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9742079a 1\input texinfo @c -*- texinfo -*-
c906108c 2@setfilename gdbint.info
25822942 3@include gdb-cfg.texi
03727ca6 4@dircategory Software development
e9c75b65 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
DB
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::
d52fe014 87* Versions and Branches::
8973da3a 88* Releasing GDB::
085dd6e6 89* Testsuite::
c906108c 90* Hints::
aab4e0ec 91
bcd7e15f 92* GDB Observers:: @value{GDBN} Currently available observers
aab4e0ec 93* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
56caf160 94* Index::
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95@end menu
96
97@node Requirements
98
99@chapter Requirements
56caf160 100@cindex requirements for @value{GDBN}
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101
102Before diving into the internals, you should understand the formal
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103requirements and other expectations for @value{GDBN}. Although some
104of these may seem obvious, there have been proposals for @value{GDBN}
105that have run counter to these requirements.
c906108c 106
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107First of all, @value{GDBN} is a debugger. It's not designed to be a
108front panel for embedded systems. It's not a text editor. It's not a
109shell. It's not a programming environment.
c906108c 110
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111@value{GDBN} is an interactive tool. Although a batch mode is
112available, @value{GDBN}'s primary role is to interact with a human
113programmer.
c906108c 114
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115@value{GDBN} should be responsive to the user. A programmer hot on
116the trail of a nasty bug, and operating under a looming deadline, is
117going to be very impatient of everything, including the response time
118to debugger commands.
c906108c 119
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120@value{GDBN} should be relatively permissive, such as for expressions.
121While the compiler should be picky (or have the option to be made
be9c6c35 122picky), since source code lives for a long time usually, the
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123programmer doing debugging shouldn't be spending time figuring out to
124mollify the debugger.
c906108c 125
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126@value{GDBN} will be called upon to deal with really large programs.
127Executable sizes of 50 to 100 megabytes occur regularly, and we've
128heard reports of programs approaching 1 gigabyte in size.
c906108c 129
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130@value{GDBN} should be able to run everywhere. No other debugger is
131available for even half as many configurations as @value{GDBN}
132supports.
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133
134
135@node Overall Structure
136
137@chapter Overall Structure
138
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139@value{GDBN} consists of three major subsystems: user interface,
140symbol handling (the @dfn{symbol side}), and target system handling (the
141@dfn{target side}).
c906108c 142
2e685b93 143The user interface consists of several actual interfaces, plus
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144supporting code.
145
146The symbol side consists of object file readers, debugging info
147interpreters, symbol table management, source language expression
148parsing, type and value printing.
149
150The target side consists of execution control, stack frame analysis, and
151physical target manipulation.
152
153The target side/symbol side division is not formal, and there are a
154number of exceptions. For instance, core file support involves symbolic
155elements (the basic core file reader is in BFD) and target elements (it
156supplies the contents of memory and the values of registers). Instead,
157this division is useful for understanding how the minor subsystems
158should fit together.
159
160@section The Symbol Side
161
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162The symbolic side of @value{GDBN} can be thought of as ``everything
163you can do in @value{GDBN} without having a live program running''.
164For instance, you can look at the types of variables, and evaluate
165many kinds of expressions.
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166
167@section The Target Side
168
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169The target side of @value{GDBN} is the ``bits and bytes manipulator''.
170Although it may make reference to symbolic info here and there, most
171of the target side will run with only a stripped executable
172available---or even no executable at all, in remote debugging cases.
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173
174Operations such as disassembly, stack frame crawls, and register
175display, are able to work with no symbolic info at all. In some cases,
25822942 176such as disassembly, @value{GDBN} will use symbolic info to present addresses
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177relative to symbols rather than as raw numbers, but it will work either
178way.
179
180@section Configurations
181
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182@cindex host
183@cindex target
25822942 184@dfn{Host} refers to attributes of the system where @value{GDBN} runs.
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185@dfn{Target} refers to the system where the program being debugged
186executes. In most cases they are the same machine, in which case a
187third type of @dfn{Native} attributes come into play.
188
189Defines and include files needed to build on the host are host support.
190Examples are tty support, system defined types, host byte order, host
191float format.
192
193Defines and information needed to handle the target format are target
194dependent. Examples are the stack frame format, instruction set,
195breakpoint instruction, registers, and how to set up and tear down the stack
196to call a function.
197
198Information that is only needed when the host and target are the same,
199is native dependent. One example is Unix child process support; if the
200host and target are not the same, doing a fork to start the target
201process is a bad idea. The various macros needed for finding the
202registers in the @code{upage}, running @code{ptrace}, and such are all
203in the native-dependent files.
204
205Another example of native-dependent code is support for features that
206are really part of the target environment, but which require
207@code{#include} files that are only available on the host system. Core
208file handling and @code{setjmp} handling are two common cases.
209
25822942 210When you want to make @value{GDBN} work ``native'' on a particular machine, you
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211have to include all three kinds of information.
212
213
214@node Algorithms
215
216@chapter Algorithms
56caf160 217@cindex algorithms
c906108c 218
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219@value{GDBN} uses a number of debugging-specific algorithms. They are
220often not very complicated, but get lost in the thicket of special
221cases and real-world issues. This chapter describes the basic
222algorithms and mentions some of the specific target definitions that
223they use.
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224
225@section Frames
226
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227@cindex frame
228@cindex call stack frame
229A frame is a construct that @value{GDBN} uses to keep track of calling
230and called functions.
c906108c 231
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232@findex create_new_frame
233@vindex FRAME_FP
c906108c 234@code{FRAME_FP} in the machine description has no meaning to the
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235machine-independent part of @value{GDBN}, except that it is used when
236setting up a new frame from scratch, as follows:
c906108c 237
474c8240 238@smallexample
0ba6dca9 239create_new_frame (read_register (DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM), read_pc ()));
474c8240 240@end smallexample
c906108c 241
56caf160 242@cindex frame pointer register
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243Other than that, all the meaning imparted to @code{DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM}
244is imparted by the machine-dependent code. So,
245@code{DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM} can have any value that is convenient for
246the code that creates new frames. (@code{create_new_frame} calls
247@code{DEPRECATED_INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO} if it is defined; that is where
248you should use the @code{DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM} value, if your frames are
249nonstandard.)
c906108c 250
56caf160 251@cindex frame chain
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252Given a @value{GDBN} frame, define @code{DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN} to
253determine the address of the calling function's frame. This will be
254used to create a new @value{GDBN} frame struct, and then
e9582e71 255@code{DEPRECATED_INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO} and
a5afb99f 256@code{DEPRECATED_INIT_FRAME_PC} will be called for the new frame.
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257
258@section Breakpoint Handling
259
56caf160 260@cindex breakpoints
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261In general, a breakpoint is a user-designated location in the program
262where the user wants to regain control if program execution ever reaches
263that location.
264
265There are two main ways to implement breakpoints; either as ``hardware''
266breakpoints or as ``software'' breakpoints.
267
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268@cindex hardware breakpoints
269@cindex program counter
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270Hardware breakpoints are sometimes available as a builtin debugging
271features with some chips. Typically these work by having dedicated
272register into which the breakpoint address may be stored. If the PC
56caf160 273(shorthand for @dfn{program counter})
c906108c 274ever matches a value in a breakpoint registers, the CPU raises an
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275exception and reports it to @value{GDBN}.
276
277Another possibility is when an emulator is in use; many emulators
278include circuitry that watches the address lines coming out from the
279processor, and force it to stop if the address matches a breakpoint's
280address.
281
282A third possibility is that the target already has the ability to do
283breakpoints somehow; for instance, a ROM monitor may do its own
284software breakpoints. So although these are not literally ``hardware
285breakpoints'', from @value{GDBN}'s point of view they work the same;
50e3ee83 286@value{GDBN} need not do anything more than set the breakpoint and wait
56caf160 287for something to happen.
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288
289Since they depend on hardware resources, hardware breakpoints may be
56caf160 290limited in number; when the user asks for more, @value{GDBN} will
9742079a 291start trying to set software breakpoints. (On some architectures,
937f164b 292notably the 32-bit x86 platforms, @value{GDBN} cannot always know
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293whether there's enough hardware resources to insert all the hardware
294breakpoints and watchpoints. On those platforms, @value{GDBN} prints
295an error message only when the program being debugged is continued.)
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296
297@cindex software breakpoints
298Software breakpoints require @value{GDBN} to do somewhat more work.
299The basic theory is that @value{GDBN} will replace a program
300instruction with a trap, illegal divide, or some other instruction
301that will cause an exception, and then when it's encountered,
302@value{GDBN} will take the exception and stop the program. When the
303user says to continue, @value{GDBN} will restore the original
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304instruction, single-step, re-insert the trap, and continue on.
305
306Since it literally overwrites the program being tested, the program area
be9c6c35 307must be writable, so this technique won't work on programs in ROM. It
c906108c 308can also distort the behavior of programs that examine themselves,
56caf160 309although such a situation would be highly unusual.
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310
311Also, the software breakpoint instruction should be the smallest size of
312instruction, so it doesn't overwrite an instruction that might be a jump
313target, and cause disaster when the program jumps into the middle of the
314breakpoint instruction. (Strictly speaking, the breakpoint must be no
315larger than the smallest interval between instructions that may be jump
316targets; perhaps there is an architecture where only even-numbered
317instructions may jumped to.) Note that it's possible for an instruction
318set not to have any instructions usable for a software breakpoint,
319although in practice only the ARC has failed to define such an
320instruction.
321
56caf160 322@findex BREAKPOINT
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323The basic definition of the software breakpoint is the macro
324@code{BREAKPOINT}.
325
326Basic breakpoint object handling is in @file{breakpoint.c}. However,
327much of the interesting breakpoint action is in @file{infrun.c}.
328
329@section Single Stepping
330
331@section Signal Handling
332
333@section Thread Handling
334
335@section Inferior Function Calls
336
337@section Longjmp Support
338
56caf160 339@cindex @code{longjmp} debugging
25822942 340@value{GDBN} has support for figuring out that the target is doing a
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341@code{longjmp} and for stopping at the target of the jump, if we are
342stepping. This is done with a few specialized internal breakpoints,
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343which are visible in the output of the @samp{maint info breakpoint}
344command.
c906108c 345
56caf160 346@findex GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
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347To make this work, you need to define a macro called
348@code{GET_LONGJMP_TARGET}, which will examine the @code{jmp_buf}
349structure and extract the longjmp target address. Since @code{jmp_buf}
350is target specific, you will need to define it in the appropriate
56caf160 351@file{tm-@var{target}.h} file. Look in @file{tm-sun4os4.h} and
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352@file{sparc-tdep.c} for examples of how to do this.
353
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354@section Watchpoints
355@cindex watchpoints
356
357Watchpoints are a special kind of breakpoints (@pxref{Algorithms,
358breakpoints}) which break when data is accessed rather than when some
359instruction is executed. When you have data which changes without
360your knowing what code does that, watchpoints are the silver bullet to
361hunt down and kill such bugs.
362
363@cindex hardware watchpoints
364@cindex software watchpoints
365Watchpoints can be either hardware-assisted or not; the latter type is
366known as ``software watchpoints.'' @value{GDBN} always uses
367hardware-assisted watchpoints if they are available, and falls back on
368software watchpoints otherwise. Typical situations where @value{GDBN}
369will use software watchpoints are:
370
371@itemize @bullet
372@item
373The watched memory region is too large for the underlying hardware
374watchpoint support. For example, each x86 debug register can watch up
375to 4 bytes of memory, so trying to watch data structures whose size is
376more than 16 bytes will cause @value{GDBN} to use software
377watchpoints.
378
379@item
380The value of the expression to be watched depends on data held in
381registers (as opposed to memory).
382
383@item
384Too many different watchpoints requested. (On some architectures,
385this situation is impossible to detect until the debugged program is
386resumed.) Note that x86 debug registers are used both for hardware
387breakpoints and for watchpoints, so setting too many hardware
388breakpoints might cause watchpoint insertion to fail.
389
390@item
391No hardware-assisted watchpoints provided by the target
392implementation.
393@end itemize
394
395Software watchpoints are very slow, since @value{GDBN} needs to
396single-step the program being debugged and test the value of the
397watched expression(s) after each instruction. The rest of this
398section is mostly irrelevant for software watchpoints.
399
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400When the inferior stops, @value{GDBN} tries to establish, among other
401possible reasons, whether it stopped due to a watchpoint being hit.
402For a data-write watchpoint, it does so by evaluating, for each
403watchpoint, the expression whose value is being watched, and testing
404whether the watched value has changed. For data-read and data-access
405watchpoints, @value{GDBN} needs the target to supply a primitive that
406returns the address of the data that was accessed or read (see the
407description of @code{target_stopped_data_address} below): if this
408primitive returns a valid address, @value{GDBN} infers that a
409watchpoint triggered if it watches an expression whose evaluation uses
410that address.
411
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412@value{GDBN} uses several macros and primitives to support hardware
413watchpoints:
414
415@table @code
416@findex TARGET_HAS_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINTS
417@item TARGET_HAS_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINTS
418If defined, the target supports hardware watchpoints.
419
420@findex TARGET_CAN_USE_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
421@item TARGET_CAN_USE_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT (@var{type}, @var{count}, @var{other})
422Return the number of hardware watchpoints of type @var{type} that are
423possible to be set. The value is positive if @var{count} watchpoints
424of this type can be set, zero if setting watchpoints of this type is
425not supported, and negative if @var{count} is more than the maximum
426number of watchpoints of type @var{type} that can be set. @var{other}
427is non-zero if other types of watchpoints are currently enabled (there
428are architectures which cannot set watchpoints of different types at
429the same time).
430
431@findex TARGET_REGION_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT
432@item TARGET_REGION_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT (@var{addr}, @var{len})
433Return non-zero if hardware watchpoints can be used to watch a region
434whose address is @var{addr} and whose length in bytes is @var{len}.
435
436@findex TARGET_REGION_SIZE_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT
437@item TARGET_REGION_SIZE_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT (@var{size})
438Return non-zero if hardware watchpoints can be used to watch a region
439whose size is @var{size}. @value{GDBN} only uses this macro as a
440fall-back, in case @code{TARGET_REGION_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT} is not
441defined.
442
b6b8ece6 443@cindex insert or remove hardware watchpoint
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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
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479@item target_stopped_data_address (@var{addr_p})
480If the inferior has some watchpoint that triggered, place the address
481associated with the watchpoint at the location pointed to by
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482@var{addr_p} and return non-zero. Otherwise, return zero. Note that
483this primitive is used by @value{GDBN} only on targets that support
484data-read or data-access type watchpoints, so targets that have
485support only for data-write watchpoints need not implement these
486primitives.
9742079a 487
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488@findex HAVE_STEPPABLE_WATCHPOINT
489@item HAVE_STEPPABLE_WATCHPOINT
490If defined to a non-zero value, it is not necessary to disable a
491watchpoint to step over it.
492
493@findex HAVE_NONSTEPPABLE_WATCHPOINT
494@item HAVE_NONSTEPPABLE_WATCHPOINT
495If defined to a non-zero value, @value{GDBN} should disable a
496watchpoint to step the inferior over it.
497
498@findex HAVE_CONTINUABLE_WATCHPOINT
499@item HAVE_CONTINUABLE_WATCHPOINT
500If defined to a non-zero value, it is possible to continue the
501inferior after a watchpoint has been hit.
502
503@findex CANNOT_STEP_HW_WATCHPOINTS
504@item CANNOT_STEP_HW_WATCHPOINTS
505If this is defined to a non-zero value, @value{GDBN} will remove all
506watchpoints before stepping the inferior.
507
508@findex STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT
509@item STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT (@var{wait_status})
510Return non-zero if stopped by a watchpoint. @var{wait_status} is of
511the type @code{struct target_waitstatus}, defined by @file{target.h}.
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512Normally, this macro is defined to invoke the function pointed to by
513the @code{to_stopped_by_watchpoint} member of the structure (of the
514type @code{target_ops}, defined on @file{target.h}) that describes the
515target-specific operations; @code{to_stopped_by_watchpoint} ignores
516the @var{wait_status} argument.
517
518@value{GDBN} does not require the non-zero value returned by
519@code{STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT} to be 100% correct, so if a target cannot
520determine for sure whether the inferior stopped due to a watchpoint,
521it could return non-zero ``just in case''.
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522@end table
523
524@subsection x86 Watchpoints
525@cindex x86 debug registers
526@cindex watchpoints, on x86
527
528The 32-bit Intel x86 (a.k.a.@: ia32) processors feature special debug
529registers designed to facilitate debugging. @value{GDBN} provides a
530generic library of functions that x86-based ports can use to implement
531support for watchpoints and hardware-assisted breakpoints. This
532subsection documents the x86 watchpoint facilities in @value{GDBN}.
533
534To use the generic x86 watchpoint support, a port should do the
535following:
536
537@itemize @bullet
538@findex I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS
539@item
540Define the macro @code{I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS} somewhere in the
541target-dependent headers.
542
543@item
544Include the @file{config/i386/nm-i386.h} header file @emph{after}
545defining @code{I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS}.
546
547@item
548Add @file{i386-nat.o} to the value of the Make variable
549@code{NATDEPFILES} (@pxref{Native Debugging, NATDEPFILES}) or
550@code{TDEPFILES} (@pxref{Target Architecture Definition, TDEPFILES}).
551
552@item
553Provide implementations for the @code{I386_DR_LOW_*} macros described
554below. Typically, each macro should call a target-specific function
555which does the real work.
