834@end smallexample
1835@c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
1836@c doesn't support threads"?
1837@end quotation
1838
1839@cindex focus of debugging
1840@cindex current thread
1841The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
1842threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
1843control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
1844This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
1845program information from the perspective of the current thread.
1846
1847@kindex New @var{systag}
1848@cindex thread identifier (system)
1849@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
1850@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
1851@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
1852Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
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RP
1853the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
1854form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
1855whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
1856LynxOS, you might see
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RP
1857
1858@example
1859[New process 35 thread 27]
1860@end example
1861
1862@noindent
1863when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
1864the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
1865further qualifier.
1866
1867@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
1868@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
1869@c second---i.e., when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
1870@c program?
1871@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
1872@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
1873@c threads ab initio?
1874
1875@cindex thread number
1876@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
1877For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
1878number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
1879
1880@table @code
0cb95a9c 1881@kindex info threads
af215b1a 1882@item info threads
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1883Display a summary of all threads currently in your
1884program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
1885
1886@enumerate
22b5dba5 1887@item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
0cb95a9c 1888
22b5dba5 1889@item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
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1890
1891@item the current stack frame summary for that thread
1892@end enumerate
1893
1894@noindent
1895An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
1896indicates the current thread.
1897
1898For example,
1899@end table
1900@c end table here to get a little more width for example
1901
1902@smallexample
1903(@value{GDBP}) info threads
1904 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
1905 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
1906* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
1907 at threadtest.c:68
1908@end smallexample
1909
1910@table @code
22b5dba5 1911@kindex thread @var{threadno}
af215b1a 1912@item thread @var{threadno}
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1913Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
1914argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
1915shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
1916@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
1917you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
1918
1919@smallexample
af215b1a 1920@c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
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1921(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
1922[Switching to process 35 thread 23]
19230x34e5 in sigpause ()
1924@end smallexample
1925
1926@noindent
1927As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
1928@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
1929threads.
af215b1a
VM
1930
1931@kindex thread apply
1932@item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}
1933The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply a command to one or
1934more threads. Specify the numbers of the threads that you want affected
1935with the command argument @var{threadno}. @var{threadno} is the internal
1936@value{GDBN} thread number, as shown in the first field of the @samp{info
1937threads} display. To apply a command to all threads, use
1938@code{thread apply all} @var{args}.
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1939@end table
1940
1941@cindex automatic thread selection
1942@cindex switching threads automatically
1943@cindex threads, automatic switching
1944Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
1945signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
1946signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
1947message of the form @samp{[Switching to @var{systag}]} to identify the
1948thread.
1949
1950@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and starting multi-thread programs}, for
1951more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
1952programs with multiple threads.
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1953
1954@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting watchpoints}, for information about
1955watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
18fae2a8 1956@end ifclear
d24e0922 1957
1b0c5a4f
JK
1958@node Processes
1959@section Debugging programs with multiple processes
1960
1961@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
1962@cindex multiple processes
1963@cindex processes, multiple
1964@value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging programs which create
1965additional processes using the @code{fork} function. When a program
1966forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the parent process and the
1967child process will run unimpeded. If you have set a breakpoint in any
1968code which the child then executes, the child will get a @code{SIGTRAP}
1969signal which (unless it catches the signal) will cause it to terminate.
1970
1971However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
1972which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
1973the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
1974only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
1975so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
1976on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
1977get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
1978@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
1979the child process (see @ref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
1980the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
1981
4eb4cf57 1982@node Stopping
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1983@chapter Stopping and Continuing
1984
ed447b95 1985The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
29a2b744 1986program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
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1987trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
1988
18fae2a8 1989Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons, such
1d7c3357
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1990as
1991@ifclear BARETARGET
1992a signal,
1993@end ifclear
1994a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a @value{GDBN}
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1995command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and change
1996variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then continue
18fae2a8 1997execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide ample
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1998explanation of the status of your program---but you can also explicitly
1999request this information at any time.
2000
2001@table @code
70b88761 2002@kindex info program
af215b1a 2003@item info program
70b88761 2004Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
1d7c3357
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2005running or not,
2006@ifclear BARETARGET
2007what process it is,
2008@end ifclear
2009and why it stopped.
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2010@end table
2011
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2012@menu
2013@ifclear CONLY
ed447b95 2014* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and exceptions
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2015@end ifclear
2016@ifset CONLY
ed447b95 2017* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints and watchpoints
18fae2a8 2018@end ifset
1d7c3357 2019@c Remnant makeinfo bug requires blank line after *successful* end-if in menu:
18fae2a8 2020
ed447b95 2021* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
18fae2a8 2022@ifset POSIX
b80282d5 2023* Signals:: Signals
18fae2a8 2024@end ifset
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2025@ifclear BARETARGET
2026* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
2027@end ifclear
18fae2a8 2028@end menu
70b88761 2029
1d7c3357 2030@c makeinfo node-defaulting requires adjacency of @node and sectioning cmds
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2031@c ...hence distribute @node Breakpoints over two possible @if expansions.
2032@c
2033@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 2034@node Breakpoints
93928b60 2035@section Breakpoints, watchpoints, and exceptions
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2036@end ifclear
2037@ifset CONLY
2038@node Breakpoints
93928b60 2039@section Breakpoints and watchpoints
18fae2a8 2040@end ifset
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2041
2042@cindex breakpoints
2043A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
9a27b06e
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2044the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add
2045conditions to control in finer detail whether your program stops.
70b88761 2046You can set breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants
93928b60 2047(@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}), to specify the place where
29a2b744 2048your program should stop by line number, function name or exact address
0f153e74 2049in the program.
18fae2a8 2050@ifclear CONLY
af215b1a 2051In languages with exception handling (such as @sc{gnu} C++), you can also set
0cb95a9c
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2052breakpoints where an exception is raised (@pxref{Exception Handling,,
2053Breakpoints and exceptions}).
18fae2a8 2054@end ifclear
70b88761 2055
af215b1a
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2056In SunOS 4.x, SVR4, and Alpha OSF/1 configurations, you can now set
2057breakpoints in shared libraries before the executable is run.
2058
70b88761 2059@cindex watchpoints
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RP
2060@cindex memory tracing
2061@cindex breakpoint on memory address
2062@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
29a2b744
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2063A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
2064when the value of an expression changes. You must use a different
2065command to set watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting
93928b60 2066watchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a watchpoint like
29a2b744 2067any other breakpoint: you enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints
1041a570 2068and watchpoints using the same commands.
70b88761 2069
fe715d06 2070You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
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2071whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
2072Automatic display}.
fe715d06 2073
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2074@cindex breakpoint numbers
2075@cindex numbers for breakpoints
18fae2a8 2076@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint or watchpoint when you
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RP
2077create it; these numbers are successive integers starting with one. In
2078many of the commands for controlling various features of breakpoints you
2079use the breakpoint number to say which breakpoint you want to change.
2080Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has
29a2b744 2081no effect on your program until you enable it again.
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2082
2083@menu
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2084* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
2085* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
1d7c3357 2086@ifclear CONLY
ed447b95 2087* Exception Handling:: Breakpoints and exceptions
1d7c3357 2088@end ifclear
b0157555 2089
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2090* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
2091* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
2092* Conditions:: Break conditions
2093* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
1d7c3357 2094@ifclear CONLY
ed447b95 2095* Breakpoint Menus:: Breakpoint menus
1d7c3357 2096@end ifclear
af215b1a
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2097@c @ifclear BARETARGET
2098@c * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
2099@c @end ifclear
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2100@end menu
2101
4eb4cf57 2102@node Set Breaks
93928b60 2103@subsection Setting breakpoints
70b88761 2104
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2105@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
2106@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
2107@c
2108@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
2109
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2110@kindex break
2111@kindex b
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2112@kindex $bpnum
2113@cindex latest breakpoint
2114Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
2115@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
af215b1a 2116number of the breakpoints you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
93928b60 2117Vars,, Convenience variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
6ca72cc6 2118convenience variables.
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2119
2120You have several ways to say where the breakpoint should go.
2121
2122@table @code
2123@item break @var{function}
0f153e74 2124Set a breakpoint at entry to function @var{function}.
18fae2a8 2125@ifclear CONLY
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2126When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
2127C++, @var{function} may refer to more than one possible place to break.
93928b60 2128@xref{Breakpoint Menus,,Breakpoint menus}, for a discussion of that situation.
18fae2a8 2129@end ifclear
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2130
2131@item break +@var{offset}
2132@itemx break -@var{offset}
2133Set a breakpoint some number of lines forward or back from the position
2134at which execution stopped in the currently selected frame.
2135
2136@item break @var{linenum}
2137Set a breakpoint at line @var{linenum} in the current source file.
2138That file is the last file whose source text was printed. This
9a27b06e 2139breakpoint stops your program just before it executes any of the
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2140code on that line.
2141
2142@item break @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
2143Set a breakpoint at line @var{linenum} in source file @var{filename}.
2144
2145@item break @var{filename}:@var{function}
2146Set a breakpoint at entry to function @var{function} found in file
2147@var{filename}. Specifying a file name as well as a function name is
2148superfluous except when multiple files contain similarly named
2149functions.
2150
2151@item break *@var{address}
2152Set a breakpoint at address @var{address}. You can use this to set
29a2b744 2153breakpoints in parts of your program which do not have debugging
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2154information or source files.
2155
2156@item break
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2157When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
2158the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
2159(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
9a27b06e 2160innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
29a2b744
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2161returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
2162@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
2163that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
9a27b06e 2164@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
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2165the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
2166inside loops.
70b88761 2167
18fae2a8 2168@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
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2169least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
2170would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
2171breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
29a2b744 2172existed when your program stopped.
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2173
2174@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
2175Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
2176@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3d3ab540 2177value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
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2178@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
2179above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
93928b60 2180,Break conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
70b88761 2181
70b88761 2182@kindex tbreak
af215b1a 2183@item tbreak @var{args}
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2184Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
2185same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
cfcafcba 2186way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
93928b60 2187program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling breakpoints}.
70b88761 2188
af215b1a
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2189@kindex hbreak
2190@item hbreak @var{args}
2191Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
2192@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
2193breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
2194have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
2195debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
2196changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
2197provided by SPARClite DSU. DSU will generate traps when a program accesses
2198some date or instruction address that is assigned to the debug registers.
2199However the hardware breakpoint registers can only take two data breakpoints,
2200and @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used.
2201Delete or disable usused hardware breakpoints before setting
2202new ones. @xref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}.
2203
2204@kindex thbreak
2205@item thbreak @var{args}
2206Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
2207are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
2208the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
2209the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
2210first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
2211command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
2212may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling breakpoints}.
2213Also @xref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}.
2214
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2215@kindex rbreak
2216@cindex regular expression
af215b1a 2217@item rbreak @var{regex}
4906534f 2218@c FIXME what kind of regexp?
70b88761 2219Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
b80282d5 2220@var{regex}. This command
70b88761 2221sets an unconditional breakpoint on all matches, printing a list of all
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2222breakpoints it set. Once these breakpoints are set, they are treated
2223just like the breakpoints set with the @code{break} command. You can
2224delete them, disable them, or make them conditional the same way as any
2225other breakpoint.
70b88761 2226
18fae2a8 2227@ifclear CONLY
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2228When debugging C++ programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
2229breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
2230classes.
18fae2a8 2231@end ifclear
b80282d5 2232
70b88761 2233@kindex info breakpoints
c338a2fd 2234@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
70b88761 2235@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
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2236@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
2237@itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
2238Print a table of all breakpoints and watchpoints set and not
2239deleted, with the following columns for each breakpoint:
2240
2241@table @emph
2242@item Breakpoint Numbers
2243@item Type
2244Breakpoint or watchpoint.
2245@item Disposition
2246Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
2247@item Enabled or Disabled
d24e0922 2248Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
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2249that are not enabled.
2250@item Address
2251Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address
2252@item What
2253Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
2254line number.
2255@end table
2256
2257@noindent
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2258If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
2259the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
2260are listed after that.
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2261
2262@noindent
2263@code{info break} with a breakpoint
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2264number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
2265convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
2266the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
93928b60 2267listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining memory}).
af215b1a
VM
2268
2269@noindent
2270@code{info break} now displays a count of the number of times the
2271breakpoint has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with
2272the @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
2273hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the
2274breakpoint was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that
2275number. This will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
1041a570 2276@end table
70b88761 2277
18fae2a8 2278@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
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2279your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
2280the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
93928b60 2281(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}).
70b88761 2282
6ca72cc6 2283@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
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2284@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
2285@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for special
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2286purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C programs).
2287These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers, starting with
5a2c1d85 2288@code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
d48da190 2289
18fae2a8 2290You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
5a2c1d85 2291@samp{maint info breakpoints}.
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2292
2293@table @code
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2294@kindex maint info breakpoints
2295@item maint info breakpoints
6ca72cc6 2296Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
18fae2a8 2297breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
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2298internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
2299breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
2300is shown:
2301
2302@table @code
2303@item breakpoint
2304Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
2305
2306@item watchpoint
2307Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
2308
2309@item longjmp
2310Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
2311@code{longjmp} calls.
2312
2313@item longjmp resume
2314Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
2315
2316@item until
18fae2a8 2317Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
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2318
2319@item finish
18fae2a8 2320Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
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2321@end table
2322
2323@end table
2324
2325
4eb4cf57 2326@node Set Watchpoints
93928b60 2327@subsection Setting watchpoints
70b88761 2328@cindex setting watchpoints
1041a570 2329
70b88761 2330You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
e251e767 2331expression changes, without having to predict a particular place
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2332where this may happen.
2333
2334Watchpoints currently execute two orders of magnitude more slowly than
6b51acad 2335other breakpoints, but this can be well worth it to catch errors where
9a27b06e
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2336you have no clue what part of your program is the culprit.
2337
af215b1a
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2338@c FIXME - did Stan mean to @ignore this out?
2339@ignore
9a27b06e 2340Some processors provide special hardware to support watchpoint
f886dc0f
SS
2341evaluation; @value{GDBN} will use such hardware if it is available,
2342and if the support code has been added for that configuration.
af215b1a 2343@end ignore
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2344
2345@table @code
e251e767 2346@kindex watch
70b88761 2347@item watch @var{expr}
af215b1a
VM
2348Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when @var{expr}
2349is written into by the program and its value changes.
2350This can be used with the new trap-generation provided by
2351SPARClite DSU. DSU will generate traps when a program accesses
2352some date or instruction address that is assigned to the debug registers.
2353For the data addresses, DSU facilitates the @code{watch} command.
2354However the hardware breakpoint registers can only take two data watchpoints,
2355and both watchpoints must be the same kind. For example, you can set two
2356watchpoints with @code{watch} commands, two with @code{rwatch}
2357commands, @strong{or} two with @code{awatch} commands, but you cannot set one
2358watchpoint with one command and the other with a different command.
2359@value{GBDN} will reject the command if you try to mix watchpoints.
2360Delete or disable unused watchpoint commands before setting new ones.
2361
2362@kindex rwatch
2363@item rwatch @var{expr}
2364Set a watchpoint that will break when watch @var{args} is read by the program.
2365If you use both watchpoints, both must be set with the @code{rwatch}
2366command.
2367
2368@kindex awatch
2369@item awatch @var{expr}
2370Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{args} is read and written into
2371by the program. If you use both watchpoints, both must be set with the
2372@code{awatch} command.
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2373
2374@kindex info watchpoints
2375@item info watchpoints
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2376This command prints a list of watchpoints and breakpoints; it is the
2377same as @code{info break}.
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2378@end table
2379
0cb95a9c
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2380@ifclear BARETARGET
2381@quotation
2382@cindex watchpoints and threads
2383@cindex threads and watchpoints
2384@emph{Warning:} in multi-thread programs, watchpoints have only limited
2385usefulness. With the current watchpoint implementation, @value{GDBN}
2386can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a single thread}. If
2387you are confident that the expression can only change due to the current
9a27b06e
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2388thread's activity (and if you are also confident that no other thread
2389can become current), then you can use watchpoints as usual. However,
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2390@value{GDBN} may not notice when a non-current thread's activity changes
2391the expression.
2392@end quotation
2393@end ifclear
2394
1d7c3357 2395@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 2396@node Exception Handling
93928b60 2397@subsection Breakpoints and exceptions
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2398@cindex exception handlers
2399
af215b1a 2400Some languages, such as @sc{gnu} C++, implement exception handling. You can
18fae2a8 2401use @value{GDBN} to examine what caused your program to raise an exception,
29a2b744 2402and to list the exceptions your program is prepared to handle at a
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2403given point in time.
2404
2405@table @code
70b88761 2406@kindex catch
af215b1a 2407@item catch @var{exceptions}
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2408You can set breakpoints at active exception handlers by using the
2409@code{catch} command. @var{exceptions} is a list of names of exceptions
2410to catch.
2411@end table
2412
29a2b744 2413You can use @code{info catch} to list active exception handlers.
93928b60 2414@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a frame}.
70b88761 2415
9a27b06e 2416There are currently some limitations to exception handling in @value{GDBN}:
70b88761
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2417
2418@itemize @bullet
2419@item
18fae2a8 2420If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
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2421control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
2422raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
29a2b744 2423returns control to you and cause your program to simply continue
18fae2a8 2424running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal that @value{GDBN} is
70b88761 2425listening for, or exits.
9a27b06e 2426
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2427@item
2428You cannot raise an exception interactively.
9a27b06e 2429
70b88761 2430@item
9a27b06e 2431You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
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2432@end itemize
2433
2434@cindex raise exceptions
2435Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
29a2b744 2436if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
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2437stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
2438can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
2439breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
2440out where the exception was raised.
2441
2442To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
af215b1a 2443knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C++, exceptions are
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2444raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
2445which has the following ANSI C interface:
2446
2447@example
b80282d5 2448 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
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RP
2449 ID is the exception identifier. */
2450 void __raise_exception (void **@var{addr}, void *@var{id});
2451@end example
2452
2453@noindent
2454To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
2455unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
93928b60 2456(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; watchpoints; and exceptions}).
70b88761 2457
93928b60 2458With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions})
29a2b744
RP
2459that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
2460a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
2461breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
2462raised.
1d7c3357 2463@end ifclear
70b88761 2464
4eb4cf57 2465@node Delete Breaks
93928b60 2466@subsection Deleting breakpoints
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2467
2468@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints
2469@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints
2470It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint or watchpoint once it
29a2b744 2471has done its job and you no longer want your program to stop there. This
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2472is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A breakpoint that has been
2473deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
2474
2475With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
29a2b744 2476where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
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2477delete individual breakpoints or watchpoints by specifying their
2478breakpoint numbers.
2479
18fae2a8 2480It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
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2481automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
2482when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
2483
2484@table @code
2485@item clear
2486@kindex clear
2487Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
93928b60 2488selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}). When
29a2b744
RP
2489the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
2490breakpoint where your program just stopped.
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2491
2492@item clear @var{function}
2493@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
2494Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the function @var{function}.
2495
2496@item clear @var{linenum}
2497@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
2498Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified line.
2499
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2500@cindex delete breakpoints
2501@kindex delete
2502@kindex d
af215b1a 2503@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{bnums}@dots{}@r{]}
70b88761 2504Delete the breakpoints or watchpoints of the numbers specified as
18fae2a8 2505arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all breakpoints (@value{GDBN}
1041a570 2506asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set confirm off}). You
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2507can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
2508@end table
2509
4eb4cf57 2510@node Disabling
93928b60 2511@subsection Disabling breakpoints
70b88761 2512
af215b1a
VM
2513@kindex disable breakpoints
2514@kindex enable breakpoints
70b88761
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2515Rather than deleting a breakpoint or watchpoint, you might prefer to
2516@dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if it had
2517been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so that
2518you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
2519
2520You disable and enable breakpoints and watchpoints with the
2521@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one or
2522more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
2523@code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints or watchpoints if you
29a2b744 2524do not know which numbers to use.
70b88761
RP
2525
2526A breakpoint or watchpoint can have any of four different states of
2527enablement:
2528
2529@itemize @bullet
2530@item
9a27b06e 2531Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
70b88761
RP
2532with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
2533@item
29a2b744 2534Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
70b88761 2535@item
9a27b06e
RP
2536Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
2537disabled. A breakpoint set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in
2538this state.
70b88761 2539@item
9a27b06e
RP
2540Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
2541immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently.
70b88761
RP
2542@end itemize
2543
2544You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints and
2545watchpoints:
2546
2547@table @code
70b88761
RP
2548@kindex disable breakpoints
2549@kindex disable
2550@kindex dis
af215b1a 2551@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{bnums}@dots{}@r{]}
70b88761
RP
2552Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
2553listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
2554options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
2555case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
2556@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
2557
70b88761
RP
2558@kindex enable breakpoints
2559@kindex enable
af215b1a 2560@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{bnums}@dots{}@r{]}
70b88761 2561Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
29a2b744 2562become effective once again in stopping your program.
70b88761
RP
2563
2564@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{bnums}@dots{}
9a27b06e
RP
2565Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
2566of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
70b88761
RP
2567
2568@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{bnums}@dots{}
9a27b06e
RP
2569Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
2570deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
70b88761
RP
2571@end table
2572
af215b1a 2573Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
93928b60
RP
2574,Setting breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
2575subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
2576the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
9a27b06e 2577breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
93928b60
RP
2578breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
2579stepping}.)
70b88761 2580
4eb4cf57 2581@node Conditions
93928b60 2582@subsection Break conditions
70b88761
RP
2583@cindex conditional breakpoints
2584@cindex breakpoint conditions
2585
4906534f
RP
2586@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
2587@c in particular for a watchpoint?
29a2b744 2588The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
70b88761
RP
2589specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
2590breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
1041a570
RP
2591programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
2592a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
2593and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
3d3ab540
RP
2594
2595This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
2596situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
2597when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
e251e767 2598by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
3d3ab540 2599@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
70b88761
RP
2600
2601Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
2602since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
2603it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
2604and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
e251e767 2605one.
70b88761 2606
29a2b744 2607Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
70b88761 2608your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
29a2b744
RP
2609that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
2610format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
2611unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
18fae2a8 2612that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
29a2b744
RP
2613program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
2614breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible for the
2615purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
93928b60 2616(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint command lists}).
70b88761
RP
2617
2618Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
29a2b744 2619@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
93928b60 2620Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
29a2b744
RP
2621with the @code{condition} command. The @code{watch} command does not
2622recognize the @code{if} keyword; @code{condition} is the only way to
2623impose a further condition on a watchpoint.
70b88761 2624
e251e767 2625@table @code
e251e767 2626@kindex condition
af215b1a 2627@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
70b88761 2628Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint or
9a27b06e
RP
2629watchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition, breakpoint
2630@var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of @var{expression} is
2631true (nonzero, in C). When you use @code{condition}, @value{GDBN}
2632checks @var{expression} immediately for syntactic correctness, and to
2633determine whether symbols in it have referents in the context of your
2634breakpoint.
29a2b744 2635@c FIXME so what does GDB do if there is no referent? Moreover, what
4906534f 2636@c about watchpoints?
18fae2a8 2637@value{GDBN} does
70b88761 2638not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
1041a570 2639command is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
70b88761
RP
2640
2641@item condition @var{bnum}
2642Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
2643an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
2644@end table
2645
2646@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
2647A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
2648breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
2649useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
2650count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
2651is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
29a2b744 2652therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
70b88761
RP
2653ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
2654the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
9a27b06e
RP
2655value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
2656your program reaches it.
70b88761
RP
2657
2658@table @code
70b88761 2659@kindex ignore
af215b1a 2660@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
70b88761
RP
2661Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
2662The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
9a27b06e 2663execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
70b88761
RP
2664takes no action.
2665
2666To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
2667a count of zero.
2668
d55320a0
RP
2669When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
2670breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
2671@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
2672Stepping,,Continuing and stepping}.
70b88761 2673
9a27b06e
RP
2674If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
2675condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
2676@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
70b88761 2677
29a2b744 2678You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
18fae2a8 2679as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
1041a570 2680is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
93928b60 2681variables}.
d55320a0 2682@end table
70b88761 2683
4eb4cf57 2684@node Break Commands
93928b60 2685@subsection Breakpoint command lists
70b88761
RP
2686
2687@cindex breakpoint commands
2688You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint) a series of commands to
29a2b744 2689execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For example, you
70b88761
RP
2690might want to print the values of certain expressions, or enable other
2691breakpoints.
2692
2693@table @code
af215b1a
VM
2694@kindex commands
2695@kindex end
70b88761
RP
2696@item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
2697@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
2698@itemx end
70b88761
RP
2699Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
2700themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
2701@code{end} to terminate the commands.
2702
203eea5d
RP
2703To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
2704follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
70b88761
RP
2705
2706With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
2707breakpoint or watchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
2708encountered).
2709@end table
2710
18fae2a8 2711Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
70b88761
RP
2712disabled within a @var{command-list}.
2713
29a2b744 2714You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
70b88761 2715use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
fe715d06
RP
2716that resumes execution.
2717
2718Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
2719execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
2720(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
2721another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
2722ambiguities about which list to execute.
70b88761
RP
2723
2724@kindex silent
fe715d06
RP
2725If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
2726usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
2727be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
2728then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
9a27b06e 2729see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
fe715d06 2730meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
70b88761 2731
d55320a0
RP
2732The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
2733print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
2734breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for controlled output}.
70b88761
RP
2735
2736For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
2737value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
2738
18fae2a8 2739@example
70b88761
RP
2740break foo if x>0
2741commands
2742silent
d55320a0 2743printf "x is %d\n",x
70b88761
RP
2744cont
2745end
18fae2a8 2746@end example
70b88761
RP
2747
2748One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
2749you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
2750of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
2751erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
2752to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
29a2b744 2753so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
70b88761
RP
2754command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
2755
2756@example
2757break 403
2758commands
2759silent
2760set x = y + 4
2761cont
2762end
2763@end example
2764
1d7c3357 2765@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 2766@node Breakpoint Menus
93928b60 2767@subsection Breakpoint menus
b80282d5 2768@cindex overloading
e251e767 2769@cindex symbol overloading
70b88761
RP
2770
2771Some programming languages (notably C++) permit a single function name
2772to be defined several times, for application in different contexts.
