Keep agentexpr.texi.
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
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29a2b744 1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
d390cad1 2@c Copyright 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
f886dc0f 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!
b90b2ac2 34@set EDITION Fifth
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35
36@c !!set GDB manual's revision date
b90b2ac2 37@set DATE April 1998
29a2b744 38
9c3ad547 39@c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO-2 macros and info-makers to format properly.
29a2b744 40
b7becc8f 41@ifinfo
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42@c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
43@c manuals to an info tree. zoo@cygnus.com is developing this facility.
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44@format
45START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
af215b1a 46* Gdb: (gdb). The @sc{gnu} debugger.
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47END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
48@end format
49@end ifinfo
18fae2a8 50@c
70b88761 51@c
70b88761 52@ifinfo
af215b1a 53This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
70b88761 54
0cb95a9c 55
b90b2ac2 56This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, @value{DATE},
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57of @cite{Debugging with @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger}
58for @value{GDBN} Version @value{GDBVN}.
29a2b744 59
b90b2ac2 60Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
f886dc0f 61Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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62
63Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
64this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
65are preserved on all copies.
66
67@ignore
68Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
69results, provided the printed document carries copying permission
70notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
71(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
72
73@end ignore
74Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
75manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
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76entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
77permission notice identical to this one.
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78
79Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
d55320a0 80into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
70b88761 81@end ifinfo
1041a570 82
70b88761 83@titlepage
18fae2a8 84@title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
af215b1a 85@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
18fae2a8 86@ifclear GENERIC
a64a6c2b 87@subtitle (@value{TARGET})
18fae2a8 88@end ifclear
70b88761 89@sp 1
b90b2ac2 90@subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
0cb95a9c 91@subtitle @value{DATE}
1fe1c717 92@author Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch
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93@page
94@tex
95{\parskip=0pt
18fae2a8 96\hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to bug-gdb\@prep.ai.mit.edu.)\par
ed447b95 97\hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
70b88761 98\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
af215b1a 99\hfill doc\@cygnus.com\par
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100}
101@end tex
102
103@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
b90b2ac2 104Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
f886dc0f 105Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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106@sp 2
107Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
6c9638b4
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10859 Temple Place - Suite 330, @*
109Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA @*
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110Printed copies are available for $20 each. @*
111ISBN 1-882114-11-6 @*
af215b1a 112
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113Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
114this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
115are preserved on all copies.
116
117Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
118manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
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119entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
120permission notice identical to this one.
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121
122Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
d55320a0 123into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
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124@end titlepage
125@page
126
70b88761 127@ifinfo
4eb4cf57 128@node Top
18fae2a8 129@top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
29a2b744 130
af215b1a 131This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
29a2b744 132
b90b2ac2 133This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, @value{DATE}, for @value{GDBN} Version
af215b1a 134@value{GDBVN}.
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135
136@menu
18fae2a8 137* Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
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138@ifclear BARETARGET
139* Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
140@end ifclear
b0157555 141
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142* Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
143* Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
144* Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
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145* Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
146* Stack:: Examining the stack
147* Source:: Examining source files
148* Data:: Examining data
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149@ifclear CONLY
150* Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
151@end ifclear
152@ifset CONLY
1d7c3357 153* C:: C language support
18fae2a8 154@end ifset
1d7c3357 155@c remnant makeinfo bug, blank line needed after two end-ifs?
18fae2a8 156
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157* Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
158* Altering:: Altering execution
93918348 159* GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
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160* Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
161* Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
162* Sequences:: Canned sequences of commands
18fae2a8 163@ifclear DOSHOST
af215b1a 164* Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
18fae2a8 165@end ifclear
b0157555 166
18fae2a8 167* GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
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168* Command Line Editing:: Facilities of the readline library
169* Using History Interactively::
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170@c @ifset NOVEL
171@c * Renamed Commands::
172@c @end ifset
1d7c3357 173@ifclear PRECONFIGURED
af215b1a 174* Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
18fae2a8 175* Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
18fae2a8 176@end ifclear
b0157555 177
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178* Index:: Index
179@end menu
18fae2a8 180@end ifinfo
70b88761 181
4eb4cf57 182@node Summary
18fae2a8 183@unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
70b88761 184
18fae2a8 185The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
70b88761 186going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
1041a570 187program was doing at the moment it crashed.
70b88761 188
18fae2a8 189@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
1041a570 190these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
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191
192@itemize @bullet
193@item
194Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
195
196@item
197Make your program stop on specified conditions.
198
199@item
200Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
201
202@item
203Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
204effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
205@end itemize
206
18fae2a8 207@ifclear CONLY
9934dce8 208You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C or C++.
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209@c "MOD2" used as a "miscellaneous languages" flag here.
210@c This is acceptable while there is no real doc for Chill and Pascal.
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211@ifclear MOD2
212For more information, see @ref{Support,,Supported languages}.
213@end ifclear
214@ifset MOD2
215For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
216
3f73b7c8 217Support for Modula-2 and Chill is partial. For information on Modula-2,
2ae6d007 218see @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}. There is no further documentation on Chill yet.
3f73b7c8 219
b1955f0b 220Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or nested
22b5dba5 221functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
b1955f0b 222entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal syntax.
af215b1a 223
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224@end ifset
225@ifset FORTRAN
11e7b867 226@cindex Fortran
3ff8a96f 227@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
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228it does not yet support entering expressions, printing values, or
229similar features using Fortran syntax. It may be necessary to refer to
230some variables with a trailing underscore.
09934a2b 231@end ifset
18fae2a8 232@end ifclear
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233
234@menu
ed447b95 235* Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
b80282d5 236* Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
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237@end menu
238
4eb4cf57 239@node Free Software
93928b60 240@unnumberedsec Free software
1041a570 241
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242@value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
243General Public License
1041a570 244(GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
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245program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
246freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
247the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
248Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
249Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
250
251Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
29a2b744 252you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
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253from anyone else.
254
4eb4cf57 255@node Contributors
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256@unnumberedsec Contributors to GDB
257
af215b1a 258Richard Stallman was the original author of GDB, and of many other @sc{gnu}
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259programs. Many others have contributed to its development. This
260section attempts to credit major contributors. One of the virtues of
261free software is that everyone is free to contribute to it; with
262regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The file
af215b1a 263@file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a blow-by-blow
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264account.
265
266Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
267
268@quotation
269@emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
93918348 270or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
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271omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
272@end quotation
273
274So that they may not regard their long labor as thankless, we
356bc67b 275particularly thank those who shepherded GDB through major releases:
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276Stan Shebs (release 4.14),
277Fred Fish (releases 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9),
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278Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4),
279John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
280Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
281and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
af215b1a 282As major maintainer of @value{GDBN} for some period, each
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283contributed significantly to the structure, stability, and capabilities
284of the entire debugger.
70b88761 285
6b51acad 286Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
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287Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
288
1d7c3357 289@ifclear CONLY
af215b1a 290Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C++ support in GDB,
70b88761 291with significant additional contributions from Per Bothner. James
af215b1a 292Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C++ demangler. Early work on C++ was by Peter
70b88761 293TerMaat (who also did much general update work leading to release 3.0).
1d7c3357 294@end ifclear
70b88761 295
af215b1a 296@value{GDBN} 4 uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
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297object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
298Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
70b88761 299
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300David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
301the original support for encapsulated COFF.
70b88761 302
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303Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
304
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305Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
306Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
1041a570 307support.
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308Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
309Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
310Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
311David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
312Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
313Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
314Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
315Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
316Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
317Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
318Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
319Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
320Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
321Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
322Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
70b88761 323
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324Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
325libraries.
70b88761 326
af215b1a 327Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree about
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328several machine instruction sets.
329
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330Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
331remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
332contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
333and RDI targets, respectively.
70b88761 334
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335Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
336command-line editing and command history.
70b88761 337
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338Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code,
339@ifset MOD2
340the Modula-2 support,
341@end ifset
342and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
c2bbbb22 343
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344Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
345@ifclear CONLY
346He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C++ overloaded
347symbols.
348@end ifclear
349
a64a6c2b 350Hitachi America, Ltd. sponsored the support for Hitachi microprocessors.
14d01801 351
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352Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
353watchpoints.
354
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355Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
356
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357Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
358
359Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
360nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout GDB.
361
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362Cygnus Solutions has sponsored GDB maintenance and much of its
363development since 1991.
364
18fae2a8 365@ifclear BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 366@node Sample Session
18fae2a8 367@chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
70b88761 368
18fae2a8 369You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
70b88761 370However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
ed447b95 371debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
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372
373@iftex
6ca72cc6 374In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
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375to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
376@end iftex
377
378@c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
379@c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
18fae2a8 380
af215b1a 381One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
70b88761 382processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
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383quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
384definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
70b88761 385session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
29a2b744 386then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
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387same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
388@code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
389procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
390
391@smallexample
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392$ @b{cd gnu/m4}
393$ @b{./m4}
394@b{define(foo,0000)}
70b88761 395
6ca72cc6 396@b{foo}
70b88761 3970000
6ca72cc6 398@b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
70b88761 399
6ca72cc6 400@b{bar}
70b88761 4010000
6ca72cc6 402@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
70b88761 403
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404@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
405@b{baz}
406@b{C-d}
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407m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
408@end smallexample
409
410@noindent
93918348 411Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
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412
413@smallexample
18fae2a8 414$ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
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415@c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
416@c FIXME... format to come out better.
af215b1a 417@value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
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418 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
419 the conditions.
af215b1a 420There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
ed447b95 421 for details.
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422
423@value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1995 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
18fae2a8 424(@value{GDBP})
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425@end smallexample
426
427@noindent
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428@value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
429rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
430We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
431that examples fit in this manual.
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432
433@smallexample
18fae2a8 434(@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
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435@end smallexample
436
e251e767 437@noindent
93918348 438We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
70b88761 439Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
93918348 440@code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
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441@code{break} command.
442
443@smallexample
18fae2a8 444(@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
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445Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
446@end smallexample
447
448@noindent
18fae2a8 449Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
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450control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
451subroutine, the program runs as usual:
452
453@smallexample
18fae2a8 454(@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
e251e767 455Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
6ca72cc6 456@b{define(foo,0000)}
70b88761 457
6ca72cc6 458@b{foo}
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4590000
460@end smallexample
461
462@noindent
18fae2a8 463To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
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464suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
465context where it stops.
466
467@smallexample
6ca72cc6 468@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
70b88761 469
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470Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
471 at builtin.c:879
38962738 472879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
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473@end smallexample
474
475@noindent
476Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
477the next line of the current function.
478
479@smallexample
18fae2a8 480(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
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481882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
482 : nil,
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483@end smallexample
484
485@noindent
486@code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
487by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
488@code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
e251e767 489subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
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490
491@smallexample
18fae2a8 492(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
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493set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
494 at input.c:530
495530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
496@end smallexample
497
498@noindent
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499The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
500suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
501shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
502command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
503in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
504stack frame for each active subroutine.
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505
506@smallexample
18fae2a8 507(@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
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508#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
509 at input.c:530
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510#1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
511 at builtin.c:882
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512#2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
513#3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
514 at macro.c:71
515#4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
516#5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
517@end smallexample
518
519@noindent
9a27b06e 520We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
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521times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
522falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
1041a570 523
70b88761 524@smallexample
18fae2a8 525(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
70b88761 5260x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
18fae2a8 527(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
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5280x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
529def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
18fae2a8 530(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
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RP
531536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
532 : xstrdup(rq);
18fae2a8 533(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
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534538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
535@end smallexample
536
537@noindent
93918348 538The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
70b88761 539@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
93918348 540and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
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541(@code{print}) to see their values.
542
543@smallexample
18fae2a8 544(@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
70b88761 545$1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
18fae2a8 546(@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
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547$2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
548@end smallexample
549
550@noindent
551@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
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552To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
553surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
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554
555@smallexample
18fae2a8 556(@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
70b88761 557533 xfree(rquote);
e251e767 558534
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RP
559535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
560 : xstrdup (lq);
561536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
562 : xstrdup (rq);
e251e767 563537
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564538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
565539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
566540 @}
e251e767 567541
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568542 void
569@end smallexample
570
571@noindent
93918348 572Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
70b88761
RP
573@code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
574
575@smallexample
18fae2a8 576(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
70b88761 577539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
18fae2a8 578(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
70b88761 579540 @}
18fae2a8 580(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
70b88761 581$3 = 9
18fae2a8 582(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
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RP
583$4 = 7
584@end smallexample
585
586@noindent
587That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
588@code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
93918348
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589@code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
590the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
70b88761 591any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
e251e767 592assignments.
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593
594@smallexample
18fae2a8 595(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
70b88761 596$5 = 7
18fae2a8 597(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
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598$6 = 9
599@end smallexample
600
601@noindent
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602Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
603@code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
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604executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
605example that caused trouble initially:
606
607@smallexample
18fae2a8 608(@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
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609Continuing.
610
6ca72cc6 611@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
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612
613baz
6140000
615@end smallexample
616
617@noindent
618Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
619problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
93918348 620lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
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621
622@smallexample
6ca72cc6 623@b{C-d}
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624Program exited normally.
625@end smallexample
626
e251e767 627@noindent
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RP
628The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
629indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
630session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
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631
632@smallexample
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RP
633(@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
634@end smallexample
635@end ifclear
70b88761 636
4eb4cf57 637@node Invocation
18fae2a8 638@chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
70b88761 639
18fae2a8 640This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
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641The essentials are:
642@itemize @bullet
643@item
644type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start GDB.
645@item
646type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{C-d} to exit.
647@end itemize
29a2b744 648
70b88761 649@menu
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650* Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
651* Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
ed447b95 652* Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
70b88761 653@end menu
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RP
654
655@node Invoking GDB
ed447b95 656@section Invoking @value{GDBN}
18fae2a8 657
a64a6c2b 658@ifset H8EXCLUSIVE
18fae2a8 659For details on starting up @value{GDBP} as a
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RP
660remote debugger attached to a Hitachi microprocessor, see @ref{Hitachi
661Remote,,@value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors}.
18fae2a8 662@end ifset
4eb4cf57 663
ed447b95 664Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
18fae2a8 665@value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
70b88761 666
18fae2a8 667You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
c7cb8acb
RP
668to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
669
18fae2a8 670@ifset GENERIC
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671The command-line options described here are designed
672to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
673options may effectively be unavailable.
18fae2a8 674@end ifset
c7cb8acb 675
18fae2a8 676The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
4eb4cf57 677specifying an executable program:
1041a570 678
70b88761 679@example
18fae2a8 680@value{GDBP} @var{program}
70b88761 681@end example
1041a570 682
18fae2a8 683@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761 684@noindent
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685You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
686specified:
1041a570 687
70b88761 688@example
18fae2a8 689@value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
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690@end example
691
b80282d5
RP
692You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
693to debug a running process:
1041a570 694
b80282d5 695@example
18fae2a8 696@value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
b80282d5 697@end example
1041a570 698
b80282d5 699@noindent
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RP
700would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
701named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
b80282d5 702
c7cb8acb 703Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
18fae2a8 704complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote debugger
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RP
705attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of ``process'',
706and there is often no way to get a core dump.
18fae2a8 707@end ifclear
c7cb8acb 708
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709You can run @code{gdb} without printing the front material, which describes
710@value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
711
712@smallexample
713@value{GDBP} @var{-silent}
714@end smallexample
715
70b88761 716@noindent
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RP
717You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
718options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
29a2b744
RP
719
720@noindent
721Type
722
70b88761 723@example
18fae2a8 724@value{GDBP} -help
70b88761 725@end example
29a2b744 726
70b88761 727@noindent
29a2b744 728to display all available options and briefly describe their use
18fae2a8 729(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
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RP
730
731All options and command line arguments you give are processed
732in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
e251e767 733@samp{-x} option is used.
70b88761 734
18fae2a8 735
70b88761 736@menu
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RP
737@ifclear GENERIC
738@ifset REMOTESTUB
739* Remote Serial:: @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol
740@end ifset
a64a6c2b 741@ifset I960
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RP
742* i960-Nindy Remote:: @value{GDBN} with a remote i960 (Nindy)
743@end ifset
a64a6c2b 744@ifset AMD29K
b1955f0b
RP
745* UDI29K Remote:: The UDI protocol for AMD29K
746* EB29K Remote:: The EBMON protocol for AMD29K
18fae2a8
RP
747@end ifset
748@ifset VXWORKS
749* VxWorks Remote:: @value{GDBN} and VxWorks
750@end ifset
a64a6c2b 751@ifset ST2000
18fae2a8
RP
752* ST2000 Remote:: @value{GDBN} with a Tandem ST2000
753@end ifset
a64a6c2b
RP
754@ifset H8
755* Hitachi Remote:: @value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors
18fae2a8 756@end ifset
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RP
757@ifset MIPS
758* MIPS Remote:: @value{GDBN} and MIPS boards
759@end ifset
146ff252
DE
760@ifset SPARCLET
761* Sparclet Remote:: @value{GDBN} and Sparclet boards
762@end ifset
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RP
763@ifset SIMS
764* Simulator:: Simulated CPU target
18fae2a8
RP
765@end ifset
766@end ifclear
1d7c3357 767@c remnant makeinfo bug requires this blank line after *two* end-ifblahs:
18fae2a8 768
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RP
769* File Options:: Choosing files
770* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
18fae2a8 771@end menu
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RP
772
773@ifclear GENERIC
4af6d502 774@include remote.texi
18fae2a8 775@end ifclear
4eb4cf57
RP
776
777@node File Options
93928b60 778@subsection Choosing files
70b88761 779
18fae2a8
RP
780@ifclear BARETARGET
781When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
29a2b744
RP
782specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
783the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
18fae2a8 784@samp{-c} options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the first argument
29a2b744
RP
785that does not have an associated option flag as equivalent to the
786@samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the second argument
787that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as equivalent to
788the @samp{-c} option followed by that argument.)
18fae2a8
RP
789@end ifclear
790@ifset BARETARGET
791When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any argument other than options as
4eb4cf57
RP
792specifying an executable file. This is the same as if the argument was
793specified by the @samp{-se} option.
18fae2a8 794@end ifset
29a2b744
RP
795
796Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
18fae2a8 797following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
29a2b744
RP
798them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
799(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
800than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
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801
802@table @code
6b51acad 803@item -symbols @var{file}
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RP
804@itemx -s @var{file}
805Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
806
6b51acad 807@item -exec @var{file}
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RP
808@itemx -e @var{file}
809Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
1d7c3357
RP
810@ifset BARETARGET
811appropriate.
812@end ifset
813@ifclear BARETARGET
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RP
814appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
815dump.
1d7c3357 816@end ifclear
70b88761 817
6b51acad 818@item -se @var{file}
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RP
819Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
820file.
821
18fae2a8 822@ifclear BARETARGET
6b51acad 823@item -core @var{file}
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824@itemx -c @var{file}
825Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
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RP
826
827@item -c @var{number}
828Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command
829(unless there is a file in core-dump format named @var{number}, in which
830case @samp{-c} specifies that file as a core dump to read).
18fae2a8 831@end ifclear
70b88761 832
6b51acad 833@item -command @var{file}
70b88761 834@itemx -x @var{file}
93928b60
RP
835Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
836Files,, Command files}.
70b88761 837
6b51acad 838@item -directory @var{directory}
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RP
839@itemx -d @var{directory}
840Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
14d01801 841
18fae2a8 842@ifclear BARETARGET
14d01801
RP
843@item -m
844@itemx -mapped
845@emph{Warning: this option depends on operating system facilities that are not
846supported on all systems.}@*
77b46d13
JG
847If memory-mapped files are available on your system through the @code{mmap}
848system call, you can use this option
18fae2a8 849to have @value{GDBN} write the symbols from your
77b46d13 850program into a reusable file in the current directory. If the program you are debugging is
9a27b06e
RP
851called @file{/tmp/fred}, the mapped symbol file is @file{./fred.syms}.
852Future @value{GDBN} debugging sessions notice the presence of this file,
853and can quickly map in symbol information from it, rather than reading
77b46d13
JG
854the symbol table from the executable program.
855
1d7c3357
RP
856The @file{.syms} file is specific to the host machine where @value{GDBN}
857is run. It holds an exact image of the internal @value{GDBN} symbol
858table. It cannot be shared across multiple host platforms.
18fae2a8 859@end ifclear
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JG
860
861@item -r
862@itemx -readnow
863Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
864the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
865This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
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866@end table
867
18fae2a8 868@ifclear BARETARGET
93918348
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869The @code{-mapped} and @code{-readnow} options are typically combined in
870order to build a @file{.syms} file that contains complete symbol
93928b60 871information. (@xref{Files,,Commands to specify files}, for information
af215b1a 872
93918348 873a @file{.syms} file for future use is:
77b46d13
JG
874
875@example
876 gdb -batch -nx -mapped -readnow programname
877@end example
18fae2a8 878@end ifclear
77b46d13 879
4eb4cf57 880@node Mode Options
93928b60 881@subsection Choosing modes
1041a570 882
18fae2a8 883You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
29a2b744 884batch mode or quiet mode.
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885
886@table @code
887@item -nx
888@itemx -n
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889Do not execute commands from any initialization files (normally called
890@file{@value{GDBINIT}}). Normally, the commands in these files are
891executed after all the command options and arguments have been
892processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command files}.
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893
894@item -quiet
895@itemx -q
896``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
c338a2fd 897messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
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898
899@item -batch
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900Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
901command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
902initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
903nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
904in the command files.
70b88761 905
18fae2a8 906Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
70b88761 907download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
e251e767 908more useful, the message
1041a570 909
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910@example
911Program exited normally.
912@end example
1041a570 913
70b88761 914@noindent
18fae2a8 915(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
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916terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
917
6b51acad 918@item -cd @var{directory}
18fae2a8 919Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
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920instead of the current directory.
921
18fae2a8 922@ifset LUCID
45c53080 923@item -context @var{authentication}
18fae2a8 924When the Energize programming system starts up @value{GDBN}, it uses this
6ca72cc6 925option to trigger an alternate mode of interaction.
18fae2a8 926@var{authentication} is a pair of numeric codes that identify @value{GDBN}
6ca72cc6 927as a client in the Energize environment. Avoid this option when you run
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RP
928@value{GDBN} directly from the command line. See @ref{Energize,,Using
929@value{GDBN} with Energize} for more discussion of using @value{GDBN} with Energize.
930@end ifset
6ca72cc6 931
1d7c3357 932@ifclear DOSHOST
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933@item -fullname
934@itemx -f
af215b1a 935@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN}
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936to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
937recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
29a2b744 938includes each time your program stops). This recognizable format looks
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939like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
940and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
18fae2a8 941Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032} characters as
70b88761 942a signal to display the source code for the frame.
1d7c3357 943@end ifclear
70b88761 944
18fae2a8 945@ifset SERIAL
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946@item -b @var{bps}
947Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
18fae2a8 948interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
70b88761 949
6b51acad 950@item -tty @var{device}
70b88761 951Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
29a2b744 952@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
18fae2a8 953@end ifset
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954@end table
955
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956@node Quitting GDB
957@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
18fae2a8 958@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
ed447b95 959@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1041a570 960
70b88761 961@table @code
f94cadf9 962@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
70b88761 963@kindex q
af215b1a
VM
964@item quit
965To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated @code{q}), or
f94cadf9
SS
966type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{C-d}). If you do not supply
967@var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally; otherwise it will
968terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the error code.
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969@end table
970
971@cindex interrupt
9a27b06e
RP
972An interrupt (often @kbd{C-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
973terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
974returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
18fae2a8 975character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
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976until a time when it is safe.
977
18fae2a8 978@ifclear BARETARGET
ed447b95
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979If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
980device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
93928b60 981(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an already-running process}).
18fae2a8 982@end ifclear
70b88761 983
4eb4cf57 984@node Shell Commands
93928b60 985@section Shell commands
1041a570 986
70b88761 987If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
18fae2a8 988debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
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989just use the @code{shell} command.
990
991@table @code
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992@kindex shell
993@cindex shell escape
af215b1a 994@item shell @var{command string}
75f844cc 995Invoke a the standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
a1eff6c2 996@ifclear DOSHOST
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RP
997If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
998shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses @code{/bin/sh}.
a1eff6c2 999@end ifclear
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1000@end table
1001
1002The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
a1eff6c2
RP
1003You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1004@value{GDBN}:
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1005
1006@table @code
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1007@kindex make
1008@cindex calling make
af215b1a 1009@item make @var{make-args}
a1eff6c2 1010Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
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1011arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1012@end table
1013
4eb4cf57 1014@node Commands
18fae2a8 1015@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
70b88761 1016
18fae2a8 1017You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
6f3ec223 1018name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
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RP
1019@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1020key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
93918348 1021show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
29a2b744 1022
70b88761 1023@menu
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1024* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1025* Completion:: Command completion
1026* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
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RP
1027@end menu
1028
4eb4cf57 1029@node Command Syntax
93928b60 1030@section Command syntax
1041a570 1031
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RP
1032A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1033how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1034arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1035command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1036step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1037with no arguments. Some command names do not allow any arguments.
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1038
1039@cindex abbreviation
18fae2a8 1040@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
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RP
1041unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1042documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1043abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1044equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1045names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
7463aadd 1046arguments to the @code{help} command.
70b88761 1047
e251e767 1048@cindex repeating commands
70b88761 1049@kindex RET
18fae2a8 1050A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
70b88761 1051repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
9a27b06e 1052will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
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1053repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1054repeat.
1055
1056The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1057@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1058exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1059
18fae2a8 1060@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
b80282d5 1061output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
93928b60
RP
1062(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen size}). Since it is easy to press one
1063@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1064repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
b80282d5 1065
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1066@kindex #
1067@cindex comment
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1068Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1069nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1070Files,,Command files}).
70b88761 1071
4eb4cf57 1072@node Completion
93928b60 1073@section Command completion
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RP
1074
1075@cindex completion
1076@cindex word completion
93918348 1077@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
6f3ec223 1078only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
18fae2a8
RP
1079are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1080commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
6f3ec223 1081
18fae2a8 1082Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
9a27b06e
RP
1083of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1084word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
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RP
1085enter it). For example, if you type
1086
93918348 1087@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
0fdc6e27
RP
1088@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1089@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1090@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
6f3ec223 1091@example
18fae2a8 1092(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
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RP
1093@end example
1094
1095@noindent
93918348 1096@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
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RP
1097the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1098
1099@example
18fae2a8 1100(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
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RP
1101@end example
1102
1103@noindent
1104You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1105breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
93918348 1106@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
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RP
1107were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1108might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1109to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1110
1111If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
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RP
1112@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1113characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1114@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
6f3ec223 1115example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
18fae2a8 1116begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
9a27b06e 1117just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
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1118function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1119example:
1120
1121@example
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RP
1122(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1123@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
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1124make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1125make_abs_section make_function_type
1126make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1127make_cleanup make_reference_type
1128make_command make_symbol_completion_list
18fae2a8 1129(@value{GDBP}) b make_
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RP
1130@end example
1131
1132@noindent
18fae2a8 1133After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
b1385986 1134partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
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1135command.
1136
1137If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
b1385986 1138can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
0f153e74 1139means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this
18fae2a8 1140@ifclear DOSHOST
0f153e74 1141either by holding down a
b1385986 1142key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
0f153e74 1143one) while typing @kbd{?}, or
18fae2a8 1144@end ifclear
0f153e74 1145as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
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1146
1147@cindex quotes in commands
1148@cindex completion of quoted strings
1149Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
18fae2a8 1150parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from its
6f3ec223 1151notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this situation,
18fae2a8 1152you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in @value{GDBN} commands.
6f3ec223 1153
1d7c3357 1154@ifclear CONLY
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1155The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1156name of a C++ function. This is because C++ allows function overloading
1157(multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished by argument
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RP
1158type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you may need to
1159distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name} that takes an
1160@code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version that takes a
1161@code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the word-completion
1162facilities in this situation, type a single quote @code{'} at the
18fae2a8 1163beginning of the function name. This alerts @value{GDBN} that it may need to
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RP
1164consider more information than usual when you press @key{TAB} or
1165@kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
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RP
1166
1167@example
18fae2a8 1168(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @key{M-?}
0fdc6e27 1169bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
18fae2a8 1170(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
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RP
1171@end example
1172
9a27b06e
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1173In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1174quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
0fdc6e27
RP
1175completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1176place:
1177
1178@example
18fae2a8
RP
1179(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1180@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1181(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
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RP
1182@end example
1183
1184@noindent
18fae2a8 1185In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
0fdc6e27
RP
1186you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1187completion on an overloaded symbol.
1d7c3357 1188@end ifclear
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1189
1190
4eb4cf57 1191@node Help
93928b60 1192@section Getting help
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1193@cindex online documentation
1194@kindex help
1041a570 1195
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VM
1196You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1197using the command @code{help}.
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1198
1199@table @code
af215b1a 1200@kindex h
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1201@item help
1202@itemx h
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1203You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1204display a short list of named classes of commands:
1041a570 1205
70b88761 1206@smallexample
18fae2a8 1207(@value{GDBP}) help
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RP
1208List of classes of commands:
1209
1210running -- Running the program
1211stack -- Examining the stack
1212data -- Examining data
1213breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1214files -- Specifying and examining files
1215status -- Status inquiries
1216support -- Support facilities
1217user-defined -- User-defined commands
1218aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1219obscure -- Obscure features
1220
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RP
1221Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1222commands in that class.
1223Type "help" followed by command name for full
1224documentation.
70b88761 1225Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
18fae2a8 1226(@value{GDBP})
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RP
1227@end smallexample
1228
1229@item help @var{class}
1230Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1231list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1232help display for the class @code{status}:
1041a570 1233
70b88761 1234@smallexample
18fae2a8 1235(@value{GDBP}) help status
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RP
1236Status inquiries.
1237
1238List of commands:
1239
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1240@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1241@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1242show -- Generic command for showing things set
1243 with "set"
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1244info -- Generic command for printing status
1245
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RP
1246Type "help" followed by command name for full
1247documentation.
70b88761 1248Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
18fae2a8 1249(@value{GDBP})
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1250@end smallexample
1251
1252@item help @var{command}
9a27b06e 1253With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
e251e767 1254short paragraph on how to use that command.
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VM
1255
1256@kindex complete
1257@item complete @var{args}
1258The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1259for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1260command you want completed. For example:
1261
1262@smallexample
1263complete i
1264@end smallexample
1265
1266@noindent results in:
1267
1268@smallexample
1269info
1270inspect
1271ignore
1272@end smallexample
1273
1274@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
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1275@end table
1276
18fae2a8 1277In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
70b88761 1278and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
18fae2a8 1279of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
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RP
1280manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1281under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
29a2b744 1282all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
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1283
1284@c @group
1285@table @code
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1286@kindex info
1287@kindex i
af215b1a 1288@item info
70b88761 1289This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
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RP
1290program. For example, you can list the arguments given to your program
1291with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1292registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
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1293You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1294@w{@code{help info}}.
1295
af215b1a
VM
1296@kindex set
1297@item set
1298You can assign the result of an expresson to an environment variable with
1299@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1300@code{set prompt $}.
1301
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1302@kindex show
1303@item show
af215b1a
VM
1304In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1305@value{GDBN} itself.
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RP
1306You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1307related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1308system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
e251e767 1309which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
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RP
1310
1311@kindex info set
1312To display all the settable parameters and their current
1313values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1314@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1315@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1316@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1317@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1318@end table
1319@c @end group
1320
1321Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1322exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1323
1324@table @code
1325@kindex show version
3d3ab540 1326@cindex version number
70b88761 1327@item show version
18fae2a8
RP
1328Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1329information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of @value{GDBN} are in
ed447b95 1330use at your site, you may occasionally want to determine which version
18fae2a8 1331of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new commands are introduced,
1041a570 1332and old ones may wither away. The version number is also announced
d55320a0 1333when you start @value{GDBN}.
