* sh-tdep.c (sh_register_convert_to_virtual): Rename from
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdbint.texinfo
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9742079a 1\input texinfo @c -*- texinfo -*-
c906108c 2@setfilename gdbint.info
25822942 3@include gdb-cfg.texi
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4@dircategory Programming & development tools.
5@direntry
c906108c 6* Gdb-Internals: (gdbint). The GNU debugger's internals.
e9c75b65 7@end direntry
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8
9@ifinfo
25822942 10This file documents the internals of the GNU debugger @value{GDBN}.
0f0cffd2 11Copyright 1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1996,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004
e9c75b65 12 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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13Contributed by Cygnus Solutions. Written by John Gilmore.
14Second Edition by Stan Shebs.
15
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16Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
17under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
2a6585f0 18any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
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19Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover
20Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU
21Free Documentation License''.
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22@end ifinfo
23
24@setchapternewpage off
25822942 25@settitle @value{GDBN} Internals
c906108c 26
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27@syncodeindex fn cp
28@syncodeindex vr cp
29
c906108c 30@titlepage
25822942 31@title @value{GDBN} Internals
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32@subtitle{A guide to the internals of the GNU debugger}
33@author John Gilmore
34@author Cygnus Solutions
35@author Second Edition:
36@author Stan Shebs
37@author Cygnus Solutions
38@page
39@tex
40\def\$#1${{#1}} % Kluge: collect RCS revision info without $...$
41\xdef\manvers{\$Revision$} % For use in headers, footers too
42{\parskip=0pt
43\hfill Cygnus Solutions\par
44\hfill \manvers\par
45\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
46}
47@end tex
48
49@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
1e698235 50Copyright @copyright{} 1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1996,1998,1999,2000,2001,
0f0cffd2 51 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
c906108c 52
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53Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
54under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
2a6585f0 55any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
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56Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover
57Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU
58Free Documentation License''.
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59@end titlepage
60
449f3b6c 61@contents
449f3b6c 62
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63@node Top
64@c Perhaps this should be the title of the document (but only for info,
65@c not for TeX). Existing GNU manuals seem inconsistent on this point.
66@top Scope of this Document
67
25822942
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68This document documents the internals of the GNU debugger, @value{GDBN}. It
69includes description of @value{GDBN}'s key algorithms and operations, as well
70as the mechanisms that adapt @value{GDBN} to specific hosts and targets.
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71
72@menu
73* Requirements::
74* Overall Structure::
75* Algorithms::
76* User Interface::
89437448 77* libgdb::
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78* Symbol Handling::
79* Language Support::
80* Host Definition::
81* Target Architecture Definition::
82* Target Vector Definition::
83* Native Debugging::
84* Support Libraries::
85* Coding::
86* Porting GDB::
8973da3a 87* Releasing GDB::
085dd6e6 88* Testsuite::
c906108c 89* Hints::
aab4e0ec 90
bcd7e15f 91* GDB Observers:: @value{GDBN} Currently available observers
aab4e0ec 92* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
56caf160 93* Index::
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94@end menu
95
96@node Requirements
97
98@chapter Requirements
56caf160 99@cindex requirements for @value{GDBN}
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100
101Before diving into the internals, you should understand the formal
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102requirements and other expectations for @value{GDBN}. Although some
103of these may seem obvious, there have been proposals for @value{GDBN}
104that have run counter to these requirements.
c906108c 105
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106First of all, @value{GDBN} is a debugger. It's not designed to be a
107front panel for embedded systems. It's not a text editor. It's not a
108shell. It's not a programming environment.
c906108c 109
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110@value{GDBN} is an interactive tool. Although a batch mode is
111available, @value{GDBN}'s primary role is to interact with a human
112programmer.
c906108c 113
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114@value{GDBN} should be responsive to the user. A programmer hot on
115the trail of a nasty bug, and operating under a looming deadline, is
116going to be very impatient of everything, including the response time
117to debugger commands.
c906108c 118
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119@value{GDBN} should be relatively permissive, such as for expressions.
120While the compiler should be picky (or have the option to be made
be9c6c35 121picky), since source code lives for a long time usually, the
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122programmer doing debugging shouldn't be spending time figuring out to
123mollify the debugger.
c906108c 124
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125@value{GDBN} will be called upon to deal with really large programs.
126Executable sizes of 50 to 100 megabytes occur regularly, and we've
127heard reports of programs approaching 1 gigabyte in size.
c906108c 128
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129@value{GDBN} should be able to run everywhere. No other debugger is
130available for even half as many configurations as @value{GDBN}
131supports.
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132
133
134@node Overall Structure
135
136@chapter Overall Structure
137
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138@value{GDBN} consists of three major subsystems: user interface,
139symbol handling (the @dfn{symbol side}), and target system handling (the
140@dfn{target side}).
c906108c 141
2e685b93 142The user interface consists of several actual interfaces, plus
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143supporting code.
144
145The symbol side consists of object file readers, debugging info
146interpreters, symbol table management, source language expression
147parsing, type and value printing.
148
149The target side consists of execution control, stack frame analysis, and
150physical target manipulation.
151
152The target side/symbol side division is not formal, and there are a
153number of exceptions. For instance, core file support involves symbolic
154elements (the basic core file reader is in BFD) and target elements (it
155supplies the contents of memory and the values of registers). Instead,
156this division is useful for understanding how the minor subsystems
157should fit together.
158
159@section The Symbol Side
160
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161The symbolic side of @value{GDBN} can be thought of as ``everything
162you can do in @value{GDBN} without having a live program running''.
163For instance, you can look at the types of variables, and evaluate
164many kinds of expressions.
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165
166@section The Target Side
167
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168The target side of @value{GDBN} is the ``bits and bytes manipulator''.
169Although it may make reference to symbolic info here and there, most
170of the target side will run with only a stripped executable
171available---or even no executable at all, in remote debugging cases.
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172
173Operations such as disassembly, stack frame crawls, and register
174display, are able to work with no symbolic info at all. In some cases,
25822942 175such as disassembly, @value{GDBN} will use symbolic info to present addresses
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176relative to symbols rather than as raw numbers, but it will work either
177way.
178
179@section Configurations
180
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181@cindex host
182@cindex target
25822942 183@dfn{Host} refers to attributes of the system where @value{GDBN} runs.
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184@dfn{Target} refers to the system where the program being debugged
185executes. In most cases they are the same machine, in which case a
186third type of @dfn{Native} attributes come into play.
187
188Defines and include files needed to build on the host are host support.
189Examples are tty support, system defined types, host byte order, host
190float format.
191
192Defines and information needed to handle the target format are target
193dependent. Examples are the stack frame format, instruction set,
194breakpoint instruction, registers, and how to set up and tear down the stack
195to call a function.
196
197Information that is only needed when the host and target are the same,
198is native dependent. One example is Unix child process support; if the
199host and target are not the same, doing a fork to start the target
200process is a bad idea. The various macros needed for finding the
201registers in the @code{upage}, running @code{ptrace}, and such are all
202in the native-dependent files.
203
204Another example of native-dependent code is support for features that
205are really part of the target environment, but which require
206@code{#include} files that are only available on the host system. Core
207file handling and @code{setjmp} handling are two common cases.
208
25822942 209When you want to make @value{GDBN} work ``native'' on a particular machine, you
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210have to include all three kinds of information.
211
212
213@node Algorithms
214
215@chapter Algorithms
56caf160 216@cindex algorithms
c906108c 217
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218@value{GDBN} uses a number of debugging-specific algorithms. They are
219often not very complicated, but get lost in the thicket of special
220cases and real-world issues. This chapter describes the basic
221algorithms and mentions some of the specific target definitions that
222they use.
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223
224@section Frames
225
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226@cindex frame
227@cindex call stack frame
228A frame is a construct that @value{GDBN} uses to keep track of calling
229and called functions.
c906108c 230
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231@findex create_new_frame
232@vindex FRAME_FP
c906108c 233@code{FRAME_FP} in the machine description has no meaning to the
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234machine-independent part of @value{GDBN}, except that it is used when
235setting up a new frame from scratch, as follows:
c906108c 236
474c8240 237@smallexample
0ba6dca9 238create_new_frame (read_register (DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM), read_pc ()));
474c8240 239@end smallexample
c906108c 240
56caf160 241@cindex frame pointer register
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242Other than that, all the meaning imparted to @code{DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM}
243is imparted by the machine-dependent code. So,
244@code{DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM} can have any value that is convenient for
245the code that creates new frames. (@code{create_new_frame} calls
246@code{DEPRECATED_INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO} if it is defined; that is where
247you should use the @code{DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM} value, if your frames are
248nonstandard.)
c906108c 249
56caf160 250@cindex frame chain
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251Given a @value{GDBN} frame, define @code{DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN} to
252determine the address of the calling function's frame. This will be
253used to create a new @value{GDBN} frame struct, and then
e9582e71 254@code{DEPRECATED_INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO} and
a5afb99f 255@code{DEPRECATED_INIT_FRAME_PC} will be called for the new frame.
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256
257@section Breakpoint Handling
258
56caf160 259@cindex breakpoints
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260In general, a breakpoint is a user-designated location in the program
261where the user wants to regain control if program execution ever reaches
262that location.
263
264There are two main ways to implement breakpoints; either as ``hardware''
265breakpoints or as ``software'' breakpoints.
266
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267@cindex hardware breakpoints
268@cindex program counter
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269Hardware breakpoints are sometimes available as a builtin debugging
270features with some chips. Typically these work by having dedicated
271register into which the breakpoint address may be stored. If the PC
56caf160 272(shorthand for @dfn{program counter})
c906108c 273ever matches a value in a breakpoint registers, the CPU raises an
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274exception and reports it to @value{GDBN}.
275
276Another possibility is when an emulator is in use; many emulators
277include circuitry that watches the address lines coming out from the
278processor, and force it to stop if the address matches a breakpoint's
279address.
280
281A third possibility is that the target already has the ability to do
282breakpoints somehow; for instance, a ROM monitor may do its own
283software breakpoints. So although these are not literally ``hardware
284breakpoints'', from @value{GDBN}'s point of view they work the same;
50e3ee83 285@value{GDBN} need not do anything more than set the breakpoint and wait
56caf160 286for something to happen.
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287
288Since they depend on hardware resources, hardware breakpoints may be
56caf160 289limited in number; when the user asks for more, @value{GDBN} will
9742079a 290start trying to set software breakpoints. (On some architectures,
937f164b 291notably the 32-bit x86 platforms, @value{GDBN} cannot always know
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292whether there's enough hardware resources to insert all the hardware
293breakpoints and watchpoints. On those platforms, @value{GDBN} prints
294an error message only when the program being debugged is continued.)
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295
296@cindex software breakpoints
297Software breakpoints require @value{GDBN} to do somewhat more work.
298The basic theory is that @value{GDBN} will replace a program
299instruction with a trap, illegal divide, or some other instruction
300that will cause an exception, and then when it's encountered,
301@value{GDBN} will take the exception and stop the program. When the
302user says to continue, @value{GDBN} will restore the original
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303instruction, single-step, re-insert the trap, and continue on.
304
305Since it literally overwrites the program being tested, the program area
be9c6c35 306must be writable, so this technique won't work on programs in ROM. It
c906108c 307can also distort the behavior of programs that examine themselves,
56caf160 308although such a situation would be highly unusual.
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309
310Also, the software breakpoint instruction should be the smallest size of
311instruction, so it doesn't overwrite an instruction that might be a jump
312target, and cause disaster when the program jumps into the middle of the
313breakpoint instruction. (Strictly speaking, the breakpoint must be no
314larger than the smallest interval between instructions that may be jump
315targets; perhaps there is an architecture where only even-numbered
316instructions may jumped to.) Note that it's possible for an instruction
317set not to have any instructions usable for a software breakpoint,
318although in practice only the ARC has failed to define such an
319instruction.
320
56caf160 321@findex BREAKPOINT
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322The basic definition of the software breakpoint is the macro
323@code{BREAKPOINT}.
324
325Basic breakpoint object handling is in @file{breakpoint.c}. However,
326much of the interesting breakpoint action is in @file{infrun.c}.
327
328@section Single Stepping
329
330@section Signal Handling
331
332@section Thread Handling
333
334@section Inferior Function Calls
335
336@section Longjmp Support
337
56caf160 338@cindex @code{longjmp} debugging
25822942 339@value{GDBN} has support for figuring out that the target is doing a
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340@code{longjmp} and for stopping at the target of the jump, if we are
341stepping. This is done with a few specialized internal breakpoints,
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342which are visible in the output of the @samp{maint info breakpoint}
343command.
c906108c 344
56caf160 345@findex GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
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346To make this work, you need to define a macro called
347@code{GET_LONGJMP_TARGET}, which will examine the @code{jmp_buf}
348structure and extract the longjmp target address. Since @code{jmp_buf}
349is target specific, you will need to define it in the appropriate
56caf160 350@file{tm-@var{target}.h} file. Look in @file{tm-sun4os4.h} and
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351@file{sparc-tdep.c} for examples of how to do this.
352
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353@section Watchpoints
354@cindex watchpoints
355
356Watchpoints are a special kind of breakpoints (@pxref{Algorithms,
357breakpoints}) which break when data is accessed rather than when some
358instruction is executed. When you have data which changes without
359your knowing what code does that, watchpoints are the silver bullet to
360hunt down and kill such bugs.
361
362@cindex hardware watchpoints
363@cindex software watchpoints
364Watchpoints can be either hardware-assisted or not; the latter type is
365known as ``software watchpoints.'' @value{GDBN} always uses
366hardware-assisted watchpoints if they are available, and falls back on
367software watchpoints otherwise. Typical situations where @value{GDBN}
368will use software watchpoints are:
369
370@itemize @bullet
371@item
372The watched memory region is too large for the underlying hardware
373watchpoint support. For example, each x86 debug register can watch up
374to 4 bytes of memory, so trying to watch data structures whose size is
375more than 16 bytes will cause @value{GDBN} to use software
376watchpoints.
377
378@item
379The value of the expression to be watched depends on data held in
380registers (as opposed to memory).
381
382@item
383Too many different watchpoints requested. (On some architectures,
384this situation is impossible to detect until the debugged program is
385resumed.) Note that x86 debug registers are used both for hardware
386breakpoints and for watchpoints, so setting too many hardware
387breakpoints might cause watchpoint insertion to fail.
388
389@item
390No hardware-assisted watchpoints provided by the target
391implementation.
392@end itemize
393
394Software watchpoints are very slow, since @value{GDBN} needs to
395single-step the program being debugged and test the value of the
396watched expression(s) after each instruction. The rest of this
397section is mostly irrelevant for software watchpoints.
398
399@value{GDBN} uses several macros and primitives to support hardware
400watchpoints:
401
402@table @code
403@findex TARGET_HAS_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINTS
404@item TARGET_HAS_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINTS
405If defined, the target supports hardware watchpoints.
406
407@findex TARGET_CAN_USE_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
408@item TARGET_CAN_USE_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT (@var{type}, @var{count}, @var{other})
409Return the number of hardware watchpoints of type @var{type} that are
410possible to be set. The value is positive if @var{count} watchpoints
411of this type can be set, zero if setting watchpoints of this type is
412not supported, and negative if @var{count} is more than the maximum
413number of watchpoints of type @var{type} that can be set. @var{other}
414is non-zero if other types of watchpoints are currently enabled (there
415are architectures which cannot set watchpoints of different types at
416the same time).
417
418@findex TARGET_REGION_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT
419@item TARGET_REGION_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT (@var{addr}, @var{len})
420Return non-zero if hardware watchpoints can be used to watch a region
421whose address is @var{addr} and whose length in bytes is @var{len}.
422
423@findex TARGET_REGION_SIZE_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT
424@item TARGET_REGION_SIZE_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT (@var{size})
425Return non-zero if hardware watchpoints can be used to watch a region
426whose size is @var{size}. @value{GDBN} only uses this macro as a
427fall-back, in case @code{TARGET_REGION_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT} is not
428defined.
429
430@findex TARGET_DISABLE_HW_WATCHPOINTS
431@item TARGET_DISABLE_HW_WATCHPOINTS (@var{pid})
432Disables watchpoints in the process identified by @var{pid}. This is
433used, e.g., on HP-UX which provides operations to disable and enable
434the page-level memory protection that implements hardware watchpoints
435on that platform.
436
437@findex TARGET_ENABLE_HW_WATCHPOINTS
438@item TARGET_ENABLE_HW_WATCHPOINTS (@var{pid})
439Enables watchpoints in the process identified by @var{pid}. This is
440used, e.g., on HP-UX which provides operations to disable and enable
441the page-level memory protection that implements hardware watchpoints
442on that platform.
443
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444@findex target_insert_watchpoint
445@findex target_remove_watchpoint
446@item target_insert_watchpoint (@var{addr}, @var{len}, @var{type})
447@itemx target_remove_watchpoint (@var{addr}, @var{len}, @var{type})
448Insert or remove a hardware watchpoint starting at @var{addr}, for
449@var{len} bytes. @var{type} is the watchpoint type, one of the
450possible values of the enumerated data type @code{target_hw_bp_type},
451defined by @file{breakpoint.h} as follows:
452
474c8240 453@smallexample
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454 enum target_hw_bp_type
455 @{
456 hw_write = 0, /* Common (write) HW watchpoint */
457 hw_read = 1, /* Read HW watchpoint */
458 hw_access = 2, /* Access (read or write) HW watchpoint */
459 hw_execute = 3 /* Execute HW breakpoint */
460 @};
474c8240 461@end smallexample
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462
463@noindent
464These two macros should return 0 for success, non-zero for failure.
465
466@cindex insert or remove hardware breakpoint
467@findex target_remove_hw_breakpoint
468@findex target_insert_hw_breakpoint
469@item target_remove_hw_breakpoint (@var{addr}, @var{shadow})
470@itemx target_insert_hw_breakpoint (@var{addr}, @var{shadow})
471Insert or remove a hardware-assisted breakpoint at address @var{addr}.
472Returns zero for success, non-zero for failure. @var{shadow} is the
473real contents of the byte where the breakpoint has been inserted; it
474is generally not valid when hardware breakpoints are used, but since
475no other code touches these values, the implementations of the above
476two macros can use them for their internal purposes.
477
478@findex target_stopped_data_address
479@item target_stopped_data_address ()
480If the inferior has some watchpoint that triggered, return the address
481associated with that watchpoint. Otherwise, return zero.
482
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483@findex HAVE_STEPPABLE_WATCHPOINT
484@item HAVE_STEPPABLE_WATCHPOINT
485If defined to a non-zero value, it is not necessary to disable a
486watchpoint to step over it.
487
488@findex HAVE_NONSTEPPABLE_WATCHPOINT
489@item HAVE_NONSTEPPABLE_WATCHPOINT
490If defined to a non-zero value, @value{GDBN} should disable a
491watchpoint to step the inferior over it.
492
493@findex HAVE_CONTINUABLE_WATCHPOINT
494@item HAVE_CONTINUABLE_WATCHPOINT
495If defined to a non-zero value, it is possible to continue the
496inferior after a watchpoint has been hit.
497
498@findex CANNOT_STEP_HW_WATCHPOINTS
499@item CANNOT_STEP_HW_WATCHPOINTS
500If this is defined to a non-zero value, @value{GDBN} will remove all
501watchpoints before stepping the inferior.
502
503@findex STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT
504@item STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT (@var{wait_status})
505Return non-zero if stopped by a watchpoint. @var{wait_status} is of
506the type @code{struct target_waitstatus}, defined by @file{target.h}.
507@end table
508
509@subsection x86 Watchpoints
510@cindex x86 debug registers
511@cindex watchpoints, on x86
512
513The 32-bit Intel x86 (a.k.a.@: ia32) processors feature special debug
514registers designed to facilitate debugging. @value{GDBN} provides a
515generic library of functions that x86-based ports can use to implement
516support for watchpoints and hardware-assisted breakpoints. This
517subsection documents the x86 watchpoint facilities in @value{GDBN}.
518
519To use the generic x86 watchpoint support, a port should do the
520following:
521
522@itemize @bullet
523@findex I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS
524@item
525Define the macro @code{I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS} somewhere in the
526target-dependent headers.
527
528@item
529Include the @file{config/i386/nm-i386.h} header file @emph{after}
530defining @code{I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS}.
531
532@item
533Add @file{i386-nat.o} to the value of the Make variable
534@code{NATDEPFILES} (@pxref{Native Debugging, NATDEPFILES}) or
535@code{TDEPFILES} (@pxref{Target Architecture Definition, TDEPFILES}).
536
537@item
538Provide implementations for the @code{I386_DR_LOW_*} macros described
539below. Typically, each macro should call a target-specific function
540which does the real work.
541@end itemize
542
543The x86 watchpoint support works by maintaining mirror images of the
544debug registers. Values are copied between the mirror images and the
545real debug registers via a set of macros which each target needs to
546provide:
547
548@table @code
549@findex I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL
550@item I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL (@var{val})
551Set the Debug Control (DR7) register to the value @var{val}.
552
553@findex I386_DR_LOW_SET_ADDR
554@item I386_DR_LOW_SET_ADDR (@var{idx}, @var{addr})
555Put the address @var{addr} into the debug register number @var{idx}.
556
557@findex I386_DR_LOW_RESET_ADDR
558@item I386_DR_LOW_RESET_ADDR (@var{idx})
559Reset (i.e.@: zero out) the address stored in the debug register
560number @var{idx}.
561
562@findex I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS
563@item I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS
564Return the value of the Debug Status (DR6) register. This value is
565used immediately after it is returned by
566@code{I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS}, so as to support per-thread status
567register values.
568@end table
569
570For each one of the 4 debug registers (whose indices are from 0 to 3)
571that store addresses, a reference count is maintained by @value{GDBN},
572to allow sharing of debug registers by several watchpoints. This
573allows users to define several watchpoints that watch the same
574expression, but with different conditions and/or commands, without
575wasting debug registers which are in short supply. @value{GDBN}
576maintains the reference counts internally, targets don't have to do
577anything to use this feature.
578
579The x86 debug registers can each watch a region that is 1, 2, or 4
580bytes long. The ia32 architecture requires that each watched region
581be appropriately aligned: 2-byte region on 2-byte boundary, 4-byte
582region on 4-byte boundary. However, the x86 watchpoint support in
583@value{GDBN} can watch unaligned regions and regions larger than 4
584bytes (up to 16 bytes) by allocating several debug registers to watch
585a single region. This allocation of several registers per a watched
586region is also done automatically without target code intervention.
587
588The generic x86 watchpoint support provides the following API for the
589@value{GDBN}'s application code:
590
591@table @code
592@findex i386_region_ok_for_watchpoint
593@item i386_region_ok_for_watchpoint (@var{addr}, @var{len})
594The macro @code{TARGET_REGION_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT} is set to call
595this function. It counts the number of debug registers required to
596watch a given region, and returns a non-zero value if that number is
597less than 4, the number of debug registers available to x86
598processors.
599
600@findex i386_stopped_data_address
601@item i386_stopped_data_address (void)
602The macros @code{STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT} and
603@code{target_stopped_data_address} are set to call this function. The
604argument passed to @code{STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT} is ignored. This
605function examines the breakpoint condition bits in the DR6 Debug
606Status register, as returned by the @code{I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS}
607macro, and returns the address associated with the first bit that is
608set in DR6.
609
610@findex i386_insert_watchpoint
611@findex i386_remove_watchpoint
612@item i386_insert_watchpoint (@var{addr}, @var{len}, @var{type})
613@itemx i386_remove_watchpoint (@var{addr}, @var{len}, @var{type})
614Insert or remove a watchpoint. The macros
615@code{target_insert_watchpoint} and @code{target_remove_watchpoint}
616are set to call these functions. @code{i386_insert_watchpoint} first
617looks for a debug register which is already set to watch the same
618region for the same access types; if found, it just increments the
619reference count of that debug register, thus implementing debug
620register sharing between watchpoints. If no such register is found,
937f164b
FF
621the function looks for a vacant debug register, sets its mirrored
622value to @var{addr}, sets the mirrored value of DR7 Debug Control
9742079a
EZ
623register as appropriate for the @var{len} and @var{type} parameters,
624and then passes the new values of the debug register and DR7 to the
625inferior by calling @code{I386_DR_LOW_SET_ADDR} and
626@code{I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL}. If more than one debug register is
627required to cover the given region, the above process is repeated for
628each debug register.
629
630@code{i386_remove_watchpoint} does the opposite: it resets the address
937f164b
FF
631in the mirrored value of the debug register and its read/write and
632length bits in the mirrored value of DR7, then passes these new
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633values to the inferior via @code{I386_DR_LOW_RESET_ADDR} and
634@code{I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL}. If a register is shared by several
635watchpoints, each time a @code{i386_remove_watchpoint} is called, it
636decrements the reference count, and only calls
637@code{I386_DR_LOW_RESET_ADDR} and @code{I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL} when
638the count goes to zero.
639
640@findex i386_insert_hw_breakpoint
641@findex i386_remove_hw_breakpoint
642@item i386_insert_hw_breakpoint (@var{addr}, @var{shadow}
643@itemx i386_remove_hw_breakpoint (@var{addr}, @var{shadow})
644These functions insert and remove hardware-assisted breakpoints. The
645macros @code{target_insert_hw_breakpoint} and
646@code{target_remove_hw_breakpoint} are set to call these functions.
647These functions work like @code{i386_insert_watchpoint} and
648@code{i386_remove_watchpoint}, respectively, except that they set up
649the debug registers to watch instruction execution, and each
650hardware-assisted breakpoint always requires exactly one debug
651register.
652
653@findex i386_stopped_by_hwbp
654@item i386_stopped_by_hwbp (void)
655This function returns non-zero if the inferior has some watchpoint or
656hardware breakpoint that triggered. It works like
657@code{i386_stopped_data_address}, except that it doesn't return the
658address whose watchpoint triggered.
659
660@findex i386_cleanup_dregs
661@item i386_cleanup_dregs (void)
662This function clears all the reference counts, addresses, and control
663bits in the mirror images of the debug registers. It doesn't affect
664the actual debug registers in the inferior process.
665@end table
666
667@noindent
668@strong{Notes:}
669@enumerate 1
670@item
671x86 processors support setting watchpoints on I/O reads or writes.
672However, since no target supports this (as of March 2001), and since
673@code{enum target_hw_bp_type} doesn't even have an enumeration for I/O
674watchpoints, this feature is not yet available to @value{GDBN} running
675on x86.
676
677@item
678x86 processors can enable watchpoints locally, for the current task
679only, or globally, for all the tasks. For each debug register,
680there's a bit in the DR7 Debug Control register that determines
681whether the associated address is watched locally or globally. The
682current implementation of x86 watchpoint support in @value{GDBN}
683always sets watchpoints to be locally enabled, since global
684watchpoints might interfere with the underlying OS and are probably
685unavailable in many platforms.
686@end enumerate
687
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688@section Observing changes in @value{GDBN} internals
689@cindex observer pattern interface
690@cindex notifications about changes in internals
691
692In order to function properly, several modules need to be notified when
693some changes occur in the @value{GDBN} internals. Traditionally, these
694modules have relied on several paradigms, the most common ones being
695hooks and gdb-events. Unfortunately, none of these paradigms was
696versatile enough to become the standard notification mechanism in
697@value{GDBN}. The fact that they only supported one ``client'' was also
698a strong limitation.
699
700A new paradigm, based on the Observer pattern of the @cite{Design
701Patterns} book, has therefore been implemented. The goal was to provide
702a new interface overcoming the issues with the notification mechanisms
703previously available. This new interface needed to be strongly typed,
704easy to extend, and versatile enough to be used as the standard
705interface when adding new notifications.
706
707See @ref{GDB Observers} for a brief description of the observers
708currently implemented in GDB. The rationale for the current
709implementation is also briefly discussed.
710
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711@node User Interface
712
713@chapter User Interface
714
25822942 715@value{GDBN} has several user interfaces. Although the command-line interface
c906108c
SS
716is the most common and most familiar, there are others.
717
718@section Command Interpreter
719
56caf160 720@cindex command interpreter
0ee54786 721@cindex CLI
25822942 722The command interpreter in @value{GDBN} is fairly simple. It is designed to
c906108c
SS
723allow for the set of commands to be augmented dynamically, and also
724has a recursive subcommand capability, where the first argument to
725a command may itself direct a lookup on a different command list.
726
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727For instance, the @samp{set} command just starts a lookup on the
728@code{setlist} command list, while @samp{set thread} recurses
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SS
729to the @code{set_thread_cmd_list}.
730
56caf160
EZ
731@findex add_cmd
732@findex add_com
c906108c
SS
733To add commands in general, use @code{add_cmd}. @code{add_com} adds to
734the main command list, and should be used for those commands. The usual
cfeada60 735place to add commands is in the @code{_initialize_@var{xyz}} routines at
9742079a 736the ends of most source files.
cfeada60 737
40dd2248
TT
738@findex add_setshow_cmd
739@findex add_setshow_cmd_full
740To add paired @samp{set} and @samp{show} commands, use
741@code{add_setshow_cmd} or @code{add_setshow_cmd_full}. The former is
742a slightly simpler interface which is useful when you don't need to
743further modify the new command structures, while the latter returns
744the new command structures for manipulation.
745
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746@cindex deprecating commands
747@findex deprecate_cmd
cfeada60
FN
748Before removing commands from the command set it is a good idea to
749deprecate them for some time. Use @code{deprecate_cmd} on commands or
750aliases to set the deprecated flag. @code{deprecate_cmd} takes a
751@code{struct cmd_list_element} as it's first argument. You can use the
752return value from @code{add_com} or @code{add_cmd} to deprecate the
753command immediately after it is created.
754
c72e7388 755The first time a command is used the user will be warned and offered a
cfeada60
FN
756replacement (if one exists). Note that the replacement string passed to
757@code{deprecate_cmd} should be the full name of the command, i.e. the
758entire string the user should type at the command line.
c906108c 759
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760@section UI-Independent Output---the @code{ui_out} Functions
761@c This section is based on the documentation written by Fernando
762@c Nasser <fnasser@redhat.com>.
763
764@cindex @code{ui_out} functions
765The @code{ui_out} functions present an abstraction level for the
766@value{GDBN} output code. They hide the specifics of different user
767interfaces supported by @value{GDBN}, and thus free the programmer
768from the need to write several versions of the same code, one each for
769every UI, to produce output.
770
771@subsection Overview and Terminology
772
773In general, execution of each @value{GDBN} command produces some sort
774of output, and can even generate an input request.
775
776Output can be generated for the following purposes:
777
778@itemize @bullet
779@item
780to display a @emph{result} of an operation;
781
782@item
783to convey @emph{info} or produce side-effects of a requested
784operation;
785
786@item
787to provide a @emph{notification} of an asynchronous event (including
788progress indication of a prolonged asynchronous operation);
789
790@item
791to display @emph{error messages} (including warnings);
792
793@item
794to show @emph{debug data};
795
796@item
797to @emph{query} or prompt a user for input (a special case).
798@end itemize
799
800@noindent
801This section mainly concentrates on how to build result output,
802although some of it also applies to other kinds of output.
803
804Generation of output that displays the results of an operation
805involves one or more of the following:
806
807@itemize @bullet
808@item
809output of the actual data
810
811@item
812formatting the output as appropriate for console output, to make it
813easily readable by humans
814
815@item
816machine oriented formatting--a more terse formatting to allow for easy
817parsing by programs which read @value{GDBN}'s output
818
819@item
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AC
820annotation, whose purpose is to help legacy GUIs to identify interesting
821parts in the output
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822@end itemize
823
824The @code{ui_out} routines take care of the first three aspects.
c72e7388
AC
825Annotations are provided by separate annotation routines. Note that use
826of annotations for an interface between a GUI and @value{GDBN} is
0ee54786
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827deprecated.
828
c72e7388
AC
829Output can be in the form of a single item, which we call a @dfn{field};
830a @dfn{list} consisting of identical fields; a @dfn{tuple} consisting of
831non-identical fields; or a @dfn{table}, which is a tuple consisting of a
832header and a body. In a BNF-like form:
0ee54786 833
c72e7388
AC
834@table @code
835@item <table> @expansion{}
836@code{<header> <body>}
837@item <header> @expansion{}
838@code{@{ <column> @}}
839@item <column> @expansion{}
840@code{<width> <alignment> <title>}
841@item <body> @expansion{}
842@code{@{<row>@}}
843@end table
0ee54786
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844
845
846@subsection General Conventions
847
c72e7388
AC
848Most @code{ui_out} routines are of type @code{void}, the exceptions are
849@code{ui_out_stream_new} (which returns a pointer to the newly created
850object) and the @code{make_cleanup} routines.
0ee54786 851
c72e7388
AC
852The first parameter is always the @code{ui_out} vector object, a pointer
853to a @code{struct ui_out}.
0ee54786 854
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AC
855The @var{format} parameter is like in @code{printf} family of functions.
856When it is present, there must also be a variable list of arguments
857sufficient used to satisfy the @code{%} specifiers in the supplied
0ee54786
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858format.
859
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860When a character string argument is not used in a @code{ui_out} function
861call, a @code{NULL} pointer has to be supplied instead.
0ee54786
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862
863
c72e7388 864@subsection Table, Tuple and List Functions
0ee54786
EZ
865
866@cindex list output functions
867@cindex table output functions
c72e7388
AC
868@cindex tuple output functions
869This section introduces @code{ui_out} routines for building lists,
870tuples and tables. The routines to output the actual data items
871(fields) are presented in the next section.
0ee54786 872
c72e7388
AC
873To recap: A @dfn{tuple} is a sequence of @dfn{fields}, each field
874containing information about an object; a @dfn{list} is a sequence of
875fields where each field describes an identical object.
0ee54786 876
c72e7388
AC
877Use the @dfn{table} functions when your output consists of a list of
878rows (tuples) and the console output should include a heading. Use this
879even when you are listing just one object but you still want the header.
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880
881@cindex nesting level in @code{ui_out} functions
c72e7388
AC
882Tables can not be nested. Tuples and lists can be nested up to a
883maximum of five levels.
0ee54786
EZ
884
885The overall structure of the table output code is something like this:
886
474c8240 887@smallexample
0ee54786
EZ
888 ui_out_table_begin
889 ui_out_table_header
c72e7388 890 @dots{}
0ee54786 891 ui_out_table_body
c72e7388 892 ui_out_tuple_begin
0ee54786 893 ui_out_field_*
c72e7388
AC
894 @dots{}
895 ui_out_tuple_end
896 @dots{}
0ee54786 897 ui_out_table_end
474c8240 898@end smallexample
0ee54786 899
c72e7388 900Here is the description of table-, tuple- and list-related @code{ui_out}
0ee54786
EZ
901functions:
902
c72e7388
AC
903@deftypefun void ui_out_table_begin (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{nbrofcols}, int @var{nr_rows}, const char *@var{tblid})
904The function @code{ui_out_table_begin} marks the beginning of the output
905of a table. It should always be called before any other @code{ui_out}
906function for a given table. @var{nbrofcols} is the number of columns in
907the table. @var{nr_rows} is the number of rows in the table.
908@var{tblid} is an optional string identifying the table. The string
909pointed to by @var{tblid} is copied by the implementation of
910@code{ui_out_table_begin}, so the application can free the string if it
911was @code{malloc}ed.
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912
913The companion function @code{ui_out_table_end}, described below, marks
914the end of the table's output.
915@end deftypefun
916
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AC
917@deftypefun void ui_out_table_header (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{width}, enum ui_align @var{alignment}, const char *@var{colhdr})
918@code{ui_out_table_header} provides the header information for a single
919table column. You call this function several times, one each for every
920column of the table, after @code{ui_out_table_begin}, but before
921@code{ui_out_table_body}.
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922
923The value of @var{width} gives the column width in characters. The
924value of @var{alignment} is one of @code{left}, @code{center}, and
925@code{right}, and it specifies how to align the header: left-justify,
926center, or right-justify it. @var{colhdr} points to a string that
927specifies the column header; the implementation copies that string, so
c72e7388
AC
928column header strings in @code{malloc}ed storage can be freed after the
929call.
0ee54786
EZ
930@end deftypefun
931
932@deftypefun void ui_out_table_body (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
c72e7388 933This function delimits the table header from the table body.
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EZ
934@end deftypefun
935
936@deftypefun void ui_out_table_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
c72e7388
AC
937This function signals the end of a table's output. It should be called
938after the table body has been produced by the list and field output
939functions.