2773This is called @dfn{overloading}. When a function name is overloaded,
18fae2a8 2774@samp{break @var{function}} is not enough to tell @value{GDBN} where you want
9a27b06e 2775a breakpoint. If you realize this is a problem, you can use
6f3ec223 2776something like @samp{break @var{function}(@var{types})} to specify which
18fae2a8 2777particular version of the function you want. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} offers
6f3ec223
RP
2778you a menu of numbered choices for different possible breakpoints, and
2779waits for your selection with the prompt @samp{>}. The first two
2780options are always @samp{[0] cancel} and @samp{[1] all}. Typing @kbd{1}
2781sets a breakpoint at each definition of @var{function}, and typing
2782@kbd{0} aborts the @code{break} command without setting any new
2783breakpoints.
70b88761
RP
2784
2785For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
e251e767 2786breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
70b88761
RP
2787We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
2788
6f3ec223 2789@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
d55320a0 2790@smallexample
18fae2a8 2791(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
70b88761
RP
2792[0] cancel
2793[1] all
2794[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
2795[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
2796[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
2797[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
2798[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
2799[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
2800> 2 4 6
2801Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
2802Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
2803Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
2804Multiple breakpoints were set.
d55320a0
RP
2805Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
2806 breakpoints.
18fae2a8 2807(@value{GDBP})
d55320a0 2808@end smallexample
1d7c3357 2809@end ifclear
70b88761 2810
af215b1a
VM
2811@c @ifclear BARETARGET
2812@c @node Error in Breakpoints
2813@c @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
2814@c
2815@c FIXME!! 14/6/95 Is there a real example of this? Let's use it.
2816@c
2817@c Under some operating systems, breakpoints cannot be used in a program if
2818@c any other process is running that program. In this situation,
2819@c attempting to run or continue a program with a breakpoint causes
2820@c @value{GDBN} to stop the other process.
2821@c
2822@c When this happens, you have three ways to proceed:
2823@c
2824@c @enumerate
2825@c @item
2826@c Remove or disable the breakpoints, then continue.
2827@c
2828@c @item
2829@c Suspend @value{GDBN}, and copy the file containing your program to a new
2830@c name. Resume @value{GDBN} and use the @code{exec-file} command to specify
2831@c that @value{GDBN} should run your program under that name.
2832@c Then start your program again.
2833@c
2834@c @item
2835@c Relink your program so that the text segment is nonsharable, using the
2836@c linker option @samp{-N}. The operating system limitation may not apply
2837@c to nonsharable executables.
2838@c @end enumerate
2839@c @end ifclear
70b88761 2840
4eb4cf57 2841@node Continuing and Stepping
93928b60 2842@section Continuing and stepping
70b88761
RP
2843
2844@cindex stepping
7463aadd
RP
2845@cindex continuing
2846@cindex resuming execution
3d3ab540 2847@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
cedaf8bc
RP
2848completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
2849one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
2850line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
2851particular command you use). Either when continuing
4eb4cf57 2852or when stepping, your program may stop even sooner, due to
18fae2a8 2853@ifset BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 2854a breakpoint.
18fae2a8
RP
2855@end ifset
2856@ifclear BARETARGET
6b51acad 2857a breakpoint or a signal. (If due to a signal, you may want to use
4eb4cf57
RP
2858@code{handle}, or use @samp{signal 0} to resume execution.
2859@xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
18fae2a8 2860@end ifclear
3d3ab540
RP
2861
2862@table @code
3d3ab540 2863@kindex continue
d55320a0
RP
2864@kindex c
2865@kindex fg
af215b1a
VM
2866@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
2867@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
2868@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6b51acad
RP
2869Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
2870any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
2871@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
2872ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
2873@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}).
2874
2875The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
d55320a0
RP
2876stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
2877@code{continue} is ignored.
2878
2879The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} are provided purely for convenience,
2880and have exactly the same behavior as @code{continue}.
2881@end table
2882
3d3ab540 2883To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
93928b60 2884(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a function}) to go back to the
29a2b744 2885calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
93928b60 2886different address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
7463aadd
RP
2887
2888A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
93928b60
RP
2889@ifclear CONLY
2890(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; watchpoints; and exceptions})
2891@end ifclear
2892@ifset CONLY
2893(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints and watchpoints})
2894@end ifset
2895at the
29a2b744
RP
2896beginning of the function or the section of your program where a
2897problem is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that
2898breakpoint, and then step through the suspect area, examining the
2899variables that are interesting, until you see the problem happen.
70b88761
RP
2900
2901@table @code
70b88761
RP
2902@kindex step
2903@kindex s
af215b1a 2904@item step
29a2b744 2905Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
18fae2a8 2906line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
70b88761
RP
2907abbreviated @code{s}.
2908
3d3ab540 2909@quotation
068b06f2
JK
2910@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
2911@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
2912@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
2913@c distinction here.
3d3ab540
RP
2914@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
2915within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
d55320a0 2916execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
068b06f2
JK
2917debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
2918is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
2919without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
2920below.
3d3ab540 2921@end quotation
70b88761 2922
af215b1a
VM
2923The @code{step} command now only stops at the first instruction of a
2924source line. This prevents the multiple stops that used to occur in
2925switch statements, for loops, etc. @code{step} continues to stop if a
2926function that has debugging information is called within the line.
2927
2928Also, the @code{step} command now only enters a subroutine if there is line
2929number information for the subroutine. Otherwise it acts like the
2930@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
2931on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
2932was any debugging information about the routine.
2933
70b88761
RP
2934@item step @var{count}
2935Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
1d7c3357
RP
2936breakpoint is reached,
2937@ifclear BARETARGET
2938or a signal not related to stepping occurs before @var{count} steps,
2939@end ifclear
2940stepping stops right away.
70b88761 2941
70b88761
RP
2942@kindex next
2943@kindex n
af215b1a 2944@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
7463aadd 2945Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
af215b1a 2946This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within the line
7463aadd 2947of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when control
af215b1a
VM
2948reaches a different line of code at the original stack level that was
2949executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command is abbreviated
7463aadd 2950@code{n}.
70b88761 2951
7463aadd 2952An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
70b88761 2953
70b88761 2954
af215b1a
VM
2955@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
2956@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
2957@c
2958@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
2959@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
2960@c function are executed without stopping.
2961
2962The @code{next} command now only stops at the first instruction of a
2963source line. This prevents the multiple stops that used to occur in
2964swtch statements, for loops, etc.
2965
70b88761 2966@kindex finish
af215b1a 2967@item finish
7463aadd
RP
2968Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
2969returns. Print the returned value (if any).
70b88761 2970
29a2b744 2971Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
93928b60 2972,Returning from a function}).
70b88761 2973
70b88761 2974@kindex until
6b51acad 2975@itemx u
70b88761 2976@kindex u
af215b1a 2977@item until
70b88761
RP
2978Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
2979current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
2980stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
2981command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
2982automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
2983than the address of the jump.
2984
2985This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
9a27b06e
RP
2986though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
2987exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
2988simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
2989through the next iteration.
70b88761 2990
29a2b744 2991@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
70b88761
RP
2992stack frame.
2993
2994@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
7463aadd 2995of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
70b88761
RP
2996example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
2997(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
2998@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
2999
3000@example
18fae2a8 3001(@value{GDBP}) f
70b88761 3002#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
b80282d5 3003206 expand_input();
18fae2a8 3004(@value{GDBP}) until
b80282d5 3005195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
70b88761
RP
3006@end example
3007
7463aadd
RP
3008This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
3009generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
3010start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
3011written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
3012to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
3013expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
3014statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
70b88761
RP
3015
3016@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
3017instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
3018argument.
3019
3020@item until @var{location}
6b51acad 3021@itemx u @var{location}
29a2b744
RP
3022Continue running your program until either the specified location is
3023reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
3024the forms of argument acceptable to @code{break} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
93928b60 3025,Setting breakpoints}). This form of the command uses breakpoints,
1041a570 3026and hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument.
70b88761 3027
70b88761
RP
3028@kindex stepi
3029@kindex si
af215b1a
VM
3030@item stepi
3031@itemx si
70b88761
RP
3032Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
3033
3034It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
9a27b06e
RP
3035instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
3036instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
3037Display,, Automatic display}.
70b88761
RP
3038
3039An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
3040
ed447b95 3041@need 750
70b88761
RP
3042@kindex nexti
3043@kindex ni
af215b1a
VM
3044@item nexti
3045@itemx ni
70b88761
RP
3046Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
3047proceed until the function returns.
3048
3049An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
70b88761
RP
3050@end table
3051
18fae2a8 3052@ifset POSIX
4eb4cf57 3053@node Signals
70b88761
RP
3054@section Signals
3055@cindex signals
3056
3057A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
3058operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
3059kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
3060signal a program gets when you type an interrupt (often @kbd{C-c});
3061@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
3062memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
29a2b744 3063the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
70b88761
RP
3064requested an alarm).
3065
3066@cindex fatal signals
3067Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
29a2b744
RP
3068functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
3069errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (kill your program immediately) if the
70b88761 3070program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
29a2b744 3071@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
70b88761
RP
3072fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
3073
18fae2a8
RP
3074@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
3075program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
29a2b744 3076signal.
70b88761
RP
3077
3078@cindex handling signals
18fae2a8 3079Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to ignore non-erroneous signals like @code{SIGALRM}
29a2b744
RP
3080(so as not to interfere with their role in the functioning of your program)
3081but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
70b88761
RP
3082You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
3083
3084@table @code
70b88761 3085@kindex info signals
af215b1a 3086@item info signals
18fae2a8 3087Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
70b88761
RP
3088handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
3089the defined types of signals.
3090
af215b1a
VM
3091@code{info handle} is the new alias for @code{info signals}.
3092
70b88761 3093@kindex handle
af215b1a
VM
3094@item handle @var{signal} @var{keywords}@dots{}
3095Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can
3096be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the @samp{SIG} at the
70b88761
RP
3097beginning). The @var{keywords} say what change to make.
3098@end table
3099
3100@c @group
3101The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
3102Their full names are:
3103
3104@table @code
3105@item nostop
18fae2a8 3106@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
70b88761
RP
3107still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
3108
3109@item stop
18fae2a8 3110@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
70b88761
RP
3111the @code{print} keyword as well.
3112
3113@item print
18fae2a8 3114@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
70b88761
RP
3115
3116@item noprint
18fae2a8 3117@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
70b88761
RP
3118implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
3119
3120@item pass
9a27b06e
RP
3121@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
3122can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
70b88761
RP
3123and not handled.
3124
3125@item nopass
18fae2a8 3126@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
70b88761
RP
3127@end table
3128@c @end group
3129
ed447b95 3130When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible until you
9a27b06e 3131continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
ed447b95
RP
3132effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
3133after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
9a27b06e
RP
3134command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
3135program sees that signal when you continue.
70b88761 3136
29a2b744 3137You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
70b88761 3138seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
29a2b744 3139or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
7463aadd
RP
3140due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
3141values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
29a2b744
RP
3142execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
3143a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
3144you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
93928b60 3145program a signal}.
18fae2a8 3146@end ifset
70b88761 3147
0cb95a9c
RP
3148@ifclear BARETARGET
3149@node Thread Stops
3150@section Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3151
3152When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
3153programs with multiple threads}), you can choose whether to set
3154breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
3155
3156@table @code
22b5dba5
RP
3157@cindex breakpoints and threads
3158@cindex thread breakpoints
0cb95a9c
RP
3159@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
3160@item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
3161@itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
af215b1a
VM
3162@var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
3163writing them, but the effect is always to specify some source line.
3164
0cb95a9c
RP
3165Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
3166to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
22b5dba5
RP
3167particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
3168numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
3169column of the @samp{info threads} display.
0cb95a9c
RP
3170
3171If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
3172breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
3173program.
22b5dba5
RP
3174
3175You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
3176well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before the
3177breakpoint condition, like this:
3178
3179@smallexample
3180(gdb) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
3181@end smallexample
af215b1a 3182
0cb95a9c
RP
3183@end table
3184
3185@cindex stopped threads
3186@cindex threads, stopped
3187Whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
3188@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
3189allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
3190switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
3191underfoot.
3192
3193@cindex continuing threads
3194@cindex threads, continuing
3195Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
3196executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
3197like @code{step} or @code{next}.
3198
3199In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
22b5dba5
RP
3200Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
3201system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
3202execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
3203single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
3204statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
3205stops.
0cb95a9c
RP
3206
3207You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
3208continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
3209thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
3210first thread completes whatever you requested.
3211@end ifclear
3212
4eb4cf57 3213@node Stack
70b88761
RP
3214@chapter Examining the Stack
3215
3216When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
3217stopped and how it got there.
3218
3219@cindex call stack
af215b1a
VM
3220Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
3221is generated.
3222That information includes the location of the call in your program,
3223the arguments of the call,
3224and the local variables of the function being called.
3225The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
3226The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
70b88761
RP
3227stack}.
3228
93928b60
RP
3229When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
3230stack allow you to see all of this information.
70b88761
RP
3231
3232@cindex selected frame
93928b60
RP
3233One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
3234@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
3235particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
3236your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
3237special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
af215b1a 3238interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
70b88761 3239
93928b60 3240When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
af215b1a
VM
3241currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
3242@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a frame}).
70b88761
RP
3243
3244@menu
ed447b95 3245* Frames:: Stack frames
b80282d5 3246* Backtrace:: Backtraces
ed447b95
RP
3247* Selection:: Selecting a frame
3248* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
572867a8
RP
3249@ifset MIPS
3250* MIPS Stack:: MIPS machines and the function stack
3251@end ifset
70b88761
RP
3252@end menu
3253
4eb4cf57 3254@node Frames
93928b60 3255@section Stack frames
70b88761
RP
3256
3257@cindex frame
3258@cindex stack frame
3259The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
3260frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
3261with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
3262to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
3263which the function is executing.
3264
3265@cindex initial frame
3266@cindex outermost frame
3267@cindex innermost frame
3268When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
3269function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
3270@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
3271made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
3272is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
3273the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
3274actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
3275recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
3276
3277@cindex frame pointer
3278Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
3279stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
af215b1a 3280kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
70b88761
RP
3281address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
3282in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register} while execution is
3283going on in that frame.
3284
3285@cindex frame number
18fae2a8 3286@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
70b88761
RP
3287zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
3288and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
18fae2a8
RP
3289they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
3290frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
70b88761 3291
6b51acad 3292@c below produces an acceptable overful hbox. --mew 13aug1993
70b88761 3293@cindex frameless execution
8c69096b 3294Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
18fae2a8 3295without stack frames. (For example, the @code{@value{GCC}} option
9a27b06e 3296@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer} generates functions without a frame.)
70b88761 3297This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
8c69096b
RP
3298the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
3299with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
9a27b06e 3300has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
8c69096b
RP
3301it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
3302correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
3303no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
70b88761 3304
af215b1a
VM
3305@table @code
3306@kindex frame
3307@item frame @var{args}
3308The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
3309and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
3310address of the frame of the stack frame number. Without an argument,
3311@code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
3312
3313@kindex select-frame
3314@item select-frame
3315The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
3316to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
3317@code{frame}.
3318@end table
3319
4eb4cf57 3320@node Backtrace
70b88761
RP
3321@section Backtraces
3322
29a2b744 3323A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
70b88761
RP
3324line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
3325frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
3326stack.
3327
3328@table @code
70b88761
RP
3329@kindex backtrace
3330@kindex bt
af215b1a
VM
3331@item backtrace
3332@itemx bt
70b88761
RP
3333Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
3334frames in the stack.
3335
3336You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
3337character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
3338
3339@item backtrace @var{n}
3340@itemx bt @var{n}
3341Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
3342
3343@item backtrace -@var{n}
3344@itemx bt -@var{n}
3345Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
3346@end table
3347
3348@kindex where
3349@kindex info stack
3350@kindex info s
3351The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
3352are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
3353
3354Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
3355The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
3356print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
3357line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
3358counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
3359line number.
3360
3361Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
3362@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
3363
3364@smallexample
3365@group
203eea5d
RP
3366#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
3367 at builtin.c:993
70b88761
RP
3368#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600) at macro.c:242
3369#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
3370 at macro.c:71
3371(More stack frames follow...)
3372@end group
3373@end smallexample
3374
3375@noindent
29a2b744
RP
3376The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
3377value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
70b88761
RP
3378code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
3379
4eb4cf57 3380@node Selection
93928b60 3381@section Selecting a frame
70b88761 3382
29a2b744 3383Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
70b88761
RP
3384whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
3385selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
3386of the stack frame just selected.
3387
3388@table @code
70b88761
RP
3389@kindex frame
3390@kindex f
af215b1a
VM
3391@item frame @var{n}
3392@itemx f @var{n}
70b88761
RP
3393Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
3394(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
93918348
RP
3395innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
3396@code{main}.
70b88761
RP
3397
3398@item frame @var{addr}
3399@itemx f @var{addr}
3400Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
3401chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
18fae2a8 3402impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
29a2b744 3403addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
70b88761
RP
3404switches between them.
3405
7e17041f 3406@ifclear H8EXCLUSIVE
70b88761 3407On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
e251e767 3408select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
7e17041f
JK
3409
3410On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
3411pointer and a program counter.
3412
3413On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
3414pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
70b88761 3415@c note to future updaters: this is conditioned on a flag
7e17041f
JK
3416@c SETUP_ARBITRARY_FRAME in the tm-*.h files. The above is up to date
3417@c as of 27 Jan 1994.
3418@end ifclear
70b88761 3419
70b88761 3420@kindex up
af215b1a 3421@item up @var{n}
70b88761
RP
3422Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
3423advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
3424that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
3425
70b88761
RP
3426@kindex down
3427@kindex do
af215b1a 3428@item down @var{n}
70b88761
RP
3429Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
3430advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
3431that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
3432abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
3433@end table
3434
3435All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
3436frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
3437arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
ed447b95 3438frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
70b88761 3439
b1955f0b 3440@need 1000
ed447b95 3441For example:
b1955f0b 3442
70b88761 3443@smallexample
29a2b744 3444@group
18fae2a8 3445(@value{GDBP}) up
203eea5d
RP
3446#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
3447 at env.c:10
70b88761 344810 read_input_file (argv[i]);
29a2b744 3449@end group
70b88761
RP
3450@end smallexample
3451
9a27b06e
RP
3452After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
3453prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
93928b60 3454@xref{List, ,Printing source lines}.
70b88761
RP
3455
3456@table @code
70b88761
RP
3457@kindex down-silently
3458@kindex up-silently
af215b1a
VM
3459@item up-silently @var{n}
3460@itemx down-silently @var{n}
70b88761
RP
3461These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
3462respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
3463causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
18fae2a8 3464in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
e251e767 3465distracting.
70b88761
RP
3466@end table
3467
4eb4cf57 3468@node Frame Info
93928b60 3469@section Information about a frame
70b88761
RP
3470
3471There are several other commands to print information about the selected
3472stack frame.
3473
3474@table @code
3475@item frame
3476@itemx f
29a2b744
RP
3477When used without any argument, this command does not change which
3478frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
70b88761 3479selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
ed447b95 3480argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
93928b60 3481@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
70b88761 3482
29a2b744 3483@kindex info frame
70b88761 3484@kindex info f
af215b1a
VM
3485@item info frame
3486@itemx info f
70b88761 3487This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
af215b1a
VM
3488including:
3489
3490@itemize
3491@item
3492the address of the frame
3493@item
3494the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
3495@item
3496the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
3497@item
3498the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
3499@item
3500the address of the frame's arguments
3501@item
3502the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
3503@item
3504which registers were saved in the frame
3505@end itemize
3506
3507@noindent The verbose description is useful when
70b88761
RP
3508something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
3509the usual conventions.
3510
3511@item info frame @var{addr}
3512@itemx info f @var{addr}
7e17041f
JK
3513Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
3514selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
3515command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
3516architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
3517@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
70b88761 3518
70b88761 3519@kindex info args
af215b1a 3520@item info args
70b88761
RP
3521Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
3522
3523@item info locals
3524@kindex info locals
3525Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
ed447b95
RP
3526line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
3527accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
70b88761 3528
1d7c3357 3529@ifclear CONLY
70b88761
RP
3530@kindex info catch
3531@cindex catch exceptions
3532@cindex exception handlers
af215b1a 3533@item info catch
70b88761
RP
3534Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
3535current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
3536exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
3537@code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
93928b60 3538@xref{Exception Handling, ,Breakpoints and exceptions}.
1d7c3357 3539@end ifclear
70b88761
RP
3540@end table
3541
572867a8
RP
3542@ifset MIPS
3543@node MIPS Stack
3544@section MIPS machines and the function stack
3545
3546@cindex stack on MIPS
3547@cindex MIPS stack
3548MIPS based computers use an unusual stack frame, which sometimes
3549requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to find the
3550beginning of a function.
3551
3552@cindex response time, MIPS debugging
3553To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
3554@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
3555you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
3556commands:
572867a8 3557
572867a8 3558@table @code
af215b1a 3559@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (MIPS)
572867a8 3560@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
c79890ee 3561Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its search
af215b1a
VM
3562for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the default)
3563means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the larger the
3564limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search and
3565therefore the longer it takes to run.
572867a8
RP
3566
3567@item show heuristic-fence-post
3568Display the current limit.
3569@end table
3570
3571@noindent
3572These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
3573for debugging programs on MIPS processors.
3574@end ifset
3575
4eb4cf57 3576@node Source
70b88761
RP
3577@chapter Examining Source Files
3578
18fae2a8 3579@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
ed447b95 3580information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
18fae2a8 3581used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
1041a570 3582the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
93928b60 3583(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
1041a570
RP
3584execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
3585source files by explicit command.
70b88761 3586
18fae2a8 3587@ifclear DOSHOST
af215b1a
VM
3588If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may prefer
3589to use
3590Emacs facilities to view source; @pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
18fae2a8 3591@end ifclear
70b88761
RP
3592
3593@menu
ed447b95 3594* List:: Printing source lines
18fae2a8 3595@ifclear DOSHOST
ed447b95 3596* Search:: Searching source files
18fae2a8 3597@end ifclear
b0157555 3598
ed447b95
RP
3599* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
3600* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
70b88761
RP
3601@end menu
3602
4eb4cf57 3603@node List
93928b60 3604@section Printing source lines
70b88761
RP
3605
3606@kindex list
3607@kindex l
3608To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
af215b1a
VM
3609(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
3610There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to print.
70b88761
RP
3611
3612Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
3613
3614@table @code
3615@item list @var{linenum}
c338a2fd 3616Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
70b88761
RP
3617current source file.
3618
3619@item list @var{function}
c338a2fd 3620Print lines centered around the beginning of function
70b88761
RP
3621@var{function}.
3622
3623@item list
c338a2fd
RP
3624Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
3625@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
70b88761 3626printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
29a2b744 3627as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
1041a570 3628Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
70b88761
RP
3629
3630@item list -
c338a2fd
RP
3631Print lines just before the lines last printed.
3632@end table
3633
18fae2a8 3634By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
c338a2fd
RP
3635the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
3636
3637@table @code
c338a2fd 3638@kindex set listsize
af215b1a 3639@item set listsize @var{count}
c338a2fd
RP
3640Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
3641the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
3642
c338a2fd 3643@kindex show listsize
af215b1a 3644@item show listsize
9a27b06e 3645Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
70b88761
RP
3646@end table
3647
3648Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
3649so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
3650than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
3651argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
3652each repetition moves up in the source file.
3653
3654@cindex linespec
3655In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
3656@dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
3657of writing them but the effect is always to specify some source line.
3658Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
3659
3660@table @code
3661@item list @var{linespec}
c338a2fd 3662Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
70b88761
RP
3663
3664@item list @var{first},@var{last}
3665Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
3666linespecs.
3667
3668@item list ,@var{last}
c338a2fd 3669Print lines ending with @var{last}.
70b88761
RP
3670
3671@item list @var{first},
c338a2fd 3672Print lines starting with @var{first}.
70b88761
RP
3673
3674@item list +
c338a2fd 3675Print lines just after the lines last printed.
70b88761
RP
3676
3677@item list -
c338a2fd 3678Print lines just before the lines last printed.
70b88761
RP
3679
3680@item list
3681As described in the preceding table.
3682@end table
3683
3684Here are the ways of specifying a single source line---all the
3685kinds of linespec.
3686
3687@table @code
3688@item @var{number}
3689Specifies line @var{number} of the current source file.
3690When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, this refers to
3691the same source file as the first linespec.
3692
3693@item +@var{offset}
3694Specifies the line @var{offset} lines after the last line printed.
3695When used as the second linespec in a @code{list} command that has
3696two, this specifies the line @var{offset} lines down from the
3697first linespec.
3698
3699@item -@var{offset}
3700Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before the last line printed.
3701
3702@item @var{filename}:@var{number}
3703Specifies line @var{number} in the source file @var{filename}.
3704
3705@item @var{function}
af215b1a
VM
3706Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
3707For example: in C, this is the line with the open brace.
70b88761
RP
3708
3709@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
3710Specifies the line of the open-brace that begins the body of the
3711function @var{function} in the file @var{filename}. You only need the
3712file name with a function name to avoid ambiguity when there are
3713identically named functions in different source files.
3714
3715@item *@var{address}
3716Specifies the line containing the program address @var{address}.
3717@var{address} may be any expression.
3718@end table
3719
18fae2a8 3720@ifclear DOSHOST
4eb4cf57 3721@node Search
93928b60 3722@section Searching source files
70b88761
RP
3723@cindex searching
3724@kindex reverse-search
3725
3726There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
3727regular expression.