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1334
1335@kindex show copying
1336@item show copying
18fae2a8 1337Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
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1338
1339@kindex show warranty
1340@item show warranty
af215b1a 1341Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement.
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1342@end table
1343
4eb4cf57 1344@node Running
18fae2a8 1345@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
70b88761 1346
ed447b95 1347When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1d7c3357 1348debugging information when you compile it.
18fae2a8 1349@ifclear BARETARGET
af215b1a
VM
1350You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1351of your choice. You may redirect your program's input and output, debug an
1d7c3357 1352already running process, or kill a child process.
18fae2a8 1353@end ifclear
18fae2a8 1354
18fae2a8 1355@menu
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1356* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1357* Starting:: Starting your program
1d7c3357 1358@ifclear BARETARGET
ed447b95
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1359* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1360* Environment:: Your program's environment
1361* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1362* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1363* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1364* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1365* Process Information:: Additional process information
0cb95a9c 1366* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1b0c5a4f 1367* Processes:: Debugging programs with multiple processes
18fae2a8 1368@end ifclear
18fae2a8 1369@end menu
70b88761 1370
4eb4cf57 1371@node Compilation
93928b60 1372@section Compiling for debugging
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RP
1373
1374In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1375debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1376is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1377variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1378and addresses in the executable code.
1379
1380To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1381the compiler.
1382
1383Many C compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O}
1384options together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1385executables containing debugging information.
1386
af215b1a 1387@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or without
c7cb8acb
RP
1388@samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We recommend
1389that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a program.
1390You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense in pushing
1391your luck.
70b88761 1392
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RP
1393@cindex optimized code, debugging
1394@cindex debugging optimized code
1395When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9a27b06e 1396optimizer is rearranging your code; the debugger shows you what is
93918348 1397really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
6ca72cc6 1398exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9a27b06e 1399variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
6ca72cc6
RP
1400variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
1401
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1402Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
1403@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
1404doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
af215b1a 1405please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
70b88761 1406
af215b1a 1407Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
18fae2a8 1408@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
af215b1a 1409format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
70b88761 1410
d55320a0 1411@need 2000
4eb4cf57 1412@node Starting
93928b60 1413@section Starting your program
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1414@cindex starting
1415@cindex running
1041a570 1416
70b88761 1417@table @code
af215b1a 1418@kindex run
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1419@item run
1420@itemx r
18fae2a8 1421Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}. You must
1041a570 1422first specify the program name
18fae2a8 1423@ifset VXWORKS
7463aadd 1424(except on VxWorks)
18fae2a8 1425@end ifset
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RP
1426with an argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and
1427Out of @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file}
93928b60 1428command (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
1041a570 1429
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1430@end table
1431
18fae2a8 1432@ifclear BARETARGET
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1433If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1434supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1435that process run your program. (In environments without processes,
1436@code{run} jumps to the start of your program.)
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1437
1438The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
18fae2a8 1439receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
6ca72cc6 1440information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
9a27b06e 1441can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
29a2b744 1442your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
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1443divided into four categories:
1444
1445@table @asis
6ca72cc6 1446@item The @emph{arguments.}
29a2b744 1447Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1041a570
RP
1448@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1449is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1450(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1451the arguments. In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used
1452with the @code{SHELL} environment variable. @xref{Arguments, ,Your
93928b60 1453program's arguments}.
70b88761 1454
6ca72cc6 1455@item The @emph{environment.}
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RP
1456Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1457use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
9a27b06e 1458environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
93928b60 1459your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your program's environment}.
70b88761 1460
6ca72cc6 1461@item The @emph{working directory.}
18fae2a8 1462Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
93918348 1463the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
93928b60 1464@xref{Working Directory, ,Your program's working directory}.
70b88761 1465
6ca72cc6 1466@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
70b88761 1467Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
18fae2a8 1468standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
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1469in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1470set a different device for your program.
93928b60 1471@xref{Input/Output, ,Your program's input and output}.
3d3ab540
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1472
1473@cindex pipes
29a2b744
RP
1474@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1475pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
18fae2a8 1476program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
3d3ab540 1477wrong program.
70b88761 1478@end table
18fae2a8 1479@end ifclear
70b88761 1480
1041a570 1481When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
93928b60 1482immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and continuing}, for discussion
4eb4cf57 1483of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
6b51acad 1484stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
4eb4cf57 1485or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
70b88761 1486
9a27b06e
RP
1487If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1488time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1489table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1490your current breakpoints.
70b88761 1491
18fae2a8 1492@ifclear BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 1493@node Arguments
93928b60 1494@section Your program's arguments
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1495
1496@cindex arguments (to your program)
1497The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
1498@code{run} command. They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard
29a2b744 1499characters and performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program.
34ae25cd 1500Your @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what
ac74588e
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1501shell @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
1502@value{GDBN} uses @code{/bin/sh}.
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1503
1504@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
1505@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
1506
1507@kindex set args
1508@table @code
1509@item set args
1510Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
9a27b06e 1511@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
e251e767 1512with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
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1513using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
1514it again without arguments.
1515
70b88761 1516@kindex show args
af215b1a 1517@item show args
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1518Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
1519@end table
1520
4eb4cf57 1521@node Environment
93928b60 1522@section Your program's environment
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1523
1524@cindex environment (of your program)
1525The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
1526their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
1527your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
1528path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
1529the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
29a2b744 1530debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
18fae2a8 1531environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
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1532
1533@table @code
70b88761 1534@kindex path
af215b1a 1535@item path @var{directory}
70b88761 1536Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
18fae2a8 1537(the search path for executables), for both @value{GDBN} and your program.
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1538You may specify several directory names, separated by @samp{:} or
1539whitespace. If @var{directory} is already in the path, it is moved to
9a27b06e 1540the front, so it is searched sooner.
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1541
1542You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
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1543working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
1544use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
1545@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
1546@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
1547@var{directory} to the search path.
29a2b744 1548@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
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1549@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
1550
70b88761 1551@kindex show paths
af215b1a 1552@item show paths
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1553Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
1554environment variable).
1555
70b88761 1556@kindex show environment
af215b1a 1557@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
70b88761 1558Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
29a2b744 1559your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
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1560print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
1561your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
1562
70b88761 1563@kindex set environment
af215b1a 1564@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@r{]} @var{value}
ed447b95 1565Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
18fae2a8 1566changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
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1567be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
1568any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
1569parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
1570null value.
29a2b744 1571@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
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1572@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
1573
1574For example, this command:
1575
1576@example
1577set env USER = foo
1578@end example
1579
1580@noindent
1581tells a Unix program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
1582@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
1583are not actually required.)
1584
70b88761 1585@kindex unset environment
af215b1a 1586@item unset environment @var{varname}
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1587Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
1588program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
1589@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
e251e767 1590rather than assigning it an empty value.
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1591@end table
1592
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1593@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} runs your program using the shell indicated
1594by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
1595@code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
1596that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
9a27b06e 1597@file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
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1598your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
1599files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
1600@file{.profile}.
562a18b2 1601
4eb4cf57 1602@node Working Directory
93928b60 1603@section Your program's working directory
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1604
1605@cindex working directory (of your program)
1606Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
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1607working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
1608The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
1609from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
1610working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
70b88761 1611
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1612The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
1613that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
93928b60 1614specify files}.
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1615
1616@table @code
70b88761 1617@kindex cd
af215b1a 1618@item cd @var{directory}
93918348 1619Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
70b88761 1620
70b88761 1621@kindex pwd
af215b1a 1622@item pwd
93918348 1623Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
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1624@end table
1625
4eb4cf57 1626@node Input/Output
93928b60 1627@section Your program's input and output
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1628
1629@cindex redirection
1630@cindex i/o
1631@cindex terminal
18fae2a8 1632By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
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1633the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
1634to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
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1635modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
1636running your program.
1637
1638@table @code
70b88761 1639@kindex info terminal
af215b1a 1640@item info terminal
93918348 1641Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
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1642program is using.
1643@end table
1644
29a2b744 1645You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
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1646redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
1647
18fae2a8 1648@example
70b88761 1649run > outfile
18fae2a8 1650@end example
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1651
1652@noindent
29a2b744 1653starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
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1654
1655@kindex tty
1656@cindex controlling terminal
29a2b744 1657Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
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1658with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
1659argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
1660commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
1661process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
1662
1663@example
1664tty /dev/ttyb
1665@end example
1666
1667@noindent
1668directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
1669default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
1670that as their controlling terminal.
1671
1672An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
1673effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
1674terminal.
1675
1676When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
1677command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
18fae2a8 1678for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal.
70b88761 1679
4eb4cf57 1680@node Attach
93928b60 1681@section Debugging an already-running process
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1682@kindex attach
1683@cindex attach
1684
1685@table @code
1686@item attach @var{process-id}
1d7c3357 1687This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
9a27b06e 1688outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
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1689targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
1690find out the process-id of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
1691or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
70b88761 1692
9a27b06e 1693@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
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1694executing the command.
1695@end table
1696
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1697To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
1698which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
1699programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
1700also have permission to send the process a signal.
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1701
1702When using @code{attach}, you should first use the @code{file} command
1703to specify the program running in the process and load its symbol table.
29a2b744 1704@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
70b88761 1705
18fae2a8 1706The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
70b88761 1707process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
18fae2a8 1708with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when you start
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1709processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you can step and
1710continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the process
1711continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
18fae2a8 1712attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
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1713
1714@table @code
70b88761 1715@kindex detach
af215b1a 1716@item detach
70b88761 1717When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
93918348 1718@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
70b88761 1719the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
18fae2a8 1720that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
70b88761 1721are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
9a27b06e 1722@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
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1723executing the command.
1724@end table
1725
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RP
1726If you exit @value{GDBN} or use the @code{run} command while you have an
1727attached process, you kill that process. By default, @value{GDBN} asks
1728for confirmation if you try to do either of these things; you can
1729control whether or not you need to confirm by using the @code{set
1730confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
1731messages}).
70b88761 1732
4eb4cf57 1733@node Kill Process
70b88761 1734@c @group
93928b60 1735@section Killing the child process
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1736
1737@table @code
70b88761 1738@kindex kill
af215b1a 1739@item kill
18fae2a8 1740Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
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1741@end table
1742
1743This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
18fae2a8 1744running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
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1745is running.
1746@c @end group
1747
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RP
1748On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
1749while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
29a2b744 1750@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
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1751outside the debugger.
1752
1753The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
29a2b744 1754relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
70b88761 1755executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
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1756next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
1757reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
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1758breakpoint settings).
1759
4eb4cf57 1760@node Process Information
93928b60 1761@section Additional process information
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1762
1763@kindex /proc
1764@cindex process image
1765Some operating systems provide a facility called @samp{/proc} that can
cc9bc574 1766be used to examine the image of a running process using file-system
18fae2a8 1767subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
cc9bc574 1768facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report on several
af215b1a
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1769kinds of information about the process running your program.
1770@code{info proc} works only on SVR4 systems that support @code{procfs}.
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1771
1772@table @code
d24e0922 1773@kindex info proc
af215b1a 1774@item info proc
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1775Summarize available information about the process.
1776
d24e0922 1777@kindex info proc mappings
af215b1a 1778@item info proc mappings
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RP
1779Report on the address ranges accessible in the program, with information
1780on whether your program may read, write, or execute each range.
1781
d24e0922 1782@kindex info proc times
af215b1a 1783@item info proc times
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1784Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
1785its children.
1786
d24e0922 1787@kindex info proc id
af215b1a 1788@item info proc id
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1789Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
1790the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
d24e0922 1791
d24e0922 1792@kindex info proc status
af215b1a 1793@item info proc status
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1794General information on the state of the process. If the process is
1795stopped, this report includes the reason for stopping, and any signal
1796received.
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1797
1798@item info proc all
1799Show all the above information about the process.
d24e0922 1800@end table
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1801
1802@node Threads
1803@section Debugging programs with multiple threads
1804
1805@cindex threads of execution
1806@cindex multiple threads
1807@cindex switching threads
1808In some operating systems, a single program may have more than one
1809@dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics of threads differ from
1810one operating system to another, but in general the threads of a single
1811program are akin to multiple processes---except that they share one
1812address space (that is, they can all examine and modify the same
1813variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own registers and
1814execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
1815
22b5dba5 1816@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
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1817programs:
1818
1819@itemize @bullet
1820@item automatic notification of new threads
1821@item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
1822@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
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VM
1823@item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
1824a command to apply a command to a list of threads
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1825@item thread-specific breakpoints
1826@end itemize
1827
1828@quotation
1829@emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
1830@value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
1831If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
1832effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
1833from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
1834like this:
1835
1836@smallexample
1837(@value{GDBP}) info threads
1838(@value{GDBP}) thread 1
1839Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
1840see the IDs of currently known threads.
1841@end smallexample
1842@c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
1843@c doesn't support threads"?
1844@end quotation
1845
1846@cindex focus of debugging
1847@cindex current thread
1848The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
1849threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
1850control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
1851This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
1852program information from the perspective of the current thread.
1853
1854@kindex New @var{systag}
1855@cindex thread identifier (system)
1856@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
1857@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
1858@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
1859Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
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1860the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
1861form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
1862whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
1863LynxOS, you might see
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1864
1865@example
1866[New process 35 thread 27]
1867@end example
1868
1869@noindent
1870when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
1871the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
1872further qualifier.
1873
1874@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
1875@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
1876@c second---i.e., when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
1877@c program?
1878@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
1879@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
1880@c threads ab initio?
1881
1882@cindex thread number
1883@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
1884For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
1885number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
1886
1887@table @code
0cb95a9c 1888@kindex info threads
af215b1a 1889@item info threads
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1890Display a summary of all threads currently in your
1891program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
1892
1893@enumerate
22b5dba5 1894@item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
0cb95a9c 1895
22b5dba5 1896@item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
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1897
1898@item the current stack frame summary for that thread
1899@end enumerate
1900
1901@noindent
1902An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
1903indicates the current thread.
1904
1905For example,
1906@end table
1907@c end table here to get a little more width for example
1908
1909@smallexample
1910(@value{GDBP}) info threads
1911 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
1912 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
1913* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
1914 at threadtest.c:68
1915@end smallexample
1916
1917@table @code
22b5dba5 1918@kindex thread @var{threadno}
af215b1a 1919@item thread @var{threadno}
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1920Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
1921argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
1922shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
1923@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
1924you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
1925
1926@smallexample
af215b1a 1927@c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
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1928(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
1929[Switching to process 35 thread 23]
19300x34e5 in sigpause ()
1931@end smallexample
1932
1933@noindent
1934As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
1935@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
1936threads.
af215b1a
VM
1937
1938@kindex thread apply
1939@item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}
1940The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply a command to one or
1941more threads. Specify the numbers of the threads that you want affected
1942with the command argument @var{threadno}. @var{threadno} is the internal
1943@value{GDBN} thread number, as shown in the first field of the @samp{info
1944threads} display. To apply a command to all threads, use
1945@code{thread apply all} @var{args}.
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1946@end table
1947
1948@cindex automatic thread selection
1949@cindex switching threads automatically
1950@cindex threads, automatic switching
1951Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
1952signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
1953signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
1954message of the form @samp{[Switching to @var{systag}]} to identify the
1955thread.
1956
1957@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and starting multi-thread programs}, for
1958more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
1959programs with multiple threads.
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1960
1961@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting watchpoints}, for information about
1962watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
18fae2a8 1963@end ifclear
d24e0922 1964
1b0c5a4f
JK
1965@node Processes
1966@section Debugging programs with multiple processes
1967
1968@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
1969@cindex multiple processes
1970@cindex processes, multiple
1971@value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging programs which create
1972additional processes using the @code{fork} function. When a program
1973forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the parent process and the
1974child process will run unimpeded. If you have set a breakpoint in any
1975code which the child then executes, the child will get a @code{SIGTRAP}
1976signal which (unless it catches the signal) will cause it to terminate.
1977
1978However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
1979which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
1980the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
1981only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
1982so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
1983on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
1984get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
1985@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
1986the child process (see @ref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
1987the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
1988
4eb4cf57 1989@node Stopping
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1990@chapter Stopping and Continuing
1991
ed447b95 1992The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
29a2b744 1993program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
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1994trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
1995
18fae2a8 1996Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons, such
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1997as
1998@ifclear BARETARGET
1999a signal,
2000@end ifclear
2001a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a @value{GDBN}
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2002command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and change
2003variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then continue
18fae2a8 2004execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide ample
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2005explanation of the status of your program---but you can also explicitly
2006request this information at any time.
2007
2008@table @code
70b88761 2009@kindex info program
af215b1a 2010@item info program
70b88761 2011Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
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2012running or not,
2013@ifclear BARETARGET
2014what process it is,
2015@end ifclear
2016and why it stopped.
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2017@end table
2018
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2019@menu
2020@ifclear CONLY
ed447b95 2021* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and exceptions
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2022@end ifclear
2023@ifset CONLY
ed447b95 2024* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints and watchpoints
18fae2a8 2025@end ifset
1d7c3357 2026@c Remnant makeinfo bug requires blank line after *successful* end-if in menu:
18fae2a8 2027
ed447b95 2028* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
18fae2a8 2029@ifset POSIX
b80282d5 2030* Signals:: Signals
18fae2a8 2031@end ifset
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2032@ifclear BARETARGET
2033* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
2034@end ifclear
18fae2a8 2035@end menu
70b88761 2036
1d7c3357 2037@c makeinfo node-defaulting requires adjacency of @node and sectioning cmds
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2038@c ...hence distribute @node Breakpoints over two possible @if expansions.
2039@c
2040@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 2041@node Breakpoints
93928b60 2042@section Breakpoints, watchpoints, and exceptions
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2043@end ifclear
2044@ifset CONLY
2045@node Breakpoints
93928b60 2046@section Breakpoints and watchpoints
18fae2a8 2047@end ifset
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2048
2049@cindex breakpoints
2050A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
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2051the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add
2052conditions to control in finer detail whether your program stops.
70b88761 2053You can set breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants
93928b60 2054(@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}), to specify the place where
29a2b744 2055your program should stop by line number, function name or exact address
0f153e74 2056in the program.
18fae2a8 2057@ifclear CONLY
af215b1a 2058In languages with exception handling (such as @sc{gnu} C++), you can also set
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2059breakpoints where an exception is raised (@pxref{Exception Handling,,
2060Breakpoints and exceptions}).
18fae2a8 2061@end ifclear
70b88761 2062
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2063In SunOS 4.x, SVR4, and Alpha OSF/1 configurations, you can now set
2064breakpoints in shared libraries before the executable is run.
2065
70b88761 2066@cindex watchpoints
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2067@cindex memory tracing
2068@cindex breakpoint on memory address
2069@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
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2070A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
2071when the value of an expression changes. You must use a different
2072command to set watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting
93928b60 2073watchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a watchpoint like
29a2b744 2074any other breakpoint: you enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints
1041a570 2075and watchpoints using the same commands.
70b88761 2076
fe715d06 2077You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
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2078whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
2079Automatic display}.
fe715d06 2080
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2081@cindex breakpoint numbers
2082@cindex numbers for breakpoints
18fae2a8 2083@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint or watchpoint when you
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2084create it; these numbers are successive integers starting with one. In
2085many of the commands for controlling various features of breakpoints you
2086use the breakpoint number to say which breakpoint you want to change.
2087Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has
29a2b744 2088no effect on your program until you enable it again.
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2089
2090@menu
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2091* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
2092* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
1d7c3357 2093@ifclear CONLY
ed447b95 2094* Exception Handling:: Breakpoints and exceptions
1d7c3357 2095@end ifclear
b0157555 2096
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2097* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
2098* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
2099* Conditions:: Break conditions
2100* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
1d7c3357 2101@ifclear CONLY
ed447b95 2102* Breakpoint Menus:: Breakpoint menus
1d7c3357 2103@end ifclear
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2104@c @ifclear BARETARGET
2105@c * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
2106@c @end ifclear
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2107@end menu
2108
4eb4cf57 2109@node Set Breaks
93928b60 2110@subsection Setting breakpoints
70b88761 2111
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2112@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
2113@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
2114@c
2115@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
2116
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2117@kindex break
2118@kindex b
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2119@kindex $bpnum
2120@cindex latest breakpoint
2121Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
2122@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
af215b1a 2123number of the breakpoints you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
93928b60 2124Vars,, Convenience variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
6ca72cc6 2125convenience variables.
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2126
2127You have several ways to say where the breakpoint should go.
2128
2129@table @code
2130@item break @var{function}
0f153e74 2131Set a breakpoint at entry to function @var{function}.
18fae2a8 2132@ifclear CONLY
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2133When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
2134C++, @var{function} may refer to more than one possible place to break.
93928b60 2135@xref{Breakpoint Menus,,Breakpoint menus}, for a discussion of that situation.
18fae2a8 2136@end ifclear
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2137
2138@item break +@var{offset}
2139@itemx break -@var{offset}
2140Set a breakpoint some number of lines forward or back from the position
2141at which execution stopped in the currently selected frame.
2142
2143@item break @var{linenum}
2144Set a breakpoint at line @var{linenum} in the current source file.
2145That file is the last file whose source text was printed. This
9a27b06e 2146breakpoint stops your program just before it executes any of the
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2147code on that line.
2148
2149@item break @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
2150Set a breakpoint at line @var{linenum} in source file @var{filename}.
2151
2152@item break @var{filename}:@var{function}
2153Set a breakpoint at entry to function @var{function} found in file
2154@var{filename}. Specifying a file name as well as a function name is
2155superfluous except when multiple files contain similarly named
2156functions.
2157
2158@item break *@var{address}
2159Set a breakpoint at address @var{address}. You can use this to set
29a2b744 2160breakpoints in parts of your program which do not have debugging
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2161information or source files.
2162
2163@item break
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2164When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
2165the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
2166(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
9a27b06e 2167innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
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2168returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
2169@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
2170that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
9a27b06e 2171@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
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2172the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
2173inside loops.
70b88761 2174
18fae2a8 2175@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
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2176least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
2177would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
2178breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
29a2b744 2179existed when your program stopped.
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2180
2181@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
2182Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
2183@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3d3ab540 2184value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
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2185@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
2186above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
93928b60 2187,Break conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
70b88761 2188
70b88761 2189@kindex tbreak
af215b1a 2190@item tbreak @var{args}
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2191Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
2192same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
cfcafcba 2193way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
93928b60 2194program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling breakpoints}.
70b88761 2195
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2196@kindex hbreak
2197@item hbreak @var{args}
2198Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
2199@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
2200breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
2201have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
2202debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
2203changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
2204provided by SPARClite DSU. DSU will generate traps when a program accesses
8387d6df 2205some data or instruction address that is assigned to the debug registers.
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2206However the hardware breakpoint registers can only take two data breakpoints,
2207and @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used.
2208Delete or disable usused hardware breakpoints before setting
2209new ones. @xref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}.
2210
2211@kindex thbreak
2212@item thbreak @var{args}
2213Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
2214are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
2215the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
2216the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
2217first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
2218command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
2219may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling breakpoints}.
2220Also @xref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}.
2221
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2222@kindex rbreak
2223@cindex regular expression
af215b1a 2224@item rbreak @var{regex}
4906534f 2225@c FIXME what kind of regexp?
70b88761 2226Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
b80282d5 2227@var{regex}. This command
70b88761 2228sets an unconditional breakpoint on all matches, printing a list of all
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2229breakpoints it set. Once these breakpoints are set, they are treated
2230just like the breakpoints set with the @code{break} command. You can
2231delete them, disable them, or make them conditional the same way as any
2232other breakpoint.
70b88761 2233
18fae2a8 2234@ifclear CONLY
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2235When debugging C++ programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
2236breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
2237classes.
18fae2a8 2238@end ifclear
b80282d5 2239
70b88761 2240@kindex info breakpoints
c338a2fd 2241@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
70b88761 2242@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
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2243@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
2244@itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
2245Print a table of all breakpoints and watchpoints set and not
2246deleted, with the following columns for each breakpoint:
2247
2248@table @emph
2249@item Breakpoint Numbers
2250@item Type
2251Breakpoint or watchpoint.
2252@item Disposition
2253Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
2254@item Enabled or Disabled
d24e0922 2255Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
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2256that are not enabled.
2257@item Address
2258Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address
2259@item What
2260Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
2261line number.
2262@end table
2263
2264@noindent
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2265If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
2266the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
2267are listed after that.
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2268
2269@noindent
2270@code{info break} with a breakpoint
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2271number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
2272convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
2273the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
93928b60 2274listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining memory}).
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2275
2276@noindent
2277@code{info break} now displays a count of the number of times the
2278breakpoint has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with
2279the @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
2280hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the
2281breakpoint was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that
2282number. This will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
1041a570 2283@end table
70b88761 2284
18fae2a8 2285@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
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2286your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
2287the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
93928b60 2288(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}).
70b88761 2289
6ca72cc6 2290@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
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2291@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
2292@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for special
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2293purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C programs).
2294These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers, starting with
5a2c1d85 2295@code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
d48da190 2296
18fae2a8 2297You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
5a2c1d85 2298@samp{maint info breakpoints}.
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2299
2300@table @code
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2301@kindex maint info breakpoints
2302@item maint info breakpoints
6ca72cc6 2303Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
18fae2a8 2304breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
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2305internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
2306breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
2307is shown:
2308
2309@table @code
2310@item breakpoint
2311Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
2312
2313@item watchpoint
2314Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
2315
2316@item longjmp
2317Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
2318@code{longjmp} calls.
2319
2320@item longjmp resume
2321Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
2322
2323@item until
18fae2a8 2324Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
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2325
2326@item finish
18fae2a8 2327Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
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2328@end table
2329
2330@end table
2331
2332
4eb4cf57 2333@node Set Watchpoints
93928b60 2334@subsection Setting watchpoints
70b88761 2335@cindex setting watchpoints
1041a570 2336
70b88761 2337You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
e251e767 2338expression changes, without having to predict a particular place
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2339where this may happen.
2340
2341Watchpoints currently execute two orders of magnitude more slowly than
6b51acad 2342other breakpoints, but this can be well worth it to catch errors where
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2343you have no clue what part of your program is the culprit.
2344
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2345@c FIXME - did Stan mean to @ignore this out?
2346@ignore
9a27b06e 2347Some processors provide special hardware to support watchpoint
f886dc0f
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2348evaluation; @value{GDBN} will use such hardware if it is available,
2349and if the support code has been added for that configuration.
af215b1a 2350@end ignore
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2351
2352@table @code
e251e767 2353@kindex watch
70b88761 2354@item watch @var{expr}
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2355Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when @var{expr}
2356is written into by the program and its value changes.
2357This can be used with the new trap-generation provided by
2358SPARClite DSU. DSU will generate traps when a program accesses
8387d6df 2359some data or instruction address that is assigned to the debug registers.
af215b1a
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2360For the data addresses, DSU facilitates the @code{watch} command.
2361However the hardware breakpoint registers can only take two data watchpoints,
2362and both watchpoints must be the same kind. For example, you can set two
2363watchpoints with @code{watch} commands, two with @code{rwatch}
2364commands, @strong{or} two with @code{awatch} commands, but you cannot set one
2365watchpoint with one command and the other with a different command.
2366@value{GBDN} will reject the command if you try to mix watchpoints.
2367Delete or disable unused watchpoint commands before setting new ones.
2368
2369@kindex rwatch
2370@item rwatch @var{expr}
2371Set a watchpoint that will break when watch @var{args} is read by the program.
2372If you use both watchpoints, both must be set with the @code{rwatch}
2373command.
2374
2375@kindex awatch
2376@item awatch @var{expr}
2377Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{args} is read and written into
2378by the program. If you use both watchpoints, both must be set with the
2379@code{awatch} command.
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2380
2381@kindex info watchpoints
2382@item info watchpoints
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2383This command prints a list of watchpoints and breakpoints; it is the
2384same as @code{info break}.
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2385@end table
2386
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2387@ifclear BARETARGET
2388@quotation
2389@cindex watchpoints and threads
2390@cindex threads and watchpoints
2391@emph{Warning:} in multi-thread programs, watchpoints have only limited
2392usefulness. With the current watchpoint implementation, @value{GDBN}
2393can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a single thread}. If
2394you are confident that the expression can only change due to the current
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2395thread's activity (and if you are also confident that no other thread
2396can become current), then you can use watchpoints as usual. However,
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2397@value{GDBN} may not notice when a non-current thread's activity changes
2398the expression.
2399@end quotation
2400@end ifclear
2401
1d7c3357 2402@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 2403@node Exception Handling
93928b60 2404@subsection Breakpoints and exceptions
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2405@cindex exception handlers
2406
af215b1a 2407Some languages, such as @sc{gnu} C++, implement exception handling. You can
18fae2a8 2408use @value{GDBN} to examine what caused your program to raise an exception,
29a2b744 2409and to list the exceptions your program is prepared to handle at a
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2410given point in time.
2411
2412@table @code
70b88761 2413@kindex catch
af215b1a 2414@item catch @var{exceptions}
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2415You can set breakpoints at active exception handlers by using the
2416@code{catch} command. @var{exceptions} is a list of names of exceptions
2417to catch.
2418@end table
2419
29a2b744 2420You can use @code{info catch} to list active exception handlers.
93928b60 2421@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a frame}.
70b88761 2422
9a27b06e 2423There are currently some limitations to exception handling in @value{GDBN}:
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2424
2425@itemize @bullet
2426@item
18fae2a8 2427If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
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2428control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
2429raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
29a2b744 2430returns control to you and cause your program to simply continue
18fae2a8 2431running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal that @value{GDBN} is
70b88761 2432listening for, or exits.
9a27b06e 2433
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2434@item
2435You cannot raise an exception interactively.
9a27b06e 2436
70b88761 2437@item
9a27b06e 2438You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
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2439@end itemize
2440
2441@cindex raise exceptions
2442Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
29a2b744 2443if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
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2444stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
2445can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
2446breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
2447out where the exception was raised.
2448
2449To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
af215b1a 2450knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C++, exceptions are
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2451raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
2452which has the following ANSI C interface:
2453
2454@example
b80282d5 2455 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
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2456 ID is the exception identifier. */
2457 void __raise_exception (void **@var{addr}, void *@var{id});
2458@end example
2459
2460@noindent
2461To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
2462unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
93928b60 2463(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; watchpoints; and exceptions}).
70b88761 2464
93928b60 2465With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions})
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2466that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
2467a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
2468breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
2469raised.
1d7c3357 2470@end ifclear
70b88761 2471
4eb4cf57 2472@node Delete Breaks
93928b60 2473@subsection Deleting breakpoints
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2474
2475@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints
2476@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints
2477It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint or watchpoint once it
29a2b744 2478has done its job and you no longer want your program to stop there. This
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2479is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A breakpoint that has been
2480deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
2481
2482With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
29a2b744 2483where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
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2484delete individual breakpoints or watchpoints by specifying their
2485breakpoint numbers.
2486
18fae2a8 2487It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
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2488automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
2489when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
2490
2491@table @code
2492@item clear
2493@kindex clear
2494Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
93928b60 2495selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}). When
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2496the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
2497breakpoint where your program just stopped.
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2498
2499@item clear @var{function}
2500@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
2501Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the function @var{function}.
2502
2503@item clear @var{linenum}
2504@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
2505Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified line.