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940
941There should be exactly one call to @code{ui_out_table_end} for each
c72e7388
AC
942call to @code{ui_out_table_begin}, otherwise the @code{ui_out} functions
943will signal an internal error.
0ee54786
EZ
944@end deftypefun
945
c72e7388 946The output of the tuples that represent the table rows must follow the
0ee54786 947call to @code{ui_out_table_body} and precede the call to
c72e7388
AC
948@code{ui_out_table_end}. You build a tuple by calling
949@code{ui_out_tuple_begin} and @code{ui_out_tuple_end}, with suitable
0ee54786
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950calls to functions which actually output fields between them.
951
c72e7388
AC
952@deftypefun void ui_out_tuple_begin (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{id})
953This function marks the beginning of a tuple output. @var{id} points
954to an optional string that identifies the tuple; it is copied by the
955implementation, and so strings in @code{malloc}ed storage can be freed
956after the call.
957@end deftypefun
958
959@deftypefun void ui_out_tuple_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
960This function signals an end of a tuple output. There should be exactly
961one call to @code{ui_out_tuple_end} for each call to
962@code{ui_out_tuple_begin}, otherwise an internal @value{GDBN} error will
963be signaled.
964@end deftypefun
965
966@deftypefun struct cleanup *make_cleanup_ui_out_tuple_begin_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{id})
967This function first opens the tuple and then establishes a cleanup
968(@pxref{Coding, Cleanups}) to close the tuple. It provides a convenient
969and correct implementation of the non-portable@footnote{The function
b9aa90c9 970cast is not portable ISO C.} code sequence:
c72e7388
AC
971@smallexample
972struct cleanup *old_cleanup;
973ui_out_tuple_begin (uiout, "...");
974old_cleanup = make_cleanup ((void(*)(void *)) ui_out_tuple_end,
975 uiout);
976@end smallexample
977@end deftypefun
978
979@deftypefun void ui_out_list_begin (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{id})
980This function marks the beginning of a list output. @var{id} points to
981an optional string that identifies the list; it is copied by the
982implementation, and so strings in @code{malloc}ed storage can be freed
983after the call.
0ee54786
EZ
984@end deftypefun
985
986@deftypefun void ui_out_list_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
c72e7388
AC
987This function signals an end of a list output. There should be exactly
988one call to @code{ui_out_list_end} for each call to
989@code{ui_out_list_begin}, otherwise an internal @value{GDBN} error will
990be signaled.
991@end deftypefun
992
993@deftypefun struct cleanup *make_cleanup_ui_out_list_begin_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{id})
994Similar to @code{make_cleanup_ui_out_tuple_begin_end}, this function
995opens a list and then establishes cleanup (@pxref{Coding, Cleanups})
996that will close the list.list.
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997@end deftypefun
998
999@subsection Item Output Functions
1000
1001@cindex item output functions
1002@cindex field output functions
1003@cindex data output
1004The functions described below produce output for the actual data
1005items, or fields, which contain information about the object.
1006
1007Choose the appropriate function accordingly to your particular needs.
1008
1009@deftypefun void ui_out_field_fmt (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, char *@var{fldname}, char *@var{format}, ...)
1010This is the most general output function. It produces the
1011representation of the data in the variable-length argument list
1012according to formatting specifications in @var{format}, a
1013@code{printf}-like format string. The optional argument @var{fldname}
1014supplies the name of the field. The data items themselves are
1015supplied as additional arguments after @var{format}.
1016
1017This generic function should be used only when it is not possible to
1018use one of the specialized versions (see below).
1019@end deftypefun
1020
c72e7388 1021@deftypefun void ui_out_field_int (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fldname}, int @var{value})
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1022This function outputs a value of an @code{int} variable. It uses the
1023@code{"%d"} output conversion specification. @var{fldname} specifies
1024the name of the field.
1025@end deftypefun
8d19fbd2
JJ
1026
1027@deftypefun void ui_out_field_fmt_int (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{width}, enum ui_align @var{alignment}, const char *@var{fldname}, int @var{value})
1028This function outputs a value of an @code{int} variable. It differs from
1029@code{ui_out_field_int} in that the caller specifies the desired @var{width} and @var{alignment} of the output.
1030@var{fldname} specifies
1031the name of the field.
1032@end deftypefun
0ee54786 1033
c72e7388 1034@deftypefun void ui_out_field_core_addr (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fldname}, CORE_ADDR @var{address})
0ee54786
EZ
1035This function outputs an address.
1036@end deftypefun
1037
c72e7388 1038@deftypefun void ui_out_field_string (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fldname}, const char *@var{string})
0ee54786
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1039This function outputs a string using the @code{"%s"} conversion
1040specification.
1041@end deftypefun
1042
1043Sometimes, there's a need to compose your output piece by piece using
1044functions that operate on a stream, such as @code{value_print} or
1045@code{fprintf_symbol_filtered}. These functions accept an argument of
1046the type @code{struct ui_file *}, a pointer to a @code{ui_file} object
1047used to store the data stream used for the output. When you use one
1048of these functions, you need a way to pass their results stored in a
1049@code{ui_file} object to the @code{ui_out} functions. To this end,
1050you first create a @code{ui_stream} object by calling
1051@code{ui_out_stream_new}, pass the @code{stream} member of that
1052@code{ui_stream} object to @code{value_print} and similar functions,
1053and finally call @code{ui_out_field_stream} to output the field you
1054constructed. When the @code{ui_stream} object is no longer needed,
1055you should destroy it and free its memory by calling
1056@code{ui_out_stream_delete}.
1057
1058@deftypefun struct ui_stream *ui_out_stream_new (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
1059This function creates a new @code{ui_stream} object which uses the
1060same output methods as the @code{ui_out} object whose pointer is
1061passed in @var{uiout}. It returns a pointer to the newly created
1062@code{ui_stream} object.
1063@end deftypefun
1064
1065@deftypefun void ui_out_stream_delete (struct ui_stream *@var{streambuf})
1066This functions destroys a @code{ui_stream} object specified by
1067@var{streambuf}.
1068@end deftypefun
1069
c72e7388 1070@deftypefun void ui_out_field_stream (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fieldname}, struct ui_stream *@var{streambuf})
0ee54786
EZ
1071This function consumes all the data accumulated in
1072@code{streambuf->stream} and outputs it like
1073@code{ui_out_field_string} does. After a call to
1074@code{ui_out_field_stream}, the accumulated data no longer exists, but
1075the stream is still valid and may be used for producing more fields.
1076@end deftypefun
1077
1078@strong{Important:} If there is any chance that your code could bail
1079out before completing output generation and reaching the point where
1080@code{ui_out_stream_delete} is called, it is necessary to set up a
1081cleanup, to avoid leaking memory and other resources. Here's a
1082skeleton code to do that:
1083
1084@smallexample
1085 struct ui_stream *mybuf = ui_out_stream_new (uiout);
1086 struct cleanup *old = make_cleanup (ui_out_stream_delete, mybuf);
1087 ...
1088 do_cleanups (old);
1089@end smallexample
1090
1091If the function already has the old cleanup chain set (for other kinds
1092of cleanups), you just have to add your cleanup to it:
1093
1094@smallexample
1095 mybuf = ui_out_stream_new (uiout);
1096 make_cleanup (ui_out_stream_delete, mybuf);
1097@end smallexample
1098
1099Note that with cleanups in place, you should not call
1100@code{ui_out_stream_delete} directly, or you would attempt to free the
1101same buffer twice.
1102
1103@subsection Utility Output Functions
1104
c72e7388 1105@deftypefun void ui_out_field_skip (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fldname})
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1106This function skips a field in a table. Use it if you have to leave
1107an empty field without disrupting the table alignment. The argument
1108@var{fldname} specifies a name for the (missing) filed.
1109@end deftypefun
1110
c72e7388 1111@deftypefun void ui_out_text (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{string})
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1112This function outputs the text in @var{string} in a way that makes it
1113easy to be read by humans. For example, the console implementation of
1114this method filters the text through a built-in pager, to prevent it
1115from scrolling off the visible portion of the screen.
1116
1117Use this function for printing relatively long chunks of text around
1118the actual field data: the text it produces is not aligned according
1119to the table's format. Use @code{ui_out_field_string} to output a
1120string field, and use @code{ui_out_message}, described below, to
1121output short messages.
1122@end deftypefun
1123
1124@deftypefun void ui_out_spaces (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{nspaces})
1125This function outputs @var{nspaces} spaces. It is handy to align the
1126text produced by @code{ui_out_text} with the rest of the table or
1127list.
1128@end deftypefun
1129
c72e7388 1130@deftypefun void ui_out_message (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{verbosity}, const char *@var{format}, ...)
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1131This function produces a formatted message, provided that the current
1132verbosity level is at least as large as given by @var{verbosity}. The
1133current verbosity level is specified by the user with the @samp{set
1134verbositylevel} command.@footnote{As of this writing (April 2001),
1135setting verbosity level is not yet implemented, and is always returned
1136as zero. So calling @code{ui_out_message} with a @var{verbosity}
1137argument more than zero will cause the message to never be printed.}
1138@end deftypefun
1139
1140@deftypefun void ui_out_wrap_hint (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, char *@var{indent})
1141This function gives the console output filter (a paging filter) a hint
1142of where to break lines which are too long. Ignored for all other
1143output consumers. @var{indent}, if non-@code{NULL}, is the string to
1144be printed to indent the wrapped text on the next line; it must remain
1145accessible until the next call to @code{ui_out_wrap_hint}, or until an
1146explicit newline is produced by one of the other functions. If
1147@var{indent} is @code{NULL}, the wrapped text will not be indented.
1148@end deftypefun
1149
1150@deftypefun void ui_out_flush (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
1151This function flushes whatever output has been accumulated so far, if
1152the UI buffers output.
1153@end deftypefun
1154
1155
1156@subsection Examples of Use of @code{ui_out} functions
1157
1158@cindex using @code{ui_out} functions
1159@cindex @code{ui_out} functions, usage examples
1160This section gives some practical examples of using the @code{ui_out}
1161functions to generalize the old console-oriented code in
1162@value{GDBN}. The examples all come from functions defined on the
1163@file{breakpoints.c} file.
1164
1165This example, from the @code{breakpoint_1} function, shows how to
1166produce a table.
1167
1168The original code was:
1169
474c8240 1170@smallexample
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1171 if (!found_a_breakpoint++)
1172 @{
1173 annotate_breakpoints_headers ();
1174
1175 annotate_field (0);
1176 printf_filtered ("Num ");
1177 annotate_field (1);
1178 printf_filtered ("Type ");
1179 annotate_field (2);
1180 printf_filtered ("Disp ");
1181 annotate_field (3);
1182 printf_filtered ("Enb ");
1183 if (addressprint)
1184 @{
1185 annotate_field (4);
1186 printf_filtered ("Address ");
1187 @}
1188 annotate_field (5);
1189 printf_filtered ("What\n");
1190
1191 annotate_breakpoints_table ();
1192 @}
474c8240 1193@end smallexample
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1194
1195Here's the new version:
1196
474c8240 1197@smallexample
c72e7388
AC
1198 nr_printable_breakpoints = @dots{};
1199
1200 if (addressprint)
1201 ui_out_table_begin (ui, 6, nr_printable_breakpoints, "BreakpointTable");
1202 else
1203 ui_out_table_begin (ui, 5, nr_printable_breakpoints, "BreakpointTable");
1204
1205 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1206 annotate_breakpoints_headers ();
1207 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1208 annotate_field (0);
1209 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 3, ui_left, "number", "Num"); /* 1 */
1210 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1211 annotate_field (1);
1212 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 14, ui_left, "type", "Type"); /* 2 */
1213 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1214 annotate_field (2);
1215 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 4, ui_left, "disp", "Disp"); /* 3 */
1216 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1217 annotate_field (3);
1218 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 3, ui_left, "enabled", "Enb"); /* 4 */
1219 if (addressprint)
1220 @{
1221 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1222 annotate_field (4);
1223 if (TARGET_ADDR_BIT <= 32)
1224 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 10, ui_left, "addr", "Address");/* 5 */
0ee54786 1225 else
c72e7388
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1226 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 18, ui_left, "addr", "Address");/* 5 */
1227 @}
1228 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1229 annotate_field (5);
1230 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 40, ui_noalign, "what", "What"); /* 6 */
1231 ui_out_table_body (uiout);
1232 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1233 annotate_breakpoints_table ();
474c8240 1234@end smallexample
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1235
1236This example, from the @code{print_one_breakpoint} function, shows how
1237to produce the actual data for the table whose structure was defined
1238in the above example. The original code was:
1239
474c8240 1240@smallexample
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1241 annotate_record ();
1242 annotate_field (0);
1243 printf_filtered ("%-3d ", b->number);
1244 annotate_field (1);
1245 if ((int)b->type > (sizeof(bptypes)/sizeof(bptypes[0]))
1246 || ((int) b->type != bptypes[(int) b->type].type))
1247 internal_error ("bptypes table does not describe type #%d.",
1248 (int)b->type);
1249 printf_filtered ("%-14s ", bptypes[(int)b->type].description);
1250 annotate_field (2);
1251 printf_filtered ("%-4s ", bpdisps[(int)b->disposition]);
1252 annotate_field (3);
1253 printf_filtered ("%-3c ", bpenables[(int)b->enable]);
c72e7388 1254 @dots{}
474c8240 1255@end smallexample
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1256
1257This is the new version:
1258
474c8240 1259@smallexample
0ee54786 1260 annotate_record ();
c72e7388 1261 ui_out_tuple_begin (uiout, "bkpt");
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1262 annotate_field (0);
1263 ui_out_field_int (uiout, "number", b->number);
1264 annotate_field (1);
1265 if (((int) b->type > (sizeof (bptypes) / sizeof (bptypes[0])))
1266 || ((int) b->type != bptypes[(int) b->type].type))
1267 internal_error ("bptypes table does not describe type #%d.",
1268 (int) b->type);
1269 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "type", bptypes[(int)b->type].description);
1270 annotate_field (2);
1271 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "disp", bpdisps[(int)b->disposition]);
1272 annotate_field (3);
1273 ui_out_field_fmt (uiout, "enabled", "%c", bpenables[(int)b->enable]);
c72e7388 1274 @dots{}
474c8240 1275@end smallexample
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1276
1277This example, also from @code{print_one_breakpoint}, shows how to
1278produce a complicated output field using the @code{print_expression}
1279functions which requires a stream to be passed. It also shows how to
1280automate stream destruction with cleanups. The original code was:
1281
474c8240 1282@smallexample
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1283 annotate_field (5);
1284 print_expression (b->exp, gdb_stdout);
474c8240 1285@end smallexample
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1286
1287The new version is:
1288
474c8240 1289@smallexample
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1290 struct ui_stream *stb = ui_out_stream_new (uiout);
1291 struct cleanup *old_chain = make_cleanup_ui_out_stream_delete (stb);
1292 ...
1293 annotate_field (5);
1294 print_expression (b->exp, stb->stream);
1295 ui_out_field_stream (uiout, "what", local_stream);
474c8240 1296@end smallexample
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1297
1298This example, also from @code{print_one_breakpoint}, shows how to use
1299@code{ui_out_text} and @code{ui_out_field_string}. The original code
1300was:
1301
474c8240 1302@smallexample
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1303 annotate_field (5);
1304 if (b->dll_pathname == NULL)
1305 printf_filtered ("<any library> ");
1306 else
1307 printf_filtered ("library \"%s\" ", b->dll_pathname);
474c8240 1308@end smallexample
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1309
1310It became:
1311
474c8240 1312@smallexample
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1313 annotate_field (5);
1314 if (b->dll_pathname == NULL)
1315 @{
1316 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "what", "<any library>");
1317 ui_out_spaces (uiout, 1);
1318 @}
1319 else
1320 @{
1321 ui_out_text (uiout, "library \"");
1322 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "what", b->dll_pathname);
1323 ui_out_text (uiout, "\" ");
1324 @}
474c8240 1325@end smallexample
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1326
1327The following example from @code{print_one_breakpoint} shows how to
1328use @code{ui_out_field_int} and @code{ui_out_spaces}. The original
1329code was:
1330
474c8240 1331@smallexample
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1332 annotate_field (5);
1333 if (b->forked_inferior_pid != 0)
1334 printf_filtered ("process %d ", b->forked_inferior_pid);
474c8240 1335@end smallexample
0ee54786
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1336
1337It became:
1338
474c8240 1339@smallexample
0ee54786
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1340 annotate_field (5);
1341 if (b->forked_inferior_pid != 0)
1342 @{
1343 ui_out_text (uiout, "process ");
1344 ui_out_field_int (uiout, "what", b->forked_inferior_pid);
1345 ui_out_spaces (uiout, 1);
1346 @}
474c8240 1347@end smallexample
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1348
1349Here's an example of using @code{ui_out_field_string}. The original
1350code was:
1351
474c8240 1352@smallexample
0ee54786
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1353 annotate_field (5);
1354 if (b->exec_pathname != NULL)
1355 printf_filtered ("program \"%s\" ", b->exec_pathname);
474c8240 1356@end smallexample
0ee54786
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1357
1358It became:
1359
474c8240 1360@smallexample
0ee54786
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1361 annotate_field (5);
1362 if (b->exec_pathname != NULL)
1363 @{
1364 ui_out_text (uiout, "program \"");
1365 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "what", b->exec_pathname);
1366 ui_out_text (uiout, "\" ");
1367 @}
474c8240 1368@end smallexample
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1369
1370Finally, here's an example of printing an address. The original code:
1371
474c8240 1372@smallexample
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1373 annotate_field (4);
1374 printf_filtered ("%s ",
1375 local_hex_string_custom ((unsigned long) b->address, "08l"));
474c8240 1376@end smallexample
0ee54786
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1377
1378It became:
1379
474c8240 1380@smallexample
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1381 annotate_field (4);
1382 ui_out_field_core_addr (uiout, "Address", b->address);
474c8240 1383@end smallexample
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1384
1385
c906108c
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1386@section Console Printing
1387
1388@section TUI
1389
89437448 1390@node libgdb
c906108c 1391
89437448
AC
1392@chapter libgdb
1393
1394@section libgdb 1.0
1395@cindex @code{libgdb}
1396@code{libgdb} 1.0 was an abortive project of years ago. The theory was
1397to provide an API to @value{GDBN}'s functionality.
1398
1399@section libgdb 2.0
56caf160 1400@cindex @code{libgdb}
89437448
AC
1401@code{libgdb} 2.0 is an ongoing effort to update @value{GDBN} so that is
1402better able to support graphical and other environments.
1403
1404Since @code{libgdb} development is on-going, its architecture is still
1405evolving. The following components have so far been identified:
1406
1407@itemize @bullet
1408@item
1409Observer - @file{gdb-events.h}.
1410@item
1411Builder - @file{ui-out.h}
1412@item
1413Event Loop - @file{event-loop.h}
1414@item
1415Library - @file{gdb.h}
1416@end itemize
1417
1418The model that ties these components together is described below.
1419
1420@section The @code{libgdb} Model
1421
1422A client of @code{libgdb} interacts with the library in two ways.
1423
1424@itemize @bullet
1425@item
1426As an observer (using @file{gdb-events}) receiving notifications from
1427@code{libgdb} of any internal state changes (break point changes, run
1428state, etc).
1429@item
1430As a client querying @code{libgdb} (using the @file{ui-out} builder) to
1431obtain various status values from @value{GDBN}.
1432@end itemize
1433
1434Since @code{libgdb} could have multiple clients (e.g. a GUI supporting
1435the existing @value{GDBN} CLI), those clients must co-operate when
1436controlling @code{libgdb}. In particular, a client must ensure that
1437@code{libgdb} is idle (i.e. no other client is using @code{libgdb})
1438before responding to a @file{gdb-event} by making a query.
1439
1440@section CLI support
1441
1442At present @value{GDBN}'s CLI is very much entangled in with the core of
1443@code{libgdb}. Consequently, a client wishing to include the CLI in
1444their interface needs to carefully co-ordinate its own and the CLI's
1445requirements.
1446
1447It is suggested that the client set @code{libgdb} up to be bi-modal
1448(alternate between CLI and client query modes). The notes below sketch
1449out the theory:
1450
1451@itemize @bullet
1452@item
1453The client registers itself as an observer of @code{libgdb}.
1454@item
1455The client create and install @code{cli-out} builder using its own
1456versions of the @code{ui-file} @code{gdb_stderr}, @code{gdb_stdtarg} and
1457@code{gdb_stdout} streams.
1458@item
1459The client creates a separate custom @code{ui-out} builder that is only
1460used while making direct queries to @code{libgdb}.
1461@end itemize
1462
1463When the client receives input intended for the CLI, it simply passes it
1464along. Since the @code{cli-out} builder is installed by default, all
1465the CLI output in response to that command is routed (pronounced rooted)
1466through to the client controlled @code{gdb_stdout} et.@: al.@: streams.
1467At the same time, the client is kept abreast of internal changes by
1468virtue of being a @code{libgdb} observer.
1469
1470The only restriction on the client is that it must wait until
1471@code{libgdb} becomes idle before initiating any queries (using the
1472client's custom builder).
1473
1474@section @code{libgdb} components
1475
1476@subheading Observer - @file{gdb-events.h}
1477@file{gdb-events} provides the client with a very raw mechanism that can
1478be used to implement an observer. At present it only allows for one
1479observer and that observer must, internally, handle the need to delay
1480the processing of any event notifications until after @code{libgdb} has
1481finished the current command.
1482
1483@subheading Builder - @file{ui-out.h}
1484@file{ui-out} provides the infrastructure necessary for a client to
1485create a builder. That builder is then passed down to @code{libgdb}
1486when doing any queries.
1487
1488@subheading Event Loop - @file{event-loop.h}
1489@c There could be an entire section on the event-loop
1490@file{event-loop}, currently non-re-entrant, provides a simple event
1491loop. A client would need to either plug its self into this loop or,
1492implement a new event-loop that GDB would use.
1493
1494The event-loop will eventually be made re-entrant. This is so that
a9f12a31 1495@value{GDBN} can better handle the problem of some commands blocking
89437448
AC
1496instead of returning.
1497
1498@subheading Library - @file{gdb.h}
1499@file{libgdb} is the most obvious component of this system. It provides
1500the query interface. Each function is parameterized by a @code{ui-out}
1501builder. The result of the query is constructed using that builder
1502before the query function returns.
c906108c
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1503
1504@node Symbol Handling
1505
1506@chapter Symbol Handling
1507
25822942 1508Symbols are a key part of @value{GDBN}'s operation. Symbols include variables,
c906108c
SS
1509functions, and types.
1510
1511@section Symbol Reading
1512
56caf160
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1513@cindex symbol reading
1514@cindex reading of symbols
1515@cindex symbol files
1516@value{GDBN} reads symbols from @dfn{symbol files}. The usual symbol
1517file is the file containing the program which @value{GDBN} is
1518debugging. @value{GDBN} can be directed to use a different file for
1519symbols (with the @samp{symbol-file} command), and it can also read
1520more symbols via the @samp{add-file} and @samp{load} commands, or while
1521reading symbols from shared libraries.
1522
1523@findex find_sym_fns
1524Symbol files are initially opened by code in @file{symfile.c} using
1525the BFD library (@pxref{Support Libraries}). BFD identifies the type
1526of the file by examining its header. @code{find_sym_fns} then uses
1527this identification to locate a set of symbol-reading functions.
1528
1529@findex add_symtab_fns
1530@cindex @code{sym_fns} structure
1531@cindex adding a symbol-reading module
1532Symbol-reading modules identify themselves to @value{GDBN} by calling
c906108c
SS
1533@code{add_symtab_fns} during their module initialization. The argument
1534to @code{add_symtab_fns} is a @code{struct sym_fns} which contains the
1535name (or name prefix) of the symbol format, the length of the prefix,
1536and pointers to four functions. These functions are called at various
56caf160 1537times to process symbol files whose identification matches the specified
c906108c
SS
1538prefix.
1539
1540The functions supplied by each module are:
1541
1542@table @code
1543@item @var{xyz}_symfile_init(struct sym_fns *sf)
1544
56caf160 1545@cindex secondary symbol file
c906108c
SS
1546Called from @code{symbol_file_add} when we are about to read a new
1547symbol file. This function should clean up any internal state (possibly
1548resulting from half-read previous files, for example) and prepare to
56caf160
EZ
1549read a new symbol file. Note that the symbol file which we are reading
1550might be a new ``main'' symbol file, or might be a secondary symbol file
c906108c
SS
1551whose symbols are being added to the existing symbol table.
1552
1553The argument to @code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init} is a newly allocated
1554@code{struct sym_fns} whose @code{bfd} field contains the BFD for the
1555new symbol file being read. Its @code{private} field has been zeroed,
1556and can be modified as desired. Typically, a struct of private
1557information will be @code{malloc}'d, and a pointer to it will be placed
1558in the @code{private} field.
1559
1560There is no result from @code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init}, but it can call
1561@code{error} if it detects an unavoidable problem.
1562
1563@item @var{xyz}_new_init()
1564
1565Called from @code{symbol_file_add} when discarding existing symbols.
56caf160
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1566This function needs only handle the symbol-reading module's internal
1567state; the symbol table data structures visible to the rest of
1568@value{GDBN} will be discarded by @code{symbol_file_add}. It has no
1569arguments and no result. It may be called after
1570@code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init}, if a new symbol table is being read, or
1571may be called alone if all symbols are simply being discarded.
c906108c
SS
1572
1573@item @var{xyz}_symfile_read(struct sym_fns *sf, CORE_ADDR addr, int mainline)
1574
1575Called from @code{symbol_file_add} to actually read the symbols from a
1576symbol-file into a set of psymtabs or symtabs.
1577
56caf160 1578@code{sf} points to the @code{struct sym_fns} originally passed to
c906108c
SS
1579@code{@var{xyz}_sym_init} for possible initialization. @code{addr} is
1580the offset between the file's specified start address and its true
1581address in memory. @code{mainline} is 1 if this is the main symbol
1582table being read, and 0 if a secondary symbol file (e.g. shared library
1583or dynamically loaded file) is being read.@refill
1584@end table
1585
1586In addition, if a symbol-reading module creates psymtabs when
1587@var{xyz}_symfile_read is called, these psymtabs will contain a pointer
1588to a function @code{@var{xyz}_psymtab_to_symtab}, which can be called
25822942 1589from any point in the @value{GDBN} symbol-handling code.
c906108c
SS
1590
1591@table @code
1592@item @var{xyz}_psymtab_to_symtab (struct partial_symtab *pst)
1593
56caf160 1594Called from @code{psymtab_to_symtab} (or the @code{PSYMTAB_TO_SYMTAB} macro) if
c906108c
SS
1595the psymtab has not already been read in and had its @code{pst->symtab}
1596pointer set. The argument is the psymtab to be fleshed-out into a
56caf160
EZ
1597symtab. Upon return, @code{pst->readin} should have been set to 1, and
1598@code{pst->symtab} should contain a pointer to the new corresponding symtab, or
c906108c
SS
1599zero if there were no symbols in that part of the symbol file.
1600@end table
1601
1602@section Partial Symbol Tables
1603
56caf160 1604@value{GDBN} has three types of symbol tables:
c906108c
SS
1605
1606@itemize @bullet
56caf160
EZ
1607@cindex full symbol table
1608@cindex symtabs
1609@item
1610Full symbol tables (@dfn{symtabs}). These contain the main
1611information about symbols and addresses.
c906108c 1612
56caf160
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1613@cindex psymtabs
1614@item
1615Partial symbol tables (@dfn{psymtabs}). These contain enough
c906108c
SS
1616information to know when to read the corresponding part of the full
1617symbol table.
1618
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1619@cindex minimal symbol table
1620@cindex minsymtabs
1621@item
1622Minimal symbol tables (@dfn{msymtabs}). These contain information
c906108c 1623gleaned from non-debugging symbols.
c906108c
SS
1624@end itemize
1625
56caf160 1626@cindex partial symbol table
c906108c
SS
1627This section describes partial symbol tables.
1628
1629A psymtab is constructed by doing a very quick pass over an executable
1630file's debugging information. Small amounts of information are
56caf160 1631extracted---enough to identify which parts of the symbol table will
c906108c 1632need to be re-read and fully digested later, when the user needs the
25822942 1633information. The speed of this pass causes @value{GDBN} to start up very
c906108c
SS
1634quickly. Later, as the detailed rereading occurs, it occurs in small
1635pieces, at various times, and the delay therefrom is mostly invisible to
1636the user.
1637@c (@xref{Symbol Reading}.)
1638
1639The symbols that show up in a file's psymtab should be, roughly, those
1640visible to the debugger's user when the program is not running code from
1641that file. These include external symbols and types, static symbols and
56caf160 1642types, and @code{enum} values declared at file scope.
c906108c
SS
1643
1644The psymtab also contains the range of instruction addresses that the
1645full symbol table would represent.
1646
56caf160
EZ
1647@cindex finding a symbol
1648@cindex symbol lookup
c906108c
SS
1649The idea is that there are only two ways for the user (or much of the
1650code in the debugger) to reference a symbol:
1651
1652@itemize @bullet
56caf160
EZ
1653@findex find_pc_function
1654@findex find_pc_line
1655@item
1656By its address (e.g. execution stops at some address which is inside a
1657function in this file). The address will be noticed to be in the
1658range of this psymtab, and the full symtab will be read in.
1659@code{find_pc_function}, @code{find_pc_line}, and other
1660@code{find_pc_@dots{}} functions handle this.
c906108c 1661
56caf160
EZ
1662@cindex lookup_symbol
1663@item
1664By its name
c906108c
SS
1665(e.g. the user asks to print a variable, or set a breakpoint on a
1666function). Global names and file-scope names will be found in the
1667psymtab, which will cause the symtab to be pulled in. Local names will
1668have to be qualified by a global name, or a file-scope name, in which
1669case we will have already read in the symtab as we evaluated the
56caf160 1670qualifier. Or, a local symbol can be referenced when we are ``in'' a
c906108c
SS
1671local scope, in which case the first case applies. @code{lookup_symbol}
1672does most of the work here.
c906108c
SS
1673@end itemize
1674
1675The only reason that psymtabs exist is to cause a symtab to be read in
1676at the right moment. Any symbol that can be elided from a psymtab,
1677while still causing that to happen, should not appear in it. Since
1678psymtabs don't have the idea of scope, you can't put local symbols in
1679them anyway. Psymtabs don't have the idea of the type of a symbol,
1680either, so types need not appear, unless they will be referenced by
1681name.
1682
56caf160
EZ
1683It is a bug for @value{GDBN} to behave one way when only a psymtab has
1684been read, and another way if the corresponding symtab has been read
1685in. Such bugs are typically caused by a psymtab that does not contain
1686all the visible symbols, or which has the wrong instruction address
1687ranges.
c906108c 1688
56caf160 1689The psymtab for a particular section of a symbol file (objfile) could be
c906108c
SS
1690thrown away after the symtab has been read in. The symtab should always
1691be searched before the psymtab, so the psymtab will never be used (in a
1692bug-free environment). Currently, psymtabs are allocated on an obstack,
1693and all the psymbols themselves are allocated in a pair of large arrays
1694on an obstack, so there is little to be gained by trying to free them
1695unless you want to do a lot more work.
1696
1697@section Types
1698
56caf160 1699@unnumberedsubsec Fundamental Types (e.g., @code{FT_VOID}, @code{FT_BOOLEAN}).
c906108c 1700
56caf160 1701@cindex fundamental types
25822942 1702These are the fundamental types that @value{GDBN} uses internally. Fundamental
c906108c
SS
1703types from the various debugging formats (stabs, ELF, etc) are mapped
1704into one of these. They are basically a union of all fundamental types
56caf160
EZ
1705that @value{GDBN} knows about for all the languages that @value{GDBN}
1706knows about.
c906108c 1707
56caf160 1708@unnumberedsubsec Type Codes (e.g., @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}, @code{TYPE_CODE_ARRAY}).
c906108c 1709
56caf160
EZ
1710@cindex type codes
1711Each time @value{GDBN} builds an internal type, it marks it with one
1712of these types. The type may be a fundamental type, such as
1713@code{TYPE_CODE_INT}, or a derived type, such as @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}
1714which is a pointer to another type. Typically, several @code{FT_*}
1715types map to one @code{TYPE_CODE_*} type, and are distinguished by
1716other members of the type struct, such as whether the type is signed
1717or unsigned, and how many bits it uses.
c906108c 1718
56caf160 1719@unnumberedsubsec Builtin Types (e.g., @code{builtin_type_void}, @code{builtin_type_char}).
c906108c
SS
1720
1721These are instances of type structs that roughly correspond to
56caf160
EZ
1722fundamental types and are created as global types for @value{GDBN} to
1723use for various ugly historical reasons. We eventually want to
1724eliminate these. Note for example that @code{builtin_type_int}
1725initialized in @file{gdbtypes.c} is basically the same as a
1726@code{TYPE_CODE_INT} type that is initialized in @file{c-lang.c} for
1727an @code{FT_INTEGER} fundamental type. The difference is that the
1728@code{builtin_type} is not associated with any particular objfile, and
1729only one instance exists, while @file{c-lang.c} builds as many
1730@code{TYPE_CODE_INT} types as needed, with each one associated with
1731some particular objfile.
c906108c
SS
1732
1733@section Object File Formats
56caf160 1734@cindex object file formats
c906108c
SS
1735
1736@subsection a.out
1737
56caf160
EZ
1738@cindex @code{a.out} format
1739The @code{a.out} format is the original file format for Unix. It
1740consists of three sections: @code{text}, @code{data}, and @code{bss},
1741which are for program code, initialized data, and uninitialized data,
1742respectively.
c906108c 1743
56caf160 1744The @code{a.out} format is so simple that it doesn't have any reserved
c906108c 1745place for debugging information. (Hey, the original Unix hackers used
56caf160
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1746@samp{adb}, which is a machine-language debugger!) The only debugging
1747format for @code{a.out} is stabs, which is encoded as a set of normal
c906108c
SS
1748symbols with distinctive attributes.
1749
56caf160 1750The basic @code{a.out} reader is in @file{dbxread.c}.
c906108c
SS
1751
1752@subsection COFF
1753
56caf160 1754@cindex COFF format
c906108c
SS
1755The COFF format was introduced with System V Release 3 (SVR3) Unix.
1756COFF files may have multiple sections, each prefixed by a header. The
1757number of sections is limited.
1758
1759The COFF specification includes support for debugging. Although this
1760was a step forward, the debugging information was woefully limited. For
1761instance, it was not possible to represent code that came from an
1762included file.
1763
1764The COFF reader is in @file{coffread.c}.
1765
1766@subsection ECOFF
1767
56caf160 1768@cindex ECOFF format
c906108c
SS
1769ECOFF is an extended COFF originally introduced for Mips and Alpha
1770workstations.
1771
1772The basic ECOFF reader is in @file{mipsread.c}.
1773
1774@subsection XCOFF
1775
56caf160 1776@cindex XCOFF format
c906108c
SS
1777The IBM RS/6000 running AIX uses an object file format called XCOFF.
1778The COFF sections, symbols, and line numbers are used, but debugging
56caf160
EZ
1779symbols are @code{dbx}-style stabs whose strings are located in the
1780@code{.debug} section (rather than the string table). For more
1781information, see @ref{Top,,,stabs,The Stabs Debugging Format}.
c906108c
SS
1782
1783The shared library scheme has a clean interface for figuring out what
1784shared libraries are in use, but the catch is that everything which
1785refers to addresses (symbol tables and breakpoints at least) needs to be
1786relocated for both shared libraries and the main executable. At least
1787using the standard mechanism this can only be done once the program has
1788been run (or the core file has been read).
1789
1790@subsection PE
1791
56caf160
EZ
1792@cindex PE-COFF format
1793Windows 95 and NT use the PE (@dfn{Portable Executable}) format for their
c906108c
SS
1794executables. PE is basically COFF with additional headers.
1795
25822942 1796While BFD includes special PE support, @value{GDBN} needs only the basic
c906108c
SS
1797COFF reader.
1798
1799@subsection ELF
1800
56caf160 1801@cindex ELF format
c906108c
SS
1802The ELF format came with System V Release 4 (SVR4) Unix. ELF is similar
1803to COFF in being organized into a number of sections, but it removes
1804many of COFF's limitations.