3728
3729@table @code
70b88761
RP
3730@kindex search
3731@kindex forward-search
af215b1a
VM
3732@item forward-search @var{regexp}
3733@itemx search @var{regexp}
1041a570
RP
3734The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
3735starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
af215b1a 3736@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
1041a570
RP
3737synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
3738@code{fo}.
70b88761
RP
3739
3740@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
3741The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
3742with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
3743for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
3744this command as @code{rev}.
3745@end table
18fae2a8 3746@end ifclear
70b88761 3747
4eb4cf57 3748@node Source Path
93928b60 3749@section Specifying source directories
70b88761
RP
3750
3751@cindex source path
3752@cindex directories for source files
3753Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
3754files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
3755the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
18fae2a8
RP
3756session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
3757this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
70b88761
RP
3758it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
3759in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name. Note that
3760the executable search path is @emph{not} used for this purpose. Neither is
3761the current working directory, unless it happens to be in the source
3762path.
3763
9a27b06e
RP
3764If @value{GDBN} cannot find a source file in the source path, and the
3765object program records a directory, @value{GDBN} tries that directory
3766too. If the source path is empty, and there is no record of the
3767compilation directory, @value{GDBN} looks in the current directory as a
3768last resort.
70b88761 3769
9a27b06e 3770Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
b1955f0b
RP
3771any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
3772each line is in the file.
70b88761
RP
3773
3774@kindex directory
af215b1a 3775@kindex dir
18fae2a8 3776When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path is empty.
70b88761
RP
3777To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
3778
3779@table @code
3780@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
af215b1a 3781@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
70b88761
RP
3782Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
3783directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:} or
3784whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
9a27b06e 3785path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7463aadd 3786
fa6df1a7
RP
3787@kindex cdir
3788@kindex cwd
a88ec213
RP
3789@kindex $cdir
3790@kindex $cwd
fa6df1a7
RP
3791@cindex compilation directory
3792@cindex current directory
3793@cindex working directory
3794@cindex directory, current
3795@cindex directory, compilation
7463aadd
RP
3796You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
3797directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
3798working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
18fae2a8 3799tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7463aadd
RP
3800session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
3801directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
70b88761
RP
3802
3803@item directory
3804Reset the source path to empty again. This requires confirmation.
3805
3806@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
29a2b744 3807@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
70b88761
RP
3808
3809@item show directories
3810@kindex show directories
3811Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
3812@end table
3813
3814If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
18fae2a8 3815interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
70b88761
RP
3816versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
3817
3818@enumerate
3819@item
3820Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to empty.
3821
3822@item
3823Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
3824directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
3825directories in one command.
3826@end enumerate
3827
4eb4cf57 3828@node Machine Code
93928b60 3829@section Source and machine code
1041a570 3830
70b88761 3831You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
ed447b95 3832addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
af215b1a
VM
3833a range of addresses as machine instructions. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
3834mode, the @code{info line} command now causes the arrow to point to the
3835line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
3836well as hex.
70b88761
RP
3837
3838@table @code
70b88761 3839@kindex info line
af215b1a 3840@item info line @var{linespec}
70b88761 3841Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
1041a570
RP
3842source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
3843the ways understood by the @code{list} command (@pxref{List, ,Printing
93928b60 3844source lines}).
70b88761
RP
3845@end table
3846
1041a570
RP
3847For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
3848the object code for the first line of function
3849@code{m4_changequote}:
3850
70b88761 3851@smallexample
18fae2a8 3852(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changecom
70b88761
RP
3853Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
3854@end smallexample
3855
3856@noindent
3857We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
3858@var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
3859@smallexample
18fae2a8 3860(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
70b88761
RP
3861Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
3862@end smallexample
3863
c338a2fd 3864@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
29a2b744
RP
3865After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
3866is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
3867sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
93928b60 3868,Examining memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
29a2b744 3869convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
93928b60 3870variables}).
70b88761
RP
3871
3872@table @code
3873@kindex disassemble
c5f69ff8
RP
3874@cindex assembly instructions
3875@cindex instructions, assembly
3876@cindex machine instructions
3877@cindex listing machine instructions
af215b1a 3878@item disassemble
e94b4a2b
RP
3879This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
3880instructions. The default memory range is the function surrounding the
3881program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
9a27b06e
RP
3882command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
3883surrounding this value. Two arguments specify a range of addresses
3884(first inclusive, second exclusive) to dump.
70b88761
RP
3885@end table
3886
a64a6c2b 3887@ifclear H8EXCLUSIVE
70b88761 3888We can use @code{disassemble} to inspect the object code
4eb4cf57
RP
3889range shown in the last @code{info line} example (the example
3890shows SPARC machine instructions):
70b88761 3891
18fae2a8 3892
70b88761 3893@smallexample
18fae2a8 3894(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x63e4 0x6404
70b88761 3895Dump of assembler code from 0x63e4 to 0x6404:
b80282d5
RP
38960x63e4 <builtin_init+5340>: ble 0x63f8 <builtin_init+5360>
38970x63e8 <builtin_init+5344>: sethi %hi(0x4c00), %o0
38980x63ec <builtin_init+5348>: ld [%i1+4], %o0
38990x63f0 <builtin_init+5352>: b 0x63fc <builtin_init+5364>
39000x63f4 <builtin_init+5356>: ld [%o0+4], %o0
39010x63f8 <builtin_init+5360>: or %o0, 0x1a4, %o0
39020x63fc <builtin_init+5364>: call 0x9288 <path_search>
e251e767 39030x6400 <builtin_init+5368>: nop
70b88761 3904End of assembler dump.
70b88761 3905@end smallexample
18fae2a8 3906@end ifclear
4eb4cf57 3907
a64a6c2b 3908@ifset H8EXCLUSIVE
4eb4cf57
RP
3909For example, here is the beginning of the output for the
3910disassembly of a function @code{fact}:
70b88761 3911
18fae2a8 3912
4eb4cf57 3913@smallexample
18fae2a8 3914(@value{GDBP}) disas fact
4eb4cf57
RP
3915Dump of assembler code for function fact:
3916to 0x808c:
39170x802c <fact>: 6d f2 mov.w r2,@@-r7
39180x802e <fact+2>: 6d f3 mov.w r3,@@-r7
39190x8030 <fact+4>: 6d f6 mov.w r6,@@-r7
39200x8032 <fact+6>: 0d 76 mov.w r7,r6
39210x8034 <fact+8>: 6f 70 00 08 mov.w @@(0x8,r7),r0
39220x8038 <fact+12> 19 11 sub.w r1,r1
3923 .
3924 .
3925 .
3926@end smallexample
18fae2a8 3927@end ifset
4eb4cf57
RP
3928
3929@node Data
70b88761
RP
3930@chapter Examining Data
3931
3932@cindex printing data
3933@cindex examining data
3934@kindex print
3935@kindex inspect
1041a570 3936@c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
29a2b744 3937@c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
70b88761
RP
3938@c different window or something like that.
3939The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
4eb4cf57 3940command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}.
18fae2a8 3941@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 3942It evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
18fae2a8 3943program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different
4eb4cf57 3944Languages}).
18fae2a8 3945@end ifclear
70b88761 3946
e0dacfd1
RP
3947@table @code
3948@item print @var{exp}
3949@itemx print /@var{f} @var{exp}
93928b60
RP
3950@var{exp} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
3951value of @var{exp} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
3952you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
3953@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; @pxref{Output Formats,,Output
3954formats}.
e0dacfd1
RP
3955
3956@item print
3957@itemx print /@var{f}
18fae2a8 3958If you omit @var{exp}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
93928b60 3959@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value history}). This allows you to
e0dacfd1
RP
3960conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
3961@end table
70b88761
RP
3962
3963A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
3964It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
93928b60 3965specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining memory}.
70b88761 3966
29a2b744 3967If you are interested in information about types, or about how the fields
1d7c3357
RP
3968of a struct
3969@ifclear CONLY
3970or class
18fae2a8 3971@end ifclear
1d7c3357
RP
3972are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
3973command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
18fae2a8 3974
70b88761 3975@menu
b80282d5 3976* Expressions:: Expressions
ed447b95
RP
3977* Variables:: Program variables
3978* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
eb7faec1 3979* Output Formats:: Output formats
ed447b95
RP
3980* Memory:: Examining memory
3981* Auto Display:: Automatic display
3982* Print Settings:: Print settings
3983* Value History:: Value history
3984* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
b80282d5 3985* Registers:: Registers
a64a6c2b 3986@ifclear HAVE-FLOAT
ed447b95 3987* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
18fae2a8 3988@end ifclear
18fae2a8 3989@end menu
70b88761 3990
4eb4cf57 3991@node Expressions
70b88761
RP
3992@section Expressions
3993
3994@cindex expressions
18fae2a8 3995@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
70b88761 3996compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
fe715d06 3997by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
18fae2a8 3998@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls, casts
70b88761 3999and string constants. It unfortunately does not include symbols defined
b80282d5 4000by preprocessor @code{#define} commands.
70b88761 4001
af215b1a
VM
4002@value{GDBN} now supports array constants in expressions input by
4003the user. The syntax is @var{element, element@dots{}}. For example,
4004you can now use the command @code{print @{1 2 3@}} to build up an array in
4005memory that is malloc'd in the target program.
4006
18fae2a8 4007@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22 4008Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
18fae2a8 4009this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
c2bbbb22 4010Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
e251e767 4011languages.
c2bbbb22 4012
18fae2a8 4013In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
e251e767 4014expressions regardless of your programming language.
c2bbbb22 4015
70b88761 4016Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
af215b1a 4017useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
70b88761 4018at that address in memory.
c2bbbb22 4019@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
18fae2a8 4020@end ifclear
70b88761 4021
af215b1a
VM
4022@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
4023to programming languages:
70b88761
RP
4024
4025@table @code
4026@item @@
4027@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
93928b60 4028@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial arrays}, for more information.
70b88761
RP
4029
4030@item ::
4031@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
93928b60 4032function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program variables}.
70b88761 4033
fe715d06
RP
4034@cindex @{@var{type}@}
4035@cindex type casting memory
4036@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
4037@cindex casts, to view memory
af215b1a 4038@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
70b88761
RP
4039Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
4040memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
4041pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
4042a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
1041a570 4043normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
70b88761
RP
4044@end table
4045
4eb4cf57 4046@node Variables
93928b60 4047@section Program variables
70b88761
RP
4048
4049The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
4050in your program.
4051
4052Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
af215b1a
VM
4053(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}); they must be either:
4054
4055@itemize
4056@item
4057global (or static)
4058@end itemize
4059
4060@noindent or
4061
4062@itemize
4063@item
4064visible according to the scope rules of the
4065programming language from the point of execution in that frame
4066@end itemize
4067
4068@noindent This means that in the function
70b88761
RP
4069
4070@example
4071foo (a)
4072 int a;
4073@{
4074 bar (a);
4075 @{
4076 int b = test ();
4077 bar (b);
4078 @}
4079@}
4080@end example
4081
4082@noindent
ed447b95
RP
4083you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
4084executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
4085examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
4086the block where @code{b} is declared.
70b88761
RP
4087
4088@cindex variable name conflict
4089There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
4090scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
4091in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
6ca72cc6
RP
4092function with the same name (in different source files). If that
4093happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
4094you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
4095using the colon-colon notation:
70b88761
RP
4096
4097@cindex colon-colon
a6d0b6d3 4098@iftex
29a2b744 4099@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
70b88761 4100@kindex ::
a6d0b6d3 4101@end iftex
70b88761
RP
4102@example
4103@var{file}::@var{variable}
6ca72cc6 4104@var{function}::@var{variable}
70b88761
RP
4105@end example
4106
4107@noindent
6ca72cc6 4108Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
6c380b13 4109static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
18fae2a8 4110make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
6c380b13
RP
4111to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
4112
4113@example
18fae2a8 4114(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
6c380b13 4115@end example
70b88761 4116
18fae2a8 4117@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22 4118@cindex C++ scope resolution
70b88761 4119This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
18fae2a8
RP
4120use of the same notation in C++. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C++
4121scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
ed447b95
RP
4122@c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
4123@c conflict?? --mew
18fae2a8 4124@end ifclear
70b88761 4125
3d3ab540
RP
4126@cindex wrong values
4127@cindex variable values, wrong
4128@quotation
4129@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
b0157555
RP
4130wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
4131scope, and just before exit.
3d3ab540 4132@end quotation
b0157555 4133You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
af215b1a 4134This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
b0157555
RP
4135set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
4136stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
4137values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
4138also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
4139after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
4140variable definitions may be gone.
3d3ab540 4141
4eb4cf57 4142@node Arrays
93928b60 4143@section Artificial arrays
70b88761
RP
4144
4145@cindex artificial array
4146@kindex @@
4147It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
4148same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
4149dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
4150program.
4151
fe715d06
RP
4152You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
4153@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
af215b1a
VM
4154operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
4155and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
fe715d06
RP
4156of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
4157the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
4158argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
4159following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
4160example. If a program says
70b88761
RP
4161
4162@example
4163int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
4164@end example
4165
4166@noindent
4167you can print the contents of @code{array} with
4168
4169@example
4170p *array@@len
4171@end example
4172
4173The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
4174with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
4175subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
4176Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7640fe71 4177(@pxref{Value History, ,Value history}), after printing one out.
70b88761 4178
27648f26
PB
4179Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
4180This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
4181The value need not be in memory:
4182@example
4183(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
4184$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
4185@end example
4186
4187As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
4188@samp{(@var{type})[])@var{value}}) gdb calculates the size to fill
4189the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
4190@example
4191(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
4192$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
4193@end example
4194
1041a570 4195Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
3d3ab540 4196moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
1041a570
RP
4197actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
4198of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
4199to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
93928b60 4200variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
1041a570
RP
4201interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
4202instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
4203structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
4204in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
4205
3d3ab540
RP
4206@example
4207set $i = 0
4208p dtab[$i++]->fv
4209@key{RET}
4210@key{RET}
4211@dots{}
4212@end example
4213
ed447b95 4214@node Output Formats
70b88761
RP
4215@section Output formats
4216
4217@cindex formatted output
4218@cindex output formats
18fae2a8 4219By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
70b88761
RP
4220this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
4221in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
4222at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
4223these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
4224
4225The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
4226already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
4227@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
4228letters supported are:
4229
4230@table @code
4231@item x
4232Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
4233hexadecimal.
4234
4235@item d
4236Print as integer in signed decimal.
4237
4238@item u
4239Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
4240
4241@item o
4242Print as integer in octal.
4243
4244@item t
4245Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
fe715d06
RP
4246@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
4247used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
4248@pxref{Memory,,Examining memory}.}
70b88761
RP
4249
4250@item a
9a27b06e
RP
4251@cindex unknown address, locating
4252Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
4253the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
4254where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
1041a570 4255
70b88761 4256@example
18fae2a8
RP
4257(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
4258$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
70b88761
RP
4259@end example
4260
70b88761
RP
4261@item c
4262Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant.
4263
4264@item f
4265Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
4266using typical floating point syntax.
4267@end table
4268
4269For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
4270
4271@example
4272p/x $pc
4273@end example
4274
4275@noindent
4276Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
18fae2a8 4277names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
70b88761
RP
4278
4279To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
4280you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
4281expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
4282
4eb4cf57 4283@node Memory
93928b60 4284@section Examining memory
70b88761 4285
1041a570
RP
4286You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
4287any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
4288
70b88761
RP
4289@cindex examining memory
4290@table @code
4291@kindex x
cedaf8bc
RP
4292@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
4293@itemx x @var{addr}
4294@itemx x
ed447b95 4295Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
1041a570
RP
4296@end table
4297
4298@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
4299much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
cedaf8bc
RP
4300expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
4301If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
4302Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
70b88761 4303
1041a570
RP
4304@table @r
4305@item @var{n}, the repeat count
4306The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
4307how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
cedaf8bc
RP
4308@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
4309@c 4.1.2.
70b88761 4310
1041a570
RP
4311@item @var{f}, the display format
4312The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print},
af215b1a
VM
4313@samp{s} (null-terminated string), or @samp{i} (machine instruction).
4314The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially.
4315The default changes each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
70b88761 4316
1041a570
RP
4317@item @var{u}, the unit size
4318The unit size is any of
ed447b95 4319
70b88761
RP
4320@table @code
4321@item b
cedaf8bc 4322Bytes.
70b88761 4323@item h
cedaf8bc 4324Halfwords (two bytes).
70b88761 4325@item w
cedaf8bc 4326Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
70b88761 4327@item g
cedaf8bc 4328Giant words (eight bytes).
70b88761
RP
4329@end table
4330
cedaf8bc
RP
4331Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
4332default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
4333@samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
4334
1041a570 4335@item @var{addr}, starting display address
18fae2a8 4336@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
cedaf8bc
RP
4337memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
4338it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
1041a570 4339@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
cedaf8bc
RP
4340@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
4341other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
4342the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
4343starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
4344a value from memory).
1041a570 4345@end table
70b88761 4346
cedaf8bc
RP
4347For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
4348(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
4349starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
4350words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
4351@pxref{Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
70b88761 4352
cedaf8bc 4353Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
29a2b744 4354letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
9a27b06e 4355unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
cedaf8bc 4356specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
9a27b06e 4357(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
cedaf8bc
RP
4358
4359Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
4360and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
4361@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
4362including any operands. The command @code{disassemble} gives an
4363alternative way of inspecting machine instructions; @pxref{Machine
93928b60 4364Code,,Source and machine code}.
cedaf8bc
RP
4365
4366All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
4367easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
1041a570 4368you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
cedaf8bc
RP
4369instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
4370with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
4371the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
4372for successive uses of @code{x}.
70b88761 4373
c338a2fd 4374@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
cedaf8bc 4375The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
70b88761 4376in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
18fae2a8 4377would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
70b88761
RP
4378subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
4379@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
4380examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
4381@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
4382the convenience variable @code{$__}.
4383
4384If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
4385are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
4386address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
4387
4eb4cf57 4388@node Auto Display
93928b60 4389@section Automatic display
70b88761
RP
4390@cindex automatic display
4391@cindex display of expressions
4392
4393If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
4394(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
9a27b06e 4395display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
70b88761
RP
4396Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
4397to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
4398The automatic display looks like this:
4399
4400@example
44012: foo = 38
44023: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
4403@end example
4404
4405@noindent
ed447b95 4406This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
70b88761
RP
4407displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
4408specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
4409whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending on how elaborate your
4410format specification is---it uses @code{x} if you specify a unit size,
4411or one of the two formats (@samp{i} and @samp{s}) that are only
4412supported by @code{x}; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
4413
4414@table @code
70b88761 4415@kindex display
af215b1a 4416@item display @var{exp}
70b88761 4417Add the expression @var{exp} to the list of expressions to display
1041a570 4418each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
70b88761 4419
9a27b06e 4420@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
70b88761
RP
4421
4422@item display/@var{fmt} @var{exp}
4423For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
4424count, add the expression @var{exp} to the auto-display list but
7640fe71 4425arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
ed447b95 4426@xref{Output Formats,,Output formats}.
70b88761
RP
4427
4428@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
4429For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
4430number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
29a2b744 4431be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
93928b60 4432doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining memory}.
70b88761
RP
4433@end table
4434
4435For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
4436instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
4437is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers}).
4438
4439@table @code
70b88761
RP
4440@kindex delete display
4441@kindex undisplay
af215b1a
VM
4442@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
4443@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
70b88761
RP
4444Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
4445
9a27b06e 4446@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
70b88761
RP
4447(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
4448
70b88761 4449@kindex disable display
af215b1a 4450@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
70b88761
RP
4451Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
4452item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
4453enabled again later.
4454
70b88761 4455@kindex enable display
af215b1a 4456@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
70b88761
RP
4457Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
4458again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
4459
4460@item display
4461Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
29a2b744 4462done when your program stops.
70b88761 4463
70b88761 4464@kindex info display
af215b1a 4465@item info display
70b88761
RP
4466Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
4467automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
4468values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
4469It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
4470because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
4471@end table
4472
4473If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
4474sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
4475expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
4476variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
4477@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
9a27b06e 4478@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
70b88761 4479continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
9a27b06e
RP
4480there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
4481automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
4482is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
70b88761 4483
4eb4cf57 4484@node Print Settings
93928b60 4485@section Print settings
70b88761
RP
4486
4487@cindex format options
4488@cindex print settings
18fae2a8 4489@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
e251e767 4490and symbols are printed.
70b88761
RP
4491
4492@noindent
4493These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
4494
4495@table @code
af215b1a 4496@kindex set print address
70b88761 4497@item set print address
6b51acad 4498@itemx set print address on
9a27b06e 4499@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
70b88761
RP
4500traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
4501even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
af215b1a 4502is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
70b88761 4503@code{set print address on}:
1041a570 4504
70b88761 4505@smallexample
1041a570 4506@group
18fae2a8 4507(@value{GDBP}) f
e251e767 4508#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
70b88761 4509 at input.c:530
b80282d5 4510530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
1041a570 4511@end group
70b88761
RP
4512@end smallexample
4513
4514@item set print address off
4515Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
4516this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
1041a570 4517
d55320a0 4518@smallexample
1041a570 4519@group
18fae2a8
RP
4520(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
4521(@value{GDBP}) f
70b88761 4522#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
b80282d5 4523530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
1041a570 4524@end group
d55320a0 4525@end smallexample
70b88761 4526
fe715d06
RP
4527You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
4528dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
4529@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
4530all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
4531
70b88761 4532@kindex show print address
af215b1a 4533@item show print address
70b88761 4534Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
14621224
JK
4535@end table
4536
4537When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
4538closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
4539identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
af215b1a 4540source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
9a27b06e 4541@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
14621224
JK
4542you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
4543it prints a symbolic address:
4544
4545@table @code
14621224 4546@kindex set print symbol-filename
af215b1a 4547@item set print symbol-filename on
14621224
JK
4548Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
4549symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
4550
4551@item set print symbol-filename off
4552Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
4553default.
4554
14621224 4555@kindex show print symbol-filename
af215b1a 4556@item show print symbol-filename
14621224
JK
4557Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
4558line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
4559@end table
4560
9a27b06e
RP
4561Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
4562numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
5986c8ea
JG
4563number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
4564
14621224
JK
4565Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
4566printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
4567
4568@table @code
14621224 4569@kindex set print max-symbolic-offset
af215b1a 4570@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
14621224
JK
4571Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
4572offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
af215b1a
VM
4573@var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
4574to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
14621224 4575
14621224 4576@kindex show print max-symbolic-offset
af215b1a 4577@item show print max-symbolic-offset
9a27b06e 4578Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
14621224
JK
4579symbolic address.
4580@end table
70b88761 4581
9a27b06e
RP
4582@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
4583@cindex pointer, finding referent
4584If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
ec35141c
JK
4585@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
4586and source file location of the variable where it points, using
4587@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
4588For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
4589at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
9a27b06e
RP
4590
4591@example
9a27b06e
RP
4592(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
4593(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
4594$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
4595@end example
4596
4597@quotation
4598@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
4599does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
4600the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
4601@end quotation
4602
5986c8ea
JG
4603Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
4604
14621224 4605@table @code
af215b1a 4606@kindex set print array
70b88761
RP
4607@item set print array
4608@itemx set print array on
af215b1a 4609Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
70b88761
RP
4610but uses more space. The default is off.
4611
fe715d06 4612@item set print array off
70b88761
RP
4613Return to compressed format for arrays.
4614
70b88761 4615@kindex show print array
af215b1a 4616@item show print array
70b88761 4617Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
e251e767 4618arrays.
70b88761 4619
70b88761 4620@kindex set print elements
af215b1a
VM
4621@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
4622Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9a27b06e 4623If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
70b88761
RP
4624printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
4625This limit also applies to the display of strings.
af215b1a 4626Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
70b88761 4627
70b88761 4628@kindex show print elements
af215b1a
VM
4629@item show print elements
4630Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
4631If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
4632
4633@kindex set print null-stop
4634@item set print null-stop
4635Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
4636@sc{NULL} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
4637contain only short strings.
70b88761 4638
70b88761 4639@kindex set print pretty
af215b1a
VM
4640@item set print pretty on
4641Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
4642per line, like this:
70b88761 4643
d55320a0 4644@smallexample
1041a570 4645@group
70b88761
RP
4646$1 = @{
4647 next = 0x0,
4648 flags = @{
4649 sweet = 1,
4650 sour = 1
4651 @},
4652 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
4653@}
1041a570 4654@end group
d55320a0 4655@end smallexample
70b88761
RP
4656
4657@item set print pretty off
18fae2a8 4658Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
70b88761
RP
4659
4660@smallexample
1041a570 4661@group
38962738
RP
4662$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
4663meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
1041a570 4664@end group
70b88761
RP
4665@end smallexample
4666
4667@noindent
4668This is the default format.
4669
70b88761 4670@kindex show print pretty
af215b1a 4671@item show print pretty
9a27b06e 4672Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
70b88761 4673
f2857bd9 4674@kindex set print sevenbit-strings
af215b1a 4675@item set print sevenbit-strings on
e251e767 4676Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9a27b06e
RP
4677@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
4678character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
4679best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
4680high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
70b88761
RP
4681
4682@item set print sevenbit-strings off
9a27b06e
RP
4683Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
4684international character sets, and is the default.
70b88761 4685
f2857bd9 4686@kindex show print sevenbit-strings
af215b1a 4687@item show print sevenbit-strings
9a27b06e 4688Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
70b88761 4689
70b88761 4690@kindex set print union
af215b1a
VM
4691@item set print union on
4692Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures. This
4693is the default setting.
70b88761
RP
4694
4695@item set print union off
18fae2a8 4696Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in structures.
70b88761 4697
70b88761 4698@kindex show print union
af215b1a 4699@item show print union
18fae2a8 4700Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
e251e767 4701structures.