556@end itemize
557
558The x86 watchpoint support works by maintaining mirror images of the
559debug registers. Values are copied between the mirror images and the
560real debug registers via a set of macros which each target needs to
561provide:
562
563@table @code
564@findex I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL
565@item I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL (@var{val})
566Set the Debug Control (DR7) register to the value @var{val}.
567
568@findex I386_DR_LOW_SET_ADDR
569@item I386_DR_LOW_SET_ADDR (@var{idx}, @var{addr})
570Put the address @var{addr} into the debug register number @var{idx}.
571
572@findex I386_DR_LOW_RESET_ADDR
573@item I386_DR_LOW_RESET_ADDR (@var{idx})
574Reset (i.e.@: zero out) the address stored in the debug register
575number @var{idx}.
576
577@findex I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS
578@item I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS
579Return the value of the Debug Status (DR6) register. This value is
580used immediately after it is returned by
581@code{I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS}, so as to support per-thread status
582register values.
583@end table
584
585For each one of the 4 debug registers (whose indices are from 0 to 3)
586that store addresses, a reference count is maintained by @value{GDBN},
587to allow sharing of debug registers by several watchpoints. This
588allows users to define several watchpoints that watch the same
589expression, but with different conditions and/or commands, without
590wasting debug registers which are in short supply. @value{GDBN}
591maintains the reference counts internally, targets don't have to do
592anything to use this feature.
593
594The x86 debug registers can each watch a region that is 1, 2, or 4
595bytes long. The ia32 architecture requires that each watched region
596be appropriately aligned: 2-byte region on 2-byte boundary, 4-byte
597region on 4-byte boundary. However, the x86 watchpoint support in
598@value{GDBN} can watch unaligned regions and regions larger than 4
599bytes (up to 16 bytes) by allocating several debug registers to watch
600a single region. This allocation of several registers per a watched
601region is also done automatically without target code intervention.
602
603The generic x86 watchpoint support provides the following API for the
604@value{GDBN}'s application code:
605
606@table @code
607@findex i386_region_ok_for_watchpoint
608@item i386_region_ok_for_watchpoint (@var{addr}, @var{len})
609The macro @code{TARGET_REGION_OK_FOR_HW_WATCHPOINT} is set to call
610this function. It counts the number of debug registers required to
611watch a given region, and returns a non-zero value if that number is
612less than 4, the number of debug registers available to x86
613processors.
614
615@findex i386_stopped_data_address
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616@item i386_stopped_data_address (@var{addr_p})
617The target function
618@code{target_stopped_data_address} is set to call this function.
619This
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620function examines the breakpoint condition bits in the DR6 Debug
621Status register, as returned by the @code{I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS}
622macro, and returns the address associated with the first bit that is
623set in DR6.
624
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625@findex i386_stopped_by_watchpoint
626@item i386_stopped_by_watchpoint (void)
627The macro @code{STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT}
628is set to call this function. The
629argument passed to @code{STOPPED_BY_WATCHPOINT} is ignored. This
630function examines the breakpoint condition bits in the DR6 Debug
631Status register, as returned by the @code{I386_DR_LOW_GET_STATUS}
632macro, and returns true if any bit is set. Otherwise, false is
633returned.
634
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635@findex i386_insert_watchpoint
636@findex i386_remove_watchpoint
637@item i386_insert_watchpoint (@var{addr}, @var{len}, @var{type})
638@itemx i386_remove_watchpoint (@var{addr}, @var{len}, @var{type})
639Insert or remove a watchpoint. The macros
640@code{target_insert_watchpoint} and @code{target_remove_watchpoint}
641are set to call these functions. @code{i386_insert_watchpoint} first
642looks for a debug register which is already set to watch the same
643region for the same access types; if found, it just increments the
644reference count of that debug register, thus implementing debug
645register sharing between watchpoints. If no such register is found,
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646the function looks for a vacant debug register, sets its mirrored
647value to @var{addr}, sets the mirrored value of DR7 Debug Control
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648register as appropriate for the @var{len} and @var{type} parameters,
649and then passes the new values of the debug register and DR7 to the
650inferior by calling @code{I386_DR_LOW_SET_ADDR} and
651@code{I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL}. If more than one debug register is
652required to cover the given region, the above process is repeated for
653each debug register.
654
655@code{i386_remove_watchpoint} does the opposite: it resets the address
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FF
656in the mirrored value of the debug register and its read/write and
657length bits in the mirrored value of DR7, then passes these new
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658values to the inferior via @code{I386_DR_LOW_RESET_ADDR} and
659@code{I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL}. If a register is shared by several
660watchpoints, each time a @code{i386_remove_watchpoint} is called, it
661decrements the reference count, and only calls
662@code{I386_DR_LOW_RESET_ADDR} and @code{I386_DR_LOW_SET_CONTROL} when
663the count goes to zero.
664
665@findex i386_insert_hw_breakpoint
666@findex i386_remove_hw_breakpoint
667@item i386_insert_hw_breakpoint (@var{addr}, @var{shadow}
668@itemx i386_remove_hw_breakpoint (@var{addr}, @var{shadow})
669These functions insert and remove hardware-assisted breakpoints. The
670macros @code{target_insert_hw_breakpoint} and
671@code{target_remove_hw_breakpoint} are set to call these functions.
672These functions work like @code{i386_insert_watchpoint} and
673@code{i386_remove_watchpoint}, respectively, except that they set up
674the debug registers to watch instruction execution, and each
675hardware-assisted breakpoint always requires exactly one debug
676register.
677
678@findex i386_stopped_by_hwbp
679@item i386_stopped_by_hwbp (void)
680This function returns non-zero if the inferior has some watchpoint or
681hardware breakpoint that triggered. It works like
ac77d04f 682@code{i386_stopped_data_address}, except that it doesn't record the
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683address whose watchpoint triggered.
684
685@findex i386_cleanup_dregs
686@item i386_cleanup_dregs (void)
687This function clears all the reference counts, addresses, and control
688bits in the mirror images of the debug registers. It doesn't affect
689the actual debug registers in the inferior process.
690@end table
691
692@noindent
693@strong{Notes:}
694@enumerate 1
695@item
696x86 processors support setting watchpoints on I/O reads or writes.
697However, since no target supports this (as of March 2001), and since
698@code{enum target_hw_bp_type} doesn't even have an enumeration for I/O
699watchpoints, this feature is not yet available to @value{GDBN} running
700on x86.
701
702@item
703x86 processors can enable watchpoints locally, for the current task
704only, or globally, for all the tasks. For each debug register,
705there's a bit in the DR7 Debug Control register that determines
706whether the associated address is watched locally or globally. The
707current implementation of x86 watchpoint support in @value{GDBN}
708always sets watchpoints to be locally enabled, since global
709watchpoints might interfere with the underlying OS and are probably
710unavailable in many platforms.
711@end enumerate
712
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713@section Observing changes in @value{GDBN} internals
714@cindex observer pattern interface
715@cindex notifications about changes in internals
716
717In order to function properly, several modules need to be notified when
718some changes occur in the @value{GDBN} internals. Traditionally, these
719modules have relied on several paradigms, the most common ones being
720hooks and gdb-events. Unfortunately, none of these paradigms was
721versatile enough to become the standard notification mechanism in
722@value{GDBN}. The fact that they only supported one ``client'' was also
723a strong limitation.
724
725A new paradigm, based on the Observer pattern of the @cite{Design
726Patterns} book, has therefore been implemented. The goal was to provide
727a new interface overcoming the issues with the notification mechanisms
728previously available. This new interface needed to be strongly typed,
729easy to extend, and versatile enough to be used as the standard
730interface when adding new notifications.
731
732See @ref{GDB Observers} for a brief description of the observers
733currently implemented in GDB. The rationale for the current
734implementation is also briefly discussed.
735
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736@node User Interface
737
738@chapter User Interface
739
25822942 740@value{GDBN} has several user interfaces. Although the command-line interface
c906108c
SS
741is the most common and most familiar, there are others.
742
743@section Command Interpreter
744
56caf160 745@cindex command interpreter
0ee54786 746@cindex CLI
25822942 747The command interpreter in @value{GDBN} is fairly simple. It is designed to
c906108c
SS
748allow for the set of commands to be augmented dynamically, and also
749has a recursive subcommand capability, where the first argument to
750a command may itself direct a lookup on a different command list.
751
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752For instance, the @samp{set} command just starts a lookup on the
753@code{setlist} command list, while @samp{set thread} recurses
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SS
754to the @code{set_thread_cmd_list}.
755
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756@findex add_cmd
757@findex add_com
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SS
758To add commands in general, use @code{add_cmd}. @code{add_com} adds to
759the main command list, and should be used for those commands. The usual
cfeada60 760place to add commands is in the @code{_initialize_@var{xyz}} routines at
9742079a 761the ends of most source files.
cfeada60 762
40dd2248
TT
763@findex add_setshow_cmd
764@findex add_setshow_cmd_full
765To add paired @samp{set} and @samp{show} commands, use
766@code{add_setshow_cmd} or @code{add_setshow_cmd_full}. The former is
767a slightly simpler interface which is useful when you don't need to
768further modify the new command structures, while the latter returns
769the new command structures for manipulation.
770
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771@cindex deprecating commands
772@findex deprecate_cmd
cfeada60
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773Before removing commands from the command set it is a good idea to
774deprecate them for some time. Use @code{deprecate_cmd} on commands or
775aliases to set the deprecated flag. @code{deprecate_cmd} takes a
776@code{struct cmd_list_element} as it's first argument. You can use the
777return value from @code{add_com} or @code{add_cmd} to deprecate the
778command immediately after it is created.
779
c72e7388 780The first time a command is used the user will be warned and offered a
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FN
781replacement (if one exists). Note that the replacement string passed to
782@code{deprecate_cmd} should be the full name of the command, i.e. the
783entire string the user should type at the command line.
c906108c 784
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785@section UI-Independent Output---the @code{ui_out} Functions
786@c This section is based on the documentation written by Fernando
787@c Nasser <fnasser@redhat.com>.
788
789@cindex @code{ui_out} functions
790The @code{ui_out} functions present an abstraction level for the
791@value{GDBN} output code. They hide the specifics of different user
792interfaces supported by @value{GDBN}, and thus free the programmer
793from the need to write several versions of the same code, one each for
794every UI, to produce output.
795
796@subsection Overview and Terminology
797
798In general, execution of each @value{GDBN} command produces some sort
799of output, and can even generate an input request.
800
801Output can be generated for the following purposes:
802
803@itemize @bullet
804@item
805to display a @emph{result} of an operation;
806
807@item
808to convey @emph{info} or produce side-effects of a requested
809operation;
810
811@item
812to provide a @emph{notification} of an asynchronous event (including
813progress indication of a prolonged asynchronous operation);
814
815@item
816to display @emph{error messages} (including warnings);
817
818@item
819to show @emph{debug data};
820
821@item
822to @emph{query} or prompt a user for input (a special case).
823@end itemize
824
825@noindent
826This section mainly concentrates on how to build result output,
827although some of it also applies to other kinds of output.
828
829Generation of output that displays the results of an operation
830involves one or more of the following:
831
832@itemize @bullet
833@item
834output of the actual data
835
836@item
837formatting the output as appropriate for console output, to make it
838easily readable by humans
839
840@item
841machine oriented formatting--a more terse formatting to allow for easy
842parsing by programs which read @value{GDBN}'s output
843
844@item
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AC
845annotation, whose purpose is to help legacy GUIs to identify interesting
846parts in the output
0ee54786
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847@end itemize
848
849The @code{ui_out} routines take care of the first three aspects.
c72e7388
AC
850Annotations are provided by separate annotation routines. Note that use
851of annotations for an interface between a GUI and @value{GDBN} is
0ee54786
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852deprecated.
853
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854Output can be in the form of a single item, which we call a @dfn{field};
855a @dfn{list} consisting of identical fields; a @dfn{tuple} consisting of
856non-identical fields; or a @dfn{table}, which is a tuple consisting of a
857header and a body. In a BNF-like form:
0ee54786 858
c72e7388
AC
859@table @code
860@item <table> @expansion{}
861@code{<header> <body>}
862@item <header> @expansion{}
863@code{@{ <column> @}}
864@item <column> @expansion{}
865@code{<width> <alignment> <title>}
866@item <body> @expansion{}
867@code{@{<row>@}}
868@end table
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869
870
871@subsection General Conventions
872
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AC
873Most @code{ui_out} routines are of type @code{void}, the exceptions are
874@code{ui_out_stream_new} (which returns a pointer to the newly created
875object) and the @code{make_cleanup} routines.
0ee54786 876
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AC
877The first parameter is always the @code{ui_out} vector object, a pointer
878to a @code{struct ui_out}.
0ee54786 879
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AC
880The @var{format} parameter is like in @code{printf} family of functions.
881When it is present, there must also be a variable list of arguments
882sufficient used to satisfy the @code{%} specifiers in the supplied
0ee54786
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883format.
884
c72e7388
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885When a character string argument is not used in a @code{ui_out} function
886call, a @code{NULL} pointer has to be supplied instead.
0ee54786
EZ
887
888
c72e7388 889@subsection Table, Tuple and List Functions
0ee54786
EZ
890
891@cindex list output functions
892@cindex table output functions
c72e7388
AC
893@cindex tuple output functions
894This section introduces @code{ui_out} routines for building lists,
895tuples and tables. The routines to output the actual data items
896(fields) are presented in the next section.
0ee54786 897
c72e7388
AC
898To recap: A @dfn{tuple} is a sequence of @dfn{fields}, each field
899containing information about an object; a @dfn{list} is a sequence of
900fields where each field describes an identical object.
0ee54786 901
c72e7388
AC
902Use the @dfn{table} functions when your output consists of a list of
903rows (tuples) and the console output should include a heading. Use this
904even when you are listing just one object but you still want the header.
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905
906@cindex nesting level in @code{ui_out} functions
c72e7388
AC
907Tables can not be nested. Tuples and lists can be nested up to a
908maximum of five levels.
0ee54786
EZ
909
910The overall structure of the table output code is something like this:
911
474c8240 912@smallexample
0ee54786
EZ
913 ui_out_table_begin
914 ui_out_table_header
c72e7388 915 @dots{}
0ee54786 916 ui_out_table_body
c72e7388 917 ui_out_tuple_begin
0ee54786 918 ui_out_field_*
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AC
919 @dots{}
920 ui_out_tuple_end
921 @dots{}
0ee54786 922 ui_out_table_end
474c8240 923@end smallexample
0ee54786 924
c72e7388 925Here is the description of table-, tuple- and list-related @code{ui_out}
0ee54786
EZ
926functions:
927
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AC
928@deftypefun void ui_out_table_begin (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{nbrofcols}, int @var{nr_rows}, const char *@var{tblid})
929The function @code{ui_out_table_begin} marks the beginning of the output
930of a table. It should always be called before any other @code{ui_out}
931function for a given table. @var{nbrofcols} is the number of columns in
932the table. @var{nr_rows} is the number of rows in the table.
933@var{tblid} is an optional string identifying the table. The string
934pointed to by @var{tblid} is copied by the implementation of
935@code{ui_out_table_begin}, so the application can free the string if it
936was @code{malloc}ed.
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937
938The companion function @code{ui_out_table_end}, described below, marks
939the end of the table's output.
940@end deftypefun
941
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AC
942@deftypefun void ui_out_table_header (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{width}, enum ui_align @var{alignment}, const char *@var{colhdr})
943@code{ui_out_table_header} provides the header information for a single
944table column. You call this function several times, one each for every
945column of the table, after @code{ui_out_table_begin}, but before
946@code{ui_out_table_body}.
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947
948The value of @var{width} gives the column width in characters. The
949value of @var{alignment} is one of @code{left}, @code{center}, and
950@code{right}, and it specifies how to align the header: left-justify,
951center, or right-justify it. @var{colhdr} points to a string that
952specifies the column header; the implementation copies that string, so
c72e7388
AC
953column header strings in @code{malloc}ed storage can be freed after the
954call.
0ee54786
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955@end deftypefun
956
957@deftypefun void ui_out_table_body (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
c72e7388 958This function delimits the table header from the table body.
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959@end deftypefun
960
961@deftypefun void ui_out_table_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
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AC
962This function signals the end of a table's output. It should be called
963after the table body has been produced by the list and field output
964functions.
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965
966There should be exactly one call to @code{ui_out_table_end} for each
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967call to @code{ui_out_table_begin}, otherwise the @code{ui_out} functions
968will signal an internal error.
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969@end deftypefun
970
c72e7388 971The output of the tuples that represent the table rows must follow the
0ee54786 972call to @code{ui_out_table_body} and precede the call to
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AC
973@code{ui_out_table_end}. You build a tuple by calling
974@code{ui_out_tuple_begin} and @code{ui_out_tuple_end}, with suitable
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975calls to functions which actually output fields between them.
976
c72e7388
AC
977@deftypefun void ui_out_tuple_begin (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{id})
978This function marks the beginning of a tuple output. @var{id} points
979to an optional string that identifies the tuple; it is copied by the
980implementation, and so strings in @code{malloc}ed storage can be freed
981after the call.
982@end deftypefun
983
984@deftypefun void ui_out_tuple_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
985This function signals an end of a tuple output. There should be exactly
986one call to @code{ui_out_tuple_end} for each call to
987@code{ui_out_tuple_begin}, otherwise an internal @value{GDBN} error will
988be signaled.