1805
1806The basic ELF reader is in @file{elfread.c}.
1807
1808@subsection SOM
1809
56caf160 1810@cindex SOM format
c906108c
SS
1811SOM is HP's object file and debug format (not to be confused with IBM's
1812SOM, which is a cross-language ABI).
1813
1814The SOM reader is in @file{hpread.c}.
1815
1816@subsection Other File Formats
1817
56caf160 1818@cindex Netware Loadable Module format
25822942 1819Other file formats that have been supported by @value{GDBN} include Netware
4a98ee0e 1820Loadable Modules (@file{nlmread.c}).
c906108c
SS
1821
1822@section Debugging File Formats
1823
1824This section describes characteristics of debugging information that
1825are independent of the object file format.
1826
1827@subsection stabs
1828
56caf160 1829@cindex stabs debugging info
c906108c
SS
1830@code{stabs} started out as special symbols within the @code{a.out}
1831format. Since then, it has been encapsulated into other file
1832formats, such as COFF and ELF.
1833
1834While @file{dbxread.c} does some of the basic stab processing,
1835including for encapsulated versions, @file{stabsread.c} does
1836the real work.
1837
1838@subsection COFF
1839
56caf160 1840@cindex COFF debugging info
c906108c
SS
1841The basic COFF definition includes debugging information. The level
1842of support is minimal and non-extensible, and is not often used.
1843
1844@subsection Mips debug (Third Eye)
1845
56caf160 1846@cindex ECOFF debugging info
c906108c
SS
1847ECOFF includes a definition of a special debug format.
1848
1849The file @file{mdebugread.c} implements reading for this format.
1850
1851@subsection DWARF 1
1852
56caf160 1853@cindex DWARF 1 debugging info
c906108c
SS
1854DWARF 1 is a debugging format that was originally designed to be
1855used with ELF in SVR4 systems.
1856
c906108c
SS
1857@c GCC_PRODUCER
1858@c GPLUS_PRODUCER
1859@c LCC_PRODUCER
1860@c If defined, these are the producer strings in a DWARF 1 file. All of
1861@c these have reasonable defaults already.
1862
1863The DWARF 1 reader is in @file{dwarfread.c}.
1864
1865@subsection DWARF 2
1866
56caf160 1867@cindex DWARF 2 debugging info
c906108c
SS
1868DWARF 2 is an improved but incompatible version of DWARF 1.
1869
1870The DWARF 2 reader is in @file{dwarf2read.c}.
1871
1872@subsection SOM
1873
56caf160 1874@cindex SOM debugging info
c906108c
SS
1875Like COFF, the SOM definition includes debugging information.
1876
25822942 1877@section Adding a New Symbol Reader to @value{GDBN}
c906108c 1878
56caf160
EZ
1879@cindex adding debugging info reader
1880If you are using an existing object file format (@code{a.out}, COFF, ELF, etc),
c906108c
SS
1881there is probably little to be done.
1882
1883If you need to add a new object file format, you must first add it to
1884BFD. This is beyond the scope of this document.
1885
1886You must then arrange for the BFD code to provide access to the
25822942 1887debugging symbols. Generally @value{GDBN} will have to call swapping routines
c906108c 1888from BFD and a few other BFD internal routines to locate the debugging
25822942 1889information. As much as possible, @value{GDBN} should not depend on the BFD
c906108c
SS
1890internal data structures.
1891
1892For some targets (e.g., COFF), there is a special transfer vector used
1893to call swapping routines, since the external data structures on various
1894platforms have different sizes and layouts. Specialized routines that
1895will only ever be implemented by one object file format may be called
1896directly. This interface should be described in a file
56caf160 1897@file{bfd/lib@var{xyz}.h}, which is included by @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
1898
1899
1900@node Language Support
1901
1902@chapter Language Support
1903
56caf160
EZ
1904@cindex language support
1905@value{GDBN}'s language support is mainly driven by the symbol reader,
1906although it is possible for the user to set the source language
1907manually.
c906108c 1908
56caf160
EZ
1909@value{GDBN} chooses the source language by looking at the extension
1910of the file recorded in the debug info; @file{.c} means C, @file{.f}
1911means Fortran, etc. It may also use a special-purpose language
1912identifier if the debug format supports it, like with DWARF.
c906108c 1913
25822942 1914@section Adding a Source Language to @value{GDBN}
c906108c 1915
56caf160
EZ
1916@cindex adding source language
1917To add other languages to @value{GDBN}'s expression parser, follow the
1918following steps:
c906108c
SS
1919
1920@table @emph
1921@item Create the expression parser.
1922
56caf160 1923@cindex expression parser
c906108c 1924This should reside in a file @file{@var{lang}-exp.y}. Routines for
56caf160 1925building parsed expressions into a @code{union exp_element} list are in
c906108c
SS
1926@file{parse.c}.
1927
56caf160 1928@cindex language parser
c906108c
SS
1929Since we can't depend upon everyone having Bison, and YACC produces
1930parsers that define a bunch of global names, the following lines
56caf160 1931@strong{must} be included at the top of the YACC parser, to prevent the
c906108c
SS
1932various parsers from defining the same global names:
1933
474c8240 1934@smallexample
56caf160
EZ
1935#define yyparse @var{lang}_parse
1936#define yylex @var{lang}_lex
1937#define yyerror @var{lang}_error
1938#define yylval @var{lang}_lval
1939#define yychar @var{lang}_char
1940#define yydebug @var{lang}_debug
1941#define yypact @var{lang}_pact
1942#define yyr1 @var{lang}_r1
1943#define yyr2 @var{lang}_r2
1944#define yydef @var{lang}_def
1945#define yychk @var{lang}_chk
1946#define yypgo @var{lang}_pgo
1947#define yyact @var{lang}_act
1948#define yyexca @var{lang}_exca
1949#define yyerrflag @var{lang}_errflag
1950#define yynerrs @var{lang}_nerrs
474c8240 1951@end smallexample
c906108c
SS
1952
1953At the bottom of your parser, define a @code{struct language_defn} and
1954initialize it with the right values for your language. Define an
1955@code{initialize_@var{lang}} routine and have it call
25822942 1956@samp{add_language(@var{lang}_language_defn)} to tell the rest of @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
1957that your language exists. You'll need some other supporting variables
1958and functions, which will be used via pointers from your
1959@code{@var{lang}_language_defn}. See the declaration of @code{struct
1960language_defn} in @file{language.h}, and the other @file{*-exp.y} files,
1961for more information.
1962
1963@item Add any evaluation routines, if necessary
1964
56caf160
EZ
1965@cindex expression evaluation routines
1966@findex evaluate_subexp
1967@findex prefixify_subexp
1968@findex length_of_subexp
c906108c
SS
1969If you need new opcodes (that represent the operations of the language),
1970add them to the enumerated type in @file{expression.h}. Add support
56caf160
EZ
1971code for these operations in the @code{evaluate_subexp} function
1972defined in the file @file{eval.c}. Add cases
c906108c 1973for new opcodes in two functions from @file{parse.c}:
56caf160 1974@code{prefixify_subexp} and @code{length_of_subexp}. These compute
c906108c
SS
1975the number of @code{exp_element}s that a given operation takes up.
1976
1977@item Update some existing code
1978
1979Add an enumerated identifier for your language to the enumerated type
1980@code{enum language} in @file{defs.h}.
1981
1982Update the routines in @file{language.c} so your language is included.
1983These routines include type predicates and such, which (in some cases)
1984are language dependent. If your language does not appear in the switch
1985statement, an error is reported.
1986
56caf160 1987@vindex current_language
c906108c
SS
1988Also included in @file{language.c} is the code that updates the variable
1989@code{current_language}, and the routines that translate the
1990@code{language_@var{lang}} enumerated identifier into a printable
1991string.
1992
56caf160 1993@findex _initialize_language
c906108c
SS
1994Update the function @code{_initialize_language} to include your
1995language. This function picks the default language upon startup, so is
25822942 1996dependent upon which languages that @value{GDBN} is built for.
c906108c 1997
56caf160 1998@findex allocate_symtab
c906108c
SS
1999Update @code{allocate_symtab} in @file{symfile.c} and/or symbol-reading
2000code so that the language of each symtab (source file) is set properly.
2001This is used to determine the language to use at each stack frame level.
2002Currently, the language is set based upon the extension of the source
2003file. If the language can be better inferred from the symbol
2004information, please set the language of the symtab in the symbol-reading
2005code.
2006
56caf160
EZ
2007@findex print_subexp
2008@findex op_print_tab
2009Add helper code to @code{print_subexp} (in @file{expprint.c}) to handle any new
c906108c
SS
2010expression opcodes you have added to @file{expression.h}. Also, add the
2011printed representations of your operators to @code{op_print_tab}.
2012
2013@item Add a place of call
2014
56caf160 2015@findex parse_exp_1
c906108c 2016Add a call to @code{@var{lang}_parse()} and @code{@var{lang}_error} in
56caf160 2017@code{parse_exp_1} (defined in @file{parse.c}).
c906108c
SS
2018
2019@item Use macros to trim code
2020
56caf160 2021@cindex trimming language-dependent code
25822942
DB
2022The user has the option of building @value{GDBN} for some or all of the
2023languages. If the user decides to build @value{GDBN} for the language
c906108c
SS
2024@var{lang}, then every file dependent on @file{language.h} will have the
2025macro @code{_LANG_@var{lang}} defined in it. Use @code{#ifdef}s to
2026leave out large routines that the user won't need if he or she is not
2027using your language.
2028
25822942 2029Note that you do not need to do this in your YACC parser, since if @value{GDBN}
c906108c 2030is not build for @var{lang}, then @file{@var{lang}-exp.tab.o} (the
25822942 2031compiled form of your parser) is not linked into @value{GDBN} at all.
c906108c 2032
56caf160
EZ
2033See the file @file{configure.in} for how @value{GDBN} is configured
2034for different languages.
c906108c
SS
2035
2036@item Edit @file{Makefile.in}
2037
2038Add dependencies in @file{Makefile.in}. Make sure you update the macro
2039variables such as @code{HFILES} and @code{OBJS}, otherwise your code may
2040not get linked in, or, worse yet, it may not get @code{tar}red into the
2041distribution!
c906108c
SS
2042@end table
2043
2044
2045@node Host Definition
2046
2047@chapter Host Definition
2048
56caf160 2049With the advent of Autoconf, it's rarely necessary to have host
7fd60527
AC
2050definition machinery anymore. The following information is provided,
2051mainly, as an historical reference.
c906108c
SS
2052
2053@section Adding a New Host
2054
56caf160
EZ
2055@cindex adding a new host
2056@cindex host, adding
7fd60527
AC
2057@value{GDBN}'s host configuration support normally happens via Autoconf.
2058New host-specific definitions should not be needed. Older hosts
2059@value{GDBN} still use the host-specific definitions and files listed
2060below, but these mostly exist for historical reasons, and will
56caf160 2061eventually disappear.
c906108c 2062
c906108c 2063@table @file
c906108c 2064@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{xyz}.mh
7fd60527
AC
2065This file once contained both host and native configuration information
2066(@pxref{Native Debugging}) for the machine @var{xyz}. The host
2067configuration information is now handed by Autoconf.
2068
2069Host configuration information included a definition of
2070@code{XM_FILE=xm-@var{xyz}.h} and possibly definitions for @code{CC},
7708fa01
AC
2071@code{SYSV_DEFINE}, @code{XM_CFLAGS}, @code{XM_ADD_FILES},
2072@code{XM_CLIBS}, @code{XM_CDEPS}, etc.; see @file{Makefile.in}.
c906108c 2073
7fd60527
AC
2074New host only configurations do not need this file.
2075
c906108c 2076@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/xm-@var{xyz}.h
7fd60527
AC
2077This file once contained definitions and includes required when hosting
2078gdb on machine @var{xyz}. Those definitions and includes are now
2079handled by Autoconf.
2080
2081New host and native configurations do not need this file.
2082
2083@emph{Maintainer's note: Some hosts continue to use the @file{xm-xyz.h}
2084file to define the macros @var{HOST_FLOAT_FORMAT},
2085@var{HOST_DOUBLE_FORMAT} and @var{HOST_LONG_DOUBLE_FORMAT}. That code
2086also needs to be replaced with either an Autoconf or run-time test.}
c906108c 2087
c906108c
SS
2088@end table
2089
2090@subheading Generic Host Support Files
2091
56caf160 2092@cindex generic host support
c906108c
SS
2093There are some ``generic'' versions of routines that can be used by
2094various systems. These can be customized in various ways by macros
2095defined in your @file{xm-@var{xyz}.h} file. If these routines work for
2096the @var{xyz} host, you can just include the generic file's name (with
2097@samp{.o}, not @samp{.c}) in @code{XDEPFILES}.
2098
2099Otherwise, if your machine needs custom support routines, you will need
2100to write routines that perform the same functions as the generic file.
2101Put them into @code{@var{xyz}-xdep.c}, and put @code{@var{xyz}-xdep.o}
2102into @code{XDEPFILES}.
2103
2104@table @file
56caf160
EZ
2105@cindex remote debugging support
2106@cindex serial line support
c906108c
SS
2107@item ser-unix.c
2108This contains serial line support for Unix systems. This is always
2109included, via the makefile variable @code{SER_HARDWIRE}; override this
2110variable in the @file{.mh} file to avoid it.
2111
2112@item ser-go32.c
2113This contains serial line support for 32-bit programs running under DOS,
56caf160 2114using the DJGPP (a.k.a.@: GO32) execution environment.
c906108c 2115
56caf160 2116@cindex TCP remote support
c906108c
SS
2117@item ser-tcp.c
2118This contains generic TCP support using sockets.
c906108c
SS
2119@end table
2120
2121@section Host Conditionals
2122
56caf160
EZ
2123When @value{GDBN} is configured and compiled, various macros are
2124defined or left undefined, to control compilation based on the
2125attributes of the host system. These macros and their meanings (or if
2126the meaning is not documented here, then one of the source files where
2127they are used is indicated) are:
c906108c 2128
56caf160 2129@ftable @code
25822942 2130@item @value{GDBN}INIT_FILENAME
56caf160
EZ
2131The default name of @value{GDBN}'s initialization file (normally
2132@file{.gdbinit}).
c906108c 2133
cce74817
JM
2134@item NO_STD_REGS
2135This macro is deprecated.
2136
c906108c
SS
2137@item NO_SYS_FILE
2138Define this if your system does not have a @code{<sys/file.h>}.
2139
2140@item SIGWINCH_HANDLER
2141If your host defines @code{SIGWINCH}, you can define this to be the name
2142of a function to be called if @code{SIGWINCH} is received.
2143
2144@item SIGWINCH_HANDLER_BODY
2145Define this to expand into code that will define the function named by
2146the expansion of @code{SIGWINCH_HANDLER}.
2147
2148@item ALIGN_STACK_ON_STARTUP
56caf160 2149@cindex stack alignment
c906108c
SS
2150Define this if your system is of a sort that will crash in
2151@code{tgetent} if the stack happens not to be longword-aligned when
2152@code{main} is called. This is a rare situation, but is known to occur
2153on several different types of systems.
2154
2155@item CRLF_SOURCE_FILES
56caf160 2156@cindex DOS text files
c906108c
SS
2157Define this if host files use @code{\r\n} rather than @code{\n} as a
2158line terminator. This will cause source file listings to omit @code{\r}
56caf160
EZ
2159characters when printing and it will allow @code{\r\n} line endings of files
2160which are ``sourced'' by gdb. It must be possible to open files in binary
c906108c
SS
2161mode using @code{O_BINARY} or, for fopen, @code{"rb"}.
2162
2163@item DEFAULT_PROMPT
56caf160 2164@cindex prompt
c906108c
SS
2165The default value of the prompt string (normally @code{"(gdb) "}).
2166
2167@item DEV_TTY
56caf160 2168@cindex terminal device
c906108c
SS
2169The name of the generic TTY device, defaults to @code{"/dev/tty"}.
2170
2171@item FCLOSE_PROVIDED
2172Define this if the system declares @code{fclose} in the headers included
2173in @code{defs.h}. This isn't needed unless your compiler is unusually
2174anal.
2175
2176@item FOPEN_RB
2177Define this if binary files are opened the same way as text files.
2178
2179@item GETENV_PROVIDED
2180Define this if the system declares @code{getenv} in its headers included
56caf160 2181in @code{defs.h}. This isn't needed unless your compiler is unusually
c906108c
SS
2182anal.
2183
2184@item HAVE_MMAP
56caf160 2185@findex mmap
c906108c
SS
2186In some cases, use the system call @code{mmap} for reading symbol
2187tables. For some machines this allows for sharing and quick updates.
2188
c906108c
SS
2189@item HAVE_TERMIO
2190Define this if the host system has @code{termio.h}.
2191
c906108c 2192@item INT_MAX
9742079a
EZ
2193@itemx INT_MIN
2194@itemx LONG_MAX
2195@itemx UINT_MAX
2196@itemx ULONG_MAX
c906108c
SS
2197Values for host-side constants.
2198
2199@item ISATTY
2200Substitute for isatty, if not available.
2201
2202@item LONGEST
2203This is the longest integer type available on the host. If not defined,
2204it will default to @code{long long} or @code{long}, depending on
2205@code{CC_HAS_LONG_LONG}.
2206
2207@item CC_HAS_LONG_LONG
56caf160
EZ
2208@cindex @code{long long} data type
2209Define this if the host C compiler supports @code{long long}. This is set
2210by the @code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2211
2212@item PRINTF_HAS_LONG_LONG
2213Define this if the host can handle printing of long long integers via
56caf160
EZ
2214the printf format conversion specifier @code{ll}. This is set by the
2215@code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2216
2217@item HAVE_LONG_DOUBLE
56caf160
EZ
2218Define this if the host C compiler supports @code{long double}. This is
2219set by the @code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2220
2221@item PRINTF_HAS_LONG_DOUBLE
2222Define this if the host can handle printing of long double float-point
56caf160
EZ
2223numbers via the printf format conversion specifier @code{Lg}. This is
2224set by the @code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2225
2226@item SCANF_HAS_LONG_DOUBLE
2227Define this if the host can handle the parsing of long double
56caf160
EZ
2228float-point numbers via the scanf format conversion specifier
2229@code{Lg}. This is set by the @code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2230
2231@item LSEEK_NOT_LINEAR
2232Define this if @code{lseek (n)} does not necessarily move to byte number
2233@code{n} in the file. This is only used when reading source files. It
2234is normally faster to define @code{CRLF_SOURCE_FILES} when possible.
2235
2236@item L_SET
56caf160
EZ
2237This macro is used as the argument to @code{lseek} (or, most commonly,
2238@code{bfd_seek}). FIXME, should be replaced by SEEK_SET instead,
2239which is the POSIX equivalent.
c906108c 2240
c906108c
SS
2241@item NORETURN
2242If defined, this should be one or more tokens, such as @code{volatile},
2243that can be used in both the declaration and definition of functions to
2244indicate that they never return. The default is already set correctly
2245if compiling with GCC. This will almost never need to be defined.
2246
2247@item ATTR_NORETURN
2248If defined, this should be one or more tokens, such as
2249@code{__attribute__ ((noreturn))}, that can be used in the declarations
2250of functions to indicate that they never return. The default is already
2251set correctly if compiling with GCC. This will almost never need to be
2252defined.
2253
c906108c 2254@item NO_SIGINTERRUPT
56caf160
EZ
2255@findex siginterrupt
2256Define this to indicate that @code{siginterrupt} is not available.
c906108c 2257
c906108c 2258@item SEEK_CUR
9742079a 2259@itemx SEEK_SET
56caf160 2260Define these to appropriate value for the system @code{lseek}, if not already
c906108c
SS
2261defined.
2262
2263@item STOP_SIGNAL
56caf160
EZ
2264This is the signal for stopping @value{GDBN}. Defaults to
2265@code{SIGTSTP}. (Only redefined for the Convex.)
c906108c
SS
2266
2267@item USE_O_NOCTTY
56caf160 2268Define this if the interior's tty should be opened with the @code{O_NOCTTY}
c906108c
SS
2269flag. (FIXME: This should be a native-only flag, but @file{inflow.c} is
2270always linked in.)
2271
2272@item USG
2273Means that System V (prior to SVR4) include files are in use. (FIXME:
7ca9f392
AC
2274This symbol is abused in @file{infrun.c}, @file{regex.c}, and
2275@file{utils.c} for other things, at the moment.)
c906108c
SS
2276
2277@item lint
56caf160 2278Define this to help placate @code{lint} in some situations.
c906108c
SS
2279
2280@item volatile
2281Define this to override the defaults of @code{__volatile__} or
2282@code{/**/}.
56caf160 2283@end ftable
c906108c
SS
2284
2285
2286@node Target Architecture Definition
2287
2288@chapter Target Architecture Definition
2289
56caf160
EZ
2290@cindex target architecture definition
2291@value{GDBN}'s target architecture defines what sort of
2292machine-language programs @value{GDBN} can work with, and how it works
2293with them.
c906108c 2294
af6c57ea
AC
2295The target architecture object is implemented as the C structure
2296@code{struct gdbarch *}. The structure, and its methods, are generated
93c2c750 2297using the Bourne shell script @file{gdbarch.sh}.
c906108c 2298
70f80edf
JT
2299@section Operating System ABI Variant Handling
2300@cindex OS ABI variants
2301
2302@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism for handling variations in OS
2303ABIs. An OS ABI variant may have influence over any number of
2304variables in the target architecture definition. There are two major
2305components in the OS ABI mechanism: sniffers and handlers.
2306
2307A @dfn{sniffer} examines a file matching a BFD architecture/flavour pair
2308(the architecture may be wildcarded) in an attempt to determine the
2309OS ABI of that file. Sniffers with a wildcarded architecture are considered
2310to be @dfn{generic}, while sniffers for a specific architecture are
2311considered to be @dfn{specific}. A match from a specific sniffer
2312overrides a match from a generic sniffer. Multiple sniffers for an
2313architecture/flavour may exist, in order to differentiate between two
2314different operating systems which use the same basic file format. The
2315OS ABI framework provides a generic sniffer for ELF-format files which
2316examines the @code{EI_OSABI} field of the ELF header, as well as note
2317sections known to be used by several operating systems.
2318
2319@cindex fine-tuning @code{gdbarch} structure
2320A @dfn{handler} is used to fine-tune the @code{gdbarch} structure for the
2321selected OS ABI. There may be only one handler for a given OS ABI
2322for each BFD architecture.
2323
2324The following OS ABI variants are defined in @file{osabi.h}:
2325
2326@table @code
2327
2328@findex GDB_OSABI_UNKNOWN
2329@item GDB_OSABI_UNKNOWN
2330The ABI of the inferior is unknown. The default @code{gdbarch}
2331settings for the architecture will be used.
2332
2333@findex GDB_OSABI_SVR4
2334@item GDB_OSABI_SVR4
2335UNIX System V Release 4
2336
2337@findex GDB_OSABI_HURD
2338@item GDB_OSABI_HURD
2339GNU using the Hurd kernel
2340
2341@findex GDB_OSABI_SOLARIS
2342@item GDB_OSABI_SOLARIS
2343Sun Solaris
2344
2345@findex GDB_OSABI_OSF1
2346@item GDB_OSABI_OSF1
2347OSF/1, including Digital UNIX and Compaq Tru64 UNIX
2348
2349@findex GDB_OSABI_LINUX
2350@item GDB_OSABI_LINUX
2351GNU using the Linux kernel
2352
2353@findex GDB_OSABI_FREEBSD_AOUT
2354@item GDB_OSABI_FREEBSD_AOUT
2355FreeBSD using the a.out executable format
2356
2357@findex GDB_OSABI_FREEBSD_ELF
2358@item GDB_OSABI_FREEBSD_ELF
2359FreeBSD using the ELF executable format
2360
2361@findex GDB_OSABI_NETBSD_AOUT
2362@item GDB_OSABI_NETBSD_AOUT
2363NetBSD using the a.out executable format
2364
2365@findex GDB_OSABI_NETBSD_ELF
2366@item GDB_OSABI_NETBSD_ELF
2367NetBSD using the ELF executable format
2368
2369@findex GDB_OSABI_WINCE
2370@item GDB_OSABI_WINCE
2371Windows CE
2372
1029b7fa
MK
2373@findex GDB_OSABI_GO32
2374@item GDB_OSABI_GO32
2375DJGPP
2376
2377@findex GDB_OSABI_NETWARE
2378@item GDB_OSABI_NETWARE
2379Novell NetWare
2380
70f80edf
JT
2381@findex GDB_OSABI_ARM_EABI_V1
2382@item GDB_OSABI_ARM_EABI_V1
2383ARM Embedded ABI version 1
2384
2385@findex GDB_OSABI_ARM_EABI_V2
2386@item GDB_OSABI_ARM_EABI_V2
2387ARM Embedded ABI version 2
2388
2389@findex GDB_OSABI_ARM_APCS
2390@item GDB_OSABI_ARM_APCS
2391Generic ARM Procedure Call Standard
2392
2393@end table
2394
2395Here are the functions that make up the OS ABI framework:
2396
2397@deftypefun const char *gdbarch_osabi_name (enum gdb_osabi @var{osabi})
2398Return the name of the OS ABI corresponding to @var{osabi}.
2399@end deftypefun
2400
c133ab7a 2401@deftypefun void gdbarch_register_osabi (enum bfd_architecture @var{arch}, unsigned long @var{machine}, enum gdb_osabi @var{osabi}, void (*@var{init_osabi})(struct gdbarch_info @var{info}, struct gdbarch *@var{gdbarch}))
70f80edf 2402Register the OS ABI handler specified by @var{init_osabi} for the
c133ab7a
MK
2403architecture, machine type and OS ABI specified by @var{arch},
2404@var{machine} and @var{osabi}. In most cases, a value of zero for the
2405machine type, which implies the architecture's default machine type,
2406will suffice.
70f80edf
JT
2407@end deftypefun
2408
2409@deftypefun void gdbarch_register_osabi_sniffer (enum bfd_architecture @var{arch}, enum bfd_flavour @var{flavour}, enum gdb_osabi (*@var{sniffer})(bfd *@var{abfd}))
2410Register the OS ABI file sniffer specified by @var{sniffer} for the
2411BFD architecture/flavour pair specified by @var{arch} and @var{flavour}.
2412If @var{arch} is @code{bfd_arch_unknown}, the sniffer is considered to
2413be generic, and is allowed to examine @var{flavour}-flavoured files for
2414any architecture.
2415@end deftypefun
2416
2417@deftypefun enum gdb_osabi gdbarch_lookup_osabi (bfd *@var{abfd})
2418Examine the file described by @var{abfd} to determine its OS ABI.
2419The value @code{GDB_OSABI_UNKNOWN} is returned if the OS ABI cannot
2420be determined.
2421@end deftypefun
2422
2423@deftypefun void gdbarch_init_osabi (struct gdbarch info @var{info}, struct gdbarch *@var{gdbarch}, enum gdb_osabi @var{osabi})
2424Invoke the OS ABI handler corresponding to @var{osabi} to fine-tune the
2425@code{gdbarch} structure specified by @var{gdbarch}. If a handler
2426corresponding to @var{osabi} has not been registered for @var{gdbarch}'s
2427architecture, a warning will be issued and the debugging session will continue
2428with the defaults already established for @var{gdbarch}.
2429@end deftypefun
2430
c906108c
SS
2431@section Registers and Memory
2432
56caf160
EZ
2433@value{GDBN}'s model of the target machine is rather simple.
2434@value{GDBN} assumes the machine includes a bank of registers and a
2435block of memory. Each register may have a different size.
c906108c 2436
56caf160
EZ
2437@value{GDBN} does not have a magical way to match up with the
2438compiler's idea of which registers are which; however, it is critical
2439that they do match up accurately. The only way to make this work is
2440to get accurate information about the order that the compiler uses,
2441and to reflect that in the @code{REGISTER_NAME} and related macros.
c906108c 2442
25822942 2443@value{GDBN} can handle big-endian, little-endian, and bi-endian architectures.
c906108c 2444
93e79dbd
JB
2445@section Pointers Are Not Always Addresses
2446@cindex pointer representation
2447@cindex address representation
2448@cindex word-addressed machines
2449@cindex separate data and code address spaces
2450@cindex spaces, separate data and code address
2451@cindex address spaces, separate data and code
2452@cindex code pointers, word-addressed
2453@cindex converting between pointers and addresses
2454@cindex D10V addresses
2455
2456On almost all 32-bit architectures, the representation of a pointer is
2457indistinguishable from the representation of some fixed-length number
2458whose value is the byte address of the object pointed to. On such
56caf160 2459machines, the words ``pointer'' and ``address'' can be used interchangeably.
93e79dbd
JB
2460However, architectures with smaller word sizes are often cramped for
2461address space, so they may choose a pointer representation that breaks this
2462identity, and allows a larger code address space.
2463
172c2a43 2464For example, the Renesas D10V is a 16-bit VLIW processor whose
93e79dbd
JB
2465instructions are 32 bits long@footnote{Some D10V instructions are
2466actually pairs of 16-bit sub-instructions. However, since you can't
2467jump into the middle of such a pair, code addresses can only refer to
2468full 32 bit instructions, which is what matters in this explanation.}.
2469If the D10V used ordinary byte addresses to refer to code locations,
2470then the processor would only be able to address 64kb of instructions.
2471However, since instructions must be aligned on four-byte boundaries, the
56caf160
EZ
2472low two bits of any valid instruction's byte address are always
2473zero---byte addresses waste two bits. So instead of byte addresses,
2474the D10V uses word addresses---byte addresses shifted right two bits---to
93e79dbd
JB
2475refer to code. Thus, the D10V can use 16-bit words to address 256kb of
2476code space.
2477
2478However, this means that code pointers and data pointers have different
2479forms on the D10V. The 16-bit word @code{0xC020} refers to byte address
2480@code{0xC020} when used as a data address, but refers to byte address
2481@code{0x30080} when used as a code address.
2482
2483(The D10V also uses separate code and data address spaces, which also
2484affects the correspondence between pointers and addresses, but we're
2485going to ignore that here; this example is already too long.)
2486
56caf160
EZ
2487To cope with architectures like this---the D10V is not the only
2488one!---@value{GDBN} tries to distinguish between @dfn{addresses}, which are
93e79dbd
JB
2489byte numbers, and @dfn{pointers}, which are the target's representation
2490of an address of a particular type of data. In the example above,
2491@code{0xC020} is the pointer, which refers to one of the addresses
2492@code{0xC020} or @code{0x30080}, depending on the type imposed upon it.
2493@value{GDBN} provides functions for turning a pointer into an address
2494and vice versa, in the appropriate way for the current architecture.
2495
2496Unfortunately, since addresses and pointers are identical on almost all
2497processors, this distinction tends to bit-rot pretty quickly. Thus,
2498each time you port @value{GDBN} to an architecture which does
2499distinguish between pointers and addresses, you'll probably need to
2500clean up some architecture-independent code.
2501
2502Here are functions which convert between pointers and addresses:
2503
2504@deftypefun CORE_ADDR extract_typed_address (void *@var{buf}, struct type *@var{type})
2505Treat the bytes at @var{buf} as a pointer or reference of type
2506@var{type}, and return the address it represents, in a manner
2507appropriate for the current architecture. This yields an address
2508@value{GDBN} can use to read target memory, disassemble, etc. Note that
2509@var{buf} refers to a buffer in @value{GDBN}'s memory, not the
2510inferior's.
2511
2512For example, if the current architecture is the Intel x86, this function
2513extracts a little-endian integer of the appropriate length from
2514@var{buf} and returns it. However, if the current architecture is the
2515D10V, this function will return a 16-bit integer extracted from
2516@var{buf}, multiplied by four if @var{type} is a pointer to a function.
2517
2518If @var{type} is not a pointer or reference type, then this function
2519will signal an internal error.
2520@end deftypefun
2521
2522@deftypefun CORE_ADDR store_typed_address (void *@var{buf}, struct type *@var{type}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
2523Store the address @var{addr} in @var{buf}, in the proper format for a
2524pointer of type @var{type} in the current architecture. Note that
2525@var{buf} refers to a buffer in @value{GDBN}'s memory, not the
2526inferior's.
2527
2528For example, if the current architecture is the Intel x86, this function
2529stores @var{addr} unmodified as a little-endian integer of the
2530appropriate length in @var{buf}. However, if the current architecture
2531is the D10V, this function divides @var{addr} by four if @var{type} is
2532a pointer to a function, and then stores it in @var{buf}.
2533
2534If @var{type} is not a pointer or reference type, then this function
2535will signal an internal error.
2536@end deftypefun
2537
f23631e4 2538@deftypefun CORE_ADDR value_as_address (struct value *@var{val})
93e79dbd
JB
2539Assuming that @var{val} is a pointer, return the address it represents,
2540as appropriate for the current architecture.
2541
2542This function actually works on integral values, as well as pointers.
2543For pointers, it performs architecture-specific conversions as
2544described above for @code{extract_typed_address}.
2545@end deftypefun
2546
2547@deftypefun CORE_ADDR value_from_pointer (struct type *@var{type}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
2548Create and return a value representing a pointer of type @var{type} to
2549the address @var{addr}, as appropriate for the current architecture.
2550This function performs architecture-specific conversions as described
2551above for @code{store_typed_address}.
2552@end deftypefun
2553
93e79dbd
JB
2554Here are some macros which architectures can define to indicate the
2555relationship between pointers and addresses. These have default
2556definitions, appropriate for architectures on which all pointers are
fc0c74b1 2557simple unsigned byte addresses.
93e79dbd
JB
2558
2559@deftypefn {Target Macro} CORE_ADDR POINTER_TO_ADDRESS (struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{buf})
2560Assume that @var{buf} holds a pointer of type @var{type}, in the
2561appropriate format for the current architecture. Return the byte
2562address the pointer refers to.
2563
2564This function may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
56caf160 2565C@t{++} reference type.
93e79dbd
JB
2566@end deftypefn
2567
2568@deftypefn {Target Macro} void ADDRESS_TO_POINTER (struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{buf}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
2569Store in @var{buf} a pointer of type @var{type} representing the address
2570@var{addr}, in the appropriate format for the current architecture.
2571
2572This function may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
56caf160 2573C@t{++} reference type.
93e79dbd
JB
2574@end deftypefn
2575
b5b0480a
KB
2576@section Address Classes
2577@cindex address classes
2578@cindex DW_AT_byte_size
2579@cindex DW_AT_address_class
2580
2581Sometimes information about different kinds of addresses is available
2582via the debug information. For example, some programming environments
2583define addresses of several different sizes. If the debug information
2584distinguishes these kinds of address classes through either the size
2585info (e.g, @code{DW_AT_byte_size} in @w{DWARF 2}) or through an explicit
2586address class attribute (e.g, @code{DW_AT_address_class} in @w{DWARF 2}), the
2587following macros should be defined in order to disambiguate these
2588types within @value{GDBN} as well as provide the added information to
2589a @value{GDBN} user when printing type expressions.
2590
2591@deftypefn {Target Macro} int ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS (int @var{byte_size}, int @var{dwarf2_addr_class})
2592Returns the type flags needed to construct a pointer type whose size
2593is @var{byte_size} and whose address class is @var{dwarf2_addr_class}.
2594This function is normally called from within a symbol reader. See
2595@file{dwarf2read.c}.
2596@end deftypefn
2597
2598@deftypefn {Target Macro} char *ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME (int @var{type_flags})
2599Given the type flags representing an address class qualifier, return
2600its name.
2601@end deftypefn
2602@deftypefn {Target Macro} int ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_to_TYPE_FLAGS (int @var{name}, int *var{type_flags_ptr})
2603Given an address qualifier name, set the @code{int} refererenced by @var{type_flags_ptr} to the type flags
2604for that address class qualifier.
2605@end deftypefn
2606
2607Since the need for address classes is rather rare, none of
2608the address class macros defined by default. Predicate
2609macros are provided to detect when they are defined.