70b88761
RP
4702
4703For example, given the declarations
4704
4705@smallexample
4706typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
4707typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
203eea5d
RP
4708typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
4709 Bug_forms;
70b88761
RP
4710
4711struct thing @{
4712 Species it;
4713 union @{
4714 Tree_forms tree;
4715 Bug_forms bug;
4716 @} form;
4717@};
4718
4719struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
4720@end smallexample
4721
4722@noindent
4723with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
4724
4725@smallexample
4726$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
4727@end smallexample
4728
4729@noindent
4730and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
4731
4732@smallexample
4733$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
4734@end smallexample
4735@end table
4736
1d7c3357 4737@ifclear CONLY
d55320a0 4738@need 1000
70b88761
RP
4739@noindent
4740These settings are of interest when debugging C++ programs:
4741
4742@table @code
af215b1a
VM
4743@cindex demangling
4744@kindex set print demangle
e251e767
RP
4745@item set print demangle
4746@itemx set print demangle on
fe715d06
RP
4747Print C++ names in their source form rather than in the encoded
4748(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
4749linkage. The default is @samp{on}.
70b88761 4750
70b88761 4751@kindex show print demangle
af215b1a 4752@item show print demangle
9a27b06e 4753Show whether C++ names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
70b88761 4754
af215b1a 4755@kindex set print asm-demangle
e251e767
RP
4756@item set print asm-demangle
4757@itemx set print asm-demangle on
70b88761
RP
4758Print C++ names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
4759in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
4760The default is off.
4761
70b88761 4762@kindex show print asm-demangle
af215b1a 4763@item show print asm-demangle
9a27b06e 4764Show whether C++ names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
70b88761
RP
4765or demangled form.
4766
fe715d06
RP
4767@kindex set demangle-style
4768@cindex C++ symbol decoding style
4769@cindex symbol decoding style, C++
af215b1a 4770@item set demangle-style @var{style}
fe715d06
RP
4771Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
4772represent C++ names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
4773
4774@table @code
4775@item auto
4776Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
4777
4778@item gnu
af215b1a
VM
4779Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
4780This is the default.
fe715d06
RP
4781
4782@item lucid
4783Decode based on the Lucid C++ compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
4784
a1eff6c2 4785@item arm
fe715d06 4786Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C++ Annotated Reference Manual}.
a1eff6c2
RP
4787@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
4788debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
4789require further enhancement to permit that.
af215b1a
VM
4790
4791@item foo
4792Show the list of formats.
fe715d06
RP
4793@end table
4794
fe715d06 4795@kindex show demangle-style
af215b1a 4796@item show demangle-style
fe715d06
RP
4797Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C++ symbols.
4798
af215b1a 4799@kindex set print object
70b88761
RP
4800@item set print object
4801@itemx set print object on
70b88761
RP
4802When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
4803(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
4804the virtual function table.
4805
4806@item set print object off
4807Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
4808virtual function table. This is the default setting.
4809
70b88761 4810@kindex show print object
af215b1a 4811@item show print object
9a27b06e 4812Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
70b88761 4813
af215b1a 4814@kindex set print vtbl
e251e767
RP
4815@item set print vtbl
4816@itemx set print vtbl on
70b88761
RP
4817Pretty print C++ virtual function tables. The default is off.
4818
4819@item set print vtbl off
4820Do not pretty print C++ virtual function tables.
4821
70b88761 4822@kindex show print vtbl
af215b1a 4823@item show print vtbl
70b88761 4824Show whether C++ virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
70b88761 4825@end table
1d7c3357 4826@end ifclear
70b88761 4827
4eb4cf57 4828@node Value History
93928b60 4829@section Value history
70b88761
RP
4830
4831@cindex value history
af215b1a
VM
4832Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
4833@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
4834Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
4835(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
4836When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
4837since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
4838symbol table.
70b88761
RP
4839
4840@cindex @code{$}
4841@cindex @code{$$}
4842@cindex history number
6b51acad
RP
4843The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
4844refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
4845@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
4846printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
4847history number.
70b88761
RP
4848
4849To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
4850history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
4851remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
4852the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
4853@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
4854is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
4855@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
4856
4857For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
4858want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
4859
4860@example
4861p *$
4862@end example
4863
4864If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
4865to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
4866
4867@example
4868p *$.next
4869@end example
4870
4871@noindent
4872You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
4873command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
4874
4875Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
4876@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
4877
4878@example
4879print x
4880set x=5
4881@end example
4882
4883@noindent
4884then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
4885remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
4886
4887@table @code
4888@kindex show values
4889@item show values
4890Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
4891This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
4892values} does not change the history.
4893
4894@item show values @var{n}
4895Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
4896
4897@item show values +
4898Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
af215b1a 4899values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
70b88761
RP
4900@end table
4901
4902Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
e251e767 4903same effect as @samp{show values +}.
70b88761 4904
4eb4cf57 4905@node Convenience Vars
93928b60 4906@section Convenience variables
70b88761
RP
4907
4908@cindex convenience variables
18fae2a8
RP
4909@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
4910@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
4911exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
70b88761 4912setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
1041a570 4913of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
70b88761
RP
4914
4915Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
4916@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
4917the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers}).
4918(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
93928b60 4919by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value history}.)
70b88761
RP
4920
4921You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
ed447b95
RP
4922expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
4923For example:
70b88761
RP
4924
4925@example
4926set $foo = *object_ptr
4927@end example
4928
4929@noindent
4930would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
4931@code{object_ptr}.
4932
6b51acad
RP
4933Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
4934value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
4935value with another assignment at any time.
70b88761
RP
4936
4937Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
4938variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
4939that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
4940variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
4941
4942@table @code
70b88761 4943@kindex show convenience
af215b1a 4944@item show convenience
70b88761
RP
4945Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
4946Abbreviated @code{show con}.
4947@end table
4948
4949One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
4950incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
4951a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
4952
18fae2a8 4953@example
70b88761
RP
4954set $i = 0
4955print bar[$i++]->contents
18fae2a8 4956@end example
70b88761 4957
af215b1a
VM
4958@noindent Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
4959
18fae2a8 4960Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
70b88761
RP
4961values likely to be useful.
4962
4963@table @code
c338a2fd 4964@kindex $_
af215b1a 4965@item $_
70b88761 4966The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
93928b60 4967the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining memory}). Other
29a2b744
RP
4968commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
4969set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
4970and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
4971except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
4972to the type of @code{$__}.
70b88761 4973
c338a2fd 4974@kindex $__
af215b1a 4975@item $__
70b88761 4976The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
c2bbbb22
RP
4977to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
4978to match the format in which the data was printed.
f94cadf9
SS
4979
4980@item $_exitcode
4981@kindex $_exitcode
4982The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
4983the program being debugged terminates.
70b88761
RP
4984@end table
4985
4eb4cf57 4986@node Registers
70b88761
RP
4987@section Registers
4988
4989@cindex registers
b80282d5 4990You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
70b88761
RP
4991with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
4992for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
e251e767 4993your machine.
70b88761
RP
4994
4995@table @code
70b88761 4996@kindex info registers
af215b1a 4997@item info registers
b80282d5
RP
4998Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
4999registers (in the selected stack frame).
5000
b80282d5
RP
5001@kindex info all-registers
5002@cindex floating point registers
af215b1a 5003@item info all-registers
b80282d5
RP
5004Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
5005registers.
70b88761 5006
4eb4cf57 5007@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
af215b1a
VM
5008Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
5009As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
5010the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
5011the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
70b88761
RP
5012@end table
5013
18fae2a8 5014@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
29a2b744 5015expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
09267865
RP
5016architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
5017@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
5018the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
5019pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
5020register that contains the processor status. For example,
70b88761 5021you could print the program counter in hex with
1041a570 5022
70b88761
RP
5023@example
5024p/x $pc
5025@end example
5026
5027@noindent
5028or print the instruction to be executed next with
1041a570 5029
70b88761
RP
5030@example
5031x/i $pc
5032@end example
5033
5034@noindent
ed447b95 5035or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
29a2b744
RP
5036one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
5037memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
5038stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
5039stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
5040regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
93928b60 5041@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a function}.} with
1041a570 5042
70b88761
RP
5043@example
5044set $sp += 4
5045@end example
5046
09267865
RP
5047Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
5048your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
5049so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
5050shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
70b88761
RP
5051registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
5052can also refer to it as @code{$ps}.
5053
18fae2a8 5054@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
70b88761
RP
5055integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
5056special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
5057registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
5058to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
5059(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
5060@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
5061
5062Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
5063means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
5064the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
5065sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
5066coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
5067programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
af215b1a
VM
5068cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
5069that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
70b88761
RP
5070prints the data in both formats.
5071
5072Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
93928b60 5073(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}). This means that you get the
29a2b744
RP
5074value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
5075were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
5076true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
5077frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
70b88761 5078
18fae2a8 5079However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
70b88761 5080code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
18fae2a8 5081@value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9a27b06e 5082frame makes no difference.
70b88761 5083
a64a6c2b 5084@ifset AMD29K
03a77779 5085@table @code
d8a68b28 5086@kindex set rstack_high_address
03a77779
RP
5087@cindex AMD 29K register stack
5088@cindex register stack, AMD29K
af215b1a 5089@item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
03a77779 5090On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
18fae2a8
RP
5091``register stack''. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the extent
5092of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the stack is ``large
5093enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing memory locations that
93918348 5094do not exist. If necessary, you can get around this problem by
03a77779
RP
5095specifying the ending address of the register stack with the @code{set
5096rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an address, which
9a27b06e 5097you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
03a77779 5098hexadecimal.
d8a68b28 5099
d8a68b28 5100@kindex show rstack_high_address
af215b1a 5101@item show rstack_high_address
03a77779
RP
5102Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
5103processors.
5104@end table
18fae2a8 5105@end ifset
d8a68b28 5106
a64a6c2b 5107@ifclear HAVE-FLOAT
4eb4cf57 5108@node Floating Point Hardware
93928b60 5109@section Floating point hardware
70b88761 5110@cindex floating point
1041a570 5111
f886dc0f 5112Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
70b88761
RP
5113you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
5114
5115@table @code
70b88761 5116@kindex info float
af215b1a 5117@item info float
8c69096b 5118Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
70b88761 5119point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
af215b1a
VM
5120floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
5121the ARM and x86 machines.
70b88761 5122@end table
18fae2a8 5123@end ifclear
70b88761 5124
18fae2a8 5125@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 5126@node Languages
18fae2a8 5127@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
c2bbbb22
RP
5128@cindex languages
5129
09934a2b 5130@ifset MOD2
c2bbbb22
RP
5131Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
5132rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
5133dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
5134Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
af215b1a
VM
5135represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
5136@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
09934a2b 5137@end ifset
c2bbbb22
RP
5138
5139@cindex working language
18fae2a8 5140Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
29a2b744 5141allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
18fae2a8 5142native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
29a2b744 5143consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
af215b1a
VM
5144language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
5145language}.
c2bbbb22
RP
5146
5147@menu
5148* Setting:: Switching between source languages
5149* Show:: Displaying the language
09934a2b 5150@ifset MOD2
ed447b95 5151* Checks:: Type and range checks
09934a2b 5152@end ifset
da374d80 5153
c2bbbb22
RP
5154* Support:: Supported languages
5155@end menu
5156
4eb4cf57 5157@node Setting
c2bbbb22
RP
5158@section Switching between source languages
5159
18fae2a8 5160There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
c2bbbb22 5161set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
18fae2a8 5162@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
d05baf08
JK
5163defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
5164used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
5165are printed, etc.
5166
af215b1a 5167In addition to the working language, every source file that
d05baf08
JK
5168@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
5169file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
af215b1a 5170source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
d05baf08
JK
5171language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
5172controls whether C++ names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
5173show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
af215b1a
VM
5174set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}.
5175
5176This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
5177as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
5178another language. In that case, make the
d05baf08 5179program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
af215b1a
VM
5180@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
5181program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
c2bbbb22
RP
5182
5183@menu
d05baf08 5184* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
c2bbbb22 5185* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
18fae2a8 5186* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
c2bbbb22
RP
5187@end menu
5188
d05baf08
JK
5189@node Filenames
5190@subsection List of filename extensions and languages
5191
5192If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
5193@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
5194
5195@table @file
5196@ifset MOD2
5197@item .mod
5198Modula-2 source file
5199@end ifset
5200
5201@item .c
5202C source file
5203
5204@item .C
5205@itemx .cc
5206@itemx .cxx
5207@itemx .cpp
5208@itemx .cp
5209@itemx .c++
5210C++ source file
5211
5212@item .ch
5213@itemx .c186
5214@itemx .c286
5215CHILL source file.
5216
5217@item .s
5218@itemx .S
5219Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
5220@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
5221@end table
5222
4eb4cf57 5223@node Manually
c2bbbb22
RP
5224@subsection Setting the working language
5225
ed447b95
RP
5226If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
5227expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
5228your program.
5229
c2bbbb22 5230@kindex set language
ed447b95
RP
5231If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
5232command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
09934a2b
RP
5233a language, such as
5234@ifclear MOD2
5235@code{c}.
5236@end ifclear
5237@ifset MOD2
5238@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
5239@end ifset
5240For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
c2bbbb22 5241
09934a2b 5242@ifset MOD2
18fae2a8 5243Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
c2bbbb22
RP
5244language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
5245to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
5246source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
5247languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
18fae2a8 5248source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
c2bbbb22
RP
5249command such as:
5250
5251@example
5252print a = b + c
5253@end example
5254
5255@noindent
5256might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
5257@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
5258printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
5259@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
09934a2b 5260@end ifset
c2bbbb22 5261
4eb4cf57 5262@node Automatically
18fae2a8 5263@subsection Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
c2bbbb22 5264
d05baf08
JK
5265To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
5266@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
5267then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
5268frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
5269working language to the language recorded for the function in that
5270frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
5271or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
5272does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
5273not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
c2bbbb22
RP
5274
5275This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
5276entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
5277written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
5278a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
5279case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
5280
4eb4cf57 5281@node Show
c2bbbb22
RP
5282@section Displaying the language
5283
9a27b06e 5284The following commands help you find out which language is the
c2bbbb22
RP
5285working language, and also what language source files were written in.
5286
5287@kindex show language
5288@kindex info frame
5289@kindex info source
5290@table @code
5291@item show language
5292Display the current working language. This is the
5293language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
29a2b744 5294build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
c2bbbb22
RP
5295
5296@item info frame
af215b1a
VM
5297Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
5298working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
5299@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a frame}, to identify the other
5300information listed here.
c2bbbb22
RP
5301
5302@item info source
af215b1a
VM
5303Display the source language of this source file.
5304@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
5305information listed here.
c2bbbb22
RP
5306@end table
5307
09934a2b 5308@ifset MOD2
4eb4cf57 5309@node Checks
93928b60 5310@section Type and range checking
c2bbbb22
RP
5311
5312@quotation
18fae2a8 5313@emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
c2bbbb22
RP
5314checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
5315section documents the intended facilities.
5316@end quotation
5317@c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
5318
5319Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
5320errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
5321checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
5322sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
5323these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
5324by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
29a2b744 5325errors when your program is running.
c2bbbb22 5326
18fae2a8 5327@value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
9a27b06e 5328Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program, it
18fae2a8 5329can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via
1041a570 5330the @code{print} command, for example. As with the working language,
18fae2a8 5331@value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check automatically based on
93928b60 5332your program's source language. @xref{Support, ,Supported languages},
1041a570 5333for the default settings of supported languages.
c2bbbb22
RP
5334
5335@menu
5336* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
5337* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
5338@end menu
5339
5340@cindex type checking
5341@cindex checks, type
4eb4cf57 5342@node Type Checking
c2bbbb22
RP
5343@subsection An overview of type checking
5344
5345Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
5346arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
5347otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
5348errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
5349
af215b1a 5350@smallexample
c2bbbb22 53511 + 2 @result{} 3
1041a570 5352@exdent but
c2bbbb22 5353@error{} 1 + 2.3
af215b1a 5354@end smallexample
c2bbbb22
RP
5355
5356The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
5357type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
5358
af215b1a
VM
5359For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
5360@value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
5361to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
5362or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
5363but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
18fae2a8 5364these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
c2bbbb22
RP
5365also issues a warning.
5366
af215b1a
VM
5367Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
5368related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
5369For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
5370a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
5371with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
5372the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
c2bbbb22
RP
5373
5374Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
5375instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
5376operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
5377represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
93928b60 5378operators. @xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for further
c2bbbb22
RP
5379details on specific languages.
5380
18fae2a8 5381@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
c2bbbb22
RP
5382
5383@kindex set check
5384@kindex set check type
5385@kindex show check type
5386@table @code
5387@item set check type auto
e251e767 5388Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
93928b60 5389@xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for the default settings for
c2bbbb22
RP
5390each language.
5391
5392@item set check type on
5393@itemx set check type off
5394Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
5395current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
93918348 5396match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
18fae2a8 5397evaluating an expression while typechecking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
c2bbbb22
RP
5398message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
5399
5400@item set check type warn
5401Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
5402evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
18fae2a8 5403be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
c2bbbb22
RP
5404numbers and structures.
5405
5406@item show type
af215b1a
VM
5407Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
5408is setting it automatically.
c2bbbb22
RP
5409@end table
5410
5411@cindex range checking
5412@cindex checks, range
4eb4cf57 5413@node Range Checking
ed447b95 5414@subsection An overview of range checking
c2bbbb22
RP
5415
5416In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
5417bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
5418checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
5419computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
5420not exceed the bounds of the array.
5421
ed447b95
RP
5422For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
5423@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
5424always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
5425warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
c2bbbb22
RP
5426
5427A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
ed447b95 5428array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
c2bbbb22
RP
5429of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
5430error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
5431result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
5432the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
1041a570 5433
c2bbbb22
RP
5434@example
5435@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
5436@end example
5437
5438This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
1041a570 5439specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Support, ,
93928b60 5440Supported languages}, for further details on specific languages.
c2bbbb22 5441
18fae2a8 5442@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
c2bbbb22
RP
5443
5444@kindex set check
5445@kindex set check range
5446@kindex show check range
5447@table @code
5448@item set check range auto
e251e767 5449Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
93928b60 5450@xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for the default settings for
c2bbbb22
RP
5451each language.
5452
5453@item set check range on
5454@itemx set check range off
5455Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
5456current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
93918348 5457match the language default. If a range error occurs, then a message
c2bbbb22
RP
5458is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
5459
5460@item set check range warn
18fae2a8 5461Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
c2bbbb22
RP
5462but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
5463expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
6b51acad 5464memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
c2bbbb22
RP
5465systems).
5466
5467@item show range
e251e767 5468Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
18fae2a8 5469being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
c2bbbb22 5470@end table
09934a2b 5471@end ifset
c2bbbb22 5472
4eb4cf57 5473@node Support
93928b60 5474@section Supported languages
c2bbbb22 5475
09934a2b
RP
5476@ifset MOD2
5477@value{GDBN} 4 supports C, C++, and Modula-2.
5478@end ifset
5479@ifclear MOD2
5480@value{GDBN} 4 supports C, and C++.
5481@end ifclear
5482Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
5483language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
5484and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
5485,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
5486language.
5487
5488The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
5489supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
5490tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
9a27b06e 5491@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
09934a2b
RP
5492formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
5493books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
5494language reference or tutorial.
5495
5496@ifset MOD2
c2bbbb22
RP
5497@menu
5498* C:: C and C++
5499* Modula-2:: Modula-2
5500@end menu
5501
4eb4cf57 5502@node C
c2bbbb22
RP
5503@subsection C and C++
5504@cindex C and C++
c2bbbb22 5505@cindex expressions in C or C++
0f153e74 5506
18fae2a8 5507Since C and C++ are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
af215b1a 5508to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
5a2c1d85 5509together.
09934a2b
RP
5510@end ifset
5511@ifclear MOD2
5512@c Cancel this below, under same condition, at end of this chapter!
6370267a 5513@raisesections
09934a2b 5514@end ifclear
b80282d5
RP
5515
5516@cindex C++
5517@kindex g++
af215b1a
VM
5518@cindex @sc{gnu} C++
5519The C++ debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the @sc{gnu} C++
22b5dba5 5520compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C++ code
af215b1a 5521effectively, you must compile your C++ programs with the @sc{gnu} C++
22b5dba5
RP
5522compiler, @code{g++}.
5523
5524For best results when debugging C++ programs, use the stabs debugging
5525format. You can select that format explicitly with the @code{g++}
5526command-line options @samp{-gstabs} or @samp{-gstabs+}. See
af215b1a
VM
5527@ref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or @sc{gnu} CC,
5528gcc.info, Using @sc{gnu} CC}, for more information.
18fae2a8
RP
5529@end ifclear
5530@ifset CONLY
0f153e74
RP
5531@node C
5532@chapter C Language Support
5533@cindex C language
5534@cindex expressions in C
5535
18fae2a8
RP
5536Information specific to the C language is built into @value{GDBN} so that you
5537can use C expressions while degugging. This also permits @value{GDBN} to
0f153e74 5538output values in a manner consistent with C conventions.
c2bbbb22 5539
0f153e74 5540@menu
ed447b95
RP
5541* C Operators:: C operators
5542* C Constants:: C constants
18fae2a8 5543* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
0f153e74 5544@end menu
18fae2a8
RP
5545@end ifset
5546@ifclear CONLY
b80282d5 5547@menu
ed447b95
RP
5548* C Operators:: C and C++ operators
5549* C Constants:: C and C++ constants
5550* Cplus expressions:: C++ expressions
c2bbbb22 5551* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C++
09934a2b 5552@ifset MOD2
ed447b95 5553* C Checks:: C and C++ type and range checks
09934a2b 5554@end ifset
da374d80 5555
18fae2a8 5556* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
c2bbbb22 5557* Debugging C plus plus:: Special features for C++
b80282d5 5558@end menu
18fae2a8 5559@end ifclear
b80282d5 5560
18fae2a8 5561@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22 5562@cindex C and C++ operators
4eb4cf57 5563@node C Operators
93928b60 5564@subsubsection C and C++ operators
18fae2a8
RP
5565@end ifclear
5566@ifset CONLY
0f153e74
RP
5567@cindex C operators
5568@node C Operators
93928b60 5569@section C operators
18fae2a8 5570@end ifset
c2bbbb22
RP
5571
5572Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
5573@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
0f153e74
RP
5574often defined on groups of types.
5575
18fae2a8 5576@ifclear CONLY
0f153e74 5577For the purposes of C and C++, the following definitions hold:
18fae2a8 5578@end ifclear
c2bbbb22
RP
5579
5580@itemize @bullet
e251e767 5581@item
c2bbbb22 5582@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
9aa964da 5583specifiers; @code{char}; and @code{enum}.
c2bbbb22
RP
5584
5585@item
5586@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float} and @code{double}.
5587
5588@item
5589@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type}
5590*)}.
5591
e251e767 5592@item
c2bbbb22 5593@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
c2bbbb22
RP
5594@end itemize
5595
5596@noindent
5597The following operators are supported. They are listed here
5598in order of increasing precedence:
5599
5600@table @code
18fae2a8 5601@item ,
c2bbbb22
RP
5602The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
5603are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
5604expression being the last expression evaluated.
5605
5606@item =
5607Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
5608assigned. Defined on scalar types.
5609
5610@item @var{op}=
1041a570
RP
5611Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
5612and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
5613@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precendence.
5614@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
5615@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
c2bbbb22
RP
5616
5617@item ?:
5618The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
5619of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
5620integral type.
5621
5622@item ||
1041a570 5623Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5624
5625@item &&
1041a570 5626Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5627
5628@item |
1041a570 5629Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5630
5631@item ^
1041a570 5632Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5633
5634@item &
1041a570 5635Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5636
5637@item ==@r{, }!=
5638Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
5639expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
5640
5641@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
5642Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
5643Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
5644and non-zero for true.
5645
5646@item <<@r{, }>>
18fae2a8 5647left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22 5648
e251e767 5649@item @@
18fae2a8 5650The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
c2bbbb22
RP
5651
5652@item +@r{, }-
5653Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
e251e767 5654pointer types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5655
5656@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
5657Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
5658defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
5659integral types.
5660
5661@item ++@r{, }--
5662Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
5663operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
5664when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
5665operation takes place.
5666
5667@item *
5668Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
5669@code{++}.
5670
5671@item &
5672Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
5673
18fae2a8 5674@ifclear CONLY
93918348 5675For debugging C++, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
6ca72cc6 5676allowed in the C++ language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
7640fe71 5677(or, if you prefer, simply @samp{&&@var{ref}}) to examine the address
6ca72cc6
RP
5678where a C++ reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
5679stored.
18fae2a8 5680@end ifclear
6ca72cc6 5681
c2bbbb22
RP
5682@item -
5683Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
5684precedence as @code{++}.
5685
5686@item !
5687Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
5688@code{++}.
5689
5690@item ~
5691Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
5692@code{++}.
5693
18fae2a8 5694
c2bbbb22
RP
5695@item .@r{, }->
5696Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
18fae2a8 5697@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
e251e767 5698pointer based on the stored type information.
9aa964da 5699Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
c2bbbb22
RP
5700
5701@item []
5702Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
5703@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
5704
5705@item ()
18fae2a8 5706Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
c2bbbb22 5707
18fae2a8 5708@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22
RP
5709@item ::
5710C++ scope resolution operator. Defined on
5711@code{struct}, @code{union}, and @code{class} types.
18fae2a8 5712@end ifclear
c2bbbb22
RP
5713
5714@item ::
ed447b95
RP
5715Doubled colons
5716@ifclear CONLY
5717also
5718@end ifclear
5719represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@pxref{Expressions,
5720,Expressions}).
18fae2a8 5721@ifclear CONLY
0f153e74 5722Same precedence as @code{::}, above.
18fae2a8 5723@end ifclear
c2bbbb22
RP
5724@end table
5725
18fae2a8 5726@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22 5727@cindex C and C++ constants
4eb4cf57 5728@node C Constants
93928b60 5729@subsubsection C and C++ constants
0f153e74 5730
18fae2a8 5731@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C++ in the
0f153e74 5732following ways:
18fae2a8
RP
5733@end ifclear
5734@ifset CONLY
0f153e74
RP
5735@cindex C constants
5736@node C Constants
93928b60 5737@section C constants
c2bbbb22 5738
18fae2a8 5739@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C in the
c2bbbb22 5740following ways:
18fae2a8 5741@end ifset
c2bbbb22
RP
5742
5743@itemize @bullet
c2bbbb22
RP
5744@item
5745Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
af215b1a 5746specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e. zero), and hexadecimal constants by
1041a570 5747a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
c2bbbb22
RP
5748@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
5749@code{long} value.