2506
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2507@cindex delete breakpoints
2508@kindex delete
2509@kindex d
af215b1a 2510@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{bnums}@dots{}@r{]}
70b88761 2511Delete the breakpoints or watchpoints of the numbers specified as
18fae2a8 2512arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all breakpoints (@value{GDBN}
1041a570 2513asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set confirm off}). You
70b88761
RP
2514can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
2515@end table
2516
4eb4cf57 2517@node Disabling
93928b60 2518@subsection Disabling breakpoints
70b88761 2519
af215b1a
VM
2520@kindex disable breakpoints
2521@kindex enable breakpoints
70b88761
RP
2522Rather than deleting a breakpoint or watchpoint, you might prefer to
2523@dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if it had
2524been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so that
2525you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
2526
2527You disable and enable breakpoints and watchpoints with the
2528@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one or
2529more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
2530@code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints or watchpoints if you
29a2b744 2531do not know which numbers to use.
70b88761
RP
2532
2533A breakpoint or watchpoint can have any of four different states of
2534enablement:
2535
2536@itemize @bullet
2537@item
9a27b06e 2538Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
70b88761
RP
2539with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
2540@item
29a2b744 2541Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
70b88761 2542@item
9a27b06e
RP
2543Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
2544disabled. A breakpoint set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in
2545this state.
70b88761 2546@item
9a27b06e
RP
2547Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
2548immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently.
70b88761
RP
2549@end itemize
2550
2551You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints and
2552watchpoints:
2553
2554@table @code
70b88761
RP
2555@kindex disable breakpoints
2556@kindex disable
2557@kindex dis
af215b1a 2558@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{bnums}@dots{}@r{]}
70b88761
RP
2559Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
2560listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
2561options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
2562case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
2563@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
2564
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RP
2565@kindex enable breakpoints
2566@kindex enable
af215b1a 2567@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{bnums}@dots{}@r{]}
70b88761 2568Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
29a2b744 2569become effective once again in stopping your program.
70b88761
RP
2570
2571@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{bnums}@dots{}
9a27b06e
RP
2572Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
2573of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
70b88761
RP
2574
2575@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{bnums}@dots{}
9a27b06e
RP
2576Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
2577deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
70b88761
RP
2578@end table
2579
af215b1a 2580Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
93928b60
RP
2581,Setting breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
2582subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
2583the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
9a27b06e 2584breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
93928b60
RP
2585breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
2586stepping}.)
70b88761 2587
4eb4cf57 2588@node Conditions
93928b60 2589@subsection Break conditions
70b88761
RP
2590@cindex conditional breakpoints
2591@cindex breakpoint conditions
2592
4906534f
RP
2593@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
2594@c in particular for a watchpoint?
29a2b744 2595The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
70b88761
RP
2596specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
2597breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
1041a570
RP
2598programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
2599a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
2600and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
3d3ab540
RP
2601
2602This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
2603situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
2604when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
e251e767 2605by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
3d3ab540 2606@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
70b88761
RP
2607
2608Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
2609since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
2610it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
2611and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
e251e767 2612one.
70b88761 2613
29a2b744 2614Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
70b88761 2615your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
29a2b744
RP
2616that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
2617format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
2618unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
18fae2a8 2619that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
29a2b744
RP
2620program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
2621breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible for the
2622purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
93928b60 2623(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint command lists}).
70b88761
RP
2624
2625Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
29a2b744 2626@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
93928b60 2627Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
29a2b744
RP
2628with the @code{condition} command. The @code{watch} command does not
2629recognize the @code{if} keyword; @code{condition} is the only way to
2630impose a further condition on a watchpoint.
70b88761 2631
e251e767 2632@table @code
e251e767 2633@kindex condition
af215b1a 2634@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
70b88761 2635Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint or
9a27b06e
RP
2636watchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition, breakpoint
2637@var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of @var{expression} is
2638true (nonzero, in C). When you use @code{condition}, @value{GDBN}
2639checks @var{expression} immediately for syntactic correctness, and to
2640determine whether symbols in it have referents in the context of your
2641breakpoint.
29a2b744 2642@c FIXME so what does GDB do if there is no referent? Moreover, what
4906534f 2643@c about watchpoints?
18fae2a8 2644@value{GDBN} does
70b88761 2645not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
1041a570 2646command is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
70b88761
RP
2647
2648@item condition @var{bnum}
2649Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
2650an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
2651@end table
2652
2653@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
2654A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
2655breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
2656useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
2657count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
2658is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
29a2b744 2659therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
70b88761
RP
2660ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
2661the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
9a27b06e
RP
2662value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
2663your program reaches it.
70b88761
RP
2664
2665@table @code
70b88761 2666@kindex ignore
af215b1a 2667@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
70b88761
RP
2668Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
2669The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
9a27b06e 2670execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
70b88761
RP
2671takes no action.
2672
2673To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
2674a count of zero.
2675
d55320a0
RP
2676When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
2677breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
2678@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
2679Stepping,,Continuing and stepping}.
70b88761 2680
9a27b06e
RP
2681If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
2682condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
2683@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
70b88761 2684
29a2b744 2685You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
18fae2a8 2686as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
1041a570 2687is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
93928b60 2688variables}.
d55320a0 2689@end table
70b88761 2690
4eb4cf57 2691@node Break Commands
93928b60 2692@subsection Breakpoint command lists
70b88761
RP
2693
2694@cindex breakpoint commands
2695You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint) a series of commands to
29a2b744 2696execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For example, you
70b88761
RP
2697might want to print the values of certain expressions, or enable other
2698breakpoints.
2699
2700@table @code
af215b1a
VM
2701@kindex commands
2702@kindex end
70b88761
RP
2703@item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
2704@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
2705@itemx end
70b88761
RP
2706Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
2707themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
2708@code{end} to terminate the commands.
2709
203eea5d
RP
2710To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
2711follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
70b88761
RP
2712
2713With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
2714breakpoint or watchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
2715encountered).
2716@end table
2717
18fae2a8 2718Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
70b88761
RP
2719disabled within a @var{command-list}.
2720
29a2b744 2721You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
70b88761 2722use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
fe715d06
RP
2723that resumes execution.
2724
2725Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
2726execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
2727(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
2728another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
2729ambiguities about which list to execute.
70b88761
RP
2730
2731@kindex silent
fe715d06
RP
2732If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
2733usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
2734be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
2735then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
9a27b06e 2736see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
fe715d06 2737meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
70b88761 2738
d55320a0
RP
2739The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
2740print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
2741breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for controlled output}.
70b88761
RP
2742
2743For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
2744value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
2745
18fae2a8 2746@example
70b88761
RP
2747break foo if x>0
2748commands
2749silent
d55320a0 2750printf "x is %d\n",x
70b88761
RP
2751cont
2752end
18fae2a8 2753@end example
70b88761
RP
2754
2755One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
2756you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
2757of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
2758erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
2759to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
29a2b744 2760so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
70b88761
RP
2761command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
2762
2763@example
2764break 403
2765commands
2766silent
2767set x = y + 4
2768cont
2769end
2770@end example
2771
1d7c3357 2772@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 2773@node Breakpoint Menus
93928b60 2774@subsection Breakpoint menus
b80282d5 2775@cindex overloading
e251e767 2776@cindex symbol overloading
70b88761
RP
2777
2778Some programming languages (notably C++) permit a single function name
2779to be defined several times, for application in different contexts.
2780This is called @dfn{overloading}. When a function name is overloaded,
18fae2a8 2781@samp{break @var{function}} is not enough to tell @value{GDBN} where you want
9a27b06e 2782a breakpoint. If you realize this is a problem, you can use
6f3ec223 2783something like @samp{break @var{function}(@var{types})} to specify which
18fae2a8 2784particular version of the function you want. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} offers
6f3ec223
RP
2785you a menu of numbered choices for different possible breakpoints, and
2786waits for your selection with the prompt @samp{>}. The first two
2787options are always @samp{[0] cancel} and @samp{[1] all}. Typing @kbd{1}
2788sets a breakpoint at each definition of @var{function}, and typing
2789@kbd{0} aborts the @code{break} command without setting any new
2790breakpoints.
70b88761
RP
2791
2792For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
e251e767 2793breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
70b88761
RP
2794We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
2795
6f3ec223 2796@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
d55320a0 2797@smallexample
18fae2a8 2798(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
70b88761
RP
2799[0] cancel
2800[1] all
2801[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
2802[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
2803[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
2804[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
2805[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
2806[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
2807> 2 4 6
2808Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
2809Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
2810Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
2811Multiple breakpoints were set.
d55320a0
RP
2812Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
2813 breakpoints.
18fae2a8 2814(@value{GDBP})
d55320a0 2815@end smallexample
1d7c3357 2816@end ifclear
70b88761 2817
af215b1a
VM
2818@c @ifclear BARETARGET
2819@c @node Error in Breakpoints
2820@c @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
2821@c
2822@c FIXME!! 14/6/95 Is there a real example of this? Let's use it.
2823@c
2824@c Under some operating systems, breakpoints cannot be used in a program if
2825@c any other process is running that program. In this situation,
2826@c attempting to run or continue a program with a breakpoint causes
2827@c @value{GDBN} to stop the other process.
2828@c
2829@c When this happens, you have three ways to proceed:
2830@c
2831@c @enumerate
2832@c @item
2833@c Remove or disable the breakpoints, then continue.
2834@c
2835@c @item
2836@c Suspend @value{GDBN}, and copy the file containing your program to a new
2837@c name. Resume @value{GDBN} and use the @code{exec-file} command to specify
2838@c that @value{GDBN} should run your program under that name.
2839@c Then start your program again.
2840@c
2841@c @item
2842@c Relink your program so that the text segment is nonsharable, using the
2843@c linker option @samp{-N}. The operating system limitation may not apply
2844@c to nonsharable executables.
2845@c @end enumerate
2846@c @end ifclear
70b88761 2847
4eb4cf57 2848@node Continuing and Stepping
93928b60 2849@section Continuing and stepping
70b88761
RP
2850
2851@cindex stepping
7463aadd
RP
2852@cindex continuing
2853@cindex resuming execution
3d3ab540 2854@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
cedaf8bc
RP
2855completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
2856one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
2857line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
2858particular command you use). Either when continuing
4eb4cf57 2859or when stepping, your program may stop even sooner, due to
18fae2a8 2860@ifset BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 2861a breakpoint.
18fae2a8
RP
2862@end ifset
2863@ifclear BARETARGET
6b51acad 2864a breakpoint or a signal. (If due to a signal, you may want to use
4eb4cf57
RP
2865@code{handle}, or use @samp{signal 0} to resume execution.
2866@xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
18fae2a8 2867@end ifclear
3d3ab540
RP
2868
2869@table @code
3d3ab540 2870@kindex continue
d55320a0
RP
2871@kindex c
2872@kindex fg
af215b1a
VM
2873@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
2874@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
2875@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6b51acad
RP
2876Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
2877any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
2878@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
2879ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
2880@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}).
2881
2882The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
d55320a0
RP
2883stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
2884@code{continue} is ignored.
2885
2886The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} are provided purely for convenience,
2887and have exactly the same behavior as @code{continue}.
2888@end table
2889
3d3ab540 2890To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
93928b60 2891(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a function}) to go back to the
29a2b744 2892calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
93928b60 2893different address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
7463aadd
RP
2894
2895A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
93928b60
RP
2896@ifclear CONLY
2897(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; watchpoints; and exceptions})
2898@end ifclear
2899@ifset CONLY
2900(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints and watchpoints})
2901@end ifset
2902at the
29a2b744
RP
2903beginning of the function or the section of your program where a
2904problem is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that
2905breakpoint, and then step through the suspect area, examining the
2906variables that are interesting, until you see the problem happen.
70b88761
RP
2907
2908@table @code
70b88761
RP
2909@kindex step
2910@kindex s
af215b1a 2911@item step
29a2b744 2912Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
18fae2a8 2913line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
70b88761
RP
2914abbreviated @code{s}.
2915
3d3ab540 2916@quotation
068b06f2
JK
2917@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
2918@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
2919@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
2920@c distinction here.
3d3ab540
RP
2921@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
2922within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
d55320a0 2923execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
068b06f2
JK
2924debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
2925is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
2926without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
2927below.
3d3ab540 2928@end quotation
70b88761 2929
af215b1a
VM
2930The @code{step} command now only stops at the first instruction of a
2931source line. This prevents the multiple stops that used to occur in
2932switch statements, for loops, etc. @code{step} continues to stop if a
2933function that has debugging information is called within the line.
2934
2935Also, the @code{step} command now only enters a subroutine if there is line
2936number information for the subroutine. Otherwise it acts like the
2937@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
2938on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
2939was any debugging information about the routine.
2940
70b88761
RP
2941@item step @var{count}
2942Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
1d7c3357
RP
2943breakpoint is reached,
2944@ifclear BARETARGET
2945or a signal not related to stepping occurs before @var{count} steps,
2946@end ifclear
2947stepping stops right away.
70b88761 2948
70b88761
RP
2949@kindex next
2950@kindex n
af215b1a 2951@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
7463aadd 2952Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
af215b1a 2953This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within the line
7463aadd 2954of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when control
af215b1a
VM
2955reaches a different line of code at the original stack level that was
2956executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command is abbreviated
7463aadd 2957@code{n}.
70b88761 2958
7463aadd 2959An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
70b88761 2960
70b88761 2961
af215b1a
VM
2962@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
2963@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
2964@c
2965@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
2966@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
2967@c function are executed without stopping.
2968
2969The @code{next} command now only stops at the first instruction of a
2970source line. This prevents the multiple stops that used to occur in
2971swtch statements, for loops, etc.
2972
70b88761 2973@kindex finish
af215b1a 2974@item finish
7463aadd
RP
2975Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
2976returns. Print the returned value (if any).
70b88761 2977
29a2b744 2978Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
93928b60 2979,Returning from a function}).
70b88761 2980
70b88761 2981@kindex until
6b51acad 2982@itemx u
70b88761 2983@kindex u
af215b1a 2984@item until
70b88761
RP
2985Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
2986current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
2987stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
2988command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
2989automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
2990than the address of the jump.
2991
2992This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
9a27b06e
RP
2993though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
2994exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
2995simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
2996through the next iteration.
70b88761 2997
29a2b744 2998@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
70b88761
RP
2999stack frame.
3000
3001@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
7463aadd 3002of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
70b88761
RP
3003example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
3004(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
3005@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
3006
3007@example
18fae2a8 3008(@value{GDBP}) f
70b88761 3009#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
b80282d5 3010206 expand_input();
18fae2a8 3011(@value{GDBP}) until
b80282d5 3012195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
70b88761
RP
3013@end example
3014
7463aadd
RP
3015This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
3016generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
3017start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
3018written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
3019to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
3020expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
3021statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
70b88761
RP
3022
3023@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
3024instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
3025argument.
3026
3027@item until @var{location}
6b51acad 3028@itemx u @var{location}
29a2b744
RP
3029Continue running your program until either the specified location is
3030reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
3031the forms of argument acceptable to @code{break} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
93928b60 3032,Setting breakpoints}). This form of the command uses breakpoints,
1041a570 3033and hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument.
70b88761 3034
70b88761
RP
3035@kindex stepi
3036@kindex si
af215b1a
VM
3037@item stepi
3038@itemx si
70b88761
RP
3039Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
3040
3041It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
9a27b06e
RP
3042instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
3043instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
3044Display,, Automatic display}.
70b88761
RP
3045
3046An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
3047
ed447b95 3048@need 750
70b88761
RP
3049@kindex nexti
3050@kindex ni
af215b1a
VM
3051@item nexti
3052@itemx ni
70b88761
RP
3053Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
3054proceed until the function returns.
3055
3056An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
70b88761
RP
3057@end table
3058
18fae2a8 3059@ifset POSIX
4eb4cf57 3060@node Signals
70b88761
RP
3061@section Signals
3062@cindex signals
3063
3064A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
3065operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
3066kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
3067signal a program gets when you type an interrupt (often @kbd{C-c});
3068@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
3069memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
29a2b744 3070the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
70b88761
RP
3071requested an alarm).
3072
3073@cindex fatal signals
3074Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
29a2b744
RP
3075functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
3076errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (kill your program immediately) if the
70b88761 3077program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
29a2b744 3078@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
70b88761
RP
3079fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
3080
18fae2a8
RP
3081@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
3082program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
29a2b744 3083signal.
70b88761
RP
3084
3085@cindex handling signals
18fae2a8 3086Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to ignore non-erroneous signals like @code{SIGALRM}
29a2b744
RP
3087(so as not to interfere with their role in the functioning of your program)
3088but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
70b88761
RP
3089You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
3090
3091@table @code
70b88761 3092@kindex info signals
af215b1a 3093@item info signals
18fae2a8 3094Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
70b88761
RP
3095handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
3096the defined types of signals.
3097
af215b1a
VM
3098@code{info handle} is the new alias for @code{info signals}.
3099
70b88761 3100@kindex handle
af215b1a
VM
3101@item handle @var{signal} @var{keywords}@dots{}
3102Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can
3103be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the @samp{SIG} at the
70b88761
RP
3104beginning). The @var{keywords} say what change to make.
3105@end table
3106
3107@c @group
3108The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
3109Their full names are:
3110
3111@table @code
3112@item nostop
18fae2a8 3113@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
70b88761
RP
3114still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
3115
3116@item stop
18fae2a8 3117@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
70b88761
RP
3118the @code{print} keyword as well.
3119
3120@item print
18fae2a8 3121@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
70b88761
RP
3122
3123@item noprint
18fae2a8 3124@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
70b88761
RP
3125implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
3126
3127@item pass
9a27b06e
RP
3128@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
3129can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
70b88761
RP
3130and not handled.
3131
3132@item nopass
18fae2a8 3133@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
70b88761
RP
3134@end table
3135@c @end group
3136
ed447b95 3137When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible until you
9a27b06e 3138continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
ed447b95
RP
3139effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
3140after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
9a27b06e
RP
3141command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
3142program sees that signal when you continue.
70b88761 3143
29a2b744 3144You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
70b88761 3145seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
29a2b744 3146or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
7463aadd
RP
3147due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
3148values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
29a2b744
RP
3149execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
3150a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
3151you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
93928b60 3152program a signal}.
18fae2a8 3153@end ifset
70b88761 3154
0cb95a9c
RP
3155@ifclear BARETARGET
3156@node Thread Stops
3157@section Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3158
3159When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
3160programs with multiple threads}), you can choose whether to set
3161breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
3162
3163@table @code
22b5dba5
RP
3164@cindex breakpoints and threads
3165@cindex thread breakpoints
0cb95a9c
RP
3166@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
3167@item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
3168@itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
af215b1a
VM
3169@var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
3170writing them, but the effect is always to specify some source line.
3171
0cb95a9c
RP
3172Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
3173to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
22b5dba5
RP
3174particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
3175numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
3176column of the @samp{info threads} display.
0cb95a9c
RP
3177
3178If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
3179breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
3180program.
22b5dba5
RP
3181
3182You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
3183well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before the
3184breakpoint condition, like this:
3185
3186@smallexample
3187(gdb) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
3188@end smallexample
af215b1a 3189
0cb95a9c
RP
3190@end table
3191
3192@cindex stopped threads
3193@cindex threads, stopped
3194Whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
3195@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
3196allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
3197switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
3198underfoot.
3199
3200@cindex continuing threads
3201@cindex threads, continuing
3202Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
3203executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
3204like @code{step} or @code{next}.
3205
3206In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
22b5dba5
RP
3207Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
3208system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
3209execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
3210single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
3211statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
3212stops.
0cb95a9c
RP
3213
3214You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
3215continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
3216thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
3217first thread completes whatever you requested.
3218@end ifclear
3219
4eb4cf57 3220@node Stack
70b88761
RP
3221@chapter Examining the Stack
3222
3223When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
3224stopped and how it got there.
3225
3226@cindex call stack
af215b1a
VM
3227Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
3228is generated.
3229That information includes the location of the call in your program,
3230the arguments of the call,
3231and the local variables of the function being called.
3232The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
3233The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
70b88761
RP
3234stack}.
3235
93928b60
RP
3236When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
3237stack allow you to see all of this information.
70b88761
RP
3238
3239@cindex selected frame
93928b60
RP
3240One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
3241@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
3242particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
3243your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
3244special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
af215b1a 3245interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
70b88761 3246
93928b60 3247When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
af215b1a
VM
3248currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
3249@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a frame}).
70b88761
RP
3250
3251@menu
ed447b95 3252* Frames:: Stack frames
b80282d5 3253* Backtrace:: Backtraces
ed447b95
RP
3254* Selection:: Selecting a frame
3255* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
572867a8
RP
3256@ifset MIPS
3257* MIPS Stack:: MIPS machines and the function stack
3258@end ifset
70b88761
RP
3259@end menu
3260
4eb4cf57 3261@node Frames
93928b60 3262@section Stack frames
70b88761
RP
3263
3264@cindex frame
3265@cindex stack frame
3266The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
3267frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
3268with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
3269to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
3270which the function is executing.
3271
3272@cindex initial frame
3273@cindex outermost frame
3274@cindex innermost frame
3275When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
3276function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
3277@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
3278made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
3279is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
3280the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
3281actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
3282recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
3283
3284@cindex frame pointer
3285Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
3286stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
af215b1a 3287kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
70b88761
RP
3288address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
3289in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register} while execution is
3290going on in that frame.
3291
3292@cindex frame number
18fae2a8 3293@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
70b88761
RP
3294zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
3295and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
18fae2a8
RP
3296they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
3297frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
70b88761 3298
6b51acad 3299@c below produces an acceptable overful hbox. --mew 13aug1993
70b88761 3300@cindex frameless execution
8c69096b 3301Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
18fae2a8 3302without stack frames. (For example, the @code{@value{GCC}} option
9a27b06e 3303@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer} generates functions without a frame.)
70b88761 3304This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
8c69096b
RP
3305the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
3306with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
9a27b06e 3307has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
8c69096b
RP
3308it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
3309correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
3310no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
70b88761 3311
af215b1a
VM
3312@table @code
3313@kindex frame
3314@item frame @var{args}
3315The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
3316and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
271fef25 3317address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
af215b1a
VM
3318@code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
3319
3320@kindex select-frame
3321@item select-frame
3322The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
3323to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
3324@code{frame}.
3325@end table
3326
4eb4cf57 3327@node Backtrace
70b88761
RP
3328@section Backtraces
3329
29a2b744 3330A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
70b88761
RP
3331line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
3332frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
3333stack.
3334
3335@table @code
70b88761
RP
3336@kindex backtrace
3337@kindex bt
af215b1a
VM
3338@item backtrace
3339@itemx bt
70b88761
RP
3340Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
3341frames in the stack.
3342
3343You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
3344character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
3345
3346@item backtrace @var{n}
3347@itemx bt @var{n}
3348Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
3349
3350@item backtrace -@var{n}
3351@itemx bt -@var{n}
3352Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
3353@end table
3354
3355@kindex where
3356@kindex info stack
3357@kindex info s
3358The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
3359are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
3360
3361Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
3362The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
3363print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
3364line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
3365counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
3366line number.
3367
3368Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
3369@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
3370
3371@smallexample
3372@group
203eea5d
RP
3373#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
3374 at builtin.c:993
70b88761
RP
3375#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600) at macro.c:242
3376#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
3377 at macro.c:71
3378(More stack frames follow...)
3379@end group
3380@end smallexample
3381
3382@noindent
29a2b744
RP
3383The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
3384value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
70b88761
RP
3385code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
3386
4eb4cf57 3387@node Selection
93928b60 3388@section Selecting a frame
70b88761 3389
29a2b744 3390Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
70b88761
RP
3391whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
3392selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
3393of the stack frame just selected.
3394
3395@table @code
70b88761
RP
3396@kindex frame
3397@kindex f
af215b1a
VM
3398@item frame @var{n}
3399@itemx f @var{n}
70b88761
RP
3400Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
3401(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
93918348
RP
3402innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
3403@code{main}.
70b88761
RP
3404
3405@item frame @var{addr}
3406@itemx f @var{addr}
3407Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
3408chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
18fae2a8 3409impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
29a2b744 3410addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
70b88761
RP
3411switches between them.
3412
7e17041f 3413@ifclear H8EXCLUSIVE
70b88761 3414On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
e251e767 3415select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
7e17041f
JK
3416
3417On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
3418pointer and a program counter.
3419
3420On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
3421pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
70b88761 3422@c note to future updaters: this is conditioned on a flag
7e17041f
JK
3423@c SETUP_ARBITRARY_FRAME in the tm-*.h files. The above is up to date
3424@c as of 27 Jan 1994.
3425@end ifclear
70b88761 3426
70b88761 3427@kindex up
af215b1a 3428@item up @var{n}
70b88761
RP
3429Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
3430advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
3431that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
3432
70b88761
RP
3433@kindex down
3434@kindex do
af215b1a 3435@item down @var{n}
70b88761
RP
3436Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
3437advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
3438that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
3439abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
3440@end table
3441
3442All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
3443frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
3444arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
ed447b95 3445frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
70b88761 3446
b1955f0b 3447@need 1000
ed447b95 3448For example:
b1955f0b 3449
70b88761 3450@smallexample
29a2b744 3451@group
18fae2a8 3452(@value{GDBP}) up
203eea5d
RP
3453#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
3454 at env.c:10
70b88761 345510 read_input_file (argv[i]);
29a2b744 3456@end group
70b88761
RP
3457@end smallexample
3458
9a27b06e
RP
3459After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
3460prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
93928b60 3461@xref{List, ,Printing source lines}.
70b88761
RP
3462
3463@table @code
70b88761
RP
3464@kindex down-silently
3465@kindex up-silently
af215b1a
VM
3466@item up-silently @var{n}
3467@itemx down-silently @var{n}
70b88761
RP
3468These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
3469respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
3470causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
18fae2a8 3471in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
e251e767 3472distracting.
70b88761
RP
3473@end table
3474
4eb4cf57 3475@node Frame Info
93928b60 3476@section Information about a frame
70b88761
RP
3477
3478There are several other commands to print information about the selected
3479stack frame.
3480
3481@table @code
3482@item frame
3483@itemx f
29a2b744
RP
3484When used without any argument, this command does not change which
3485frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
70b88761 3486selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
ed447b95 3487argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
93928b60 3488@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
70b88761 3489
29a2b744 3490@kindex info frame
70b88761 3491@kindex info f
af215b1a
VM
3492@item info frame
3493@itemx info f
70b88761 3494This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
af215b1a
VM
3495including:
3496
d056cc31 3497@itemize @bullet
af215b1a
VM
3498@item
3499the address of the frame
3500@item
3501the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
3502@item
3503the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
3504@item
3505the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
3506@item
3507the address of the frame's arguments
3508@item
3509the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
3510@item
3511which registers were saved in the frame
3512@end itemize
3513
3514@noindent The verbose description is useful when
70b88761
RP
3515something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
3516the usual conventions.
3517
3518@item info frame @var{addr}
3519@itemx info f @var{addr}
7e17041f
JK
3520Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
3521selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
3522command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
3523architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
3524@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
70b88761 3525
70b88761 3526@kindex info args
af215b1a 3527@item info args
70b88761
RP
3528Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
3529
3530@item info locals
3531@kindex info locals
3532Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
ed447b95
RP
3533line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
3534accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
70b88761 3535
1d7c3357 3536@ifclear CONLY
70b88761
RP
3537@kindex info catch
3538@cindex catch exceptions
3539@cindex exception handlers
af215b1a 3540@item info catch
70b88761
RP
3541Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
3542current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
3543exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
3544@code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
93928b60 3545@xref{Exception Handling, ,Breakpoints and exceptions}.
1d7c3357 3546@end ifclear
70b88761
RP
3547@end table
3548
572867a8
RP
3549@ifset MIPS
3550@node MIPS Stack
3551@section MIPS machines and the function stack
3552
3553@cindex stack on MIPS
3554@cindex MIPS stack
3555MIPS based computers use an unusual stack frame, which sometimes
3556requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to find the
3557beginning of a function.
3558
3559@cindex response time, MIPS debugging
3560To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
3561@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
3562you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
3563commands:
572867a8 3564
572867a8 3565@table @code
af215b1a 3566@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (MIPS)
572867a8 3567@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
c79890ee 3568Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its search
af215b1a
VM
3569for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the default)
3570means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the larger the
3571limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search and
3572therefore the longer it takes to run.
572867a8
RP
3573
3574@item show heuristic-fence-post
3575Display the current limit.
3576@end table
3577
3578@noindent
3579These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
3580for debugging programs on MIPS processors.
3581@end ifset
3582
4eb4cf57 3583@node Source
70b88761
RP
3584@chapter Examining Source Files
3585
18fae2a8 3586@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
ed447b95 3587information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
18fae2a8 3588used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
1041a570 3589the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
93928b60 3590(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
1041a570
RP
3591execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
3592source files by explicit command.
70b88761 3593
18fae2a8 3594@ifclear DOSHOST
af215b1a
VM
3595If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may prefer
3596to use
3597Emacs facilities to view source; @pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
18fae2a8 3598@end ifclear
70b88761
RP
3599
3600@menu
ed447b95 3601* List:: Printing source lines
18fae2a8 3602@ifclear DOSHOST
ed447b95 3603* Search:: Searching source files
18fae2a8 3604@end ifclear
b0157555 3605
ed447b95
RP
3606* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
3607* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
70b88761
RP
3608@end menu
3609
4eb4cf57 3610@node List
93928b60 3611@section Printing source lines
70b88761
RP
3612
3613@kindex list
3614@kindex l
3615To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
af215b1a
VM
3616(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
3617There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to print.
70b88761
RP
3618
3619Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
3620
3621@table @code
3622@item list @var{linenum}
c338a2fd 3623Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
70b88761
RP
3624current source file.
3625
3626@item list @var{function}
c338a2fd 3627Print lines centered around the beginning of function
70b88761
RP
3628@var{function}.
3629
3630@item list
c338a2fd
RP
3631Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
3632@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
70b88761 3633printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
29a2b744 3634as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
1041a570 3635Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
70b88761
RP
3636
3637@item list -
c338a2fd
RP
3638Print lines just before the lines last printed.
3639@end table
3640
18fae2a8 3641By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
c338a2fd
RP
3642the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
3643
3644@table @code
c338a2fd 3645@kindex set listsize
af215b1a 3646@item set listsize @var{count}
c338a2fd
RP
3647Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
3648the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
3649
c338a2fd 3650@kindex show listsize
af215b1a 3651@item show listsize
9a27b06e 3652Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
70b88761
RP
3653@end table
3654
3655Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
3656so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
3657than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
3658argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
3659each repetition moves up in the source file.
3660
3661@cindex linespec
3662In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
3663@dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
3664of writing them but the effect is always to specify some source line.
3665Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
3666
3667@table @code
3668@item list @var{linespec}
c338a2fd 3669Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
70b88761
RP
3670
3671@item list @var{first},@var{last}
3672Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
3673linespecs.
3674
3675@item list ,@var{last}
c338a2fd 3676Print lines ending with @var{last}.
70b88761
RP
3677
3678@item list @var{first},
c338a2fd 3679Print lines starting with @var{first}.
70b88761
RP
3680
3681@item list +
c338a2fd 3682Print lines just after the lines last printed.
70b88761
RP
3683
3684@item list -
c338a2fd 3685Print lines just before the lines last printed.
70b88761
RP
3686
3687@item list
3688As described in the preceding table.
3689@end table
3690
3691Here are the ways of specifying a single source line---all the
3692kinds of linespec.
3693
3694@table @code
3695@item @var{number}
3696Specifies line @var{number} of the current source file.
3697When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, this refers to
3698the same source file as the first linespec.