989@end deftypefun
990
991@deftypefun struct cleanup *make_cleanup_ui_out_tuple_begin_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{id})
992This function first opens the tuple and then establishes a cleanup
993(@pxref{Coding, Cleanups}) to close the tuple. It provides a convenient
994and correct implementation of the non-portable@footnote{The function
b9aa90c9 995cast is not portable ISO C.} code sequence:
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AC
996@smallexample
997struct cleanup *old_cleanup;
998ui_out_tuple_begin (uiout, "...");
999old_cleanup = make_cleanup ((void(*)(void *)) ui_out_tuple_end,
1000 uiout);
1001@end smallexample
1002@end deftypefun
1003
1004@deftypefun void ui_out_list_begin (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{id})
1005This function marks the beginning of a list output. @var{id} points to
1006an optional string that identifies the list; it is copied by the
1007implementation, and so strings in @code{malloc}ed storage can be freed
1008after the call.
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1009@end deftypefun
1010
1011@deftypefun void ui_out_list_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
c72e7388
AC
1012This function signals an end of a list output. There should be exactly
1013one call to @code{ui_out_list_end} for each call to
1014@code{ui_out_list_begin}, otherwise an internal @value{GDBN} error will
1015be signaled.
1016@end deftypefun
1017
1018@deftypefun struct cleanup *make_cleanup_ui_out_list_begin_end (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{id})
1019Similar to @code{make_cleanup_ui_out_tuple_begin_end}, this function
1020opens a list and then establishes cleanup (@pxref{Coding, Cleanups})
1021that will close the list.list.
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1022@end deftypefun
1023
1024@subsection Item Output Functions
1025
1026@cindex item output functions
1027@cindex field output functions
1028@cindex data output
1029The functions described below produce output for the actual data
1030items, or fields, which contain information about the object.
1031
1032Choose the appropriate function accordingly to your particular needs.
1033
1034@deftypefun void ui_out_field_fmt (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, char *@var{fldname}, char *@var{format}, ...)
1035This is the most general output function. It produces the
1036representation of the data in the variable-length argument list
1037according to formatting specifications in @var{format}, a
1038@code{printf}-like format string. The optional argument @var{fldname}
1039supplies the name of the field. The data items themselves are
1040supplied as additional arguments after @var{format}.
1041
1042This generic function should be used only when it is not possible to
1043use one of the specialized versions (see below).
1044@end deftypefun
1045
c72e7388 1046@deftypefun void ui_out_field_int (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fldname}, int @var{value})
0ee54786
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1047This function outputs a value of an @code{int} variable. It uses the
1048@code{"%d"} output conversion specification. @var{fldname} specifies
1049the name of the field.
1050@end deftypefun
8d19fbd2
JJ
1051
1052@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})
1053This function outputs a value of an @code{int} variable. It differs from
1054@code{ui_out_field_int} in that the caller specifies the desired @var{width} and @var{alignment} of the output.
1055@var{fldname} specifies
1056the name of the field.
1057@end deftypefun
0ee54786 1058
c72e7388 1059@deftypefun void ui_out_field_core_addr (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fldname}, CORE_ADDR @var{address})
0ee54786
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1060This function outputs an address.
1061@end deftypefun
1062
c72e7388 1063@deftypefun void ui_out_field_string (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fldname}, const char *@var{string})
0ee54786
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1064This function outputs a string using the @code{"%s"} conversion
1065specification.
1066@end deftypefun
1067
1068Sometimes, there's a need to compose your output piece by piece using
1069functions that operate on a stream, such as @code{value_print} or
1070@code{fprintf_symbol_filtered}. These functions accept an argument of
1071the type @code{struct ui_file *}, a pointer to a @code{ui_file} object
1072used to store the data stream used for the output. When you use one
1073of these functions, you need a way to pass their results stored in a
1074@code{ui_file} object to the @code{ui_out} functions. To this end,
1075you first create a @code{ui_stream} object by calling
1076@code{ui_out_stream_new}, pass the @code{stream} member of that
1077@code{ui_stream} object to @code{value_print} and similar functions,
1078and finally call @code{ui_out_field_stream} to output the field you
1079constructed. When the @code{ui_stream} object is no longer needed,
1080you should destroy it and free its memory by calling
1081@code{ui_out_stream_delete}.
1082
1083@deftypefun struct ui_stream *ui_out_stream_new (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
1084This function creates a new @code{ui_stream} object which uses the
1085same output methods as the @code{ui_out} object whose pointer is
1086passed in @var{uiout}. It returns a pointer to the newly created
1087@code{ui_stream} object.
1088@end deftypefun
1089
1090@deftypefun void ui_out_stream_delete (struct ui_stream *@var{streambuf})
1091This functions destroys a @code{ui_stream} object specified by
1092@var{streambuf}.
1093@end deftypefun
1094
c72e7388 1095@deftypefun void ui_out_field_stream (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fieldname}, struct ui_stream *@var{streambuf})
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1096This function consumes all the data accumulated in
1097@code{streambuf->stream} and outputs it like
1098@code{ui_out_field_string} does. After a call to
1099@code{ui_out_field_stream}, the accumulated data no longer exists, but
1100the stream is still valid and may be used for producing more fields.
1101@end deftypefun
1102
1103@strong{Important:} If there is any chance that your code could bail
1104out before completing output generation and reaching the point where
1105@code{ui_out_stream_delete} is called, it is necessary to set up a
1106cleanup, to avoid leaking memory and other resources. Here's a
1107skeleton code to do that:
1108
1109@smallexample
1110 struct ui_stream *mybuf = ui_out_stream_new (uiout);
1111 struct cleanup *old = make_cleanup (ui_out_stream_delete, mybuf);
1112 ...
1113 do_cleanups (old);
1114@end smallexample
1115
1116If the function already has the old cleanup chain set (for other kinds
1117of cleanups), you just have to add your cleanup to it:
1118
1119@smallexample
1120 mybuf = ui_out_stream_new (uiout);
1121 make_cleanup (ui_out_stream_delete, mybuf);
1122@end smallexample
1123
1124Note that with cleanups in place, you should not call
1125@code{ui_out_stream_delete} directly, or you would attempt to free the
1126same buffer twice.
1127
1128@subsection Utility Output Functions
1129
c72e7388 1130@deftypefun void ui_out_field_skip (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{fldname})
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1131This function skips a field in a table. Use it if you have to leave
1132an empty field without disrupting the table alignment. The argument
1133@var{fldname} specifies a name for the (missing) filed.
1134@end deftypefun
1135
c72e7388 1136@deftypefun void ui_out_text (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, const char *@var{string})
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1137This function outputs the text in @var{string} in a way that makes it
1138easy to be read by humans. For example, the console implementation of
1139this method filters the text through a built-in pager, to prevent it
1140from scrolling off the visible portion of the screen.
1141
1142Use this function for printing relatively long chunks of text around
1143the actual field data: the text it produces is not aligned according
1144to the table's format. Use @code{ui_out_field_string} to output a
1145string field, and use @code{ui_out_message}, described below, to
1146output short messages.
1147@end deftypefun
1148
1149@deftypefun void ui_out_spaces (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{nspaces})
1150This function outputs @var{nspaces} spaces. It is handy to align the
1151text produced by @code{ui_out_text} with the rest of the table or
1152list.
1153@end deftypefun
1154
c72e7388 1155@deftypefun void ui_out_message (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, int @var{verbosity}, const char *@var{format}, ...)
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1156This function produces a formatted message, provided that the current
1157verbosity level is at least as large as given by @var{verbosity}. The
1158current verbosity level is specified by the user with the @samp{set
1159verbositylevel} command.@footnote{As of this writing (April 2001),
1160setting verbosity level is not yet implemented, and is always returned
1161as zero. So calling @code{ui_out_message} with a @var{verbosity}
1162argument more than zero will cause the message to never be printed.}
1163@end deftypefun
1164
1165@deftypefun void ui_out_wrap_hint (struct ui_out *@var{uiout}, char *@var{indent})
1166This function gives the console output filter (a paging filter) a hint
1167of where to break lines which are too long. Ignored for all other
1168output consumers. @var{indent}, if non-@code{NULL}, is the string to
1169be printed to indent the wrapped text on the next line; it must remain
1170accessible until the next call to @code{ui_out_wrap_hint}, or until an
1171explicit newline is produced by one of the other functions. If
1172@var{indent} is @code{NULL}, the wrapped text will not be indented.
1173@end deftypefun
1174
1175@deftypefun void ui_out_flush (struct ui_out *@var{uiout})
1176This function flushes whatever output has been accumulated so far, if
1177the UI buffers output.
1178@end deftypefun
1179
1180
1181@subsection Examples of Use of @code{ui_out} functions
1182
1183@cindex using @code{ui_out} functions
1184@cindex @code{ui_out} functions, usage examples
1185This section gives some practical examples of using the @code{ui_out}
1186functions to generalize the old console-oriented code in
1187@value{GDBN}. The examples all come from functions defined on the
1188@file{breakpoints.c} file.
1189
1190This example, from the @code{breakpoint_1} function, shows how to
1191produce a table.
1192
1193The original code was:
1194
474c8240 1195@smallexample
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1196 if (!found_a_breakpoint++)
1197 @{
1198 annotate_breakpoints_headers ();
1199
1200 annotate_field (0);
1201 printf_filtered ("Num ");
1202 annotate_field (1);
1203 printf_filtered ("Type ");
1204 annotate_field (2);
1205 printf_filtered ("Disp ");
1206 annotate_field (3);
1207 printf_filtered ("Enb ");
1208 if (addressprint)
1209 @{
1210 annotate_field (4);
1211 printf_filtered ("Address ");
1212 @}
1213 annotate_field (5);
1214 printf_filtered ("What\n");
1215
1216 annotate_breakpoints_table ();
1217 @}
474c8240 1218@end smallexample
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1219
1220Here's the new version:
1221
474c8240 1222@smallexample
c72e7388
AC
1223 nr_printable_breakpoints = @dots{};
1224
1225 if (addressprint)
1226 ui_out_table_begin (ui, 6, nr_printable_breakpoints, "BreakpointTable");
1227 else
1228 ui_out_table_begin (ui, 5, nr_printable_breakpoints, "BreakpointTable");
1229
1230 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1231 annotate_breakpoints_headers ();
1232 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1233 annotate_field (0);
1234 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 3, ui_left, "number", "Num"); /* 1 */
1235 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1236 annotate_field (1);
1237 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 14, ui_left, "type", "Type"); /* 2 */
1238 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1239 annotate_field (2);
1240 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 4, ui_left, "disp", "Disp"); /* 3 */
1241 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1242 annotate_field (3);
1243 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 3, ui_left, "enabled", "Enb"); /* 4 */
1244 if (addressprint)
1245 @{
1246 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1247 annotate_field (4);
1248 if (TARGET_ADDR_BIT <= 32)
1249 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 10, ui_left, "addr", "Address");/* 5 */
0ee54786 1250 else
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1251 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 18, ui_left, "addr", "Address");/* 5 */
1252 @}
1253 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1254 annotate_field (5);
1255 ui_out_table_header (uiout, 40, ui_noalign, "what", "What"); /* 6 */
1256 ui_out_table_body (uiout);
1257 if (nr_printable_breakpoints > 0)
1258 annotate_breakpoints_table ();
474c8240 1259@end smallexample
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1260
1261This example, from the @code{print_one_breakpoint} function, shows how
1262to produce the actual data for the table whose structure was defined
1263in the above example. The original code was:
1264
474c8240 1265@smallexample
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1266 annotate_record ();
1267 annotate_field (0);
1268 printf_filtered ("%-3d ", b->number);
1269 annotate_field (1);
1270 if ((int)b->type > (sizeof(bptypes)/sizeof(bptypes[0]))
1271 || ((int) b->type != bptypes[(int) b->type].type))
1272 internal_error ("bptypes table does not describe type #%d.",
1273 (int)b->type);
1274 printf_filtered ("%-14s ", bptypes[(int)b->type].description);
1275 annotate_field (2);
1276 printf_filtered ("%-4s ", bpdisps[(int)b->disposition]);
1277 annotate_field (3);
1278 printf_filtered ("%-3c ", bpenables[(int)b->enable]);
c72e7388 1279 @dots{}
474c8240 1280@end smallexample
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1281
1282This is the new version:
1283
474c8240 1284@smallexample
0ee54786 1285 annotate_record ();
c72e7388 1286 ui_out_tuple_begin (uiout, "bkpt");
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1287 annotate_field (0);
1288 ui_out_field_int (uiout, "number", b->number);
1289 annotate_field (1);
1290 if (((int) b->type > (sizeof (bptypes) / sizeof (bptypes[0])))
1291 || ((int) b->type != bptypes[(int) b->type].type))
1292 internal_error ("bptypes table does not describe type #%d.",
1293 (int) b->type);
1294 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "type", bptypes[(int)b->type].description);
1295 annotate_field (2);
1296 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "disp", bpdisps[(int)b->disposition]);
1297 annotate_field (3);
1298 ui_out_field_fmt (uiout, "enabled", "%c", bpenables[(int)b->enable]);
c72e7388 1299 @dots{}
474c8240 1300@end smallexample
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1301
1302This example, also from @code{print_one_breakpoint}, shows how to
1303produce a complicated output field using the @code{print_expression}
1304functions which requires a stream to be passed. It also shows how to
1305automate stream destruction with cleanups. The original code was:
1306
474c8240 1307@smallexample
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1308 annotate_field (5);
1309 print_expression (b->exp, gdb_stdout);
474c8240 1310@end smallexample
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1311
1312The new version is:
1313
474c8240 1314@smallexample
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1315 struct ui_stream *stb = ui_out_stream_new (uiout);
1316 struct cleanup *old_chain = make_cleanup_ui_out_stream_delete (stb);
1317 ...
1318 annotate_field (5);
1319 print_expression (b->exp, stb->stream);
1320 ui_out_field_stream (uiout, "what", local_stream);
474c8240 1321@end smallexample
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1322
1323This example, also from @code{print_one_breakpoint}, shows how to use
1324@code{ui_out_text} and @code{ui_out_field_string}. The original code
1325was:
1326
474c8240 1327@smallexample
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1328 annotate_field (5);
1329 if (b->dll_pathname == NULL)
1330 printf_filtered ("<any library> ");
1331 else
1332 printf_filtered ("library \"%s\" ", b->dll_pathname);
474c8240 1333@end smallexample
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1334
1335It became:
1336
474c8240 1337@smallexample
0ee54786
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1338 annotate_field (5);
1339 if (b->dll_pathname == NULL)
1340 @{
1341 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "what", "<any library>");
1342 ui_out_spaces (uiout, 1);
1343 @}
1344 else
1345 @{
1346 ui_out_text (uiout, "library \"");
1347 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "what", b->dll_pathname);
1348 ui_out_text (uiout, "\" ");
1349 @}
474c8240 1350@end smallexample
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1351
1352The following example from @code{print_one_breakpoint} shows how to
1353use @code{ui_out_field_int} and @code{ui_out_spaces}. The original
1354code was:
1355
474c8240 1356@smallexample
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1357 annotate_field (5);
1358 if (b->forked_inferior_pid != 0)
1359 printf_filtered ("process %d ", b->forked_inferior_pid);
474c8240 1360@end smallexample
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1361
1362It became:
1363
474c8240 1364@smallexample
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1365 annotate_field (5);
1366 if (b->forked_inferior_pid != 0)
1367 @{
1368 ui_out_text (uiout, "process ");
1369 ui_out_field_int (uiout, "what", b->forked_inferior_pid);
1370 ui_out_spaces (uiout, 1);
1371 @}
474c8240 1372@end smallexample
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1373
1374Here's an example of using @code{ui_out_field_string}. The original
1375code was:
1376
474c8240 1377@smallexample
0ee54786
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1378 annotate_field (5);
1379 if (b->exec_pathname != NULL)
1380 printf_filtered ("program \"%s\" ", b->exec_pathname);
474c8240 1381@end smallexample
0ee54786
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1382
1383It became:
1384
474c8240 1385@smallexample
0ee54786
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1386 annotate_field (5);
1387 if (b->exec_pathname != NULL)
1388 @{
1389 ui_out_text (uiout, "program \"");
1390 ui_out_field_string (uiout, "what", b->exec_pathname);
1391 ui_out_text (uiout, "\" ");
1392 @}
474c8240 1393@end smallexample
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1394
1395Finally, here's an example of printing an address. The original code:
1396
474c8240 1397@smallexample
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1398 annotate_field (4);
1399 printf_filtered ("%s ",
15a661f3 1400 hex_string_custom ((unsigned long) b->address, 8));
474c8240 1401@end smallexample
0ee54786
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1402
1403It became:
1404
474c8240 1405@smallexample
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1406 annotate_field (4);
1407 ui_out_field_core_addr (uiout, "Address", b->address);
474c8240 1408@end smallexample
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1409
1410
c906108c
SS
1411@section Console Printing
1412
1413@section TUI
1414
89437448 1415@node libgdb
c906108c 1416
89437448
AC
1417@chapter libgdb
1418
1419@section libgdb 1.0
1420@cindex @code{libgdb}
1421@code{libgdb} 1.0 was an abortive project of years ago. The theory was
1422to provide an API to @value{GDBN}'s functionality.
1423
1424@section libgdb 2.0
56caf160 1425@cindex @code{libgdb}
89437448
AC
1426@code{libgdb} 2.0 is an ongoing effort to update @value{GDBN} so that is
1427better able to support graphical and other environments.