5750
5751@item
5752Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
5753point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
5754exponent. An exponent is of the form:
5755@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
5756sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
5757
5758@item
5759Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
5760integral equivalents.
5761
5762@item
5763Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
5764(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
5765(usually its @sc{ASCII} value). Within quotes, the single character may
5766be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
5767the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
5768of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
5769@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
5770@samp{\n} for newline.
5771
5772@item
5773String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded
5774by double quotes (@code{"}).
5775
5776@item
fe715d06
RP
5777Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
5778to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
5779
5780@item
5781Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
5782and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
5783integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
5784and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
c2bbbb22
RP
5785@end itemize
5786
18fae2a8 5787@ifclear CONLY
ed447b95 5788@node Cplus expressions
93928b60 5789@subsubsection C++ expressions
b80282d5
RP
5790
5791@cindex expressions in C++
93918348 5792@value{GDBN} expression handling has a number of extensions to
b1385986
RP
5793interpret a significant subset of C++ expressions.
5794
5795@cindex C++ support, not in @sc{coff}
5796@cindex @sc{coff} versus C++
5797@cindex C++ and object formats
5798@cindex object formats and C++
5799@cindex a.out and C++
5800@cindex @sc{ecoff} and C++
5801@cindex @sc{xcoff} and C++
5802@cindex @sc{elf}/stabs and C++
5803@cindex @sc{elf}/@sc{dwarf} and C++
9a27b06e
RP
5804@c FIXME!! GDB may eventually be able to debug C++ using DWARF; check
5805@c periodically whether this has happened...
b1385986 5806@quotation
9a27b06e 5807@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C++ code if you compile with
af215b1a 5808the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler. Moreover, C++ debugging depends on the use of
9a27b06e
RP
5809additional debugging information in the symbol table, and thus requires
5810special support. @value{GDBN} has this support @emph{only} with the
5811stabs debug format. In particular, if your compiler generates a.out,
5812MIPS @sc{ecoff}, RS/6000 @sc{xcoff}, or @sc{elf} with stabs extensions
af215b1a 5813to the symbol table, these facilities are all available. (With @sc{gnu} CC,
9a27b06e
RP
5814you can use the @samp{-gstabs} option to request stabs debugging
5815extensions explicitly.) Where the object code format is standard
5816@sc{coff} or @sc{dwarf} in @sc{elf}, on the other hand, most of the C++
5817support in @value{GDBN} does @emph{not} work.
b1385986 5818@end quotation
b80282d5
RP
5819
5820@enumerate
5821
5822@cindex member functions
e251e767 5823@item
b80282d5 5824Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
1041a570 5825
b80282d5
RP
5826@example
5827count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
5828@end example
5829
5830@kindex this
5831@cindex namespace in C++
e251e767 5832@item
b80282d5
RP
5833While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
5834expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
18fae2a8 5835that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
b80282d5
RP
5836pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C++.
5837
5838@cindex call overloaded functions
5839@cindex type conversions in C++
e251e767 5840@item
9a27b06e 5841You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
b80282d5
RP
5842call to the right definition, with one restriction---you must use
5843arguments of the type required by the function that you want to call.
9a27b06e 5844@value{GDBN} does not perform conversions requiring constructors or
b80282d5
RP
5845user-defined type operators.
5846
5847@cindex reference declarations
5848@item
af215b1a
VM
5849@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C++ references; you can use
5850them in expressions just as you do in C++ source---they are automatically
e251e767 5851dereferenced.
b80282d5 5852
18fae2a8 5853In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
b80282d5
RP
5854reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
5855avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
5856The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
1041a570 5857you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
b80282d5
RP
5858
5859@item
18fae2a8 5860@value{GDBN} supports the C++ name resolution operator @code{::}---your
c2bbbb22
RP
5861expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
5862one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
5863necessary, for example in an expression like
18fae2a8 5864@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
c2bbbb22 5865resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C++
93928b60 5866debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program variables}).
b80282d5
RP
5867@end enumerate
5868
4eb4cf57 5869@node C Defaults
93928b60 5870@subsubsection C and C++ defaults
c2bbbb22
RP
5871@cindex C and C++ defaults
5872
18fae2a8 5873If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
e251e767 5874both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
af215b1a
VM
5875C or C++. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
5876selects the working language.
c2bbbb22 5877
af215b1a
VM
5878If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it recognizes
5879source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or @file{.cc}, and
5880when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of these files,
5881it sets the working language to C or C++.
18fae2a8 5882@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language}, for
c2bbbb22
RP
5883further details.
5884
09934a2b
RP
5885@ifset MOD2
5886@c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
5887@c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
5888@c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. pesch 16jul93.
4eb4cf57 5889@node C Checks
93928b60 5890@subsubsection C and C++ type and range checks
c2bbbb22
RP
5891@cindex C and C++ checks
5892
18fae2a8 5893By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C++ expressions, type checking
9a27b06e
RP
5894is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
5895considers two variables type equivalent if:
c2bbbb22
RP
5896
5897@itemize @bullet
5898@item
5899The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
5900enumerated tag.
5901
e251e767 5902@item
af215b1a 5903The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
c2bbbb22
RP
5904declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
5905
5906@ignore
5907@c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
5908@c FIXME--beers?
5909@item
5910The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
5911declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
5912compilers.)
5913@end ignore
c2bbbb22
RP
5914@end itemize
5915
5916Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
5917indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
5918that is not itself an array.
09934a2b 5919@end ifset
18fae2a8 5920@end ifclear
c2bbbb22 5921
18fae2a8 5922@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 5923@node Debugging C
18fae2a8
RP
5924@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
5925@end ifclear
5926@ifset CONLY
5927@node Debugging C
5928@section @value{GDBN} and C
5929@end ifset
c2bbbb22
RP
5930
5931The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
5932the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
1d7c3357
RP
5933inside a @code{struct}
5934@ifclear CONLY
5935or @code{class}
5936@end ifclear
9a27b06e
RP
5937is also printed.
5938Otherwise, it appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
c2bbbb22
RP
5939
5940The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
ed447b95
RP
5941with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
5942,Expressions}.
c2bbbb22 5943
18fae2a8 5944@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 5945@node Debugging C plus plus
93928b60 5946@subsubsection @value{GDBN} features for C++
b80282d5
RP
5947
5948@cindex commands for C++
18fae2a8 5949Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C++, and some are
b80282d5
RP
5950designed specifically for use with C++. Here is a summary:
5951
5952@table @code
5953@cindex break in overloaded functions
5954@item @r{breakpoint menus}
5955When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
93918348 5956@value{GDBN} breakpoint menus help you specify which function definition
93928b60 5957you want. @xref{Breakpoint Menus,,Breakpoint menus}.
b80282d5
RP
5958
5959@cindex overloading in C++
5960@item rbreak @var{regex}
5961Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
5962breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
e251e767 5963classes.
93928b60 5964@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}.
b80282d5
RP
5965
5966@cindex C++ exception handling
5967@item catch @var{exceptions}
5968@itemx info catch
29a2b744 5969Debug C++ exception handling using these commands. @xref{Exception
93928b60 5970Handling, ,Breakpoints and exceptions}.
b80282d5 5971
e251e767 5972@cindex inheritance
b80282d5
RP
5973@item ptype @var{typename}
5974Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
e251e767 5975@var{typename}.
1041a570 5976@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
b80282d5
RP
5977
5978@cindex C++ symbol display
5979@item set print demangle
5980@itemx show print demangle
5981@itemx set print asm-demangle
5982@itemx show print asm-demangle
5983Control whether C++ symbols display in their source form, both when
5984displaying code as C++ source and when displaying disassemblies.
93928b60 5985@xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
b80282d5
RP
5986
5987@item set print object
5988@itemx show print object
e251e767 5989Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
93928b60 5990@xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
b80282d5
RP
5991
5992@item set print vtbl
5993@itemx show print vtbl
5994Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
93928b60 5995@xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
6f3ec223
RP
5996
5997@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
5998You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
93918348 5999the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C++: type
6f3ec223 6000@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
93918348 6001also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
6f3ec223 6002available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
93928b60 6003@xref{Completion,, Command completion}, for details on how to do this.
b80282d5 6004@end table
09934a2b 6005@ifclear MOD2
6370267a
RP
6006@c cancels "raisesections" under same conditions near bgn of chapter
6007@lowersections
09934a2b 6008@end ifclear
b80282d5 6009
09934a2b 6010@ifset MOD2
4eb4cf57 6011@node Modula-2
c2bbbb22
RP
6012@subsection Modula-2
6013@cindex Modula-2
6014
ed447b95 6015The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
af215b1a 6016output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
ed447b95 6017developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
9a27b06e
RP
6018attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
6019to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
ed447b95 6020table.
c2bbbb22
RP
6021
6022@cindex expressions in Modula-2
6023@menu
6024* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
ed447b95
RP
6025* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
6026* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
c2bbbb22
RP
6027* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
6028* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
ed447b95 6029* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
c2bbbb22 6030* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
18fae2a8 6031* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
c2bbbb22
RP
6032@end menu
6033
4eb4cf57 6034@node M2 Operators
c2bbbb22
RP
6035@subsubsection Operators
6036@cindex Modula-2 operators
6037
6038Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
6039@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
6040often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
6041following definitions hold:
6042
6043@itemize @bullet
6044
6045@item
6046@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
6047their subranges.
6048
6049@item
6050@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
6051
6052@item
6053@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
6054
6055@item
6056@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
6057@var{type}}.
6058
6059@item
6060@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
6061
6062@item
9aa964da 6063@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
c2bbbb22
RP
6064
6065@item
6066@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
c2bbbb22
RP
6067@end itemize
6068
6069@noindent
6070The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
6071increasing precedence:
6072
6073@table @code
c2bbbb22
RP
6074@item ,
6075Function argument or array index separator.
18fae2a8 6076
c2bbbb22
RP
6077@item :=
6078Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
6079@var{value}.
6080
6081@item <@r{, }>
6082Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
6083types.
6084
6085@item <=@r{, }>=
6086Less than, greater than, less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
6087on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
6088set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
6089
6090@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
6091Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
18fae2a8 6092Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
c2bbbb22
RP
6093available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
6094comment character.
6095
6096@item IN
6097Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
6098Same precedence as @code{<}.
6099
6100@item OR
6101Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
6102
6103@item AND@r{, }&
6104Boolean conjuction. Defined on boolean types.
6105
6106@item @@
18fae2a8 6107The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
c2bbbb22
RP
6108
6109@item +@r{, }-
6110Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
6111and difference on set types.
6112
6113@item *
6114Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
6115on set types.
6116
6117@item /
6118Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
6119types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
6120
6121@item DIV@r{, }MOD
6122Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
6123precedence as @code{*}.
6124
6125@item -
9aa964da 6126Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
c2bbbb22
RP
6127
6128@item ^
e251e767 6129Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
c2bbbb22
RP
6130
6131@item NOT
6132Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
6133@code{^}.
6134
6135@item .
9aa964da 6136@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
c2bbbb22
RP
6137precedence as @code{^}.
6138
6139@item []
9aa964da 6140Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
c2bbbb22
RP
6141
6142@item ()
9aa964da 6143Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
c2bbbb22
RP
6144as @code{^}.
6145
6146@item ::@r{, }.
18fae2a8 6147@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
c2bbbb22
RP
6148@end table
6149
6150@quotation
18fae2a8 6151@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
9a27b06e 6152treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
c2bbbb22
RP
6153@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
6154@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
6155@end quotation
18fae2a8 6156
29a2b744 6157@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
4eb4cf57 6158@node Built-In Func/Proc
93928b60 6159@subsubsection Built-in functions and procedures
c2bbbb22
RP
6160
6161Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
6162In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
6163
6164@table @var
6165
6166@item a
6167represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
6168
6169@item c
6170represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
6171
6172@item i
6173represents a variable or constant of integral type.
6174
6175@item m
6176represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
6177same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
6b51acad 6178be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
c2bbbb22
RP
6179
6180@item n
6181represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
6182
6183@item r
6184represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
6185
6186@item t
6187represents a type.
6188
6189@item v
6190represents a variable.
6191
6192@item x
6193represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
6194explanation of the function for details.
c2bbbb22
RP
6195@end table
6196
6197All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
6198
6199@table @code
6200@item ABS(@var{n})
6201Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
6202
6203@item CAP(@var{c})
6204If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
6205equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument
6206
6207@item CHR(@var{i})
6208Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
6209
6210@item DEC(@var{v})
6211Decrements the value in the variable @var{v}. Returns the new value.
6212
6213@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
6214Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
6215new value.
6216
6217@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
6218Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
6219set.
6220
6221@item FLOAT(@var{i})
6222Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
6223
6224@item HIGH(@var{a})
6225Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
6226
6227@item INC(@var{v})
6228Increments the value in the variable @var{v}. Returns the new value.
6229
6230@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
6231Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
6232new value.
6233
6234@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
6235Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
6236there. Returns the new set.
6237
6238@item MAX(@var{t})
6239Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
6240
6241@item MIN(@var{t})
6242Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
6243
6244@item ODD(@var{i})
6245Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
6246
6247@item ORD(@var{x})
6248Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
6249value of a character is its ASCII value (on machines supporting the
6250ASCII character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
6251integral, character and enumerated types.
6252
6253@item SIZE(@var{x})
6254Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
6255
6256@item TRUNC(@var{r})
6257Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
6258
6259@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
6260Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
6261@end table
6262
6263@quotation
6264@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
9a27b06e 6265@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
c2bbbb22
RP
6266an error.
6267@end quotation
6268
6269@cindex Modula-2 constants
4eb4cf57 6270@node M2 Constants
c2bbbb22
RP
6271@subsubsection Constants
6272
18fae2a8 6273@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
c2bbbb22
RP
6274ways:
6275
6276@itemize @bullet
6277
6278@item
6279Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
6280expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
6281rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
6282trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
6283
6284@item
6285Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
6286decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
6287then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
6288@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
6289digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
6290digits.
6291
6292@item
6293Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
6294like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
6295also be expressed by their ordinal value (their ASCII value, usually)
6296followed by a @samp{C}.
6297
6298@item
1041a570
RP
6299String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
6300pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
6301Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
93928b60 6302Constants, ,C and C++ constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
1041a570 6303sequences.
c2bbbb22
RP
6304
6305@item
6306Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
6307
6308@item
6309Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
6310@code{FALSE}.
6311
6312@item
6313Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
6314
6315@item
6316Set constants are not yet supported.
c2bbbb22
RP
6317@end itemize
6318
4eb4cf57 6319@node M2 Defaults
93928b60 6320@subsubsection Modula-2 defaults
c2bbbb22
RP
6321@cindex Modula-2 defaults
6322
18fae2a8 6323If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
e251e767 6324both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
18fae2a8 6325Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you, or @value{GDBN},
c2bbbb22
RP
6326selected the working language.
6327
18fae2a8 6328If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
9a27b06e 6329code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
18fae2a8 6330working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} set
c2bbbb22
RP
6331the language automatically}, for further details.
6332
4eb4cf57 6333@node Deviations
93928b60 6334@subsubsection Deviations from standard Modula-2
c2bbbb22
RP
6335@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
6336
6337A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
6338This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
6339
6340@itemize @bullet
e251e767 6341@item
c2bbbb22
RP
6342Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
6343integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
6344debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
6345pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
6346through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
6347returned a pointer.)
6348
e251e767 6349@item
c2bbbb22 6350C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
9a27b06e 6351non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
c2bbbb22
RP
6352escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
6353printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
6354
6355@item
6356The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
6357argument.
6358
6359@item
29a2b744 6360All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
e251e767 6361@end itemize
c2bbbb22 6362
4eb4cf57 6363@node M2 Checks
93928b60 6364@subsubsection Modula-2 type and range checks
c2bbbb22
RP
6365@cindex Modula-2 checks
6366
6367@quotation
18fae2a8 6368@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
c2bbbb22
RP
6369range checking.
6370@end quotation
6371@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
6372
18fae2a8 6373@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
c2bbbb22
RP
6374
6375@itemize @bullet
6376@item
6377They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
6378@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
6379
6380@item
6381They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
af215b1a 6382@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
c2bbbb22
RP
6383@end itemize
6384
6385As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
6386whose types are not equivalent is an error.
6387
6388Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
29a2b744 6389index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
c2bbbb22 6390
4eb4cf57 6391@node M2 Scope
c2bbbb22
RP
6392@subsubsection The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
6393@cindex scope
6394@kindex .
e94b4a2b 6395@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
1041a570
RP
6396@ifinfo
6397@kindex colon-colon
ed447b95 6398@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
1041a570
RP
6399@end ifinfo
6400@iftex
c2bbbb22 6401@kindex ::
1041a570 6402@end iftex
c2bbbb22
RP
6403
6404There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
18fae2a8 6405(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
c2bbbb22
RP
6406similar syntax:
6407
6408@example
6409
6410@var{module} . @var{id}
6411@var{scope} :: @var{id}
c2bbbb22
RP
6412@end example
6413
6414@noindent
6415where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
29a2b744
RP
6416@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
6417identifier within your program, except another module.
c2bbbb22 6418
18fae2a8 6419Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
c2bbbb22 6420specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
9a27b06e 6421found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
c2bbbb22
RP
6422enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
6423
18fae2a8 6424Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
c2bbbb22
RP
6425the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
6426definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
6427an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
6428module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
6429@var{module}.
6430
4eb4cf57 6431@node GDB/M2
18fae2a8 6432@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
c2bbbb22 6433
18fae2a8 6434Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
c2bbbb22
RP
6435Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
6436specifically to C and C++: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
6437@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
93918348 6438apply to C++, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
c2bbbb22
RP
6439analogue in Modula-2.
6440
1041a570 6441The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
c2bbbb22
RP
6442while using any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
6443intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
6444created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C++. However, because an
6445address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
1041a570 6446@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful. (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions})
18fae2a8 6447
c2bbbb22 6448@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
18fae2a8 6449In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
c2bbbb22 6450interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
09934a2b 6451@end ifset
da374d80 6452@end ifclear
4eb4cf57
RP
6453
6454@node Symbols
70b88761
RP
6455@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
6456
6457The commands described in this section allow you to inquire about the
6458symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
6459program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
18fae2a8
RP
6460does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
6461program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
93928b60
RP
6462(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing files}), or by one of the
6463file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
70b88761 6464
6c380b13
RP
6465@cindex symbol names
6466@cindex names of symbols
6467@cindex quoting names
6468Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
18fae2a8 6469characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
6c380b13 6470most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
93928b60 6471source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program variables}). File names
18fae2a8 6472are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
6c380b13 6473ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
18fae2a8 6474@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
6c380b13
RP
6475@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
6476
6477@example
6478p 'foo.c'::x
6479@end example
6480
6481@noindent
6482looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
6483
70b88761 6484@table @code
70b88761 6485@kindex info address
af215b1a 6486@item info address @var{symbol}
70b88761
RP
6487Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
6488variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
6489local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
6490is always stored.
6491
6492Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
6b51acad 6493at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
70b88761
RP
6494the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
6495
70b88761 6496@kindex whatis
af215b1a 6497@item whatis @var{exp}
70b88761
RP
6498Print the data type of expression @var{exp}. @var{exp} is not
6499actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
6500assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
1041a570 6501@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
70b88761
RP
6502
6503@item whatis
6504Print the data type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
6505
70b88761 6506@kindex ptype
af215b1a 6507@item ptype @var{typename}
70b88761
RP
6508Print a description of data type @var{typename}. @var{typename} may be
6509the name of a type, or for C code it may have the form
25f9d853
JK
6510@ifclear CONLY
6511@samp{class @var{class-name}},
6512@end ifclear
70b88761 6513@samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
1041a570 6514@samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
70b88761
RP
6515
6516@item ptype @var{exp}
e0dacfd1 6517@itemx ptype
70b88761 6518Print a description of the type of expression @var{exp}. @code{ptype}
1041a570 6519differs from @code{whatis} by printing a detailed description, instead
ed447b95
RP
6520of just the name of the type.
6521
6522For example, for this variable declaration:
1041a570 6523
70b88761
RP
6524@example
6525struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
6526@end example
1041a570 6527
70b88761 6528@noindent
ed447b95 6529the two commands give this output:
1041a570 6530
70b88761 6531@example
1041a570 6532@group
18fae2a8 6533(@value{GDBP}) whatis v
70b88761 6534type = struct complex
18fae2a8 6535(@value{GDBP}) ptype v
70b88761
RP
6536type = struct complex @{
6537 double real;
6538 double imag;
6539@}
1041a570 6540@end group
70b88761 6541@end example
1041a570 6542
e0dacfd1
RP
6543@noindent
6544As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
6545the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
70b88761 6546
af215b1a 6547@kindex info types
70b88761
RP
6548@item info types @var{regexp}
6549@itemx info types
70b88761
RP
6550Print a brief description of all types whose name matches @var{regexp}
6551(or all types in your program, if you supply no argument). Each
6552complete typename is matched as though it were a complete line; thus,
6553@samp{i type value} gives information on all types in your program whose
6554name includes the string @code{value}, but @samp{i type ^value$} gives
6555information only on types whose complete name is @code{value}.
6556
6557This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
6558@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
6559lists all source files where a type is defined.
6560
70b88761 6561@kindex info source
af215b1a 6562@item info source
70b88761 6563Show the name of the current source file---that is, the source file for
c2bbbb22
RP
6564the function containing the current point of execution---and the language
6565it was written in.
70b88761 6566
70b88761 6567@kindex info sources
af215b1a 6568@item info sources
29a2b744 6569Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
b80282d5
RP
6570debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
6571have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
70b88761 6572
70b88761 6573@kindex info functions
af215b1a 6574@item info functions
70b88761
RP
6575Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
6576
6577@item info functions @var{regexp}
6578Print the names and data types of all defined functions
6579whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
6580Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
6581include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
6582start with @code{step}.
6583
70b88761 6584@kindex info variables
af215b1a 6585@item info variables
70b88761
RP
6586Print the names and data types of all variables that are declared
6587outside of functions (i.e., excluding local variables).
6588
6589@item info variables @var{regexp}
6590Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
6591variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
6592@var{regexp}.
6593
70b88761
RP
6594@ignore
6595This was never implemented.
af215b1a 6596@kindex info methods
70b88761
RP
6597@item info methods
6598@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
70b88761
RP
6599The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
6600methods within C++ program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
6601specific set of methods found in the various C++ classes. Many
6602C++ classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
6603from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
6604@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
6605which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
6606@end ignore
6607
af215b1a
VM
6608@cindex reloading symbols
6609Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
6610be replaced without stopping and restarting your program.
6611@ifset VXWORKS
6612For example, in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file
6613and keep on running.
6614@end ifset
6615If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow @value{GDBN} to
6616reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
6617
6618@table @code
6619@kindex set symbol-reloading
6620@item set symbol-reloading on
6621Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
6622object file with a particular name is seen again.
6623
6624@item set symbol-reloading off
6625Do not replace symbol definitions when re-encountering object files of
6626the same name. This is the default state; if you are not running on a
6627system that permits automatically relinking modules, you should leave
6628@code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN} may discard symbols
6629when linking large programs, that may contain several modules (from
6630different directories or libraries) with the same name.
6631
6632@kindex show symbol-reloading
6633@item show symbol-reloading
6634Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
6635@end table
6636
d48da190 6637@kindex maint print symbols
440d9834 6638@cindex symbol dump
d48da190 6639@kindex maint print psymbols
440d9834 6640@cindex partial symbol dump
af215b1a
VM
6641@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
6642@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
6643@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
440d9834 6644Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
18fae2a8 6645These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
d48da190 6646symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
18fae2a8 6647symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
d48da190 6648collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
18fae2a8 6649only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
d48da190
RP
6650command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
6651use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
18fae2a8
RP
6652symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
6653files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
d48da190 6654@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
18fae2a8 6655required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
d55320a0
RP
6656@xref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}, for a discussion of how
6657@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
70b88761
RP
6658@end table
6659
4eb4cf57 6660@node Altering
70b88761
RP
6661@chapter Altering Execution
6662
29a2b744 6663Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
70b88761
RP
6664find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
6665correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
18fae2a8 6666experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
70b88761
RP
6667program.
6668
6669For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
1d7c3357 6670locations,
18fae2a8 6671@ifclear BARETARGET
1d7c3357 6672give your program a signal, restart it
18fae2a8 6673@end ifclear
1d7c3357
RP
6674@ifset BARETARGET
6675restart your program
6676@end ifset
af215b1a 6677at a different address, or even return prematurely from a function.
18fae2a8 6678
18fae2a8 6679@menu
ed447b95
RP
6680* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
6681* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
1d7c3357 6682@ifclear BARETARGET
ed447b95 6683* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
18fae2a8 6684@end ifclear
b0157555 6685
ed447b95
RP
6686* Returning:: Returning from a function
6687* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
6688* Patching:: Patching your program
18fae2a8 6689@end menu
70b88761 6690
4eb4cf57 6691@node Assignment
93928b60 6692@section Assignment to variables
70b88761
RP
6693
6694@cindex assignment
6695@cindex setting variables
6696To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
1041a570 6697@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
70b88761
RP
6698
6699@example
6700print x=4
6701@end example
6702
6703@noindent
1041a570 6704stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
4eb4cf57 6705value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
18fae2a8
RP
6706@ifclear CONLY
6707@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
4eb4cf57 6708information on operators in supported languages.