3699
3700@item +@var{offset}
3701Specifies the line @var{offset} lines after the last line printed.
3702When used as the second linespec in a @code{list} command that has
3703two, this specifies the line @var{offset} lines down from the
3704first linespec.
3705
3706@item -@var{offset}
3707Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before the last line printed.
3708
3709@item @var{filename}:@var{number}
3710Specifies line @var{number} in the source file @var{filename}.
3711
3712@item @var{function}
af215b1a
VM
3713Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
3714For example: in C, this is the line with the open brace.
70b88761
RP
3715
3716@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
3717Specifies the line of the open-brace that begins the body of the
3718function @var{function} in the file @var{filename}. You only need the
3719file name with a function name to avoid ambiguity when there are
3720identically named functions in different source files.
3721
3722@item *@var{address}
3723Specifies the line containing the program address @var{address}.
3724@var{address} may be any expression.
3725@end table
3726
18fae2a8 3727@ifclear DOSHOST
4eb4cf57 3728@node Search
93928b60 3729@section Searching source files
70b88761
RP
3730@cindex searching
3731@kindex reverse-search
3732
3733There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
3734regular expression.
3735
3736@table @code
70b88761
RP
3737@kindex search
3738@kindex forward-search
af215b1a
VM
3739@item forward-search @var{regexp}
3740@itemx search @var{regexp}
1041a570
RP
3741The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
3742starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
af215b1a 3743@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
1041a570
RP
3744synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
3745@code{fo}.
70b88761
RP
3746
3747@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
3748The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
3749with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
3750for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
3751this command as @code{rev}.
3752@end table
18fae2a8 3753@end ifclear
70b88761 3754
4eb4cf57 3755@node Source Path
93928b60 3756@section Specifying source directories
70b88761
RP
3757
3758@cindex source path
3759@cindex directories for source files
3760Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
3761files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
3762the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
18fae2a8
RP
3763session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
3764this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
70b88761
RP
3765it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
3766in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name. Note that
3767the executable search path is @emph{not} used for this purpose. Neither is
3768the current working directory, unless it happens to be in the source
3769path.
3770
9a27b06e
RP
3771If @value{GDBN} cannot find a source file in the source path, and the
3772object program records a directory, @value{GDBN} tries that directory
3773too. If the source path is empty, and there is no record of the
3774compilation directory, @value{GDBN} looks in the current directory as a
3775last resort.
70b88761 3776
9a27b06e 3777Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
b1955f0b
RP
3778any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
3779each line is in the file.
70b88761
RP
3780
3781@kindex directory
af215b1a 3782@kindex dir
18fae2a8 3783When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path is empty.
70b88761
RP
3784To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
3785
3786@table @code
3787@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
af215b1a 3788@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
70b88761
RP
3789Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
3790directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:} or
3791whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
9a27b06e 3792path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7463aadd 3793
fa6df1a7
RP
3794@kindex cdir
3795@kindex cwd
a88ec213
RP
3796@kindex $cdir
3797@kindex $cwd
fa6df1a7
RP
3798@cindex compilation directory
3799@cindex current directory
3800@cindex working directory
3801@cindex directory, current
3802@cindex directory, compilation
7463aadd
RP
3803You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
3804directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
3805working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
18fae2a8 3806tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7463aadd
RP
3807session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
3808directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
70b88761
RP
3809
3810@item directory
3811Reset the source path to empty again. This requires confirmation.
3812
3813@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
29a2b744 3814@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
70b88761
RP
3815
3816@item show directories
3817@kindex show directories
3818Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
3819@end table
3820
3821If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
18fae2a8 3822interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
70b88761
RP
3823versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
3824
3825@enumerate
3826@item
3827Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to empty.
3828
3829@item
3830Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
3831directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
3832directories in one command.
3833@end enumerate
3834
4eb4cf57 3835@node Machine Code
93928b60 3836@section Source and machine code
1041a570 3837
70b88761 3838You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
ed447b95 3839addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
af215b1a
VM
3840a range of addresses as machine instructions. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
3841mode, the @code{info line} command now causes the arrow to point to the
3842line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
3843well as hex.
70b88761
RP
3844
3845@table @code
70b88761 3846@kindex info line
af215b1a 3847@item info line @var{linespec}
70b88761 3848Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
1041a570
RP
3849source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
3850the ways understood by the @code{list} command (@pxref{List, ,Printing
93928b60 3851source lines}).
70b88761
RP
3852@end table
3853
1041a570
RP
3854For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
3855the object code for the first line of function
3856@code{m4_changequote}:
3857
70b88761 3858@smallexample
18fae2a8 3859(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changecom
70b88761
RP
3860Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
3861@end smallexample
3862
3863@noindent
3864We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
3865@var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
3866@smallexample
18fae2a8 3867(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
70b88761
RP
3868Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
3869@end smallexample
3870
c338a2fd 3871@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
29a2b744
RP
3872After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
3873is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
3874sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
93928b60 3875,Examining memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
29a2b744 3876convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
93928b60 3877variables}).
70b88761
RP
3878
3879@table @code
3880@kindex disassemble
c5f69ff8
RP
3881@cindex assembly instructions
3882@cindex instructions, assembly
3883@cindex machine instructions
3884@cindex listing machine instructions
af215b1a 3885@item disassemble
e94b4a2b
RP
3886This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
3887instructions. The default memory range is the function surrounding the
3888program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
9a27b06e
RP
3889command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
3890surrounding this value. Two arguments specify a range of addresses
3891(first inclusive, second exclusive) to dump.
70b88761
RP
3892@end table
3893
a64a6c2b 3894@ifclear H8EXCLUSIVE
70b88761 3895We can use @code{disassemble} to inspect the object code
4eb4cf57
RP
3896range shown in the last @code{info line} example (the example
3897shows SPARC machine instructions):
70b88761 3898
18fae2a8 3899
70b88761 3900@smallexample
18fae2a8 3901(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x63e4 0x6404
70b88761 3902Dump of assembler code from 0x63e4 to 0x6404:
b80282d5
RP
39030x63e4 <builtin_init+5340>: ble 0x63f8 <builtin_init+5360>
39040x63e8 <builtin_init+5344>: sethi %hi(0x4c00), %o0
39050x63ec <builtin_init+5348>: ld [%i1+4], %o0
39060x63f0 <builtin_init+5352>: b 0x63fc <builtin_init+5364>
39070x63f4 <builtin_init+5356>: ld [%o0+4], %o0
39080x63f8 <builtin_init+5360>: or %o0, 0x1a4, %o0
39090x63fc <builtin_init+5364>: call 0x9288 <path_search>
e251e767 39100x6400 <builtin_init+5368>: nop
70b88761 3911End of assembler dump.
70b88761 3912@end smallexample
18fae2a8 3913@end ifclear
4eb4cf57 3914
a64a6c2b 3915@ifset H8EXCLUSIVE
4eb4cf57
RP
3916For example, here is the beginning of the output for the
3917disassembly of a function @code{fact}:
70b88761 3918
18fae2a8 3919
4eb4cf57 3920@smallexample
18fae2a8 3921(@value{GDBP}) disas fact
4eb4cf57
RP
3922Dump of assembler code for function fact:
3923to 0x808c:
39240x802c <fact>: 6d f2 mov.w r2,@@-r7
39250x802e <fact+2>: 6d f3 mov.w r3,@@-r7
39260x8030 <fact+4>: 6d f6 mov.w r6,@@-r7
39270x8032 <fact+6>: 0d 76 mov.w r7,r6
39280x8034 <fact+8>: 6f 70 00 08 mov.w @@(0x8,r7),r0
39290x8038 <fact+12> 19 11 sub.w r1,r1
3930 .
3931 .
3932 .
3933@end smallexample
18fae2a8 3934@end ifset
4eb4cf57 3935
892d7e9f
SG
3936@table @code
3937@kindex set assembly-language
3938@cindex assembly instructions
3939@cindex instructions, assembly
3940@cindex machine instructions
3941@cindex listing machine instructions
3942@item set assembly-language @var{instruction-set}
3943This command selects the instruction set to use when disassembling the program via the
3944@code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands. It is useful for architectures that
3945have more than one native instruction set.
3946
3947Currently it is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You can set @var{instruction-set}
3948to either @code{i386} or @code{i8086}. The default is @code{i386}.
3949@end table
3950
3951
4eb4cf57 3952@node Data
70b88761
RP
3953@chapter Examining Data
3954
3955@cindex printing data
3956@cindex examining data
3957@kindex print
3958@kindex inspect
1041a570 3959@c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
29a2b744 3960@c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
70b88761
RP
3961@c different window or something like that.
3962The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
4eb4cf57 3963command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}.
18fae2a8 3964@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 3965It evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
18fae2a8 3966program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different
4eb4cf57 3967Languages}).
18fae2a8 3968@end ifclear
70b88761 3969
e0dacfd1
RP
3970@table @code
3971@item print @var{exp}
3972@itemx print /@var{f} @var{exp}
93928b60
RP
3973@var{exp} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
3974value of @var{exp} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
3975you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
3976@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; @pxref{Output Formats,,Output
3977formats}.
e0dacfd1
RP
3978
3979@item print
3980@itemx print /@var{f}
18fae2a8 3981If you omit @var{exp}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
93928b60 3982@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value history}). This allows you to
e0dacfd1
RP
3983conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
3984@end table
70b88761
RP
3985
3986A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
3987It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
93928b60 3988specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining memory}.
70b88761 3989
29a2b744 3990If you are interested in information about types, or about how the fields
1d7c3357
RP
3991of a struct
3992@ifclear CONLY
3993or class
18fae2a8 3994@end ifclear
1d7c3357
RP
3995are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
3996command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
18fae2a8 3997
70b88761 3998@menu
b80282d5 3999* Expressions:: Expressions
ed447b95
RP
4000* Variables:: Program variables
4001* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
eb7faec1 4002* Output Formats:: Output formats
ed447b95
RP
4003* Memory:: Examining memory
4004* Auto Display:: Automatic display
4005* Print Settings:: Print settings
4006* Value History:: Value history
4007* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
b80282d5 4008* Registers:: Registers
a64a6c2b 4009@ifclear HAVE-FLOAT
ed447b95 4010* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
18fae2a8 4011@end ifclear
18fae2a8 4012@end menu
70b88761 4013
4eb4cf57 4014@node Expressions
70b88761
RP
4015@section Expressions
4016
4017@cindex expressions
18fae2a8 4018@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
70b88761 4019compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
fe715d06 4020by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
18fae2a8 4021@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls, casts
70b88761 4022and string constants. It unfortunately does not include symbols defined
b80282d5 4023by preprocessor @code{#define} commands.
70b88761 4024
af215b1a 4025@value{GDBN} now supports array constants in expressions input by
fdfd6134
FF
4026the user. The syntax is @var{@{element, element@dots{}@}}. For example,
4027you can now use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to build up an array in
af215b1a
VM
4028memory that is malloc'd in the target program.
4029
18fae2a8 4030@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22 4031Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
18fae2a8 4032this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
c2bbbb22 4033Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
e251e767 4034languages.
c2bbbb22 4035
18fae2a8 4036In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
e251e767 4037expressions regardless of your programming language.
c2bbbb22 4038
70b88761 4039Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
af215b1a 4040useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
70b88761 4041at that address in memory.
c2bbbb22 4042@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
18fae2a8 4043@end ifclear
70b88761 4044
af215b1a
VM
4045@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
4046to programming languages:
70b88761
RP
4047
4048@table @code
4049@item @@
4050@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
93928b60 4051@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial arrays}, for more information.
70b88761
RP
4052
4053@item ::
4054@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
93928b60 4055function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program variables}.
70b88761 4056
fe715d06
RP
4057@cindex @{@var{type}@}
4058@cindex type casting memory
4059@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
4060@cindex casts, to view memory
af215b1a 4061@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
70b88761
RP
4062Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
4063memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
4064pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
4065a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
1041a570 4066normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
70b88761
RP
4067@end table
4068
4eb4cf57 4069@node Variables
93928b60 4070@section Program variables
70b88761
RP
4071
4072The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
4073in your program.
4074
4075Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
af215b1a
VM
4076(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}); they must be either:
4077
d056cc31 4078@itemize @bullet
af215b1a
VM
4079@item
4080global (or static)
4081@end itemize
4082
4083@noindent or
4084
d056cc31 4085@itemize @bullet
af215b1a
VM
4086@item
4087visible according to the scope rules of the
4088programming language from the point of execution in that frame
4089@end itemize
4090
4091@noindent This means that in the function
70b88761
RP
4092
4093@example
4094foo (a)
4095 int a;
4096@{
4097 bar (a);
4098 @{
4099 int b = test ();
4100 bar (b);
4101 @}
4102@}
4103@end example
4104
4105@noindent
ed447b95
RP
4106you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
4107executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
4108examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
4109the block where @code{b} is declared.
70b88761
RP
4110
4111@cindex variable name conflict
4112There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
4113scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
4114in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
6ca72cc6
RP
4115function with the same name (in different source files). If that
4116happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
4117you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
4118using the colon-colon notation:
70b88761
RP
4119
4120@cindex colon-colon
a6d0b6d3 4121@iftex
29a2b744 4122@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
70b88761 4123@kindex ::
a6d0b6d3 4124@end iftex
70b88761
RP
4125@example
4126@var{file}::@var{variable}
6ca72cc6 4127@var{function}::@var{variable}
70b88761
RP
4128@end example
4129
4130@noindent
6ca72cc6 4131Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
6c380b13 4132static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
18fae2a8 4133make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
6c380b13
RP
4134to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
4135
4136@example
18fae2a8 4137(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
6c380b13 4138@end example
70b88761 4139
18fae2a8 4140@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22 4141@cindex C++ scope resolution
70b88761 4142This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
18fae2a8
RP
4143use of the same notation in C++. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C++
4144scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
ed447b95
RP
4145@c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
4146@c conflict?? --mew
18fae2a8 4147@end ifclear
70b88761 4148
3d3ab540
RP
4149@cindex wrong values
4150@cindex variable values, wrong
4151@quotation
4152@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
b0157555
RP
4153wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
4154scope, and just before exit.
3d3ab540 4155@end quotation
b0157555 4156You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
af215b1a 4157This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
b0157555
RP
4158set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
4159stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
4160values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
4161also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
4162after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
4163variable definitions may be gone.
3d3ab540 4164
4eb4cf57 4165@node Arrays
93928b60 4166@section Artificial arrays
70b88761
RP
4167
4168@cindex artificial array
4169@kindex @@
4170It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
4171same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
4172dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
4173program.
4174
fe715d06
RP
4175You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
4176@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
af215b1a
VM
4177operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
4178and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
fe715d06
RP
4179of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
4180the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
4181argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
4182following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
4183example. If a program says
70b88761
RP
4184
4185@example
4186int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
4187@end example
4188
4189@noindent
4190you can print the contents of @code{array} with
4191
4192@example
4193p *array@@len
4194@end example
4195
4196The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
4197with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
4198subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
4199Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7640fe71 4200(@pxref{Value History, ,Value history}), after printing one out.
70b88761 4201
27648f26
PB
4202Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
4203This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
4204The value need not be in memory:
4205@example
4206(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
4207$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
4208@end example
4209
4210As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
4211@samp{(@var{type})[])@var{value}}) gdb calculates the size to fill
4212the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
4213@example
4214(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
4215$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
4216@end example
4217
1041a570 4218Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
3d3ab540 4219moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
1041a570
RP
4220actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
4221of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
4222to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
93928b60 4223variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
1041a570
RP
4224interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
4225instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
4226structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
4227in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
4228
3d3ab540
RP
4229@example
4230set $i = 0
4231p dtab[$i++]->fv
4232@key{RET}
4233@key{RET}
4234@dots{}
4235@end example
4236
ed447b95 4237@node Output Formats
70b88761
RP
4238@section Output formats
4239
4240@cindex formatted output
4241@cindex output formats
18fae2a8 4242By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
70b88761
RP
4243this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
4244in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
4245at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
4246these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
4247
4248The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
4249already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
4250@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
4251letters supported are:
4252
4253@table @code
4254@item x
4255Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
4256hexadecimal.
4257
4258@item d
4259Print as integer in signed decimal.
4260
4261@item u
4262Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
4263
4264@item o
4265Print as integer in octal.
4266
4267@item t
4268Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
fe715d06
RP
4269@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
4270used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
4271@pxref{Memory,,Examining memory}.}
70b88761
RP
4272
4273@item a
9a27b06e
RP
4274@cindex unknown address, locating
4275Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
4276the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
4277where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
1041a570 4278
70b88761 4279@example
18fae2a8
RP
4280(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
4281$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
70b88761
RP
4282@end example
4283
70b88761
RP
4284@item c
4285Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant.
4286
4287@item f
4288Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
4289using typical floating point syntax.
4290@end table
4291
4292For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
4293
4294@example
4295p/x $pc
4296@end example
4297
4298@noindent
4299Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
18fae2a8 4300names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
70b88761
RP
4301
4302To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
4303you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
4304expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
4305
4eb4cf57 4306@node Memory
93928b60 4307@section Examining memory
70b88761 4308
1041a570
RP
4309You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
4310any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
4311
70b88761
RP
4312@cindex examining memory
4313@table @code
4314@kindex x
cedaf8bc
RP
4315@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
4316@itemx x @var{addr}
4317@itemx x
ed447b95 4318Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
1041a570
RP
4319@end table
4320
4321@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
4322much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
cedaf8bc
RP
4323expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
4324If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
4325Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
70b88761 4326
1041a570
RP
4327@table @r
4328@item @var{n}, the repeat count
4329The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
4330how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
cedaf8bc
RP
4331@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
4332@c 4.1.2.
70b88761 4333
1041a570
RP
4334@item @var{f}, the display format
4335The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print},
af215b1a
VM
4336@samp{s} (null-terminated string), or @samp{i} (machine instruction).
4337The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially.
4338The default changes each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
70b88761 4339
1041a570
RP
4340@item @var{u}, the unit size
4341The unit size is any of
ed447b95 4342
70b88761
RP
4343@table @code
4344@item b
cedaf8bc 4345Bytes.
70b88761 4346@item h
cedaf8bc 4347Halfwords (two bytes).
70b88761 4348@item w
cedaf8bc 4349Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
70b88761 4350@item g
cedaf8bc 4351Giant words (eight bytes).
70b88761
RP
4352@end table
4353
cedaf8bc
RP
4354Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
4355default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
4356@samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
4357
1041a570 4358@item @var{addr}, starting display address
18fae2a8 4359@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
cedaf8bc
RP
4360memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
4361it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
1041a570 4362@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
cedaf8bc
RP
4363@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
4364other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
4365the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
4366starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
4367a value from memory).
1041a570 4368@end table
70b88761 4369
cedaf8bc
RP
4370For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
4371(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
4372starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
4373words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
4374@pxref{Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
70b88761 4375
cedaf8bc 4376Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
29a2b744 4377letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
9a27b06e 4378unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
cedaf8bc 4379specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
9a27b06e 4380(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
cedaf8bc
RP
4381
4382Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
4383and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
4384@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
4385including any operands. The command @code{disassemble} gives an
4386alternative way of inspecting machine instructions; @pxref{Machine
93928b60 4387Code,,Source and machine code}.
cedaf8bc
RP
4388
4389All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
4390easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
1041a570 4391you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
cedaf8bc
RP
4392instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
4393with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
4394the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
4395for successive uses of @code{x}.
70b88761 4396
c338a2fd 4397@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
cedaf8bc 4398The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
70b88761 4399in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
18fae2a8 4400would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
70b88761
RP
4401subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
4402@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
4403examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
4404@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
4405the convenience variable @code{$__}.
4406
4407If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
4408are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
4409address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
4410
4eb4cf57 4411@node Auto Display
93928b60 4412@section Automatic display
70b88761
RP
4413@cindex automatic display
4414@cindex display of expressions
4415
4416If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
4417(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
9a27b06e 4418display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
70b88761
RP
4419Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
4420to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
4421The automatic display looks like this:
4422
4423@example
44242: foo = 38
44253: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
4426@end example
4427
4428@noindent
ed447b95 4429This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
70b88761
RP
4430displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
4431specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
4432whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending on how elaborate your
4433format specification is---it uses @code{x} if you specify a unit size,
4434or one of the two formats (@samp{i} and @samp{s}) that are only
4435supported by @code{x}; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
4436
4437@table @code
70b88761 4438@kindex display
af215b1a 4439@item display @var{exp}
70b88761 4440Add the expression @var{exp} to the list of expressions to display
1041a570 4441each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
70b88761 4442
9a27b06e 4443@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
70b88761
RP
4444
4445@item display/@var{fmt} @var{exp}
4446For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
4447count, add the expression @var{exp} to the auto-display list but
7640fe71 4448arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
ed447b95 4449@xref{Output Formats,,Output formats}.
70b88761
RP
4450
4451@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
4452For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
4453number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
29a2b744 4454be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
93928b60 4455doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining memory}.
70b88761
RP
4456@end table
4457
4458For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
4459instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
4460is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers}).
4461
4462@table @code
70b88761
RP
4463@kindex delete display
4464@kindex undisplay
af215b1a
VM
4465@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
4466@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
70b88761
RP
4467Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
4468
9a27b06e 4469@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
70b88761
RP
4470(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
4471
70b88761 4472@kindex disable display
af215b1a 4473@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
70b88761
RP
4474Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
4475item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
4476enabled again later.
4477
70b88761 4478@kindex enable display
af215b1a 4479@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
70b88761
RP
4480Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
4481again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
4482
4483@item display
4484Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
29a2b744 4485done when your program stops.
70b88761 4486
70b88761 4487@kindex info display
af215b1a 4488@item info display
70b88761
RP
4489Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
4490automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
4491values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
4492It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
4493because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
4494@end table
4495
4496If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
4497sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
4498expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
4499variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
4500@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
9a27b06e 4501@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
70b88761 4502continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
9a27b06e
RP
4503there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
4504automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
4505is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
70b88761 4506
4eb4cf57 4507@node Print Settings
93928b60 4508@section Print settings
70b88761
RP
4509
4510@cindex format options
4511@cindex print settings
18fae2a8 4512@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
e251e767 4513and symbols are printed.
70b88761
RP
4514
4515@noindent
4516These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
4517
4518@table @code
af215b1a 4519@kindex set print address
70b88761 4520@item set print address
6b51acad 4521@itemx set print address on
9a27b06e 4522@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
70b88761
RP
4523traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
4524even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
af215b1a 4525is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
70b88761 4526@code{set print address on}:
1041a570 4527
70b88761 4528@smallexample
1041a570 4529@group
18fae2a8 4530(@value{GDBP}) f
e251e767 4531#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
70b88761 4532 at input.c:530
b80282d5 4533530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
1041a570 4534@end group
70b88761
RP
4535@end smallexample
4536
4537@item set print address off
4538Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
4539this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
1041a570 4540
d55320a0 4541@smallexample
1041a570 4542@group
18fae2a8
RP
4543(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
4544(@value{GDBP}) f
70b88761 4545#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
b80282d5 4546530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
1041a570 4547@end group
d55320a0 4548@end smallexample
70b88761 4549
fe715d06
RP
4550You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
4551dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
4552@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
4553all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
4554
70b88761 4555@kindex show print address
af215b1a 4556@item show print address
70b88761 4557Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
14621224
JK
4558@end table
4559
4560When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
4561closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
4562identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
af215b1a 4563source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
9a27b06e 4564@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
14621224
JK
4565you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
4566it prints a symbolic address:
4567
4568@table @code
14621224 4569@kindex set print symbol-filename
af215b1a 4570@item set print symbol-filename on
14621224
JK
4571Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
4572symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
4573
4574@item set print symbol-filename off
4575Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
4576default.
4577
14621224 4578@kindex show print symbol-filename
af215b1a 4579@item show print symbol-filename
14621224
JK
4580Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
4581line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
4582@end table
4583
9a27b06e
RP
4584Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
4585numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
5986c8ea
JG
4586number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
4587
14621224
JK
4588Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
4589printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
4590
4591@table @code
14621224 4592@kindex set print max-symbolic-offset
af215b1a 4593@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
14621224
JK
4594Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
4595offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
af215b1a
VM
4596@var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
4597to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
14621224 4598
14621224 4599@kindex show print max-symbolic-offset
af215b1a 4600@item show print max-symbolic-offset
9a27b06e 4601Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
14621224
JK
4602symbolic address.
4603@end table
70b88761 4604
9a27b06e
RP
4605@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
4606@cindex pointer, finding referent
4607If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
ec35141c
JK
4608@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
4609and source file location of the variable where it points, using
4610@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
4611For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
4612at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
9a27b06e
RP
4613
4614@example
9a27b06e
RP
4615(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
4616(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
4617$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
4618@end example
4619
4620@quotation
4621@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
4622does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
4623the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
4624@end quotation
4625
5986c8ea
JG
4626Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
4627
14621224 4628@table @code
af215b1a 4629@kindex set print array
70b88761
RP
4630@item set print array
4631@itemx set print array on
af215b1a 4632Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
70b88761
RP
4633but uses more space. The default is off.
4634
fe715d06 4635@item set print array off
70b88761
RP
4636Return to compressed format for arrays.
4637
70b88761 4638@kindex show print array
af215b1a 4639@item show print array
70b88761 4640Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
e251e767 4641arrays.
70b88761 4642
70b88761 4643@kindex set print elements
af215b1a
VM
4644@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
4645Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9a27b06e 4646If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
70b88761
RP
4647printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
4648This limit also applies to the display of strings.
af215b1a 4649Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
70b88761 4650
70b88761 4651@kindex show print elements
af215b1a
VM
4652@item show print elements
4653Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
4654If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
4655
4656@kindex set print null-stop
4657@item set print null-stop
4658Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
4659@sc{NULL} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
4660contain only short strings.
70b88761 4661
70b88761 4662@kindex set print pretty
af215b1a
VM
4663@item set print pretty on
4664Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
4665per line, like this:
70b88761 4666
d55320a0 4667@smallexample
1041a570 4668@group
70b88761
RP
4669$1 = @{
4670 next = 0x0,
4671 flags = @{
4672 sweet = 1,
4673 sour = 1
4674 @},
4675 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
4676@}
1041a570 4677@end group
d55320a0 4678@end smallexample
70b88761
RP
4679
4680@item set print pretty off
18fae2a8 4681Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
70b88761
RP
4682
4683@smallexample
1041a570 4684@group
38962738
RP
4685$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
4686meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
1041a570 4687@end group
70b88761
RP
4688@end smallexample
4689
4690@noindent
4691This is the default format.
4692
70b88761 4693@kindex show print pretty
af215b1a 4694@item show print pretty
9a27b06e 4695Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
70b88761 4696
f2857bd9 4697@kindex set print sevenbit-strings
af215b1a 4698@item set print sevenbit-strings on
e251e767 4699Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9a27b06e
RP
4700@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
4701character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
4702best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
4703high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
70b88761
RP
4704
4705@item set print sevenbit-strings off
9a27b06e
RP
4706Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
4707international character sets, and is the default.
70b88761 4708
f2857bd9 4709@kindex show print sevenbit-strings
af215b1a 4710@item show print sevenbit-strings
9a27b06e 4711Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
70b88761 4712
70b88761 4713@kindex set print union
af215b1a
VM
4714@item set print union on
4715Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures. This
4716is the default setting.
70b88761
RP
4717
4718@item set print union off
18fae2a8 4719Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in structures.
70b88761 4720
70b88761 4721@kindex show print union
af215b1a 4722@item show print union
18fae2a8 4723Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
e251e767 4724structures.
70b88761
RP
4725
4726For example, given the declarations
4727
4728@smallexample
4729typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
4730typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
203eea5d
RP
4731typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
4732 Bug_forms;
70b88761
RP
4733
4734struct thing @{
4735 Species it;
4736 union @{
4737 Tree_forms tree;
4738 Bug_forms bug;
4739 @} form;
4740@};
4741
4742struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
4743@end smallexample
4744
4745@noindent
4746with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
4747
4748@smallexample
4749$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
4750@end smallexample
4751
4752@noindent
4753and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
4754
4755@smallexample
4756$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
4757@end smallexample
4758@end table
4759
1d7c3357 4760@ifclear CONLY
d55320a0 4761@need 1000
70b88761
RP
4762@noindent
4763These settings are of interest when debugging C++ programs:
4764
4765@table @code
af215b1a
VM
4766@cindex demangling
4767@kindex set print demangle
e251e767
RP
4768@item set print demangle
4769@itemx set print demangle on
fe715d06
RP
4770Print C++ names in their source form rather than in the encoded
4771(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
4772linkage. The default is @samp{on}.
70b88761 4773
70b88761 4774@kindex show print demangle
af215b1a 4775@item show print demangle
9a27b06e 4776Show whether C++ names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
70b88761 4777
af215b1a 4778@kindex set print asm-demangle
e251e767
RP
4779@item set print asm-demangle
4780@itemx set print asm-demangle on
70b88761
RP
4781Print C++ names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
4782in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
4783The default is off.
4784
70b88761 4785@kindex show print asm-demangle
af215b1a 4786@item show print asm-demangle
9a27b06e 4787Show whether C++ names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
70b88761
RP
4788or demangled form.
4789
fe715d06
RP
4790@kindex set demangle-style
4791@cindex C++ symbol decoding style
4792@cindex symbol decoding style, C++
af215b1a 4793@item set demangle-style @var{style}
fe715d06
RP
4794Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
4795represent C++ names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
4796
4797@table @code
4798@item auto
4799Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
4800
4801@item gnu
af215b1a
VM
4802Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
4803This is the default.
fe715d06
RP
4804
4805@item lucid
4806Decode based on the Lucid C++ compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
4807
a1eff6c2 4808@item arm
fe715d06 4809Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C++ Annotated Reference Manual}.
a1eff6c2
RP
4810@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
4811debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
4812require further enhancement to permit that.
af215b1a
VM
4813
4814@item foo
4815Show the list of formats.
fe715d06
RP
4816@end table
4817
fe715d06 4818@kindex show demangle-style
af215b1a 4819@item show demangle-style
fe715d06
RP
4820Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C++ symbols.
4821
af215b1a 4822@kindex set print object
70b88761
RP
4823@item set print object
4824@itemx set print object on
70b88761
RP
4825When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
4826(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
4827the virtual function table.
4828
4829@item set print object off
4830Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
4831virtual function table. This is the default setting.
4832
70b88761 4833@kindex show print object
af215b1a 4834@item show print object
9a27b06e 4835Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
70b88761 4836
be255497
PS
4837@kindex set print static-members
4838@item set print static-members
4839@itemx set print static-members on
4840Print static members when displaying a C++ object. The default is on.
4841
4842@item set print static-members off
4843Do not print static members when displaying a C++ object.
4844
4845@kindex show print static-members
4846@item show print static-members
4847Show whether C++ static members are printed, or not.
4848
af215b1a 4849@kindex set print vtbl
e251e767
RP
4850@item set print vtbl
4851@itemx set print vtbl on
70b88761
RP
4852Pretty print C++ virtual function tables. The default is off.
4853
4854@item set print vtbl off
4855Do not pretty print C++ virtual function tables.
4856
70b88761 4857@kindex show print vtbl
af215b1a 4858@item show print vtbl
70b88761 4859Show whether C++ virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
70b88761 4860@end table
1d7c3357 4861@end ifclear
70b88761 4862
4eb4cf57 4863@node Value History
93928b60 4864@section Value history
70b88761
RP
4865
4866@cindex value history
af215b1a
VM
4867Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
4868@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
4869Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
4870(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
4871When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
4872since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
4873symbol table.