2610
2611Consider a hypothetical architecture in which addresses are normally
261232-bits wide, but 16-bit addresses are also supported. Furthermore,
2613suppose that the @w{DWARF 2} information for this architecture simply
2614uses a @code{DW_AT_byte_size} value of 2 to indicate the use of one
2615of these "short" pointers. The following functions could be defined
2616to implement the address class macros:
2617
2618@smallexample
2619somearch_address_class_type_flags (int byte_size,
2620 int dwarf2_addr_class)
f2abfe65 2621@{
b5b0480a
KB
2622 if (byte_size == 2)
2623 return TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1;
2624 else
2625 return 0;
f2abfe65 2626@}
b5b0480a
KB
2627
2628static char *
2629somearch_address_class_type_flags_to_name (int type_flags)
f2abfe65 2630@{
b5b0480a
KB
2631 if (type_flags & TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1)
2632 return "short";
2633 else
2634 return NULL;
f2abfe65 2635@}
b5b0480a
KB
2636
2637int
2638somearch_address_class_name_to_type_flags (char *name,
2639 int *type_flags_ptr)
f2abfe65 2640@{
b5b0480a 2641 if (strcmp (name, "short") == 0)
f2abfe65 2642 @{
b5b0480a
KB
2643 *type_flags_ptr = TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1;
2644 return 1;
f2abfe65 2645 @}
b5b0480a
KB
2646 else
2647 return 0;
f2abfe65 2648@}
b5b0480a
KB
2649@end smallexample
2650
2651The qualifier @code{@@short} is used in @value{GDBN}'s type expressions
2652to indicate the presence of one of these "short" pointers. E.g, if
2653the debug information indicates that @code{short_ptr_var} is one of these
2654short pointers, @value{GDBN} might show the following behavior:
2655
2656@smallexample
2657(gdb) ptype short_ptr_var
2658type = int * @@short
2659@end smallexample
2660
93e79dbd 2661
13d01224
AC
2662@section Raw and Virtual Register Representations
2663@cindex raw register representation
2664@cindex virtual register representation
2665@cindex representations, raw and virtual registers
2666
2667@emph{Maintainer note: This section is pretty much obsolete. The
2668functionality described here has largely been replaced by
2669pseudo-registers and the mechanisms described in @ref{Target
2670Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data
2671Representations}. See also @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/,
2672Bug Tracking Database} and
2673@uref{http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/current/ari/, ARI Index} for more
2674up-to-date information.}
af6c57ea 2675
9fb4dd36
JB
2676Some architectures use one representation for a value when it lives in a
2677register, but use a different representation when it lives in memory.
25822942 2678In @value{GDBN}'s terminology, the @dfn{raw} representation is the one used in
9fb4dd36 2679the target registers, and the @dfn{virtual} representation is the one
25822942 2680used in memory, and within @value{GDBN} @code{struct value} objects.
9fb4dd36 2681
13d01224
AC
2682@emph{Maintainer note: Notice that the same mechanism is being used to
2683both convert a register to a @code{struct value} and alternative
2684register forms.}
2685
9fb4dd36
JB
2686For almost all data types on almost all architectures, the virtual and
2687raw representations are identical, and no special handling is needed.
2688However, they do occasionally differ. For example:
2689
2690@itemize @bullet
9fb4dd36 2691@item
56caf160 2692The x86 architecture supports an 80-bit @code{long double} type. However, when
9fb4dd36
JB
2693we store those values in memory, they occupy twelve bytes: the
2694floating-point number occupies the first ten, and the final two bytes
2695are unused. This keeps the values aligned on four-byte boundaries,
2696allowing more efficient access. Thus, the x86 80-bit floating-point
2697type is the raw representation, and the twelve-byte loosely-packed
2698arrangement is the virtual representation.
2699
2700@item
25822942
DB
2701Some 64-bit MIPS targets present 32-bit registers to @value{GDBN} as 64-bit
2702registers, with garbage in their upper bits. @value{GDBN} ignores the top 32
9fb4dd36
JB
2703bits. Thus, the 64-bit form, with garbage in the upper 32 bits, is the
2704raw representation, and the trimmed 32-bit representation is the
2705virtual representation.
9fb4dd36
JB
2706@end itemize
2707
2708In general, the raw representation is determined by the architecture, or
25822942
DB
2709@value{GDBN}'s interface to the architecture, while the virtual representation
2710can be chosen for @value{GDBN}'s convenience. @value{GDBN}'s register file,
56caf160
EZ
2711@code{registers}, holds the register contents in raw format, and the
2712@value{GDBN} remote protocol transmits register values in raw format.
9fb4dd36 2713
56caf160
EZ
2714Your architecture may define the following macros to request
2715conversions between the raw and virtual format:
9fb4dd36
JB
2716
2717@deftypefn {Target Macro} int REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE (int @var{reg})
2718Return non-zero if register number @var{reg}'s value needs different raw
2719and virtual formats.
6f6ef15a
EZ
2720
2721You should not use @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} for a register
2722unless this macro returns a non-zero value for that register.
9fb4dd36
JB
2723@end deftypefn
2724
12c266ea 2725@deftypefn {Target Macro} int DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE (int @var{reg})
9fb4dd36 2726The size of register number @var{reg}'s raw value. This is the number
25822942 2727of bytes the register will occupy in @code{registers}, or in a @value{GDBN}
9fb4dd36
JB
2728remote protocol packet.
2729@end deftypefn
2730
f30992d4 2731@deftypefn {Target Macro} int DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_SIZE (int @var{reg})
9fb4dd36
JB
2732The size of register number @var{reg}'s value, in its virtual format.
2733This is the size a @code{struct value}'s buffer will have, holding that
2734register's value.
2735@end deftypefn
2736
2e092625 2737@deftypefn {Target Macro} struct type *DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (int @var{reg})
9fb4dd36
JB
2738This is the type of the virtual representation of register number
2739@var{reg}. Note that there is no need for a macro giving a type for the
25822942 2740register's raw form; once the register's value has been obtained, @value{GDBN}
9fb4dd36
JB
2741always uses the virtual form.
2742@end deftypefn
2743
2744@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL (int @var{reg}, struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
2745Convert the value of register number @var{reg} to @var{type}, which
2e092625 2746should always be @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})}. The buffer
9fb4dd36
JB
2747at @var{from} holds the register's value in raw format; the macro should
2748convert the value to virtual format, and place it at @var{to}.
2749
6f6ef15a
EZ
2750Note that @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} and
2751@code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW} take their @var{reg} and @var{type}
2752arguments in different orders.
2753
2754You should only use @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} with registers
2755for which the @code{REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE} macro returns a non-zero
2756value.
9fb4dd36
JB
2757@end deftypefn
2758
2759@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW (struct type *@var{type}, int @var{reg}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
2760Convert the value of register number @var{reg} to @var{type}, which
2e092625 2761should always be @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})}. The buffer
9fb4dd36
JB
2762at @var{from} holds the register's value in raw format; the macro should
2763convert the value to virtual format, and place it at @var{to}.
2764
2765Note that REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL and REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW take
2766their @var{reg} and @var{type} arguments in different orders.
2767@end deftypefn
2768
2769
13d01224
AC
2770@section Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations
2771@cindex register representation
2772@cindex memory representation
2773@cindex representations, register and memory
2774@cindex register data formats, converting
2775@cindex @code{struct value}, converting register contents to
2776
2777@emph{Maintainer's note: The way GDB manipulates registers is undergoing
2778significant change. Many of the macros and functions refered to in this
2779section are likely to be subject to further revision. See
2780@uref{http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/current/ari/, A.R. Index} and
2781@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs, Bug Tracking Database} for
2782further information. cagney/2002-05-06.}
2783
2784Some architectures can represent a data object in a register using a
2785form that is different to the objects more normal memory representation.
2786For example:
2787
2788@itemize @bullet
2789
2790@item
2791The Alpha architecture can represent 32 bit integer values in
2792floating-point registers.
2793
2794@item
2795The x86 architecture supports 80-bit floating-point registers. The
2796@code{long double} data type occupies 96 bits in memory but only 80 bits
2797when stored in a register.
2798
2799@end itemize
2800
2801In general, the register representation of a data type is determined by
2802the architecture, or @value{GDBN}'s interface to the architecture, while
2803the memory representation is determined by the Application Binary
2804Interface.
2805
2806For almost all data types on almost all architectures, the two
2807representations are identical, and no special handling is needed.
2808However, they do occasionally differ. Your architecture may define the
2809following macros to request conversions between the register and memory
2810representations of a data type:
2811
2812@deftypefn {Target Macro} int CONVERT_REGISTER_P (int @var{reg})
2813Return non-zero if the representation of a data value stored in this
2814register may be different to the representation of that same data value
2815when stored in memory.
2816
2817When non-zero, the macros @code{REGISTER_TO_VALUE} and
2818@code{VALUE_TO_REGISTER} are used to perform any necessary conversion.
2819@end deftypefn
2820
2821@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_TO_VALUE (int @var{reg}, struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
2822Convert the value of register number @var{reg} to a data object of type
2823@var{type}. The buffer at @var{from} holds the register's value in raw
2824format; the converted value should be placed in the buffer at @var{to}.
2825
2826Note that @code{REGISTER_TO_VALUE} and @code{VALUE_TO_REGISTER} take
2827their @var{reg} and @var{type} arguments in different orders.
2828
2829You should only use @code{REGISTER_TO_VALUE} with registers for which
2830the @code{CONVERT_REGISTER_P} macro returns a non-zero value.
2831@end deftypefn
2832
2833@deftypefn {Target Macro} void VALUE_TO_REGISTER (struct type *@var{type}, int @var{reg}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
2834Convert a data value of type @var{type} to register number @var{reg}'
2835raw format.
2836
2837Note that @code{REGISTER_TO_VALUE} and @code{VALUE_TO_REGISTER} take
2838their @var{reg} and @var{type} arguments in different orders.
2839
2840You should only use @code{VALUE_TO_REGISTER} with registers for which
2841the @code{CONVERT_REGISTER_P} macro returns a non-zero value.
2842@end deftypefn
2843
2844@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_TYPE (int @var{regnum}, struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{buf})
2845See @file{mips-tdep.c}. It does not do what you want.
2846@end deftypefn
2847
2848
c906108c
SS
2849@section Frame Interpretation
2850
2851@section Inferior Call Setup
2852
2853@section Compiler Characteristics
2854
2855@section Target Conditionals
2856
2857This section describes the macros that you can use to define the target
2858machine.
2859
2860@table @code
2861
c906108c 2862@item ADDR_BITS_REMOVE (addr)
56caf160 2863@findex ADDR_BITS_REMOVE
adf40b2e
JM
2864If a raw machine instruction address includes any bits that are not
2865really part of the address, then define this macro to expand into an
56caf160 2866expression that zeroes those bits in @var{addr}. This is only used for
adf40b2e
JM
2867addresses of instructions, and even then not in all contexts.
2868
2869For example, the two low-order bits of the PC on the Hewlett-Packard PA
28702.0 architecture contain the privilege level of the corresponding
2871instruction. Since instructions must always be aligned on four-byte
2872boundaries, the processor masks out these bits to generate the actual
2873address of the instruction. ADDR_BITS_REMOVE should filter out these
2874bits with an expression such as @code{((addr) & ~3)}.
c906108c 2875
b5b0480a
KB
2876@item ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS (@var{name}, @var{type_flags_ptr})
2877@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS
2878If @var{name} is a valid address class qualifier name, set the @code{int}
2879referenced by @var{type_flags_ptr} to the mask representing the qualifier
2880and return 1. If @var{name} is not a valid address class qualifier name,
2881return 0.
2882
2883The value for @var{type_flags_ptr} should be one of
2884@code{TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1}, @code{TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_2}, or
2885possibly some combination of these values or'd together.
2886@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Address Classes}.
2887
2888@item ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS_P ()
2889@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS_P
2890Predicate which indicates whether @code{ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS}
2891has been defined.
2892
2893@item ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS (@var{byte_size}, @var{dwarf2_addr_class})
2894@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS (@var{byte_size}, @var{dwarf2_addr_class})
2895Given a pointers byte size (as described by the debug information) and
2896the possible @code{DW_AT_address_class} value, return the type flags
2897used by @value{GDBN} to represent this address class. The value
2898returned should be one of @code{TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1},
2899@code{TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_2}, or possibly some combination of these
2900values or'd together.
2901@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Address Classes}.
2902
2903@item ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_P ()
2904@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_P
2905Predicate which indicates whether @code{ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS} has
2906been defined.
2907
2908@item ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME (@var{type_flags})
2909@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME
2910Return the name of the address class qualifier associated with the type
2911flags given by @var{type_flags}.
2912
2913@item ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME_P ()
2914@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME_P
2915Predicate which indicates whether @code{ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME} has
2916been defined.
2917@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Address Classes}.
2918
93e79dbd 2919@item ADDRESS_TO_POINTER (@var{type}, @var{buf}, @var{addr})
56caf160 2920@findex ADDRESS_TO_POINTER
93e79dbd
JB
2921Store in @var{buf} a pointer of type @var{type} representing the address
2922@var{addr}, in the appropriate format for the current architecture.
2923This macro may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
56caf160 2924C@t{++} reference type.
93e79dbd
JB
2925@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Pointers Are Not Always Addresses}.
2926
c906108c 2927@item BELIEVE_PCC_PROMOTION
56caf160
EZ
2928@findex BELIEVE_PCC_PROMOTION
2929Define if the compiler promotes a @code{short} or @code{char}
2930parameter to an @code{int}, but still reports the parameter as its
2931original type, rather than the promoted type.
c906108c
SS
2932
2933@item BELIEVE_PCC_PROMOTION_TYPE
56caf160
EZ
2934@findex BELIEVE_PCC_PROMOTION_TYPE
2935Define this if @value{GDBN} should believe the type of a @code{short}
2936argument when compiled by @code{pcc}, but look within a full int space to get
2937its value. Only defined for Sun-3 at present.
c906108c
SS
2938
2939@item BITS_BIG_ENDIAN
56caf160
EZ
2940@findex BITS_BIG_ENDIAN
2941Define this if the numbering of bits in the targets does @strong{not} match the
c906108c 2942endianness of the target byte order. A value of 1 means that the bits
56caf160 2943are numbered in a big-endian bit order, 0 means little-endian.
c906108c
SS
2944
2945@item BREAKPOINT
56caf160 2946@findex BREAKPOINT
c906108c
SS
2947This is the character array initializer for the bit pattern to put into
2948memory where a breakpoint is set. Although it's common to use a trap
2949instruction for a breakpoint, it's not required; for instance, the bit
2950pattern could be an invalid instruction. The breakpoint must be no
2951longer than the shortest instruction of the architecture.
2952
56caf160
EZ
2953@code{BREAKPOINT} has been deprecated in favor of
2954@code{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}.
7a292a7a 2955
c906108c 2956@item BIG_BREAKPOINT
56caf160
EZ
2957@itemx LITTLE_BREAKPOINT
2958@findex LITTLE_BREAKPOINT
2959@findex BIG_BREAKPOINT
c906108c
SS
2960Similar to BREAKPOINT, but used for bi-endian targets.
2961
56caf160
EZ
2962@code{BIG_BREAKPOINT} and @code{LITTLE_BREAKPOINT} have been deprecated in
2963favor of @code{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}.
7a292a7a 2964
2dd0da42
AC
2965@item DEPRECATED_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2966@itemx DEPRECATED_LITTLE_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2967@itemx DEPRECATED_BIG_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2968@findex DEPRECATED_BIG_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2969@findex DEPRECATED_LITTLE_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2970@findex DEPRECATED_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2971Specify the breakpoint instruction sequence for a remote target.
2972@code{DEPRECATED_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT},
2973@code{DEPRECATED_BIG_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT} and
2974@code{DEPRECATED_LITTLE_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT} have been deprecated in
2975favor of @code{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC} (@pxref{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}).
c906108c 2976
56caf160
EZ
2977@item BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC (@var{pcptr}, @var{lenptr})
2978@findex BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC
2dd0da42
AC
2979@anchor{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC} Use the program counter to determine the
2980contents and size of a breakpoint instruction. It returns a pointer to
2981a string of bytes that encode a breakpoint instruction, stores the
2982length of the string to @code{*@var{lenptr}}, and adjusts the program
2983counter (if necessary) to point to the actual memory location where the
2984breakpoint should be inserted.
c906108c
SS
2985
2986Although it is common to use a trap instruction for a breakpoint, it's
2987not required; for instance, the bit pattern could be an invalid
2988instruction. The breakpoint must be no longer than the shortest
2989instruction of the architecture.
2990
7a292a7a
SS
2991Replaces all the other @var{BREAKPOINT} macros.
2992
56caf160
EZ
2993@item MEMORY_INSERT_BREAKPOINT (@var{addr}, @var{contents_cache})
2994@itemx MEMORY_REMOVE_BREAKPOINT (@var{addr}, @var{contents_cache})
2995@findex MEMORY_REMOVE_BREAKPOINT
2996@findex MEMORY_INSERT_BREAKPOINT
917317f4
JM
2997Insert or remove memory based breakpoints. Reasonable defaults
2998(@code{default_memory_insert_breakpoint} and
2999@code{default_memory_remove_breakpoint} respectively) have been
3000provided so that it is not necessary to define these for most
3001architectures. Architectures which may want to define
56caf160 3002@code{MEMORY_INSERT_BREAKPOINT} and @code{MEMORY_REMOVE_BREAKPOINT} will
917317f4
JM
3003likely have instructions that are oddly sized or are not stored in a
3004conventional manner.
3005
3006It may also be desirable (from an efficiency standpoint) to define
3007custom breakpoint insertion and removal routines if
56caf160 3008@code{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC} needs to read the target's memory for some
917317f4
JM
3009reason.
3010
1485d690
KB
3011@item ADJUST_BREAKPOINT_ADDRESS (@var{address})
3012@findex ADJUST_BREAKPOINT_ADDRESS
3013@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
3014Given an address at which a breakpoint is desired, return a breakpoint
3015address adjusted to account for architectural constraints on
3016breakpoint placement. This method is not needed by most targets.
3017
3018The FR-V target (see @file{frv-tdep.c}) requires this method.
3019The FR-V is a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like
3020instructions are grouped (packed) together into an aggregate
3021instruction or instruction bundle. When the processor executes
3022one of these bundles, the component instructions are executed
3023in parallel.
3024
3025In the course of optimization, the compiler may group instructions
3026from distinct source statements into the same bundle. The line number
3027information associated with one of the latter statements will likely
3028refer to some instruction other than the first one in the bundle. So,
3029if the user attempts to place a breakpoint on one of these latter
3030statements, @value{GDBN} must be careful to @emph{not} place the break
3031instruction on any instruction other than the first one in the bundle.
3032(Remember though that the instructions within a bundle execute
3033in parallel, so the @emph{first} instruction is the instruction
3034at the lowest address and has nothing to do with execution order.)
3035
3036The FR-V's @code{ADJUST_BREAKPOINT_ADDRESS} method will adjust a
3037breakpoint's address by scanning backwards for the beginning of
3038the bundle, returning the address of the bundle.
3039
3040Since the adjustment of a breakpoint may significantly alter a user's
3041expectation, @value{GDBN} prints a warning when an adjusted breakpoint
3042is initially set and each time that that breakpoint is hit.
3043
b1e29e33
AC
3044@item DEPRECATED_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS
3045@findex DEPRECATED_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS
56caf160 3046Pointer to an array of @code{LONGEST} words of data containing
b8b527c5
AC
3047host-byte-ordered @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_SIZE} sized values that
3048partially specify the sequence of instructions needed for an inferior
3049function call.
7a292a7a 3050
56caf160 3051Should be deprecated in favor of a macro that uses target-byte-ordered
7a292a7a
SS
3052data.
3053
7043d8dc
AC
3054This method has been replaced by @code{push_dummy_code}
3055(@pxref{push_dummy_code}).
3056
b1e29e33
AC
3057@item DEPRECATED_SIZEOF_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS
3058@findex DEPRECATED_SIZEOF_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS
3059The size of @code{DEPRECATED_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS}. This must return a
3060positive value. See also @code{DEPRECATED_CALL_DUMMY_LENGTH}.
c906108c 3061
7043d8dc
AC
3062This method has been replaced by @code{push_dummy_code}
3063(@pxref{push_dummy_code}).
3064
c906108c 3065@item CALL_DUMMY
56caf160 3066@findex CALL_DUMMY
b1e29e33
AC
3067A static initializer for @code{DEPRECATED_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS}.
3068Deprecated.
7a292a7a 3069
7043d8dc
AC
3070This method has been replaced by @code{push_dummy_code}
3071(@pxref{push_dummy_code}).
3072
c906108c 3073@item CALL_DUMMY_LOCATION
56caf160
EZ
3074@findex CALL_DUMMY_LOCATION
3075See the file @file{inferior.h}.
7a292a7a 3076
7043d8dc
AC
3077This method has been replaced by @code{push_dummy_code}
3078(@pxref{push_dummy_code}).
3079
56caf160
EZ
3080@item CANNOT_FETCH_REGISTER (@var{regno})
3081@findex CANNOT_FETCH_REGISTER
c906108c
SS
3082A C expression that should be nonzero if @var{regno} cannot be fetched
3083from an inferior process. This is only relevant if
3084@code{FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS} is not defined.
3085
56caf160
EZ
3086@item CANNOT_STORE_REGISTER (@var{regno})
3087@findex CANNOT_STORE_REGISTER
c906108c
SS
3088A C expression that should be nonzero if @var{regno} should not be
3089written to the target. This is often the case for program counters,
56caf160
EZ
3090status words, and other special registers. If this is not defined,
3091@value{GDBN} will assume that all registers may be written.
c906108c
SS
3092
3093@item DO_DEFERRED_STORES
a5d7c491 3094@itemx CLEAR_DEFERRED_STORES
56caf160
EZ
3095@findex CLEAR_DEFERRED_STORES
3096@findex DO_DEFERRED_STORES
c906108c
SS
3097Define this to execute any deferred stores of registers into the inferior,
3098and to cancel any deferred stores.
3099
3100Currently only implemented correctly for native Sparc configurations?
3101
13d01224
AC
3102@item int CONVERT_REGISTER_P(@var{regnum})
3103@findex CONVERT_REGISTER_P
3104Return non-zero if register @var{regnum} can represent data values in a
3105non-standard form.
3106@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
3107
c906108c 3108@item DECR_PC_AFTER_BREAK
56caf160 3109@findex DECR_PC_AFTER_BREAK
c906108c
SS
3110Define this to be the amount by which to decrement the PC after the
3111program encounters a breakpoint. This is often the number of bytes in
56caf160 3112@code{BREAKPOINT}, though not always. For most targets this value will be 0.
c906108c 3113
56caf160
EZ
3114@item DISABLE_UNSETTABLE_BREAK (@var{addr})
3115@findex DISABLE_UNSETTABLE_BREAK
c906108c
SS
3116If defined, this should evaluate to 1 if @var{addr} is in a shared
3117library in which breakpoints cannot be set and so should be disabled.
3118
5e74b15c 3119@item PRINT_FLOAT_INFO()
0ab7a791 3120@findex PRINT_FLOAT_INFO
5e74b15c
RE
3121If defined, then the @samp{info float} command will print information about
3122the processor's floating point unit.
3123
0ab7a791
AC
3124@item print_registers_info (@var{gdbarch}, @var{frame}, @var{regnum}, @var{all})
3125@findex print_registers_info
3126If defined, pretty print the value of the register @var{regnum} for the
3127specified @var{frame}. If the value of @var{regnum} is -1, pretty print
3128either all registers (@var{all} is non zero) or a select subset of
3129registers (@var{all} is zero).
3130
3131The default method prints one register per line, and if @var{all} is
3132zero omits floating-point registers.
3133
e76f1f2e
AC
3134@item PRINT_VECTOR_INFO()
3135@findex PRINT_VECTOR_INFO
3136If defined, then the @samp{info vector} command will call this function
3137to print information about the processor's vector unit.
3138
3139By default, the @samp{info vector} command will print all vector
3140registers (the register's type having the vector attribute).
3141
0dcedd82 3142@item DWARF_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3143@findex DWARF_REG_TO_REGNUM
0dcedd82
AC
3144Convert DWARF register number into @value{GDBN} regnum. If not defined,
3145no conversion will be performed.
3146
3147@item DWARF2_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3148@findex DWARF2_REG_TO_REGNUM
0dcedd82
AC
3149Convert DWARF2 register number into @value{GDBN} regnum. If not
3150defined, no conversion will be performed.
3151
3152@item ECOFF_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3153@findex ECOFF_REG_TO_REGNUM
0dcedd82
AC
3154Convert ECOFF register number into @value{GDBN} regnum. If not defined,
3155no conversion will be performed.
3156
c906108c 3157@item END_OF_TEXT_DEFAULT
56caf160
EZ
3158@findex END_OF_TEXT_DEFAULT
3159This is an expression that should designate the end of the text section.
3160@c (? FIXME ?)
c906108c 3161
56caf160
EZ
3162@item EXTRACT_RETURN_VALUE(@var{type}, @var{regbuf}, @var{valbuf})
3163@findex EXTRACT_RETURN_VALUE
c906108c
SS
3164Define this to extract a function's return value of type @var{type} from
3165the raw register state @var{regbuf} and copy that, in virtual format,
3166into @var{valbuf}.
3167
92ad9cd9
AC
3168This method has been deprecated in favour of @code{gdbarch_return_value}
3169(@pxref{gdbarch_return_value}).
3170
74055713
AC
3171@item DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS(@var{regbuf})
3172@findex DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS
3173@anchor{DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS}
83aa8bc6
AC
3174When defined, extract from the array @var{regbuf} (containing the raw
3175register state) the @code{CORE_ADDR} at which a function should return
3176its structure value.
ac9a91a7 3177
92ad9cd9 3178@xref{gdbarch_return_value}.
83aa8bc6 3179
74055713
AC
3180@item DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS_P()
3181@findex DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS_P
3182Predicate for @code{DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS}.
c906108c 3183
0ba6dca9
AC
3184@item DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM
3185@findex DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM
cce74817
JM
3186If the virtual frame pointer is kept in a register, then define this
3187macro to be the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register.
3188
0ba6dca9
AC
3189This should only need to be defined if @code{DEPRECATED_TARGET_READ_FP}
3190is not defined.
c906108c 3191
56caf160
EZ
3192@item FRAMELESS_FUNCTION_INVOCATION(@var{fi})
3193@findex FRAMELESS_FUNCTION_INVOCATION
392a587b
JM
3194Define this to an expression that returns 1 if the function invocation
3195represented by @var{fi} does not have a stack frame associated with it.
3196Otherwise return 0.
c906108c 3197
790eb8f5
AC
3198@item frame_align (@var{address})
3199@anchor{frame_align}
3200@findex frame_align
3201Define this to adjust @var{address} so that it meets the alignment
3202requirements for the start of a new stack frame. A stack frame's
3203alignment requirements are typically stronger than a target processors
f27dd7fd 3204stack alignment requirements (@pxref{DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN}).
790eb8f5
AC
3205
3206This function is used to ensure that, when creating a dummy frame, both
3207the initial stack pointer and (if needed) the address of the return
3208value are correctly aligned.
3209
f27dd7fd
AC
3210Unlike @code{DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN}, this function always adjusts the
3211address in the direction of stack growth.
790eb8f5
AC
3212
3213By default, no frame based stack alignment is performed.
3214
8b148df9
AC
3215@item int frame_red_zone_size
3216
3217The number of bytes, beyond the innermost-stack-address, reserved by the
3218@sc{abi}. A function is permitted to use this scratch area (instead of
3219allocating extra stack space).
3220
3221When performing an inferior function call, to ensure that it does not
3222modify this area, @value{GDBN} adjusts the innermost-stack-address by
3223@var{frame_red_zone_size} bytes before pushing parameters onto the
3224stack.
3225
3226By default, zero bytes are allocated. The value must be aligned
3227(@pxref{frame_align}).
3228
3229The @sc{amd64} (nee x86-64) @sc{abi} documentation refers to the
3230@emph{red zone} when describing this scratch area.
3231@cindex red zone
3232
618ce49f
AC
3233@item DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN(@var{frame})
3234@findex DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN
c906108c
SS
3235Given @var{frame}, return a pointer to the calling frame.
3236
618ce49f
AC
3237@item DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN_VALID(@var{chain}, @var{thisframe})
3238@findex DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN_VALID
95f90d25
DJ
3239Define this to be an expression that returns zero if the given frame is an
3240outermost frame, with no caller, and nonzero otherwise. Most normal
3241situations can be handled without defining this macro, including @code{NULL}
3242chain pointers, dummy frames, and frames whose PC values are inside the
3243startup file (e.g.@: @file{crt0.o}), inside @code{main}, or inside
3244@code{_start}.
c906108c 3245
f30ee0bc
AC
3246@item DEPRECATED_FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS(@var{frame})
3247@findex DEPRECATED_FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS
c906108c
SS
3248See @file{frame.h}. Determines the address of all registers in the
3249current stack frame storing each in @code{frame->saved_regs}. Space for
3250@code{frame->saved_regs} shall be allocated by
f30ee0bc
AC
3251@code{DEPRECATED_FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS} using
3252@code{frame_saved_regs_zalloc}.
c906108c 3253
fb8f8949 3254@code{FRAME_FIND_SAVED_REGS} is deprecated.
c906108c 3255
56caf160
EZ
3256@item FRAME_NUM_ARGS (@var{fi})
3257@findex FRAME_NUM_ARGS
392a587b
JM
3258For the frame described by @var{fi} return the number of arguments that
3259are being passed. If the number of arguments is not known, return
3260@code{-1}.
c906108c 3261
8bedc050
AC
3262@item DEPRECATED_FRAME_SAVED_PC(@var{frame})
3263@findex DEPRECATED_FRAME_SAVED_PC
3264@anchor{DEPRECATED_FRAME_SAVED_PC} Given @var{frame}, return the pc
3265saved there. This is the return address.
12cc2063
AC
3266
3267This method is deprecated. @xref{unwind_pc}.
3268
3269@item CORE_ADDR unwind_pc (struct frame_info *@var{this_frame})
3270@findex unwind_pc
3271@anchor{unwind_pc} Return the instruction address, in @var{this_frame}'s
3272caller, at which execution will resume after @var{this_frame} returns.
3273This is commonly refered to as the return address.
3274
3275The implementation, which must be frame agnostic (work with any frame),
3276is typically no more than:
3277
3278@smallexample
3279ULONGEST pc;
3280frame_unwind_unsigned_register (this_frame, D10V_PC_REGNUM, &pc);
3281return d10v_make_iaddr (pc);
3282@end smallexample
3283
3284@noindent
8bedc050 3285@xref{DEPRECATED_FRAME_SAVED_PC}, which this method replaces.
c906108c 3286
a9e5fdc2
AC
3287@item CORE_ADDR unwind_sp (struct frame_info *@var{this_frame})
3288@findex unwind_sp
3289@anchor{unwind_sp} Return the frame's inner most stack address. This is
3290commonly refered to as the frame's @dfn{stack pointer}.
3291
3292The implementation, which must be frame agnostic (work with any frame),
3293is typically no more than:
3294
3295@smallexample
3296ULONGEST sp;
3297frame_unwind_unsigned_register (this_frame, D10V_SP_REGNUM, &sp);
3298return d10v_make_daddr (sp);
3299@end smallexample
3300
3301@noindent
3302@xref{TARGET_READ_SP}, which this method replaces.
3303
c906108c 3304@item FUNCTION_EPILOGUE_SIZE
56caf160 3305@findex FUNCTION_EPILOGUE_SIZE
c906108c
SS
3306For some COFF targets, the @code{x_sym.x_misc.x_fsize} field of the
3307function end symbol is 0. For such targets, you must define
3308@code{FUNCTION_EPILOGUE_SIZE} to expand into the standard size of a
3309function's epilogue.
3310
f7cb2b90 3311@item FUNCTION_START_OFFSET
56caf160 3312@findex FUNCTION_START_OFFSET
f7cb2b90
JB
3313An integer, giving the offset in bytes from a function's address (as
3314used in the values of symbols, function pointers, etc.), and the
3315function's first genuine instruction.
3316
3317This is zero on almost all machines: the function's address is usually
3318the address of its first instruction. However, on the VAX, for example,
3319each function starts with two bytes containing a bitmask indicating
3320which registers to save upon entry to the function. The VAX @code{call}
3321instructions check this value, and save the appropriate registers
3322automatically. Thus, since the offset from the function's address to
3323its first instruction is two bytes, @code{FUNCTION_START_OFFSET} would
3324be 2 on the VAX.
3325
c906108c 3326@item GCC_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
56caf160
EZ
3327@itemx GCC2_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
3328@findex GCC2_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
3329@findex GCC_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
3330If defined, these are the names of the symbols that @value{GDBN} will
3331look for to detect that GCC compiled the file. The default symbols
3332are @code{gcc_compiled.} and @code{gcc2_compiled.},
3333respectively. (Currently only defined for the Delta 68.)
c906108c 3334
25822942 3335@item @value{GDBN}_MULTI_ARCH
56caf160 3336@findex @value{GDBN}_MULTI_ARCH
937f164b 3337If defined and non-zero, enables support for multiple architectures
25822942 3338within @value{GDBN}.
0f71a2f6 3339
56caf160 3340This support can be enabled at two levels. At level one, only
0f71a2f6 3341definitions for previously undefined macros are provided; at level two,
937f164b 3342a multi-arch definition of all architecture dependent macros will be
0f71a2f6
JM
3343defined.
3344
25822942 3345@item @value{GDBN}_TARGET_IS_HPPA
56caf160
EZ
3346@findex @value{GDBN}_TARGET_IS_HPPA
3347This determines whether horrible kludge code in @file{dbxread.c} and
3348@file{partial-stab.h} is used to mangle multiple-symbol-table files from
3349HPPA's. This should all be ripped out, and a scheme like @file{elfread.c}
3350used instead.
c906108c 3351
c906108c 3352@item GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
56caf160 3353@findex GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
c906108c
SS
3354For most machines, this is a target-dependent parameter. On the
3355DECstation and the Iris, this is a native-dependent parameter, since
937f164b 3356the header file @file{setjmp.h} is needed to define it.
c906108c 3357
56caf160
EZ
3358This macro determines the target PC address that @code{longjmp} will jump to,
3359assuming that we have just stopped at a @code{longjmp} breakpoint. It takes a
3360@code{CORE_ADDR *} as argument, and stores the target PC value through this
c906108c
SS
3361pointer. It examines the current state of the machine as needed.
3362
ac2adee5
AC
3363@item DEPRECATED_GET_SAVED_REGISTER
3364@findex DEPRECATED_GET_SAVED_REGISTER
c906108c 3365Define this if you need to supply your own definition for the function
ac2adee5 3366@code{DEPRECATED_GET_SAVED_REGISTER}.
c906108c 3367
268e2188
AC
3368@item DEPRECATED_IBM6000_TARGET
3369@findex DEPRECATED_IBM6000_TARGET
3370Shows that we are configured for an IBM RS/6000 system. This
c906108c 3371conditional should be eliminated (FIXME) and replaced by
56caf160 3372feature-specific macros. It was introduced in a haste and we are
c906108c
SS
3373repenting at leisure.
3374
9742079a
EZ
3375@item I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS
3376An x86-based target can define this to use the generic x86 watchpoint
3377support; see @ref{Algorithms, I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS}.
3378
2df3850c 3379@item SYMBOLS_CAN_START_WITH_DOLLAR
56caf160 3380@findex SYMBOLS_CAN_START_WITH_DOLLAR
2df3850c 3381Some systems have routines whose names start with @samp{$}. Giving this
25822942 3382macro a non-zero value tells @value{GDBN}'s expression parser to check for such
2df3850c
JM
3383routines when parsing tokens that begin with @samp{$}.
3384
3385On HP-UX, certain system routines (millicode) have names beginning with
3386@samp{$} or @samp{$$}. For example, @code{$$dyncall} is a millicode
3387routine that handles inter-space procedure calls on PA-RISC.
3388
e9582e71
AC
3389@item DEPRECATED_INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO (@var{fromleaf}, @var{frame})
3390@findex DEPRECATED_INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO
c906108c
SS
3391If additional information about the frame is required this should be
3392stored in @code{frame->extra_info}. Space for @code{frame->extra_info}
372613e3 3393is allocated using @code{frame_extra_info_zalloc}.
c906108c 3394
a5afb99f
AC
3395@item DEPRECATED_INIT_FRAME_PC (@var{fromleaf}, @var{prev})
3396@findex DEPRECATED_INIT_FRAME_PC
c906108c
SS
3397This is a C statement that sets the pc of the frame pointed to by
3398@var{prev}. [By default...]