1428
1429Since @code{libgdb} development is on-going, its architecture is still
1430evolving. The following components have so far been identified:
1431
1432@itemize @bullet
1433@item
1434Observer - @file{gdb-events.h}.
1435@item
1436Builder - @file{ui-out.h}
1437@item
1438Event Loop - @file{event-loop.h}
1439@item
1440Library - @file{gdb.h}
1441@end itemize
1442
1443The model that ties these components together is described below.
1444
1445@section The @code{libgdb} Model
1446
1447A client of @code{libgdb} interacts with the library in two ways.
1448
1449@itemize @bullet
1450@item
1451As an observer (using @file{gdb-events}) receiving notifications from
1452@code{libgdb} of any internal state changes (break point changes, run
1453state, etc).
1454@item
1455As a client querying @code{libgdb} (using the @file{ui-out} builder) to
1456obtain various status values from @value{GDBN}.
1457@end itemize
1458
1459Since @code{libgdb} could have multiple clients (e.g. a GUI supporting
1460the existing @value{GDBN} CLI), those clients must co-operate when
1461controlling @code{libgdb}. In particular, a client must ensure that
1462@code{libgdb} is idle (i.e. no other client is using @code{libgdb})
1463before responding to a @file{gdb-event} by making a query.
1464
1465@section CLI support
1466
1467At present @value{GDBN}'s CLI is very much entangled in with the core of
1468@code{libgdb}. Consequently, a client wishing to include the CLI in
1469their interface needs to carefully co-ordinate its own and the CLI's
1470requirements.
1471
1472It is suggested that the client set @code{libgdb} up to be bi-modal
1473(alternate between CLI and client query modes). The notes below sketch
1474out the theory:
1475
1476@itemize @bullet
1477@item
1478The client registers itself as an observer of @code{libgdb}.
1479@item
1480The client create and install @code{cli-out} builder using its own
1481versions of the @code{ui-file} @code{gdb_stderr}, @code{gdb_stdtarg} and
1482@code{gdb_stdout} streams.
1483@item
1484The client creates a separate custom @code{ui-out} builder that is only
1485used while making direct queries to @code{libgdb}.
1486@end itemize
1487
1488When the client receives input intended for the CLI, it simply passes it
1489along. Since the @code{cli-out} builder is installed by default, all
1490the CLI output in response to that command is routed (pronounced rooted)
1491through to the client controlled @code{gdb_stdout} et.@: al.@: streams.
1492At the same time, the client is kept abreast of internal changes by
1493virtue of being a @code{libgdb} observer.
1494
1495The only restriction on the client is that it must wait until
1496@code{libgdb} becomes idle before initiating any queries (using the
1497client's custom builder).
1498
1499@section @code{libgdb} components
1500
1501@subheading Observer - @file{gdb-events.h}
1502@file{gdb-events} provides the client with a very raw mechanism that can
1503be used to implement an observer. At present it only allows for one
1504observer and that observer must, internally, handle the need to delay
1505the processing of any event notifications until after @code{libgdb} has
1506finished the current command.
1507
1508@subheading Builder - @file{ui-out.h}
1509@file{ui-out} provides the infrastructure necessary for a client to
1510create a builder. That builder is then passed down to @code{libgdb}
1511when doing any queries.
1512
1513@subheading Event Loop - @file{event-loop.h}
1514@c There could be an entire section on the event-loop
1515@file{event-loop}, currently non-re-entrant, provides a simple event
1516loop. A client would need to either plug its self into this loop or,
1517implement a new event-loop that GDB would use.
1518
1519The event-loop will eventually be made re-entrant. This is so that
a9f12a31 1520@value{GDBN} can better handle the problem of some commands blocking
89437448
AC
1521instead of returning.
1522
1523@subheading Library - @file{gdb.h}
1524@file{libgdb} is the most obvious component of this system. It provides
1525the query interface. Each function is parameterized by a @code{ui-out}
1526builder. The result of the query is constructed using that builder
1527before the query function returns.
c906108c
SS
1528
1529@node Symbol Handling
1530
1531@chapter Symbol Handling
1532
25822942 1533Symbols are a key part of @value{GDBN}'s operation. Symbols include variables,
c906108c
SS
1534functions, and types.
1535
1536@section Symbol Reading
1537
56caf160
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1538@cindex symbol reading
1539@cindex reading of symbols
1540@cindex symbol files
1541@value{GDBN} reads symbols from @dfn{symbol files}. The usual symbol
1542file is the file containing the program which @value{GDBN} is
1543debugging. @value{GDBN} can be directed to use a different file for
1544symbols (with the @samp{symbol-file} command), and it can also read
1545more symbols via the @samp{add-file} and @samp{load} commands, or while
1546reading symbols from shared libraries.
1547
1548@findex find_sym_fns
1549Symbol files are initially opened by code in @file{symfile.c} using
1550the BFD library (@pxref{Support Libraries}). BFD identifies the type
1551of the file by examining its header. @code{find_sym_fns} then uses
1552this identification to locate a set of symbol-reading functions.
1553
1554@findex add_symtab_fns
1555@cindex @code{sym_fns} structure
1556@cindex adding a symbol-reading module
1557Symbol-reading modules identify themselves to @value{GDBN} by calling
c906108c
SS
1558@code{add_symtab_fns} during their module initialization. The argument
1559to @code{add_symtab_fns} is a @code{struct sym_fns} which contains the
1560name (or name prefix) of the symbol format, the length of the prefix,
1561and pointers to four functions. These functions are called at various
56caf160 1562times to process symbol files whose identification matches the specified
c906108c
SS
1563prefix.
1564
1565The functions supplied by each module are:
1566
1567@table @code
1568@item @var{xyz}_symfile_init(struct sym_fns *sf)
1569
56caf160 1570@cindex secondary symbol file
c906108c
SS
1571Called from @code{symbol_file_add} when we are about to read a new
1572symbol file. This function should clean up any internal state (possibly
1573resulting from half-read previous files, for example) and prepare to
56caf160
EZ
1574read a new symbol file. Note that the symbol file which we are reading
1575might be a new ``main'' symbol file, or might be a secondary symbol file
c906108c
SS
1576whose symbols are being added to the existing symbol table.
1577
1578The argument to @code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init} is a newly allocated
1579@code{struct sym_fns} whose @code{bfd} field contains the BFD for the
1580new symbol file being read. Its @code{private} field has been zeroed,
1581and can be modified as desired. Typically, a struct of private
1582information will be @code{malloc}'d, and a pointer to it will be placed
1583in the @code{private} field.
1584
1585There is no result from @code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init}, but it can call
1586@code{error} if it detects an unavoidable problem.
1587
1588@item @var{xyz}_new_init()
1589
1590Called from @code{symbol_file_add} when discarding existing symbols.
56caf160
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1591This function needs only handle the symbol-reading module's internal
1592state; the symbol table data structures visible to the rest of
1593@value{GDBN} will be discarded by @code{symbol_file_add}. It has no
1594arguments and no result. It may be called after
1595@code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init}, if a new symbol table is being read, or
1596may be called alone if all symbols are simply being discarded.
c906108c
SS
1597
1598@item @var{xyz}_symfile_read(struct sym_fns *sf, CORE_ADDR addr, int mainline)
1599
1600Called from @code{symbol_file_add} to actually read the symbols from a
1601symbol-file into a set of psymtabs or symtabs.
1602
56caf160 1603@code{sf} points to the @code{struct sym_fns} originally passed to
c906108c
SS
1604@code{@var{xyz}_sym_init} for possible initialization. @code{addr} is
1605the offset between the file's specified start address and its true
1606address in memory. @code{mainline} is 1 if this is the main symbol
1607table being read, and 0 if a secondary symbol file (e.g. shared library
1608or dynamically loaded file) is being read.@refill
1609@end table
1610
1611In addition, if a symbol-reading module creates psymtabs when
1612@var{xyz}_symfile_read is called, these psymtabs will contain a pointer
1613to a function @code{@var{xyz}_psymtab_to_symtab}, which can be called
25822942 1614from any point in the @value{GDBN} symbol-handling code.
c906108c
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1615
1616@table @code
1617@item @var{xyz}_psymtab_to_symtab (struct partial_symtab *pst)
1618
56caf160 1619Called from @code{psymtab_to_symtab} (or the @code{PSYMTAB_TO_SYMTAB} macro) if
c906108c
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1620the psymtab has not already been read in and had its @code{pst->symtab}
1621pointer set. The argument is the psymtab to be fleshed-out into a
56caf160
EZ
1622symtab. Upon return, @code{pst->readin} should have been set to 1, and
1623@code{pst->symtab} should contain a pointer to the new corresponding symtab, or
c906108c
SS
1624zero if there were no symbols in that part of the symbol file.
1625@end table
1626
1627@section Partial Symbol Tables
1628
56caf160 1629@value{GDBN} has three types of symbol tables:
c906108c
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1630
1631@itemize @bullet
56caf160
EZ
1632@cindex full symbol table
1633@cindex symtabs
1634@item
1635Full symbol tables (@dfn{symtabs}). These contain the main
1636information about symbols and addresses.
c906108c 1637
56caf160
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1638@cindex psymtabs
1639@item
1640Partial symbol tables (@dfn{psymtabs}). These contain enough
c906108c
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1641information to know when to read the corresponding part of the full
1642symbol table.
1643
56caf160
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1644@cindex minimal symbol table
1645@cindex minsymtabs
1646@item
1647Minimal symbol tables (@dfn{msymtabs}). These contain information
c906108c 1648gleaned from non-debugging symbols.
c906108c
SS
1649@end itemize
1650
56caf160 1651@cindex partial symbol table
c906108c
SS
1652This section describes partial symbol tables.
1653
1654A psymtab is constructed by doing a very quick pass over an executable
1655file's debugging information. Small amounts of information are
56caf160 1656extracted---enough to identify which parts of the symbol table will
c906108c 1657need to be re-read and fully digested later, when the user needs the
25822942 1658information. The speed of this pass causes @value{GDBN} to start up very
c906108c
SS
1659quickly. Later, as the detailed rereading occurs, it occurs in small
1660pieces, at various times, and the delay therefrom is mostly invisible to
1661the user.
1662@c (@xref{Symbol Reading}.)
1663
1664The symbols that show up in a file's psymtab should be, roughly, those
1665visible to the debugger's user when the program is not running code from
1666that file. These include external symbols and types, static symbols and
56caf160 1667types, and @code{enum} values declared at file scope.
c906108c
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1668
1669The psymtab also contains the range of instruction addresses that the
1670full symbol table would represent.
1671
56caf160
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1672@cindex finding a symbol
1673@cindex symbol lookup
c906108c
SS
1674The idea is that there are only two ways for the user (or much of the
1675code in the debugger) to reference a symbol:
1676
1677@itemize @bullet
56caf160
EZ
1678@findex find_pc_function
1679@findex find_pc_line
1680@item
1681By its address (e.g. execution stops at some address which is inside a
1682function in this file). The address will be noticed to be in the
1683range of this psymtab, and the full symtab will be read in.
1684@code{find_pc_function}, @code{find_pc_line}, and other
1685@code{find_pc_@dots{}} functions handle this.
c906108c 1686
56caf160
EZ
1687@cindex lookup_symbol
1688@item
1689By its name
c906108c
SS
1690(e.g. the user asks to print a variable, or set a breakpoint on a
1691function). Global names and file-scope names will be found in the
1692psymtab, which will cause the symtab to be pulled in. Local names will
1693have to be qualified by a global name, or a file-scope name, in which
1694case we will have already read in the symtab as we evaluated the
56caf160 1695qualifier. Or, a local symbol can be referenced when we are ``in'' a
c906108c
SS
1696local scope, in which case the first case applies. @code{lookup_symbol}
1697does most of the work here.
c906108c
SS
1698@end itemize
1699
1700The only reason that psymtabs exist is to cause a symtab to be read in
1701at the right moment. Any symbol that can be elided from a psymtab,
1702while still causing that to happen, should not appear in it. Since
1703psymtabs don't have the idea of scope, you can't put local symbols in
1704them anyway. Psymtabs don't have the idea of the type of a symbol,
1705either, so types need not appear, unless they will be referenced by
1706name.
1707
56caf160
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1708It is a bug for @value{GDBN} to behave one way when only a psymtab has
1709been read, and another way if the corresponding symtab has been read
1710in. Such bugs are typically caused by a psymtab that does not contain
1711all the visible symbols, or which has the wrong instruction address
1712ranges.
c906108c 1713
56caf160 1714The psymtab for a particular section of a symbol file (objfile) could be
c906108c
SS
1715thrown away after the symtab has been read in. The symtab should always
1716be searched before the psymtab, so the psymtab will never be used (in a
1717bug-free environment). Currently, psymtabs are allocated on an obstack,
1718and all the psymbols themselves are allocated in a pair of large arrays
1719on an obstack, so there is little to be gained by trying to free them
1720unless you want to do a lot more work.
1721
1722@section Types
1723
56caf160 1724@unnumberedsubsec Fundamental Types (e.g., @code{FT_VOID}, @code{FT_BOOLEAN}).
c906108c 1725
56caf160 1726@cindex fundamental types
25822942 1727These are the fundamental types that @value{GDBN} uses internally. Fundamental
c906108c
SS
1728types from the various debugging formats (stabs, ELF, etc) are mapped
1729into one of these. They are basically a union of all fundamental types
56caf160
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1730that @value{GDBN} knows about for all the languages that @value{GDBN}
1731knows about.
c906108c 1732
56caf160 1733@unnumberedsubsec Type Codes (e.g., @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}, @code{TYPE_CODE_ARRAY}).
c906108c 1734
56caf160
EZ
1735@cindex type codes
1736Each time @value{GDBN} builds an internal type, it marks it with one
1737of these types. The type may be a fundamental type, such as
1738@code{TYPE_CODE_INT}, or a derived type, such as @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}
1739which is a pointer to another type. Typically, several @code{FT_*}
1740types map to one @code{TYPE_CODE_*} type, and are distinguished by
1741other members of the type struct, such as whether the type is signed
1742or unsigned, and how many bits it uses.
c906108c 1743
56caf160 1744@unnumberedsubsec Builtin Types (e.g., @code{builtin_type_void}, @code{builtin_type_char}).
c906108c
SS
1745
1746These are instances of type structs that roughly correspond to
56caf160
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1747fundamental types and are created as global types for @value{GDBN} to
1748use for various ugly historical reasons. We eventually want to
1749eliminate these. Note for example that @code{builtin_type_int}
1750initialized in @file{gdbtypes.c} is basically the same as a
1751@code{TYPE_CODE_INT} type that is initialized in @file{c-lang.c} for
1752an @code{FT_INTEGER} fundamental type. The difference is that the
1753@code{builtin_type} is not associated with any particular objfile, and
1754only one instance exists, while @file{c-lang.c} builds as many
1755@code{TYPE_CODE_INT} types as needed, with each one associated with
1756some particular objfile.
c906108c
SS
1757
1758@section Object File Formats
56caf160 1759@cindex object file formats
c906108c
SS
1760
1761@subsection a.out
1762
56caf160
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1763@cindex @code{a.out} format
1764The @code{a.out} format is the original file format for Unix. It
1765consists of three sections: @code{text}, @code{data}, and @code{bss},
1766which are for program code, initialized data, and uninitialized data,
1767respectively.
c906108c 1768
56caf160 1769The @code{a.out} format is so simple that it doesn't have any reserved
c906108c 1770place for debugging information. (Hey, the original Unix hackers used
56caf160
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1771@samp{adb}, which is a machine-language debugger!) The only debugging
1772format for @code{a.out} is stabs, which is encoded as a set of normal
c906108c
SS
1773symbols with distinctive attributes.
1774
56caf160 1775The basic @code{a.out} reader is in @file{dbxread.c}.
c906108c
SS
1776
1777@subsection COFF
1778
56caf160 1779@cindex COFF format
c906108c
SS
1780The COFF format was introduced with System V Release 3 (SVR3) Unix.
1781COFF files may have multiple sections, each prefixed by a header. The
1782number of sections is limited.
1783
1784The COFF specification includes support for debugging. Although this
1785was a step forward, the debugging information was woefully limited. For
1786instance, it was not possible to represent code that came from an
1787included file.
1788
1789The COFF reader is in @file{coffread.c}.
1790
1791@subsection ECOFF
1792
56caf160 1793@cindex ECOFF format
c906108c
SS
1794ECOFF is an extended COFF originally introduced for Mips and Alpha
1795workstations.
1796
1797The basic ECOFF reader is in @file{mipsread.c}.
1798
1799@subsection XCOFF
1800
56caf160 1801@cindex XCOFF format
c906108c
SS
1802The IBM RS/6000 running AIX uses an object file format called XCOFF.
1803The COFF sections, symbols, and line numbers are used, but debugging
56caf160
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1804symbols are @code{dbx}-style stabs whose strings are located in the
1805@code{.debug} section (rather than the string table). For more
1806information, see @ref{Top,,,stabs,The Stabs Debugging Format}.
c906108c
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1807
1808The shared library scheme has a clean interface for figuring out what
1809shared libraries are in use, but the catch is that everything which
1810refers to addresses (symbol tables and breakpoints at least) needs to be
1811relocated for both shared libraries and the main executable. At least
1812using the standard mechanism this can only be done once the program has
1813been run (or the core file has been read).
1814
1815@subsection PE
1816
56caf160
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1817@cindex PE-COFF format
1818Windows 95 and NT use the PE (@dfn{Portable Executable}) format for their
c906108c
SS
1819executables. PE is basically COFF with additional headers.