70b88761
RP
4874
4875@cindex @code{$}
4876@cindex @code{$$}
4877@cindex history number
6b51acad
RP
4878The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
4879refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
4880@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
4881printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
4882history number.
70b88761
RP
4883
4884To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
4885history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
4886remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
4887the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
4888@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
4889is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
4890@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
4891
4892For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
4893want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
4894
4895@example
4896p *$
4897@end example
4898
4899If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
4900to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
4901
4902@example
4903p *$.next
4904@end example
4905
4906@noindent
4907You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
4908command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
4909
4910Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
4911@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
4912
4913@example
4914print x
4915set x=5
4916@end example
4917
4918@noindent
4919then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
4920remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
4921
4922@table @code
4923@kindex show values
4924@item show values
4925Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
4926This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
4927values} does not change the history.
4928
4929@item show values @var{n}
4930Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
4931
4932@item show values +
4933Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
af215b1a 4934values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
70b88761
RP
4935@end table
4936
4937Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
e251e767 4938same effect as @samp{show values +}.
70b88761 4939
4eb4cf57 4940@node Convenience Vars
93928b60 4941@section Convenience variables
70b88761
RP
4942
4943@cindex convenience variables
18fae2a8
RP
4944@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
4945@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
4946exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
70b88761 4947setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
1041a570 4948of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
70b88761
RP
4949
4950Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
4951@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
4952the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers}).
4953(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
93928b60 4954by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value history}.)
70b88761
RP
4955
4956You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
ed447b95
RP
4957expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
4958For example:
70b88761
RP
4959
4960@example
4961set $foo = *object_ptr
4962@end example
4963
4964@noindent
4965would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
4966@code{object_ptr}.
4967
6b51acad
RP
4968Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
4969value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
4970value with another assignment at any time.
70b88761
RP
4971
4972Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
4973variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
4974that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
4975variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
4976
4977@table @code
70b88761 4978@kindex show convenience
af215b1a 4979@item show convenience
70b88761
RP
4980Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
4981Abbreviated @code{show con}.
4982@end table
4983
4984One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
4985incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
4986a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
4987
18fae2a8 4988@example
70b88761
RP
4989set $i = 0
4990print bar[$i++]->contents
18fae2a8 4991@end example
70b88761 4992
af215b1a
VM
4993@noindent Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
4994
18fae2a8 4995Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
70b88761
RP
4996values likely to be useful.
4997
4998@table @code
c338a2fd 4999@kindex $_
af215b1a 5000@item $_
70b88761 5001The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
93928b60 5002the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining memory}). Other
29a2b744
RP
5003commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
5004set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
5005and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
5006except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
5007to the type of @code{$__}.
70b88761 5008
c338a2fd 5009@kindex $__
af215b1a 5010@item $__
70b88761 5011The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
c2bbbb22
RP
5012to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
5013to match the format in which the data was printed.
f94cadf9
SS
5014
5015@item $_exitcode
5016@kindex $_exitcode
5017The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
5018the program being debugged terminates.
70b88761
RP
5019@end table
5020
4eb4cf57 5021@node Registers
70b88761
RP
5022@section Registers
5023
5024@cindex registers
b80282d5 5025You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
70b88761
RP
5026with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
5027for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
e251e767 5028your machine.
70b88761
RP
5029
5030@table @code
70b88761 5031@kindex info registers
af215b1a 5032@item info registers
b80282d5
RP
5033Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
5034registers (in the selected stack frame).
5035
b80282d5
RP
5036@kindex info all-registers
5037@cindex floating point registers
af215b1a 5038@item info all-registers
b80282d5
RP
5039Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
5040registers.
70b88761 5041
4eb4cf57 5042@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
af215b1a
VM
5043Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
5044As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
5045the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
5046the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
70b88761
RP
5047@end table
5048
18fae2a8 5049@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
29a2b744 5050expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
09267865
RP
5051architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
5052@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
5053the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
5054pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
5055register that contains the processor status. For example,
70b88761 5056you could print the program counter in hex with
1041a570 5057
70b88761
RP
5058@example
5059p/x $pc
5060@end example
5061
5062@noindent
5063or print the instruction to be executed next with
1041a570 5064
70b88761
RP
5065@example
5066x/i $pc
5067@end example
5068
5069@noindent
ed447b95 5070or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
29a2b744
RP
5071one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
5072memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
5073stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
5074stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
5075regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
93928b60 5076@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a function}.} with
1041a570 5077
70b88761
RP
5078@example
5079set $sp += 4
5080@end example
5081
09267865
RP
5082Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
5083your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
5084so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
5085shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
70b88761
RP
5086registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
5087can also refer to it as @code{$ps}.
5088
18fae2a8 5089@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
70b88761
RP
5090integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
5091special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
5092registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
5093to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
5094(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
5095@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
5096
5097Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
5098means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
5099the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
5100sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
5101coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
5102programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
af215b1a
VM
5103cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
5104that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
70b88761
RP
5105prints the data in both formats.
5106
5107Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
93928b60 5108(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}). This means that you get the
29a2b744
RP
5109value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
5110were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
5111true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
5112frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
70b88761 5113
18fae2a8 5114However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
70b88761 5115code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
18fae2a8 5116@value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9a27b06e 5117frame makes no difference.
70b88761 5118
a64a6c2b 5119@ifset AMD29K
03a77779 5120@table @code
d8a68b28 5121@kindex set rstack_high_address
03a77779
RP
5122@cindex AMD 29K register stack
5123@cindex register stack, AMD29K
af215b1a 5124@item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
03a77779 5125On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
18fae2a8
RP
5126``register stack''. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the extent
5127of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the stack is ``large
5128enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing memory locations that
93918348 5129do not exist. If necessary, you can get around this problem by
03a77779
RP
5130specifying the ending address of the register stack with the @code{set
5131rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an address, which
9a27b06e 5132you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
03a77779 5133hexadecimal.
d8a68b28 5134
d8a68b28 5135@kindex show rstack_high_address
af215b1a 5136@item show rstack_high_address
03a77779
RP
5137Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
5138processors.
5139@end table
18fae2a8 5140@end ifset
d8a68b28 5141
a64a6c2b 5142@ifclear HAVE-FLOAT
4eb4cf57 5143@node Floating Point Hardware
93928b60 5144@section Floating point hardware
70b88761 5145@cindex floating point
1041a570 5146
f886dc0f 5147Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
70b88761
RP
5148you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
5149
5150@table @code
70b88761 5151@kindex info float
af215b1a 5152@item info float
8c69096b 5153Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
70b88761 5154point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
af215b1a
VM
5155floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
5156the ARM and x86 machines.
70b88761 5157@end table
18fae2a8 5158@end ifclear
70b88761 5159
18fae2a8 5160@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 5161@node Languages
18fae2a8 5162@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
c2bbbb22
RP
5163@cindex languages
5164
09934a2b 5165@ifset MOD2
c2bbbb22
RP
5166Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
5167rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
5168dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
5169Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
af215b1a
VM
5170represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
5171@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
09934a2b 5172@end ifset
c2bbbb22
RP
5173
5174@cindex working language
18fae2a8 5175Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
29a2b744 5176allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
18fae2a8 5177native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
29a2b744 5178consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
af215b1a
VM
5179language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
5180language}.
c2bbbb22
RP
5181
5182@menu
5183* Setting:: Switching between source languages
5184* Show:: Displaying the language
09934a2b 5185@ifset MOD2
ed447b95 5186* Checks:: Type and range checks
09934a2b 5187@end ifset
da374d80 5188
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RP
5189* Support:: Supported languages
5190@end menu
5191
4eb4cf57 5192@node Setting
c2bbbb22
RP
5193@section Switching between source languages
5194
18fae2a8 5195There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
c2bbbb22 5196set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
18fae2a8 5197@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
d05baf08
JK
5198defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
5199used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
5200are printed, etc.
5201
af215b1a 5202In addition to the working language, every source file that
d05baf08
JK
5203@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
5204file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
af215b1a 5205source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
d05baf08
JK
5206language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
5207controls whether C++ names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
5208show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
af215b1a
VM
5209set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}.
5210
5211This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
5212as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
5213another language. In that case, make the
d05baf08 5214program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
af215b1a
VM
5215@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
5216program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
c2bbbb22
RP
5217
5218@menu
d05baf08 5219* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
c2bbbb22 5220* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
18fae2a8 5221* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
c2bbbb22
RP
5222@end menu
5223
d05baf08
JK
5224@node Filenames
5225@subsection List of filename extensions and languages
5226
5227If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
5228@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
5229
5230@table @file
5231@ifset MOD2
5232@item .mod
5233Modula-2 source file
5234@end ifset
5235
5236@item .c
5237C source file
5238
5239@item .C
5240@itemx .cc
5241@itemx .cxx
5242@itemx .cpp
5243@itemx .cp
5244@itemx .c++
5245C++ source file
5246
5247@item .ch
5248@itemx .c186
5249@itemx .c286
5250CHILL source file.
5251
5252@item .s
5253@itemx .S
5254Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
5255@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
5256@end table
5257
4eb4cf57 5258@node Manually
c2bbbb22
RP
5259@subsection Setting the working language
5260
ed447b95
RP
5261If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
5262expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
5263your program.
5264
c2bbbb22 5265@kindex set language
ed447b95
RP
5266If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
5267command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
09934a2b
RP
5268a language, such as
5269@ifclear MOD2
5270@code{c}.
5271@end ifclear
5272@ifset MOD2
5273@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
5274@end ifset
5275For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
c2bbbb22 5276
09934a2b 5277@ifset MOD2
18fae2a8 5278Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
c2bbbb22
RP
5279language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
5280to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
5281source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
5282languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
18fae2a8 5283source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
c2bbbb22
RP
5284command such as:
5285
5286@example
5287print a = b + c
5288@end example
5289
5290@noindent
5291might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
5292@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
5293printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
5294@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
09934a2b 5295@end ifset
c2bbbb22 5296
4eb4cf57 5297@node Automatically
18fae2a8 5298@subsection Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
c2bbbb22 5299
d05baf08
JK
5300To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
5301@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
5302then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
5303frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
5304working language to the language recorded for the function in that
5305frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
5306or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
5307does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
5308not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
c2bbbb22
RP
5309
5310This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
5311entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
5312written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
5313a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
5314case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
5315
4eb4cf57 5316@node Show
c2bbbb22
RP
5317@section Displaying the language
5318
9a27b06e 5319The following commands help you find out which language is the
c2bbbb22
RP
5320working language, and also what language source files were written in.
5321
5322@kindex show language
5323@kindex info frame
5324@kindex info source
5325@table @code
5326@item show language
5327Display the current working language. This is the
5328language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
29a2b744 5329build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
c2bbbb22
RP
5330
5331@item info frame
af215b1a
VM
5332Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
5333working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
5334@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a frame}, to identify the other
5335information listed here.
c2bbbb22
RP
5336
5337@item info source
af215b1a
VM
5338Display the source language of this source file.
5339@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
5340information listed here.
c2bbbb22
RP
5341@end table
5342
09934a2b 5343@ifset MOD2
4eb4cf57 5344@node Checks
93928b60 5345@section Type and range checking
c2bbbb22
RP
5346
5347@quotation
18fae2a8 5348@emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
c2bbbb22
RP
5349checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
5350section documents the intended facilities.
5351@end quotation
5352@c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
5353
5354Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
5355errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
5356checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
5357sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
5358these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
5359by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
29a2b744 5360errors when your program is running.
c2bbbb22 5361
18fae2a8 5362@value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
9a27b06e 5363Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program, it
18fae2a8 5364can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via
1041a570 5365the @code{print} command, for example. As with the working language,
18fae2a8 5366@value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check automatically based on
93928b60 5367your program's source language. @xref{Support, ,Supported languages},
1041a570 5368for the default settings of supported languages.
c2bbbb22
RP
5369
5370@menu
5371* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
5372* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
5373@end menu
5374
5375@cindex type checking
5376@cindex checks, type
4eb4cf57 5377@node Type Checking
c2bbbb22
RP
5378@subsection An overview of type checking
5379
5380Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
5381arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
5382otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
5383errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
5384
af215b1a 5385@smallexample
c2bbbb22 53861 + 2 @result{} 3
1041a570 5387@exdent but
c2bbbb22 5388@error{} 1 + 2.3
af215b1a 5389@end smallexample
c2bbbb22
RP
5390
5391The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
5392type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
5393
af215b1a
VM
5394For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
5395@value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
5396to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
5397or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
5398but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
18fae2a8 5399these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
c2bbbb22
RP
5400also issues a warning.
5401
af215b1a
VM
5402Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
5403related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
5404For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
5405a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
5406with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
5407the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
c2bbbb22
RP
5408
5409Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
5410instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
5411operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
5412represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
93928b60 5413operators. @xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for further
c2bbbb22
RP
5414details on specific languages.
5415
18fae2a8 5416@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
c2bbbb22
RP
5417
5418@kindex set check
5419@kindex set check type
5420@kindex show check type
5421@table @code
5422@item set check type auto
e251e767 5423Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
93928b60 5424@xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for the default settings for
c2bbbb22
RP
5425each language.
5426
5427@item set check type on
5428@itemx set check type off
5429Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
5430current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
93918348 5431match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
18fae2a8 5432evaluating an expression while typechecking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
c2bbbb22
RP
5433message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
5434
5435@item set check type warn
5436Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
5437evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
18fae2a8 5438be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
c2bbbb22
RP
5439numbers and structures.
5440
5441@item show type
af215b1a
VM
5442Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
5443is setting it automatically.
c2bbbb22
RP
5444@end table
5445
5446@cindex range checking
5447@cindex checks, range
4eb4cf57 5448@node Range Checking
ed447b95 5449@subsection An overview of range checking
c2bbbb22
RP
5450
5451In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
5452bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
5453checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
5454computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
5455not exceed the bounds of the array.
5456
ed447b95
RP
5457For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
5458@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
5459always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
5460warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
c2bbbb22
RP
5461
5462A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
ed447b95 5463array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
c2bbbb22
RP
5464of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
5465error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
5466result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
5467the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
1041a570 5468
c2bbbb22
RP
5469@example
5470@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
5471@end example
5472
5473This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
1041a570 5474specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Support, ,
93928b60 5475Supported languages}, for further details on specific languages.
c2bbbb22 5476
18fae2a8 5477@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
c2bbbb22
RP
5478
5479@kindex set check
5480@kindex set check range
5481@kindex show check range
5482@table @code
5483@item set check range auto
e251e767 5484Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
93928b60 5485@xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for the default settings for
c2bbbb22
RP
5486each language.
5487
5488@item set check range on
5489@itemx set check range off
5490Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
5491current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
93918348 5492match the language default. If a range error occurs, then a message
c2bbbb22
RP
5493is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
5494
5495@item set check range warn
18fae2a8 5496Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
c2bbbb22
RP
5497but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
5498expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
6b51acad 5499memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
c2bbbb22
RP
5500systems).
5501
5502@item show range
e251e767 5503Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
18fae2a8 5504being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
c2bbbb22 5505@end table
09934a2b 5506@end ifset
c2bbbb22 5507
4eb4cf57 5508@node Support
93928b60 5509@section Supported languages
c2bbbb22 5510
09934a2b
RP
5511@ifset MOD2
5512@value{GDBN} 4 supports C, C++, and Modula-2.
5513@end ifset
5514@ifclear MOD2
5515@value{GDBN} 4 supports C, and C++.
5516@end ifclear
5517Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
5518language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
5519and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
5520,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
5521language.
5522
5523The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
5524supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
5525tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
9a27b06e 5526@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
09934a2b
RP
5527formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
5528books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
5529language reference or tutorial.
5530
5531@ifset MOD2
c2bbbb22
RP
5532@menu
5533* C:: C and C++
5534* Modula-2:: Modula-2
5535@end menu
5536
4eb4cf57 5537@node C
c2bbbb22
RP
5538@subsection C and C++
5539@cindex C and C++
c2bbbb22 5540@cindex expressions in C or C++
0f153e74 5541
18fae2a8 5542Since C and C++ are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
af215b1a 5543to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
5a2c1d85 5544together.
09934a2b
RP
5545@end ifset
5546@ifclear MOD2
5547@c Cancel this below, under same condition, at end of this chapter!
6370267a 5548@raisesections
09934a2b 5549@end ifclear
b80282d5
RP
5550
5551@cindex C++
5552@kindex g++
af215b1a
VM
5553@cindex @sc{gnu} C++
5554The C++ debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the @sc{gnu} C++
22b5dba5 5555compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C++ code
af215b1a 5556effectively, you must compile your C++ programs with the @sc{gnu} C++
22b5dba5
RP
5557compiler, @code{g++}.
5558
5559For best results when debugging C++ programs, use the stabs debugging
5560format. You can select that format explicitly with the @code{g++}
5561command-line options @samp{-gstabs} or @samp{-gstabs+}. See
af215b1a
VM
5562@ref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or @sc{gnu} CC,
5563gcc.info, Using @sc{gnu} CC}, for more information.
18fae2a8
RP
5564@end ifclear
5565@ifset CONLY
0f153e74
RP
5566@node C
5567@chapter C Language Support
5568@cindex C language
5569@cindex expressions in C
5570
18fae2a8
RP
5571Information specific to the C language is built into @value{GDBN} so that you
5572can use C expressions while degugging. This also permits @value{GDBN} to
0f153e74 5573output values in a manner consistent with C conventions.
c2bbbb22 5574
0f153e74 5575@menu
ed447b95
RP
5576* C Operators:: C operators
5577* C Constants:: C constants
18fae2a8 5578* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
0f153e74 5579@end menu
18fae2a8
RP
5580@end ifset
5581@ifclear CONLY
b80282d5 5582@menu
ed447b95
RP
5583* C Operators:: C and C++ operators
5584* C Constants:: C and C++ constants
5585* Cplus expressions:: C++ expressions
c2bbbb22 5586* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C++
09934a2b 5587@ifset MOD2
ed447b95 5588* C Checks:: C and C++ type and range checks
09934a2b 5589@end ifset
da374d80 5590
18fae2a8 5591* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
c2bbbb22 5592* Debugging C plus plus:: Special features for C++
b80282d5 5593@end menu
18fae2a8 5594@end ifclear
b80282d5 5595
18fae2a8 5596@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22 5597@cindex C and C++ operators
4eb4cf57 5598@node C Operators
93928b60 5599@subsubsection C and C++ operators
18fae2a8
RP
5600@end ifclear
5601@ifset CONLY
0f153e74
RP
5602@cindex C operators
5603@node C Operators
93928b60 5604@section C operators
18fae2a8 5605@end ifset
c2bbbb22
RP
5606
5607Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
5608@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
0f153e74
RP
5609often defined on groups of types.
5610
18fae2a8 5611@ifclear CONLY
0f153e74 5612For the purposes of C and C++, the following definitions hold:
18fae2a8 5613@end ifclear
c2bbbb22
RP
5614
5615@itemize @bullet
e251e767 5616@item
c2bbbb22 5617@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
9aa964da 5618specifiers; @code{char}; and @code{enum}.
c2bbbb22
RP
5619
5620@item
5621@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float} and @code{double}.
5622
5623@item
5624@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type}
5625*)}.
5626
e251e767 5627@item
c2bbbb22 5628@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
c2bbbb22
RP
5629@end itemize
5630
5631@noindent
5632The following operators are supported. They are listed here
5633in order of increasing precedence:
5634
5635@table @code
18fae2a8 5636@item ,
c2bbbb22
RP
5637The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
5638are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
5639expression being the last expression evaluated.
5640
5641@item =
5642Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
5643assigned. Defined on scalar types.
5644
5645@item @var{op}=
1041a570
RP
5646Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
5647and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
5648@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precendence.
5649@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
5650@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
c2bbbb22
RP
5651
5652@item ?:
5653The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
5654of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
5655integral type.
5656
5657@item ||
1041a570 5658Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5659
5660@item &&
1041a570 5661Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5662
5663@item |
1041a570 5664Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5665
5666@item ^
1041a570 5667Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5668
5669@item &
1041a570 5670Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5671
5672@item ==@r{, }!=
5673Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
5674expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
5675
5676@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
5677Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
5678Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
5679and non-zero for true.
5680
5681@item <<@r{, }>>
18fae2a8 5682left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
c2bbbb22 5683
e251e767 5684@item @@
18fae2a8 5685The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
c2bbbb22
RP
5686
5687@item +@r{, }-
5688Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
e251e767 5689pointer types.
c2bbbb22
RP
5690
5691@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
5692Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
5693defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
5694integral types.
5695
5696@item ++@r{, }--
5697Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
5698operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
5699when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
5700operation takes place.
5701
5702@item *
5703Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
5704@code{++}.
5705
5706@item &
5707Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
5708
18fae2a8 5709@ifclear CONLY
93918348 5710For debugging C++, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
6ca72cc6 5711allowed in the C++ language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
7640fe71 5712(or, if you prefer, simply @samp{&&@var{ref}}) to examine the address
6ca72cc6
RP
5713where a C++ reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
5714stored.
18fae2a8 5715@end ifclear
6ca72cc6 5716
c2bbbb22
RP
5717@item -
5718Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
5719precedence as @code{++}.
5720
5721@item !
5722Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
5723@code{++}.
5724
5725@item ~
5726Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
5727@code{++}.
5728
18fae2a8 5729
c2bbbb22
RP
5730@item .@r{, }->
5731Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
18fae2a8 5732@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
e251e767 5733pointer based on the stored type information.
9aa964da 5734Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
c2bbbb22
RP
5735
5736@item []
5737Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
5738@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
5739
5740@item ()
18fae2a8 5741Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
c2bbbb22 5742
18fae2a8 5743@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22
RP
5744@item ::
5745C++ scope resolution operator. Defined on
5746@code{struct}, @code{union}, and @code{class} types.
18fae2a8 5747@end ifclear
c2bbbb22
RP
5748
5749@item ::
ed447b95
RP
5750Doubled colons
5751@ifclear CONLY
5752also
5753@end ifclear
5754represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@pxref{Expressions,
5755,Expressions}).
18fae2a8 5756@ifclear CONLY
0f153e74 5757Same precedence as @code{::}, above.
18fae2a8 5758@end ifclear
c2bbbb22
RP
5759@end table
5760
18fae2a8 5761@ifclear CONLY
c2bbbb22 5762@cindex C and C++ constants
4eb4cf57 5763@node C Constants
93928b60 5764@subsubsection C and C++ constants
0f153e74 5765
18fae2a8 5766@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C++ in the
0f153e74 5767following ways:
18fae2a8
RP
5768@end ifclear
5769@ifset CONLY
0f153e74
RP
5770@cindex C constants
5771@node C Constants
93928b60 5772@section C constants
c2bbbb22 5773
18fae2a8 5774@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C in the
c2bbbb22 5775following ways:
18fae2a8 5776@end ifset
c2bbbb22
RP
5777
5778@itemize @bullet
c2bbbb22
RP
5779@item
5780Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
af215b1a 5781specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e. zero), and hexadecimal constants by
1041a570 5782a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
c2bbbb22
RP
5783@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
5784@code{long} value.
5785
5786@item
5787Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
5788point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
5789exponent. An exponent is of the form:
5790@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
5791sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
5792
5793@item
5794Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
5795integral equivalents.
5796
5797@item
5798Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
5799(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
5800(usually its @sc{ASCII} value). Within quotes, the single character may
5801be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
5802the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
5803of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
5804@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
5805@samp{\n} for newline.
5806
5807@item
5808String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded
5809by double quotes (@code{"}).
5810
5811@item
fe715d06
RP
5812Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
5813to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
5814
5815@item
5816Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
5817and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
5818integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
5819and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
c2bbbb22
RP
5820@end itemize
5821
18fae2a8 5822@ifclear CONLY
ed447b95 5823@node Cplus expressions
93928b60 5824@subsubsection C++ expressions
b80282d5
RP
5825
5826@cindex expressions in C++
93918348 5827@value{GDBN} expression handling has a number of extensions to
b1385986
RP
5828interpret a significant subset of C++ expressions.
5829
5830@cindex C++ support, not in @sc{coff}
5831@cindex @sc{coff} versus C++
5832@cindex C++ and object formats
5833@cindex object formats and C++
5834@cindex a.out and C++
5835@cindex @sc{ecoff} and C++
5836@cindex @sc{xcoff} and C++
5837@cindex @sc{elf}/stabs and C++
5838@cindex @sc{elf}/@sc{dwarf} and C++
9a27b06e
RP
5839@c FIXME!! GDB may eventually be able to debug C++ using DWARF; check
5840@c periodically whether this has happened...
b1385986 5841@quotation
9a27b06e 5842@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C++ code if you compile with
af215b1a 5843the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler. Moreover, C++ debugging depends on the use of
9a27b06e
RP
5844additional debugging information in the symbol table, and thus requires
5845special support. @value{GDBN} has this support @emph{only} with the
5846stabs debug format. In particular, if your compiler generates a.out,
5847MIPS @sc{ecoff}, RS/6000 @sc{xcoff}, or @sc{elf} with stabs extensions
af215b1a 5848to the symbol table, these facilities are all available. (With @sc{gnu} CC,
9a27b06e
RP
5849you can use the @samp{-gstabs} option to request stabs debugging
5850extensions explicitly.) Where the object code format is standard
5851@sc{coff} or @sc{dwarf} in @sc{elf}, on the other hand, most of the C++
5852support in @value{GDBN} does @emph{not} work.
b1385986 5853@end quotation
b80282d5
RP
5854
5855@enumerate
5856
5857@cindex member functions
e251e767 5858@item
b80282d5 5859Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
1041a570 5860
b80282d5
RP
5861@example
5862count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
5863@end example
5864
5865@kindex this
5866@cindex namespace in C++
e251e767 5867@item
b80282d5
RP
5868While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
5869expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
18fae2a8 5870that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
b80282d5
RP
5871pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C++.
5872
5873@cindex call overloaded functions
5874@cindex type conversions in C++
e251e767 5875@item
9a27b06e 5876You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
b80282d5
RP
5877call to the right definition, with one restriction---you must use
5878arguments of the type required by the function that you want to call.
9a27b06e 5879@value{GDBN} does not perform conversions requiring constructors or
b80282d5
RP
5880user-defined type operators.
5881
5882@cindex reference declarations
5883@item
af215b1a
VM
5884@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C++ references; you can use
5885them in expressions just as you do in C++ source---they are automatically
e251e767 5886dereferenced.
b80282d5 5887
18fae2a8 5888In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
b80282d5
RP
5889reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
5890avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
5891The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
1041a570 5892you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
b80282d5
RP
5893
5894@item
18fae2a8 5895@value{GDBN} supports the C++ name resolution operator @code{::}---your
c2bbbb22
RP
5896expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
5897one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
5898necessary, for example in an expression like
18fae2a8 5899@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
c2bbbb22 5900resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C++
93928b60 5901debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program variables}).
b80282d5
RP
5902@end enumerate
5903
4eb4cf57 5904@node C Defaults
93928b60 5905@subsubsection C and C++ defaults
c2bbbb22
RP
5906@cindex C and C++ defaults
5907
18fae2a8 5908If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
e251e767 5909both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
af215b1a
VM
5910C or C++. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
5911selects the working language.
c2bbbb22 5912
af215b1a
VM
5913If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it recognizes
5914source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or @file{.cc}, and
5915when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of these files,
5916it sets the working language to C or C++.
18fae2a8 5917@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language}, for
c2bbbb22
RP
5918further details.
5919
09934a2b
RP
5920@ifset MOD2
5921@c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
5922@c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
e0d3ace2 5923@c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
4eb4cf57 5924@node C Checks
93928b60 5925@subsubsection C and C++ type and range checks
c2bbbb22
RP
5926@cindex C and C++ checks
5927
18fae2a8 5928By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C++ expressions, type checking
9a27b06e
RP
5929is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
5930considers two variables type equivalent if:
c2bbbb22
RP
5931
5932@itemize @bullet
5933@item
5934The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
5935enumerated tag.
5936
e251e767 5937@item
af215b1a 5938The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
c2bbbb22
RP
5939declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
5940
5941@ignore
5942@c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
5943@c FIXME--beers?
5944@item
5945The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
5946declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
5947compilers.)
5948@end ignore
c2bbbb22
RP
5949@end itemize
5950
5951Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
5952indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
5953that is not itself an array.
09934a2b 5954@end ifset
18fae2a8 5955@end ifclear
c2bbbb22 5956
18fae2a8 5957@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 5958@node Debugging C
18fae2a8
RP
5959@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
5960@end ifclear
5961@ifset CONLY
5962@node Debugging C
5963@section @value{GDBN} and C
5964@end ifset
c2bbbb22
RP
5965
5966The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
5967the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
1d7c3357
RP
5968inside a @code{struct}
5969@ifclear CONLY
5970or @code{class}
5971@end ifclear
9a27b06e
RP
5972is also printed.
5973Otherwise, it appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
c2bbbb22
RP
5974
5975The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
ed447b95
RP
5976with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
5977,Expressions}.
c2bbbb22 5978
18fae2a8 5979@ifclear CONLY
4eb4cf57 5980@node Debugging C plus plus
93928b60 5981@subsubsection @value{GDBN} features for C++
b80282d5
RP
5982
5983@cindex commands for C++
18fae2a8 5984Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C++, and some are
b80282d5
RP
5985designed specifically for use with C++. Here is a summary:
5986
5987@table @code
5988@cindex break in overloaded functions
5989@item @r{breakpoint menus}
5990When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
93918348 5991@value{GDBN} breakpoint menus help you specify which function definition
93928b60 5992you want. @xref{Breakpoint Menus,,Breakpoint menus}.
b80282d5
RP
5993
5994@cindex overloading in C++
5995@item rbreak @var{regex}
5996Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
5997breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
e251e767 5998classes.
93928b60 5999@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}.
b80282d5
RP
6000
6001@cindex C++ exception handling
6002@item catch @var{exceptions}
6003@itemx info catch
29a2b744 6004Debug C++ exception handling using these commands. @xref{Exception
93928b60 6005Handling, ,Breakpoints and exceptions}.
b80282d5 6006
e251e767 6007@cindex inheritance
b80282d5
RP
6008@item ptype @var{typename}
6009Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
e251e767 6010@var{typename}.
1041a570 6011@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
b80282d5
RP
6012
6013@cindex C++ symbol display
6014@item set print demangle
6015@itemx show print demangle
6016@itemx set print asm-demangle
6017@itemx show print asm-demangle
6018Control whether C++ symbols display in their source form, both when
6019displaying code as C++ source and when displaying disassemblies.
93928b60 6020@xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
b80282d5
RP
6021
6022@item set print object
6023@itemx show print object
e251e767 6024Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
93928b60 6025@xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
b80282d5
RP
6026
6027@item set print vtbl
6028@itemx show print vtbl
6029Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
93928b60 6030@xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
6f3ec223
RP
6031
6032@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
6033You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
93918348 6034the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C++: type
6f3ec223 6035@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
93918348 6036also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
6f3ec223 6037available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
93928b60 6038@xref{Completion,, Command completion}, for details on how to do this.
b80282d5 6039@end table
09934a2b 6040@ifclear MOD2
6370267a
RP
6041@c cancels "raisesections" under same conditions near bgn of chapter
6042@lowersections
09934a2b 6043@end ifclear
b80282d5 6044
09934a2b 6045@ifset MOD2
4eb4cf57 6046@node Modula-2
c2bbbb22
RP
6047@subsection Modula-2
6048@cindex Modula-2
6049
ed447b95 6050The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
af215b1a 6051output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
ed447b95 6052developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
9a27b06e
RP
6053attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
6054to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
ed447b95 6055table.
c2bbbb22
RP
6056
6057@cindex expressions in Modula-2
6058@menu
6059* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
ed447b95
RP
6060* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
6061* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
c2bbbb22
RP
6062* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
6063* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
ed447b95 6064* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
c2bbbb22 6065* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
18fae2a8 6066* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
c2bbbb22
RP
6067@end menu
6068
4eb4cf57 6069@node M2 Operators
c2bbbb22
RP
6070@subsubsection Operators
6071@cindex Modula-2 operators
6072
6073Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
6074@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
6075often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
6076following definitions hold:
6077
6078@itemize @bullet
6079
6080@item
6081@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
6082their subranges.