3399
56caf160
EZ
3400@item INNER_THAN (@var{lhs}, @var{rhs})
3401@findex INNER_THAN
c906108c
SS
3402Returns non-zero if stack address @var{lhs} is inner than (nearer to the
3403stack top) stack address @var{rhs}. Define this as @code{lhs < rhs} if
3404the target's stack grows downward in memory, or @code{lhs > rsh} if the
3405stack grows upward.
3406
9e5abb06
CV
3407@item gdbarch_in_function_epilogue_p (@var{gdbarch}, @var{pc})
3408@findex gdbarch_in_function_epilogue_p
3409Returns non-zero if the given @var{pc} is in the epilogue of a function.
3410The epilogue of a function is defined as the part of a function where
3411the stack frame of the function already has been destroyed up to the
3412final `return from function call' instruction.
3413
56caf160
EZ
3414@item SIGTRAMP_START (@var{pc})
3415@findex SIGTRAMP_START
3416@itemx SIGTRAMP_END (@var{pc})
3417@findex SIGTRAMP_END
3418Define these to be the start and end address of the @code{sigtramp} for the
c906108c
SS
3419given @var{pc}. On machines where the address is just a compile time
3420constant, the macro expansion will typically just ignore the supplied
3421@var{pc}.
3422
56caf160
EZ
3423@item IN_SOLIB_CALL_TRAMPOLINE (@var{pc}, @var{name})
3424@findex IN_SOLIB_CALL_TRAMPOLINE
c906108c
SS
3425Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
3426trampoline that connects to a shared library.
3427
56caf160
EZ
3428@item IN_SOLIB_RETURN_TRAMPOLINE (@var{pc}, @var{name})
3429@findex IN_SOLIB_RETURN_TRAMPOLINE
c906108c
SS
3430Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
3431trampoline that returns from a shared library.
3432
56caf160
EZ
3433@item IN_SOLIB_DYNSYM_RESOLVE_CODE (@var{pc})
3434@findex IN_SOLIB_DYNSYM_RESOLVE_CODE
d4f3574e
SS
3435Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
3436dynamic linker.
3437
56caf160
EZ
3438@item SKIP_SOLIB_RESOLVER (@var{pc})
3439@findex SKIP_SOLIB_RESOLVER
d4f3574e
SS
3440Define this to evaluate to the (nonzero) address at which execution
3441should continue to get past the dynamic linker's symbol resolution
3442function. A zero value indicates that it is not important or necessary
3443to set a breakpoint to get through the dynamic linker and that single
3444stepping will suffice.
3445
fc0c74b1
AC
3446@item INTEGER_TO_ADDRESS (@var{type}, @var{buf})
3447@findex INTEGER_TO_ADDRESS
3448@cindex converting integers to addresses
3449Define this when the architecture needs to handle non-pointer to address
3450conversions specially. Converts that value to an address according to
3451the current architectures conventions.
3452
3453@emph{Pragmatics: When the user copies a well defined expression from
3454their source code and passes it, as a parameter, to @value{GDBN}'s
3455@code{print} command, they should get the same value as would have been
3456computed by the target program. Any deviation from this rule can cause
3457major confusion and annoyance, and needs to be justified carefully. In
3458other words, @value{GDBN} doesn't really have the freedom to do these
3459conversions in clever and useful ways. It has, however, been pointed
3460out that users aren't complaining about how @value{GDBN} casts integers
3461to pointers; they are complaining that they can't take an address from a
3462disassembly listing and give it to @code{x/i}. Adding an architecture
3463method like @code{INTEGER_TO_ADDRESS} certainly makes it possible for
3464@value{GDBN} to ``get it right'' in all circumstances.}
3465
3466@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Pointers Are Not Always
3467Addresses}.
3468
c906108c 3469@item NO_HIF_SUPPORT
56caf160 3470@findex NO_HIF_SUPPORT
c906108c
SS
3471(Specific to the a29k.)
3472
93e79dbd 3473@item POINTER_TO_ADDRESS (@var{type}, @var{buf})
56caf160 3474@findex POINTER_TO_ADDRESS
93e79dbd
JB
3475Assume that @var{buf} holds a pointer of type @var{type}, in the
3476appropriate format for the current architecture. Return the byte
3477address the pointer refers to.
3478@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Pointers Are Not Always Addresses}.
3479
9fb4dd36 3480@item REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE (@var{reg})
56caf160 3481@findex REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE
9fb4dd36 3482Return non-zero if @var{reg} uses different raw and virtual formats.
13d01224
AC
3483@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
3484
3485@item REGISTER_TO_VALUE(@var{regnum}, @var{type}, @var{from}, @var{to})
3486@findex REGISTER_TO_VALUE
3487Convert the raw contents of register @var{regnum} into a value of type
3488@var{type}.
4281a42e 3489@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3490
12c266ea
AC
3491@item DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE (@var{reg})
3492@findex DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE
b2e75d78
AC
3493Return the raw size of @var{reg}; defaults to the size of the register's
3494virtual type.
13d01224 3495@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3496
617073a9
AC
3497@item register_reggroup_p (@var{gdbarch}, @var{regnum}, @var{reggroup})
3498@findex register_reggroup_p
3499@cindex register groups
3500Return non-zero if register @var{regnum} is a member of the register
3501group @var{reggroup}.
3502
3503By default, registers are grouped as follows:
3504
3505@table @code
3506@item float_reggroup
3507Any register with a valid name and a floating-point type.
3508@item vector_reggroup
3509Any register with a valid name and a vector type.
3510@item general_reggroup
3511Any register with a valid name and a type other than vector or
3512floating-point. @samp{float_reggroup}.
3513@item save_reggroup
3514@itemx restore_reggroup
3515@itemx all_reggroup
3516Any register with a valid name.
3517@end table
3518
f30992d4
AC
3519@item DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_SIZE (@var{reg})
3520@findex DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_SIZE
b2e75d78
AC
3521Return the virtual size of @var{reg}; defaults to the size of the
3522register's virtual type.
13d01224
AC
3523Return the virtual size of @var{reg}.
3524@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3525
2e092625 3526@item DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})
56caf160 3527@findex REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE
9fb4dd36 3528Return the virtual type of @var{reg}.
13d01224 3529@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3530
77e7e267
AC
3531@item struct type *register_type (@var{gdbarch}, @var{reg})
3532@findex register_type
3533If defined, return the type of register @var{reg}. This function
2e092625 3534superseeds @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE}. @xref{Target Architecture
77e7e267
AC
3535Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
3536
9fb4dd36 3537@item REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL(@var{reg}, @var{type}, @var{from}, @var{to})
56caf160 3538@findex REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL
9fb4dd36 3539Convert the value of register @var{reg} from its raw form to its virtual
4281a42e 3540form.
13d01224 3541@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36
JB
3542
3543@item REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW(@var{type}, @var{reg}, @var{from}, @var{to})
56caf160 3544@findex REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW
9fb4dd36 3545Convert the value of register @var{reg} from its virtual form to its raw
4281a42e 3546form.
13d01224 3547@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3548
0ab4b752
MK
3549@item const struct regset *regset_from_core_section (struct gdbarch * @var{gdbarch}, const char * @var{sect_name}, size_t @var{sect_size})
3550@findex regset_from_core_section
3551Return the appropriate register set for a core file section with name
3552@var{sect_name} and size @var{sect_size}.
3553
3554
e5419804
JB
3555@item RETURN_VALUE_ON_STACK(@var{type})
3556@findex RETURN_VALUE_ON_STACK
3557@cindex returning structures by value
3558@cindex structures, returning by value
3559
3560Return non-zero if values of type TYPE are returned on the stack, using
3561the ``struct convention'' (i.e., the caller provides a pointer to a
3562buffer in which the callee should store the return value). This
3563controls how the @samp{finish} command finds a function's return value,
3564and whether an inferior function call reserves space on the stack for
3565the return value.
3566
3567The full logic @value{GDBN} uses here is kind of odd.
e5419804 3568
56caf160 3569@itemize @bullet
e5419804
JB
3570@item
3571If the type being returned by value is not a structure, union, or array,
3572and @code{RETURN_VALUE_ON_STACK} returns zero, then @value{GDBN}
3573concludes the value is not returned using the struct convention.
3574
3575@item
3576Otherwise, @value{GDBN} calls @code{USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION} (see below).
3577If that returns non-zero, @value{GDBN} assumes the struct convention is
3578in use.
e5419804
JB
3579@end itemize
3580
3581In other words, to indicate that a given type is returned by value using
3582the struct convention, that type must be either a struct, union, array,
3583or something @code{RETURN_VALUE_ON_STACK} likes, @emph{and} something
3584that @code{USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION} likes.
3585
56caf160 3586Note that, in C and C@t{++}, arrays are never returned by value. In those
e5419804
JB
3587languages, these predicates will always see a pointer type, never an
3588array type. All the references above to arrays being returned by value
3589apply only to other languages.
3590
b0ed3589 3591@item SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP_P()
56caf160 3592@findex SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP_P
c906108c 3593Define this as 1 if the target does not have a hardware single-step
56caf160 3594mechanism. The macro @code{SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP} must also be defined.
c906108c 3595
56caf160
EZ
3596@item SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP(@var{signal}, @var{insert_breapoints_p})
3597@findex SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP
3598A function that inserts or removes (depending on
c906108c 3599@var{insert_breapoints_p}) breakpoints at each possible destinations of
56caf160 3600the next instruction. See @file{sparc-tdep.c} and @file{rs6000-tdep.c}
c906108c
SS
3601for examples.
3602
da59e081 3603@item SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING
56caf160 3604@findex SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING
da59e081
JM
3605Somebody clever observed that, the more actual addresses you have in the
3606debug information, the more time the linker has to spend relocating
3607them. So whenever there's some other way the debugger could find the
3608address it needs, you should omit it from the debug info, to make
3609linking faster.
3610
3611@code{SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING} indicates that a particular set of
3612hacks of this sort are in use, affecting @code{N_SO} and @code{N_FUN}
3613entries in stabs-format debugging information. @code{N_SO} stabs mark
3614the beginning and ending addresses of compilation units in the text
3615segment. @code{N_FUN} stabs mark the starts and ends of functions.
3616
3617@code{SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING} means two things:
da59e081 3618
56caf160 3619@itemize @bullet
da59e081
JM
3620@item
3621@code{N_FUN} stabs have an address of zero. Instead, you should find the
3622addresses where the function starts by taking the function name from
56caf160
EZ
3623the stab, and then looking that up in the minsyms (the
3624linker/assembler symbol table). In other words, the stab has the
3625name, and the linker/assembler symbol table is the only place that carries
da59e081
JM
3626the address.
3627
3628@item
3629@code{N_SO} stabs have an address of zero, too. You just look at the
3630@code{N_FUN} stabs that appear before and after the @code{N_SO} stab,
3631and guess the starting and ending addresses of the compilation unit from
3632them.
da59e081
JM
3633@end itemize
3634
c906108c 3635@item PCC_SOL_BROKEN
56caf160 3636@findex PCC_SOL_BROKEN
c906108c
SS
3637(Used only in the Convex target.)
3638
d7bd68ca
AC
3639@item PC_IN_SIGTRAMP (@var{pc}, @var{name})
3640@findex PC_IN_SIGTRAMP
3641@cindex sigtramp
3642The @dfn{sigtramp} is a routine that the kernel calls (which then calls
3643the signal handler). On most machines it is a library routine that is
3644linked into the executable.
3645
3646This function, given a program counter value in @var{pc} and the
3647(possibly NULL) name of the function in which that @var{pc} resides,
3648returns nonzero if the @var{pc} and/or @var{name} show that we are in
3649sigtramp.
3650
c906108c 3651@item PC_LOAD_SEGMENT
56caf160 3652@findex PC_LOAD_SEGMENT
c906108c
SS
3653If defined, print information about the load segment for the program
3654counter. (Defined only for the RS/6000.)
3655
3656@item PC_REGNUM
56caf160 3657@findex PC_REGNUM
c906108c 3658If the program counter is kept in a register, then define this macro to
cce74817
JM
3659be the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register.
3660
3661This should only need to be defined if @code{TARGET_READ_PC} and
3662@code{TARGET_WRITE_PC} are not defined.
c906108c 3663
2df3850c 3664@item PARM_BOUNDARY
56caf160 3665@findex PARM_BOUNDARY
2df3850c
JM
3666If non-zero, round arguments to a boundary of this many bits before
3667pushing them on the stack.
3668
a38c9fe6
MK
3669@item stabs_argument_has_addr (@var{gdbarch}, @var{type})
3670@findex stabs_argument_has_addr
3671@findex DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR
3672@anchor{stabs_argument_has_addr} Define this to return nonzero if a
3673function argument of type @var{type} is passed by reference instead of
3674value.
3675
ee206350
AG
3676This method replaces @code{DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR}
3677(@pxref{DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR}).
a38c9fe6 3678
c906108c 3679@item PROCESS_LINENUMBER_HOOK
56caf160 3680@findex PROCESS_LINENUMBER_HOOK
c906108c
SS
3681A hook defined for XCOFF reading.
3682
3683@item PROLOGUE_FIRSTLINE_OVERLAP
56caf160 3684@findex PROLOGUE_FIRSTLINE_OVERLAP
c906108c
SS
3685(Only used in unsupported Convex configuration.)
3686
3687@item PS_REGNUM
56caf160 3688@findex PS_REGNUM
c906108c
SS
3689If defined, this is the number of the processor status register. (This
3690definition is only used in generic code when parsing "$ps".)
3691
749b82f6
AC
3692@item DEPRECATED_POP_FRAME
3693@findex DEPRECATED_POP_FRAME
3694@findex frame_pop
3695If defined, used by @code{frame_pop} to remove a stack frame. This
3696method has been superseeded by generic code.
c906108c 3697
39fe6e80 3698@item push_dummy_call (@var{gdbarch}, @var{func_addr}, @var{regcache}, @var{pc_addr}, @var{nargs}, @var{args}, @var{sp}, @var{struct_return}, @var{struct_addr})
b81774d8
AC
3699@findex push_dummy_call
3700@findex DEPRECATED_PUSH_ARGUMENTS.
39fe6e80
AC
3701@anchor{push_dummy_call} Define this to push the dummy frame's call to
3702the inferior function onto the stack. In addition to pushing
3703@var{nargs}, the code should push @var{struct_addr} (when
3704@var{struct_return}), and the return address (@var{bp_addr}).
c906108c 3705
b24da7d0 3706Returns the updated top-of-stack pointer.
b81774d8
AC
3707
3708This method replaces @code{DEPRECATED_PUSH_ARGUMENTS}.
3709
7043d8dc
AC
3710@item CORE_ADDR push_dummy_code (@var{gdbarch}, @var{sp}, @var{funaddr}, @var{using_gcc}, @var{args}, @var{nargs}, @var{value_type}, @var{real_pc}, @var{bp_addr})
3711@findex push_dummy_code
b1e29e33 3712@findex DEPRECATED_FIX_CALL_DUMMY
7043d8dc
AC
3713@anchor{push_dummy_code} Given a stack based call dummy, push the
3714instruction sequence (including space for a breakpoint) to which the
3715called function should return.
3716
3717Set @var{bp_addr} to the address at which the breakpoint instruction
3718should be inserted, @var{real_pc} to the resume address when starting
3719the call sequence, and return the updated inner-most stack address.
3720
3721By default, the stack is grown sufficient to hold a frame-aligned
3722(@pxref{frame_align}) breakpoint, @var{bp_addr} is set to the address
3723reserved for that breakpoint, and @var{real_pc} set to @var{funaddr}.
3724
b1e29e33
AC
3725This method replaces @code{DEPRECATED_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS},
3726@code{DEPRECATED_SIZEOF_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS}, @code{CALL_DUMMY},
3727@code{CALL_DUMMY_LOCATION}, @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_SIZE},
3728@code{GDB_TARGET_IS_HPPA},
3729@code{DEPRECATED_CALL_DUMMY_BREAKPOINT_OFFSET}, and
3730@code{DEPRECATED_FIX_CALL_DUMMY}.
7043d8dc 3731
b81774d8
AC
3732@item DEPRECATED_PUSH_DUMMY_FRAME
3733@findex DEPRECATED_PUSH_DUMMY_FRAME
c906108c
SS
3734Used in @samp{call_function_by_hand} to create an artificial stack frame.
3735
b8b527c5
AC
3736@item DEPRECATED_REGISTER_BYTES
3737@findex DEPRECATED_REGISTER_BYTES
3738The total amount of space needed to store @value{GDBN}'s copy of the
3739machine's register state.
3740
3741This is no longer needed. @value{GDBN} instead computes the size of the
3742register buffer at run-time.
c906108c 3743
56caf160
EZ
3744@item REGISTER_NAME(@var{i})
3745@findex REGISTER_NAME
3746Return the name of register @var{i} as a string. May return @code{NULL}
3747or @code{NUL} to indicate that register @var{i} is not valid.
c906108c 3748
8e823e25
MK
3749@item DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR (@var{gcc_p}, @var{type})
3750@findex DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR
a38c9fe6
MK
3751@anchor{DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR}Define this to return 1 if the
3752given type will be passed by pointer rather than directly.
3753
3754This method has been replaced by @code{stabs_argument_has_addr}
3755(@pxref{stabs_argument_has_addr}).
c906108c 3756
b24da7d0
AC
3757@item SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS (@var{sp})
3758@findex SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS
3759@anchor{SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS} Used in @samp{call_function_by_hand} to
3760notify the target dependent code of the top-of-stack value that will be
3761passed to the the inferior code. This is the value of the @code{SP}
3762after both the dummy frame and space for parameters/results have been
3763allocated on the stack. @xref{unwind_dummy_id}.
43ff13b4 3764
c906108c 3765@item SDB_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3766@findex SDB_REG_TO_REGNUM
25822942 3767Define this to convert sdb register numbers into @value{GDBN} regnums. If not
c906108c
SS
3768defined, no conversion will be done.
3769
963e2bb7 3770@item enum return_value_convention gdbarch_return_value (struct gdbarch *@var{gdbarch}, struct type *@var{valtype}, struct regcache *@var{regcache}, void *@var{readbuf}, const void *@var{writebuf})
92ad9cd9
AC
3771@findex gdbarch_return_value
3772@anchor{gdbarch_return_value} Given a function with a return-value of
3773type @var{rettype}, return which return-value convention that function
3774would use.
3775
3776@value{GDBN} currently recognizes two function return-value conventions:
3777@code{RETURN_VALUE_REGISTER_CONVENTION} where the return value is found
3778in registers; and @code{RETURN_VALUE_STRUCT_CONVENTION} where the return
3779value is found in memory and the address of that memory location is
3780passed in as the function's first parameter.
3781
963e2bb7
AC
3782If the register convention is being used, and @var{writebuf} is
3783non-@code{NULL}, also copy the return-value in @var{writebuf} into
92ad9cd9
AC
3784@var{regcache}.
3785
963e2bb7 3786If the register convention is being used, and @var{readbuf} is
92ad9cd9 3787non-@code{NULL}, also copy the return value from @var{regcache} into
963e2bb7 3788@var{readbuf} (@var{regcache} contains a copy of the registers from the
92ad9cd9
AC
3789just returned function).
3790
74055713 3791@xref{DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS}, for a description of how
92ad9cd9
AC
3792return-values that use the struct convention are handled.
3793
3794@emph{Maintainer note: This method replaces separate predicate, extract,
3795store methods. By having only one method, the logic needed to determine
3796the return-value convention need only be implemented in one place. If
3797@value{GDBN} were written in an @sc{oo} language, this method would
3798instead return an object that knew how to perform the register
3799return-value extract and store.}
3800
3801@emph{Maintainer note: This method does not take a @var{gcc_p}
3802parameter, and such a parameter should not be added. If an architecture
3803that requires per-compiler or per-function information be identified,
3804then the replacement of @var{rettype} with @code{struct value}
3805@var{function} should be persued.}
3806
3807@emph{Maintainer note: The @var{regcache} parameter limits this methods
3808to the inner most frame. While replacing @var{regcache} with a
3809@code{struct frame_info} @var{frame} parameter would remove that
3810limitation there has yet to be a demonstrated need for such a change.}
3811
c2c6d25f 3812@item SKIP_PERMANENT_BREAKPOINT
56caf160 3813@findex SKIP_PERMANENT_BREAKPOINT
25822942 3814Advance the inferior's PC past a permanent breakpoint. @value{GDBN} normally
c2c6d25f
JM
3815steps over a breakpoint by removing it, stepping one instruction, and
3816re-inserting the breakpoint. However, permanent breakpoints are
3817hardwired into the inferior, and can't be removed, so this strategy
56caf160 3818doesn't work. Calling @code{SKIP_PERMANENT_BREAKPOINT} adjusts the processor's
c2c6d25f
JM
3819state so that execution will resume just after the breakpoint. This
3820macro does the right thing even when the breakpoint is in the delay slot
3821of a branch or jump.
3822
56caf160
EZ
3823@item SKIP_PROLOGUE (@var{pc})
3824@findex SKIP_PROLOGUE
b83266a0
SS
3825A C expression that returns the address of the ``real'' code beyond the
3826function entry prologue found at @var{pc}.
c906108c 3827
56caf160
EZ
3828@item SKIP_TRAMPOLINE_CODE (@var{pc})
3829@findex SKIP_TRAMPOLINE_CODE
c906108c
SS
3830If the target machine has trampoline code that sits between callers and
3831the functions being called, then define this macro to return a new PC
3832that is at the start of the real function.
3833
3834@item SP_REGNUM
56caf160 3835@findex SP_REGNUM
cce74817 3836If the stack-pointer is kept in a register, then define this macro to be
6c0e89ed
AC
3837the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register, or -1 if
3838there is no such register.
c906108c
SS
3839
3840@item STAB_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3841@findex STAB_REG_TO_REGNUM
c906108c 3842Define this to convert stab register numbers (as gotten from `r'
25822942 3843declarations) into @value{GDBN} regnums. If not defined, no conversion will be
c906108c
SS
3844done.
3845
f27dd7fd
AC
3846@item DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN (@var{addr})
3847@anchor{DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN}
3848@findex DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN
790eb8f5
AC
3849Define this to increase @var{addr} so that it meets the alignment
3850requirements for the processor's stack.
3851
3852Unlike @ref{frame_align}, this function always adjusts @var{addr}
3853upwards.
3854
3855By default, no stack alignment is performed.
c906108c 3856
56caf160
EZ
3857@item STEP_SKIPS_DELAY (@var{addr})
3858@findex STEP_SKIPS_DELAY
c906108c
SS
3859Define this to return true if the address is of an instruction with a
3860delay slot. If a breakpoint has been placed in the instruction's delay
25822942 3861slot, @value{GDBN} will single-step over that instruction before resuming
c906108c
SS
3862normally. Currently only defined for the Mips.
3863
ebba8386 3864@item STORE_RETURN_VALUE (@var{type}, @var{regcache}, @var{valbuf})
56caf160 3865@findex STORE_RETURN_VALUE
ebba8386
AC
3866A C expression that writes the function return value, found in
3867@var{valbuf}, into the @var{regcache}. @var{type} is the type of the
3868value that is to be returned.
c906108c 3869
92ad9cd9
AC
3870This method has been deprecated in favour of @code{gdbarch_return_value}
3871(@pxref{gdbarch_return_value}).
3872
c906108c 3873@item SUN_FIXED_LBRAC_BUG
56caf160 3874@findex SUN_FIXED_LBRAC_BUG
c906108c
SS
3875(Used only for Sun-3 and Sun-4 targets.)
3876
3877@item SYMBOL_RELOADING_DEFAULT
56caf160
EZ
3878@findex SYMBOL_RELOADING_DEFAULT
3879The default value of the ``symbol-reloading'' variable. (Never defined in
c906108c
SS
3880current sources.)
3881
c906108c 3882@item TARGET_CHAR_BIT
56caf160 3883@findex TARGET_CHAR_BIT
c906108c
SS
3884Number of bits in a char; defaults to 8.
3885
c3d3ce5b
JB
3886@item TARGET_CHAR_SIGNED
3887@findex TARGET_CHAR_SIGNED
3888Non-zero if @code{char} is normally signed on this architecture; zero if
3889it should be unsigned.
3890
3891The ISO C standard requires the compiler to treat @code{char} as
3892equivalent to either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char}; any
3893character in the standard execution set is supposed to be positive.
3894Most compilers treat @code{char} as signed, but @code{char} is unsigned
3895on the IBM S/390, RS6000, and PowerPC targets.
3896
c906108c 3897@item TARGET_COMPLEX_BIT
56caf160 3898@findex TARGET_COMPLEX_BIT
c906108c
SS
3899Number of bits in a complex number; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_FLOAT_BIT}.
3900
ac9a91a7
JM
3901At present this macro is not used.
3902
c906108c 3903@item TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT
56caf160 3904@findex TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT
c906108c
SS
3905Number of bits in a double float; defaults to @code{8 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3906
3907@item TARGET_DOUBLE_COMPLEX_BIT
56caf160 3908@findex TARGET_DOUBLE_COMPLEX_BIT
c906108c
SS
3909Number of bits in a double complex; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT}.
3910
ac9a91a7
JM
3911At present this macro is not used.
3912
c906108c 3913@item TARGET_FLOAT_BIT
56caf160 3914@findex TARGET_FLOAT_BIT
c906108c
SS
3915Number of bits in a float; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3916
3917@item TARGET_INT_BIT
56caf160 3918@findex TARGET_INT_BIT
c906108c
SS
3919Number of bits in an integer; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3920
3921@item TARGET_LONG_BIT
56caf160 3922@findex TARGET_LONG_BIT
c906108c
SS
3923Number of bits in a long integer; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3924
3925@item TARGET_LONG_DOUBLE_BIT
56caf160 3926@findex TARGET_LONG_DOUBLE_BIT
c906108c
SS
3927Number of bits in a long double float;
3928defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT}.
3929
3930@item TARGET_LONG_LONG_BIT
56caf160 3931@findex TARGET_LONG_LONG_BIT
c906108c
SS
3932Number of bits in a long long integer; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_LONG_BIT}.
3933
3934@item TARGET_PTR_BIT
56caf160 3935@findex TARGET_PTR_BIT
c906108c
SS
3936Number of bits in a pointer; defaults to @code{TARGET_INT_BIT}.
3937
3938@item TARGET_SHORT_BIT
56caf160 3939@findex TARGET_SHORT_BIT
c906108c
SS
3940Number of bits in a short integer; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3941
3942@item TARGET_READ_PC
56caf160
EZ
3943@findex TARGET_READ_PC
3944@itemx TARGET_WRITE_PC (@var{val}, @var{pid})
3945@findex TARGET_WRITE_PC
0717ae8a 3946@anchor{TARGET_WRITE_PC}
56caf160
EZ
3947@itemx TARGET_READ_SP
3948@findex TARGET_READ_SP
56caf160
EZ
3949@itemx TARGET_READ_FP
3950@findex TARGET_READ_FP
56caf160
EZ
3951@findex read_pc
3952@findex write_pc
3953@findex read_sp
56caf160 3954@findex read_fp
a9e5fdc2
AC
3955@anchor{TARGET_READ_SP} These change the behavior of @code{read_pc},
3956@code{write_pc}, @code{read_sp} and @code{deprecated_read_fp}. For most
3957targets, these may be left undefined. @value{GDBN} will call the read
3958and write register functions with the relevant @code{_REGNUM} argument.
c906108c
SS
3959
3960These macros are useful when a target keeps one of these registers in a
3961hard to get at place; for example, part in a segment register and part
3962in an ordinary register.
3963
a9e5fdc2
AC
3964@xref{unwind_sp}, which replaces @code{TARGET_READ_SP}.
3965
56caf160
EZ
3966@item TARGET_VIRTUAL_FRAME_POINTER(@var{pc}, @var{regp}, @var{offsetp})
3967@findex TARGET_VIRTUAL_FRAME_POINTER
0ba6dca9
AC
3968Returns a @code{(register, offset)} pair representing the virtual frame
3969pointer in use at the code address @var{pc}. If virtual frame pointers
3970are not used, a default definition simply returns
3971@code{DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM}, with an offset of zero.
c906108c 3972
9742079a
EZ
3973@item TARGET_HAS_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINTS
3974If non-zero, the target has support for hardware-assisted
3975watchpoints. @xref{Algorithms, watchpoints}, for more details and
3976other related macros.
3977
7ccaa899
EZ
3978@item TARGET_PRINT_INSN (@var{addr}, @var{info})
3979@findex TARGET_PRINT_INSN
3980This is the function used by @value{GDBN} to print an assembly
3981instruction. It prints the instruction at address @var{addr} in
3982debugged memory and returns the length of the instruction, in bytes. If
3983a target doesn't define its own printing routine, it defaults to an
d7a27068
AC
3984accessor function for the global pointer
3985@code{deprecated_tm_print_insn}. This usually points to a function in
3986the @code{opcodes} library (@pxref{Support Libraries, ,Opcodes}).
3987@var{info} is a structure (of type @code{disassemble_info}) defined in
3988@file{include/dis-asm.h} used to pass information to the instruction
3989decoding routine.
7ccaa899 3990
6314f104
AC
3991@item struct frame_id unwind_dummy_id (struct frame_info *@var{frame})
3992@findex unwind_dummy_id
3993@anchor{unwind_dummy_id} Given @var{frame} return a @code{struct
3994frame_id} that uniquely identifies an inferior function call's dummy
b24da7d0
AC
3995frame. The value returned must match the dummy frame stack value
3996previously saved using @code{SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS}.
3997@xref{SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS}.
6314f104 3998
56caf160
EZ
3999@item USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION (@var{gcc_p}, @var{type})
4000@findex USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION
c906108c
SS
4001If defined, this must be an expression that is nonzero if a value of the
4002given @var{type} being returned from a function must have space
4003allocated for it on the stack. @var{gcc_p} is true if the function
4004being considered is known to have been compiled by GCC; this is helpful
4005for systems where GCC is known to use different calling convention than
4006other compilers.
4007
92ad9cd9
AC
4008This method has been deprecated in favour of @code{gdbarch_return_value}
4009(@pxref{gdbarch_return_value}).
4010
13d01224
AC
4011@item VALUE_TO_REGISTER(@var{type}, @var{regnum}, @var{from}, @var{to})
4012@findex VALUE_TO_REGISTER
4013Convert a value of type @var{type} into the raw contents of register
4014@var{regnum}'s.
4015@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
4016
56caf160
EZ
4017@item VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK (@var{desc}, @var{gcc_p})
4018@findex VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK
c906108c
SS
4019For dbx-style debugging information, if the compiler puts variable
4020declarations inside LBRAC/RBRAC blocks, this should be defined to be
4021nonzero. @var{desc} is the value of @code{n_desc} from the
25822942 4022@code{N_RBRAC} symbol, and @var{gcc_p} is true if @value{GDBN} has noticed the
c906108c
SS
4023presence of either the @code{GCC_COMPILED_SYMBOL} or the
4024@code{GCC2_COMPILED_SYMBOL}. By default, this is 0.
4025
56caf160
EZ
4026@item OS9K_VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK (@var{desc}, @var{gcc_p})
4027@findex OS9K_VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK
c906108c 4028Similarly, for OS/9000. Defaults to 1.
c906108c
SS
4029@end table
4030
4031Motorola M68K target conditionals.
4032
56caf160 4033@ftable @code
c906108c
SS
4034@item BPT_VECTOR
4035Define this to be the 4-bit location of the breakpoint trap vector. If
4036not defined, it will default to @code{0xf}.
4037
4038@item REMOTE_BPT_VECTOR
4039Defaults to @code{1}.
a23a7bf1
JB
4040
4041@item NAME_OF_MALLOC
4042@findex NAME_OF_MALLOC
4043A string containing the name of the function to call in order to
4044allocate some memory in the inferior. The default value is "malloc".
4045
56caf160 4046@end ftable
c906108c
SS
4047
4048@section Adding a New Target
4049
56caf160 4050@cindex adding a target
af6c57ea 4051The following files add a target to @value{GDBN}:
c906108c
SS
4052
4053@table @file
56caf160 4054@vindex TDEPFILES
c906108c
SS
4055@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{ttt}.mt
4056Contains a Makefile fragment specific to this target. Specifies what
4057object files are needed for target @var{ttt}, by defining
104c1213
JM
4058@samp{TDEPFILES=@dots{}} and @samp{TDEPLIBS=@dots{}}. Also specifies
4059the header file which describes @var{ttt}, by defining @samp{TM_FILE=
4060tm-@var{ttt}.h}.
4061
4062You can also define @samp{TM_CFLAGS}, @samp{TM_CLIBS}, @samp{TM_CDEPS},
4063but these are now deprecated, replaced by autoconf, and may go away in
25822942 4064future versions of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c 4065
c906108c
SS
4066@item gdb/@var{ttt}-tdep.c
4067Contains any miscellaneous code required for this target machine. On
4068some machines it doesn't exist at all. Sometimes the macros in
4069@file{tm-@var{ttt}.h} become very complicated, so they are implemented
4070as functions here instead, and the macro is simply defined to call the
4071function. This is vastly preferable, since it is easier to understand
4072and debug.
4073
af6c57ea
AC
4074@item gdb/@var{arch}-tdep.c
4075@itemx gdb/@var{arch}-tdep.h
4076This often exists to describe the basic layout of the target machine's
4077processor chip (registers, stack, etc.). If used, it is included by
4078@file{@var{ttt}-tdep.h}. It can be shared among many targets that use
4079the same processor.
4080
4081@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/tm-@var{ttt}.h
4082(@file{tm.h} is a link to this file, created by @code{configure}). Contains
4083macro definitions about the target machine's registers, stack frame
4084format and instructions.
4085
4086New targets do not need this file and should not create it.
4087
c906108c
SS
4088@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/tm-@var{arch}.h
4089This often exists to describe the basic layout of the target machine's
56caf160 4090processor chip (registers, stack, etc.). If used, it is included by
c906108c
SS
4091@file{tm-@var{ttt}.h}. It can be shared among many targets that use the
4092same processor.
4093
af6c57ea
AC
4094New targets do not need this file and should not create it.
4095
c906108c
SS
4096@end table
4097
4098If you are adding a new operating system for an existing CPU chip, add a
4099@file{config/tm-@var{os}.h} file that describes the operating system
4100facilities that are unusual (extra symbol table info; the breakpoint
56caf160 4101instruction needed; etc.). Then write a @file{@var{arch}/tm-@var{os}.h}
c906108c
SS
4102that just @code{#include}s @file{tm-@var{arch}.h} and
4103@file{config/tm-@var{os}.h}.
4104
4105
3352e23e
AC
4106@section Converting an existing Target Architecture to Multi-arch
4107@cindex converting targets to multi-arch
4108
4109This section describes the current accepted best practice for converting
4110an existing target architecture to the multi-arch framework.
4111
4112The process consists of generating, testing, posting and committing a
4113sequence of patches. Each patch must contain a single change, for
4114instance:
4115
4116@itemize @bullet
4117
4118@item
4119Directly convert a group of functions into macros (the conversion does
4120not change the behavior of any of the functions).
4121
4122@item
4123Replace a non-multi-arch with a multi-arch mechanism (e.g.,
4124@code{FRAME_INFO}).
4125
4126@item
4127Enable multi-arch level one.
4128
4129@item
4130Delete one or more files.
4131
4132@end itemize
4133
4134@noindent
4135There isn't a size limit on a patch, however, a developer is strongly
4136encouraged to keep the patch size down.
4137
4138Since each patch is well defined, and since each change has been tested
4139and shows no regressions, the patches are considered @emph{fairly}
4140obvious. Such patches, when submitted by developers listed in the
4141@file{MAINTAINERS} file, do not need approval. Occasional steps in the
4142process may be more complicated and less clear. The developer is
4143expected to use their judgment and is encouraged to seek advice as
4144needed.
4145
4146@subsection Preparation
4147
4148The first step is to establish control. Build (with @option{-Werror}
4149enabled) and test the target so that there is a baseline against which
4150the debugger can be compared.
4151
4152At no stage can the test results regress or @value{GDBN} stop compiling
4153with @option{-Werror}.