1820
25822942 1821While BFD includes special PE support, @value{GDBN} needs only the basic
c906108c
SS
1822COFF reader.
1823
1824@subsection ELF
1825
56caf160 1826@cindex ELF format
c906108c
SS
1827The ELF format came with System V Release 4 (SVR4) Unix. ELF is similar
1828to COFF in being organized into a number of sections, but it removes
1829many of COFF's limitations.
1830
1831The basic ELF reader is in @file{elfread.c}.
1832
1833@subsection SOM
1834
56caf160 1835@cindex SOM format
c906108c
SS
1836SOM is HP's object file and debug format (not to be confused with IBM's
1837SOM, which is a cross-language ABI).
1838
1839The SOM reader is in @file{hpread.c}.
1840
1841@subsection Other File Formats
1842
56caf160 1843@cindex Netware Loadable Module format
25822942 1844Other file formats that have been supported by @value{GDBN} include Netware
4a98ee0e 1845Loadable Modules (@file{nlmread.c}).
c906108c
SS
1846
1847@section Debugging File Formats
1848
1849This section describes characteristics of debugging information that
1850are independent of the object file format.
1851
1852@subsection stabs
1853
56caf160 1854@cindex stabs debugging info
c906108c
SS
1855@code{stabs} started out as special symbols within the @code{a.out}
1856format. Since then, it has been encapsulated into other file
1857formats, such as COFF and ELF.
1858
1859While @file{dbxread.c} does some of the basic stab processing,
1860including for encapsulated versions, @file{stabsread.c} does
1861the real work.
1862
1863@subsection COFF
1864
56caf160 1865@cindex COFF debugging info
c906108c
SS
1866The basic COFF definition includes debugging information. The level
1867of support is minimal and non-extensible, and is not often used.
1868
1869@subsection Mips debug (Third Eye)
1870
56caf160 1871@cindex ECOFF debugging info
c906108c
SS
1872ECOFF includes a definition of a special debug format.
1873
1874The file @file{mdebugread.c} implements reading for this format.
1875
1876@subsection DWARF 1
1877
56caf160 1878@cindex DWARF 1 debugging info
c906108c
SS
1879DWARF 1 is a debugging format that was originally designed to be
1880used with ELF in SVR4 systems.
1881
c906108c
SS
1882@c GCC_PRODUCER
1883@c GPLUS_PRODUCER
1884@c LCC_PRODUCER
1885@c If defined, these are the producer strings in a DWARF 1 file. All of
1886@c these have reasonable defaults already.
1887
1888The DWARF 1 reader is in @file{dwarfread.c}.
1889
1890@subsection DWARF 2
1891
56caf160 1892@cindex DWARF 2 debugging info
c906108c
SS
1893DWARF 2 is an improved but incompatible version of DWARF 1.
1894
1895The DWARF 2 reader is in @file{dwarf2read.c}.
1896
1897@subsection SOM
1898
56caf160 1899@cindex SOM debugging info
c906108c
SS
1900Like COFF, the SOM definition includes debugging information.
1901
25822942 1902@section Adding a New Symbol Reader to @value{GDBN}
c906108c 1903
56caf160
EZ
1904@cindex adding debugging info reader
1905If you are using an existing object file format (@code{a.out}, COFF, ELF, etc),
c906108c
SS
1906there is probably little to be done.
1907
1908If you need to add a new object file format, you must first add it to
1909BFD. This is beyond the scope of this document.
1910
1911You must then arrange for the BFD code to provide access to the
25822942 1912debugging symbols. Generally @value{GDBN} will have to call swapping routines
c906108c 1913from BFD and a few other BFD internal routines to locate the debugging
25822942 1914information. As much as possible, @value{GDBN} should not depend on the BFD
c906108c
SS
1915internal data structures.
1916
1917For some targets (e.g., COFF), there is a special transfer vector used
1918to call swapping routines, since the external data structures on various
1919platforms have different sizes and layouts. Specialized routines that
1920will only ever be implemented by one object file format may be called
1921directly. This interface should be described in a file
56caf160 1922@file{bfd/lib@var{xyz}.h}, which is included by @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
1923
1924
1925@node Language Support
1926
1927@chapter Language Support
1928
56caf160
EZ
1929@cindex language support
1930@value{GDBN}'s language support is mainly driven by the symbol reader,
1931although it is possible for the user to set the source language
1932manually.
c906108c 1933
56caf160
EZ
1934@value{GDBN} chooses the source language by looking at the extension
1935of the file recorded in the debug info; @file{.c} means C, @file{.f}
1936means Fortran, etc. It may also use a special-purpose language
1937identifier if the debug format supports it, like with DWARF.
c906108c 1938
25822942 1939@section Adding a Source Language to @value{GDBN}
c906108c 1940
56caf160
EZ
1941@cindex adding source language
1942To add other languages to @value{GDBN}'s expression parser, follow the
1943following steps:
c906108c
SS
1944
1945@table @emph
1946@item Create the expression parser.
1947
56caf160 1948@cindex expression parser
c906108c 1949This should reside in a file @file{@var{lang}-exp.y}. Routines for
56caf160 1950building parsed expressions into a @code{union exp_element} list are in
c906108c
SS
1951@file{parse.c}.
1952
56caf160 1953@cindex language parser
c906108c
SS
1954Since we can't depend upon everyone having Bison, and YACC produces
1955parsers that define a bunch of global names, the following lines
56caf160 1956@strong{must} be included at the top of the YACC parser, to prevent the
c906108c
SS
1957various parsers from defining the same global names:
1958
474c8240 1959@smallexample
56caf160
EZ
1960#define yyparse @var{lang}_parse
1961#define yylex @var{lang}_lex
1962#define yyerror @var{lang}_error
1963#define yylval @var{lang}_lval
1964#define yychar @var{lang}_char
1965#define yydebug @var{lang}_debug
1966#define yypact @var{lang}_pact
1967#define yyr1 @var{lang}_r1
1968#define yyr2 @var{lang}_r2
1969#define yydef @var{lang}_def
1970#define yychk @var{lang}_chk
1971#define yypgo @var{lang}_pgo
1972#define yyact @var{lang}_act
1973#define yyexca @var{lang}_exca
1974#define yyerrflag @var{lang}_errflag
1975#define yynerrs @var{lang}_nerrs
474c8240 1976@end smallexample
c906108c
SS
1977
1978At the bottom of your parser, define a @code{struct language_defn} and
1979initialize it with the right values for your language. Define an
1980@code{initialize_@var{lang}} routine and have it call
25822942 1981@samp{add_language(@var{lang}_language_defn)} to tell the rest of @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
1982that your language exists. You'll need some other supporting variables
1983and functions, which will be used via pointers from your
1984@code{@var{lang}_language_defn}. See the declaration of @code{struct
1985language_defn} in @file{language.h}, and the other @file{*-exp.y} files,
1986for more information.
1987
1988@item Add any evaluation routines, if necessary
1989
56caf160
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1990@cindex expression evaluation routines
1991@findex evaluate_subexp
1992@findex prefixify_subexp
1993@findex length_of_subexp
c906108c
SS
1994If you need new opcodes (that represent the operations of the language),
1995add them to the enumerated type in @file{expression.h}. Add support
56caf160
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1996code for these operations in the @code{evaluate_subexp} function
1997defined in the file @file{eval.c}. Add cases
c906108c 1998for new opcodes in two functions from @file{parse.c}:
56caf160 1999@code{prefixify_subexp} and @code{length_of_subexp}. These compute
c906108c
SS
2000the number of @code{exp_element}s that a given operation takes up.
2001
2002@item Update some existing code
2003
2004Add an enumerated identifier for your language to the enumerated type
2005@code{enum language} in @file{defs.h}.
2006
2007Update the routines in @file{language.c} so your language is included.
2008These routines include type predicates and such, which (in some cases)
2009are language dependent. If your language does not appear in the switch
2010statement, an error is reported.
2011
56caf160 2012@vindex current_language
c906108c
SS
2013Also included in @file{language.c} is the code that updates the variable
2014@code{current_language}, and the routines that translate the
2015@code{language_@var{lang}} enumerated identifier into a printable
2016string.
2017
56caf160 2018@findex _initialize_language
c906108c
SS
2019Update the function @code{_initialize_language} to include your
2020language. This function picks the default language upon startup, so is
25822942 2021dependent upon which languages that @value{GDBN} is built for.
c906108c 2022
56caf160 2023@findex allocate_symtab
c906108c
SS
2024Update @code{allocate_symtab} in @file{symfile.c} and/or symbol-reading
2025code so that the language of each symtab (source file) is set properly.
2026This is used to determine the language to use at each stack frame level.
2027Currently, the language is set based upon the extension of the source
2028file. If the language can be better inferred from the symbol
2029information, please set the language of the symtab in the symbol-reading
2030code.
2031
56caf160
EZ
2032@findex print_subexp
2033@findex op_print_tab
2034Add helper code to @code{print_subexp} (in @file{expprint.c}) to handle any new
c906108c
SS
2035expression opcodes you have added to @file{expression.h}. Also, add the
2036printed representations of your operators to @code{op_print_tab}.
2037
2038@item Add a place of call
2039
56caf160 2040@findex parse_exp_1
c906108c 2041Add a call to @code{@var{lang}_parse()} and @code{@var{lang}_error} in
56caf160 2042@code{parse_exp_1} (defined in @file{parse.c}).
c906108c
SS
2043
2044@item Use macros to trim code
2045
56caf160 2046@cindex trimming language-dependent code
25822942
DB
2047The user has the option of building @value{GDBN} for some or all of the
2048languages. If the user decides to build @value{GDBN} for the language
c906108c
SS
2049@var{lang}, then every file dependent on @file{language.h} will have the
2050macro @code{_LANG_@var{lang}} defined in it. Use @code{#ifdef}s to
2051leave out large routines that the user won't need if he or she is not
2052using your language.
2053
25822942 2054Note that you do not need to do this in your YACC parser, since if @value{GDBN}
c906108c 2055is not build for @var{lang}, then @file{@var{lang}-exp.tab.o} (the
25822942 2056compiled form of your parser) is not linked into @value{GDBN} at all.
c906108c 2057
56caf160
EZ
2058See the file @file{configure.in} for how @value{GDBN} is configured
2059for different languages.
c906108c
SS
2060
2061@item Edit @file{Makefile.in}
2062
2063Add dependencies in @file{Makefile.in}. Make sure you update the macro
2064variables such as @code{HFILES} and @code{OBJS}, otherwise your code may
2065not get linked in, or, worse yet, it may not get @code{tar}red into the
2066distribution!
c906108c
SS
2067@end table
2068
2069
2070@node Host Definition
2071
2072@chapter Host Definition
2073
56caf160 2074With the advent of Autoconf, it's rarely necessary to have host
7fd60527
AC
2075definition machinery anymore. The following information is provided,
2076mainly, as an historical reference.
c906108c
SS
2077
2078@section Adding a New Host
2079
56caf160
EZ
2080@cindex adding a new host
2081@cindex host, adding
7fd60527
AC
2082@value{GDBN}'s host configuration support normally happens via Autoconf.
2083New host-specific definitions should not be needed. Older hosts
2084@value{GDBN} still use the host-specific definitions and files listed
2085below, but these mostly exist for historical reasons, and will
56caf160 2086eventually disappear.
c906108c 2087
c906108c 2088@table @file
c906108c 2089@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{xyz}.mh
7fd60527
AC
2090This file once contained both host and native configuration information
2091(@pxref{Native Debugging}) for the machine @var{xyz}. The host
2092configuration information is now handed by Autoconf.
2093
2094Host configuration information included a definition of
2095@code{XM_FILE=xm-@var{xyz}.h} and possibly definitions for @code{CC},
7708fa01
AC
2096@code{SYSV_DEFINE}, @code{XM_CFLAGS}, @code{XM_ADD_FILES},
2097@code{XM_CLIBS}, @code{XM_CDEPS}, etc.; see @file{Makefile.in}.
c906108c 2098
7fd60527
AC
2099New host only configurations do not need this file.
2100
c906108c 2101@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/xm-@var{xyz}.h
7fd60527
AC
2102This file once contained definitions and includes required when hosting
2103gdb on machine @var{xyz}. Those definitions and includes are now
2104handled by Autoconf.
2105
2106New host and native configurations do not need this file.
2107
2108@emph{Maintainer's note: Some hosts continue to use the @file{xm-xyz.h}
2109file to define the macros @var{HOST_FLOAT_FORMAT},
2110@var{HOST_DOUBLE_FORMAT} and @var{HOST_LONG_DOUBLE_FORMAT}. That code
2111also needs to be replaced with either an Autoconf or run-time test.}
c906108c 2112
c906108c
SS
2113@end table
2114
2115@subheading Generic Host Support Files
2116
56caf160 2117@cindex generic host support
c906108c
SS
2118There are some ``generic'' versions of routines that can be used by
2119various systems. These can be customized in various ways by macros
2120defined in your @file{xm-@var{xyz}.h} file. If these routines work for
2121the @var{xyz} host, you can just include the generic file's name (with
2122@samp{.o}, not @samp{.c}) in @code{XDEPFILES}.
2123
2124Otherwise, if your machine needs custom support routines, you will need
2125to write routines that perform the same functions as the generic file.
2126Put them into @code{@var{xyz}-xdep.c}, and put @code{@var{xyz}-xdep.o}
2127into @code{XDEPFILES}.
2128
2129@table @file
56caf160
EZ
2130@cindex remote debugging support
2131@cindex serial line support
c906108c
SS
2132@item ser-unix.c
2133This contains serial line support for Unix systems. This is always
2134included, via the makefile variable @code{SER_HARDWIRE}; override this
2135variable in the @file{.mh} file to avoid it.
2136
2137@item ser-go32.c
2138This contains serial line support for 32-bit programs running under DOS,
56caf160 2139using the DJGPP (a.k.a.@: GO32) execution environment.
c906108c 2140
56caf160 2141@cindex TCP remote support
c906108c
SS
2142@item ser-tcp.c
2143This contains generic TCP support using sockets.
c906108c
SS
2144@end table
2145
2146@section Host Conditionals
2147
56caf160
EZ
2148When @value{GDBN} is configured and compiled, various macros are
2149defined or left undefined, to control compilation based on the
2150attributes of the host system. These macros and their meanings (or if
2151the meaning is not documented here, then one of the source files where
2152they are used is indicated) are:
c906108c 2153
56caf160 2154@ftable @code
25822942 2155@item @value{GDBN}INIT_FILENAME
56caf160
EZ
2156The default name of @value{GDBN}'s initialization file (normally
2157@file{.gdbinit}).
c906108c 2158
cce74817
JM
2159@item NO_STD_REGS
2160This macro is deprecated.
2161
c906108c
SS
2162@item SIGWINCH_HANDLER
2163If your host defines @code{SIGWINCH}, you can define this to be the name
2164of a function to be called if @code{SIGWINCH} is received.
2165
2166@item SIGWINCH_HANDLER_BODY
2167Define this to expand into code that will define the function named by
2168the expansion of @code{SIGWINCH_HANDLER}.
2169
2170@item ALIGN_STACK_ON_STARTUP
56caf160 2171@cindex stack alignment
c906108c
SS
2172Define this if your system is of a sort that will crash in
2173@code{tgetent} if the stack happens not to be longword-aligned when
2174@code{main} is called. This is a rare situation, but is known to occur
2175on several different types of systems.
2176
2177@item CRLF_SOURCE_FILES
56caf160 2178@cindex DOS text files
c906108c
SS
2179Define this if host files use @code{\r\n} rather than @code{\n} as a
2180line terminator. This will cause source file listings to omit @code{\r}
56caf160
EZ
2181characters when printing and it will allow @code{\r\n} line endings of files
2182which are ``sourced'' by gdb. It must be possible to open files in binary
c906108c
SS
2183mode using @code{O_BINARY} or, for fopen, @code{"rb"}.
2184
2185@item DEFAULT_PROMPT
56caf160 2186@cindex prompt
c906108c
SS
2187The default value of the prompt string (normally @code{"(gdb) "}).
2188
2189@item DEV_TTY
56caf160 2190@cindex terminal device
c906108c
SS
2191The name of the generic TTY device, defaults to @code{"/dev/tty"}.
2192
c906108c
SS
2193@item FOPEN_RB
2194Define this if binary files are opened the same way as text files.
2195
c906108c 2196@item HAVE_MMAP
56caf160 2197@findex mmap
c906108c
SS
2198In some cases, use the system call @code{mmap} for reading symbol
2199tables. For some machines this allows for sharing and quick updates.
2200
c906108c
SS
2201@item HAVE_TERMIO
2202Define this if the host system has @code{termio.h}.
2203
c906108c 2204@item INT_MAX
9742079a
EZ
2205@itemx INT_MIN
2206@itemx LONG_MAX
2207@itemx UINT_MAX
2208@itemx ULONG_MAX
c906108c
SS
2209Values for host-side constants.
2210
2211@item ISATTY
2212Substitute for isatty, if not available.
2213
2214@item LONGEST
2215This is the longest integer type available on the host. If not defined,
2216it will default to @code{long long} or @code{long}, depending on
2217@code{CC_HAS_LONG_LONG}.