6083
6084@item
6085@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
6086
6087@item
6088@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
6089
6090@item
6091@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
6092@var{type}}.
6093
6094@item
6095@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
6096
6097@item
9aa964da 6098@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
c2bbbb22
RP
6099
6100@item
6101@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
c2bbbb22
RP
6102@end itemize
6103
6104@noindent
6105The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
6106increasing precedence:
6107
6108@table @code
c2bbbb22
RP
6109@item ,
6110Function argument or array index separator.
18fae2a8 6111
c2bbbb22
RP
6112@item :=
6113Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
6114@var{value}.
6115
6116@item <@r{, }>
6117Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
6118types.
6119
6120@item <=@r{, }>=
6121Less than, greater than, less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
6122on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
6123set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
6124
6125@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
6126Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
18fae2a8 6127Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
c2bbbb22
RP
6128available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
6129comment character.
6130
6131@item IN
6132Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
6133Same precedence as @code{<}.
6134
6135@item OR
6136Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
6137
6138@item AND@r{, }&
6139Boolean conjuction. Defined on boolean types.
6140
6141@item @@
18fae2a8 6142The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
c2bbbb22
RP
6143
6144@item +@r{, }-
6145Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
6146and difference on set types.
6147
6148@item *
6149Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
6150on set types.
6151
6152@item /
6153Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
6154types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
6155
6156@item DIV@r{, }MOD
6157Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
6158precedence as @code{*}.
6159
6160@item -
9aa964da 6161Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
c2bbbb22
RP
6162
6163@item ^
e251e767 6164Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
c2bbbb22
RP
6165
6166@item NOT
6167Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
6168@code{^}.
6169
6170@item .
9aa964da 6171@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
c2bbbb22
RP
6172precedence as @code{^}.
6173
6174@item []
9aa964da 6175Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
c2bbbb22
RP
6176
6177@item ()
9aa964da 6178Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
c2bbbb22
RP
6179as @code{^}.
6180
6181@item ::@r{, }.
18fae2a8 6182@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
c2bbbb22
RP
6183@end table
6184
6185@quotation
18fae2a8 6186@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
9a27b06e 6187treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
c2bbbb22
RP
6188@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
6189@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
6190@end quotation
18fae2a8 6191
29a2b744 6192@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
4eb4cf57 6193@node Built-In Func/Proc
93928b60 6194@subsubsection Built-in functions and procedures
c2bbbb22
RP
6195
6196Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
6197In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
6198
6199@table @var
6200
6201@item a
6202represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
6203
6204@item c
6205represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
6206
6207@item i
6208represents a variable or constant of integral type.
6209
6210@item m
6211represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
6212same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
6b51acad 6213be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
c2bbbb22
RP
6214
6215@item n
6216represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
6217
6218@item r
6219represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
6220
6221@item t
6222represents a type.
6223
6224@item v
6225represents a variable.
6226
6227@item x
6228represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
6229explanation of the function for details.
c2bbbb22
RP
6230@end table
6231
6232All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
6233
6234@table @code
6235@item ABS(@var{n})
6236Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
6237
6238@item CAP(@var{c})
6239If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
6240equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument
6241
6242@item CHR(@var{i})
6243Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
6244
6245@item DEC(@var{v})
6246Decrements the value in the variable @var{v}. Returns the new value.
6247
6248@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
6249Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
6250new value.
6251
6252@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
6253Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
6254set.
6255
6256@item FLOAT(@var{i})
6257Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
6258
6259@item HIGH(@var{a})
6260Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
6261
6262@item INC(@var{v})
6263Increments the value in the variable @var{v}. Returns the new value.
6264
6265@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
6266Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
6267new value.
6268
6269@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
6270Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
6271there. Returns the new set.
6272
6273@item MAX(@var{t})
6274Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
6275
6276@item MIN(@var{t})
6277Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
6278
6279@item ODD(@var{i})
6280Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
6281
6282@item ORD(@var{x})
6283Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
6284value of a character is its ASCII value (on machines supporting the
6285ASCII character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
6286integral, character and enumerated types.
6287
6288@item SIZE(@var{x})
6289Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
6290
6291@item TRUNC(@var{r})
6292Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
6293
6294@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
6295Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
6296@end table
6297
6298@quotation
6299@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
9a27b06e 6300@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
c2bbbb22
RP
6301an error.
6302@end quotation
6303
6304@cindex Modula-2 constants
4eb4cf57 6305@node M2 Constants
c2bbbb22
RP
6306@subsubsection Constants
6307
18fae2a8 6308@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
c2bbbb22
RP
6309ways:
6310
6311@itemize @bullet
6312
6313@item
6314Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
6315expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
6316rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
6317trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
6318
6319@item
6320Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
6321decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
6322then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
6323@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
6324digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
6325digits.
6326
6327@item
6328Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
6329like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
6330also be expressed by their ordinal value (their ASCII value, usually)
6331followed by a @samp{C}.
6332
6333@item
1041a570
RP
6334String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
6335pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
6336Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
93928b60 6337Constants, ,C and C++ constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
1041a570 6338sequences.
c2bbbb22
RP
6339
6340@item
6341Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
6342
6343@item
6344Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
6345@code{FALSE}.
6346
6347@item
6348Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
6349
6350@item
6351Set constants are not yet supported.
c2bbbb22
RP
6352@end itemize
6353
4eb4cf57 6354@node M2 Defaults
93928b60 6355@subsubsection Modula-2 defaults
c2bbbb22
RP
6356@cindex Modula-2 defaults
6357
18fae2a8 6358If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
e251e767 6359both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
18fae2a8 6360Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you, or @value{GDBN},
c2bbbb22
RP
6361selected the working language.
6362
18fae2a8 6363If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
9a27b06e 6364code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
18fae2a8 6365working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} set
c2bbbb22
RP
6366the language automatically}, for further details.
6367
4eb4cf57 6368@node Deviations
93928b60 6369@subsubsection Deviations from standard Modula-2
c2bbbb22
RP
6370@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
6371
6372A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
6373This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
6374
6375@itemize @bullet
e251e767 6376@item
c2bbbb22
RP
6377Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
6378integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
6379debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
6380pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
6381through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
6382returned a pointer.)
6383
e251e767 6384@item
c2bbbb22 6385C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
9a27b06e 6386non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
c2bbbb22
RP
6387escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
6388printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
6389
6390@item
6391The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
6392argument.
6393
6394@item
29a2b744 6395All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
e251e767 6396@end itemize
c2bbbb22 6397
4eb4cf57 6398@node M2 Checks
93928b60 6399@subsubsection Modula-2 type and range checks
c2bbbb22
RP
6400@cindex Modula-2 checks
6401
6402@quotation
18fae2a8 6403@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
c2bbbb22
RP
6404range checking.
6405@end quotation
6406@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
6407
18fae2a8 6408@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
c2bbbb22
RP
6409
6410@itemize @bullet
6411@item
6412They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
6413@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
6414
6415@item
6416They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
af215b1a 6417@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
c2bbbb22
RP
6418@end itemize
6419
6420As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
6421whose types are not equivalent is an error.
6422
6423Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
29a2b744 6424index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
c2bbbb22 6425
4eb4cf57 6426@node M2 Scope
c2bbbb22
RP
6427@subsubsection The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
6428@cindex scope
6429@kindex .
e94b4a2b 6430@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
1041a570
RP
6431@ifinfo
6432@kindex colon-colon
ed447b95 6433@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
1041a570
RP
6434@end ifinfo
6435@iftex
c2bbbb22 6436@kindex ::
1041a570 6437@end iftex
c2bbbb22
RP
6438
6439There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
18fae2a8 6440(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
c2bbbb22
RP
6441similar syntax:
6442
6443@example
6444
6445@var{module} . @var{id}
6446@var{scope} :: @var{id}
c2bbbb22
RP
6447@end example
6448
6449@noindent
6450where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
29a2b744
RP
6451@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
6452identifier within your program, except another module.
c2bbbb22 6453
18fae2a8 6454Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
c2bbbb22 6455specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
9a27b06e 6456found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
c2bbbb22
RP
6457enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
6458
18fae2a8 6459Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
c2bbbb22
RP
6460the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
6461definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
6462an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
6463module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
6464@var{module}.
6465
4eb4cf57 6466@node GDB/M2
18fae2a8 6467@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
c2bbbb22 6468
18fae2a8 6469Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
c2bbbb22
RP
6470Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
6471specifically to C and C++: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
6472@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
93918348 6473apply to C++, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
c2bbbb22
RP
6474analogue in Modula-2.
6475
1041a570 6476The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
c2bbbb22
RP
6477while using any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
6478intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
6479created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C++. However, because an
6480address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
1041a570 6481@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful. (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions})
18fae2a8 6482
c2bbbb22 6483@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
18fae2a8 6484In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
c2bbbb22 6485interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
09934a2b 6486@end ifset
da374d80 6487@end ifclear
4eb4cf57
RP
6488
6489@node Symbols
70b88761
RP
6490@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
6491
6492The commands described in this section allow you to inquire about the
6493symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
6494program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
18fae2a8
RP
6495does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
6496program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
93928b60
RP
6497(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing files}), or by one of the
6498file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
70b88761 6499
6c380b13
RP
6500@cindex symbol names
6501@cindex names of symbols
6502@cindex quoting names
6503Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
18fae2a8 6504characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
6c380b13 6505most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
93928b60 6506source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program variables}). File names
18fae2a8 6507are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
6c380b13 6508ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
18fae2a8 6509@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
6c380b13
RP
6510@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
6511
6512@example
6513p 'foo.c'::x
6514@end example
6515
6516@noindent
6517looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
6518
70b88761 6519@table @code
70b88761 6520@kindex info address
af215b1a 6521@item info address @var{symbol}
70b88761
RP
6522Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
6523variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
6524local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
6525is always stored.
6526
6527Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
6b51acad 6528at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
70b88761
RP
6529the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
6530
70b88761 6531@kindex whatis
af215b1a 6532@item whatis @var{exp}
70b88761
RP
6533Print the data type of expression @var{exp}. @var{exp} is not
6534actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
6535assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
1041a570 6536@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
70b88761
RP
6537
6538@item whatis
6539Print the data type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
6540
70b88761 6541@kindex ptype
af215b1a 6542@item ptype @var{typename}
70b88761
RP
6543Print a description of data type @var{typename}. @var{typename} may be
6544the name of a type, or for C code it may have the form
25f9d853
JK
6545@ifclear CONLY
6546@samp{class @var{class-name}},
6547@end ifclear
70b88761 6548@samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
1041a570 6549@samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
70b88761
RP
6550
6551@item ptype @var{exp}
e0dacfd1 6552@itemx ptype
70b88761 6553Print a description of the type of expression @var{exp}. @code{ptype}
1041a570 6554differs from @code{whatis} by printing a detailed description, instead
ed447b95
RP
6555of just the name of the type.
6556
6557For example, for this variable declaration:
1041a570 6558
70b88761
RP
6559@example
6560struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
6561@end example
1041a570 6562
70b88761 6563@noindent
ed447b95 6564the two commands give this output:
1041a570 6565
70b88761 6566@example
1041a570 6567@group
18fae2a8 6568(@value{GDBP}) whatis v
70b88761 6569type = struct complex
18fae2a8 6570(@value{GDBP}) ptype v
70b88761
RP
6571type = struct complex @{
6572 double real;
6573 double imag;
6574@}
1041a570 6575@end group
70b88761 6576@end example
1041a570 6577
e0dacfd1
RP
6578@noindent
6579As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
6580the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
70b88761 6581
af215b1a 6582@kindex info types
70b88761
RP
6583@item info types @var{regexp}
6584@itemx info types
70b88761
RP
6585Print a brief description of all types whose name matches @var{regexp}
6586(or all types in your program, if you supply no argument). Each
6587complete typename is matched as though it were a complete line; thus,
6588@samp{i type value} gives information on all types in your program whose
6589name includes the string @code{value}, but @samp{i type ^value$} gives
6590information only on types whose complete name is @code{value}.
6591
6592This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
6593@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
6594lists all source files where a type is defined.
6595
70b88761 6596@kindex info source
af215b1a 6597@item info source
70b88761 6598Show the name of the current source file---that is, the source file for
c2bbbb22
RP
6599the function containing the current point of execution---and the language
6600it was written in.
70b88761 6601
70b88761 6602@kindex info sources
af215b1a 6603@item info sources
29a2b744 6604Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
b80282d5
RP
6605debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
6606have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
70b88761 6607
70b88761 6608@kindex info functions
af215b1a 6609@item info functions
70b88761
RP
6610Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
6611
6612@item info functions @var{regexp}
6613Print the names and data types of all defined functions
6614whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
6615Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
6616include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
6617start with @code{step}.
6618
70b88761 6619@kindex info variables
af215b1a 6620@item info variables
70b88761
RP
6621Print the names and data types of all variables that are declared
6622outside of functions (i.e., excluding local variables).
6623
6624@item info variables @var{regexp}
6625Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
6626variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
6627@var{regexp}.
6628
70b88761
RP
6629@ignore
6630This was never implemented.
af215b1a 6631@kindex info methods
70b88761
RP
6632@item info methods
6633@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
70b88761
RP
6634The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
6635methods within C++ program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
6636specific set of methods found in the various C++ classes. Many
6637C++ classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
6638from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
6639@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
6640which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
6641@end ignore
6642
af215b1a
VM
6643@cindex reloading symbols
6644Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
6645be replaced without stopping and restarting your program.
6646@ifset VXWORKS
6647For example, in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file
6648and keep on running.
6649@end ifset
6650If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow @value{GDBN} to
6651reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
6652
6653@table @code
6654@kindex set symbol-reloading
6655@item set symbol-reloading on
6656Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
6657object file with a particular name is seen again.
6658
6659@item set symbol-reloading off
6660Do not replace symbol definitions when re-encountering object files of
6661the same name. This is the default state; if you are not running on a
6662system that permits automatically relinking modules, you should leave
6663@code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN} may discard symbols
6664when linking large programs, that may contain several modules (from
6665different directories or libraries) with the same name.
6666
6667@kindex show symbol-reloading
6668@item show symbol-reloading
6669Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
6670@end table
6671
d48da190 6672@kindex maint print symbols
440d9834 6673@cindex symbol dump
d48da190 6674@kindex maint print psymbols
440d9834 6675@cindex partial symbol dump
af215b1a
VM
6676@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
6677@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
6678@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
440d9834 6679Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
18fae2a8 6680These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
d48da190 6681symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
18fae2a8 6682symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
d48da190 6683collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
18fae2a8 6684only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
d48da190
RP
6685command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
6686use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
18fae2a8
RP
6687symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
6688files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
d48da190 6689@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
18fae2a8 6690required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
d55320a0
RP
6691@xref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}, for a discussion of how
6692@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
70b88761
RP
6693@end table
6694
4eb4cf57 6695@node Altering
70b88761
RP
6696@chapter Altering Execution
6697
29a2b744 6698Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
70b88761
RP
6699find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
6700correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
18fae2a8 6701experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
70b88761
RP
6702program.
6703
6704For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
1d7c3357 6705locations,
18fae2a8 6706@ifclear BARETARGET
1d7c3357 6707give your program a signal, restart it
18fae2a8 6708@end ifclear
1d7c3357
RP
6709@ifset BARETARGET
6710restart your program
6711@end ifset
af215b1a 6712at a different address, or even return prematurely from a function.
18fae2a8 6713
18fae2a8 6714@menu
ed447b95
RP
6715* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
6716* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
1d7c3357 6717@ifclear BARETARGET
ed447b95 6718* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
18fae2a8 6719@end ifclear
b0157555 6720
ed447b95
RP
6721* Returning:: Returning from a function
6722* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
6723* Patching:: Patching your program
18fae2a8 6724@end menu
70b88761 6725
4eb4cf57 6726@node Assignment
93928b60 6727@section Assignment to variables
70b88761
RP
6728
6729@cindex assignment
6730@cindex setting variables
6731To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
1041a570 6732@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
70b88761
RP
6733
6734@example
6735print x=4
6736@end example
6737
6738@noindent
1041a570 6739stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
4eb4cf57 6740value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
18fae2a8
RP
6741@ifclear CONLY
6742@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
4eb4cf57 6743information on operators in supported languages.
18fae2a8 6744@end ifclear
70b88761 6745
70b88761
RP
6746@kindex set variable
6747@cindex variables, setting
6748If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
6749@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
93928b60
RP
6750really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
6751not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
6752,Value history}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
70b88761
RP
6753
6754If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
6755appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
6756variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
ed447b95
RP
6757to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if
6758your program has a variable @code{width}, you get
6759an error if you try to set a new value with just @samp{set width=13},
6760because @value{GDBN} has the command @code{set width}:
1041a570 6761
70b88761 6762@example
18fae2a8 6763(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
70b88761 6764type = double
18fae2a8 6765(@value{GDBP}) p width
70b88761 6766$4 = 13
18fae2a8 6767(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
70b88761
RP
6768Invalid syntax in expression.
6769@end example
1041a570 6770
70b88761 6771@noindent
ed447b95
RP
6772The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
6773order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
1041a570 6774
70b88761 6775@example
18fae2a8 6776(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
70b88761
RP
6777@end example
6778
18fae2a8 6779@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
1041a570 6780freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
ed447b95 6781and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
1041a570 6782same length or shorter.
e251e767 6783@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
e0d3ace2 6784@comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
70b88761
RP
6785
6786To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
6787construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
1041a570 6788(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
70b88761
RP
6789to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
6790and representation in memory), and
6791
6792@example
6793set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
6794@end example
6795
6796@noindent
6797stores the value 4 into that memory location.
6798
4eb4cf57 6799@node Jumping
93928b60 6800@section Continuing at a different address
70b88761 6801
29a2b744 6802Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
70b88761
RP
6803it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
6804an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
6805
6806@table @code
70b88761 6807@kindex jump
af215b1a 6808@item jump @var{linespec}
9a27b06e 6809Resume execution at line @var{linespec}. Execution stops again
29a2b744 6810immediately if there is a breakpoint there. @xref{List, ,Printing
93928b60 6811source lines}, for a description of the different forms of
29a2b744 6812@var{linespec}.
70b88761
RP
6813
6814The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
6815the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
6816register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
6817a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
6818be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
6819of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
6820confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
6821executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
29a2b744 6822well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
70b88761
RP
6823
6824@item jump *@var{address}
6825Resume execution at the instruction at address @var{address}.
6826@end table
6827
6828You can get much the same effect as the @code{jump} command by storing a
6829new value into the register @code{$pc}. The difference is that this
af215b1a 6830does not start your program running; it only changes the address of where it
9a27b06e 6831@emph{will} run when you continue. For example,
70b88761
RP
6832
6833@example
6834set $pc = 0x485
6835@end example
6836
6837@noindent
9a27b06e 6838makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
1041a570 6839address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
93928b60 6840@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and stepping}.
70b88761 6841
af215b1a
VM
6842The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back up--
6843perhaps with more breakpoints set--over a portion of a program that has
70b88761
RP
6844already executed, in order to examine its execution in more detail.
6845
18fae2a8 6846@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761 6847@c @group
ed447b95
RP
6848@node Signaling
6849@section Giving your program a signal
70b88761
RP
6850
6851@table @code
70b88761 6852@kindex signal
af215b1a 6853@item signal @var{signal}
6b51acad 6854Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
fd32a1dd
JK
6855signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
6856signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
6857SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
70b88761 6858
fd32a1dd 6859Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
29a2b744 6860giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
70b88761
RP
6861a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
6862@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
6863signal.
6864
6865@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
6866after executing the command.
6867@end table
6868@c @end group
fd32a1dd
JK
6869
6870Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
6871@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
6872causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
6873the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
6874passes the signal directly to your program.
6875
18fae2a8 6876@end ifclear
70b88761 6877
4eb4cf57 6878@node Returning
93928b60 6879@section Returning from a function
70b88761
RP
6880
6881@table @code
70b88761
RP
6882@cindex returning from a function
6883@kindex return
af215b1a
VM
6884@item return
6885@itemx return @var{expression}
70b88761
RP
6886You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
6887command. If you give an
6888@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
e251e767 6889value.
70b88761
RP
6890@end table
6891
18fae2a8 6892When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
70b88761
RP
6893(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
6894discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
6895be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
6896
29a2b744 6897This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
93928b60 6898frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
29a2b744
RP
6899innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
6900specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
6901of functions.
70b88761
RP
6902
6903The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
6904program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
1041a570 6905returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
93928b60 6906and Stepping, ,Continuing and stepping}) resumes execution until the
1041a570 6907selected stack frame returns naturally.
70b88761 6908
4eb4cf57 6909@node Calling
ed447b95 6910@section Calling program functions
70b88761
RP
6911
6912@cindex calling functions
6913@kindex call
6914@table @code
6915@item call @var{expr}
6916Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
6917returned values.
6918@end table
6919
6920You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
6921execute a function from your program, but without cluttering the output
af215b1a
VM
6922with @code{void} returned values. If the result is not void, it
6923is printed and saved in the value history.
6924
6925A new user-controlled variable, @var{call_scratch_address}, specifies
6926the location of a scratch area to be used when @value{GDBN} calls a
6927function in the target. This is necessary because the usual method
6928of putting the scratch area on the stack does not work in systems that
6929have separate instruction and data spaces.
70b88761 6930
4eb4cf57 6931@node Patching
ed447b95 6932@section Patching programs
c338a2fd
RP
6933@cindex patching binaries
6934@cindex writing into executables
1d7c3357 6935@ifclear BARETARGET
c338a2fd 6936@cindex writing into corefiles
1d7c3357 6937@end ifclear
1041a570 6938
18fae2a8 6939By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's executable
1d7c3357
RP
6940code
6941@ifclear BARETARGET
6942(or the corefile)
6943@end ifclear
6944read-only. This prevents accidental alterations
c338a2fd
RP
6945to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally patching
6946your program's binary.
6947
6948If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
6949explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
6950want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
e251e767 6951repairs.
c338a2fd
RP
6952
6953@table @code
af215b1a 6954@kindex set write
c338a2fd
RP
6955@item set write on
6956@itemx set write off
9a27b06e 6957If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable
18fae2a8 6958@ifclear BARETARGET
0f153e74 6959and core
18fae2a8 6960@end ifclear
0f153e74 6961files for both reading and writing; if you specify @samp{set write
9a27b06e 6962off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
c338a2fd 6963
1d7c3357
RP
6964If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
6965@code{exec-file}
6966@ifclear BARETARGET
6967or @code{core-file}
6968@end ifclear
6969command) after changing @code{set write}, for your new setting to take
6970effect.
c338a2fd
RP
6971
6972@item show write
7d7ff5f6 6973@kindex show write
0f153e74 6974Display whether executable files
18fae2a8 6975@ifclear BARETARGET
0f153e74 6976and core files
18fae2a8 6977@end ifclear
9a27b06e 6978are opened for writing as well as reading.
c338a2fd
RP
6979@end table
6980
18fae2a8 6981@node GDB Files
93918348 6982@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
70b88761 6983
18fae2a8 6984@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged, both in
4eb4cf57 6985order to read its symbol table and in order to start your program.
18fae2a8 6986@ifclear BARETARGET
93918348
RP
6987To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell @value{GDBN}
6988the name of the core dump file.
18fae2a8 6989@end ifclear
1041a570 6990
70b88761 6991@menu
ed447b95
RP
6992* Files:: Commands to specify files
6993* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
70b88761
RP
6994@end menu
6995
4eb4cf57 6996@node Files
93928b60 6997@section Commands to specify files
70b88761 6998@cindex symbol table
70b88761 6999
18fae2a8 7000@ifclear BARETARGET
0f153e74 7001@cindex core dump file
af215b1a
VM
7002You may want to specify executable and core dump file names.
7003The usual way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
7004@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, ,
7005Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}}).
18fae2a8
RP
7006@end ifclear
7007@ifset BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 7008The usual way to specify an executable file name is with
18fae2a8
RP
7009the command argument given when you start @value{GDBN}, (@pxref{Invocation,
7010,Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}}.
7011@end ifset
70b88761
RP
7012
7013Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
93918348
RP
7014@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to specify
7015a file you want to use. In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands
7016to specify new files are useful.
70b88761
RP
7017
7018@table @code
70b88761
RP
7019@cindex executable file
7020@kindex file
af215b1a 7021@item file @var{filename}
70b88761
RP
7022Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
7023symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
7024executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
af215b1a
VM
7025directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
7026@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
7027directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
7028to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
7029and your program, using the @code{path} command.
70b88761 7030
9a27b06e
RP
7031On systems with memory-mapped files, an auxiliary file
7032@file{@var{filename}.syms} may hold symbol table information for
7033@var{filename}. If so, @value{GDBN} maps in the symbol table from
14d01801 7034@file{@var{filename}.syms}, starting up more quickly. See the
af215b1a 7035descriptions of the file options @samp{-mapped} and @samp{-readnow}
9a27b06e 7036(available on the command line, and with the commands @code{file},
af215b1a
VM
7037@code{symbol-file}, or @code{add-symbol-file}, described below),
7038for more information.
14d01801 7039
e0dacfd1 7040@item file
18fae2a8 7041@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
70b88761
RP
7042has on both executable file and the symbol table.
7043
70b88761 7044@kindex exec-file
af215b1a 7045@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
70b88761 7046Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
9a27b06e 7047in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
29a2b744 7048if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
e0dacfd1 7049discard information on the executable file.
70b88761 7050
70b88761 7051@kindex symbol-file
af215b1a 7052@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
70b88761
RP
7053Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
7054searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
7055table and program to run from the same file.
7056
93918348 7057@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
70b88761
RP
7058program's symbol table.
7059
af215b1a
VM
7060The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents
7061of its convenience variables, the value history, and all breakpoints and
70b88761
RP
7062auto-display expressions. This is because they may contain pointers to
7063the internal data recording symbols and data types, which are part of
18fae2a8 7064the old symbol table data being discarded inside @value{GDBN}.
70b88761 7065
9a27b06e 7066@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
70b88761
RP
7067executing it once.
7068
9a27b06e
RP
7069When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
7070understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
af215b1a 7071generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14d01801 7072other compilers that adhere to the local conventions. Best results are
af215b1a 7073usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example, using @code{@value{GCC}}
14d01801
RP
7074you can generate debugging information for optimized code.
7075
70b88761 7076On some kinds of object files, the @code{symbol-file} command does not
14d01801 7077normally read the symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans
70b88761
RP
7078the symbol table quickly to find which source files and which symbols
7079are present. The details are read later, one source file at a time,
1041a570 7080as they are needed.
70b88761 7081
18fae2a8 7082The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN} start up
1041a570
RP
7083faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for occasional
7084pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source file are
7085being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these pauses
93928b60
RP
7086into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings
7087and messages}.)
70b88761 7088
8c69096b
RP
7089We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
7090symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
7091symbol table data in full right away.
70b88761 7092
14d01801
RP
7093@kindex readnow
7094@cindex reading symbols immediately
7095@cindex symbols, reading immediately
7096@kindex mapped
7097@cindex memory-mapped symbol file
38962738 7098@cindex saving symbol table
af215b1a
VM
7099@item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
7100@itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
18fae2a8 7101You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
95d5ceb9 7102tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
18fae2a8 7103load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14d01801
RP
7104entire symbol table available.
7105
18fae2a8 7106@ifclear BARETARGET
14d01801 7107If memory-mapped files are available on your system through the
95d5ceb9 7108@code{mmap} system call, you can use another option, @samp{-mapped}, to
18fae2a8 7109cause @value{GDBN} to write the symbols for your program into a reusable
9a27b06e 7110file. Future @value{GDBN} debugging sessions map in symbol information
93918348 7111from this auxiliary symbol file (if the program has not changed), rather
77b46d13
JG
7112than spending time reading the symbol table from the executable
7113program. Using the @samp{-mapped} option has the same effect as
18fae2a8 7114starting @value{GDBN} with the @samp{-mapped} command-line option.
14d01801 7115
95d5ceb9 7116You can use both options together, to make sure the auxiliary symbol
14d01801
RP
7117file has all the symbol information for your program.
7118
7119The auxiliary symbol file for a program called @var{myprog} is called
7120@samp{@var{myprog}.syms}. Once this file exists (so long as it is newer
9a27b06e 7121than the corresponding executable), @value{GDBN} always attempts to use
14d01801
RP
7122it when you debug @var{myprog}; no special options or commands are
7123needed.
93918348
RP
7124
7125The @file{.syms} file is specific to the host machine where you run
34ae25cd 7126@value{GDBN}. It holds an exact image of the internal @value{GDBN}
93918348
RP
7127symbol table. It cannot be shared across multiple host platforms.
7128
14d01801
RP
7129@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
7130@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
7131@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
7132@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
7133@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
7134@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
7135@c files.
70b88761 7136
70b88761
RP
7137@kindex core
7138@kindex core-file
af215b1a 7139@item core-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
70b88761
RP
7140Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
7141of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
18fae2a8 7142address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
70b88761
RP
7143executable file itself for other parts.
7144
7145@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
7146to be used.
7147
7148Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
18fae2a8 7149under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you wish to
70b88761
RP
7150debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which the
7151program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
93928b60 7152(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the child process}).
18fae2a8 7153@end ifclear
70b88761 7154
af215b1a 7155@kindex load @var{filename}
70b88761 7156@item load @var{filename}
18fae2a8 7157@ifset GENERIC
70b88761 7158Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
18fae2a8 7159@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
70b88761
RP
7160is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
7161on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
93918348 7162@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
70b88761
RP
7163the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
7164
ed447b95
RP
7165If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
7166execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
7167target is @dots{}}''
18fae2a8 7168@end ifset
70b88761 7169
99d1da6a 7170The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
22b5dba5
RP
7171For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
7172link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
7173specifies a fixed address.
7174@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
99d1da6a 7175
18fae2a8 7176@ifset VXWORKS
9a27b06e 7177On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
18fae2a8
RP
7178current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
7179@end ifset
70b88761 7180
a64a6c2b 7181@ifset I960
70b88761 7182@cindex download to Nindy-960
9a27b06e
RP
7183With the Nindy interface to an Intel 960 board, @code{load}
7184downloads @var{filename} to the 960 as well as adding its symbols in
18fae2a8
RP
7185@value{GDBN}.
7186@end ifset
70b88761 7187
a64a6c2b 7188@ifset H8
1d7c3357
RP
7189@cindex download to H8/300 or H8/500
7190@cindex H8/300 or H8/500 download
a64a6c2b
RP
7191@cindex download to Hitachi SH
7192@cindex Hitachi SH download
72545cc6 7193When you select remote debugging to a Hitachi SH, H8/300, or H8/500 board
a64a6c2b 7194(@pxref{Hitachi Remote,,@value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors}),
1d7c3357
RP
7195the @code{load} command downloads your program to the Hitachi board and also
7196opens it as the current executable target for @value{GDBN} on your host
7197(like the @code{file} command).