4154
4155@subsection Add the multi-arch initialization code
4156
4157The objective of this step is to establish the basic multi-arch
4158framework. It involves
4159
4160@itemize @bullet
4161
4162@item
4163The addition of a @code{@var{arch}_gdbarch_init} function@footnote{The
4164above is from the original example and uses K&R C. @value{GDBN}
4165has since converted to ISO C but lets ignore that.} that creates
4166the architecture:
4167@smallexample
4168static struct gdbarch *
4169d10v_gdbarch_init (info, arches)
4170 struct gdbarch_info info;
4171 struct gdbarch_list *arches;
4172@{
4173 struct gdbarch *gdbarch;
4174 /* there is only one d10v architecture */
4175 if (arches != NULL)
4176 return arches->gdbarch;
4177 gdbarch = gdbarch_alloc (&info, NULL);
4178 return gdbarch;
4179@}
4180@end smallexample
4181@noindent
4182@emph{}
4183
4184@item
4185A per-architecture dump function to print any architecture specific
4186information:
4187@smallexample
4188static void
4189mips_dump_tdep (struct gdbarch *current_gdbarch,
4190 struct ui_file *file)
4191@{
4192 @dots{} code to print architecture specific info @dots{}
4193@}
4194@end smallexample
4195
4196@item
4197A change to @code{_initialize_@var{arch}_tdep} to register this new
4198architecture:
4199@smallexample
4200void
4201_initialize_mips_tdep (void)
4202@{
4203 gdbarch_register (bfd_arch_mips, mips_gdbarch_init,
4204 mips_dump_tdep);
4205@end smallexample
4206
4207@item
4208Add the macro @code{GDB_MULTI_ARCH}, defined as 0 (zero), to the file@*
4209@file{config/@var{arch}/tm-@var{arch}.h}.
4210
4211@end itemize
4212
4213@subsection Update multi-arch incompatible mechanisms
4214
4215Some mechanisms do not work with multi-arch. They include:
4216
4217@table @code
3352e23e 4218@item FRAME_FIND_SAVED_REGS
f30ee0bc 4219Replaced with @code{DEPRECATED_FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS}
3352e23e
AC
4220@end table
4221
4222@noindent
4223At this stage you could also consider converting the macros into
4224functions.
4225
4226@subsection Prepare for multi-arch level to one
4227
4228Temporally set @code{GDB_MULTI_ARCH} to @code{GDB_MULTI_ARCH_PARTIAL}
4229and then build and start @value{GDBN} (the change should not be
4230committed). @value{GDBN} may not build, and once built, it may die with
4231an internal error listing the architecture methods that must be
4232provided.
4233
4234Fix any build problems (patch(es)).
4235
4236Convert all the architecture methods listed, which are only macros, into
4237functions (patch(es)).
4238
4239Update @code{@var{arch}_gdbarch_init} to set all the missing
4240architecture methods and wrap the corresponding macros in @code{#if
4241!GDB_MULTI_ARCH} (patch(es)).
4242
4243@subsection Set multi-arch level one
4244
4245Change the value of @code{GDB_MULTI_ARCH} to GDB_MULTI_ARCH_PARTIAL (a
4246single patch).
4247
4248Any problems with throwing ``the switch'' should have been fixed
4249already.
4250
4251@subsection Convert remaining macros
4252
4253Suggest converting macros into functions (and setting the corresponding
4254architecture method) in small batches.
4255
4256@subsection Set multi-arch level to two
4257
4258This should go smoothly.
4259
4260@subsection Delete the TM file
4261
4262The @file{tm-@var{arch}.h} can be deleted. @file{@var{arch}.mt} and
4263@file{configure.in} updated.
4264
4265
c906108c
SS
4266@node Target Vector Definition
4267
4268@chapter Target Vector Definition
56caf160 4269@cindex target vector
c906108c 4270
56caf160
EZ
4271The target vector defines the interface between @value{GDBN}'s
4272abstract handling of target systems, and the nitty-gritty code that
4273actually exercises control over a process or a serial port.
4274@value{GDBN} includes some 30-40 different target vectors; however,
4275each configuration of @value{GDBN} includes only a few of them.
c906108c
SS
4276
4277@section File Targets
4278
4279Both executables and core files have target vectors.
4280
4281@section Standard Protocol and Remote Stubs
4282
56caf160
EZ
4283@value{GDBN}'s file @file{remote.c} talks a serial protocol to code
4284that runs in the target system. @value{GDBN} provides several sample
4285@dfn{stubs} that can be integrated into target programs or operating
4286systems for this purpose; they are named @file{*-stub.c}.
c906108c 4287
56caf160
EZ
4288The @value{GDBN} user's manual describes how to put such a stub into
4289your target code. What follows is a discussion of integrating the
4290SPARC stub into a complicated operating system (rather than a simple
4291program), by Stu Grossman, the author of this stub.
c906108c
SS
4292
4293The trap handling code in the stub assumes the following upon entry to
56caf160 4294@code{trap_low}:
c906108c
SS
4295
4296@enumerate
56caf160
EZ
4297@item
4298%l1 and %l2 contain pc and npc respectively at the time of the trap;
c906108c 4299
56caf160
EZ
4300@item
4301traps are disabled;
c906108c 4302
56caf160
EZ
4303@item
4304you are in the correct trap window.
c906108c
SS
4305@end enumerate
4306
4307As long as your trap handler can guarantee those conditions, then there
56caf160 4308is no reason why you shouldn't be able to ``share'' traps with the stub.
c906108c
SS
4309The stub has no requirement that it be jumped to directly from the
4310hardware trap vector. That is why it calls @code{exceptionHandler()},
4311which is provided by the external environment. For instance, this could
56caf160 4312set up the hardware traps to actually execute code which calls the stub
c906108c
SS
4313first, and then transfers to its own trap handler.
4314
4315For the most point, there probably won't be much of an issue with
56caf160 4316``sharing'' traps, as the traps we use are usually not used by the kernel,
c906108c
SS
4317and often indicate unrecoverable error conditions. Anyway, this is all
4318controlled by a table, and is trivial to modify. The most important
4319trap for us is for @code{ta 1}. Without that, we can't single step or
4320do breakpoints. Everything else is unnecessary for the proper operation
4321of the debugger/stub.
4322
4323From reading the stub, it's probably not obvious how breakpoints work.
25822942 4324They are simply done by deposit/examine operations from @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
4325
4326@section ROM Monitor Interface
4327
4328@section Custom Protocols
4329
4330@section Transport Layer
4331
4332@section Builtin Simulator
4333
4334
4335@node Native Debugging
4336
4337@chapter Native Debugging
56caf160 4338@cindex native debugging
c906108c 4339
25822942 4340Several files control @value{GDBN}'s configuration for native support:
c906108c
SS
4341
4342@table @file
56caf160 4343@vindex NATDEPFILES
c906108c 4344@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{xyz}.mh
7fd60527 4345Specifies Makefile fragments needed by a @emph{native} configuration on
c906108c
SS
4346machine @var{xyz}. In particular, this lists the required
4347native-dependent object files, by defining @samp{NATDEPFILES=@dots{}}.
4348Also specifies the header file which describes native support on
4349@var{xyz}, by defining @samp{NAT_FILE= nm-@var{xyz}.h}. You can also
4350define @samp{NAT_CFLAGS}, @samp{NAT_ADD_FILES}, @samp{NAT_CLIBS},
4351@samp{NAT_CDEPS}, etc.; see @file{Makefile.in}.
4352
7fd60527
AC
4353@emph{Maintainer's note: The @file{.mh} suffix is because this file
4354originally contained @file{Makefile} fragments for hosting @value{GDBN}
4355on machine @var{xyz}. While the file is no longer used for this
937f164b 4356purpose, the @file{.mh} suffix remains. Perhaps someone will
7fd60527
AC
4357eventually rename these fragments so that they have a @file{.mn}
4358suffix.}
4359
c906108c 4360@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/nm-@var{xyz}.h
56caf160 4361(@file{nm.h} is a link to this file, created by @code{configure}). Contains C
c906108c
SS
4362macro definitions describing the native system environment, such as
4363child process control and core file support.
4364
4365@item gdb/@var{xyz}-nat.c
4366Contains any miscellaneous C code required for this native support of
4367this machine. On some machines it doesn't exist at all.
c906108c
SS
4368@end table
4369
4370There are some ``generic'' versions of routines that can be used by
4371various systems. These can be customized in various ways by macros
4372defined in your @file{nm-@var{xyz}.h} file. If these routines work for
4373the @var{xyz} host, you can just include the generic file's name (with
4374@samp{.o}, not @samp{.c}) in @code{NATDEPFILES}.
4375
4376Otherwise, if your machine needs custom support routines, you will need
4377to write routines that perform the same functions as the generic file.
56caf160 4378Put them into @file{@var{xyz}-nat.c}, and put @file{@var{xyz}-nat.o}
c906108c
SS
4379into @code{NATDEPFILES}.
4380
4381@table @file
c906108c
SS
4382@item inftarg.c
4383This contains the @emph{target_ops vector} that supports Unix child
4384processes on systems which use ptrace and wait to control the child.
4385
4386@item procfs.c
4387This contains the @emph{target_ops vector} that supports Unix child
4388processes on systems which use /proc to control the child.
4389
4390@item fork-child.c
56caf160
EZ
4391This does the low-level grunge that uses Unix system calls to do a ``fork
4392and exec'' to start up a child process.
c906108c
SS
4393
4394@item infptrace.c
4395This is the low level interface to inferior processes for systems using
4396the Unix @code{ptrace} call in a vanilla way.
c906108c
SS
4397@end table
4398
4399@section Native core file Support
56caf160 4400@cindex native core files
c906108c
SS
4401
4402@table @file
56caf160 4403@findex fetch_core_registers
c906108c
SS
4404@item core-aout.c::fetch_core_registers()
4405Support for reading registers out of a core file. This routine calls
4406@code{register_addr()}, see below. Now that BFD is used to read core
4407files, virtually all machines should use @code{core-aout.c}, and should
4408just provide @code{fetch_core_registers} in @code{@var{xyz}-nat.c} (or
4409@code{REGISTER_U_ADDR} in @code{nm-@var{xyz}.h}).
4410
4411@item core-aout.c::register_addr()
4412If your @code{nm-@var{xyz}.h} file defines the macro
4413@code{REGISTER_U_ADDR(addr, blockend, regno)}, it should be defined to
25822942 4414set @code{addr} to the offset within the @samp{user} struct of @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
4415register number @code{regno}. @code{blockend} is the offset within the
4416``upage'' of @code{u.u_ar0}. If @code{REGISTER_U_ADDR} is defined,
4417@file{core-aout.c} will define the @code{register_addr()} function and
4418use the macro in it. If you do not define @code{REGISTER_U_ADDR}, but
4419you are using the standard @code{fetch_core_registers()}, you will need
4420to define your own version of @code{register_addr()}, put it into your
4421@code{@var{xyz}-nat.c} file, and be sure @code{@var{xyz}-nat.o} is in
4422the @code{NATDEPFILES} list. If you have your own
4423@code{fetch_core_registers()}, you may not need a separate
4424@code{register_addr()}. Many custom @code{fetch_core_registers()}
4425implementations simply locate the registers themselves.@refill
c906108c
SS
4426@end table
4427
25822942 4428When making @value{GDBN} run native on a new operating system, to make it
c906108c
SS
4429possible to debug core files, you will need to either write specific
4430code for parsing your OS's core files, or customize
4431@file{bfd/trad-core.c}. First, use whatever @code{#include} files your
4432machine uses to define the struct of registers that is accessible
4433(possibly in the u-area) in a core file (rather than
4434@file{machine/reg.h}), and an include file that defines whatever header
56caf160
EZ
4435exists on a core file (e.g. the u-area or a @code{struct core}). Then
4436modify @code{trad_unix_core_file_p} to use these values to set up the
c906108c
SS
4437section information for the data segment, stack segment, any other
4438segments in the core file (perhaps shared library contents or control
4439information), ``registers'' segment, and if there are two discontiguous
4440sets of registers (e.g. integer and float), the ``reg2'' segment. This
4441section information basically delimits areas in the core file in a
4442standard way, which the section-reading routines in BFD know how to seek
4443around in.
4444
25822942 4445Then back in @value{GDBN}, you need a matching routine called
56caf160 4446@code{fetch_core_registers}. If you can use the generic one, it's in
c906108c
SS
4447@file{core-aout.c}; if not, it's in your @file{@var{xyz}-nat.c} file.
4448It will be passed a char pointer to the entire ``registers'' segment,
4449its length, and a zero; or a char pointer to the entire ``regs2''
4450segment, its length, and a 2. The routine should suck out the supplied
25822942 4451register values and install them into @value{GDBN}'s ``registers'' array.
c906108c
SS
4452
4453If your system uses @file{/proc} to control processes, and uses ELF
4454format core files, then you may be able to use the same routines for
4455reading the registers out of processes and out of core files.
4456
4457@section ptrace
4458
4459@section /proc
4460
4461@section win32
4462
4463@section shared libraries
4464
4465@section Native Conditionals
56caf160 4466@cindex native conditionals
c906108c 4467
56caf160
EZ
4468When @value{GDBN} is configured and compiled, various macros are
4469defined or left undefined, to control compilation when the host and
4470target systems are the same. These macros should be defined (or left
4471undefined) in @file{nm-@var{system}.h}.
c906108c
SS
4472
4473@table @code
c906108c 4474@item ATTACH_DETACH
56caf160 4475@findex ATTACH_DETACH
25822942 4476If defined, then @value{GDBN} will include support for the @code{attach} and
c906108c
SS
4477@code{detach} commands.
4478
4479@item CHILD_PREPARE_TO_STORE
56caf160 4480@findex CHILD_PREPARE_TO_STORE
c906108c
SS
4481If the machine stores all registers at once in the child process, then
4482define this to ensure that all values are correct. This usually entails
4483a read from the child.
4484
4485[Note that this is incorrectly defined in @file{xm-@var{system}.h} files
4486currently.]
4487
4488@item FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS
56caf160 4489@findex FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS
c906108c
SS
4490Define this if the native-dependent code will provide its own routines
4491@code{fetch_inferior_registers} and @code{store_inferior_registers} in
56caf160 4492@file{@var{host}-nat.c}. If this symbol is @emph{not} defined, and
c906108c
SS
4493@file{infptrace.c} is included in this configuration, the default
4494routines in @file{infptrace.c} are used for these functions.
4495
4496@item FILES_INFO_HOOK
56caf160 4497@findex FILES_INFO_HOOK
c906108c
SS
4498(Only defined for Convex.)
4499
4500@item FP0_REGNUM
56caf160 4501@findex FP0_REGNUM
c906108c
SS
4502This macro is normally defined to be the number of the first floating
4503point register, if the machine has such registers. As such, it would
56caf160 4504appear only in target-specific code. However, @file{/proc} support uses this
c906108c
SS
4505to decide whether floats are in use on this target.
4506
4507@item GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
56caf160 4508@findex GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
c906108c
SS
4509For most machines, this is a target-dependent parameter. On the
4510DECstation and the Iris, this is a native-dependent parameter, since
56caf160 4511@file{setjmp.h} is needed to define it.
c906108c 4512
56caf160 4513This macro determines the target PC address that @code{longjmp} will jump to,
c906108c 4514assuming that we have just stopped at a longjmp breakpoint. It takes a
56caf160 4515@code{CORE_ADDR *} as argument, and stores the target PC value through this
c906108c
SS
4516pointer. It examines the current state of the machine as needed.
4517
9742079a
EZ
4518@item I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS
4519An x86-based machine can define this to use the generic x86 watchpoint
4520support; see @ref{Algorithms, I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS}.
4521
c906108c 4522@item KERNEL_U_ADDR
56caf160 4523@findex KERNEL_U_ADDR
c906108c 4524Define this to the address of the @code{u} structure (the ``user
25822942 4525struct'', also known as the ``u-page'') in kernel virtual memory. @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
4526needs to know this so that it can subtract this address from absolute
4527addresses in the upage, that are obtained via ptrace or from core files.
4528On systems that don't need this value, set it to zero.
4529
4530@item KERNEL_U_ADDR_BSD
56caf160 4531@findex KERNEL_U_ADDR_BSD
25822942 4532Define this to cause @value{GDBN} to determine the address of @code{u} at
c906108c
SS
4533runtime, by using Berkeley-style @code{nlist} on the kernel's image in
4534the root directory.
4535
4536@item KERNEL_U_ADDR_HPUX
56caf160 4537@findex KERNEL_U_ADDR_HPUX
25822942 4538Define this to cause @value{GDBN} to determine the address of @code{u} at
c906108c
SS
4539runtime, by using HP-style @code{nlist} on the kernel's image in the
4540root directory.
4541
4542@item ONE_PROCESS_WRITETEXT
56caf160 4543@findex ONE_PROCESS_WRITETEXT
c906108c
SS
4544Define this to be able to, when a breakpoint insertion fails, warn the
4545user that another process may be running with the same executable.
4546
4547@item PROC_NAME_FMT
56caf160 4548@findex PROC_NAME_FMT
c906108c
SS
4549Defines the format for the name of a @file{/proc} device. Should be
4550defined in @file{nm.h} @emph{only} in order to override the default
4551definition in @file{procfs.c}.
4552
4553@item PTRACE_FP_BUG
56caf160
EZ
4554@findex PTRACE_FP_BUG
4555See @file{mach386-xdep.c}.
c906108c
SS
4556
4557@item PTRACE_ARG3_TYPE
56caf160 4558@findex PTRACE_ARG3_TYPE
c906108c
SS
4559The type of the third argument to the @code{ptrace} system call, if it
4560exists and is different from @code{int}.
4561
4562@item REGISTER_U_ADDR
56caf160 4563@findex REGISTER_U_ADDR
c906108c
SS
4564Defines the offset of the registers in the ``u area''.
4565
4566@item SHELL_COMMAND_CONCAT
56caf160 4567@findex SHELL_COMMAND_CONCAT
c906108c
SS
4568If defined, is a string to prefix on the shell command used to start the
4569inferior.
4570
4571@item SHELL_FILE
56caf160 4572@findex SHELL_FILE
c906108c
SS
4573If defined, this is the name of the shell to use to run the inferior.
4574Defaults to @code{"/bin/sh"}.
4575
990f9fe3 4576@item SOLIB_ADD (@var{filename}, @var{from_tty}, @var{targ}, @var{readsyms})
56caf160 4577@findex SOLIB_ADD
c906108c 4578Define this to expand into an expression that will cause the symbols in
990f9fe3
FF
4579@var{filename} to be added to @value{GDBN}'s symbol table. If
4580@var{readsyms} is zero symbols are not read but any necessary low level
4581processing for @var{filename} is still done.
c906108c
SS
4582
4583@item SOLIB_CREATE_INFERIOR_HOOK
56caf160 4584@findex SOLIB_CREATE_INFERIOR_HOOK
c906108c
SS
4585Define this to expand into any shared-library-relocation code that you
4586want to be run just after the child process has been forked.
4587
4588@item START_INFERIOR_TRAPS_EXPECTED
56caf160
EZ
4589@findex START_INFERIOR_TRAPS_EXPECTED
4590When starting an inferior, @value{GDBN} normally expects to trap
4591twice; once when
c906108c
SS
4592the shell execs, and once when the program itself execs. If the actual
4593number of traps is something other than 2, then define this macro to
4594expand into the number expected.
4595
4596@item SVR4_SHARED_LIBS
56caf160 4597@findex SVR4_SHARED_LIBS
c906108c
SS
4598Define this to indicate that SVR4-style shared libraries are in use.
4599
4600@item USE_PROC_FS
56caf160 4601@findex USE_PROC_FS
c906108c 4602This determines whether small routines in @file{*-tdep.c}, which
56caf160
EZ
4603translate register values between @value{GDBN}'s internal
4604representation and the @file{/proc} representation, are compiled.
c906108c
SS
4605
4606@item U_REGS_OFFSET
56caf160 4607@findex U_REGS_OFFSET
c906108c
SS
4608This is the offset of the registers in the upage. It need only be
4609defined if the generic ptrace register access routines in
4610@file{infptrace.c} are being used (that is, @file{infptrace.c} is
4611configured in, and @code{FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS} is not defined). If
4612the default value from @file{infptrace.c} is good enough, leave it
4613undefined.
4614
4615The default value means that u.u_ar0 @emph{points to} the location of
4616the registers. I'm guessing that @code{#define U_REGS_OFFSET 0} means
56caf160 4617that @code{u.u_ar0} @emph{is} the location of the registers.
c906108c
SS
4618
4619@item CLEAR_SOLIB
56caf160
EZ
4620@findex CLEAR_SOLIB
4621See @file{objfiles.c}.
c906108c
SS
4622
4623@item DEBUG_PTRACE
56caf160
EZ
4624@findex DEBUG_PTRACE
4625Define this to debug @code{ptrace} calls.
c906108c
SS
4626@end table
4627
4628
4629@node Support Libraries
4630
4631@chapter Support Libraries
4632
4633@section BFD
56caf160 4634@cindex BFD library
c906108c 4635
25822942 4636BFD provides support for @value{GDBN} in several ways:
c906108c
SS
4637
4638@table @emph
c906108c
SS
4639@item identifying executable and core files
4640BFD will identify a variety of file types, including a.out, coff, and
4641several variants thereof, as well as several kinds of core files.
4642
4643@item access to sections of files
4644BFD parses the file headers to determine the names, virtual addresses,
4645sizes, and file locations of all the various named sections in files
56caf160
EZ
4646(such as the text section or the data section). @value{GDBN} simply
4647calls BFD to read or write section @var{x} at byte offset @var{y} for
4648length @var{z}.
c906108c
SS
4649
4650@item specialized core file support
4651BFD provides routines to determine the failing command name stored in a
4652core file, the signal with which the program failed, and whether a core
56caf160 4653file matches (i.e.@: could be a core dump of) a particular executable
c906108c
SS
4654file.
4655
4656@item locating the symbol information
25822942
DB
4657@value{GDBN} uses an internal interface of BFD to determine where to find the
4658symbol information in an executable file or symbol-file. @value{GDBN} itself
c906108c 4659handles the reading of symbols, since BFD does not ``understand'' debug
25822942 4660symbols, but @value{GDBN} uses BFD's cached information to find the symbols,
c906108c 4661string table, etc.
c906108c
SS
4662@end table
4663
4664@section opcodes
56caf160 4665@cindex opcodes library
c906108c 4666
25822942 4667The opcodes library provides @value{GDBN}'s disassembler. (It's a separate
c906108c
SS
4668library because it's also used in binutils, for @file{objdump}).
4669
4670@section readline
4671
4672@section mmalloc
4673
4674@section libiberty
1eb288ea
EZ
4675@cindex @code{libiberty} library
4676
4677The @code{libiberty} library provides a set of functions and features
4678that integrate and improve on functionality found in modern operating
4679systems. Broadly speaking, such features can be divided into three
4680groups: supplemental functions (functions that may be missing in some
4681environments and operating systems), replacement functions (providing
4682a uniform and easier to use interface for commonly used standard
4683functions), and extensions (which provide additional functionality
4684beyond standard functions).
4685
4686@value{GDBN} uses various features provided by the @code{libiberty}
4687library, for instance the C@t{++} demangler, the @acronym{IEEE}
4688floating format support functions, the input options parser
4689@samp{getopt}, the @samp{obstack} extension, and other functions.
4690
4691@subsection @code{obstacks} in @value{GDBN}
4692@cindex @code{obstacks}
4693
4694The obstack mechanism provides a convenient way to allocate and free
4695chunks of memory. Each obstack is a pool of memory that is managed
4696like a stack. Objects (of any nature, size and alignment) are
4697allocated and freed in a @acronym{LIFO} fashion on an obstack (see
4698@code{libiberty}'s documenatation for a more detailed explanation of
4699@code{obstacks}).
4700
4701The most noticeable use of the @code{obstacks} in @value{GDBN} is in
4702object files. There is an obstack associated with each internal
4703representation of an object file. Lots of things get allocated on
4704these @code{obstacks}: dictionary entries, blocks, blockvectors,
4705symbols, minimal symbols, types, vectors of fundamental types, class
4706fields of types, object files section lists, object files section
4707offets lists, line tables, symbol tables, partial symbol tables,
4708string tables, symbol table private data, macros tables, debug
4709information sections and entries, import and export lists (som),
4710unwind information (hppa), dwarf2 location expressions data. Plus
4711various strings such as directory names strings, debug format strings,
4712names of types.
4713
4714An essential and convenient property of all data on @code{obstacks} is
4715that memory for it gets allocated (with @code{obstack_alloc}) at
4716various times during a debugging sesssion, but it is released all at
4717once using the @code{obstack_free} function. The @code{obstack_free}
4718function takes a pointer to where in the stack it must start the
4719deletion from (much like the cleanup chains have a pointer to where to
4720start the cleanups). Because of the stack like structure of the
4721@code{obstacks}, this allows to free only a top portion of the
4722obstack. There are a few instances in @value{GDBN} where such thing
4723happens. Calls to @code{obstack_free} are done after some local data
4724is allocated to the obstack. Only the local data is deleted from the
4725obstack. Of course this assumes that nothing between the
4726@code{obstack_alloc} and the @code{obstack_free} allocates anything
4727else on the same obstack. For this reason it is best and safest to
4728use temporary @code{obstacks}.
4729
4730Releasing the whole obstack is also not safe per se. It is safe only
4731under the condition that we know the @code{obstacks} memory is no
4732longer needed. In @value{GDBN} we get rid of the @code{obstacks} only
4733when we get rid of the whole objfile(s), for instance upon reading a
4734new symbol file.
c906108c
SS
4735
4736@section gnu-regex
56caf160 4737@cindex regular expressions library
c906108c
SS
4738
4739Regex conditionals.
4740
4741@table @code
c906108c
SS
4742@item C_ALLOCA
4743
4744@item NFAILURES
4745
4746@item RE_NREGS
4747
4748@item SIGN_EXTEND_CHAR
4749
4750@item SWITCH_ENUM_BUG
4751
4752@item SYNTAX_TABLE
4753
4754@item Sword
4755
4756@item sparc
c906108c
SS
4757@end table
4758
4759@section include
4760
4761@node Coding
4762
4763@chapter Coding
4764
4765This chapter covers topics that are lower-level than the major
25822942 4766algorithms of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
4767
4768@section Cleanups
56caf160 4769@cindex cleanups
c906108c
SS
4770
4771Cleanups are a structured way to deal with things that need to be done
cc1cb004 4772later.
c906108c 4773
cc1cb004
AC
4774When your code does something (e.g., @code{xmalloc} some memory, or
4775@code{open} a file) that needs to be undone later (e.g., @code{xfree}
4776the memory or @code{close} the file), it can make a cleanup. The
4777cleanup will be done at some future point: when the command is finished
4778and control returns to the top level; when an error occurs and the stack
4779is unwound; or when your code decides it's time to explicitly perform
4780cleanups. Alternatively you can elect to discard the cleanups you
4781created.
c906108c
SS
4782
4783Syntax:
4784
4785@table @code
c906108c
SS
4786@item struct cleanup *@var{old_chain};
4787Declare a variable which will hold a cleanup chain handle.
4788
56caf160 4789@findex make_cleanup
c906108c
SS
4790@item @var{old_chain} = make_cleanup (@var{function}, @var{arg});
4791Make a cleanup which will cause @var{function} to be called with
4792@var{arg} (a @code{char *}) later. The result, @var{old_chain}, is a
cc1cb004
AC
4793handle that can later be passed to @code{do_cleanups} or
4794@code{discard_cleanups}. Unless you are going to call
4795@code{do_cleanups} or @code{discard_cleanups}, you can ignore the result
4796from @code{make_cleanup}.
c906108c 4797
56caf160 4798@findex do_cleanups
c906108c 4799@item do_cleanups (@var{old_chain});
cc1cb004
AC
4800Do all cleanups added to the chain since the corresponding
4801@code{make_cleanup} call was made.
4802
4803@findex discard_cleanups
4804@item discard_cleanups (@var{old_chain});
4805Same as @code{do_cleanups} except that it just removes the cleanups from
4806the chain and does not call the specified functions.
4807@end table
4808
4809Cleanups are implemented as a chain. The handle returned by
4810@code{make_cleanups} includes the cleanup passed to the call and any
4811later cleanups appended to the chain (but not yet discarded or
4812performed). E.g.:
56caf160 4813
474c8240 4814@smallexample
c906108c 4815make_cleanup (a, 0);
cc1cb004
AC
4816@{
4817 struct cleanup *old = make_cleanup (b, 0);
4818 make_cleanup (c, 0)
4819 ...
4820 do_cleanups (old);
4821@}
474c8240 4822@end smallexample
56caf160 4823
c906108c 4824@noindent
cc1cb004
AC
4825will call @code{c()} and @code{b()} but will not call @code{a()}. The
4826cleanup that calls @code{a()} will remain in the cleanup chain, and will
4827be done later unless otherwise discarded.@refill
4828
4829Your function should explicitly do or discard the cleanups it creates.
4830Failing to do this leads to non-deterministic behavior since the caller
4831will arbitrarily do or discard your functions cleanups. This need leads
4832to two common cleanup styles.
4833
4834The first style is try/finally. Before it exits, your code-block calls
4835@code{do_cleanups} with the old cleanup chain and thus ensures that your
4836code-block's cleanups are always performed. For instance, the following
4837code-segment avoids a memory leak problem (even when @code{error} is
4838called and a forced stack unwind occurs) by ensuring that the
4839@code{xfree} will always be called:
c906108c 4840
474c8240 4841@smallexample
cc1cb004
AC
4842struct cleanup *old = make_cleanup (null_cleanup, 0);
4843data = xmalloc (sizeof blah);
4844make_cleanup (xfree, data);
4845... blah blah ...
4846do_cleanups (old);
474c8240 4847@end smallexample
cc1cb004
AC
4848
4849The second style is try/except. Before it exits, your code-block calls
4850@code{discard_cleanups} with the old cleanup chain and thus ensures that
4851any created cleanups are not performed. For instance, the following
4852code segment, ensures that the file will be closed but only if there is
4853an error:
4854
474c8240 4855@smallexample
cc1cb004
AC
4856FILE *file = fopen ("afile", "r");
4857struct cleanup *old = make_cleanup (close_file, file);
4858... blah blah ...
4859discard_cleanups (old);
4860return file;
474c8240 4861@end smallexample
c906108c
SS
4862
4863Some functions, e.g. @code{fputs_filtered()} or @code{error()}, specify
4864that they ``should not be called when cleanups are not in place''. This
4865means that any actions you need to reverse in the case of an error or
4866interruption must be on the cleanup chain before you call these
4867functions, since they might never return to your code (they
4868@samp{longjmp} instead).
4869
ba8c9337
AC
4870@section Per-architecture module data
4871@cindex per-architecture module data
4872@cindex multi-arch data
4873@cindex data-pointer, per-architecture/per-module
4874
4875The multi-arch framework includes a mechanism for adding module specific
4876per-architecture data-pointers to the @code{struct gdbarch} architecture
4877object.
4878
4879A module registers one or more per-architecture data-pointers using the
4880function @code{register_gdbarch_data}:
4881
4882@deftypefun struct gdbarch_data *register_gdbarch_data (gdbarch_data_init_ftype *@var{init}, gdbarch_data_free_ftype *@var{free})
4883
4884The @var{init} function is used to obtain an initial value for a
4885per-architecture data-pointer. The function is called, after the
4886architecture has been created, when the data-pointer is still
4887uninitialized (@code{NULL}) and its value has been requested via a call
4888to @code{gdbarch_data}. A data-pointer can also be initialize
4889explicitly using @code{set_gdbarch_data}.
4890
4891The @var{free} function is called when a data-pointer needs to be
4892destroyed. This occurs when either the corresponding @code{struct
4893gdbarch} object is being destroyed or when @code{set_gdbarch_data} is
4894overriding a non-@code{NULL} data-pointer value.
4895
4896The function @code{register_gdbarch_data} returns a @code{struct
4897gdbarch_data} that is used to identify the data-pointer that was added
4898to the module.
4899
4900@end deftypefun
4901
4902A typical module has @code{init} and @code{free} functions of the form:
4903
4904@smallexample
4905static struct gdbarch_data *nozel_handle;
4906static void *
4907nozel_init (struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
4908@{
4909 struct nozel *data = XMALLOC (struct nozel);
4910 @dots{}
4911 return data;
4912@}
4913@dots{}
4914static void
4915nozel_free (struct gdbarch *gdbarch, void *data)
4916@{
4917 xfree (data);
4918@}
4919@end smallexample
4920
4921Since uninitialized (@code{NULL}) data-pointers are initialized
4922on-demand, an @code{init} function is free to call other modules that
4923use data-pointers. Those modules data-pointers will be initialized as
4924needed. Care should be taken to ensure that the @code{init} call graph
4925does not contain cycles.
4926
4927The data-pointer is registered with the call:
4928
4929@smallexample
4930void
4931_initialize_nozel (void)
4932@{
4933 nozel_handle = register_gdbarch_data (nozel_init, nozel_free);
4934@dots{}
4935@end smallexample
4936
4937The per-architecture data-pointer is accessed using the function:
4938
4939@deftypefun void *gdbarch_data (struct gdbarch *@var{gdbarch}, struct gdbarch_data *@var{data_handle})
4940Given the architecture @var{arch} and module data handle
4941@var{data_handle} (returned by @code{register_gdbarch_data}, this
4942function returns the current value of the per-architecture data-pointer.
4943@end deftypefun
4944
4945The non-@code{NULL} data-pointer returned by @code{gdbarch_data} should
4946be saved in a local variable and then used directly:
4947
4948@smallexample
4949int
4950nozel_total (struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
4951@{
4952 int total;
4953 struct nozel *data = gdbarch_data (gdbarch, nozel_handle);
4954 @dots{}
4955 return total;
4956@}
4957@end smallexample
4958
4959It is also possible to directly initialize the data-pointer using:
4960
4961@deftypefun void set_gdbarch_data (struct gdbarch *@var{gdbarch}, struct gdbarch_data *handle, void *@var{pointer})
4962Update the data-pointer corresponding to @var{handle} with the value of
4963@var{pointer}. If the previous data-pointer value is non-NULL, then it
4964is freed using data-pointers @var{free} function.
4965@end deftypefun
4966
4967This function is used by modules that require a mechanism for explicitly
4968setting the per-architecture data-pointer during architecture creation:
4969
4970@smallexample
4971/* Called during architecture creation. */
4972extern void
4973set_gdbarch_nozel (struct gdbarch *gdbarch,
4974 int total)
4975@{
4976 struct nozel *data = XMALLOC (struct nozel);
4977 @dots{}
4978 set_gdbarch_data (gdbarch, nozel_handle, nozel);
4979@}
4980@end smallexample
4981
4982@smallexample
4983/* Default, called when nozel not set by set_gdbarch_nozel(). */
4984static void *
4985nozel_init (struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
4986@{
4987 struct nozel *default_nozel = XMALLOC (struc nozel);
4988 @dots{}
4989 return default_nozel;
4990@}
4991@end smallexample
4992
4993@smallexample
4994void
4995_initialize_nozel (void)
4996@{
4997 nozel_handle = register_gdbarch_data (nozel_init, NULL);
4998 @dots{}
4999@end smallexample
5000
5001@noindent
5002Note that an @code{init} function still needs to be registered. It is
5003used to initialize the data-pointer when the architecture creation phase
5004fail to set an initial value.
5005
5006
c906108c 5007@section Wrapping Output Lines
56caf160 5008@cindex line wrap in output
c906108c 5009
56caf160 5010@findex wrap_here
c906108c
SS
5011Output that goes through @code{printf_filtered} or @code{fputs_filtered}
5012or @code{fputs_demangled} needs only to have calls to @code{wrap_here}
5013added in places that would be good breaking points. The utility
5014routines will take care of actually wrapping if the line width is
5015exceeded.
5016
5017The argument to @code{wrap_here} is an indentation string which is
5018printed @emph{only} if the line breaks there. This argument is saved
5019away and used later. It must remain valid until the next call to
5020@code{wrap_here} or until a newline has been printed through the
5021@code{*_filtered} functions. Don't pass in a local variable and then
5022return!
5023
56caf160 5024It is usually best to call @code{wrap_here} after printing a comma or
c906108c
SS
5025space. If you call it before printing a space, make sure that your
5026indentation properly accounts for the leading space that will print if
5027the line wraps there.
5028
5029Any function or set of functions that produce filtered output must
5030finish by printing a newline, to flush the wrap buffer, before switching
56caf160 5031to unfiltered (@code{printf}) output. Symbol reading routines that
c906108c
SS
5032print warnings are a good example.