18fae2a8 6709@end ifclear
70b88761 6710
70b88761
RP
6711@kindex set variable
6712@cindex variables, setting
6713If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
6714@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
93928b60
RP
6715really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
6716not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
6717,Value history}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
70b88761
RP
6718
6719If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
6720appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
6721variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
ed447b95
RP
6722to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if
6723your program has a variable @code{width}, you get
6724an error if you try to set a new value with just @samp{set width=13},
6725because @value{GDBN} has the command @code{set width}:
1041a570 6726
70b88761 6727@example
18fae2a8 6728(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
70b88761 6729type = double
18fae2a8 6730(@value{GDBP}) p width
70b88761 6731$4 = 13
18fae2a8 6732(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
70b88761
RP
6733Invalid syntax in expression.
6734@end example
1041a570 6735
70b88761 6736@noindent
ed447b95
RP
6737The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
6738order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
1041a570 6739
70b88761 6740@example
18fae2a8 6741(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
70b88761
RP
6742@end example
6743
18fae2a8 6744@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
1041a570 6745freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
ed447b95 6746and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
1041a570 6747same length or shorter.
e251e767 6748@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
70b88761
RP
6749@comment /pesch@cygnus.com 18dec1990
6750
6751To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
6752construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
1041a570 6753(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
70b88761
RP
6754to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
6755and representation in memory), and
6756
6757@example
6758set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
6759@end example
6760
6761@noindent
6762stores the value 4 into that memory location.
6763
4eb4cf57 6764@node Jumping
93928b60 6765@section Continuing at a different address
70b88761 6766
29a2b744 6767Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
70b88761
RP
6768it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
6769an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
6770
6771@table @code
70b88761 6772@kindex jump
af215b1a 6773@item jump @var{linespec}
9a27b06e 6774Resume execution at line @var{linespec}. Execution stops again
29a2b744 6775immediately if there is a breakpoint there. @xref{List, ,Printing
93928b60 6776source lines}, for a description of the different forms of
29a2b744 6777@var{linespec}.
70b88761
RP
6778
6779The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
6780the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
6781register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
6782a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
6783be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
6784of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
6785confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
6786executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
29a2b744 6787well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
70b88761
RP
6788
6789@item jump *@var{address}
6790Resume execution at the instruction at address @var{address}.
6791@end table
6792
6793You can get much the same effect as the @code{jump} command by storing a
6794new value into the register @code{$pc}. The difference is that this
af215b1a 6795does not start your program running; it only changes the address of where it
9a27b06e 6796@emph{will} run when you continue. For example,
70b88761
RP
6797
6798@example
6799set $pc = 0x485
6800@end example
6801
6802@noindent
9a27b06e 6803makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
1041a570 6804address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
93928b60 6805@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and stepping}.
70b88761 6806
af215b1a
VM
6807The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back up--
6808perhaps with more breakpoints set--over a portion of a program that has
70b88761
RP
6809already executed, in order to examine its execution in more detail.
6810
18fae2a8 6811@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761 6812@c @group
ed447b95
RP
6813@node Signaling
6814@section Giving your program a signal
70b88761
RP
6815
6816@table @code
70b88761 6817@kindex signal
af215b1a 6818@item signal @var{signal}
6b51acad 6819Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
fd32a1dd
JK
6820signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
6821signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
6822SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
70b88761 6823
fd32a1dd 6824Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
29a2b744 6825giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
70b88761
RP
6826a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
6827@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
6828signal.
6829
6830@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
6831after executing the command.
6832@end table
6833@c @end group
fd32a1dd
JK
6834
6835Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
6836@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
6837causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
6838the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
6839passes the signal directly to your program.
6840
18fae2a8 6841@end ifclear
70b88761 6842
4eb4cf57 6843@node Returning
93928b60 6844@section Returning from a function
70b88761
RP
6845
6846@table @code
70b88761
RP
6847@cindex returning from a function
6848@kindex return
af215b1a
VM
6849@item return
6850@itemx return @var{expression}
70b88761
RP
6851You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
6852command. If you give an
6853@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
e251e767 6854value.
70b88761
RP
6855@end table
6856
18fae2a8 6857When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
70b88761
RP
6858(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
6859discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
6860be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
6861
29a2b744 6862This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
93928b60 6863frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
29a2b744
RP
6864innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
6865specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
6866of functions.
70b88761
RP
6867
6868The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
6869program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
1041a570 6870returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
93928b60 6871and Stepping, ,Continuing and stepping}) resumes execution until the
1041a570 6872selected stack frame returns naturally.
70b88761 6873
4eb4cf57 6874@node Calling
ed447b95 6875@section Calling program functions
70b88761
RP
6876
6877@cindex calling functions
6878@kindex call
6879@table @code
6880@item call @var{expr}
6881Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
6882returned values.
6883@end table
6884
6885You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
6886execute a function from your program, but without cluttering the output
af215b1a
VM
6887with @code{void} returned values. If the result is not void, it
6888is printed and saved in the value history.
6889
6890A new user-controlled variable, @var{call_scratch_address}, specifies
6891the location of a scratch area to be used when @value{GDBN} calls a
6892function in the target. This is necessary because the usual method
6893of putting the scratch area on the stack does not work in systems that
6894have separate instruction and data spaces.
70b88761 6895
4eb4cf57 6896@node Patching
ed447b95 6897@section Patching programs
c338a2fd
RP
6898@cindex patching binaries
6899@cindex writing into executables
1d7c3357 6900@ifclear BARETARGET
c338a2fd 6901@cindex writing into corefiles
1d7c3357 6902@end ifclear
1041a570 6903
18fae2a8 6904By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's executable
1d7c3357
RP
6905code
6906@ifclear BARETARGET
6907(or the corefile)
6908@end ifclear
6909read-only. This prevents accidental alterations
c338a2fd
RP
6910to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally patching
6911your program's binary.
6912
6913If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
6914explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
6915want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
e251e767 6916repairs.
c338a2fd
RP
6917
6918@table @code
af215b1a 6919@kindex set write
c338a2fd
RP
6920@item set write on
6921@itemx set write off
9a27b06e 6922If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable
18fae2a8 6923@ifclear BARETARGET
0f153e74 6924and core
18fae2a8 6925@end ifclear
0f153e74 6926files for both reading and writing; if you specify @samp{set write
9a27b06e 6927off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
c338a2fd 6928
1d7c3357
RP
6929If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
6930@code{exec-file}
6931@ifclear BARETARGET
6932or @code{core-file}
6933@end ifclear
6934command) after changing @code{set write}, for your new setting to take
6935effect.
c338a2fd
RP
6936
6937@item show write
7d7ff5f6 6938@kindex show write
0f153e74 6939Display whether executable files
18fae2a8 6940@ifclear BARETARGET
0f153e74 6941and core files
18fae2a8 6942@end ifclear
9a27b06e 6943are opened for writing as well as reading.
c338a2fd
RP
6944@end table
6945
18fae2a8 6946@node GDB Files
93918348 6947@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
70b88761 6948
18fae2a8 6949@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged, both in
4eb4cf57 6950order to read its symbol table and in order to start your program.
18fae2a8 6951@ifclear BARETARGET
93918348
RP
6952To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell @value{GDBN}
6953the name of the core dump file.
18fae2a8 6954@end ifclear
1041a570 6955
70b88761 6956@menu
ed447b95
RP
6957* Files:: Commands to specify files
6958* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
70b88761
RP
6959@end menu
6960
4eb4cf57 6961@node Files
93928b60 6962@section Commands to specify files
70b88761 6963@cindex symbol table
70b88761 6964
18fae2a8 6965@ifclear BARETARGET
0f153e74 6966@cindex core dump file
af215b1a
VM
6967You may want to specify executable and core dump file names.
6968The usual way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
6969@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, ,
6970Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}}).
18fae2a8
RP
6971@end ifclear
6972@ifset BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 6973The usual way to specify an executable file name is with
18fae2a8
RP
6974the command argument given when you start @value{GDBN}, (@pxref{Invocation,
6975,Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}}.
6976@end ifset
70b88761
RP
6977
6978Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
93918348
RP
6979@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to specify
6980a file you want to use. In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands
6981to specify new files are useful.
70b88761
RP
6982
6983@table @code
70b88761
RP
6984@cindex executable file
6985@kindex file
af215b1a 6986@item file @var{filename}
70b88761
RP
6987Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
6988symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
6989executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
af215b1a
VM
6990directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
6991@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
6992directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
6993to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
6994and your program, using the @code{path} command.
70b88761 6995
9a27b06e
RP
6996On systems with memory-mapped files, an auxiliary file
6997@file{@var{filename}.syms} may hold symbol table information for
6998@var{filename}. If so, @value{GDBN} maps in the symbol table from
14d01801 6999@file{@var{filename}.syms}, starting up more quickly. See the
af215b1a 7000descriptions of the file options @samp{-mapped} and @samp{-readnow}
9a27b06e 7001(available on the command line, and with the commands @code{file},
af215b1a
VM
7002@code{symbol-file}, or @code{add-symbol-file}, described below),
7003for more information.
14d01801 7004
e0dacfd1 7005@item file
18fae2a8 7006@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
70b88761
RP
7007has on both executable file and the symbol table.
7008
70b88761 7009@kindex exec-file
af215b1a 7010@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
70b88761 7011Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
9a27b06e 7012in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
29a2b744 7013if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
e0dacfd1 7014discard information on the executable file.
70b88761 7015
70b88761 7016@kindex symbol-file
af215b1a 7017@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
70b88761
RP
7018Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
7019searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
7020table and program to run from the same file.
7021
93918348 7022@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
70b88761
RP
7023program's symbol table.
7024
af215b1a
VM
7025The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents
7026of its convenience variables, the value history, and all breakpoints and
70b88761
RP
7027auto-display expressions. This is because they may contain pointers to
7028the internal data recording symbols and data types, which are part of
18fae2a8 7029the old symbol table data being discarded inside @value{GDBN}.
70b88761 7030
9a27b06e 7031@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
70b88761
RP
7032executing it once.
7033
9a27b06e
RP
7034When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
7035understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
af215b1a 7036generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14d01801 7037other compilers that adhere to the local conventions. Best results are
af215b1a 7038usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example, using @code{@value{GCC}}
14d01801
RP
7039you can generate debugging information for optimized code.
7040
70b88761 7041On some kinds of object files, the @code{symbol-file} command does not
14d01801 7042normally read the symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans
70b88761
RP
7043the symbol table quickly to find which source files and which symbols
7044are present. The details are read later, one source file at a time,
1041a570 7045as they are needed.
70b88761 7046
18fae2a8 7047The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN} start up
1041a570
RP
7048faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for occasional
7049pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source file are
7050being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these pauses
93928b60
RP
7051into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings
7052and messages}.)
70b88761 7053
8c69096b
RP
7054We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
7055symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
7056symbol table data in full right away.
70b88761 7057
14d01801
RP
7058@kindex readnow
7059@cindex reading symbols immediately
7060@cindex symbols, reading immediately
7061@kindex mapped
7062@cindex memory-mapped symbol file
38962738 7063@cindex saving symbol table
af215b1a
VM
7064@item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
7065@itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
18fae2a8 7066You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
95d5ceb9 7067tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
18fae2a8 7068load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14d01801
RP
7069entire symbol table available.
7070
18fae2a8 7071@ifclear BARETARGET
14d01801 7072If memory-mapped files are available on your system through the
95d5ceb9 7073@code{mmap} system call, you can use another option, @samp{-mapped}, to
18fae2a8 7074cause @value{GDBN} to write the symbols for your program into a reusable
9a27b06e 7075file. Future @value{GDBN} debugging sessions map in symbol information
93918348 7076from this auxiliary symbol file (if the program has not changed), rather
77b46d13
JG
7077than spending time reading the symbol table from the executable
7078program. Using the @samp{-mapped} option has the same effect as
18fae2a8 7079starting @value{GDBN} with the @samp{-mapped} command-line option.
14d01801 7080
95d5ceb9 7081You can use both options together, to make sure the auxiliary symbol
14d01801
RP
7082file has all the symbol information for your program.
7083
7084The auxiliary symbol file for a program called @var{myprog} is called
7085@samp{@var{myprog}.syms}. Once this file exists (so long as it is newer
9a27b06e 7086than the corresponding executable), @value{GDBN} always attempts to use
14d01801
RP
7087it when you debug @var{myprog}; no special options or commands are
7088needed.
93918348
RP
7089
7090The @file{.syms} file is specific to the host machine where you run
34ae25cd 7091@value{GDBN}. It holds an exact image of the internal @value{GDBN}
93918348
RP
7092symbol table. It cannot be shared across multiple host platforms.
7093
14d01801
RP
7094@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
7095@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
7096@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
7097@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
7098@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
7099@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
7100@c files.
70b88761 7101
70b88761
RP
7102@kindex core
7103@kindex core-file
af215b1a 7104@item core-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
70b88761
RP
7105Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
7106of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
18fae2a8 7107address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
70b88761
RP
7108executable file itself for other parts.
7109
7110@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
7111to be used.
7112
7113Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
18fae2a8 7114under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you wish to
70b88761
RP
7115debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which the
7116program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
93928b60 7117(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the child process}).
18fae2a8 7118@end ifclear
70b88761 7119
af215b1a 7120@kindex load @var{filename}
70b88761 7121@item load @var{filename}
18fae2a8 7122@ifset GENERIC
70b88761 7123Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
18fae2a8 7124@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
70b88761
RP
7125is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
7126on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
93918348 7127@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
70b88761
RP
7128the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
7129
ed447b95
RP
7130If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
7131execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
7132target is @dots{}}''
18fae2a8 7133@end ifset
70b88761 7134
99d1da6a 7135The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
22b5dba5
RP
7136For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
7137link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
7138specifies a fixed address.
7139@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
99d1da6a 7140
18fae2a8 7141@ifset VXWORKS
9a27b06e 7142On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
18fae2a8
RP
7143current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
7144@end ifset
70b88761 7145
a64a6c2b 7146@ifset I960
70b88761 7147@cindex download to Nindy-960
9a27b06e
RP
7148With the Nindy interface to an Intel 960 board, @code{load}
7149downloads @var{filename} to the 960 as well as adding its symbols in
18fae2a8
RP
7150@value{GDBN}.
7151@end ifset
70b88761 7152
a64a6c2b 7153@ifset H8
1d7c3357
RP
7154@cindex download to H8/300 or H8/500
7155@cindex H8/300 or H8/500 download
a64a6c2b
RP
7156@cindex download to Hitachi SH
7157@cindex Hitachi SH download
72545cc6 7158When you select remote debugging to a Hitachi SH, H8/300, or H8/500 board
a64a6c2b 7159(@pxref{Hitachi Remote,,@value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors}),
1d7c3357
RP
7160the @code{load} command downloads your program to the Hitachi board and also
7161opens it as the current executable target for @value{GDBN} on your host
7162(like the @code{file} command).
18fae2a8 7163@end ifset
c7cb8acb 7164
9a27b06e 7165@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
70b88761 7166
18fae2a8 7167@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761
RP
7168@kindex add-symbol-file
7169@cindex dynamic linking
af215b1a
VM
7170@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
7171@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
70b88761 7172The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table information
b80282d5 7173from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command when @var{filename}
70b88761
RP
7174has been dynamically loaded (by some other means) into the program that
7175is running. @var{address} should be the memory address at which the
18fae2a8 7176file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure this out for itself.
d55320a0 7177You can specify @var{address} as an expression.
70b88761
RP
7178
7179The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
7180originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
7181@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data thus
7182read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data instead,
e251e767 7183use the @code{symbol-file} command.
70b88761 7184
9a27b06e 7185@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
70b88761 7186
95d5ceb9 7187You can use the @samp{-mapped} and @samp{-readnow} options just as with
18fae2a8 7188the @code{symbol-file} command, to change how @value{GDBN} manages the symbol
0f153e74 7189table information for @var{filename}.
af215b1a
VM
7190
7191@kindex add-shared-symbol-file
7192@item add-shared-symbol-file
7193The @code{add-shared-symbol-file} command can be used only under Harris' CXUX
7194operating system for the Motorola 88k. @value{GDBN} automatically looks for
7195shared libraries, however if @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can run
7196@code{add-shared-symbol-file}. It takes no arguments.
18fae2a8 7197@end ifclear
95d5ceb9 7198
af215b1a
VM
7199@kindex section
7200@item section
7201The @code{section} command changes the base address of section SECTION of
7202the exec file to ADDR. This can be used if the exec file does not contain
7203section addresses, (such as in the a.out format), or when the addresses
7204specified in the file itself are wrong. Each section must be changed
7205separately. The ``info files'' command lists all the sections and their
7206addresses.
7207
70b88761
RP
7208@kindex info files
7209@kindex info target
af215b1a
VM
7210@item info files
7211@itemx info target
1041a570 7212@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print
1d7c3357
RP
7213the current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
7214including the
7215@ifclear BARETARGET
7216names of the executable and core dump files
7217@end ifclear
7218@ifset BARETARGET
7219name of the executable file
7220@end ifset
7221currently in use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were
a4ae3702 7222loaded. The command @code{help target} lists all possible targets
1d7c3357 7223rather than current ones.
70b88761
RP
7224@end table
7225
7226All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
b550c03a 7227as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
70b88761
RP
7228name and remembers it that way.
7229
18fae2a8 7230@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761 7231@cindex shared libraries
9a27b06e 7232@value{GDBN} supports SunOS, SVr4, Irix 5, and IBM RS/6000 shared libraries.
18fae2a8 7233@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
77b46d13 7234when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
9a27b06e 7235(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
77b46d13
JG
7236references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
7237debugging a core file).
9a27b06e
RP
7238@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
7239@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
7240@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
70b88761
RP
7241
7242@table @code
70b88761
RP
7243@kindex info sharedlibrary
7244@kindex info share
af215b1a
VM
7245@item info share
7246@itemx info sharedlibrary
c338a2fd 7247Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded.
70b88761 7248
c338a2fd
RP
7249@kindex sharedlibrary
7250@kindex share
af215b1a
VM
7251@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
7252@itemx share @var{regex}
7253
f886dc0f
SS
7254Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
7255Unix regular expression.
7256As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
6b51acad
RP
7257required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
7258@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
7259loaded.
c338a2fd 7260@end table
18fae2a8 7261@end ifclear
70b88761 7262
4eb4cf57 7263@node Symbol Errors
93928b60 7264@section Errors reading symbol files
1041a570 7265
9a27b06e 7266While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
1041a570 7267such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
18fae2a8 7268output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
1041a570
RP
7269they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
7270debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
18fae2a8 7271about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
b80282d5 7272only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
18fae2a8 7273times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
1041a570 7274to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
93928b60
RP
7275complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
7276messages}).
70b88761 7277
d55320a0 7278The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
70b88761
RP
7279
7280@table @code
7281@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
7282
7283The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
7284(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
7285error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
e251e767 7286in its outer scope blocks.
70b88761 7287
18fae2a8 7288@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
70b88761
RP
7289the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
7290may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
7291function.
7292
7293@item block at @var{address} out of order
7294
e251e767 7295The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
70b88761 7296order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
e251e767 7297do so.
70b88761 7298
9a27b06e 7299@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
ed447b95
RP
7300locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
7301can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
93928b60
RP
7302@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
7303messages}.)
70b88761
RP
7304
7305@item bad block start address patched
7306
7307The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
7308smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
e251e767 7309to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
70b88761 7310
18fae2a8 7311@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
70b88761
RP
7312starting on the previous source line.
7313
70b88761
RP
7314@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
7315
7316@cindex foo
7317Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
e251e767 7318larger than the size of the string table.
70b88761 7319
18fae2a8 7320@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
70b88761
RP
7321name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
7322with this name.
7323
7324@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
7325
18fae2a8 7326The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does not yet
70b88761 7327know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the misunderstood
e251e767 7328information, in hexadecimal.
70b88761 7329
18fae2a8 7330@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information. This
9a27b06e
RP
7331usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
7332are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
18fae2a8 7333debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint on
70b88761
RP
7334@code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab} and
7335examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
7336
7337@item stub type has NULL name
1d7c3357
RP
7338@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for
7339@ifclear CONLY
7340a struct or class.
7341@end ifclear
7342@ifset CONLY
7343a struct.
7344@end ifset
70b88761 7345
1d7c3357 7346@ifclear CONLY
440d9834 7347@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
70b88761
RP
7348
7349The symbol information for a C++ member function is missing some
440d9834
RP
7350information that recent versions of the compiler should have output
7351for it.
1d7c3357 7352@end ifclear
70b88761 7353
440d9834 7354@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
70b88761 7355
18fae2a8 7356@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
70b88761
RP
7357@end table
7358
4eb4cf57 7359@node Targets
e251e767 7360@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
70b88761
RP
7361@cindex debugging target
7362@kindex target
1041a570 7363
cedaf8bc 7364A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
18fae2a8
RP
7365@ifclear BARETARGET
7366Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program; in
1041a570
RP
7367that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when you
7368use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
18fae2a8 7369flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
1041a570 7370host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
0f153e74 7371realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you
18fae2a8
RP
7372@end ifclear
7373@ifset BARETARGET
0f153e74 7374You
18fae2a8 7375@end ifset
0f153e74 7376can use the @code{target} command to specify one of the target types
93928b60
RP
7377configured for @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for managing
7378targets}).
70b88761
RP
7379
7380@menu
ed447b95
RP
7381* Active Targets:: Active targets
7382* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
7383* Remote:: Remote debugging
70b88761
RP
7384@end menu
7385
4eb4cf57 7386@node Active Targets
93928b60 7387@section Active targets
70b88761
RP
7388@cindex stacking targets
7389@cindex active targets
7390@cindex multiple targets
7391
18fae2a8 7392@ifclear BARETARGET
cedaf8bc 7393There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
18fae2a8 7394executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three active
cedaf8bc
RP
7395targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example) start a
7396process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on a core
7397file.
70b88761 7398
ed447b95 7399For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
cedaf8bc
RP
7400@code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
7401well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
9a27b06e 7402@value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
cedaf8bc
RP
7403first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
7404requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
29a2b744 7405are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
cedaf8bc
RP
7406read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
7407executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
18fae2a8 7408@end ifclear
cedaf8bc
RP
7409
7410When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
18fae2a8 7411target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN} commands
0f153e74 7412requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in an
18fae2a8 7413@ifclear BARETARGET
0f153e74 7414active core file or
18fae2a8 7415@end ifclear
0f153e74 7416executable file target are obscured while the process
cedaf8bc
RP
7417target is active.
7418
18fae2a8 7419@ifset BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 7420Use the @code{exec-file} command to select a
93928b60
RP
7421new executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify
7422files}).
18fae2a8
RP
7423@end ifset
7424@ifclear BARETARGET
1041a570 7425Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a
93928b60
RP
7426new core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify
7427files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
1041a570 7428the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an
93928b60 7429already-running process}).
18fae2a8 7430@end ifclear
70b88761 7431
4eb4cf57 7432@node Target Commands
93928b60 7433@section Commands for managing targets
70b88761
RP
7434
7435@table @code
7436@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
1d7c3357
RP
7437Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target
7438@ifset BARETARGET
7439machine.
7440@end ifset
7441@ifclear BARETARGET
7442machine or process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to
7443debugging facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the
7444type or protocol of the target machine.
70b88761
RP
7445
7446Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
7447typically include things like device names or host names to connect
e251e767 7448with, process numbers, and baud rates.
1d7c3357 7449@end ifclear
70b88761 7450
9a27b06e 7451The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
70b88761
RP
7452after executing the command.
7453
70b88761 7454@kindex help target
af215b1a 7455@item help target
70b88761
RP
7456Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
7457currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
93928b60 7458(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
70b88761
RP
7459
7460@item help target @var{name}
7461Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
7462select it.
af215b1a
VM
7463
7464@kindex set gnutarget
7465@item set gnutarget @var{args}
7466@value{GDBN}uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
7467knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
7468a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file, however you can specify the file format
7469with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
7470with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
7471
7472@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
7473you must know the actual BFD name.
7474
7475@noindent @xref{Files, , Commands to specify files}.
7476
7477@kindex show gnutarget
7478@item show gnutarget
7479Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
7480@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
7481@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically
7482and @code{show gnutarget} displays @code{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
70b88761
RP
7483@end table
7484
c7cb8acb 7485Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
70b88761
RP
7486configuration):
7487
7488@table @code
70b88761 7489@kindex target exec
af215b1a 7490@item target exec @var{program}
fe715d06
RP
7491An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
7492@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
70b88761 7493
1d7c3357 7494@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761 7495@kindex target core
af215b1a 7496@item target core @var{filename}
70b88761
RP
7497A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
7498@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
1d7c3357 7499@end ifclear
70b88761 7500
18fae2a8 7501@ifset REMOTESTUB
70b88761 7502@kindex target remote
af215b1a 7503@item target remote @var{dev}
c7cb8acb 7504Remote serial target in GDB-specific protocol. The argument @var{dev}
70b88761 7505specifies what serial device to use for the connection (e.g.
af215b1a
VM
7506@file{/dev/ttya}). @xref{Remote, ,Remote debugging}. @code{target remote}
7507now supports the @code{load} command. This is only useful if you have
7508some other way of getting the stub to the target system, and you can put
7509it somewhere in memory where it won't get clobbered by the download.
18fae2a8 7510@end ifset
70b88761 7511
fe715d06 7512@ifset SIMS
fe715d06 7513@kindex target sim
af215b1a 7514@item target sim
fe715d06
RP
7515CPU simulator. @xref{Simulator,,Simulated CPU Target}.
7516@end ifset
7517
a64a6c2b 7518@ifset AMD29K
fe715d06 7519@kindex target udi
af215b1a 7520@item target udi @var{keyword}
fe715d06
RP
7521Remote AMD29K target, using the AMD UDI protocol. The @var{keyword}
7522argument specifies which 29K board or simulator to use. @xref{UDI29K
b1955f0b 7523Remote,,The UDI protocol for AMD29K}.
fe715d06 7524
70b88761 7525@kindex target amd-eb
af215b1a 7526@item target amd-eb @var{dev} @var{speed} @var{PROG}
70b88761
RP
7527@cindex AMD EB29K
7528Remote PC-resident AMD EB29K board, attached over serial lines.