2218
2219@item CC_HAS_LONG_LONG
56caf160
EZ
2220@cindex @code{long long} data type
2221Define this if the host C compiler supports @code{long long}. This is set
2222by the @code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2223
2224@item PRINTF_HAS_LONG_LONG
2225Define this if the host can handle printing of long long integers via
56caf160
EZ
2226the printf format conversion specifier @code{ll}. This is set by the
2227@code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2228
2229@item HAVE_LONG_DOUBLE
56caf160
EZ
2230Define this if the host C compiler supports @code{long double}. This is
2231set by the @code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2232
2233@item PRINTF_HAS_LONG_DOUBLE
2234Define this if the host can handle printing of long double float-point
56caf160
EZ
2235numbers via the printf format conversion specifier @code{Lg}. This is
2236set by the @code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2237
2238@item SCANF_HAS_LONG_DOUBLE
2239Define this if the host can handle the parsing of long double
56caf160
EZ
2240float-point numbers via the scanf format conversion specifier
2241@code{Lg}. This is set by the @code{configure} script.
c906108c
SS
2242
2243@item LSEEK_NOT_LINEAR
2244Define this if @code{lseek (n)} does not necessarily move to byte number
2245@code{n} in the file. This is only used when reading source files. It
2246is normally faster to define @code{CRLF_SOURCE_FILES} when possible.
2247
2248@item L_SET
56caf160
EZ
2249This macro is used as the argument to @code{lseek} (or, most commonly,
2250@code{bfd_seek}). FIXME, should be replaced by SEEK_SET instead,
2251which is the POSIX equivalent.
c906108c 2252
c906108c
SS
2253@item NORETURN
2254If defined, this should be one or more tokens, such as @code{volatile},
2255that can be used in both the declaration and definition of functions to
2256indicate that they never return. The default is already set correctly
2257if compiling with GCC. This will almost never need to be defined.
2258
2259@item ATTR_NORETURN
2260If defined, this should be one or more tokens, such as
2261@code{__attribute__ ((noreturn))}, that can be used in the declarations
2262of functions to indicate that they never return. The default is already
2263set correctly if compiling with GCC. This will almost never need to be
2264defined.
2265
c906108c 2266@item SEEK_CUR
9742079a 2267@itemx SEEK_SET
56caf160 2268Define these to appropriate value for the system @code{lseek}, if not already
c906108c
SS
2269defined.
2270
2271@item STOP_SIGNAL
56caf160
EZ
2272This is the signal for stopping @value{GDBN}. Defaults to
2273@code{SIGTSTP}. (Only redefined for the Convex.)
c906108c 2274
c906108c
SS
2275@item USG
2276Means that System V (prior to SVR4) include files are in use. (FIXME:
7ca9f392
AC
2277This symbol is abused in @file{infrun.c}, @file{regex.c}, and
2278@file{utils.c} for other things, at the moment.)
c906108c
SS
2279
2280@item lint
56caf160 2281Define this to help placate @code{lint} in some situations.
c906108c
SS
2282
2283@item volatile
2284Define this to override the defaults of @code{__volatile__} or
2285@code{/**/}.
56caf160 2286@end ftable
c906108c
SS
2287
2288
2289@node Target Architecture Definition
2290
2291@chapter Target Architecture Definition
2292
56caf160
EZ
2293@cindex target architecture definition
2294@value{GDBN}'s target architecture defines what sort of
2295machine-language programs @value{GDBN} can work with, and how it works
2296with them.
c906108c 2297
af6c57ea
AC
2298The target architecture object is implemented as the C structure
2299@code{struct gdbarch *}. The structure, and its methods, are generated
93c2c750 2300using the Bourne shell script @file{gdbarch.sh}.
c906108c 2301
70f80edf
JT
2302@section Operating System ABI Variant Handling
2303@cindex OS ABI variants
2304
2305@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism for handling variations in OS
2306ABIs. An OS ABI variant may have influence over any number of
2307variables in the target architecture definition. There are two major
2308components in the OS ABI mechanism: sniffers and handlers.
2309
2310A @dfn{sniffer} examines a file matching a BFD architecture/flavour pair
2311(the architecture may be wildcarded) in an attempt to determine the
2312OS ABI of that file. Sniffers with a wildcarded architecture are considered
2313to be @dfn{generic}, while sniffers for a specific architecture are
2314considered to be @dfn{specific}. A match from a specific sniffer
2315overrides a match from a generic sniffer. Multiple sniffers for an
2316architecture/flavour may exist, in order to differentiate between two
2317different operating systems which use the same basic file format. The
2318OS ABI framework provides a generic sniffer for ELF-format files which
2319examines the @code{EI_OSABI} field of the ELF header, as well as note
2320sections known to be used by several operating systems.
2321
2322@cindex fine-tuning @code{gdbarch} structure
2323A @dfn{handler} is used to fine-tune the @code{gdbarch} structure for the
2324selected OS ABI. There may be only one handler for a given OS ABI
2325for each BFD architecture.
2326
2327The following OS ABI variants are defined in @file{osabi.h}:
2328
2329@table @code
2330
2331@findex GDB_OSABI_UNKNOWN
2332@item GDB_OSABI_UNKNOWN
2333The ABI of the inferior is unknown. The default @code{gdbarch}
2334settings for the architecture will be used.
2335
2336@findex GDB_OSABI_SVR4
2337@item GDB_OSABI_SVR4
2338UNIX System V Release 4
2339
2340@findex GDB_OSABI_HURD
2341@item GDB_OSABI_HURD
2342GNU using the Hurd kernel
2343
2344@findex GDB_OSABI_SOLARIS
2345@item GDB_OSABI_SOLARIS
2346Sun Solaris
2347
2348@findex GDB_OSABI_OSF1
2349@item GDB_OSABI_OSF1
2350OSF/1, including Digital UNIX and Compaq Tru64 UNIX
2351
2352@findex GDB_OSABI_LINUX
2353@item GDB_OSABI_LINUX
2354GNU using the Linux kernel
2355
2356@findex GDB_OSABI_FREEBSD_AOUT
2357@item GDB_OSABI_FREEBSD_AOUT
2358FreeBSD using the a.out executable format
2359
2360@findex GDB_OSABI_FREEBSD_ELF
2361@item GDB_OSABI_FREEBSD_ELF
2362FreeBSD using the ELF executable format
2363
2364@findex GDB_OSABI_NETBSD_AOUT
2365@item GDB_OSABI_NETBSD_AOUT
2366NetBSD using the a.out executable format
2367
2368@findex GDB_OSABI_NETBSD_ELF
2369@item GDB_OSABI_NETBSD_ELF
2370NetBSD using the ELF executable format
2371
2372@findex GDB_OSABI_WINCE
2373@item GDB_OSABI_WINCE
2374Windows CE
2375
1029b7fa
MK
2376@findex GDB_OSABI_GO32
2377@item GDB_OSABI_GO32
2378DJGPP
2379
2380@findex GDB_OSABI_NETWARE
2381@item GDB_OSABI_NETWARE
2382Novell NetWare
2383
70f80edf
JT
2384@findex GDB_OSABI_ARM_EABI_V1
2385@item GDB_OSABI_ARM_EABI_V1
2386ARM Embedded ABI version 1
2387
2388@findex GDB_OSABI_ARM_EABI_V2
2389@item GDB_OSABI_ARM_EABI_V2
2390ARM Embedded ABI version 2
2391
2392@findex GDB_OSABI_ARM_APCS
2393@item GDB_OSABI_ARM_APCS
2394Generic ARM Procedure Call Standard
2395
2396@end table
2397
2398Here are the functions that make up the OS ABI framework:
2399
2400@deftypefun const char *gdbarch_osabi_name (enum gdb_osabi @var{osabi})
2401Return the name of the OS ABI corresponding to @var{osabi}.
2402@end deftypefun
2403
c133ab7a 2404@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 2405Register the OS ABI handler specified by @var{init_osabi} for the
c133ab7a
MK
2406architecture, machine type and OS ABI specified by @var{arch},
2407@var{machine} and @var{osabi}. In most cases, a value of zero for the
2408machine type, which implies the architecture's default machine type,
2409will suffice.
70f80edf
JT
2410@end deftypefun
2411
2412@deftypefun void gdbarch_register_osabi_sniffer (enum bfd_architecture @var{arch}, enum bfd_flavour @var{flavour}, enum gdb_osabi (*@var{sniffer})(bfd *@var{abfd}))
2413Register the OS ABI file sniffer specified by @var{sniffer} for the
2414BFD architecture/flavour pair specified by @var{arch} and @var{flavour}.
2415If @var{arch} is @code{bfd_arch_unknown}, the sniffer is considered to
2416be generic, and is allowed to examine @var{flavour}-flavoured files for
2417any architecture.
2418@end deftypefun
2419
2420@deftypefun enum gdb_osabi gdbarch_lookup_osabi (bfd *@var{abfd})
2421Examine the file described by @var{abfd} to determine its OS ABI.
2422The value @code{GDB_OSABI_UNKNOWN} is returned if the OS ABI cannot
2423be determined.
2424@end deftypefun
2425
2426@deftypefun void gdbarch_init_osabi (struct gdbarch info @var{info}, struct gdbarch *@var{gdbarch}, enum gdb_osabi @var{osabi})
2427Invoke the OS ABI handler corresponding to @var{osabi} to fine-tune the
2428@code{gdbarch} structure specified by @var{gdbarch}. If a handler
2429corresponding to @var{osabi} has not been registered for @var{gdbarch}'s
2430architecture, a warning will be issued and the debugging session will continue
2431with the defaults already established for @var{gdbarch}.
2432@end deftypefun
2433
c906108c
SS
2434@section Registers and Memory
2435
56caf160
EZ
2436@value{GDBN}'s model of the target machine is rather simple.
2437@value{GDBN} assumes the machine includes a bank of registers and a
2438block of memory. Each register may have a different size.
c906108c 2439
56caf160
EZ
2440@value{GDBN} does not have a magical way to match up with the
2441compiler's idea of which registers are which; however, it is critical
2442that they do match up accurately. The only way to make this work is
2443to get accurate information about the order that the compiler uses,
2444and to reflect that in the @code{REGISTER_NAME} and related macros.
c906108c 2445
25822942 2446@value{GDBN} can handle big-endian, little-endian, and bi-endian architectures.
c906108c 2447
93e79dbd
JB
2448@section Pointers Are Not Always Addresses
2449@cindex pointer representation
2450@cindex address representation
2451@cindex word-addressed machines
2452@cindex separate data and code address spaces
2453@cindex spaces, separate data and code address
2454@cindex address spaces, separate data and code
2455@cindex code pointers, word-addressed
2456@cindex converting between pointers and addresses
2457@cindex D10V addresses
2458
2459On almost all 32-bit architectures, the representation of a pointer is
2460indistinguishable from the representation of some fixed-length number
2461whose value is the byte address of the object pointed to. On such
56caf160 2462machines, the words ``pointer'' and ``address'' can be used interchangeably.
93e79dbd
JB
2463However, architectures with smaller word sizes are often cramped for
2464address space, so they may choose a pointer representation that breaks this
2465identity, and allows a larger code address space.
2466
172c2a43 2467For example, the Renesas D10V is a 16-bit VLIW processor whose
93e79dbd
JB
2468instructions are 32 bits long@footnote{Some D10V instructions are
2469actually pairs of 16-bit sub-instructions. However, since you can't
2470jump into the middle of such a pair, code addresses can only refer to
2471full 32 bit instructions, which is what matters in this explanation.}.
2472If the D10V used ordinary byte addresses to refer to code locations,
2473then the processor would only be able to address 64kb of instructions.
2474However, since instructions must be aligned on four-byte boundaries, the
56caf160
EZ
2475low two bits of any valid instruction's byte address are always
2476zero---byte addresses waste two bits. So instead of byte addresses,
2477the D10V uses word addresses---byte addresses shifted right two bits---to
93e79dbd
JB
2478refer to code. Thus, the D10V can use 16-bit words to address 256kb of
2479code space.
2480
2481However, this means that code pointers and data pointers have different
2482forms on the D10V. The 16-bit word @code{0xC020} refers to byte address
2483@code{0xC020} when used as a data address, but refers to byte address
2484@code{0x30080} when used as a code address.
2485
2486(The D10V also uses separate code and data address spaces, which also
2487affects the correspondence between pointers and addresses, but we're
2488going to ignore that here; this example is already too long.)
2489
56caf160
EZ
2490To cope with architectures like this---the D10V is not the only
2491one!---@value{GDBN} tries to distinguish between @dfn{addresses}, which are
93e79dbd
JB
2492byte numbers, and @dfn{pointers}, which are the target's representation
2493of an address of a particular type of data. In the example above,
2494@code{0xC020} is the pointer, which refers to one of the addresses
2495@code{0xC020} or @code{0x30080}, depending on the type imposed upon it.
2496@value{GDBN} provides functions for turning a pointer into an address
2497and vice versa, in the appropriate way for the current architecture.
2498
2499Unfortunately, since addresses and pointers are identical on almost all
2500processors, this distinction tends to bit-rot pretty quickly. Thus,
2501each time you port @value{GDBN} to an architecture which does
2502distinguish between pointers and addresses, you'll probably need to
2503clean up some architecture-independent code.
2504
2505Here are functions which convert between pointers and addresses:
2506
2507@deftypefun CORE_ADDR extract_typed_address (void *@var{buf}, struct type *@var{type})
2508Treat the bytes at @var{buf} as a pointer or reference of type
2509@var{type}, and return the address it represents, in a manner
2510appropriate for the current architecture. This yields an address
2511@value{GDBN} can use to read target memory, disassemble, etc. Note that
2512@var{buf} refers to a buffer in @value{GDBN}'s memory, not the
2513inferior's.
2514
2515For example, if the current architecture is the Intel x86, this function
2516extracts a little-endian integer of the appropriate length from
2517@var{buf} and returns it. However, if the current architecture is the
2518D10V, this function will return a 16-bit integer extracted from
2519@var{buf}, multiplied by four if @var{type} is a pointer to a function.
2520
2521If @var{type} is not a pointer or reference type, then this function
2522will signal an internal error.
2523@end deftypefun
2524
2525@deftypefun CORE_ADDR store_typed_address (void *@var{buf}, struct type *@var{type}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
2526Store the address @var{addr} in @var{buf}, in the proper format for a
2527pointer of type @var{type} in the current architecture. Note that
2528@var{buf} refers to a buffer in @value{GDBN}'s memory, not the
2529inferior's.
2530
2531For example, if the current architecture is the Intel x86, this function
2532stores @var{addr} unmodified as a little-endian integer of the
2533appropriate length in @var{buf}. However, if the current architecture
2534is the D10V, this function divides @var{addr} by four if @var{type} is
2535a pointer to a function, and then stores it in @var{buf}.
2536
2537If @var{type} is not a pointer or reference type, then this function
2538will signal an internal error.
2539@end deftypefun
2540
f23631e4 2541@deftypefun CORE_ADDR value_as_address (struct value *@var{val})
93e79dbd
JB
2542Assuming that @var{val} is a pointer, return the address it represents,
2543as appropriate for the current architecture.
2544
2545This function actually works on integral values, as well as pointers.
2546For pointers, it performs architecture-specific conversions as
2547described above for @code{extract_typed_address}.
2548@end deftypefun
2549
2550@deftypefun CORE_ADDR value_from_pointer (struct type *@var{type}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
2551Create and return a value representing a pointer of type @var{type} to
2552the address @var{addr}, as appropriate for the current architecture.
2553This function performs architecture-specific conversions as described
2554above for @code{store_typed_address}.
2555@end deftypefun
2556
93e79dbd
JB
2557Here are some macros which architectures can define to indicate the
2558relationship between pointers and addresses. These have default
2559definitions, appropriate for architectures on which all pointers are
fc0c74b1 2560simple unsigned byte addresses.
93e79dbd
JB
2561
2562@deftypefn {Target Macro} CORE_ADDR POINTER_TO_ADDRESS (struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{buf})
2563Assume that @var{buf} holds a pointer of type @var{type}, in the
2564appropriate format for the current architecture. Return the byte
2565address the pointer refers to.
2566
2567This function may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
56caf160 2568C@t{++} reference type.
93e79dbd
JB
2569@end deftypefn
2570
2571@deftypefn {Target Macro} void ADDRESS_TO_POINTER (struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{buf}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
2572Store in @var{buf} a pointer of type @var{type} representing the address
2573@var{addr}, in the appropriate format for the current architecture.
2574
2575This function may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
56caf160 2576C@t{++} reference type.
93e79dbd
JB
2577@end deftypefn
2578
b5b0480a
KB
2579@section Address Classes
2580@cindex address classes
2581@cindex DW_AT_byte_size
2582@cindex DW_AT_address_class
2583
2584Sometimes information about different kinds of addresses is available
2585via the debug information. For example, some programming environments
2586define addresses of several different sizes. If the debug information
2587distinguishes these kinds of address classes through either the size
2588info (e.g, @code{DW_AT_byte_size} in @w{DWARF 2}) or through an explicit
2589address class attribute (e.g, @code{DW_AT_address_class} in @w{DWARF 2}), the
2590following macros should be defined in order to disambiguate these
2591types within @value{GDBN} as well as provide the added information to
2592a @value{GDBN} user when printing type expressions.
2593
2594@deftypefn {Target Macro} int ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS (int @var{byte_size}, int @var{dwarf2_addr_class})
2595Returns the type flags needed to construct a pointer type whose size
2596is @var{byte_size} and whose address class is @var{dwarf2_addr_class}.
2597This function is normally called from within a symbol reader. See
2598@file{dwarf2read.c}.
2599@end deftypefn
2600
2601@deftypefn {Target Macro} char *ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME (int @var{type_flags})
2602Given the type flags representing an address class qualifier, return
2603its name.