5033
25822942 5034@section @value{GDBN} Coding Standards
56caf160 5035@cindex coding standards
c906108c 5036
25822942 5037@value{GDBN} follows the GNU coding standards, as described in
c906108c 5038@file{etc/standards.texi}. This file is also available for anonymous
af6c57ea
AC
5039FTP from GNU archive sites. @value{GDBN} takes a strict interpretation
5040of the standard; in general, when the GNU standard recommends a practice
5041but does not require it, @value{GDBN} requires it.
c906108c 5042
56caf160
EZ
5043@value{GDBN} follows an additional set of coding standards specific to
5044@value{GDBN}, as described in the following sections.
c906108c 5045
af6c57ea 5046
b9aa90c9 5047@subsection ISO C
af6c57ea 5048
b9aa90c9
AC
5049@value{GDBN} assumes an ISO/IEC 9899:1990 (a.k.a.@: ISO C90) compliant
5050compiler.
af6c57ea 5051
b9aa90c9 5052@value{GDBN} does not assume an ISO C or POSIX compliant C library.
af6c57ea
AC
5053
5054
5055@subsection Memory Management
5056
5057@value{GDBN} does not use the functions @code{malloc}, @code{realloc},
5058@code{calloc}, @code{free} and @code{asprintf}.
5059
5060@value{GDBN} uses the functions @code{xmalloc}, @code{xrealloc} and
5061@code{xcalloc} when allocating memory. Unlike @code{malloc} et.al.@:
5062these functions do not return when the memory pool is empty. Instead,
5063they unwind the stack using cleanups. These functions return
5064@code{NULL} when requested to allocate a chunk of memory of size zero.
5065
5066@emph{Pragmatics: By using these functions, the need to check every
5067memory allocation is removed. These functions provide portable
5068behavior.}
5069
5070@value{GDBN} does not use the function @code{free}.
5071
5072@value{GDBN} uses the function @code{xfree} to return memory to the
5073memory pool. Consistent with ISO-C, this function ignores a request to
5074free a @code{NULL} pointer.
5075
5076@emph{Pragmatics: On some systems @code{free} fails when passed a
5077@code{NULL} pointer.}
5078
5079@value{GDBN} can use the non-portable function @code{alloca} for the
5080allocation of small temporary values (such as strings).
5081
5082@emph{Pragmatics: This function is very non-portable. Some systems
5083restrict the memory being allocated to no more than a few kilobytes.}
5084
5085@value{GDBN} uses the string function @code{xstrdup} and the print
5086function @code{xasprintf}.
5087
5088@emph{Pragmatics: @code{asprintf} and @code{strdup} can fail. Print
5089functions such as @code{sprintf} are very prone to buffer overflow
5090errors.}
5091
5092
5093@subsection Compiler Warnings
56caf160 5094@cindex compiler warnings
af6c57ea
AC
5095
5096With few exceptions, developers should include the configuration option
5097@samp{--enable-gdb-build-warnings=,-Werror} when building @value{GDBN}.
5098The exceptions are listed in the file @file{gdb/MAINTAINERS}.
5099
5100This option causes @value{GDBN} (when built using GCC) to be compiled
5101with a carefully selected list of compiler warning flags. Any warnings
5102from those flags being treated as errors.
5103
5104The current list of warning flags includes:
5105
5106@table @samp
5107@item -Wimplicit
5108Since @value{GDBN} coding standard requires all functions to be declared
5109using a prototype, the flag has the side effect of ensuring that
5110prototyped functions are always visible with out resorting to
5111@samp{-Wstrict-prototypes}.
5112
5113@item -Wreturn-type
5114Such code often appears to work except on instruction set architectures
5115that use register windows.
5116
5117@item -Wcomment
5118
5119@item -Wtrigraphs
5120
5121@item -Wformat
153721e6 5122@itemx -Wformat-nonliteral
af6c57ea 5123Since @value{GDBN} uses the @code{format printf} attribute on all
153721e6 5124@code{printf} like functions these check not just @code{printf} calls
af6c57ea
AC
5125but also calls to functions such as @code{fprintf_unfiltered}.
5126
5127@item -Wparentheses
5128This warning includes uses of the assignment operator within an
5129@code{if} statement.
5130
5131@item -Wpointer-arith
5132
5133@item -Wuninitialized
0f0cffd2
AC
5134
5135@item -Wunused-label
5136This warning has the additional benefit of detecting the absence of the
5137@code{case} reserved word in a switch statement:
5138@smallexample
5139enum @{ FD_SCHEDULED, NOTHING_SCHEDULED @} sched;
5140@dots{}
5141switch (sched)
5142 @{
5143 case FD_SCHEDULED:
5144 @dots{};
5145 break;
5146 NOTHING_SCHEDULED:
5147 @dots{};
5148 break;
5149 @}
5150@end smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5151@end table
5152
5153@emph{Pragmatics: Due to the way that @value{GDBN} is implemented most
5154functions have unused parameters. Consequently the warning
5155@samp{-Wunused-parameter} is precluded from the list. The macro
5156@code{ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED} is not used as it leads to false negatives ---
5157it is not an error to have @code{ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED} on a parameter that
5158is being used. The options @samp{-Wall} and @samp{-Wunused} are also
5159precluded because they both include @samp{-Wunused-parameter}.}
5160
5161@emph{Pragmatics: @value{GDBN} has not simply accepted the warnings
5162enabled by @samp{-Wall -Werror -W...}. Instead it is selecting warnings
5163when and where their benefits can be demonstrated.}
c906108c
SS
5164
5165@subsection Formatting
5166
56caf160 5167@cindex source code formatting
c906108c
SS
5168The standard GNU recommendations for formatting must be followed
5169strictly.
5170
af6c57ea
AC
5171A function declaration should not have its name in column zero. A
5172function definition should have its name in column zero.
5173
474c8240 5174@smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5175/* Declaration */
5176static void foo (void);
5177/* Definition */
5178void
5179foo (void)
5180@{
5181@}
474c8240 5182@end smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5183
5184@emph{Pragmatics: This simplifies scripting. Function definitions can
5185be found using @samp{^function-name}.}
c906108c 5186
af6c57ea
AC
5187There must be a space between a function or macro name and the opening
5188parenthesis of its argument list (except for macro definitions, as
5189required by C). There must not be a space after an open paren/bracket
5190or before a close paren/bracket.
c906108c
SS
5191
5192While additional whitespace is generally helpful for reading, do not use
5193more than one blank line to separate blocks, and avoid adding whitespace
af6c57ea
AC
5194after the end of a program line (as of 1/99, some 600 lines had
5195whitespace after the semicolon). Excess whitespace causes difficulties
5196for @code{diff} and @code{patch} utilities.
5197
5198Pointers are declared using the traditional K&R C style:
5199
474c8240 5200@smallexample
af6c57ea 5201void *foo;
474c8240 5202@end smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5203
5204@noindent
5205and not:
5206
474c8240 5207@smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5208void * foo;
5209void* foo;
474c8240 5210@end smallexample
c906108c
SS
5211
5212@subsection Comments
5213
56caf160 5214@cindex comment formatting
c906108c
SS
5215The standard GNU requirements on comments must be followed strictly.
5216
af6c57ea
AC
5217Block comments must appear in the following form, with no @code{/*}- or
5218@code{*/}-only lines, and no leading @code{*}:
c906108c 5219
474c8240 5220@smallexample
c906108c
SS
5221/* Wait for control to return from inferior to debugger. If inferior
5222 gets a signal, we may decide to start it up again instead of
5223 returning. That is why there is a loop in this function. When
5224 this function actually returns it means the inferior should be left
25822942 5225 stopped and @value{GDBN} should read more commands. */
474c8240 5226@end smallexample
c906108c
SS
5227
5228(Note that this format is encouraged by Emacs; tabbing for a multi-line
56caf160 5229comment works correctly, and @kbd{M-q} fills the block consistently.)
c906108c
SS
5230
5231Put a blank line between the block comments preceding function or
5232variable definitions, and the definition itself.
5233
5234In general, put function-body comments on lines by themselves, rather
5235than trying to fit them into the 20 characters left at the end of a
5236line, since either the comment or the code will inevitably get longer
5237than will fit, and then somebody will have to move it anyhow.
5238
5239@subsection C Usage
5240
56caf160 5241@cindex C data types
c906108c
SS
5242Code must not depend on the sizes of C data types, the format of the
5243host's floating point numbers, the alignment of anything, or the order
5244of evaluation of expressions.
5245
56caf160 5246@cindex function usage
c906108c 5247Use functions freely. There are only a handful of compute-bound areas
56caf160
EZ
5248in @value{GDBN} that might be affected by the overhead of a function
5249call, mainly in symbol reading. Most of @value{GDBN}'s performance is
5250limited by the target interface (whether serial line or system call).
c906108c
SS
5251
5252However, use functions with moderation. A thousand one-line functions
5253are just as hard to understand as a single thousand-line function.
5254
af6c57ea 5255@emph{Macros are bad, M'kay.}
9e678452
CF
5256(But if you have to use a macro, make sure that the macro arguments are
5257protected with parentheses.)
af6c57ea
AC
5258
5259@cindex types
c906108c 5260
af6c57ea
AC
5261Declarations like @samp{struct foo *} should be used in preference to
5262declarations like @samp{typedef struct foo @{ @dots{} @} *foo_ptr}.
5263
5264
5265@subsection Function Prototypes
56caf160 5266@cindex function prototypes
af6c57ea
AC
5267
5268Prototypes must be used when both @emph{declaring} and @emph{defining}
5269a function. Prototypes for @value{GDBN} functions must include both the
5270argument type and name, with the name matching that used in the actual
5271function definition.
c906108c 5272
53a5351d
JM
5273All external functions should have a declaration in a header file that
5274callers include, except for @code{_initialize_*} functions, which must
5275be external so that @file{init.c} construction works, but shouldn't be
5276visible to random source files.
c906108c 5277
af6c57ea
AC
5278Where a source file needs a forward declaration of a static function,
5279that declaration must appear in a block near the top of the source file.
5280
5281
5282@subsection Internal Error Recovery
5283
5284During its execution, @value{GDBN} can encounter two types of errors.
5285User errors and internal errors. User errors include not only a user
5286entering an incorrect command but also problems arising from corrupt
5287object files and system errors when interacting with the target.
937f164b
FF
5288Internal errors include situations where @value{GDBN} has detected, at
5289run time, a corrupt or erroneous situation.
af6c57ea
AC
5290
5291When reporting an internal error, @value{GDBN} uses
5292@code{internal_error} and @code{gdb_assert}.
5293
5294@value{GDBN} must not call @code{abort} or @code{assert}.
5295
5296@emph{Pragmatics: There is no @code{internal_warning} function. Either
5297the code detected a user error, recovered from it and issued a
5298@code{warning} or the code failed to correctly recover from the user
5299error and issued an @code{internal_error}.}
5300
5301@subsection File Names
5302
5303Any file used when building the core of @value{GDBN} must be in lower
5304case. Any file used when building the core of @value{GDBN} must be 8.3
5305unique. These requirements apply to both source and generated files.
5306
5307@emph{Pragmatics: The core of @value{GDBN} must be buildable on many
5308platforms including DJGPP and MacOS/HFS. Every time an unfriendly file
5309is introduced to the build process both @file{Makefile.in} and
5310@file{configure.in} need to be modified accordingly. Compare the
5311convoluted conversion process needed to transform @file{COPYING} into
5312@file{copying.c} with the conversion needed to transform
5313@file{version.in} into @file{version.c}.}
5314
5315Any file non 8.3 compliant file (that is not used when building the core
5316of @value{GDBN}) must be added to @file{gdb/config/djgpp/fnchange.lst}.
5317
5318@emph{Pragmatics: This is clearly a compromise.}
5319
5320When @value{GDBN} has a local version of a system header file (ex
5321@file{string.h}) the file name based on the POSIX header prefixed with
b4177fca
DJ
5322@file{gdb_} (@file{gdb_string.h}). These headers should be relatively
5323independent: they should use only macros defined by @file{configure},
5324the compiler, or the host; they should include only system headers; they
5325should refer only to system types. They may be shared between multiple
5326programs, e.g.@: @value{GDBN} and @sc{gdbserver}.
af6c57ea
AC
5327
5328For other files @samp{-} is used as the separator.
5329
5330
5331@subsection Include Files
5332
e2b28d04 5333A @file{.c} file should include @file{defs.h} first.
af6c57ea 5334
e2b28d04
AC
5335A @file{.c} file should directly include the @code{.h} file of every
5336declaration and/or definition it directly refers to. It cannot rely on
5337indirect inclusion.
af6c57ea 5338
e2b28d04
AC
5339A @file{.h} file should directly include the @code{.h} file of every
5340declaration and/or definition it directly refers to. It cannot rely on
5341indirect inclusion. Exception: The file @file{defs.h} does not need to
5342be directly included.
af6c57ea 5343
e2b28d04 5344An external declaration should only appear in one include file.
af6c57ea 5345
e2b28d04
AC
5346An external declaration should never appear in a @code{.c} file.
5347Exception: a declaration for the @code{_initialize} function that
5348pacifies @option{-Wmissing-declaration}.
5349
5350A @code{typedef} definition should only appear in one include file.
5351
5352An opaque @code{struct} declaration can appear in multiple @file{.h}
5353files. Where possible, a @file{.h} file should use an opaque
5354@code{struct} declaration instead of an include.
5355
5356All @file{.h} files should be wrapped in:
af6c57ea 5357
474c8240 5358@smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5359#ifndef INCLUDE_FILE_NAME_H
5360#define INCLUDE_FILE_NAME_H
5361header body
5362#endif
474c8240 5363@end smallexample
af6c57ea 5364
c906108c 5365
dab11f21 5366@subsection Clean Design and Portable Implementation
c906108c 5367
56caf160 5368@cindex design
c906108c 5369In addition to getting the syntax right, there's the little question of
25822942 5370semantics. Some things are done in certain ways in @value{GDBN} because long
c906108c
SS
5371experience has shown that the more obvious ways caused various kinds of
5372trouble.
5373
56caf160 5374@cindex assumptions about targets
c906108c
SS
5375You can't assume the byte order of anything that comes from a target
5376(including @var{value}s, object files, and instructions). Such things
56caf160
EZ
5377must be byte-swapped using @code{SWAP_TARGET_AND_HOST} in
5378@value{GDBN}, or one of the swap routines defined in @file{bfd.h},
5379such as @code{bfd_get_32}.
c906108c
SS
5380
5381You can't assume that you know what interface is being used to talk to
5382the target system. All references to the target must go through the
5383current @code{target_ops} vector.
5384
5385You can't assume that the host and target machines are the same machine
5386(except in the ``native'' support modules). In particular, you can't
5387assume that the target machine's header files will be available on the
5388host machine. Target code must bring along its own header files --
5389written from scratch or explicitly donated by their owner, to avoid
5390copyright problems.
5391
56caf160 5392@cindex portability
c906108c
SS
5393Insertion of new @code{#ifdef}'s will be frowned upon. It's much better
5394to write the code portably than to conditionalize it for various
5395systems.
5396
56caf160 5397@cindex system dependencies
c906108c
SS
5398New @code{#ifdef}'s which test for specific compilers or manufacturers
5399or operating systems are unacceptable. All @code{#ifdef}'s should test
5400for features. The information about which configurations contain which
5401features should be segregated into the configuration files. Experience
5402has proven far too often that a feature unique to one particular system
5403often creeps into other systems; and that a conditional based on some
5404predefined macro for your current system will become worthless over
5405time, as new versions of your system come out that behave differently
5406with regard to this feature.
5407
5408Adding code that handles specific architectures, operating systems,
af6c57ea 5409target interfaces, or hosts, is not acceptable in generic code.
c906108c 5410
dab11f21
EZ
5411@cindex portable file name handling
5412@cindex file names, portability
5413One particularly notorious area where system dependencies tend to
5414creep in is handling of file names. The mainline @value{GDBN} code
5415assumes Posix semantics of file names: absolute file names begin with
5416a forward slash @file{/}, slashes are used to separate leading
5417directories, case-sensitive file names. These assumptions are not
5418necessarily true on non-Posix systems such as MS-Windows. To avoid
5419system-dependent code where you need to take apart or construct a file
5420name, use the following portable macros:
5421
5422@table @code
5423@findex HAVE_DOS_BASED_FILE_SYSTEM
5424@item HAVE_DOS_BASED_FILE_SYSTEM
5425This preprocessing symbol is defined to a non-zero value on hosts
5426whose filesystems belong to the MS-DOS/MS-Windows family. Use this
5427symbol to write conditional code which should only be compiled for
5428such hosts.
5429
5430@findex IS_DIR_SEPARATOR
4be31470 5431@item IS_DIR_SEPARATOR (@var{c})
dab11f21
EZ
5432Evaluates to a non-zero value if @var{c} is a directory separator
5433character. On Unix and GNU/Linux systems, only a slash @file{/} is
5434such a character, but on Windows, both @file{/} and @file{\} will
5435pass.
5436
5437@findex IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH
5438@item IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH (@var{file})
5439Evaluates to a non-zero value if @var{file} is an absolute file name.
5440For Unix and GNU/Linux hosts, a name which begins with a slash
5441@file{/} is absolute. On DOS and Windows, @file{d:/foo} and
5442@file{x:\bar} are also absolute file names.
5443
5444@findex FILENAME_CMP
5445@item FILENAME_CMP (@var{f1}, @var{f2})
5446Calls a function which compares file names @var{f1} and @var{f2} as
5447appropriate for the underlying host filesystem. For Posix systems,
5448this simply calls @code{strcmp}; on case-insensitive filesystems it
5449will call @code{strcasecmp} instead.
5450
5451@findex DIRNAME_SEPARATOR
5452@item DIRNAME_SEPARATOR
5453Evaluates to a character which separates directories in
5454@code{PATH}-style lists, typically held in environment variables.
5455This character is @samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on DOS and Windows.
5456
5457@findex SLASH_STRING
5458@item SLASH_STRING
5459This evaluates to a constant string you should use to produce an
5460absolute filename from leading directories and the file's basename.
5461@code{SLASH_STRING} is @code{"/"} on most systems, but might be
5462@code{"\\"} for some Windows-based ports.
5463@end table
5464
5465In addition to using these macros, be sure to use portable library
5466functions whenever possible. For example, to extract a directory or a
5467basename part from a file name, use the @code{dirname} and
5468@code{basename} library functions (available in @code{libiberty} for
5469platforms which don't provide them), instead of searching for a slash
5470with @code{strrchr}.
5471
25822942
DB
5472Another way to generalize @value{GDBN} along a particular interface is with an
5473attribute struct. For example, @value{GDBN} has been generalized to handle
56caf160
EZ
5474multiple kinds of remote interfaces---not by @code{#ifdef}s everywhere, but
5475by defining the @code{target_ops} structure and having a current target (as
c906108c
SS
5476well as a stack of targets below it, for memory references). Whenever
5477something needs to be done that depends on which remote interface we are
56caf160
EZ
5478using, a flag in the current target_ops structure is tested (e.g.,
5479@code{target_has_stack}), or a function is called through a pointer in the
c906108c 5480current target_ops structure. In this way, when a new remote interface
56caf160 5481is added, only one module needs to be touched---the one that actually
c906108c
SS
5482implements the new remote interface. Other examples of
5483attribute-structs are BFD access to multiple kinds of object file
25822942 5484formats, or @value{GDBN}'s access to multiple source languages.
c906108c 5485
56caf160
EZ
5486Please avoid duplicating code. For example, in @value{GDBN} 3.x all
5487the code interfacing between @code{ptrace} and the rest of
5488@value{GDBN} was duplicated in @file{*-dep.c}, and so changing
5489something was very painful. In @value{GDBN} 4.x, these have all been
5490consolidated into @file{infptrace.c}. @file{infptrace.c} can deal
5491with variations between systems the same way any system-independent
5492file would (hooks, @code{#if defined}, etc.), and machines which are
5493radically different don't need to use @file{infptrace.c} at all.
c906108c 5494
af6c57ea
AC
5495All debugging code must be controllable using the @samp{set debug
5496@var{module}} command. Do not use @code{printf} to print trace
5497messages. Use @code{fprintf_unfiltered(gdb_stdlog, ...}. Do not use
5498@code{#ifdef DEBUG}.
5499
c906108c 5500
8487521e 5501@node Porting GDB
c906108c 5502
25822942 5503@chapter Porting @value{GDBN}
56caf160 5504@cindex porting to new machines
c906108c 5505
56caf160
EZ
5506Most of the work in making @value{GDBN} compile on a new machine is in
5507specifying the configuration of the machine. This is done in a
5508dizzying variety of header files and configuration scripts, which we
5509hope to make more sensible soon. Let's say your new host is called an
5510@var{xyz} (e.g., @samp{sun4}), and its full three-part configuration
5511name is @code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}} (e.g.,
5512@samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}). In particular:
c906108c 5513
56caf160
EZ
5514@itemize @bullet
5515@item
c906108c
SS
5516In the top level directory, edit @file{config.sub} and add @var{arch},
5517@var{xvend}, and @var{xos} to the lists of supported architectures,
5518vendors, and operating systems near the bottom of the file. Also, add
5519@var{xyz} as an alias that maps to
5520@code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}. You can test your changes by
5521running
5522
474c8240 5523@smallexample
c906108c 5524./config.sub @var{xyz}
474c8240 5525@end smallexample
56caf160 5526
c906108c
SS
5527@noindent
5528and
56caf160 5529
474c8240 5530@smallexample
c906108c 5531./config.sub @code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}
474c8240 5532@end smallexample
56caf160 5533
c906108c
SS
5534@noindent
5535which should both respond with @code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}
5536and no error messages.
5537
56caf160 5538@noindent
c906108c
SS
5539You need to port BFD, if that hasn't been done already. Porting BFD is
5540beyond the scope of this manual.
5541
56caf160 5542@item
25822942 5543To configure @value{GDBN} itself, edit @file{gdb/configure.host} to recognize
c906108c
SS
5544your system and set @code{gdb_host} to @var{xyz}, and (unless your
5545desired target is already available) also edit @file{gdb/configure.tgt},
5546setting @code{gdb_target} to something appropriate (for instance,
5547@var{xyz}).
5548
7fd60527
AC
5549@emph{Maintainer's note: Work in progress. The file
5550@file{gdb/configure.host} originally needed to be modified when either a
5551new native target or a new host machine was being added to @value{GDBN}.
5552Recent changes have removed this requirement. The file now only needs
5553to be modified when adding a new native configuration. This will likely
5554changed again in the future.}
5555
56caf160 5556@item
25822942 5557Finally, you'll need to specify and define @value{GDBN}'s host-, native-, and
c906108c
SS
5558target-dependent @file{.h} and @file{.c} files used for your
5559configuration.
56caf160 5560@end itemize
c906108c 5561
8973da3a
AC
5562@node Releasing GDB
5563
5564@chapter Releasing @value{GDBN}
5565@cindex making a new release of gdb
5566
fb0ff88f
AC
5567@section Versions and Branches
5568
5569@subsection Version Identifiers
5570
5571@value{GDBN}'s version is determined by the file @file{gdb/version.in}.
5572
5573@value{GDBN}'s mainline uses ISO dates to differentiate between
5574versions. The CVS repository uses @var{YYYY}-@var{MM}-@var{DD}-cvs
5575while the corresponding snapshot uses @var{YYYYMMDD}.
5576
5577@value{GDBN}'s release branch uses a slightly more complicated scheme.
5578When the branch is first cut, the mainline version identifier is
5579prefixed with the @var{major}.@var{minor} from of the previous release
5580series but with .90 appended. As draft releases are drawn from the
5581branch, the minor minor number (.90) is incremented. Once the first
5582release (@var{M}.@var{N}) has been made, the version prefix is updated
5583to @var{M}.@var{N}.0.90 (dot zero, dot ninety). Follow on releases have
5584an incremented minor minor version number (.0).
5585
5586Using 5.1 (previous) and 5.2 (current), the example below illustrates a
5587typical sequence of version identifiers:
5588
5589@table @asis
5590@item 5.1.1
5591final release from previous branch
5592@item 2002-03-03-cvs
5593main-line the day the branch is cut
5594@item 5.1.90-2002-03-03-cvs
5595corresponding branch version
5596@item 5.1.91
5597first draft release candidate
5598@item 5.1.91-2002-03-17-cvs
5599updated branch version
5600@item 5.1.92
5601second draft release candidate
5602@item 5.1.92-2002-03-31-cvs
5603updated branch version
5604@item 5.1.93
5605final release candidate (see below)
5606@item 5.2
5607official release
5608@item 5.2.0.90-2002-04-07-cvs
5609updated CVS branch version
5610@item 5.2.1
5611second official release
5612@end table
5613
5614Notes:
5615
5616@itemize @bullet
5617@item
5618Minor minor minor draft release candidates such as 5.2.0.91 have been
5619omitted from the example. Such release candidates are, typically, never
5620made.
5621@item
5622For 5.1.93 the bziped tar ball @file{gdb-5.1.93.tar.bz2} is just the
5623official @file{gdb-5.2.tar} renamed and compressed.
5624@end itemize
5625
5626To avoid version conflicts, vendors are expected to modify the file
5627@file{gdb/version.in} to include a vendor unique alphabetic identifier
5628(an official @value{GDBN} release never uses alphabetic characters in
5629its version identifer).
5630
5631Since @value{GDBN} does not make minor minor minor releases (e.g.,
56325.1.0.1) the conflict between that and a minor minor draft release
5633identifier (e.g., 5.1.0.90) is avoided.
5634
5635
5636@subsection Branches
5637
5638@value{GDBN} draws a release series (5.2, 5.2.1, @dots{}) from a single
5639release branch (gdb_5_2-branch). Since minor minor minor releases
5640(5.1.0.1) are not made, the need to branch the release branch is avoided
5641(it also turns out that the effort required for such a a branch and
5642release is significantly greater than the effort needed to create a new
5643release from the head of the release branch).
5644
5645Releases 5.0 and 5.1 used branch and release tags of the form:
5646
474c8240 5647@smallexample
fb0ff88f
AC
5648gdb_N_M-YYYY-MM-DD-branchpoint
5649gdb_N_M-YYYY-MM-DD-branch
5650gdb_M_N-YYYY-MM-DD-release
474c8240 5651@end smallexample
fb0ff88f
AC
5652
5653Release 5.2 is trialing the branch and release tags:
5654
474c8240 5655@smallexample
fb0ff88f
AC
5656gdb_N_M-YYYY-MM-DD-branchpoint
5657gdb_N_M-branch
5658gdb_M_N-YYYY-MM-DD-release
474c8240 5659@end smallexample
fb0ff88f
AC
5660
5661@emph{Pragmatics: The branchpoint and release tags need to identify when
5662a branch and release are made. The branch tag, denoting the head of the
5663branch, does not have this criteria.}
5664
5665
9bb0a4d8
AC
5666@section Branch Commit Policy
5667
5668The branch commit policy is pretty slack. @value{GDBN} releases 5.0,
56695.1 and 5.2 all used the below:
5670
5671@itemize @bullet
5672@item
5673The @file{gdb/MAINTAINERS} file still holds.
5674@item
5675Don't fix something on the branch unless/until it is also fixed in the
5676trunk. If this isn't possible, mentioning it in the @file{gdb/PROBLEMS}
4be31470 5677file is better than committing a hack.
9bb0a4d8
AC
5678@item
5679When considering a patch for the branch, suggested criteria include:
5680Does it fix a build? Does it fix the sequence @kbd{break main; run}
5681when debugging a static binary?
5682@item
5683The further a change is from the core of @value{GDBN}, the less likely
5684the change will worry anyone (e.g., target specific code).
5685@item
5686Only post a proposal to change the core of @value{GDBN} after you've
5687sent individual bribes to all the people listed in the
5688@file{MAINTAINERS} file @t{;-)}
5689@end itemize
5690
5691@emph{Pragmatics: Provided updates are restricted to non-core
5692functionality there is little chance that a broken change will be fatal.
5693This means that changes such as adding a new architectures or (within
5694reason) support for a new host are considered acceptable.}
5695
5696
cbb09e6a 5697@section Obsoleting code
8973da3a 5698
8642bc8f 5699Before anything else, poke the other developers (and around the source
4be31470
EZ
5700code) to see if there is anything that can be removed from @value{GDBN}
5701(an old target, an unused file).
8973da3a 5702
8642bc8f 5703Obsolete code is identified by adding an @code{OBSOLETE} prefix to every
cbb09e6a
AC
5704line. Doing this means that it is easy to identify something that has
5705been obsoleted when greping through the sources.
8973da3a 5706
cbb09e6a
AC
5707The process is done in stages --- this is mainly to ensure that the
5708wider @value{GDBN} community has a reasonable opportunity to respond.
5709Remember, everything on the Internet takes a week.
8973da3a 5710
cbb09e6a 5711@enumerate
8973da3a 5712@item
cbb09e6a
AC
5713Post the proposal on @email{gdb@@sources.redhat.com, the GDB mailing
5714list} Creating a bug report to track the task's state, is also highly
5715recommended.
8973da3a 5716@item
cbb09e6a 5717Wait a week or so.
8973da3a 5718@item
cbb09e6a
AC
5719Post the proposal on @email{gdb-announce@@sources.redhat.com, the GDB
5720Announcement mailing list}.
8973da3a 5721@item
cbb09e6a 5722Wait a week or so.
8973da3a 5723@item
cbb09e6a
AC
5724Go through and edit all relevant files and lines so that they are
5725prefixed with the word @code{OBSOLETE}.
5726@item
5727Wait until the next GDB version, containing this obsolete code, has been
5728released.
5729@item
5730Remove the obsolete code.
5731@end enumerate
5732
5733@noindent
5734@emph{Maintainer note: While removing old code is regrettable it is
5735hopefully better for @value{GDBN}'s long term development. Firstly it
5736helps the developers by removing code that is either no longer relevant
5737or simply wrong. Secondly since it removes any history associated with
5738the file (effectively clearing the slate) the developer has a much freer
5739hand when it comes to fixing broken files.}
8973da3a 5740
8973da3a 5741
9ae8b82c
AC
5742
5743@section Before the Branch
8973da3a 5744
8642bc8f
AC
5745The most important objective at this stage is to find and fix simple
5746changes that become a pain to track once the branch is created. For
5747instance, configuration problems that stop @value{GDBN} from even
5748building. If you can't get the problem fixed, document it in the
5749@file{gdb/PROBLEMS} file.
8973da3a 5750
9ae8b82c 5751@subheading Prompt for @file{gdb/NEWS}
8973da3a 5752
9ae8b82c
AC
5753People always forget. Send a post reminding them but also if you know
5754something interesting happened add it yourself. The @code{schedule}
5755script will mention this in its e-mail.
8973da3a 5756
9ae8b82c 5757@subheading Review @file{gdb/README}
8973da3a 5758
9ae8b82c
AC
5759Grab one of the nightly snapshots and then walk through the
5760@file{gdb/README} looking for anything that can be improved. The
5761@code{schedule} script will mention this in its e-mail.
8642bc8f
AC
5762
5763@subheading Refresh any imported files.
8973da3a 5764
8642bc8f 5765A number of files are taken from external repositories. They include:
8973da3a 5766
8642bc8f
AC
5767@itemize @bullet
5768@item
5769@file{texinfo/texinfo.tex}
5770@item
9ae8b82c
AC
5771@file{config.guess} et.@: al.@: (see the top-level @file{MAINTAINERS}
5772file)
5773@item
5774@file{etc/standards.texi}, @file{etc/make-stds.texi}
8642bc8f
AC
5775@end itemize
5776
9ae8b82c 5777@subheading Check the ARI
8642bc8f 5778
9ae8b82c
AC
5779@uref{http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/ari,,A.R.I.} is an @code{awk} script
5780(Awk Regression Index ;-) that checks for a number of errors and coding
5781conventions. The checks include things like using @code{malloc} instead
5782of @code{xmalloc} and file naming problems. There shouldn't be any
5783regressions.
8642bc8f 5784
9ae8b82c 5785@subsection Review the bug data base
8642bc8f 5786
9ae8b82c 5787Close anything obviously fixed.
8642bc8f 5788
9ae8b82c 5789@subsection Check all cross targets build
8642bc8f 5790
9ae8b82c 5791The targets are listed in @file{gdb/MAINTAINERS}.
8642bc8f 5792
8642bc8f 5793
30107679 5794@section Cut the Branch
8642bc8f 5795
30107679 5796@subheading Create the branch
8642bc8f 5797
474c8240 5798@smallexample
30107679
AC
5799$ u=5.1
5800$ v=5.2
5801$ V=`echo $v | sed 's/\./_/g'`
5802$ D=`date -u +%Y-%m-%d`
5803$ echo $u $V $D
58045.1 5_2 2002-03-03
5805$ echo cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src rtag \
5806-D $D-gmt gdb_$V-$D-branchpoint insight+dejagnu
5807cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src rtag
5808-D 2002-03-03-gmt gdb_5_2-2002-03-03-branchpoint insight+dejagnu
5809$ ^echo ^^
5810...
5811$ echo cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src rtag \
5812-b -r gdb_$V-$D-branchpoint gdb_$V-branch insight+dejagnu
5813cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src rtag \
5814-b -r gdb_5_2-2002-03-03-branchpoint gdb_5_2-branch insight+dejagnu
5815$ ^echo ^^
5816...
8642bc8f 5817$
474c8240 5818@end smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
5819
5820@itemize @bullet
5821@item
30107679
AC
5822by using @kbd{-D YYYY-MM-DD-gmt} the branch is forced to an exact
5823date/time.
5824@item
5825the trunk is first taged so that the branch point can easily be found
5826@item
5827Insight (which includes GDB) and dejagnu are all tagged at the same time
8642bc8f 5828@item
30107679 5829@file{version.in} gets bumped to avoid version number conflicts
8642bc8f 5830@item
30107679
AC
5831the reading of @file{.cvsrc} is disabled using @file{-f}
5832@end itemize
5833
5834@subheading Update @file{version.in}
5835
5836@smallexample
5837$ u=5.1
5838$ v=5.2
5839$ V=`echo $v | sed 's/\./_/g'`
5840$ echo $u $v$V
58415.1 5_2
5842$ cd /tmp
5843$ echo cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src co \
5844-r gdb_$V-branch src/gdb/version.in
5845cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src co
5846 -r gdb_5_2-branch src/gdb/version.in
5847$ ^echo ^^
5848U src/gdb/version.in
5849$ cd src/gdb
5850$ echo $u.90-0000-00-00-cvs > version.in
5851$ cat version.in
58525.1.90-0000-00-00-cvs
5853$ cvs -f commit version.in
5854@end smallexample
5855
5856@itemize @bullet
5857@item
5858@file{0000-00-00} is used as a date to pump prime the version.in update
5859mechanism
5860@item
5861@file{.90} and the previous branch version are used as fairly arbitrary
5862initial branch version number
8642bc8f
AC
5863@end itemize
5864
8642bc8f
AC
5865
5866@subheading Update the web and news pages
5867
30107679
AC
5868Something?
5869
8642bc8f
AC
5870@subheading Tweak cron to track the new branch
5871
30107679
AC
5872The file @file{gdbadmin/cron/crontab} contains gdbadmin's cron table.
5873This file needs to be updated so that:
5874
5875@itemize @bullet
5876@item
5877a daily timestamp is added to the file @file{version.in}
5878@item
5879the new branch is included in the snapshot process
5880@end itemize
5881
5882@noindent
5883See the file @file{gdbadmin/cron/README} for how to install the updated
5884cron table.
5885
5886The file @file{gdbadmin/ss/README} should also be reviewed to reflect
5887any changes. That file is copied to both the branch/ and current/
5888snapshot directories.
5889
5890
5891@subheading Update the NEWS and README files
5892
5893The @file{NEWS} file needs to be updated so that on the branch it refers
5894to @emph{changes in the current release} while on the trunk it also
5895refers to @emph{changes since the current release}.
5896
5897The @file{README} file needs to be updated so that it refers to the
5898current release.