7529@var{dev} is the serial device, as for @code{target remote};
7530@var{speed} allows you to specify the linespeed; and @var{PROG} is the
7531name of the program to be debugged, as it appears to DOS on the PC.
b1955f0b 7532@xref{EB29K Remote, ,The EBMON protocol for AMD29K}.
77fe5411 7533
18fae2a8 7534@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7535@ifset H8
c7cb8acb 7536@kindex target hms
af215b1a 7537@item target hms @var{dev}
72545cc6 7538A Hitachi SH, H8/300, or H8/500 board, attached via serial line to your host.
a64a6c2b 7539@ifclear H8EXCLUSIVE
a64a6c2b
RP
7540Use special commands @code{device} and @code{speed} to control the serial
7541line and the communications speed used.
7542@end ifclear
7543@xref{Hitachi Remote,,@value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors}.
c7cb8acb 7544
18fae2a8 7545@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7546@ifset I960
70b88761 7547@kindex target nindy
af215b1a 7548@item target nindy @var{devicename}
70b88761
RP
7549An Intel 960 board controlled by a Nindy Monitor. @var{devicename} is
7550the name of the serial device to use for the connection, e.g.
ed447b95 7551@file{/dev/ttya}. @xref{i960-Nindy Remote, ,@value{GDBN} with a remote i960 (Nindy)}.
70b88761 7552
18fae2a8 7553@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7554@ifset ST2000
77fe5411 7555@kindex target st2000
af215b1a 7556@item target st2000 @var{dev} @var{speed}
77fe5411
RP
7557A Tandem ST2000 phone switch, running Tandem's STDBUG protocol. @var{dev}
7558is the name of the device attached to the ST2000 serial line;
7559@var{speed} is the communication line speed. The arguments are not used
18fae2a8
RP
7560if @value{GDBN} is configured to connect to the ST2000 using TCP or Telnet.
7561@xref{ST2000 Remote,,@value{GDBN} with a Tandem ST2000}.
18fae2a8 7562@end ifset
af215b1a 7563
18fae2a8 7564@ifset VXWORKS
70b88761 7565@kindex target vxworks
af215b1a 7566@item target vxworks @var{machinename}
70b88761
RP
7567A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
7568is the target system's machine name or IP address.
18fae2a8
RP
7569@xref{VxWorks Remote, ,@value{GDBN} and VxWorks}.
7570@end ifset
af215b1a
VM
7571
7572@kindex target cpu32bug
7573@item target cpu32bug @var{dev}
7574CPU32BUG monitor, running on a CPU32 (M68K) board.
7575
7576@kindex target op50n
7577@item target op50n @var{dev}
7578OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
7579
7580@kindex target w89k
7581@item target w89k @var{dev}
7582W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
7583
7584@kindex target est
7585@item target est @var{dev}
7586EST-300 ICE monitor, running on a CPU32 (M68K) board.
7587
7588@kindex target rom68k
7589@item target rom68k @var{dev}
7590ROM 68K monitor, running on an IDP board.
7591
7592@kindex target array
7593@item target array @var{dev}
7594Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
7595
7596@kindex target sparclite
7597@item target sparclite @var{dev}
7598Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
7599You must use an additional command to debug the program.
7600For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
7601remote protocol.
70b88761
RP
7602@end table
7603
18fae2a8 7604@ifset GENERIC
af215b1a
VM
7605Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
7606your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
18fae2a8 7607@end ifset
70b88761 7608
af215b1a
VM
7609@section Choosing target byte order
7610@cindex choosing target byte order
7611@cindex target byte order
7612@kindex set endian big
7613@kindex set endian little
7614@kindex set endian auto
7615@kindex show endian
7616
7617You can now choose which byte order to use with a target system.
7618Use the @code{set endian big} and @code{set endian little} commands.
7619Use the @code{set endian auto} command to instruct
7620@value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the executable.
7621You can see the current setting for byte order with the @code{show endian}
7622command.
7623
7624@emph{Warning:} Currently, only embedded MIPS configurations support
7625dynamic selection of target byte order.
7626
4eb4cf57 7627@node Remote
93928b60 7628@section Remote debugging
70b88761
RP
7629@cindex remote debugging
7630
29a2b744 7631If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
af215b1a
VM
7632@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
7633For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
7634or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
e251e767 7635powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
70b88761 7636
af215b1a 7637Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
70b88761 7638to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
af215b1a
VM
7639@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
7640but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
9a27b06e 7641write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
af215b1a 7642communicate with @value{GDBN}.
70b88761 7643
70b88761 7644Other remote targets may be available in your
af215b1a 7645configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
70b88761 7646
18fae2a8
RP
7647@ifset GENERIC
7648@c Text on starting up GDB in various specific cases; it goes up front
7649@c in manuals configured for any of those particular situations, here
7650@c otherwise.
18fae2a8
RP
7651@menu
7652@ifset REMOTESTUB
7653* Remote Serial:: @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol
7654@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7655@ifset I960
18fae2a8
RP
7656* i960-Nindy Remote:: @value{GDBN} with a remote i960 (Nindy)
7657@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7658@ifset AMD29K
b1955f0b
RP
7659* UDI29K Remote:: The UDI protocol for AMD29K
7660* EB29K Remote:: The EBMON protocol for AMD29K
18fae2a8
RP
7661@end ifset
7662@ifset VXWORKS
7663* VxWorks Remote:: @value{GDBN} and VxWorks
7664@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7665@ifset ST2000
18fae2a8
RP
7666* ST2000 Remote:: @value{GDBN} with a Tandem ST2000
7667@end ifset
a64a6c2b
RP
7668@ifset H8
7669* Hitachi Remote:: @value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors
18fae2a8 7670@end ifset
34ae25cd
RP
7671@ifset MIPS
7672* MIPS Remote:: @value{GDBN} and MIPS boards
7673@end ifset
fe715d06
RP
7674@ifset SIMS
7675* Simulator:: Simulated CPU target
18fae2a8
RP
7676@end ifset
7677@end menu
70b88761 7678
4af6d502 7679@include remote.texi
18fae2a8
RP
7680@end ifset
7681
7682@node Controlling GDB
7683@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
70b88761 7684
93918348 7685You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using
18fae2a8 7686the @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
af215b1a
VM
7687data, @pxref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}; other settings are described
7688here.
70b88761
RP
7689
7690@menu
b80282d5 7691* Prompt:: Prompt
ed447b95
RP
7692* Editing:: Command editing
7693* History:: Command history
7694* Screen Size:: Screen size
b80282d5 7695* Numbers:: Numbers
ed447b95 7696* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
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RP
7697@end menu
7698
4eb4cf57 7699@node Prompt
70b88761 7700@section Prompt
af215b1a 7701
70b88761 7702@cindex prompt
1041a570 7703
18fae2a8
RP
7704@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
7705called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
70b88761 7706can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
18fae2a8 7707instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
af215b1a
VM
7708the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
7709which one you are talking to.
7710
7711@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} no longer adds a space for you after the
7712prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
7713or a prompt that does not.
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RP
7714
7715@table @code
70b88761 7716@kindex set prompt
af215b1a 7717@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
18fae2a8 7718Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
af215b1a 7719
70b88761
RP
7720@kindex show prompt
7721@item show prompt
7722Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
7723@end table
7724
4eb4cf57 7725@node Editing
93928b60 7726@section Command editing
70b88761
RP
7727@cindex readline
7728@cindex command line editing
1041a570 7729
18fae2a8 7730@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{readline} interface. This
af215b1a
VM
7731@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
7732command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
7733or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
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RP
7734substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
7735debugging sessions.
7736
18fae2a8 7737You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
e251e767 7738command @code{set}.
70b88761
RP
7739
7740@table @code
7741@kindex set editing
7742@cindex editing
7743@item set editing
7744@itemx set editing on
7745Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
7746
7747@item set editing off
7748Disable command line editing.
7749
7750@kindex show editing
7751@item show editing
7752Show whether command line editing is enabled.
7753@end table
7754
4eb4cf57 7755@node History
ed447b95
RP
7756@section Command history
7757
7758@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
7759debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
7760happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
7761history facility.
1041a570 7762
70b88761
RP
7763@table @code
7764@cindex history substitution
7765@cindex history file
7766@kindex set history filename
9a27b06e 7767@kindex GDBHISTFILE
70b88761 7768@item set history filename @var{fname}
9a27b06e
RP
7769Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
7770This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
7771list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
7772exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
7773the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
7774to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
70b88761
RP
7775@file{./.gdb_history} if this variable is not set.
7776
7777@cindex history save
7778@kindex set history save
7779@item set history save
7780@itemx set history save on
7781Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
7782@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
7783
7784@item set history save off
7785Stop recording command history in a file.
7786
7787@cindex history size
7788@kindex set history size
7789@item set history size @var{size}
9a27b06e 7790Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
70b88761
RP
7791This defaults to the value of the environment variable
7792@code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
7793@end table
7794
7795@cindex history expansion
7796History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
ed447b95 7797@ifset have-readline-appendices
1041a570 7798@xref{Event Designators}.
ed447b95
RP
7799@end ifset
7800
70b88761
RP
7801Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
7802is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
7803@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
7804follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
7805a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
9a27b06e 7806history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
70b88761
RP
7807@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
7808
7809The commands to control history expansion are:
7810
7811@table @code
70b88761
RP
7812@kindex set history expansion
7813@item set history expansion on
7814@itemx set history expansion
7815Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
7816
7817@item set history expansion off
7818Disable history expansion.
7819
7820The readline code comes with more complete documentation of
af215b1a 7821editing and history expansion features. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs
e251e767 7822or @code{vi} may wish to read it.
ed447b95 7823@ifset have-readline-appendices
70b88761 7824@xref{Command Line Editing}.
ed447b95 7825@end ifset
70b88761
RP
7826
7827@c @group
7828@kindex show history
7829@item show history
7830@itemx show history filename
7831@itemx show history save
7832@itemx show history size
7833@itemx show history expansion
18fae2a8 7834These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
70b88761
RP
7835@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
7836@c @end group
70b88761
RP
7837@end table
7838
7839@table @code
7840@kindex show commands
7841@item show commands
7842Display the last ten commands in the command history.
7843
7844@item show commands @var{n}
7845Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
7846
7847@item show commands +
7848Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
70b88761
RP
7849@end table
7850
4eb4cf57 7851@node Screen Size
93928b60 7852@section Screen size
70b88761
RP
7853@cindex size of screen
7854@cindex pauses in output
1041a570 7855
a1eff6c2
RP
7856Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
7857information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
7858@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
7859output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
34ae25cd
RP
7860to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
7861determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
7862printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
70b88761
RP
7863rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
7864
18fae2a8 7865Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the termcap data base
70b88761
RP
7866together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
7867@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
7868you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
7869width} commands:
7870
7871@table @code
70b88761
RP
7872@kindex set height
7873@kindex set width
7874@kindex show width
7875@kindex show height
af215b1a
VM
7876@item set height @var{lpp}
7877@itemx show height
7878@itemx set width @var{cpl}
7879@itemx show width
70b88761
RP
7880These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
7881a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
7882commands display the current settings.
7883
af215b1a
VM
7884If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
7885output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
7886file or to an editor buffer.
d55320a0
RP
7887
7888Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
7889from wrapping its output.
70b88761
RP
7890@end table
7891
4eb4cf57 7892@node Numbers
70b88761
RP
7893@section Numbers
7894@cindex number representation
7895@cindex entering numbers
1041a570 7896
18fae2a8 7897You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in @value{GDBN} by
70b88761
RP
7898the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with @samp{0}, decimal
7899numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers begin with @samp{0x}.
7900Numbers that begin with none of these are, by default, entered in base
790110; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
7902format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
7903both input and output with the @code{set radix} command.
7904
7905@table @code
af215b1a
VM
7906@kindex set input-radix
7907@item set input-radix @var{base}
7908Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
d55320a0 7909for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
70b88761
RP
7910specified either unambiguously or using the current default radix; for
7911example, any of
7912
af215b1a 7913@smallexample
70b88761
RP
7914set radix 012
7915set radix 10.
7916set radix 0xa
af215b1a 7917@end smallexample
70b88761
RP
7918
7919@noindent
9a27b06e
RP
7920sets the base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set radix 10}
7921leaves the radix unchanged no matter what it was.
70b88761 7922
af215b1a
VM
7923@kindex set output-radix
7924@item set output-radix @var{base}
7925Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
7926for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
7927specified either unambiguously or using the current default radix.
7928
7929@kindex show input-radix
7930@item show input-radix
7931Display the current default base for numeric input.
7932
7933@kindex show output-radix
7934@item show output-radix
7935Display the current default base for numeric display.
70b88761
RP
7936@end table
7937
4eb4cf57 7938@node Messages/Warnings
93928b60 7939@section Optional warnings and messages
1041a570 7940
18fae2a8 7941By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are running
70b88761 7942on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose} command.
af215b1a 7943This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy internal operation, so
1041a570 7944you will not think it has crashed.
70b88761 7945
1041a570 7946Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
d48da190 7947which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
93928b60 7948see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}.
70b88761
RP
7949
7950@table @code
7951@kindex set verbose
7952@item set verbose on
93918348 7953Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
70b88761
RP
7954
7955@item set verbose off
93918348 7956Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
70b88761
RP
7957
7958@kindex show verbose
7959@item show verbose
7960Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
7961@end table
7962
18fae2a8 7963By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an object
b80282d5 7964file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may find
93928b60 7965this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors reading symbol files}).
70b88761
RP
7966
7967@table @code
7968@kindex set complaints
7969@item set complaints @var{limit}
18fae2a8 7970Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of unusual
70b88761
RP
7971symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set @var{limit} to
7972zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number to prevent
7973complaints from being suppressed.
7974
7975@kindex show complaints
7976@item show complaints
18fae2a8 7977Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
70b88761
RP
7978@end table
7979
18fae2a8 7980By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
70b88761
RP
7981lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
7982you try to run a program which is already running:
1041a570 7983
70b88761 7984@example
18fae2a8 7985(@value{GDBP}) run
70b88761 7986The program being debugged has been started already.
e251e767 7987Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
70b88761
RP
7988@end example
7989
29a2b744 7990If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
70b88761
RP
7991commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
7992
7993@table @code
7994@kindex set confirm
7995@cindex flinching
7996@cindex confirmation
7997@cindex stupid questions
7998@item set confirm off
7999Disables confirmation requests.
8000
8001@item set confirm on
8002Enables confirmation requests (the default).
8003
70b88761 8004@kindex show confirm
af215b1a 8005@item show confirm
70b88761
RP
8006Displays state of confirmation requests.
8007@end table
8008
4eb4cf57 8009@node Sequences
70b88761
RP
8010@chapter Canned Sequences of Commands
8011
29a2b744 8012Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
93928b60 8013command lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of commands
1041a570 8014for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command files.
70b88761
RP
8015
8016@menu
ed447b95
RP
8017* Define:: User-defined commands
8018* Hooks:: User-defined command hooks
8019* Command Files:: Command files
8020* Output:: Commands for controlled output
70b88761
RP
8021@end menu
8022
4eb4cf57 8023@node Define
ed447b95 8024@section User-defined commands
70b88761
RP
8025
8026@cindex user-defined command
af215b1a
VM
8027A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to which
8028you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the @code{define}
8029command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments separated by whitespace.
8030Arguments are accessed within the user command via @var{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}.
8031A trivial example:
8032
8033@smallexample
8034define adder
8035 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
8036@end smallexample
8037
8038@noindent To execute the command use:
8039
8040@smallexample
8041adder 1 2 3
8042@end smallexample
8043
8044@noindent This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
8045its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
8046reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
8047functions calls.
70b88761
RP
8048
8049@table @code
70b88761 8050@kindex define
af215b1a 8051@item define @var{commandname}
70b88761
RP
8052Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
8053by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
8054
18fae2a8 8055The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
70b88761
RP
8056which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
8057commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
8058
d0b2a91c
PB
8059@kindex if
8060@kindex else
af215b1a 8061@item if
d0b2a91c
PB
8062Takes a single argument, which is an expression to evaluate.
8063It is followed by a series of commands that are executed
8064only if the expression is true (nonzero).
8065There can then optionally be a line @code{else}, followed
8066by a series of commands that are only executed if the expression
8067was false. The end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
8068
d0b2a91c 8069@kindex while
af215b1a
VM
8070@item while
8071The syntax is similar to @code{if}: the command takes a single argument,
d0b2a91c
PB
8072which is an expression to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to
8073execute, one per line, terminated by an @code{end}.
8074The commands are executed repeatedly as long as the expression
8075evaluates to true.
8076
70b88761 8077@kindex document
af215b1a
VM
8078@item document @var{commandname}
8079Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
8080accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
8081defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
8082reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
8083After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
8084@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
70b88761
RP
8085
8086You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
8087documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
8088does not change the documentation.
8089
70b88761 8090@kindex help user-defined
af215b1a 8091@item help user-defined
70b88761
RP
8092List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
8093(if any) for each.
8094
af215b1a 8095@kindex show user
4768ba62
JG
8096@item show user
8097@itemx show user @var{commandname}
18fae2a8 8098Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but not its
70b88761
RP
8099documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
8100definitions for all user-defined commands.
8101@end table
8102
d0b2a91c 8103When user-defined commands are executed, the
70b88761
RP
8104commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
8105stops execution of the user-defined command.
8106
af215b1a
VM
8107If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
8108without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
8109commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
8110messages when used in a user-defined command.
70b88761 8111
35a15d60 8112@node Hooks
93928b60 8113@section User-defined command hooks
35a15d60
JG
8114@cindex command files
8115
8116You may define @emph{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
8117command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
8118command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
8119before that command.
8120
1d7c3357
RP
8121In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
8122(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
8123execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
8124displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
35a15d60 8125
1d7c3357
RP
8126@ifclear BARETARGET
8127For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
8128single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
8129you could define:
35a15d60
JG
8130
8131@example
8132define hook-stop
8133handle SIGALRM nopass
8134end
8135
8136define hook-run
8137handle SIGALRM pass
8138end
8139
8140define hook-continue
8141handle SIGLARM pass
8142end
8143@end example
1d7c3357 8144@end ifclear
35a15d60 8145
1d7c3357
RP
8146You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
8147not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
8148name, e.g. @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
8149@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
8150@c or not?
8151If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
8152@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
8153(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
35a15d60 8154
93918348 8155If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
9a27b06e 8156get a warning from the @code{define} command.
35a15d60 8157
4eb4cf57 8158@node Command Files
93928b60 8159@section Command files
70b88761
RP
8160
8161@cindex command files
af215b1a
VM
8162A command file for @value{GDBN} is a file of lines that are @value{GDBN}
8163commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may also be included.
8164An empty line in a command file does nothing; it does not mean to repeat
8165the last command, as it would from the terminal.
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RP
8166
8167@cindex init file
18fae2a8
RP
8168@cindex @file{@value{GDBINIT}}
8169When you start @value{GDBN}, it automatically executes commands from its
64a01450
JK
8170@dfn{init files}. These are files named @file{@value{GDBINIT}}.
8171@value{GDBN} reads the init file (if any) in your home directory, then
8172processes command line options and operands, and then reads the init
8173file (if any) in the current working directory. This is so the init
8174file in your home directory can set options (such as @code{set
8d43be62 8175complaints}) which affect the processing of the command line options and
64a01450
JK
8176operands. The init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
8177option; @pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing modes}.
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RP
8178
8179@ifset GENERIC
8180@cindex init file name
8181On some configurations of @value{GDBN}, the init file is known by a
8182different name (these are typically environments where a specialized
af215b1a
VM
8183form of @value{GDBN} may need to coexist with other forms,
8184hence a different name
51b65b74
RP
8185for the specialized version's init file). These are the environments
8186with special init file names:
8187
51b65b74 8188@kindex .vxgdbinit
af215b1a 8189@itemize @bullet
51b65b74
RP
8190@item
8191VxWorks (Wind River Systems real-time OS): @samp{.vxgdbinit}
8192
8193@kindex .os68gdbinit
8194@item
8195OS68K (Enea Data Systems real-time OS): @samp{.os68gdbinit}
8196
8197@kindex .esgdbinit
8198@item
8199ES-1800 (Ericsson Telecom AB M68000 emulator): @samp{.esgdbinit}
8200@end itemize
8201@end ifset
8202
8203You can also request the execution of a command file with the
8204@code{source} command:
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8205
8206@table @code
70b88761 8207@kindex source
af215b1a 8208@item source @var{filename}
70b88761
RP
8209Execute the command file @var{filename}.
8210@end table
8211
8212The lines in a command file are executed sequentially. They are not
8213printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates execution
8214of the command file.
8215
8216Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
18fae2a8 8217without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
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RP
8218normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
8219when called from command files.
8220
4eb4cf57 8221@node Output
93928b60 8222@section Commands for controlled output
70b88761
RP
8223
8224During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
18fae2a8 8225@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
70b88761
RP
8226explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
8227describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
8228want.
8229
8230@table @code
70b88761 8231@kindex echo
af215b1a 8232@item echo @var{text}
29a2b744
RP
8233@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
8234@c because it is not in ANSI.
1041a570
RP
8235Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
8236@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
9a27b06e 8237newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
1041a570 8238In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
ed447b95 8239by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
1041a570
RP
8240string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
8241trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
8242To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
8243@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
70b88761
RP
8244
8245A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
8246the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
8247
8248@example
8249echo This is some text\n\
8250which is continued\n\
8251onto several lines.\n
8252@end example
8253
8254produces the same output as
8255
8256@example
8257echo This is some text\n
8258echo which is continued\n
8259echo onto several lines.\n
8260@end example
8261
70b88761 8262@kindex output
af215b1a 8263@item output @var{expression}
70b88761
RP
8264Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
8265newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
af215b1a
VM
8266value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
8267on expressions.
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8268
8269@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
8270Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
ed447b95
RP
8271the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
8272formats}, for more information.
70b88761 8273
70b88761 8274@kindex printf
af215b1a 8275@item printf @var{string}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
70b88761 8276Print the values of the @var{expressions} under the control of
d55320a0
RP
8277@var{string}. The @var{expressions} are separated by commas and may be
8278either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as specified by
8279@var{string}, exactly as if your program were to execute the C
8280subroutine
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RP
8281
8282@example
8283printf (@var{string}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
8284@end example
8285
8286For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
8287
0fd24984 8288@smallexample
70b88761 8289printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
0fd24984 8290@end smallexample
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RP
8291
8292The only backslash-escape sequences that you can use in the format
8293string are the simple ones that consist of backslash followed by a
8294letter.
8295@end table
8296
18fae2a8 8297@ifclear DOSHOST
4eb4cf57 8298@node Emacs
af215b1a 8299@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
70b88761 8300
af215b1a
VM
8301@cindex Emacs
8302@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
8303A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
70b88761 8304edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
18fae2a8 8305@value{GDBN}.
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RP
8306
8307To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
8308executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
18fae2a8 8309@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
70b88761
RP
8310created Emacs buffer.
8311
18fae2a8 8312Using @value{GDBN} under Emacs is just like using @value{GDBN} normally except for two
70b88761
RP
8313things:
8314
8315@itemize @bullet
8316@item
e251e767 8317All ``terminal'' input and output goes through the Emacs buffer.
70b88761
RP
8318@end itemize
8319
18fae2a8 8320This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
70b88761
RP
8321and output done by the program you are debugging.
8322
8323This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
8324commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
8325in this way.
8326
3d3ab540
RP
8327All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
8328with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
8329way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
8330stop.
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RP
8331
8332@itemize @bullet
8333@item
18fae2a8 8334@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
70b88761
RP
8335@end itemize
8336
18fae2a8
RP
8337Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
8338source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
70b88761 8339left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
fe715d06 8340source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
70b88761
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8341and the source.
8342
18fae2a8 8343Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
9a27b06e 8344usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
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8345
8346@quotation
8347@emph{Warning:} If the directory where your program resides is not your
8348current directory, it can be easy to confuse Emacs about the location of
9a27b06e 8349the source files, in which case the auxiliary display buffer does not
18fae2a8
RP
8350appear to show your source. @value{GDBN} can find programs by searching your
8351environment's @code{PATH} variable, so the @value{GDBN} input and output
9a27b06e 8352session proceeds normally; but Emacs does not get enough information
18fae2a8
RP
8353back from @value{GDBN} to locate the source files in this situation. To
8354avoid this problem, either start @value{GDBN} mode from the directory where
b550c03a 8355your program resides, or specify an absolute file name when prompted for the
70b88761
RP
8356@kbd{M-x gdb} argument.
8357
18fae2a8 8358A similar confusion can result if you use the @value{GDBN} @code{file} command to
70b88761 8359switch to debugging a program in some other location, from an existing
18fae2a8 8360@value{GDBN} buffer in Emacs.
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RP
8361@end quotation
8362
8363By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If
18fae2a8 8364you need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you keep
70b88761
RP
8365several configurations around, with different names) you can set the
8366Emacs variable @code{gdb-command-name}; for example,
1041a570 8367
70b88761
RP
8368@example
8369(setq gdb-command-name "mygdb")
8370@end example
1041a570 8371
70b88761
RP
8372@noindent
8373(preceded by @kbd{ESC ESC}, or typed in the @code{*scratch*} buffer, or
9a27b06e 8374in your @file{.emacs} file) makes Emacs call the program named
70b88761
RP
8375``@code{mygdb}'' instead.
8376
18fae2a8 8377In the @value{GDBN} I/O buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
70b88761
RP
8378addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
8379
8380@table @kbd
8381@item C-h m
18fae2a8 8382Describe the features of Emacs' @value{GDBN} Mode.
70b88761
RP
8383
8384@item M-s
18fae2a8 8385Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
70b88761
RP
8386update the display window to show the current file and location.
8387
8388@item M-n
8389Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
18fae2a8 8390calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
70b88761
RP
8391to show the current file and location.