2604@end deftypefn
2605@deftypefn {Target Macro} int ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_to_TYPE_FLAGS (int @var{name}, int *var{type_flags_ptr})
2606Given an address qualifier name, set the @code{int} refererenced by @var{type_flags_ptr} to the type flags
2607for that address class qualifier.
2608@end deftypefn
2609
2610Since the need for address classes is rather rare, none of
2611the address class macros defined by default. Predicate
2612macros are provided to detect when they are defined.
2613
2614Consider a hypothetical architecture in which addresses are normally
261532-bits wide, but 16-bit addresses are also supported. Furthermore,
2616suppose that the @w{DWARF 2} information for this architecture simply
2617uses a @code{DW_AT_byte_size} value of 2 to indicate the use of one
2618of these "short" pointers. The following functions could be defined
2619to implement the address class macros:
2620
2621@smallexample
2622somearch_address_class_type_flags (int byte_size,
2623 int dwarf2_addr_class)
f2abfe65 2624@{
b5b0480a
KB
2625 if (byte_size == 2)
2626 return TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1;
2627 else
2628 return 0;
f2abfe65 2629@}
b5b0480a
KB
2630
2631static char *
2632somearch_address_class_type_flags_to_name (int type_flags)
f2abfe65 2633@{
b5b0480a
KB
2634 if (type_flags & TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1)
2635 return "short";
2636 else
2637 return NULL;
f2abfe65 2638@}
b5b0480a
KB
2639
2640int
2641somearch_address_class_name_to_type_flags (char *name,
2642 int *type_flags_ptr)
f2abfe65 2643@{
b5b0480a 2644 if (strcmp (name, "short") == 0)
f2abfe65 2645 @{
b5b0480a
KB
2646 *type_flags_ptr = TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1;
2647 return 1;
f2abfe65 2648 @}
b5b0480a
KB
2649 else
2650 return 0;
f2abfe65 2651@}
b5b0480a
KB
2652@end smallexample
2653
2654The qualifier @code{@@short} is used in @value{GDBN}'s type expressions
2655to indicate the presence of one of these "short" pointers. E.g, if
2656the debug information indicates that @code{short_ptr_var} is one of these
2657short pointers, @value{GDBN} might show the following behavior:
2658
2659@smallexample
2660(gdb) ptype short_ptr_var
2661type = int * @@short
2662@end smallexample
2663
93e79dbd 2664
13d01224
AC
2665@section Raw and Virtual Register Representations
2666@cindex raw register representation
2667@cindex virtual register representation
2668@cindex representations, raw and virtual registers
2669
2670@emph{Maintainer note: This section is pretty much obsolete. The
2671functionality described here has largely been replaced by
2672pseudo-registers and the mechanisms described in @ref{Target
2673Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data
2674Representations}. See also @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/,
2675Bug Tracking Database} and
2676@uref{http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/current/ari/, ARI Index} for more
2677up-to-date information.}
af6c57ea 2678
9fb4dd36
JB
2679Some architectures use one representation for a value when it lives in a
2680register, but use a different representation when it lives in memory.
25822942 2681In @value{GDBN}'s terminology, the @dfn{raw} representation is the one used in
9fb4dd36 2682the target registers, and the @dfn{virtual} representation is the one
25822942 2683used in memory, and within @value{GDBN} @code{struct value} objects.
9fb4dd36 2684
13d01224
AC
2685@emph{Maintainer note: Notice that the same mechanism is being used to
2686both convert a register to a @code{struct value} and alternative
2687register forms.}
2688
9fb4dd36
JB
2689For almost all data types on almost all architectures, the virtual and
2690raw representations are identical, and no special handling is needed.
2691However, they do occasionally differ. For example:
2692
2693@itemize @bullet
9fb4dd36 2694@item
56caf160 2695The x86 architecture supports an 80-bit @code{long double} type. However, when
9fb4dd36
JB
2696we store those values in memory, they occupy twelve bytes: the
2697floating-point number occupies the first ten, and the final two bytes
2698are unused. This keeps the values aligned on four-byte boundaries,
2699allowing more efficient access. Thus, the x86 80-bit floating-point
2700type is the raw representation, and the twelve-byte loosely-packed
2701arrangement is the virtual representation.
2702
2703@item
25822942
DB
2704Some 64-bit MIPS targets present 32-bit registers to @value{GDBN} as 64-bit
2705registers, with garbage in their upper bits. @value{GDBN} ignores the top 32
9fb4dd36
JB
2706bits. Thus, the 64-bit form, with garbage in the upper 32 bits, is the
2707raw representation, and the trimmed 32-bit representation is the
2708virtual representation.
9fb4dd36
JB
2709@end itemize
2710
2711In general, the raw representation is determined by the architecture, or
25822942
DB
2712@value{GDBN}'s interface to the architecture, while the virtual representation
2713can be chosen for @value{GDBN}'s convenience. @value{GDBN}'s register file,
56caf160
EZ
2714@code{registers}, holds the register contents in raw format, and the
2715@value{GDBN} remote protocol transmits register values in raw format.
9fb4dd36 2716
56caf160
EZ
2717Your architecture may define the following macros to request
2718conversions between the raw and virtual format:
9fb4dd36
JB
2719
2720@deftypefn {Target Macro} int REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE (int @var{reg})
2721Return non-zero if register number @var{reg}'s value needs different raw
2722and virtual formats.
6f6ef15a
EZ
2723
2724You should not use @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} for a register
2725unless this macro returns a non-zero value for that register.
9fb4dd36
JB
2726@end deftypefn
2727
12c266ea 2728@deftypefn {Target Macro} int DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE (int @var{reg})
9fb4dd36 2729The size of register number @var{reg}'s raw value. This is the number
25822942 2730of bytes the register will occupy in @code{registers}, or in a @value{GDBN}
9fb4dd36
JB
2731remote protocol packet.
2732@end deftypefn
2733
f30992d4 2734@deftypefn {Target Macro} int DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_SIZE (int @var{reg})
9fb4dd36
JB
2735The size of register number @var{reg}'s value, in its virtual format.
2736This is the size a @code{struct value}'s buffer will have, holding that
2737register's value.
2738@end deftypefn
2739
2e092625 2740@deftypefn {Target Macro} struct type *DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (int @var{reg})
9fb4dd36
JB
2741This is the type of the virtual representation of register number
2742@var{reg}. Note that there is no need for a macro giving a type for the
25822942 2743register's raw form; once the register's value has been obtained, @value{GDBN}
9fb4dd36
JB
2744always uses the virtual form.
2745@end deftypefn
2746
2747@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL (int @var{reg}, struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
2748Convert the value of register number @var{reg} to @var{type}, which
2e092625 2749should always be @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})}. The buffer
9fb4dd36
JB
2750at @var{from} holds the register's value in raw format; the macro should
2751convert the value to virtual format, and place it at @var{to}.
2752
6f6ef15a
EZ
2753Note that @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} and
2754@code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW} take their @var{reg} and @var{type}
2755arguments in different orders.
2756
2757You should only use @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} with registers
2758for which the @code{REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE} macro returns a non-zero
2759value.
9fb4dd36
JB
2760@end deftypefn
2761
2762@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW (struct type *@var{type}, int @var{reg}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
2763Convert the value of register number @var{reg} to @var{type}, which
2e092625 2764should always be @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})}. The buffer
9fb4dd36
JB
2765at @var{from} holds the register's value in raw format; the macro should
2766convert the value to virtual format, and place it at @var{to}.
2767
2768Note that REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL and REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW take
2769their @var{reg} and @var{type} arguments in different orders.
2770@end deftypefn
2771
2772
13d01224
AC
2773@section Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations
2774@cindex register representation
2775@cindex memory representation
2776@cindex representations, register and memory
2777@cindex register data formats, converting
2778@cindex @code{struct value}, converting register contents to
2779
2780@emph{Maintainer's note: The way GDB manipulates registers is undergoing
2781significant change. Many of the macros and functions refered to in this
2782section are likely to be subject to further revision. See
2783@uref{http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/current/ari/, A.R. Index} and
2784@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs, Bug Tracking Database} for
2785further information. cagney/2002-05-06.}
2786
2787Some architectures can represent a data object in a register using a
2788form that is different to the objects more normal memory representation.
2789For example:
2790
2791@itemize @bullet
2792
2793@item
2794The Alpha architecture can represent 32 bit integer values in
2795floating-point registers.
2796
2797@item
2798The x86 architecture supports 80-bit floating-point registers. The
2799@code{long double} data type occupies 96 bits in memory but only 80 bits
2800when stored in a register.
2801
2802@end itemize
2803
2804In general, the register representation of a data type is determined by
2805the architecture, or @value{GDBN}'s interface to the architecture, while
2806the memory representation is determined by the Application Binary
2807Interface.
2808
2809For almost all data types on almost all architectures, the two
2810representations are identical, and no special handling is needed.
2811However, they do occasionally differ. Your architecture may define the
2812following macros to request conversions between the register and memory
2813representations of a data type:
2814
2815@deftypefn {Target Macro} int CONVERT_REGISTER_P (int @var{reg})
2816Return non-zero if the representation of a data value stored in this
2817register may be different to the representation of that same data value
2818when stored in memory.
2819
2820When non-zero, the macros @code{REGISTER_TO_VALUE} and
2821@code{VALUE_TO_REGISTER} are used to perform any necessary conversion.
2822@end deftypefn
2823
2824@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_TO_VALUE (int @var{reg}, struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
2825Convert the value of register number @var{reg} to a data object of type
2826@var{type}. The buffer at @var{from} holds the register's value in raw
2827format; the converted value should be placed in the buffer at @var{to}.
2828
2829Note that @code{REGISTER_TO_VALUE} and @code{VALUE_TO_REGISTER} take
2830their @var{reg} and @var{type} arguments in different orders.
2831
2832You should only use @code{REGISTER_TO_VALUE} with registers for which
2833the @code{CONVERT_REGISTER_P} macro returns a non-zero value.
2834@end deftypefn
2835
2836@deftypefn {Target Macro} void VALUE_TO_REGISTER (struct type *@var{type}, int @var{reg}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
2837Convert a data value of type @var{type} to register number @var{reg}'
2838raw format.
2839
2840Note that @code{REGISTER_TO_VALUE} and @code{VALUE_TO_REGISTER} take
2841their @var{reg} and @var{type} arguments in different orders.
2842
2843You should only use @code{VALUE_TO_REGISTER} with registers for which
2844the @code{CONVERT_REGISTER_P} macro returns a non-zero value.
2845@end deftypefn
2846
2847@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_TYPE (int @var{regnum}, struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{buf})
2848See @file{mips-tdep.c}. It does not do what you want.
2849@end deftypefn
2850
2851
c906108c
SS
2852@section Frame Interpretation
2853
2854@section Inferior Call Setup
2855
2856@section Compiler Characteristics
2857
2858@section Target Conditionals
2859
2860This section describes the macros that you can use to define the target
2861machine.
2862
2863@table @code
2864
c906108c 2865@item ADDR_BITS_REMOVE (addr)
56caf160 2866@findex ADDR_BITS_REMOVE
adf40b2e
JM
2867If a raw machine instruction address includes any bits that are not
2868really part of the address, then define this macro to expand into an
56caf160 2869expression that zeroes those bits in @var{addr}. This is only used for
adf40b2e
JM
2870addresses of instructions, and even then not in all contexts.
2871
2872For example, the two low-order bits of the PC on the Hewlett-Packard PA
28732.0 architecture contain the privilege level of the corresponding
2874instruction. Since instructions must always be aligned on four-byte
2875boundaries, the processor masks out these bits to generate the actual
2876address of the instruction. ADDR_BITS_REMOVE should filter out these
2877bits with an expression such as @code{((addr) & ~3)}.
c906108c 2878
b5b0480a
KB
2879@item ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS (@var{name}, @var{type_flags_ptr})
2880@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS
2881If @var{name} is a valid address class qualifier name, set the @code{int}
2882referenced by @var{type_flags_ptr} to the mask representing the qualifier
2883and return 1. If @var{name} is not a valid address class qualifier name,
2884return 0.
2885
2886The value for @var{type_flags_ptr} should be one of
2887@code{TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1}, @code{TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_2}, or
2888possibly some combination of these values or'd together.
2889@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Address Classes}.
2890
2891@item ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS_P ()
2892@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS_P
2893Predicate which indicates whether @code{ADDRESS_CLASS_NAME_TO_TYPE_FLAGS}
2894has been defined.
2895
2896@item ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS (@var{byte_size}, @var{dwarf2_addr_class})
2897@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS (@var{byte_size}, @var{dwarf2_addr_class})
2898Given a pointers byte size (as described by the debug information) and
2899the possible @code{DW_AT_address_class} value, return the type flags
2900used by @value{GDBN} to represent this address class. The value
2901returned should be one of @code{TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_1},
2902@code{TYPE_FLAG_ADDRESS_CLASS_2}, or possibly some combination of these
2903values or'd together.
2904@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Address Classes}.
2905
2906@item ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_P ()
2907@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_P
2908Predicate which indicates whether @code{ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS} has
2909been defined.
2910
2911@item ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME (@var{type_flags})
2912@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME
2913Return the name of the address class qualifier associated with the type
2914flags given by @var{type_flags}.
2915
2916@item ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME_P ()
2917@findex ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME_P
2918Predicate which indicates whether @code{ADDRESS_CLASS_TYPE_FLAGS_TO_NAME} has
2919been defined.
2920@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Address Classes}.
2921
93e79dbd 2922@item ADDRESS_TO_POINTER (@var{type}, @var{buf}, @var{addr})
56caf160 2923@findex ADDRESS_TO_POINTER
93e79dbd
JB
2924Store in @var{buf} a pointer of type @var{type} representing the address
2925@var{addr}, in the appropriate format for the current architecture.
2926This macro may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
56caf160 2927C@t{++} reference type.
93e79dbd
JB
2928@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Pointers Are Not Always Addresses}.
2929
c906108c 2930@item BELIEVE_PCC_PROMOTION
56caf160
EZ
2931@findex BELIEVE_PCC_PROMOTION
2932Define if the compiler promotes a @code{short} or @code{char}
2933parameter to an @code{int}, but still reports the parameter as its
2934original type, rather than the promoted type.
c906108c 2935
c906108c 2936@item BITS_BIG_ENDIAN
56caf160
EZ
2937@findex BITS_BIG_ENDIAN
2938Define this if the numbering of bits in the targets does @strong{not} match the
c906108c 2939endianness of the target byte order. A value of 1 means that the bits
56caf160 2940are numbered in a big-endian bit order, 0 means little-endian.
c906108c
SS
2941
2942@item BREAKPOINT
56caf160 2943@findex BREAKPOINT
c906108c
SS
2944This is the character array initializer for the bit pattern to put into
2945memory where a breakpoint is set. Although it's common to use a trap
2946instruction for a breakpoint, it's not required; for instance, the bit
2947pattern could be an invalid instruction. The breakpoint must be no
2948longer than the shortest instruction of the architecture.
2949
56caf160
EZ
2950@code{BREAKPOINT} has been deprecated in favor of
2951@code{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}.
7a292a7a 2952
c906108c 2953@item BIG_BREAKPOINT
56caf160
EZ
2954@itemx LITTLE_BREAKPOINT
2955@findex LITTLE_BREAKPOINT
2956@findex BIG_BREAKPOINT
c906108c
SS
2957Similar to BREAKPOINT, but used for bi-endian targets.
2958
56caf160
EZ
2959@code{BIG_BREAKPOINT} and @code{LITTLE_BREAKPOINT} have been deprecated in
2960favor of @code{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}.
7a292a7a 2961
2dd0da42
AC
2962@item DEPRECATED_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2963@itemx DEPRECATED_LITTLE_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2964@itemx DEPRECATED_BIG_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2965@findex DEPRECATED_BIG_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2966@findex DEPRECATED_LITTLE_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2967@findex DEPRECATED_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
2968Specify the breakpoint instruction sequence for a remote target.
2969@code{DEPRECATED_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT},
2970@code{DEPRECATED_BIG_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT} and
2971@code{DEPRECATED_LITTLE_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT} have been deprecated in
2972favor of @code{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC} (@pxref{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}).
c906108c 2973
56caf160
EZ
2974@item BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC (@var{pcptr}, @var{lenptr})
2975@findex BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC
2dd0da42
AC
2976@anchor{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC} Use the program counter to determine the
2977contents and size of a breakpoint instruction. It returns a pointer to
2978a string of bytes that encode a breakpoint instruction, stores the
2979length of the string to @code{*@var{lenptr}}, and adjusts the program
2980counter (if necessary) to point to the actual memory location where the
2981breakpoint should be inserted.
c906108c
SS
2982
2983Although it is common to use a trap instruction for a breakpoint, it's
2984not required; for instance, the bit pattern could be an invalid
2985instruction. The breakpoint must be no longer than the shortest
2986instruction of the architecture.
2987
7a292a7a
SS
2988Replaces all the other @var{BREAKPOINT} macros.
2989
56caf160
EZ
2990@item MEMORY_INSERT_BREAKPOINT (@var{addr}, @var{contents_cache})
2991@itemx MEMORY_REMOVE_BREAKPOINT (@var{addr}, @var{contents_cache})
2992@findex MEMORY_REMOVE_BREAKPOINT
2993@findex MEMORY_INSERT_BREAKPOINT
917317f4
JM
2994Insert or remove memory based breakpoints. Reasonable defaults
2995(@code{default_memory_insert_breakpoint} and
2996@code{default_memory_remove_breakpoint} respectively) have been
2997provided so that it is not necessary to define these for most
2998architectures. Architectures which may want to define
56caf160 2999@code{MEMORY_INSERT_BREAKPOINT} and @code{MEMORY_REMOVE_BREAKPOINT} will
917317f4
JM
3000likely have instructions that are oddly sized or are not stored in a
3001conventional manner.