5899
5900@subheading Post the branch info
5901
5902Send an announcement to the mailing lists:
5903
5904@itemize @bullet
5905@item
5906@email{gdb-announce@@sources.redhat.com, GDB Announcement mailing list}
5907@item
5908@email{gdb@@sources.redhat.com, GDB Discsussion mailing list} and
5909@email{gdb-testers@@sources.redhat.com, GDB Discsussion mailing list}
16737d73 5910@end itemize
30107679
AC
5911
5912@emph{Pragmatics: The branch creation is sent to the announce list to
5913ensure that people people not subscribed to the higher volume discussion
5914list are alerted.}
5915
5916The announcement should include:
5917
5918@itemize @bullet
5919@item
5920the branch tag
5921@item
5922how to check out the branch using CVS
5923@item
5924the date/number of weeks until the release
5925@item
5926the branch commit policy
5927still holds.
16737d73 5928@end itemize
30107679 5929
8642bc8f
AC
5930@section Stabilize the branch
5931
5932Something goes here.
5933
5934@section Create a Release
5935
0816590b
AC
5936The process of creating and then making available a release is broken
5937down into a number of stages. The first part addresses the technical
5938process of creating a releasable tar ball. The later stages address the
5939process of releasing that tar ball.
8973da3a 5940
0816590b
AC
5941When making a release candidate just the first section is needed.
5942
5943@subsection Create a release candidate
5944
5945The objective at this stage is to create a set of tar balls that can be
5946made available as a formal release (or as a less formal release
5947candidate).
5948
5949@subsubheading Freeze the branch
5950
5951Send out an e-mail notifying everyone that the branch is frozen to
5952@email{gdb-patches@@sources.redhat.com}.
5953
5954@subsubheading Establish a few defaults.
8973da3a 5955
474c8240 5956@smallexample
0816590b
AC
5957$ b=gdb_5_2-branch
5958$ v=5.2
8642bc8f
AC
5959$ t=/sourceware/snapshot-tmp/gdbadmin-tmp
5960$ echo $t/$b/$v
0816590b 5961/sourceware/snapshot-tmp/gdbadmin-tmp/gdb_5_2-branch/5.2
8642bc8f
AC
5962$ mkdir -p $t/$b/$v
5963$ cd $t/$b/$v
5964$ pwd
0816590b 5965/sourceware/snapshot-tmp/gdbadmin-tmp/gdb_5_2-branch/5.2
8973da3a
AC
5966$ which autoconf
5967/home/gdbadmin/bin/autoconf
8642bc8f 5968$
474c8240 5969@end smallexample
8973da3a 5970
0816590b
AC
5971@noindent
5972Notes:
8973da3a 5973
0816590b
AC
5974@itemize @bullet
5975@item
5976Check the @code{autoconf} version carefully. You want to be using the
4a2b4636
JB
5977version taken from the @file{binutils} snapshot directory, which can be
5978found at @uref{ftp://sources.redhat.com/pub/binutils/}. It is very
0816590b
AC
5979unlikely that a system installed version of @code{autoconf} (e.g.,
5980@file{/usr/bin/autoconf}) is correct.
5981@end itemize
5982
5983@subsubheading Check out the relevant modules:
8973da3a 5984
474c8240 5985@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
5986$ for m in gdb insight dejagnu
5987do
8973da3a
AC
5988( mkdir -p $m && cd $m && cvs -q -f -d /cvs/src co -P -r $b $m )
5989done
8642bc8f 5990$
474c8240 5991@end smallexample
8973da3a 5992
0816590b
AC
5993@noindent
5994Note:
8642bc8f 5995
0816590b
AC
5996@itemize @bullet
5997@item
5998The reading of @file{.cvsrc} is disabled (@file{-f}) so that there isn't
5999any confusion between what is written here and what your local
6000@code{cvs} really does.
6001@end itemize
6002
6003@subsubheading Update relevant files.
8973da3a 6004
0816590b
AC
6005@table @file
6006
6007@item gdb/NEWS
8642bc8f
AC
6008
6009Major releases get their comments added as part of the mainline. Minor
6010releases should probably mention any significant bugs that were fixed.
6011
0816590b 6012Don't forget to include the @file{ChangeLog} entry.
8973da3a 6013
474c8240 6014@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
6015$ emacs gdb/src/gdb/NEWS
6016...
6017c-x 4 a
6018...
6019c-x c-s c-x c-c
6020$ cp gdb/src/gdb/NEWS insight/src/gdb/NEWS
6021$ cp gdb/src/gdb/ChangeLog insight/src/gdb/ChangeLog
474c8240 6022@end smallexample
8973da3a 6023
0816590b
AC
6024@item gdb/README
6025
6026You'll need to update:
8973da3a 6027
0816590b
AC
6028@itemize @bullet
6029@item
6030the version
6031@item
6032the update date
6033@item
6034who did it
6035@end itemize
8973da3a 6036
474c8240 6037@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
6038$ emacs gdb/src/gdb/README
6039...
8973da3a 6040c-x 4 a
8642bc8f 6041...
8973da3a 6042c-x c-s c-x c-c
8642bc8f
AC
6043$ cp gdb/src/gdb/README insight/src/gdb/README
6044$ cp gdb/src/gdb/ChangeLog insight/src/gdb/ChangeLog
474c8240 6045@end smallexample
8973da3a 6046
0816590b
AC
6047@emph{Maintainer note: Hopefully the @file{README} file was reviewed
6048before the initial branch was cut so just a simple substitute is needed
6049to get it updated.}
8973da3a 6050
8642bc8f
AC
6051@emph{Maintainer note: Other projects generate @file{README} and
6052@file{INSTALL} from the core documentation. This might be worth
6053pursuing.}
8973da3a 6054
0816590b 6055@item gdb/version.in
8973da3a 6056
474c8240 6057@smallexample
8642bc8f 6058$ echo $v > gdb/src/gdb/version.in
0816590b
AC
6059$ cat gdb/src/gdb/version.in
60605.2
8642bc8f 6061$ emacs gdb/src/gdb/version.in
8973da3a
AC
6062...
6063c-x 4 a
0816590b 6064... Bump to version ...
8973da3a 6065c-x c-s c-x c-c
8642bc8f
AC
6066$ cp gdb/src/gdb/version.in insight/src/gdb/version.in
6067$ cp gdb/src/gdb/ChangeLog insight/src/gdb/ChangeLog
474c8240 6068@end smallexample
8973da3a 6069
0816590b 6070@item dejagnu/src/dejagnu/configure.in
8642bc8f
AC
6071
6072Dejagnu is more complicated. The version number is a parameter to
0816590b 6073@code{AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE}. Tweak it to read something like gdb-5.1.91.
8642bc8f 6074
0816590b 6075Don't forget to re-generate @file{configure}.
8642bc8f 6076
0816590b 6077Don't forget to include a @file{ChangeLog} entry.
8642bc8f 6078
0816590b
AC
6079@smallexample
6080$ emacs dejagnu/src/dejagnu/configure.in
6081...
6082c-x 4 a
6083...
6084c-x c-s c-x c-c
6085$ ( cd dejagnu/src/dejagnu && autoconf )
6086@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6087
0816590b
AC
6088@end table
6089
6090@subsubheading Do the dirty work
6091
6092This is identical to the process used to create the daily snapshot.
8973da3a 6093
4ce8657e
MC
6094@smallexample
6095$ for m in gdb insight
6096do
6097( cd $m/src && gmake -f src-release $m.tar )
6098done
6099$ ( m=dejagnu; cd $m/src && gmake -f src-release $m.tar.bz2 )
6100@end smallexample
6101
6102If the top level source directory does not have @file{src-release}
6103(@value{GDBN} version 5.3.1 or earlier), try these commands instead:
6104
474c8240 6105@smallexample
0816590b 6106$ for m in gdb insight
8642bc8f 6107do
0816590b 6108( cd $m/src && gmake -f Makefile.in $m.tar )
8973da3a 6109done
0816590b 6110$ ( m=dejagnu; cd $m/src && gmake -f Makefile.in $m.tar.bz2 )
474c8240 6111@end smallexample
8973da3a 6112
0816590b 6113@subsubheading Check the source files
8642bc8f 6114
0816590b 6115You're looking for files that have mysteriously disappeared.
8642bc8f
AC
6116@kbd{distclean} has the habit of deleting files it shouldn't. Watch out
6117for the @file{version.in} update @kbd{cronjob}.
8973da3a 6118
474c8240 6119@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
6120$ ( cd gdb/src && cvs -f -q -n update )
6121M djunpack.bat
0816590b 6122? gdb-5.1.91.tar
8642bc8f 6123? proto-toplev
0816590b 6124@dots{} lots of generated files @dots{}
8642bc8f
AC
6125M gdb/ChangeLog
6126M gdb/NEWS
6127M gdb/README
6128M gdb/version.in
0816590b 6129@dots{} lots of generated files @dots{}
8642bc8f 6130$
474c8240 6131@end smallexample
8973da3a 6132
0816590b 6133@noindent
8642bc8f
AC
6134@emph{Don't worry about the @file{gdb.info-??} or
6135@file{gdb/p-exp.tab.c}. They were generated (and yes @file{gdb.info-1}
6136was also generated only something strange with CVS means that they
6137didn't get supressed). Fixing it would be nice though.}
8973da3a 6138
0816590b 6139@subsubheading Create compressed versions of the release
8973da3a 6140
474c8240 6141@smallexample
0816590b
AC
6142$ cp */src/*.tar .
6143$ cp */src/*.bz2 .
6144$ ls -F
6145dejagnu/ dejagnu-gdb-5.2.tar.bz2 gdb/ gdb-5.2.tar insight/ insight-5.2.tar
6146$ for m in gdb insight
6147do
6148bzip2 -v -9 -c $m-$v.tar > $m-$v.tar.bz2
6149gzip -v -9 -c $m-$v.tar > $m-$v.tar.gz
6150done
6151$
474c8240 6152@end smallexample
8973da3a 6153
0816590b
AC
6154@noindent
6155Note:
6156
6157@itemize @bullet
6158@item
6159A pipe such as @kbd{bunzip2 < xxx.bz2 | gzip -9 > xxx.gz} is not since,
6160in that mode, @code{gzip} does not know the name of the file and, hence,
6161can not include it in the compressed file. This is also why the release
6162process runs @code{tar} and @code{bzip2} as separate passes.
6163@end itemize
6164
6165@subsection Sanity check the tar ball
8973da3a 6166
0816590b 6167Pick a popular machine (Solaris/PPC?) and try the build on that.
8973da3a 6168
0816590b
AC
6169@smallexample
6170$ bunzip2 < gdb-5.2.tar.bz2 | tar xpf -
6171$ cd gdb-5.2
6172$ ./configure
6173$ make
6174@dots{}
6175$ ./gdb/gdb ./gdb/gdb
6176GNU gdb 5.2
6177@dots{}
6178(gdb) b main
6179Breakpoint 1 at 0x80732bc: file main.c, line 734.
6180(gdb) run
6181Starting program: /tmp/gdb-5.2/gdb/gdb
6182
6183Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xbffff8b4) at main.c:734
6184734 catch_errors (captured_main, &args, "", RETURN_MASK_ALL);
6185(gdb) print args
6186$1 = @{argc = 136426532, argv = 0x821b7f0@}
6187(gdb)
6188@end smallexample
8973da3a 6189
0816590b 6190@subsection Make a release candidate available
8973da3a 6191
0816590b 6192If this is a release candidate then the only remaining steps are:
8642bc8f 6193
0816590b
AC
6194@enumerate
6195@item
6196Commit @file{version.in} and @file{ChangeLog}
6197@item
6198Tweak @file{version.in} (and @file{ChangeLog} to read
6199@var{L}.@var{M}.@var{N}-0000-00-00-cvs so that the version update
6200process can restart.
6201@item
6202Make the release candidate available in
6203@uref{ftp://sources.redhat.com/pub/gdb/snapshots/branch}
6204@item
6205Notify the relevant mailing lists ( @email{gdb@@sources.redhat.com} and
6206@email{gdb-testers@@sources.redhat.com} that the candidate is available.
6207@end enumerate
8642bc8f 6208
0816590b 6209@subsection Make a formal release available
8642bc8f 6210
0816590b 6211(And you thought all that was required was to post an e-mail.)
8642bc8f 6212
0816590b 6213@subsubheading Install on sware
8642bc8f 6214
0816590b 6215Copy the new files to both the release and the old release directory:
8642bc8f 6216
474c8240 6217@smallexample
0816590b 6218$ cp *.bz2 *.gz ~ftp/pub/gdb/old-releases/
8642bc8f 6219$ cp *.bz2 *.gz ~ftp/pub/gdb/releases
474c8240 6220@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6221
0816590b
AC
6222@noindent
6223Clean up the releases directory so that only the most recent releases
6224are available (e.g. keep 5.2 and 5.2.1 but remove 5.1):
6225
6226@smallexample
6227$ cd ~ftp/pub/gdb/releases
6228$ rm @dots{}
6229@end smallexample
6230
6231@noindent
6232Update the file @file{README} and @file{.message} in the releases
6233directory:
6234
6235@smallexample
6236$ vi README
6237@dots{}
6238$ rm -f .message
6239$ ln README .message
6240@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6241
0816590b 6242@subsubheading Update the web pages.
8973da3a 6243
0816590b
AC
6244@table @file
6245
6246@item htdocs/download/ANNOUNCEMENT
6247This file, which is posted as the official announcement, includes:
8973da3a
AC
6248@itemize @bullet
6249@item
0816590b 6250General announcement
8642bc8f 6251@item
0816590b
AC
6252News. If making an @var{M}.@var{N}.1 release, retain the news from
6253earlier @var{M}.@var{N} release.
8973da3a 6254@item
0816590b
AC
6255Errata
6256@end itemize
6257
6258@item htdocs/index.html
6259@itemx htdocs/news/index.html
6260@itemx htdocs/download/index.html
6261These files include:
6262@itemize @bullet
8642bc8f 6263@item
0816590b 6264announcement of the most recent release
8642bc8f 6265@item
0816590b 6266news entry (remember to update both the top level and the news directory).
8973da3a 6267@end itemize
0816590b 6268These pages also need to be regenerate using @code{index.sh}.
8973da3a 6269
0816590b 6270@item download/onlinedocs/
8642bc8f
AC
6271You need to find the magic command that is used to generate the online
6272docs from the @file{.tar.bz2}. The best way is to look in the output
0816590b 6273from one of the nightly @code{cron} jobs and then just edit accordingly.
8642bc8f
AC
6274Something like:
6275
474c8240 6276@smallexample
8642bc8f 6277$ ~/ss/update-web-docs \
0816590b 6278 ~ftp/pub/gdb/releases/gdb-5.2.tar.bz2 \
8642bc8f 6279 $PWD/www \
0816590b 6280 /www/sourceware/htdocs/gdb/download/onlinedocs \
8642bc8f 6281 gdb
474c8240 6282@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6283
0816590b
AC
6284@item download/ari/
6285Just like the online documentation. Something like:
8642bc8f 6286
0816590b
AC
6287@smallexample
6288$ /bin/sh ~/ss/update-web-ari \
6289 ~ftp/pub/gdb/releases/gdb-5.2.tar.bz2 \
6290 $PWD/www \
6291 /www/sourceware/htdocs/gdb/download/ari \
6292 gdb
6293@end smallexample
6294
6295@end table
6296
6297@subsubheading Shadow the pages onto gnu
6298
6299Something goes here.
6300
6301
6302@subsubheading Install the @value{GDBN} tar ball on GNU
6303
6304At the time of writing, the GNU machine was @kbd{gnudist.gnu.org} in
6305@file{~ftp/gnu/gdb}.
6306
6307@subsubheading Make the @file{ANNOUNCEMENT}
6308
6309Post the @file{ANNOUNCEMENT} file you created above to:
8642bc8f
AC
6310
6311@itemize @bullet
6312@item
6313@email{gdb-announce@@sources.redhat.com, GDB Announcement mailing list}
6314@item
0816590b
AC
6315@email{info-gnu@@gnu.org, General GNU Announcement list} (but delay it a
6316day or so to let things get out)
6317@item
6318@email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, GDB Bug Report mailing list}
8642bc8f
AC
6319@end itemize
6320
0816590b 6321@subsection Cleanup
8642bc8f 6322
0816590b 6323The release is out but you're still not finished.
8642bc8f 6324
0816590b 6325@subsubheading Commit outstanding changes
8642bc8f 6326
0816590b 6327In particular you'll need to commit any changes to:
8642bc8f
AC
6328
6329@itemize @bullet
6330@item
6331@file{gdb/ChangeLog}
6332@item
6333@file{gdb/version.in}
6334@item
6335@file{gdb/NEWS}
6336@item
6337@file{gdb/README}
6338@end itemize
6339
0816590b 6340@subsubheading Tag the release
8642bc8f
AC
6341
6342Something like:
6343
474c8240 6344@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
6345$ d=`date -u +%Y-%m-%d`
6346$ echo $d
63472002-01-24
6348$ ( cd insight/src/gdb && cvs -f -q update )
0816590b 6349$ ( cd insight/src && cvs -f -q tag gdb_5_2-$d-release )
474c8240 6350@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6351
0816590b
AC
6352Insight is used since that contains more of the release than
6353@value{GDBN} (@code{dejagnu} doesn't get tagged but I think we can live
6354with that).
6355
6356@subsubheading Mention the release on the trunk
8642bc8f 6357
0816590b
AC
6358Just put something in the @file{ChangeLog} so that the trunk also
6359indicates when the release was made.
6360
6361@subsubheading Restart @file{gdb/version.in}
8642bc8f
AC
6362
6363If @file{gdb/version.in} does not contain an ISO date such as
6364@kbd{2002-01-24} then the daily @code{cronjob} won't update it. Having
6365committed all the release changes it can be set to
0816590b 6366@file{5.2.0_0000-00-00-cvs} which will restart things (yes the @kbd{_}
8642bc8f
AC
6367is important - it affects the snapshot process).
6368
6369Don't forget the @file{ChangeLog}.
6370
0816590b 6371@subsubheading Merge into trunk
8973da3a 6372
8642bc8f
AC
6373The files committed to the branch may also need changes merged into the
6374trunk.
8973da3a 6375
0816590b
AC
6376@subsubheading Revise the release schedule
6377
6378Post a revised release schedule to @email{gdb@@sources.redhat.com, GDB
6379Discussion List} with an updated announcement. The schedule can be
6380generated by running:
6381
6382@smallexample
6383$ ~/ss/schedule `date +%s` schedule
6384@end smallexample
6385
6386@noindent
6387The first parameter is approximate date/time in seconds (from the epoch)
6388of the most recent release.
6389
6390Also update the schedule @code{cronjob}.
6391
8642bc8f 6392@section Post release
8973da3a 6393
8642bc8f 6394Remove any @code{OBSOLETE} code.
8973da3a 6395
085dd6e6
JM
6396@node Testsuite
6397
6398@chapter Testsuite
56caf160 6399@cindex test suite
085dd6e6 6400
56caf160
EZ
6401The testsuite is an important component of the @value{GDBN} package.
6402While it is always worthwhile to encourage user testing, in practice
6403this is rarely sufficient; users typically use only a small subset of
6404the available commands, and it has proven all too common for a change
6405to cause a significant regression that went unnoticed for some time.
085dd6e6 6406
56caf160
EZ
6407The @value{GDBN} testsuite uses the DejaGNU testing framework.
6408DejaGNU is built using @code{Tcl} and @code{expect}. The tests
6409themselves are calls to various @code{Tcl} procs; the framework runs all the
6410procs and summarizes the passes and fails.
085dd6e6
JM
6411
6412@section Using the Testsuite
6413
56caf160 6414@cindex running the test suite
25822942 6415To run the testsuite, simply go to the @value{GDBN} object directory (or to the
085dd6e6
JM
6416testsuite's objdir) and type @code{make check}. This just sets up some
6417environment variables and invokes DejaGNU's @code{runtest} script. While
6418the testsuite is running, you'll get mentions of which test file is in use,
6419and a mention of any unexpected passes or fails. When the testsuite is
6420finished, you'll get a summary that looks like this:
56caf160 6421
474c8240 6422@smallexample
085dd6e6
JM
6423 === gdb Summary ===
6424
6425# of expected passes 6016
6426# of unexpected failures 58
6427# of unexpected successes 5
6428# of expected failures 183
6429# of unresolved testcases 3
6430# of untested testcases 5
474c8240 6431@end smallexample
56caf160 6432
085dd6e6
JM
6433The ideal test run consists of expected passes only; however, reality
6434conspires to keep us from this ideal. Unexpected failures indicate
56caf160
EZ
6435real problems, whether in @value{GDBN} or in the testsuite. Expected
6436failures are still failures, but ones which have been decided are too
6437hard to deal with at the time; for instance, a test case might work
6438everywhere except on AIX, and there is no prospect of the AIX case
6439being fixed in the near future. Expected failures should not be added
6440lightly, since you may be masking serious bugs in @value{GDBN}.
6441Unexpected successes are expected fails that are passing for some
6442reason, while unresolved and untested cases often indicate some minor
6443catastrophe, such as the compiler being unable to deal with a test
6444program.
6445
6446When making any significant change to @value{GDBN}, you should run the
6447testsuite before and after the change, to confirm that there are no
6448regressions. Note that truly complete testing would require that you
6449run the testsuite with all supported configurations and a variety of
6450compilers; however this is more than really necessary. In many cases
6451testing with a single configuration is sufficient. Other useful
6452options are to test one big-endian (Sparc) and one little-endian (x86)
6453host, a cross config with a builtin simulator (powerpc-eabi,
6454mips-elf), or a 64-bit host (Alpha).
6455
6456If you add new functionality to @value{GDBN}, please consider adding
6457tests for it as well; this way future @value{GDBN} hackers can detect
6458and fix their changes that break the functionality you added.
6459Similarly, if you fix a bug that was not previously reported as a test
6460failure, please add a test case for it. Some cases are extremely
6461difficult to test, such as code that handles host OS failures or bugs
6462in particular versions of compilers, and it's OK not to try to write
6463tests for all of those.
085dd6e6
JM
6464
6465@section Testsuite Organization
6466
56caf160 6467@cindex test suite organization
085dd6e6
JM
6468The testsuite is entirely contained in @file{gdb/testsuite}. While the
6469testsuite includes some makefiles and configury, these are very minimal,
6470and used for little besides cleaning up, since the tests themselves
25822942 6471handle the compilation of the programs that @value{GDBN} will run. The file
085dd6e6 6472@file{testsuite/lib/gdb.exp} contains common utility procs useful for
25822942 6473all @value{GDBN} tests, while the directory @file{testsuite/config} contains
085dd6e6
JM
6474configuration-specific files, typically used for special-purpose
6475definitions of procs like @code{gdb_load} and @code{gdb_start}.
6476
6477The tests themselves are to be found in @file{testsuite/gdb.*} and
6478subdirectories of those. The names of the test files must always end
6479with @file{.exp}. DejaGNU collects the test files by wildcarding
6480in the test directories, so both subdirectories and individual files
6481get chosen and run in alphabetical order.
6482
6483The following table lists the main types of subdirectories and what they
6484are for. Since DejaGNU finds test files no matter where they are
6485located, and since each test file sets up its own compilation and
6486execution environment, this organization is simply for convenience and
6487intelligibility.
6488
56caf160 6489@table @file
085dd6e6 6490@item gdb.base
085dd6e6 6491This is the base testsuite. The tests in it should apply to all
25822942 6492configurations of @value{GDBN} (but generic native-only tests may live here).
085dd6e6 6493The test programs should be in the subset of C that is valid K&R,
49efadf5 6494ANSI/ISO, and C@t{++} (@code{#ifdef}s are allowed if necessary, for instance
085dd6e6
JM
6495for prototypes).
6496
6497@item gdb.@var{lang}
56caf160 6498Language-specific tests for any language @var{lang} besides C. Examples are
af6cf26d 6499@file{gdb.cp} and @file{gdb.java}.
085dd6e6
JM
6500
6501@item gdb.@var{platform}
085dd6e6
JM
6502Non-portable tests. The tests are specific to a specific configuration
6503(host or target), such as HP-UX or eCos. Example is @file{gdb.hp}, for
6504HP-UX.
6505
6506@item gdb.@var{compiler}
085dd6e6
JM
6507Tests specific to a particular compiler. As of this writing (June
65081999), there aren't currently any groups of tests in this category that
6509couldn't just as sensibly be made platform-specific, but one could
56caf160
EZ
6510imagine a @file{gdb.gcc}, for tests of @value{GDBN}'s handling of GCC
6511extensions.
085dd6e6
JM
6512
6513@item gdb.@var{subsystem}
25822942 6514Tests that exercise a specific @value{GDBN} subsystem in more depth. For
085dd6e6
JM
6515instance, @file{gdb.disasm} exercises various disassemblers, while
6516@file{gdb.stabs} tests pathways through the stabs symbol reader.
085dd6e6
JM
6517@end table
6518
6519@section Writing Tests
56caf160 6520@cindex writing tests
085dd6e6 6521
25822942 6522In many areas, the @value{GDBN} tests are already quite comprehensive; you
085dd6e6
JM
6523should be able to copy existing tests to handle new cases.
6524
6525You should try to use @code{gdb_test} whenever possible, since it
6526includes cases to handle all the unexpected errors that might happen.
6527However, it doesn't cost anything to add new test procedures; for
6528instance, @file{gdb.base/exprs.exp} defines a @code{test_expr} that
6529calls @code{gdb_test} multiple times.
6530
6531Only use @code{send_gdb} and @code{gdb_expect} when absolutely
25822942 6532necessary, such as when @value{GDBN} has several valid responses to a command.
085dd6e6
JM
6533
6534The source language programs do @emph{not} need to be in a consistent
25822942 6535style. Since @value{GDBN} is used to debug programs written in many different
085dd6e6 6536styles, it's worth having a mix of styles in the testsuite; for
25822942 6537instance, some @value{GDBN} bugs involving the display of source lines would
085dd6e6
JM
6538never manifest themselves if the programs used GNU coding style
6539uniformly.
6540
c906108c
SS
6541@node Hints
6542
6543@chapter Hints
6544
6545Check the @file{README} file, it often has useful information that does not
6546appear anywhere else in the directory.
6547
6548@menu
25822942 6549* Getting Started:: Getting started working on @value{GDBN}
33e16fad 6550* Debugging GDB:: Debugging @value{GDBN} with itself
c906108c
SS
6551@end menu
6552
6553@node Getting Started,,, Hints
6554
6555@section Getting Started
6556
25822942 6557@value{GDBN} is a large and complicated program, and if you first starting to
c906108c
SS
6558work on it, it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, if you
6559know how to go about it, there are ways to figure out what is going on.
6560
25822942
DB
6561This manual, the @value{GDBN} Internals manual, has information which applies
6562generally to many parts of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
6563
6564Information about particular functions or data structures are located in
6565comments with those functions or data structures. If you run across a
6566function or a global variable which does not have a comment correctly
25822942 6567explaining what is does, this can be thought of as a bug in @value{GDBN}; feel
c906108c
SS
6568free to submit a bug report, with a suggested comment if you can figure
6569out what the comment should say. If you find a comment which is
6570actually wrong, be especially sure to report that.
6571
6572Comments explaining the function of macros defined in host, target, or
6573native dependent files can be in several places. Sometimes they are
6574repeated every place the macro is defined. Sometimes they are where the
6575macro is used. Sometimes there is a header file which supplies a
6576default definition of the macro, and the comment is there. This manual
6577also documents all the available macros.
6578@c (@pxref{Host Conditionals}, @pxref{Target
6579@c Conditionals}, @pxref{Native Conditionals}, and @pxref{Obsolete
6580@c Conditionals})
6581
56caf160
EZ
6582Start with the header files. Once you have some idea of how
6583@value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables are stored (see @file{symtab.h},
6584@file{gdbtypes.h}), you will find it much easier to understand the
6585code which uses and creates those symbol tables.
c906108c
SS
6586
6587You may wish to process the information you are getting somehow, to
6588enhance your understanding of it. Summarize it, translate it to another
25822942 6589language, add some (perhaps trivial or non-useful) feature to @value{GDBN}, use
c906108c
SS
6590the code to predict what a test case would do and write the test case
6591and verify your prediction, etc. If you are reading code and your eyes
6592are starting to glaze over, this is a sign you need to use a more active
6593approach.
6594
25822942 6595Once you have a part of @value{GDBN} to start with, you can find more
c906108c
SS
6596specifically the part you are looking for by stepping through each
6597function with the @code{next} command. Do not use @code{step} or you
6598will quickly get distracted; when the function you are stepping through
6599calls another function try only to get a big-picture understanding
6600(perhaps using the comment at the beginning of the function being
6601called) of what it does. This way you can identify which of the
6602functions being called by the function you are stepping through is the
6603one which you are interested in. You may need to examine the data
6604structures generated at each stage, with reference to the comments in
6605the header files explaining what the data structures are supposed to
6606look like.
6607
6608Of course, this same technique can be used if you are just reading the
6609code, rather than actually stepping through it. The same general
6610principle applies---when the code you are looking at calls something
6611else, just try to understand generally what the code being called does,
6612rather than worrying about all its details.
6613
56caf160
EZ
6614@cindex command implementation
6615A good place to start when tracking down some particular area is with
6616a command which invokes that feature. Suppose you want to know how
6617single-stepping works. As a @value{GDBN} user, you know that the
6618@code{step} command invokes single-stepping. The command is invoked
6619via command tables (see @file{command.h}); by convention the function
6620which actually performs the command is formed by taking the name of
6621the command and adding @samp{_command}, or in the case of an
6622@code{info} subcommand, @samp{_info}. For example, the @code{step}
6623command invokes the @code{step_command} function and the @code{info
6624display} command invokes @code{display_info}. When this convention is
6625not followed, you might have to use @code{grep} or @kbd{M-x
6626tags-search} in emacs, or run @value{GDBN} on itself and set a
6627breakpoint in @code{execute_command}.
6628
6629@cindex @code{bug-gdb} mailing list
c906108c
SS
6630If all of the above fail, it may be appropriate to ask for information
6631on @code{bug-gdb}. But @emph{never} post a generic question like ``I was
6632wondering if anyone could give me some tips about understanding
25822942 6633@value{GDBN}''---if we had some magic secret we would put it in this manual.
c906108c
SS
6634Suggestions for improving the manual are always welcome, of course.
6635
33e16fad 6636@node Debugging GDB,,,Hints
c906108c 6637
25822942 6638@section Debugging @value{GDBN} with itself
56caf160 6639@cindex debugging @value{GDBN}
c906108c 6640
25822942 6641If @value{GDBN} is limping on your machine, this is the preferred way to get it
c906108c
SS
6642fully functional. Be warned that in some ancient Unix systems, like
6643Ultrix 4.2, a program can't be running in one process while it is being
56caf160 6644debugged in another. Rather than typing the command @kbd{@w{./gdb
c906108c 6645./gdb}}, which works on Suns and such, you can copy @file{gdb} to
56caf160 6646@file{gdb2} and then type @kbd{@w{./gdb ./gdb2}}.
c906108c 6647
25822942 6648When you run @value{GDBN} in the @value{GDBN} source directory, it will read a
c906108c
SS
6649@file{.gdbinit} file that sets up some simple things to make debugging
6650gdb easier. The @code{info} command, when executed without a subcommand
25822942 6651in a @value{GDBN} being debugged by gdb, will pop you back up to the top level
c906108c
SS
6652gdb. See @file{.gdbinit} for details.
6653
6654If you use emacs, you will probably want to do a @code{make TAGS} after
6655you configure your distribution; this will put the machine dependent
6656routines for your local machine where they will be accessed first by
6657@kbd{M-.}
6658
25822942 6659Also, make sure that you've either compiled @value{GDBN} with your local cc, or
c906108c
SS
6660have run @code{fixincludes} if you are compiling with gcc.
6661
6662@section Submitting Patches
6663
56caf160 6664@cindex submitting patches
c906108c 6665Thanks for thinking of offering your changes back to the community of
25822942 6666@value{GDBN} users. In general we like to get well designed enhancements.
c906108c
SS
6667Thanks also for checking in advance about the best way to transfer the
6668changes.
6669
25822942
DB
6670The @value{GDBN} maintainers will only install ``cleanly designed'' patches.
6671This manual summarizes what we believe to be clean design for @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
6672
6673If the maintainers don't have time to put the patch in when it arrives,
6674or if there is any question about a patch, it goes into a large queue
6675with everyone else's patches and bug reports.
6676
56caf160 6677@cindex legal papers for code contributions
c906108c
SS
6678The legal issue is that to incorporate substantial changes requires a
6679copyright assignment from you and/or your employer, granting ownership
6680of the changes to the Free Software Foundation. You can get the
9e0b60a8
JM
6681standard documents for doing this by sending mail to @code{gnu@@gnu.org}
6682and asking for it. We recommend that people write in "All programs
6683owned by the Free Software Foundation" as "NAME OF PROGRAM", so that
56caf160
EZ
6684changes in many programs (not just @value{GDBN}, but GAS, Emacs, GCC,
6685etc) can be
9e0b60a8 6686contributed with only one piece of legalese pushed through the
be9c6c35 6687bureaucracy and filed with the FSF. We can't start merging changes until
9e0b60a8
JM
6688this paperwork is received by the FSF (their rules, which we follow
6689since we maintain it for them).
c906108c
SS
6690
6691Technically, the easiest way to receive changes is to receive each
56caf160
EZ
6692feature as a small context diff or unidiff, suitable for @code{patch}.
6693Each message sent to me should include the changes to C code and
6694header files for a single feature, plus @file{ChangeLog} entries for
6695each directory where files were modified, and diffs for any changes
6696needed to the manuals (@file{gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo} or
6697@file{gdb/doc/gdbint.texinfo}). If there are a lot of changes for a
6698single feature, they can be split down into multiple messages.
9e0b60a8
JM
6699
6700In this way, if we read and like the feature, we can add it to the
c906108c 6701sources with a single patch command, do some testing, and check it in.
56caf160
EZ
6702If you leave out the @file{ChangeLog}, we have to write one. If you leave
6703out the doc, we have to puzzle out what needs documenting. Etc., etc.
c906108c 6704
9e0b60a8
JM
6705The reason to send each change in a separate message is that we will not
6706install some of the changes. They'll be returned to you with questions
6707or comments. If we're doing our job correctly, the message back to you
c906108c 6708will say what you have to fix in order to make the change acceptable.
9e0b60a8
JM
6709The reason to have separate messages for separate features is so that
6710the acceptable changes can be installed while one or more changes are
6711being reworked. If multiple features are sent in a single message, we
6712tend to not put in the effort to sort out the acceptable changes from
6713the unacceptable, so none of the features get installed until all are
6714acceptable.
6715
6716If this sounds painful or authoritarian, well, it is. But we get a lot
6717of bug reports and a lot of patches, and many of them don't get
6718installed because we don't have the time to finish the job that the bug
c906108c
SS
6719reporter or the contributor could have done. Patches that arrive
6720complete, working, and well designed, tend to get installed on the day
9e0b60a8
JM
6721they arrive. The others go into a queue and get installed as time
6722permits, which, since the maintainers have many demands to meet, may not
6723be for quite some time.
c906108c 6724
56caf160 6725Please send patches directly to
47b95330 6726@email{gdb-patches@@sources.redhat.com, the @value{GDBN} maintainers}.
c906108c
SS
6727
6728@section Obsolete Conditionals
56caf160 6729@cindex obsolete code
c906108c 6730
25822942 6731Fragments of old code in @value{GDBN} sometimes reference or set the following
c906108c
SS
6732configuration macros. They should not be used by new code, and old uses
6733should be removed as those parts of the debugger are otherwise touched.
6734
6735@table @code
c906108c
SS
6736@item STACK_END_ADDR
6737This macro used to define where the end of the stack appeared, for use
6738in interpreting core file formats that don't record this address in the
25822942
DB
6739core file itself. This information is now configured in BFD, and @value{GDBN}
6740gets the info portably from there. The values in @value{GDBN}'s configuration
c906108c 6741files should be moved into BFD configuration files (if needed there),
25822942 6742and deleted from all of @value{GDBN}'s config files.
c906108c
SS
6743
6744Any @file{@var{foo}-xdep.c} file that references STACK_END_ADDR
6745is so old that it has never been converted to use BFD. Now that's old!
6746
c906108c
SS
6747@end table
6748
bcd7e15f 6749@include observer.texi
aab4e0ec
AC
6750@include fdl.texi
6751
56caf160
EZ
6752@node Index
6753@unnumbered Index
6754
6755@printindex cp
6756
c906108c 6757@bye
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