18fae2a8 7198@end ifset
c7cb8acb 7199
9a27b06e 7200@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
70b88761 7201
18fae2a8 7202@ifclear BARETARGET
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RP
7203@kindex add-symbol-file
7204@cindex dynamic linking
af215b1a
VM
7205@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
7206@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
70b88761 7207The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table information
b80282d5 7208from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command when @var{filename}
70b88761
RP
7209has been dynamically loaded (by some other means) into the program that
7210is running. @var{address} should be the memory address at which the
18fae2a8 7211file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure this out for itself.
d55320a0 7212You can specify @var{address} as an expression.
70b88761
RP
7213
7214The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
7215originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
7216@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data thus
7217read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data instead,
e251e767 7218use the @code{symbol-file} command.
70b88761 7219
9a27b06e 7220@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
70b88761 7221
95d5ceb9 7222You can use the @samp{-mapped} and @samp{-readnow} options just as with
18fae2a8 7223the @code{symbol-file} command, to change how @value{GDBN} manages the symbol
0f153e74 7224table information for @var{filename}.
af215b1a
VM
7225
7226@kindex add-shared-symbol-file
7227@item add-shared-symbol-file
7228The @code{add-shared-symbol-file} command can be used only under Harris' CXUX
7229operating system for the Motorola 88k. @value{GDBN} automatically looks for
7230shared libraries, however if @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can run
7231@code{add-shared-symbol-file}. It takes no arguments.
18fae2a8 7232@end ifclear
95d5ceb9 7233
af215b1a
VM
7234@kindex section
7235@item section
7236The @code{section} command changes the base address of section SECTION of
7237the exec file to ADDR. This can be used if the exec file does not contain
7238section addresses, (such as in the a.out format), or when the addresses
7239specified in the file itself are wrong. Each section must be changed
7240separately. The ``info files'' command lists all the sections and their
7241addresses.
7242
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RP
7243@kindex info files
7244@kindex info target
af215b1a
VM
7245@item info files
7246@itemx info target
1041a570 7247@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print
1d7c3357
RP
7248the current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
7249including the
7250@ifclear BARETARGET
7251names of the executable and core dump files
7252@end ifclear
7253@ifset BARETARGET
7254name of the executable file
7255@end ifset
7256currently in use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were
a4ae3702 7257loaded. The command @code{help target} lists all possible targets
1d7c3357 7258rather than current ones.
70b88761
RP
7259@end table
7260
7261All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
b550c03a 7262as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
70b88761
RP
7263name and remembers it that way.
7264
18fae2a8 7265@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761 7266@cindex shared libraries
9a27b06e 7267@value{GDBN} supports SunOS, SVr4, Irix 5, and IBM RS/6000 shared libraries.
18fae2a8 7268@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
77b46d13 7269when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
9a27b06e 7270(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
77b46d13
JG
7271references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
7272debugging a core file).
9a27b06e
RP
7273@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
7274@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
7275@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
70b88761
RP
7276
7277@table @code
70b88761
RP
7278@kindex info sharedlibrary
7279@kindex info share
af215b1a
VM
7280@item info share
7281@itemx info sharedlibrary
c338a2fd 7282Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded.
70b88761 7283
c338a2fd
RP
7284@kindex sharedlibrary
7285@kindex share
af215b1a
VM
7286@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
7287@itemx share @var{regex}
7288
f886dc0f
SS
7289Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
7290Unix regular expression.
7291As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
6b51acad
RP
7292required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
7293@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
7294loaded.
c338a2fd 7295@end table
18fae2a8 7296@end ifclear
70b88761 7297
4eb4cf57 7298@node Symbol Errors
93928b60 7299@section Errors reading symbol files
1041a570 7300
9a27b06e 7301While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
1041a570 7302such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
18fae2a8 7303output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
1041a570
RP
7304they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
7305debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
18fae2a8 7306about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
b80282d5 7307only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
18fae2a8 7308times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
1041a570 7309to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
93928b60
RP
7310complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
7311messages}).
70b88761 7312
d55320a0 7313The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
70b88761
RP
7314
7315@table @code
7316@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
7317
7318The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
7319(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
7320error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
e251e767 7321in its outer scope blocks.
70b88761 7322
18fae2a8 7323@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
70b88761
RP
7324the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
7325may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
7326function.
7327
7328@item block at @var{address} out of order
7329
e251e767 7330The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
70b88761 7331order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
e251e767 7332do so.
70b88761 7333
9a27b06e 7334@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
ed447b95
RP
7335locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
7336can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
93928b60
RP
7337@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
7338messages}.)
70b88761
RP
7339
7340@item bad block start address patched
7341
7342The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
7343smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
e251e767 7344to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
70b88761 7345
18fae2a8 7346@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
70b88761
RP
7347starting on the previous source line.
7348
70b88761
RP
7349@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
7350
7351@cindex foo
7352Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
e251e767 7353larger than the size of the string table.
70b88761 7354
18fae2a8 7355@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
70b88761
RP
7356name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
7357with this name.
7358
7359@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
7360
18fae2a8 7361The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does not yet
70b88761 7362know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the misunderstood
e251e767 7363information, in hexadecimal.
70b88761 7364
18fae2a8 7365@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information. This
9a27b06e
RP
7366usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
7367are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
18fae2a8 7368debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint on
70b88761
RP
7369@code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab} and
7370examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
7371
7372@item stub type has NULL name
1d7c3357
RP
7373@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for
7374@ifclear CONLY
7375a struct or class.
7376@end ifclear
7377@ifset CONLY
7378a struct.
7379@end ifset
70b88761 7380
1d7c3357 7381@ifclear CONLY
440d9834 7382@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
70b88761
RP
7383
7384The symbol information for a C++ member function is missing some
440d9834
RP
7385information that recent versions of the compiler should have output
7386for it.
1d7c3357 7387@end ifclear
70b88761 7388
440d9834 7389@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
70b88761 7390
18fae2a8 7391@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
70b88761
RP
7392@end table
7393
4eb4cf57 7394@node Targets
e251e767 7395@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
70b88761
RP
7396@cindex debugging target
7397@kindex target
1041a570 7398
cedaf8bc 7399A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
18fae2a8
RP
7400@ifclear BARETARGET
7401Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program; in
1041a570
RP
7402that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when you
7403use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
18fae2a8 7404flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
1041a570 7405host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
0f153e74 7406realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you
18fae2a8
RP
7407@end ifclear
7408@ifset BARETARGET
0f153e74 7409You
18fae2a8 7410@end ifset
0f153e74 7411can use the @code{target} command to specify one of the target types
93928b60
RP
7412configured for @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for managing
7413targets}).
70b88761
RP
7414
7415@menu
ed447b95
RP
7416* Active Targets:: Active targets
7417* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
7418* Remote:: Remote debugging
70b88761
RP
7419@end menu
7420
4eb4cf57 7421@node Active Targets
93928b60 7422@section Active targets
70b88761
RP
7423@cindex stacking targets
7424@cindex active targets
7425@cindex multiple targets
7426
18fae2a8 7427@ifclear BARETARGET
cedaf8bc 7428There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
18fae2a8 7429executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three active
cedaf8bc
RP
7430targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example) start a
7431process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on a core
7432file.
70b88761 7433
ed447b95 7434For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
cedaf8bc
RP
7435@code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
7436well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
9a27b06e 7437@value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
cedaf8bc
RP
7438first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
7439requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
29a2b744 7440are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
cedaf8bc
RP
7441read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
7442executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
18fae2a8 7443@end ifclear
cedaf8bc
RP
7444
7445When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
18fae2a8 7446target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN} commands
0f153e74 7447requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in an
18fae2a8 7448@ifclear BARETARGET
0f153e74 7449active core file or
18fae2a8 7450@end ifclear
0f153e74 7451executable file target are obscured while the process
cedaf8bc
RP
7452target is active.
7453
18fae2a8 7454@ifset BARETARGET
4eb4cf57 7455Use the @code{exec-file} command to select a
93928b60
RP
7456new executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify
7457files}).
18fae2a8
RP
7458@end ifset
7459@ifclear BARETARGET
1041a570 7460Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a
93928b60
RP
7461new core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify
7462files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
1041a570 7463the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an
93928b60 7464already-running process}).
18fae2a8 7465@end ifclear
70b88761 7466
4eb4cf57 7467@node Target Commands
93928b60 7468@section Commands for managing targets
70b88761
RP
7469
7470@table @code
7471@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
1d7c3357
RP
7472Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target
7473@ifset BARETARGET
7474machine.
7475@end ifset
7476@ifclear BARETARGET
7477machine or process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to
7478debugging facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the
7479type or protocol of the target machine.
70b88761
RP
7480
7481Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
7482typically include things like device names or host names to connect
e251e767 7483with, process numbers, and baud rates.
1d7c3357 7484@end ifclear
70b88761 7485
9a27b06e 7486The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
70b88761
RP
7487after executing the command.
7488
70b88761 7489@kindex help target
af215b1a 7490@item help target
70b88761
RP
7491Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
7492currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
93928b60 7493(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
70b88761
RP
7494
7495@item help target @var{name}
7496Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
7497select it.
af215b1a
VM
7498
7499@kindex set gnutarget
7500@item set gnutarget @var{args}
7501@value{GDBN}uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
7502knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
7503a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file, however you can specify the file format
7504with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
7505with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
7506
7507@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
7508you must know the actual BFD name.
7509
7510@noindent @xref{Files, , Commands to specify files}.
7511
7512@kindex show gnutarget
7513@item show gnutarget
7514Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
7515@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
7516@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically
7517and @code{show gnutarget} displays @code{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
70b88761
RP
7518@end table
7519
c7cb8acb 7520Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
70b88761
RP
7521configuration):
7522
7523@table @code
70b88761 7524@kindex target exec
af215b1a 7525@item target exec @var{program}
fe715d06
RP
7526An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
7527@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
70b88761 7528
1d7c3357 7529@ifclear BARETARGET
70b88761 7530@kindex target core
af215b1a 7531@item target core @var{filename}
70b88761
RP
7532A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
7533@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
1d7c3357 7534@end ifclear
70b88761 7535
18fae2a8 7536@ifset REMOTESTUB
70b88761 7537@kindex target remote
af215b1a 7538@item target remote @var{dev}
c7cb8acb 7539Remote serial target in GDB-specific protocol. The argument @var{dev}
70b88761 7540specifies what serial device to use for the connection (e.g.
af215b1a
VM
7541@file{/dev/ttya}). @xref{Remote, ,Remote debugging}. @code{target remote}
7542now supports the @code{load} command. This is only useful if you have
7543some other way of getting the stub to the target system, and you can put
7544it somewhere in memory where it won't get clobbered by the download.
18fae2a8 7545@end ifset
70b88761 7546
fe715d06 7547@ifset SIMS
fe715d06 7548@kindex target sim
af215b1a 7549@item target sim
fe715d06
RP
7550CPU simulator. @xref{Simulator,,Simulated CPU Target}.
7551@end ifset
7552
a64a6c2b 7553@ifset AMD29K
fe715d06 7554@kindex target udi
af215b1a 7555@item target udi @var{keyword}
fe715d06
RP
7556Remote AMD29K target, using the AMD UDI protocol. The @var{keyword}
7557argument specifies which 29K board or simulator to use. @xref{UDI29K
b1955f0b 7558Remote,,The UDI protocol for AMD29K}.
fe715d06 7559
70b88761 7560@kindex target amd-eb
af215b1a 7561@item target amd-eb @var{dev} @var{speed} @var{PROG}
70b88761
RP
7562@cindex AMD EB29K
7563Remote PC-resident AMD EB29K board, attached over serial lines.
7564@var{dev} is the serial device, as for @code{target remote};
7565@var{speed} allows you to specify the linespeed; and @var{PROG} is the
7566name of the program to be debugged, as it appears to DOS on the PC.
b1955f0b 7567@xref{EB29K Remote, ,The EBMON protocol for AMD29K}.
77fe5411 7568
18fae2a8 7569@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7570@ifset H8
c7cb8acb 7571@kindex target hms
af215b1a 7572@item target hms @var{dev}
72545cc6 7573A Hitachi SH, H8/300, or H8/500 board, attached via serial line to your host.
a64a6c2b 7574@ifclear H8EXCLUSIVE
a64a6c2b
RP
7575Use special commands @code{device} and @code{speed} to control the serial
7576line and the communications speed used.
7577@end ifclear
7578@xref{Hitachi Remote,,@value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors}.
c7cb8acb 7579
18fae2a8 7580@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7581@ifset I960
70b88761 7582@kindex target nindy
af215b1a 7583@item target nindy @var{devicename}
70b88761
RP
7584An Intel 960 board controlled by a Nindy Monitor. @var{devicename} is
7585the name of the serial device to use for the connection, e.g.
ed447b95 7586@file{/dev/ttya}. @xref{i960-Nindy Remote, ,@value{GDBN} with a remote i960 (Nindy)}.
70b88761 7587
18fae2a8 7588@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7589@ifset ST2000
77fe5411 7590@kindex target st2000
af215b1a 7591@item target st2000 @var{dev} @var{speed}
77fe5411
RP
7592A Tandem ST2000 phone switch, running Tandem's STDBUG protocol. @var{dev}
7593is the name of the device attached to the ST2000 serial line;
7594@var{speed} is the communication line speed. The arguments are not used
18fae2a8
RP
7595if @value{GDBN} is configured to connect to the ST2000 using TCP or Telnet.
7596@xref{ST2000 Remote,,@value{GDBN} with a Tandem ST2000}.
18fae2a8 7597@end ifset
af215b1a 7598
18fae2a8 7599@ifset VXWORKS
70b88761 7600@kindex target vxworks
af215b1a 7601@item target vxworks @var{machinename}
70b88761
RP
7602A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
7603is the target system's machine name or IP address.
18fae2a8
RP
7604@xref{VxWorks Remote, ,@value{GDBN} and VxWorks}.
7605@end ifset
af215b1a 7606
d390cad1
SS
7607@kindex target bug
7608@item target bug @var{dev}
7609BUG monitor, running on a MVME187 (m88k) board.
7610
af215b1a
VM
7611@kindex target cpu32bug
7612@item target cpu32bug @var{dev}
7613CPU32BUG monitor, running on a CPU32 (M68K) board.
7614
7615@kindex target op50n
7616@item target op50n @var{dev}
7617OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
7618
7619@kindex target w89k
7620@item target w89k @var{dev}
7621W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
7622
7623@kindex target est
7624@item target est @var{dev}
7625EST-300 ICE monitor, running on a CPU32 (M68K) board.
7626
7627@kindex target rom68k
7628@item target rom68k @var{dev}
7629ROM 68K monitor, running on an IDP board.
7630
7631@kindex target array
7632@item target array @var{dev}
7633Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
7634
7635@kindex target sparclite
7636@item target sparclite @var{dev}
7637Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
7638You must use an additional command to debug the program.
7639For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
7640remote protocol.
70b88761
RP
7641@end table
7642
18fae2a8 7643@ifset GENERIC
af215b1a
VM
7644Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
7645your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
18fae2a8 7646@end ifset
70b88761 7647
af215b1a
VM
7648@section Choosing target byte order
7649@cindex choosing target byte order
7650@cindex target byte order
7651@kindex set endian big
7652@kindex set endian little
7653@kindex set endian auto
7654@kindex show endian
7655
7656You can now choose which byte order to use with a target system.
7657Use the @code{set endian big} and @code{set endian little} commands.
7658Use the @code{set endian auto} command to instruct
7659@value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the executable.
7660You can see the current setting for byte order with the @code{show endian}
7661command.
7662
7663@emph{Warning:} Currently, only embedded MIPS configurations support
7664dynamic selection of target byte order.
7665
4eb4cf57 7666@node Remote
93928b60 7667@section Remote debugging
70b88761
RP
7668@cindex remote debugging
7669
29a2b744 7670If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
af215b1a
VM
7671@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
7672For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
7673or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
e251e767 7674powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
70b88761 7675
af215b1a 7676Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
70b88761 7677to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
af215b1a
VM
7678@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
7679but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
9a27b06e 7680write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
af215b1a 7681communicate with @value{GDBN}.
70b88761 7682
70b88761 7683Other remote targets may be available in your
af215b1a 7684configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
70b88761 7685
18fae2a8
RP
7686@ifset GENERIC
7687@c Text on starting up GDB in various specific cases; it goes up front
7688@c in manuals configured for any of those particular situations, here
7689@c otherwise.
18fae2a8
RP
7690@menu
7691@ifset REMOTESTUB
7692* Remote Serial:: @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol
7693@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7694@ifset I960
18fae2a8
RP
7695* i960-Nindy Remote:: @value{GDBN} with a remote i960 (Nindy)
7696@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7697@ifset AMD29K
b1955f0b
RP
7698* UDI29K Remote:: The UDI protocol for AMD29K
7699* EB29K Remote:: The EBMON protocol for AMD29K
18fae2a8
RP
7700@end ifset
7701@ifset VXWORKS
7702* VxWorks Remote:: @value{GDBN} and VxWorks
7703@end ifset
a64a6c2b 7704@ifset ST2000
18fae2a8
RP
7705* ST2000 Remote:: @value{GDBN} with a Tandem ST2000
7706@end ifset
a64a6c2b
RP
7707@ifset H8
7708* Hitachi Remote:: @value{GDBN} and Hitachi Microprocessors
18fae2a8 7709@end ifset
34ae25cd
RP
7710@ifset MIPS
7711* MIPS Remote:: @value{GDBN} and MIPS boards
7712@end ifset
146ff252
DE
7713@ifset SPARCLET
7714* Sparclet Remote:: @value{GDBN} and Sparclet boards
7715@end ifset
fe715d06
RP
7716@ifset SIMS
7717* Simulator:: Simulated CPU target
18fae2a8
RP
7718@end ifset
7719@end menu
70b88761 7720
4af6d502 7721@include remote.texi
18fae2a8
RP
7722@end ifset
7723
7724@node Controlling GDB
7725@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
70b88761 7726
93918348 7727You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using
18fae2a8 7728the @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
af215b1a
VM
7729data, @pxref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}; other settings are described
7730here.
70b88761
RP
7731
7732@menu
b80282d5 7733* Prompt:: Prompt
ed447b95
RP
7734* Editing:: Command editing
7735* History:: Command history
7736* Screen Size:: Screen size
b80282d5 7737* Numbers:: Numbers
ed447b95 7738* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
70b88761
RP
7739@end menu
7740
4eb4cf57 7741@node Prompt
70b88761 7742@section Prompt
af215b1a 7743
70b88761 7744@cindex prompt
1041a570 7745
18fae2a8
RP
7746@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
7747called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
70b88761 7748can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
18fae2a8 7749instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
af215b1a
VM
7750the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
7751which one you are talking to.
7752
7753@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} no longer adds a space for you after the
7754prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
7755or a prompt that does not.
70b88761
RP
7756
7757@table @code
70b88761 7758@kindex set prompt
af215b1a 7759@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
18fae2a8 7760Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
af215b1a 7761
70b88761
RP
7762@kindex show prompt
7763@item show prompt
7764Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
7765@end table
7766
4eb4cf57 7767@node Editing
93928b60 7768@section Command editing
70b88761
RP
7769@cindex readline
7770@cindex command line editing
1041a570 7771
18fae2a8 7772@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{readline} interface. This
af215b1a
VM
7773@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
7774command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
7775or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
70b88761
RP
7776substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
7777debugging sessions.
7778
18fae2a8 7779You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
e251e767 7780command @code{set}.
70b88761
RP
7781
7782@table @code
7783@kindex set editing
7784@cindex editing
7785@item set editing
7786@itemx set editing on
7787Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
7788
7789@item set editing off
7790Disable command line editing.
7791
7792@kindex show editing
7793@item show editing
7794Show whether command line editing is enabled.
7795@end table
7796
4eb4cf57 7797@node History
ed447b95
RP
7798@section Command history
7799
7800@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
7801debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
7802happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
7803history facility.
1041a570 7804
70b88761
RP
7805@table @code
7806@cindex history substitution
7807@cindex history file
7808@kindex set history filename
9a27b06e 7809@kindex GDBHISTFILE
70b88761 7810@item set history filename @var{fname}
9a27b06e
RP
7811Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
7812This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
7813list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
7814exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
7815the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
7816to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
70b88761
RP
7817@file{./.gdb_history} if this variable is not set.
7818
7819@cindex history save
7820@kindex set history save
7821@item set history save
7822@itemx set history save on
7823Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
7824@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
7825
7826@item set history save off
7827Stop recording command history in a file.
7828
7829@cindex history size
7830@kindex set history size
7831@item set history size @var{size}
9a27b06e 7832Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
70b88761
RP
7833This defaults to the value of the environment variable
7834@code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
7835@end table
7836
7837@cindex history expansion
7838History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
ed447b95 7839@ifset have-readline-appendices
1041a570 7840@xref{Event Designators}.
ed447b95
RP
7841@end ifset
7842
70b88761
RP
7843Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
7844is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
7845@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
7846follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
7847a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
9a27b06e 7848history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
70b88761
RP
7849@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
7850
7851The commands to control history expansion are:
7852
7853@table @code
70b88761
RP
7854@kindex set history expansion
7855@item set history expansion on
7856@itemx set history expansion
7857Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
7858
7859@item set history expansion off
7860Disable history expansion.
7861
7862The readline code comes with more complete documentation of
af215b1a 7863editing and history expansion features. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs
e251e767 7864or @code{vi} may wish to read it.
ed447b95 7865@ifset have-readline-appendices
70b88761 7866@xref{Command Line Editing}.
ed447b95 7867@end ifset
70b88761
RP
7868
7869@c @group
7870@kindex show history
7871@item show history
7872@itemx show history filename
7873@itemx show history save
7874@itemx show history size
7875@itemx show history expansion
18fae2a8 7876These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
70b88761
RP
7877@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
7878@c @end group
70b88761
RP
7879@end table
7880
7881@table @code
7882@kindex show commands
7883@item show commands
7884Display the last ten commands in the command history.
7885
7886@item show commands @var{n}
7887Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
7888
7889@item show commands +
7890Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
70b88761
RP
7891@end table
7892
4eb4cf57 7893@node Screen Size
93928b60 7894@section Screen size
70b88761
RP
7895@cindex size of screen
7896@cindex pauses in output
1041a570 7897
a1eff6c2
RP
7898Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
7899information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
7900@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
7901output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
34ae25cd
RP
7902to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
7903determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
7904printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
70b88761
RP
7905rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
7906
18fae2a8 7907Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the termcap data base
70b88761
RP
7908together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
7909@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
7910you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
7911width} commands:
7912
7913@table @code
70b88761
RP
7914@kindex set height
7915@kindex set width
7916@kindex show width
7917@kindex show height
af215b1a
VM
7918@item set height @var{lpp}
7919@itemx show height
7920@itemx set width @var{cpl}
7921@itemx show width
70b88761
RP
7922These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
7923a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
7924commands display the current settings.
7925
af215b1a
VM
7926If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
7927output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
7928file or to an editor buffer.
d55320a0
RP
7929
7930Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
7931from wrapping its output.
70b88761
RP
7932@end table
7933
4eb4cf57 7934@node Numbers
70b88761
RP
7935@section Numbers
7936@cindex number representation
7937@cindex entering numbers
1041a570 7938
18fae2a8 7939You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in @value{GDBN} by
70b88761
RP
7940the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with @samp{0}, decimal
7941numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers begin with @samp{0x}.
7942Numbers that begin with none of these are, by default, entered in base
794310; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
7944format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
7945both input and output with the @code{set radix} command.
7946
7947@table @code
af215b1a
VM
7948@kindex set input-radix
7949@item set input-radix @var{base}
7950Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
d55320a0 7951for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
70b88761
RP
7952specified either unambiguously or using the current default radix; for
7953example, any of
7954
af215b1a 7955@smallexample
70b88761
RP
7956set radix 012
7957set radix 10.
7958set radix 0xa
af215b1a 7959@end smallexample
70b88761
RP
7960
7961@noindent
9a27b06e
RP
7962sets the base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set radix 10}
7963leaves the radix unchanged no matter what it was.
70b88761 7964
af215b1a
VM
7965@kindex set output-radix
7966@item set output-radix @var{base}
7967Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
7968for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
7969specified either unambiguously or using the current default radix.
7970
7971@kindex show input-radix
7972@item show input-radix
7973Display the current default base for numeric input.
7974
7975@kindex show output-radix
7976@item show output-radix
7977Display the current default base for numeric display.
70b88761
RP
7978@end table
7979
4eb4cf57 7980@node Messages/Warnings
93928b60 7981@section Optional warnings and messages
1041a570 7982
18fae2a8 7983By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are running
70b88761 7984on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose} command.
af215b1a 7985This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy internal operation, so
1041a570 7986you will not think it has crashed.
70b88761 7987
1041a570 7988Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
d48da190 7989which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
93928b60 7990see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}.
70b88761
RP
7991
7992@table @code
7993@kindex set verbose
7994@item set verbose on
93918348 7995Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
70b88761
RP
7996
7997@item set verbose off
93918348 7998Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
70b88761
RP
7999
8000@kindex show verbose
8001@item show verbose
8002Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
8003@end table
8004
18fae2a8 8005By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an object
b80282d5 8006file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may find
93928b60 8007this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors reading symbol files}).
70b88761
RP
8008
8009@table @code
8010@kindex set complaints
8011@item set complaints @var{limit}
18fae2a8 8012Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of unusual
70b88761
RP
8013symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set @var{limit} to
8014zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number to prevent
8015complaints from being suppressed.
8016
8017@kindex show complaints
8018@item show complaints
18fae2a8 8019Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
70b88761
RP
8020@end table
8021
18fae2a8 8022By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
70b88761
RP
8023lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
8024you try to run a program which is already running:
1041a570 8025
70b88761 8026@example
18fae2a8 8027(@value{GDBP}) run
70b88761 8028The program being debugged has been started already.
e251e767 8029Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
70b88761
RP
8030@end example
8031
29a2b744 8032If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
70b88761
RP
8033commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
8034
8035@table @code
8036@kindex set confirm
8037@cindex flinching
8038@cindex confirmation
8039@cindex stupid questions
8040@item set confirm off
8041Disables confirmation requests.
8042
8043@item set confirm on
8044Enables confirmation requests (the default).
8045
70b88761 8046@kindex show confirm
af215b1a 8047@item show confirm
70b88761
RP
8048Displays state of confirmation requests.
8049@end table
8050
4eb4cf57 8051@node Sequences
70b88761
RP
8052@chapter Canned Sequences of Commands
8053
29a2b744 8054Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
93928b60 8055command lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of commands
1041a570 8056for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command files.
70b88761
RP
8057
8058@menu
ed447b95
RP
8059* Define:: User-defined commands
8060* Hooks:: User-defined command hooks
8061* Command Files:: Command files
8062* Output:: Commands for controlled output
70b88761
RP
8063@end menu
8064
4eb4cf57 8065@node Define
ed447b95 8066@section User-defined commands
70b88761
RP
8067
8068@cindex user-defined command
af215b1a
VM
8069A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to which
8070you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the @code{define}
8071command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments separated by whitespace.
8072Arguments are accessed within the user command via @var{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}.
8073A trivial example:
8074
8075@smallexample
8076define adder
8077 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
8078@end smallexample
8079
8080@noindent To execute the command use:
8081
8082@smallexample
8083adder 1 2 3
8084@end smallexample
8085
8086@noindent This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
8087its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
8088reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
8089functions calls.
70b88761
RP
8090
8091@table @code
70b88761 8092@kindex define
af215b1a 8093@item define @var{commandname}
70b88761
RP
8094Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
8095by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
8096
18fae2a8 8097The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
70b88761
RP
8098which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
8099commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
8100
d0b2a91c
PB
8101@kindex if
8102@kindex else
af215b1a 8103@item if
d0b2a91c
PB
8104Takes a single argument, which is an expression to evaluate.
8105It is followed by a series of commands that are executed
8106only if the expression is true (nonzero).
8107There can then optionally be a line @code{else}, followed
8108by a series of commands that are only executed if the expression
8109was false. The end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
8110
d0b2a91c 8111@kindex while
af215b1a
VM
8112@item while
8113The syntax is similar to @code{if}: the command takes a single argument,
d0b2a91c
PB
8114which is an expression to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to
8115execute, one per line, terminated by an @code{end}.
8116The commands are executed repeatedly as long as the expression
8117evaluates to true.
8118
70b88761 8119@kindex document
af215b1a
VM
8120@item document @var{commandname}
8121Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
8122accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
8123defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
8124reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
8125After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
8126@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
70b88761
RP
8127
8128You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
8129documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
8130does not change the documentation.
8131
70b88761 8132@kindex help user-defined
af215b1a 8133@item help user-defined
70b88761
RP
8134List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
8135(if any) for each.
8136
af215b1a 8137@kindex show user
4768ba62
JG
8138@item show user
8139@itemx show user @var{commandname}
18fae2a8 8140Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but not its
70b88761
RP
8141documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
8142definitions for all user-defined commands.
8143@end table
8144
d0b2a91c 8145When user-defined commands are executed, the
70b88761
RP
8146commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
8147stops execution of the user-defined command.
8148
af215b1a
VM
8149If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
8150without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
8151commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
8152messages when used in a user-defined command.
70b88761 8153
35a15d60 8154@node Hooks
93928b60 8155@section User-defined command hooks
35a15d60
JG
8156@cindex command files
8157
8158You may define @emph{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
8159command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
8160command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
8161before that command.
8162
1d7c3357
RP
8163In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
8164(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
8165execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
8166displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
35a15d60 8167
1d7c3357
RP
8168@ifclear BARETARGET
8169For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
8170single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
8171you could define:
35a15d60
JG
8172
8173@example
8174define hook-stop
8175handle SIGALRM nopass
8176end
8177
8178define hook-run
8179handle SIGALRM pass
8180end
8181
8182define hook-continue
8183handle SIGLARM pass
8184end
8185@end example
1d7c3357 8186@end ifclear
35a15d60 8187
1d7c3357
RP
8188You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
8189not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
8190name, e.g. @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
8191@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
8192@c or not?
8193If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
8194@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
8195(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
35a15d60 8196
93918348 8197If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
9a27b06e 8198get a warning from the @code{define} command.
35a15d60 8199
4eb4cf57 8200@node Command Files
93928b60 8201@section Command files
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RP
8202
8203@cindex command files
af215b1a
VM
8204A command file for @value{GDBN} is a file of lines that are @value{GDBN}
8205commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may also be included.
8206An empty line in a command file does nothing; it does not mean to repeat
8207the last command, as it would from the terminal.
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8208
8209@cindex init file
18fae2a8
RP
8210@cindex @file{@value{GDBINIT}}
8211When you start @value{GDBN}, it automatically executes commands from its
64a01450
JK
8212@dfn{init files}. These are files named @file{@value{GDBINIT}}.
8213@value{GDBN} reads the init file (if any) in your home directory, then
8214processes command line options and operands, and then reads the init
8215file (if any) in the current working directory. This is so the init
8216file in your home directory can set options (such as @code{set
8d43be62 8217complaints}) which affect the processing of the command line options and
64a01450
JK
8218operands. The init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
8219option; @pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing modes}.
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RP
8220
8221@ifset GENERIC
8222@cindex init file name
8223On some configurations of @value{GDBN}, the init file is known by a
8224different name (these are typically environments where a specialized
af215b1a
VM
8225form of @value{GDBN} may need to coexist with other forms,
8226hence a different name
51b65b74
RP
8227for the specialized version's init file). These are the environments
8228with special init file names:
8229
51b65b74 8230@kindex .vxgdbinit
af215b1a 8231@itemize @bullet
51b65b74
RP
8232@item
8233VxWorks (Wind River Systems real-time OS): @samp{.vxgdbinit}
8234
8235@kindex .os68gdbinit
8236@item
8237OS68K (Enea Data Systems real-time OS): @samp{.os68gdbinit}
8238
8239@kindex .esgdbinit
8240@item
8241ES-1800 (Ericsson Telecom AB M68000 emulator): @samp{.esgdbinit}
8242@end itemize
8243@end ifset
8244
8245You can also request the execution of a command file with the
8246@code{source} command:
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RP
8247
8248@table @code
70b88761 8249@kindex source
af215b1a 8250@item source @var{filename}
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RP
8251Execute the command file @var{filename}.