8392
8393@item M-i
18fae2a8 8394Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
70b88761
RP
8395display window accordingly.
8396
8397@item M-x gdb-nexti
18fae2a8 8398Execute to next instruction, using the @value{GDBN} @code{nexti} command; update
70b88761
RP
8399display window accordingly.
8400
8401@item C-c C-f
18fae2a8 8402Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
70b88761
RP
8403@code{finish} command.
8404
8405@item M-c
18fae2a8 8406Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
1041a570 8407command.
203eea5d
RP
8408
8409@emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-p}.
70b88761
RP
8410
8411@item M-u
8412Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
af215b1a 8413(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
18fae2a8 8414like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
203eea5d 8415
1041a570 8416@emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-u}.
70b88761
RP
8417
8418@item M-d
8419Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
18fae2a8 8420@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
203eea5d
RP
8421
8422@emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-d}.
70b88761
RP
8423
8424@item C-x &
8425Read the number where the cursor is positioned, and insert it at the end
18fae2a8 8426of the @value{GDBN} I/O buffer. For example, if you wish to disassemble code
70b88761
RP
8427around an address that was displayed earlier, type @kbd{disassemble};
8428then move the cursor to the address display, and pick up the
e251e767 8429argument for @code{disassemble} by typing @kbd{C-x &}.
70b88761 8430
ed447b95 8431You can customize this further by defining elements of the list
70b88761
RP
8432@code{gdb-print-command}; once it is defined, you can format or
8433otherwise process numbers picked up by @kbd{C-x &} before they are
9a27b06e
RP
8434inserted. A numeric argument to @kbd{C-x &} indicates that you
8435wish special formatting, and also acts as an index to pick an element of the
70b88761
RP
8436list. If the list element is a string, the number to be inserted is
8437formatted using the Emacs function @code{format}; otherwise the number
8438is passed as an argument to the corresponding list element.
70b88761
RP
8439@end table
8440
8441In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x SPC} (@code{gdb-break})
18fae2a8 8442tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
70b88761
RP
8443
8444If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
18fae2a8 8445it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
9a27b06e 8446request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
70b88761
RP
8447the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
8448frame.
8449
8450The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
8451which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
18fae2a8 8452the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
70b88761 8453communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
9a27b06e 8454delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
ed447b95 8455to correspond properly with the code.
70b88761
RP
8456
8457@c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
8458@c if/when v19 does something similar. ---pesch@cygnus.com 19dec1990
8459@ignore
af215b1a
VM
8460@kindex Emacs Epoch environment
8461@kindex Epoch
70b88761
RP
8462@kindex inspect
8463
af215b1a
VM
8464Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
8465called the @code{epoch}
70b88761
RP
8466environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
8467@code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
8468each value is printed in its own window.
8469@end ignore
18fae2a8 8470@end ifclear
70b88761 8471
18fae2a8 8472@ifset LUCID
4eb4cf57 8473@node Energize
18fae2a8 8474@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Energize
6ca72cc6
RP
8475
8476@cindex Energize
8477The Energize Programming System is an integrated development environment
8478that includes a point-and-click interface to many programming tools.
18fae2a8
RP
8479When you use @value{GDBN} in this environment, you can use the standard
8480Energize graphical interface to drive @value{GDBN}; you can also, if you
8481choose, type @value{GDBN} commands as usual in a debugging window. Even if
6ca72cc6 8482you use the graphical interface, the debugging window (which uses Emacs,
af215b1a
VM
8483and resembles the standard @sc{gnu} Emacs interface to
8484@value{GDBN}) displays the
6ca72cc6
RP
8485equivalent commands, so that the history of your debugging session is
8486properly reflected.
8487
18fae2a8 8488When Energize starts up a @value{GDBN} session, it uses one of the
6ca72cc6
RP
8489command-line options @samp{-energize} or @samp{-cadillac} (``cadillac''
8490is the name of the communications protocol used by the Energize system).
18fae2a8 8491This option makes @value{GDBN} run as one of the tools in the Energize Tool
6ca72cc6
RP
8492Set: it sends all output to the Energize kernel, and accept input from
8493it as well.
8494
8495See the user manual for the Energize Programming System for
8496information on how to use the Energize graphical interface and the other
18fae2a8 8497development tools that Energize integrates with @value{GDBN}.
6ca72cc6 8498
18fae2a8 8499@end ifset
4eb4cf57 8500
18fae2a8
RP
8501@node GDB Bugs
8502@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
ed447b95
RP
8503@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
8504@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
70b88761 8505
18fae2a8 8506Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
70b88761
RP
8507
8508Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
8509may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
18fae2a8
RP
8510the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
8511reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
70b88761
RP
8512
8513In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
8514information that enables us to fix the bug.
8515
8516@menu
ed447b95
RP
8517* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
8518* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
70b88761
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8519@end menu
8520
4eb4cf57 8521@node Bug Criteria
93928b60 8522@section Have you found a bug?
ed447b95 8523@cindex bug criteria
70b88761
RP
8524
8525If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
8526
8527@itemize @bullet
0f153e74 8528@cindex fatal signal
1d7c3357
RP
8529@cindex debugger crash
8530@cindex crash of debugger
af215b1a 8531@item
70b88761 8532If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
18fae2a8 8533@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
70b88761 8534
0f153e74 8535@cindex error on valid input
af215b1a 8536@item
18fae2a8 8537If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a bug.
70b88761 8538
ed447b95 8539@cindex invalid input
af215b1a 8540@item
18fae2a8 8541If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
70b88761
RP
8542that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
8543``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
8544for traditional practice''.
8545
8546@item
8547If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
18fae2a8 8548for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
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RP
8549@end itemize
8550
4eb4cf57 8551@node Bug Reporting
93928b60 8552@section How to report bugs
0f153e74 8553@cindex bug reports
18fae2a8 8554@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
70b88761 8555
af215b1a 8556A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
18fae2a8 8557If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
e251e767 8558contact that organization first.
70b88761 8559
ed447b95 8560You can find contact information for many support companies and
af215b1a 8561individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
ed447b95 8562distribution.
70b88761 8563
18fae2a8 8564In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for @value{GDBN} to one
70b88761
RP
8565of these addresses:
8566
8567@example
8568bug-gdb@@prep.ai.mit.edu
8569@{ucbvax|mit-eddie|uunet@}!prep.ai.mit.edu!bug-gdb
8570@end example
8571
8572@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
18fae2a8 8573@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do not want to
af215b1a 8574receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive @samp{bug-gdb}.
70b88761 8575
3d3ab540
RP
8576The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
8577serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
8578the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
8579newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
8580problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
8581path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
8582we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
8583bug reports to the mailing list.
70b88761
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8584
8585As a last resort, send bug reports on paper to:
8586
8587@example
af215b1a 8588@sc{gnu} Debugger Bugs
6c9638b4
FF
8589Free Software Foundation Inc.
859059 Temple Place - Suite 330
8591Boston, MA 02111-1307
8592USA
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RP
8593@end example
8594
8595The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
8596@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
8597fact or leave it out, state it!
8598
8599Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
29a2b744 8600problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
70b88761 8601assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
29a2b744 8602Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
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RP
8603stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
8604name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
8605of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
8606the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
8607easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
8608
8609Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix
af215b1a
VM
8610the bug if it is new to us.
8611@c
8612@c FIX ME!!--What the heck does the following sentence mean,
8613@c in the context of the one above?
8614@c
8615@c It is not as important as what happens if the bug is already known.
8616@c
8617Therefore, always write your bug reports on
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RP
8618the assumption that the bug has not been reported previously.
8619
8620Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
8621bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
8622@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
8623bugs properly.
8624
8625To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
8626
8627@itemize @bullet
8628@item
18fae2a8 8629The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start with no
70b88761
RP
8630arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show version}.
8631
1041a570 8632Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
18fae2a8 8633the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
70b88761
RP
8634
8635@item
ddf21240
JG
8636The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
8637version number.
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8638
8639@item
18fae2a8
RP
8640What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.
8641``@value{GCC}--2.0''.
70b88761 8642
ddf21240
JG
8643@item
8644What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you
18fae2a8 8645are debugging---e.g. ``@value{GCC}--2.0''.
ddf21240 8646
70b88761
RP
8647@item
8648The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
8649observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
1041a570 8650you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
ddf21240 8651Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
70b88761
RP
8652
8653If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
8654and then we might not encounter the bug.
8655
8656@item
ddf21240
JG
8657A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
8658reproduce the bug.
70b88761
RP
8659
8660@item
8661A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
8662incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
8663
18fae2a8 8664Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we will
70b88761 8665certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might not
af215b1a
VM
8666notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us a
8667chance to make a mistake.
70b88761
RP
8668
8669Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
8670say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as,
18fae2a8 8671your copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a
70b88761
RP
8672bug in the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy
8673might crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash,
8674then when ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not
8675happening for us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we
8676would not be able to draw any conclusion from our observations.
8677
8678@item
18fae2a8
RP
8679If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
8680diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
70b88761
RP
8681it by context, not by line number.
8682
1041a570 8683The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
70b88761 8684sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
70b88761
RP
8685@end itemize
8686
8687Here are some things that are not necessary:
8688
8689@itemize @bullet
8690@item
8691A description of the envelope of the bug.
8692
8693Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
8694which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
8695changes will not affect it.
8696
8697This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
8698will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
8699with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
8700We recommend that you save your time for something else.
8701
8702Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
8703of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
8704output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
b1955f0b 8705less time, and so on.
70b88761 8706
29a2b744 8707However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
70b88761
RP
8708report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
8709
8710@item
8711A patch for the bug.
8712
29a2b744 8713A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
70b88761
RP
8714the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
8715a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
8716to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
8717
18fae2a8 8718Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
70b88761 8719construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
1041a570
RP
8720through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
8721to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
70b88761 8722
29a2b744 8723And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
1041a570 8724patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
70b88761
RP
8725help us to understand.
8726
8727@item
8728A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
8729
29a2b744 8730Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
70b88761
RP
8731things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
8732@end itemize
8733
da24340c
RP
8734@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
8735@c and consists of the two following files:
8736@c rluser.texinfo
8737@c inc-hist.texi
8738@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
8739@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
cacf5942
RP
8740@include rluser.texinfo
8741@include inc-hist.texi
70b88761 8742
18fae2a8 8743@ifset NOVEL
af215b1a 8744@ifset RENAMED
4eb4cf57 8745@node Renamed Commands
70b88761
RP
8746@appendix Renamed Commands
8747
af215b1a 8748The following commands were renamed in @value{GDBN} 4, in order to make the
70b88761
RP
8749command set as a whole more consistent and easier to use and remember:
8750
e251e767
RP
8751@kindex add-syms
8752@kindex delete environment
8753@kindex info copying
8754@kindex info convenience
8755@kindex info directories
8756@kindex info editing
8757@kindex info history
8758@kindex info targets
8759@kindex info values
8760@kindex info version
8761@kindex info warranty
8762@kindex set addressprint
8763@kindex set arrayprint
8764@kindex set prettyprint
8765@kindex set screen-height
8766@kindex set screen-width
8767@kindex set unionprint
8768@kindex set vtblprint
8769@kindex set demangle
8770@kindex set asm-demangle
8771@kindex set sevenbit-strings
8772@kindex set array-max
8773@kindex set caution
8774@kindex set history write
8775@kindex show addressprint
8776@kindex show arrayprint
8777@kindex show prettyprint
8778@kindex show screen-height
8779@kindex show screen-width
8780@kindex show unionprint
8781@kindex show vtblprint
8782@kindex show demangle
8783@kindex show asm-demangle
8784@kindex show sevenbit-strings
8785@kindex show array-max
8786@kindex show caution
8787@kindex show history write
8788@kindex unset
70b88761 8789
92b73793 8790@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
70b88761 8791@ifinfo
92b73793 8792@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
cf496415
RP
8793@example
8794OLD COMMAND NEW COMMAND
92b73793 8795@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
cf496415 8796--------------- -------------------------------
92b73793 8797@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
cf496415
RP
8798add-syms add-symbol-file
8799delete environment unset environment
8800info convenience show convenience
8801info copying show copying
e251e767 8802info directories show directories
cf496415
RP
8803info editing show commands
8804info history show values
8805info targets help target
8806info values show values
8807info version show version
8808info warranty show warranty
8809set/show addressprint set/show print address
8810set/show array-max set/show print elements
8811set/show arrayprint set/show print array
8812set/show asm-demangle set/show print asm-demangle
8813set/show caution set/show confirm
8814set/show demangle set/show print demangle
8815set/show history write set/show history save
8816set/show prettyprint set/show print pretty
8817set/show screen-height set/show height
8818set/show screen-width set/show width
8819set/show sevenbit-strings set/show print sevenbit-strings
8820set/show unionprint set/show print union
8821set/show vtblprint set/show print vtbl
8822
8823unset [No longer an alias for delete]
8824@end example
92b73793 8825@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
70b88761
RP
8826@end ifinfo
8827
8828@tex
8829\vskip \parskip\vskip \baselineskip
8830\halign{\tt #\hfil &\qquad#&\tt #\hfil\cr
8831{\bf Old Command} &&{\bf New Command}\cr
8832add-syms &&add-symbol-file\cr
8833delete environment &&unset environment\cr
8834info convenience &&show convenience\cr
8835info copying &&show copying\cr
8836info directories &&show directories \cr
8837info editing &&show commands\cr
8838info history &&show values\cr
8839info targets &&help target\cr
8840info values &&show values\cr
8841info version &&show version\cr
8842info warranty &&show warranty\cr
8843set{\rm / }show addressprint &&set{\rm / }show print address\cr
8844set{\rm / }show array-max &&set{\rm / }show print elements\cr
8845set{\rm / }show arrayprint &&set{\rm / }show print array\cr
8846set{\rm / }show asm-demangle &&set{\rm / }show print asm-demangle\cr
8847set{\rm / }show caution &&set{\rm / }show confirm\cr
8848set{\rm / }show demangle &&set{\rm / }show print demangle\cr
8849set{\rm / }show history write &&set{\rm / }show history save\cr
8850set{\rm / }show prettyprint &&set{\rm / }show print pretty\cr
8851set{\rm / }show screen-height &&set{\rm / }show height\cr
8852set{\rm / }show screen-width &&set{\rm / }show width\cr
8853set{\rm / }show sevenbit-strings &&set{\rm / }show print sevenbit-strings\cr
8854set{\rm / }show unionprint &&set{\rm / }show print union\cr
8855set{\rm / }show vtblprint &&set{\rm / }show print vtbl\cr
8856\cr
8857unset &&\rm(No longer an alias for delete)\cr
8858}
8859@end tex
92b73793 8860@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
18fae2a8 8861@end ifset
af215b1a 8862@end ifset
70b88761 8863
18fae2a8 8864@ifclear PRECONFIGURED
4eb4cf57 8865@node Formatting Documentation
fe715d06 8866@appendix Formatting Documentation
77b46d13 8867
af215b1a 8868@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
77b46d13 8869@cindex reference card
af215b1a 8870The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
d241c8c8 8871for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
ed447b95
RP
8872subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
8873@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
d241c8c8 8874release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
ed447b95 8875you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
77b46d13
JG
8876
8877The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
8878can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
8879
8880@example
8881make refcard.dvi
8882@end example
8883
af215b1a
VM
8884The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
8885mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
8886that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
77b46d13
JG
8887high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
8888your @sc{dvi} output program.
8889
8890@cindex documentation
8891
af215b1a 8892All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
77b46d13
JG
8893distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
8894a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
8895on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
8896formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
8897and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
8898
af215b1a 8899@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info version of
77b46d13 8900this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info file is
af215b1a 8901@file{gdb-@r{version-number}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
a89f94c2
RP
8902subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
8903necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
af215b1a
VM
8904but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu} Emacs
8905or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the @sc{gnu}
a89f94c2 8906Texinfo distribution.
77b46d13
JG
8907
8908If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
8909Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
8910@code{makeinfo}.
8911
af215b1a 8912If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level @value{GDBN}
18fae2a8 8913source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of version @value{GDBVN}), you can
77b46d13
JG
8914make the Info file by typing:
8915
8916@example
8917cd gdb
8918make gdb.info
8919@end example
8920
fe715d06
RP
8921If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
8922a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
8923Texinfo definitions file.
77b46d13 8924
83bfcbae 8925@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
77b46d13
JG
8926produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
8927document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
8928has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
8929command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
fe715d06
RP
8930(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
8931require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
77b46d13
JG
8932
8933@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
8934@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
af215b1a 8935written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
77b46d13
JG
8936typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
8937and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
8938directory.
8939
8940If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
8941typeset and print this manual. First switch to the the @file{gdb}
8942subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
18fae2a8 8943@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and then type:
77b46d13
JG
8944
8945@example
8946make gdb.dvi
8947@end example
8948
4eb4cf57 8949@node Installing GDB
af215b1a
VM
8950@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
8951@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
70b88761
RP
8952@cindex installation
8953
af215b1a
VM
8954@value{GDBN} comes with a @code{configure} script that automates the process
8955of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
ed447b95 8956build the @code{gdb} program.
f672bb7f
RP
8957@iftex
8958@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
af215b1a 8959@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
ed447b95
RP
8960look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
8961installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
f672bb7f
RP
8962@end iftex
8963
af215b1a
VM
8964The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
8965@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
8966appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
1041a570 8967
af215b1a 8968For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
ed447b95 8969@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
b80282d5 8970
3d3ab540 8971@table @code
18fae2a8 8972@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
af215b1a 8973script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
b80282d5 8974
18fae2a8 8975@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
af215b1a 8976the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
3d3ab540 8977
18fae2a8 8978@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
77b46d13 8979source for the Binary File Descriptor library
3d3ab540 8980
18fae2a8 8981@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
af215b1a 8982@sc{gnu} include files
3d3ab540 8983
18fae2a8 8984@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
3d3ab540
RP
8985source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
8986
18fae2a8 8987@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
3214c51c
JG
8988source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
8989
18fae2a8 8990@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
af215b1a 8991source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
77b46d13 8992
18fae2a8 8993@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
af215b1a 8994source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
77b46d13 8995
18fae2a8 8996@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
af215b1a 8997source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
3d3ab540 8998@end table
1041a570 8999
af215b1a 9000The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @code{configure}
1041a570 9001from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
18fae2a8 9002this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
1041a570
RP
9003
9004First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
9005if you are not already in it; then run @code{configure}. Pass the
af215b1a 9006identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
1041a570
RP
9007argument.
9008
9009For example:
9010
7463aadd 9011@example
18fae2a8 9012cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
3d3ab540 9013./configure @var{host}
7463aadd
RP
9014make
9015@end example
1041a570 9016
7463aadd 9017@noindent
1041a570 9018where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
af215b1a 9019@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
d55320a0
RP
9020(You can often leave off @var{host}; @code{configure} tries to guess the
9021correct value by examining your system.)
1041a570 9022
8c69096b 9023Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
38962738
RP
9024@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
9025libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
9026binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
3d3ab540 9027
af215b1a 9028@need 750
e251e767 9029@code{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
29a2b744 9030system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
1041a570
RP
9031shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
9032
9033@example
9034sh configure @var{host}
9035@end example
e251e767 9036
f672bb7f
RP
9037If you run @code{configure} from a directory that contains source
9038directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
18fae2a8 9039@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN}, @code{configure}
f672bb7f 9040creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
98349959 9041you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
f672bb7f
RP
9042
9043You can run the @code{configure} script from any of the
af215b1a 9044subordinate directories in the @value{GDBN} distribution if you only want to
d55320a0 9045configure that subdirectory, but be sure to specify a path to it.
1041a570 9046
18fae2a8 9047For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, type the following to configure only
1041a570
RP
9048the @code{bfd} subdirectory:
9049
e251e767 9050@example
203eea5d 9051@group
18fae2a8 9052cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
e251e767 9053../configure @var{host}
203eea5d 9054@end group
e251e767
RP
9055@end example
9056
18fae2a8 9057You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
1041a570
RP
9058However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
9059the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
af215b1a
VM
9060that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
9061let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
3d3ab540
RP
9062
9063@menu
af215b1a 9064* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
b80282d5
RP
9065* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
9066* configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
3d3ab540
RP
9067@end menu
9068
4eb4cf57 9069@node Separate Objdir
af215b1a 9070@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
1041a570 9071
af215b1a 9072If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
ed447b95 9073you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
1041a570 9074host and target. @code{configure} is designed to make this easy by
f672bb7f
RP
9075allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
9076rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
af215b1a 9077handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
ed447b95 9078@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
f672bb7f 9079program specified there.
b80282d5 9080
c7cb8acb 9081To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @code{configure}
f672bb7f 9082with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
93918348 9083(You also need to specify a path to find @code{configure}
77b46d13
JG
9084itself from your working directory. If the path to @code{configure}
9085would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
9a27b06e 9086the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
1041a570 9087
af215b1a
VM
9088For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
9089separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
70b88761
RP
9090
9091@example
3d3ab540 9092@group
18fae2a8 9093cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
f672bb7f
RP
9094mkdir ../gdb-sun4
9095cd ../gdb-sun4
18fae2a8 9096../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
70b88761 9097make
3d3ab540 9098@end group
70b88761
RP
9099@end example
9100
f672bb7f
RP
9101When @code{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
9102directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
9103(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
9104the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
af215b1a 9105directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
f672bb7f 9106@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
1041a570 9107
af215b1a
VM
9108One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
9109directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
9110@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
9111programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
9112You specify a cross-debugging target by
f672bb7f 9113giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @code{configure}.
c7637ea6 9114
1041a570 9115When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
f672bb7f
RP
9116it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
9117called @code{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
c7637ea6 9118
fe715d06 9119The @code{Makefile} that @code{configure} generates in each source
f672bb7f 9120directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
18fae2a8 9121directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
b550c03a 9122directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
ed447b95 9123will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
3d3ab540 9124
f672bb7f
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9125When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
9126directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
9127if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
9128with each other.
3d3ab540 9129
4eb4cf57 9130@node Config Names
93928b60 9131@section Specifying names for hosts and targets
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9132
9133The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @code{configure}
9134script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
9135aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
e251e767 9136of information in the following pattern:
1041a570 9137
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9138@example
9139@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
9140@end example
9141
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9142For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
9143or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
9144option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
b80282d5 9145
af215b1a 9146The @code{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
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9147any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
9148aliases. @code{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
9149@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
9150script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
9151abbreviations---for example:
1041a570 9152
b1385986 9153@smallexample
b80282d5 9154% sh config.sub sun4
d55320a0 9155sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
b80282d5 9156% sh config.sub sun3
d55320a0 9157m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
b80282d5 9158% sh config.sub decstation
d55320a0 9159mips-dec-ultrix4.2
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9160% sh config.sub hp300bsd
9161m68k-hp-bsd
9162% sh config.sub i386v
6a8cb0e7 9163i386-unknown-sysv
e94b4a2b 9164% sh config.sub i786v
6a8cb0e7 9165Invalid configuration `i786v': machine `i786v' not recognized
b1385986 9166@end smallexample
1041a570 9167
c7637ea6 9168@noindent
af215b1a 9169@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
18fae2a8 9170directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
b80282d5 9171
4eb4cf57 9172@node configure Options
93928b60 9173@section @code{configure} options
7463aadd 9174
d48da190 9175Here is a summary of the @code{configure} options and arguments that
18fae2a8 9176are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @code{configure} also has
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9177several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
9178Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @code{configure}.
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9179
9180@example
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9181configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
9182 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
b550c03a 9183 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
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9184 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
9185 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]} @var{host}
7463aadd 9186@end example
1041a570 9187
3d3ab540 9188@noindent
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9189You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
9190@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
9191@samp{--}.
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9192
9193@table @code
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9194@item --help
9195Display a quick summary of how to invoke @code{configure}.
9196
9197@item -prefix=@var{dir}
9198Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
9199@file{@var{dir}}.
9200
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9201@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
9202@need 2000
b550c03a 9203@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
af215b1a 9204@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
6ca72cc6 9205@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
f672bb7f 9206Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
af215b1a 9207@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
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9208build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
9209directories. @code{configure} writes configuration specific files in
9210the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
b550c03a 9211directory @var{dirname}. @code{configure} creates directories under
f672bb7f 9212the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
b550c03a 9213@var{dirname}.
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9214
9215@item --norecursion
9216Configure only the directory level where @code{configure} is executed; do not
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9217propagate configuration to subdirectories.
9218
f672bb7f 9219@item --rm
d55320a0 9220@emph{Remove} files otherwise built during configuration.
7463aadd 9221
29a2b744 9222@c This does not work (yet if ever). FIXME.
f672bb7f 9223@c @item --parse=@var{lang} @dots{}
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9224@c Configure the @value{GDBN} expression parser to parse the listed languages.
9225@c @samp{all} configures @value{GDBN} for all supported languages. To get a
d7b569d5 9226@c list of all supported languages, omit the argument. Without this
af215b1a 9227@c option, @value{GDBN} is configured to parse all supported languages.
c2bbbb22 9228
f672bb7f 9229@item --target=@var{target}
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9230Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
9231@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
9232programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
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9233
9234There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
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9235
9236@item @var{host} @dots{}
af215b1a 9237Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
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9238
9239There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
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9240@end table
9241
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9242@noindent
9243@code{configure} accepts other options, for compatibility with
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9244configuring other @sc{gnu} tools recursively; but these are the only
9245options that affect @value{GDBN} or its supporting libraries.
18fae2a8 9246@end ifclear
3d3ab540 9247
4eb4cf57 9248@node Index
d2e08421 9249@unnumbered Index
e91b87a3 9250
9251@printindex cp
9252
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9253@tex
9254% I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
9255% meantime:
9256\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
9257\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
9258\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
9259\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
9260\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
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9261\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
9262\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
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9263\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
9264\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
9265\page\colophon
a6d0b6d3 9266% Blame: pesch@cygnus.com, 1991.
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9267@end tex
9268
e91b87a3 9269@contents
9270@bye
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