8252@end table
8253
8254The lines in a command file are executed sequentially. They are not
8255printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates execution
8256of the command file.
8257
8258Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
18fae2a8 8259without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
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RP
8260normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
8261when called from command files.
8262
4eb4cf57 8263@node Output
93928b60 8264@section Commands for controlled output
70b88761
RP
8265
8266During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
18fae2a8 8267@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
70b88761
RP
8268explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
8269describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
8270want.
8271
8272@table @code
70b88761 8273@kindex echo
af215b1a 8274@item echo @var{text}
29a2b744
RP
8275@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
8276@c because it is not in ANSI.
1041a570
RP
8277Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
8278@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
9a27b06e 8279newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
1041a570 8280In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
ed447b95 8281by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
1041a570
RP
8282string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
8283trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
8284To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
8285@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
70b88761
RP
8286
8287A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
8288the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
8289
8290@example
8291echo This is some text\n\
8292which is continued\n\
8293onto several lines.\n
8294@end example
8295
8296produces the same output as
8297
8298@example
8299echo This is some text\n
8300echo which is continued\n
8301echo onto several lines.\n
8302@end example
8303
70b88761 8304@kindex output
af215b1a 8305@item output @var{expression}
70b88761
RP
8306Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
8307newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
af215b1a
VM
8308value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
8309on expressions.
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8310
8311@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
8312Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
ed447b95
RP
8313the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
8314formats}, for more information.
70b88761 8315
70b88761 8316@kindex printf
af215b1a 8317@item printf @var{string}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
70b88761 8318Print the values of the @var{expressions} under the control of
d55320a0
RP
8319@var{string}. The @var{expressions} are separated by commas and may be
8320either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as specified by
8321@var{string}, exactly as if your program were to execute the C
8322subroutine
70b88761
RP
8323
8324@example
8325printf (@var{string}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
8326@end example
8327
8328For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
8329
0fd24984 8330@smallexample
70b88761 8331printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
0fd24984 8332@end smallexample
70b88761
RP
8333
8334The only backslash-escape sequences that you can use in the format
8335string are the simple ones that consist of backslash followed by a
8336letter.
8337@end table
8338
18fae2a8 8339@ifclear DOSHOST
4eb4cf57 8340@node Emacs
af215b1a 8341@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
70b88761 8342
af215b1a
VM
8343@cindex Emacs
8344@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
8345A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
70b88761 8346edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
18fae2a8 8347@value{GDBN}.
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RP
8348
8349To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
8350executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
18fae2a8 8351@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
70b88761
RP
8352created Emacs buffer.
8353
18fae2a8 8354Using @value{GDBN} under Emacs is just like using @value{GDBN} normally except for two
70b88761
RP
8355things:
8356
8357@itemize @bullet
8358@item
e251e767 8359All ``terminal'' input and output goes through the Emacs buffer.
70b88761
RP
8360@end itemize
8361
18fae2a8 8362This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
70b88761
RP
8363and output done by the program you are debugging.
8364
8365This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
8366commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
8367in this way.
8368
3d3ab540
RP
8369All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
8370with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
8371way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
8372stop.
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RP
8373
8374@itemize @bullet
8375@item
18fae2a8 8376@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
70b88761
RP
8377@end itemize
8378
18fae2a8
RP
8379Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
8380source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
70b88761 8381left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
fe715d06 8382source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
70b88761
RP
8383and the source.
8384
18fae2a8 8385Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
9a27b06e 8386usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
70b88761
RP
8387
8388@quotation
8389@emph{Warning:} If the directory where your program resides is not your
8390current directory, it can be easy to confuse Emacs about the location of
9a27b06e 8391the source files, in which case the auxiliary display buffer does not
18fae2a8
RP
8392appear to show your source. @value{GDBN} can find programs by searching your
8393environment's @code{PATH} variable, so the @value{GDBN} input and output
9a27b06e 8394session proceeds normally; but Emacs does not get enough information
18fae2a8
RP
8395back from @value{GDBN} to locate the source files in this situation. To
8396avoid this problem, either start @value{GDBN} mode from the directory where
b550c03a 8397your program resides, or specify an absolute file name when prompted for the
70b88761
RP
8398@kbd{M-x gdb} argument.
8399
18fae2a8 8400A similar confusion can result if you use the @value{GDBN} @code{file} command to
70b88761 8401switch to debugging a program in some other location, from an existing
18fae2a8 8402@value{GDBN} buffer in Emacs.
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RP
8403@end quotation
8404
8405By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If
18fae2a8 8406you need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you keep
70b88761
RP
8407several configurations around, with different names) you can set the
8408Emacs variable @code{gdb-command-name}; for example,
1041a570 8409
70b88761
RP
8410@example
8411(setq gdb-command-name "mygdb")
8412@end example
1041a570 8413
70b88761
RP
8414@noindent
8415(preceded by @kbd{ESC ESC}, or typed in the @code{*scratch*} buffer, or
9a27b06e 8416in your @file{.emacs} file) makes Emacs call the program named
70b88761
RP
8417``@code{mygdb}'' instead.
8418
18fae2a8 8419In the @value{GDBN} I/O buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
70b88761
RP
8420addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
8421
8422@table @kbd
8423@item C-h m
18fae2a8 8424Describe the features of Emacs' @value{GDBN} Mode.
70b88761
RP
8425
8426@item M-s
18fae2a8 8427Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
70b88761
RP
8428update the display window to show the current file and location.
8429
8430@item M-n
8431Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
18fae2a8 8432calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
70b88761
RP
8433to show the current file and location.
8434
8435@item M-i
18fae2a8 8436Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
70b88761
RP
8437display window accordingly.
8438
8439@item M-x gdb-nexti
18fae2a8 8440Execute to next instruction, using the @value{GDBN} @code{nexti} command; update
70b88761
RP
8441display window accordingly.
8442
8443@item C-c C-f
18fae2a8 8444Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
70b88761
RP
8445@code{finish} command.
8446
8447@item M-c
18fae2a8 8448Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
1041a570 8449command.
203eea5d
RP
8450
8451@emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-p}.
70b88761
RP
8452
8453@item M-u
8454Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
af215b1a 8455(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
18fae2a8 8456like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
203eea5d 8457
1041a570 8458@emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-u}.
70b88761
RP
8459
8460@item M-d
8461Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
18fae2a8 8462@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
203eea5d
RP
8463
8464@emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-d}.
70b88761
RP
8465
8466@item C-x &
8467Read the number where the cursor is positioned, and insert it at the end
18fae2a8 8468of the @value{GDBN} I/O buffer. For example, if you wish to disassemble code
70b88761
RP
8469around an address that was displayed earlier, type @kbd{disassemble};
8470then move the cursor to the address display, and pick up the
e251e767 8471argument for @code{disassemble} by typing @kbd{C-x &}.
70b88761 8472
ed447b95 8473You can customize this further by defining elements of the list
70b88761
RP
8474@code{gdb-print-command}; once it is defined, you can format or
8475otherwise process numbers picked up by @kbd{C-x &} before they are
9a27b06e
RP
8476inserted. A numeric argument to @kbd{C-x &} indicates that you
8477wish special formatting, and also acts as an index to pick an element of the
70b88761
RP
8478list. If the list element is a string, the number to be inserted is
8479formatted using the Emacs function @code{format}; otherwise the number
8480is passed as an argument to the corresponding list element.
70b88761
RP
8481@end table
8482
8483In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x SPC} (@code{gdb-break})
18fae2a8 8484tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
70b88761
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8485
8486If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
18fae2a8 8487it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
9a27b06e 8488request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
70b88761
RP
8489the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
8490frame.
8491
8492The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
8493which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
18fae2a8 8494the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
70b88761 8495communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
9a27b06e 8496delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
ed447b95 8497to correspond properly with the code.
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8498
8499@c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
e0d3ace2 8500@c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
70b88761 8501@ignore
af215b1a
VM
8502@kindex Emacs Epoch environment
8503@kindex Epoch
70b88761
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8504@kindex inspect
8505
af215b1a
VM
8506Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
8507called the @code{epoch}
70b88761
RP
8508environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
8509@code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
8510each value is printed in its own window.
8511@end ignore
18fae2a8 8512@end ifclear
70b88761 8513
18fae2a8 8514@ifset LUCID
4eb4cf57 8515@node Energize
18fae2a8 8516@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Energize
6ca72cc6
RP
8517
8518@cindex Energize
8519The Energize Programming System is an integrated development environment
8520that includes a point-and-click interface to many programming tools.
18fae2a8
RP
8521When you use @value{GDBN} in this environment, you can use the standard
8522Energize graphical interface to drive @value{GDBN}; you can also, if you
8523choose, type @value{GDBN} commands as usual in a debugging window. Even if
6ca72cc6 8524you use the graphical interface, the debugging window (which uses Emacs,
af215b1a
VM
8525and resembles the standard @sc{gnu} Emacs interface to
8526@value{GDBN}) displays the
6ca72cc6
RP
8527equivalent commands, so that the history of your debugging session is
8528properly reflected.
8529
18fae2a8 8530When Energize starts up a @value{GDBN} session, it uses one of the
6ca72cc6
RP
8531command-line options @samp{-energize} or @samp{-cadillac} (``cadillac''
8532is the name of the communications protocol used by the Energize system).
18fae2a8 8533This option makes @value{GDBN} run as one of the tools in the Energize Tool
6ca72cc6
RP
8534Set: it sends all output to the Energize kernel, and accept input from
8535it as well.
8536
8537See the user manual for the Energize Programming System for
8538information on how to use the Energize graphical interface and the other
18fae2a8 8539development tools that Energize integrates with @value{GDBN}.
6ca72cc6 8540
18fae2a8 8541@end ifset
4eb4cf57 8542
18fae2a8
RP
8543@node GDB Bugs
8544@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
ed447b95
RP
8545@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
8546@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
70b88761 8547
18fae2a8 8548Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
70b88761
RP
8549
8550Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
8551may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
18fae2a8
RP
8552the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
8553reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
70b88761
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8554
8555In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
8556information that enables us to fix the bug.
8557
8558@menu
ed447b95
RP
8559* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
8560* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
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8561@end menu
8562
4eb4cf57 8563@node Bug Criteria
93928b60 8564@section Have you found a bug?
ed447b95 8565@cindex bug criteria
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RP
8566
8567If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
8568
8569@itemize @bullet
0f153e74 8570@cindex fatal signal
1d7c3357
RP
8571@cindex debugger crash
8572@cindex crash of debugger
af215b1a 8573@item
70b88761 8574If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
18fae2a8 8575@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
70b88761 8576
0f153e74 8577@cindex error on valid input
af215b1a 8578@item
18fae2a8 8579If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a bug.
70b88761 8580
ed447b95 8581@cindex invalid input
af215b1a 8582@item
18fae2a8 8583If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
70b88761
RP
8584that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
8585``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
8586for traditional practice''.
8587
8588@item
8589If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
18fae2a8 8590for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
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RP
8591@end itemize
8592
4eb4cf57 8593@node Bug Reporting
93928b60 8594@section How to report bugs
0f153e74 8595@cindex bug reports
18fae2a8 8596@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
70b88761 8597
af215b1a 8598A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
18fae2a8 8599If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
e251e767 8600contact that organization first.
70b88761 8601
ed447b95 8602You can find contact information for many support companies and
af215b1a 8603individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
ed447b95 8604distribution.
70b88761 8605
18fae2a8 8606In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for @value{GDBN} to one
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RP
8607of these addresses:
8608
8609@example
8610bug-gdb@@prep.ai.mit.edu
8611@{ucbvax|mit-eddie|uunet@}!prep.ai.mit.edu!bug-gdb
8612@end example
8613
8614@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
18fae2a8 8615@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do not want to
af215b1a 8616receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive @samp{bug-gdb}.
70b88761 8617
3d3ab540
RP
8618The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
8619serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
8620the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
8621newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
8622problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
8623path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
8624we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
8625bug reports to the mailing list.
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RP
8626
8627As a last resort, send bug reports on paper to:
8628
8629@example
af215b1a 8630@sc{gnu} Debugger Bugs
6c9638b4
FF
8631Free Software Foundation Inc.
863259 Temple Place - Suite 330
8633Boston, MA 02111-1307
8634USA
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8635@end example
8636
8637The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
8638@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
8639fact or leave it out, state it!
8640
8641Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
29a2b744 8642problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
70b88761 8643assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
29a2b744 8644Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
70b88761
RP
8645stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
8646name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
8647of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
8648the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
8649easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
8650
8651Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix
af215b1a
VM
8652the bug if it is new to us.
8653@c
8654@c FIX ME!!--What the heck does the following sentence mean,
8655@c in the context of the one above?
8656@c
8657@c It is not as important as what happens if the bug is already known.
8658@c
8659Therefore, always write your bug reports on
70b88761
RP
8660the assumption that the bug has not been reported previously.
8661
8662Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
8663bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
8664@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
8665bugs properly.
8666
8667To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
8668
8669@itemize @bullet
8670@item
18fae2a8 8671The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start with no
70b88761
RP
8672arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show version}.
8673
1041a570 8674Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
18fae2a8 8675the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
70b88761
RP
8676
8677@item
ddf21240
JG
8678The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
8679version number.
70b88761
RP
8680
8681@item
18fae2a8
RP
8682What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.
8683``@value{GCC}--2.0''.
70b88761 8684
ddf21240
JG
8685@item
8686What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you
18fae2a8 8687are debugging---e.g. ``@value{GCC}--2.0''.
ddf21240 8688
70b88761
RP
8689@item
8690The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
8691observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
1041a570 8692you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
ddf21240 8693Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
70b88761
RP
8694
8695If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
8696and then we might not encounter the bug.
8697
8698@item
ddf21240
JG
8699A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
8700reproduce the bug.
70b88761
RP
8701
8702@item
8703A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
8704incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
8705
18fae2a8 8706Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we will
70b88761 8707certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might not
af215b1a
VM
8708notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us a
8709chance to make a mistake.
70b88761
RP
8710
8711Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
8712say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as,
18fae2a8 8713your copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a
70b88761
RP
8714bug in the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy
8715might crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash,
8716then when ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not
8717happening for us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we
8718would not be able to draw any conclusion from our observations.
8719
8720@item
18fae2a8
RP
8721If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
8722diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
70b88761
RP
8723it by context, not by line number.
8724
1041a570 8725The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
70b88761 8726sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
70b88761
RP
8727@end itemize
8728
8729Here are some things that are not necessary:
8730
8731@itemize @bullet
8732@item
8733A description of the envelope of the bug.
8734
8735Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
8736which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
8737changes will not affect it.
8738
8739This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
8740will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
8741with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
8742We recommend that you save your time for something else.
8743
8744Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
8745of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
8746output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
b1955f0b 8747less time, and so on.
70b88761 8748
29a2b744 8749However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
70b88761
RP
8750report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
8751
8752@item
8753A patch for the bug.
8754
29a2b744 8755A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
70b88761
RP
8756the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
8757a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
8758to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
8759
18fae2a8 8760Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
70b88761 8761construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
1041a570
RP
8762through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
8763to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
70b88761 8764
29a2b744 8765And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
1041a570 8766patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
70b88761
RP
8767help us to understand.
8768
8769@item
8770A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
8771
29a2b744 8772Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
70b88761
RP
8773things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
8774@end itemize
8775
da24340c
RP
8776@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
8777@c and consists of the two following files:
8778@c rluser.texinfo
8779@c inc-hist.texi
8780@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
8781@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
cacf5942
RP
8782@include rluser.texinfo
8783@include inc-hist.texi
70b88761 8784
18fae2a8 8785@ifset NOVEL
af215b1a 8786@ifset RENAMED
4eb4cf57 8787@node Renamed Commands
70b88761
RP
8788@appendix Renamed Commands
8789
af215b1a 8790The following commands were renamed in @value{GDBN} 4, in order to make the
70b88761
RP
8791command set as a whole more consistent and easier to use and remember:
8792
e251e767
RP
8793@kindex add-syms
8794@kindex delete environment
8795@kindex info copying
8796@kindex info convenience
8797@kindex info directories
8798@kindex info editing
8799@kindex info history
8800@kindex info targets
8801@kindex info values
8802@kindex info version
8803@kindex info warranty
8804@kindex set addressprint
8805@kindex set arrayprint
8806@kindex set prettyprint
8807@kindex set screen-height
8808@kindex set screen-width
8809@kindex set unionprint
8810@kindex set vtblprint
8811@kindex set demangle
8812@kindex set asm-demangle
8813@kindex set sevenbit-strings
8814@kindex set array-max
8815@kindex set caution
8816@kindex set history write
8817@kindex show addressprint
8818@kindex show arrayprint
8819@kindex show prettyprint
8820@kindex show screen-height
8821@kindex show screen-width
8822@kindex show unionprint
8823@kindex show vtblprint
8824@kindex show demangle
8825@kindex show asm-demangle
8826@kindex show sevenbit-strings
8827@kindex show array-max
8828@kindex show caution
8829@kindex show history write
8830@kindex unset
70b88761 8831
92b73793 8832@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
70b88761 8833@ifinfo
92b73793 8834@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
cf496415
RP
8835@example
8836OLD COMMAND NEW COMMAND
92b73793 8837@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
cf496415 8838--------------- -------------------------------
92b73793 8839@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
cf496415
RP
8840add-syms add-symbol-file
8841delete environment unset environment
8842info convenience show convenience
8843info copying show copying
e251e767 8844info directories show directories
cf496415
RP
8845info editing show commands
8846info history show values
8847info targets help target
8848info values show values
8849info version show version
8850info warranty show warranty
8851set/show addressprint set/show print address
8852set/show array-max set/show print elements
8853set/show arrayprint set/show print array
8854set/show asm-demangle set/show print asm-demangle
8855set/show caution set/show confirm
8856set/show demangle set/show print demangle
8857set/show history write set/show history save
8858set/show prettyprint set/show print pretty
8859set/show screen-height set/show height
8860set/show screen-width set/show width
8861set/show sevenbit-strings set/show print sevenbit-strings
8862set/show unionprint set/show print union
8863set/show vtblprint set/show print vtbl
8864
8865unset [No longer an alias for delete]
8866@end example
92b73793 8867@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
70b88761
RP
8868@end ifinfo
8869
8870@tex
8871\vskip \parskip\vskip \baselineskip
8872\halign{\tt #\hfil &\qquad#&\tt #\hfil\cr
8873{\bf Old Command} &&{\bf New Command}\cr
8874add-syms &&add-symbol-file\cr
8875delete environment &&unset environment\cr
8876info convenience &&show convenience\cr
8877info copying &&show copying\cr
8878info directories &&show directories \cr
8879info editing &&show commands\cr
8880info history &&show values\cr
8881info targets &&help target\cr
8882info values &&show values\cr
8883info version &&show version\cr
8884info warranty &&show warranty\cr
8885set{\rm / }show addressprint &&set{\rm / }show print address\cr
8886set{\rm / }show array-max &&set{\rm / }show print elements\cr
8887set{\rm / }show arrayprint &&set{\rm / }show print array\cr
8888set{\rm / }show asm-demangle &&set{\rm / }show print asm-demangle\cr
8889set{\rm / }show caution &&set{\rm / }show confirm\cr
8890set{\rm / }show demangle &&set{\rm / }show print demangle\cr
8891set{\rm / }show history write &&set{\rm / }show history save\cr
8892set{\rm / }show prettyprint &&set{\rm / }show print pretty\cr
8893set{\rm / }show screen-height &&set{\rm / }show height\cr
8894set{\rm / }show screen-width &&set{\rm / }show width\cr
8895set{\rm / }show sevenbit-strings &&set{\rm / }show print sevenbit-strings\cr
8896set{\rm / }show unionprint &&set{\rm / }show print union\cr
8897set{\rm / }show vtblprint &&set{\rm / }show print vtbl\cr
8898\cr
8899unset &&\rm(No longer an alias for delete)\cr
8900}
8901@end tex
92b73793 8902@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
18fae2a8 8903@end ifset
af215b1a 8904@end ifset
70b88761 8905
18fae2a8 8906@ifclear PRECONFIGURED
4eb4cf57 8907@node Formatting Documentation
fe715d06 8908@appendix Formatting Documentation
77b46d13 8909
af215b1a 8910@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
77b46d13 8911@cindex reference card
af215b1a 8912The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
d241c8c8 8913for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
ed447b95
RP
8914subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
8915@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
d241c8c8 8916release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
ed447b95 8917you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
77b46d13
JG
8918
8919The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
8920can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
8921
8922@example
8923make refcard.dvi
8924@end example
8925
af215b1a
VM
8926The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
8927mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
8928that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
77b46d13
JG
8929high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
8930your @sc{dvi} output program.
8931
8932@cindex documentation
8933
af215b1a 8934All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
77b46d13
JG
8935distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
8936a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
8937on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
8938formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
8939and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
8940
af215b1a 8941@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info version of
77b46d13 8942this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info file is
af215b1a 8943@file{gdb-@r{version-number}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
a89f94c2
RP
8944subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
8945necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
af215b1a
VM
8946but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu} Emacs
8947or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the @sc{gnu}
a89f94c2 8948Texinfo distribution.
77b46d13
JG
8949
8950If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
8951Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
8952@code{makeinfo}.
8953
af215b1a 8954If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level @value{GDBN}
18fae2a8 8955source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of version @value{GDBVN}), you can
77b46d13
JG
8956make the Info file by typing:
8957
8958@example
8959cd gdb
8960make gdb.info
8961@end example
8962
fe715d06
RP
8963If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
8964a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
8965Texinfo definitions file.
77b46d13 8966
83bfcbae 8967@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
77b46d13
JG
8968produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
8969document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
8970has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
8971command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
fe715d06
RP
8972(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
8973require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
77b46d13
JG
8974
8975@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
8976@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
af215b1a 8977written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
77b46d13
JG
8978typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
8979and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
8980directory.
8981
8982If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
8983typeset and print this manual. First switch to the the @file{gdb}
8984subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
18fae2a8 8985@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and then type:
77b46d13
JG
8986
8987@example
8988make gdb.dvi
8989@end example
8990
4eb4cf57 8991@node Installing GDB
af215b1a
VM
8992@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
8993@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
70b88761
RP
8994@cindex installation
8995
af215b1a
VM
8996@value{GDBN} comes with a @code{configure} script that automates the process
8997of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
ed447b95 8998build the @code{gdb} program.
f672bb7f
RP
8999@iftex
9000@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
af215b1a 9001@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
ed447b95
RP
9002look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
9003installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
f672bb7f
RP
9004@end iftex
9005
af215b1a
VM
9006The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
9007@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
9008appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
1041a570 9009
af215b1a 9010For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
ed447b95 9011@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
b80282d5 9012
3d3ab540 9013@table @code
18fae2a8 9014@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
af215b1a 9015script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
b80282d5 9016
18fae2a8 9017@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
af215b1a 9018the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
3d3ab540 9019
18fae2a8 9020@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
77b46d13 9021source for the Binary File Descriptor library
3d3ab540 9022
18fae2a8 9023@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
af215b1a 9024@sc{gnu} include files
3d3ab540 9025
18fae2a8 9026@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
3d3ab540
RP
9027source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
9028
18fae2a8 9029@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
3214c51c
JG
9030source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
9031
18fae2a8 9032@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
af215b1a 9033source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
77b46d13 9034
18fae2a8 9035@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
af215b1a 9036source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
77b46d13 9037
18fae2a8 9038@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
af215b1a 9039source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
3d3ab540 9040@end table
1041a570 9041
af215b1a 9042The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @code{configure}
1041a570 9043from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
18fae2a8 9044this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
1041a570
RP
9045
9046First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
9047if you are not already in it; then run @code{configure}. Pass the
af215b1a 9048identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
1041a570
RP
9049argument.
9050
9051For example:
9052
7463aadd 9053@example
18fae2a8 9054cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
3d3ab540 9055./configure @var{host}
7463aadd
RP
9056make
9057@end example
1041a570 9058
7463aadd 9059@noindent
1041a570 9060where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
af215b1a 9061@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
d55320a0
RP
9062(You can often leave off @var{host}; @code{configure} tries to guess the
9063correct value by examining your system.)
1041a570 9064
8c69096b 9065Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
38962738
RP
9066@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
9067libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
9068binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
3d3ab540 9069
af215b1a 9070@need 750
e251e767 9071@code{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
29a2b744 9072system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
1041a570
RP
9073shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
9074
9075@example
9076sh configure @var{host}
9077@end example
e251e767 9078
f672bb7f
RP
9079If you run @code{configure} from a directory that contains source
9080directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
18fae2a8 9081@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN}, @code{configure}
f672bb7f 9082creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
98349959 9083you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
f672bb7f
RP
9084
9085You can run the @code{configure} script from any of the
af215b1a 9086subordinate directories in the @value{GDBN} distribution if you only want to
d55320a0 9087configure that subdirectory, but be sure to specify a path to it.
1041a570 9088
18fae2a8 9089For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, type the following to configure only
1041a570
RP
9090the @code{bfd} subdirectory:
9091
e251e767 9092@example
203eea5d 9093@group
18fae2a8 9094cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
e251e767 9095../configure @var{host}
203eea5d 9096@end group
e251e767
RP
9097@end example
9098
18fae2a8 9099You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
1041a570
RP
9100However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
9101the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
af215b1a
VM
9102that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
9103let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
3d3ab540
RP
9104
9105@menu
af215b1a 9106* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
b80282d5
RP
9107* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
9108* configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
3d3ab540
RP
9109@end menu
9110
4eb4cf57 9111@node Separate Objdir
af215b1a 9112@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
1041a570 9113
af215b1a 9114If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
ed447b95 9115you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
1041a570 9116host and target. @code{configure} is designed to make this easy by
f672bb7f
RP
9117allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
9118rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
af215b1a 9119handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
ed447b95 9120@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
f672bb7f 9121program specified there.
b80282d5 9122
c7cb8acb 9123To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @code{configure}
f672bb7f 9124with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
93918348 9125(You also need to specify a path to find @code{configure}
77b46d13
JG
9126itself from your working directory. If the path to @code{configure}
9127would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
9a27b06e 9128the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
1041a570 9129
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9130For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
9131separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
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9132
9133@example
3d3ab540 9134@group
18fae2a8 9135cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
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9136mkdir ../gdb-sun4
9137cd ../gdb-sun4
18fae2a8 9138../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
70b88761 9139make
3d3ab540 9140@end group
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9141@end example
9142
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9143When @code{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
9144directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
9145(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
9146the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
af215b1a 9147directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
f672bb7f 9148@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
1041a570 9149
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9150One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
9151directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
9152@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
9153programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
9154You specify a cross-debugging target by
f672bb7f 9155giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @code{configure}.
c7637ea6 9156
1041a570 9157When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
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9158it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
9159called @code{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
c7637ea6 9160
fe715d06 9161The @code{Makefile} that @code{configure} generates in each source
f672bb7f 9162directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
18fae2a8 9163directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
b550c03a 9164directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
ed447b95 9165will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
3d3ab540 9166
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9167When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
9168directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
9169if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
9170with each other.
3d3ab540 9171
4eb4cf57 9172@node Config Names
93928b60 9173@section Specifying names for hosts and targets
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9174
9175The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @code{configure}
9176script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
9177aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
e251e767 9178of information in the following pattern:
1041a570 9179
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9180@example
9181@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
9182@end example
9183
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9184For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
9185or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
9186option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
b80282d5 9187
af215b1a 9188The @code{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
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9189any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
9190aliases. @code{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
9191@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
9192script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
9193abbreviations---for example:
1041a570 9194
b1385986 9195@smallexample
b80282d5 9196% sh config.sub sun4
d55320a0 9197sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
b80282d5 9198% sh config.sub sun3
d55320a0 9199m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
b80282d5 9200% sh config.sub decstation
d55320a0 9201mips-dec-ultrix4.2
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9202% sh config.sub hp300bsd
9203m68k-hp-bsd
9204% sh config.sub i386v
6a8cb0e7 9205i386-unknown-sysv
e94b4a2b 9206% sh config.sub i786v
6a8cb0e7 9207Invalid configuration `i786v': machine `i786v' not recognized
b1385986 9208@end smallexample
1041a570 9209
c7637ea6 9210@noindent
af215b1a 9211@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
18fae2a8 9212directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
b80282d5 9213
4eb4cf57 9214@node configure Options
93928b60 9215@section @code{configure} options
7463aadd 9216
d48da190 9217Here is a summary of the @code{configure} options and arguments that
18fae2a8 9218are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @code{configure} also has
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9219several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
9220Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @code{configure}.
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9221
9222@example
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9223configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
9224 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
b550c03a 9225 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
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9226 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
9227 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]} @var{host}
7463aadd 9228@end example
1041a570 9229
3d3ab540 9230@noindent
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9231You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
9232@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
9233@samp{--}.
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9234
9235@table @code
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9236@item --help
9237Display a quick summary of how to invoke @code{configure}.
9238
9239@item -prefix=@var{dir}
9240Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
9241@file{@var{dir}}.
9242
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9243@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
9244@need 2000
b550c03a 9245@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
af215b1a 9246@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
6ca72cc6 9247@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
f672bb7f 9248Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
af215b1a 9249@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
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9250build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
9251directories. @code{configure} writes configuration specific files in
9252the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
b550c03a 9253directory @var{dirname}. @code{configure} creates directories under
f672bb7f 9254the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
b550c03a 9255@var{dirname}.
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9256
9257@item --norecursion
9258Configure only the directory level where @code{configure} is executed; do not
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9259propagate configuration to subdirectories.
9260
f672bb7f 9261@item --rm
d55320a0 9262@emph{Remove} files otherwise built during configuration.
7463aadd 9263
29a2b744 9264@c This does not work (yet if ever). FIXME.
f672bb7f 9265@c @item --parse=@var{lang} @dots{}
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9266@c Configure the @value{GDBN} expression parser to parse the listed languages.
9267@c @samp{all} configures @value{GDBN} for all supported languages. To get a
d7b569d5 9268@c list of all supported languages, omit the argument. Without this
af215b1a 9269@c option, @value{GDBN} is configured to parse all supported languages.
c2bbbb22 9270
f672bb7f 9271@item --target=@var{target}
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9272Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
9273@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
9274programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
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9275
9276There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
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9277
9278@item @var{host} @dots{}
af215b1a 9279Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
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9280
9281There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
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9282@end table
9283
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9284@noindent
9285@code{configure} accepts other options, for compatibility with
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9286configuring other @sc{gnu} tools recursively; but these are the only
9287options that affect @value{GDBN} or its supporting libraries.
18fae2a8 9288@end ifclear
3d3ab540 9289
4eb4cf57 9290@node Index
d2e08421 9291@unnumbered Index
e91b87a3 9292
9293@printindex cp
9294
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9295@tex
9296% I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
9297% meantime:
9298\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
9299\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
9300\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
9301\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
9302\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
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9303\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
9304\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
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9305\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
9306\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
9307\page\colophon
e0d3ace2 9308% Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
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9309@end tex
9310
e91b87a3 9311@contents
9312@bye
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