3002
3003It may also be desirable (from an efficiency standpoint) to define
3004custom breakpoint insertion and removal routines if
56caf160 3005@code{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC} needs to read the target's memory for some
917317f4
JM
3006reason.
3007
1485d690
KB
3008@item ADJUST_BREAKPOINT_ADDRESS (@var{address})
3009@findex ADJUST_BREAKPOINT_ADDRESS
3010@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
3011Given an address at which a breakpoint is desired, return a breakpoint
3012address adjusted to account for architectural constraints on
3013breakpoint placement. This method is not needed by most targets.
3014
3015The FR-V target (see @file{frv-tdep.c}) requires this method.
3016The FR-V is a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like
3017instructions are grouped (packed) together into an aggregate
3018instruction or instruction bundle. When the processor executes
3019one of these bundles, the component instructions are executed
3020in parallel.
3021
3022In the course of optimization, the compiler may group instructions
3023from distinct source statements into the same bundle. The line number
3024information associated with one of the latter statements will likely
3025refer to some instruction other than the first one in the bundle. So,
3026if the user attempts to place a breakpoint on one of these latter
3027statements, @value{GDBN} must be careful to @emph{not} place the break
3028instruction on any instruction other than the first one in the bundle.
3029(Remember though that the instructions within a bundle execute
3030in parallel, so the @emph{first} instruction is the instruction
3031at the lowest address and has nothing to do with execution order.)
3032
3033The FR-V's @code{ADJUST_BREAKPOINT_ADDRESS} method will adjust a
3034breakpoint's address by scanning backwards for the beginning of
3035the bundle, returning the address of the bundle.
3036
3037Since the adjustment of a breakpoint may significantly alter a user's
3038expectation, @value{GDBN} prints a warning when an adjusted breakpoint
3039is initially set and each time that that breakpoint is hit.
3040
c906108c 3041@item CALL_DUMMY_LOCATION
56caf160
EZ
3042@findex CALL_DUMMY_LOCATION
3043See the file @file{inferior.h}.
7a292a7a 3044
7043d8dc
AC
3045This method has been replaced by @code{push_dummy_code}
3046(@pxref{push_dummy_code}).
3047
56caf160
EZ
3048@item CANNOT_FETCH_REGISTER (@var{regno})
3049@findex CANNOT_FETCH_REGISTER
c906108c
SS
3050A C expression that should be nonzero if @var{regno} cannot be fetched
3051from an inferior process. This is only relevant if
3052@code{FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS} is not defined.
3053
56caf160
EZ
3054@item CANNOT_STORE_REGISTER (@var{regno})
3055@findex CANNOT_STORE_REGISTER
c906108c
SS
3056A C expression that should be nonzero if @var{regno} should not be
3057written to the target. This is often the case for program counters,
56caf160
EZ
3058status words, and other special registers. If this is not defined,
3059@value{GDBN} will assume that all registers may be written.
c906108c 3060
13d01224
AC
3061@item int CONVERT_REGISTER_P(@var{regnum})
3062@findex CONVERT_REGISTER_P
3063Return non-zero if register @var{regnum} can represent data values in a
3064non-standard form.
3065@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
3066
c906108c 3067@item DECR_PC_AFTER_BREAK
56caf160 3068@findex DECR_PC_AFTER_BREAK
c906108c
SS
3069Define this to be the amount by which to decrement the PC after the
3070program encounters a breakpoint. This is often the number of bytes in
56caf160 3071@code{BREAKPOINT}, though not always. For most targets this value will be 0.
c906108c 3072
56caf160
EZ
3073@item DISABLE_UNSETTABLE_BREAK (@var{addr})
3074@findex DISABLE_UNSETTABLE_BREAK
c906108c
SS
3075If defined, this should evaluate to 1 if @var{addr} is in a shared
3076library in which breakpoints cannot be set and so should be disabled.
3077
5e74b15c 3078@item PRINT_FLOAT_INFO()
0ab7a791 3079@findex PRINT_FLOAT_INFO
5e74b15c
RE
3080If defined, then the @samp{info float} command will print information about
3081the processor's floating point unit.
3082
0ab7a791
AC
3083@item print_registers_info (@var{gdbarch}, @var{frame}, @var{regnum}, @var{all})
3084@findex print_registers_info
3085If defined, pretty print the value of the register @var{regnum} for the
3086specified @var{frame}. If the value of @var{regnum} is -1, pretty print
3087either all registers (@var{all} is non zero) or a select subset of
3088registers (@var{all} is zero).
3089
3090The default method prints one register per line, and if @var{all} is
3091zero omits floating-point registers.
3092
e76f1f2e
AC
3093@item PRINT_VECTOR_INFO()
3094@findex PRINT_VECTOR_INFO
3095If defined, then the @samp{info vector} command will call this function
3096to print information about the processor's vector unit.
3097
3098By default, the @samp{info vector} command will print all vector
3099registers (the register's type having the vector attribute).
3100
0dcedd82 3101@item DWARF_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3102@findex DWARF_REG_TO_REGNUM
0dcedd82
AC
3103Convert DWARF register number into @value{GDBN} regnum. If not defined,
3104no conversion will be performed.
3105
3106@item DWARF2_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3107@findex DWARF2_REG_TO_REGNUM
0dcedd82
AC
3108Convert DWARF2 register number into @value{GDBN} regnum. If not
3109defined, no conversion will be performed.
3110
3111@item ECOFF_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3112@findex ECOFF_REG_TO_REGNUM
0dcedd82
AC
3113Convert ECOFF register number into @value{GDBN} regnum. If not defined,
3114no conversion will be performed.
3115
c906108c 3116@item END_OF_TEXT_DEFAULT
56caf160
EZ
3117@findex END_OF_TEXT_DEFAULT
3118This is an expression that should designate the end of the text section.
3119@c (? FIXME ?)
c906108c 3120
56caf160
EZ
3121@item EXTRACT_RETURN_VALUE(@var{type}, @var{regbuf}, @var{valbuf})
3122@findex EXTRACT_RETURN_VALUE
c906108c
SS
3123Define this to extract a function's return value of type @var{type} from
3124the raw register state @var{regbuf} and copy that, in virtual format,
3125into @var{valbuf}.
3126
92ad9cd9
AC
3127This method has been deprecated in favour of @code{gdbarch_return_value}
3128(@pxref{gdbarch_return_value}).
3129
74055713
AC
3130@item DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS(@var{regbuf})
3131@findex DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS
3132@anchor{DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS}
83aa8bc6
AC
3133When defined, extract from the array @var{regbuf} (containing the raw
3134register state) the @code{CORE_ADDR} at which a function should return
3135its structure value.
ac9a91a7 3136
92ad9cd9 3137@xref{gdbarch_return_value}.
83aa8bc6 3138
74055713
AC
3139@item DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS_P()
3140@findex DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS_P
3141Predicate for @code{DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS}.
c906108c 3142
0ba6dca9
AC
3143@item DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM
3144@findex DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM
cce74817
JM
3145If the virtual frame pointer is kept in a register, then define this
3146macro to be the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register.
3147
0ba6dca9
AC
3148This should only need to be defined if @code{DEPRECATED_TARGET_READ_FP}
3149is not defined.
c906108c 3150
19772a2c
AC
3151@item DEPRECATED_FRAMELESS_FUNCTION_INVOCATION(@var{fi})
3152@findex DEPRECATED_FRAMELESS_FUNCTION_INVOCATION
392a587b
JM
3153Define this to an expression that returns 1 if the function invocation
3154represented by @var{fi} does not have a stack frame associated with it.
3155Otherwise return 0.
c906108c 3156
790eb8f5
AC
3157@item frame_align (@var{address})
3158@anchor{frame_align}
3159@findex frame_align
3160Define this to adjust @var{address} so that it meets the alignment
3161requirements for the start of a new stack frame. A stack frame's
3162alignment requirements are typically stronger than a target processors
f27dd7fd 3163stack alignment requirements (@pxref{DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN}).
790eb8f5
AC
3164
3165This function is used to ensure that, when creating a dummy frame, both
3166the initial stack pointer and (if needed) the address of the return
3167value are correctly aligned.
3168
f27dd7fd
AC
3169Unlike @code{DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN}, this function always adjusts the
3170address in the direction of stack growth.
790eb8f5
AC
3171
3172By default, no frame based stack alignment is performed.
3173
8b148df9
AC
3174@item int frame_red_zone_size
3175
3176The number of bytes, beyond the innermost-stack-address, reserved by the
3177@sc{abi}. A function is permitted to use this scratch area (instead of
3178allocating extra stack space).
3179
3180When performing an inferior function call, to ensure that it does not
3181modify this area, @value{GDBN} adjusts the innermost-stack-address by
3182@var{frame_red_zone_size} bytes before pushing parameters onto the
3183stack.
3184
3185By default, zero bytes are allocated. The value must be aligned
3186(@pxref{frame_align}).
3187
3188The @sc{amd64} (nee x86-64) @sc{abi} documentation refers to the
3189@emph{red zone} when describing this scratch area.
3190@cindex red zone
3191
618ce49f
AC
3192@item DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN(@var{frame})
3193@findex DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN
c906108c
SS
3194Given @var{frame}, return a pointer to the calling frame.
3195
618ce49f
AC
3196@item DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN_VALID(@var{chain}, @var{thisframe})
3197@findex DEPRECATED_FRAME_CHAIN_VALID
95f90d25
DJ
3198Define this to be an expression that returns zero if the given frame is an
3199outermost frame, with no caller, and nonzero otherwise. Most normal
3200situations can be handled without defining this macro, including @code{NULL}
3201chain pointers, dummy frames, and frames whose PC values are inside the
3202startup file (e.g.@: @file{crt0.o}), inside @code{main}, or inside
3203@code{_start}.
c906108c 3204
f30ee0bc
AC
3205@item DEPRECATED_FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS(@var{frame})
3206@findex DEPRECATED_FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS
c906108c
SS
3207See @file{frame.h}. Determines the address of all registers in the
3208current stack frame storing each in @code{frame->saved_regs}. Space for
3209@code{frame->saved_regs} shall be allocated by
f30ee0bc
AC
3210@code{DEPRECATED_FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS} using
3211@code{frame_saved_regs_zalloc}.
c906108c 3212
fb8f8949 3213@code{FRAME_FIND_SAVED_REGS} is deprecated.
c906108c 3214
56caf160
EZ
3215@item FRAME_NUM_ARGS (@var{fi})
3216@findex FRAME_NUM_ARGS
392a587b
JM
3217For the frame described by @var{fi} return the number of arguments that
3218are being passed. If the number of arguments is not known, return
3219@code{-1}.
c906108c 3220
8bedc050
AC
3221@item DEPRECATED_FRAME_SAVED_PC(@var{frame})
3222@findex DEPRECATED_FRAME_SAVED_PC
3223@anchor{DEPRECATED_FRAME_SAVED_PC} Given @var{frame}, return the pc
3224saved there. This is the return address.
12cc2063
AC
3225
3226This method is deprecated. @xref{unwind_pc}.
3227
3228@item CORE_ADDR unwind_pc (struct frame_info *@var{this_frame})
3229@findex unwind_pc
3230@anchor{unwind_pc} Return the instruction address, in @var{this_frame}'s
3231caller, at which execution will resume after @var{this_frame} returns.
3232This is commonly refered to as the return address.
3233
3234The implementation, which must be frame agnostic (work with any frame),
3235is typically no more than:
3236
3237@smallexample
3238ULONGEST pc;
3239frame_unwind_unsigned_register (this_frame, D10V_PC_REGNUM, &pc);
3240return d10v_make_iaddr (pc);
3241@end smallexample
3242
3243@noindent
8bedc050 3244@xref{DEPRECATED_FRAME_SAVED_PC}, which this method replaces.
c906108c 3245
a9e5fdc2
AC
3246@item CORE_ADDR unwind_sp (struct frame_info *@var{this_frame})
3247@findex unwind_sp
3248@anchor{unwind_sp} Return the frame's inner most stack address. This is
3249commonly refered to as the frame's @dfn{stack pointer}.
3250
3251The implementation, which must be frame agnostic (work with any frame),
3252is typically no more than:
3253
3254@smallexample
3255ULONGEST sp;
3256frame_unwind_unsigned_register (this_frame, D10V_SP_REGNUM, &sp);
3257return d10v_make_daddr (sp);
3258@end smallexample
3259
3260@noindent
3261@xref{TARGET_READ_SP}, which this method replaces.
3262
c906108c 3263@item FUNCTION_EPILOGUE_SIZE
56caf160 3264@findex FUNCTION_EPILOGUE_SIZE
c906108c
SS
3265For some COFF targets, the @code{x_sym.x_misc.x_fsize} field of the
3266function end symbol is 0. For such targets, you must define
3267@code{FUNCTION_EPILOGUE_SIZE} to expand into the standard size of a
3268function's epilogue.
3269
782263ab
AC
3270@item DEPRECATED_FUNCTION_START_OFFSET
3271@findex DEPRECATED_FUNCTION_START_OFFSET
f7cb2b90
JB
3272An integer, giving the offset in bytes from a function's address (as
3273used in the values of symbols, function pointers, etc.), and the
3274function's first genuine instruction.
3275
3276This is zero on almost all machines: the function's address is usually
782263ab
AC
3277the address of its first instruction. However, on the VAX, for
3278example, each function starts with two bytes containing a bitmask
3279indicating which registers to save upon entry to the function. The
3280VAX @code{call} instructions check this value, and save the
3281appropriate registers automatically. Thus, since the offset from the
3282function's address to its first instruction is two bytes,
3283@code{DEPRECATED_FUNCTION_START_OFFSET} would be 2 on the VAX.
f7cb2b90 3284
c906108c 3285@item GCC_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
56caf160
EZ
3286@itemx GCC2_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
3287@findex GCC2_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
3288@findex GCC_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
3289If defined, these are the names of the symbols that @value{GDBN} will
3290look for to detect that GCC compiled the file. The default symbols
3291are @code{gcc_compiled.} and @code{gcc2_compiled.},
3292respectively. (Currently only defined for the Delta 68.)
c906108c 3293
25822942 3294@item @value{GDBN}_MULTI_ARCH
56caf160 3295@findex @value{GDBN}_MULTI_ARCH
937f164b 3296If defined and non-zero, enables support for multiple architectures
25822942 3297within @value{GDBN}.
0f71a2f6 3298
56caf160 3299This support can be enabled at two levels. At level one, only
0f71a2f6 3300definitions for previously undefined macros are provided; at level two,
937f164b 3301a multi-arch definition of all architecture dependent macros will be
0f71a2f6
JM
3302defined.
3303
25822942 3304@item @value{GDBN}_TARGET_IS_HPPA
56caf160
EZ
3305@findex @value{GDBN}_TARGET_IS_HPPA
3306This determines whether horrible kludge code in @file{dbxread.c} and
3307@file{partial-stab.h} is used to mangle multiple-symbol-table files from
3308HPPA's. This should all be ripped out, and a scheme like @file{elfread.c}
3309used instead.
c906108c 3310
c906108c 3311@item GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
56caf160 3312@findex GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
c906108c
SS
3313For most machines, this is a target-dependent parameter. On the
3314DECstation and the Iris, this is a native-dependent parameter, since
937f164b 3315the header file @file{setjmp.h} is needed to define it.
c906108c 3316
56caf160
EZ
3317This macro determines the target PC address that @code{longjmp} will jump to,
3318assuming that we have just stopped at a @code{longjmp} breakpoint. It takes a
3319@code{CORE_ADDR *} as argument, and stores the target PC value through this
c906108c
SS
3320pointer. It examines the current state of the machine as needed.
3321
ac2adee5
AC
3322@item DEPRECATED_GET_SAVED_REGISTER
3323@findex DEPRECATED_GET_SAVED_REGISTER
c906108c 3324Define this if you need to supply your own definition for the function
ac2adee5 3325@code{DEPRECATED_GET_SAVED_REGISTER}.
c906108c 3326
268e2188
AC
3327@item DEPRECATED_IBM6000_TARGET
3328@findex DEPRECATED_IBM6000_TARGET
3329Shows that we are configured for an IBM RS/6000 system. This
c906108c 3330conditional should be eliminated (FIXME) and replaced by
56caf160 3331feature-specific macros. It was introduced in a haste and we are
c906108c
SS
3332repenting at leisure.
3333
9742079a
EZ
3334@item I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS
3335An x86-based target can define this to use the generic x86 watchpoint
3336support; see @ref{Algorithms, I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS}.
3337
2df3850c 3338@item SYMBOLS_CAN_START_WITH_DOLLAR
56caf160 3339@findex SYMBOLS_CAN_START_WITH_DOLLAR
2df3850c 3340Some systems have routines whose names start with @samp{$}. Giving this
25822942 3341macro a non-zero value tells @value{GDBN}'s expression parser to check for such
2df3850c
JM
3342routines when parsing tokens that begin with @samp{$}.
3343
3344On HP-UX, certain system routines (millicode) have names beginning with
3345@samp{$} or @samp{$$}. For example, @code{$$dyncall} is a millicode
3346routine that handles inter-space procedure calls on PA-RISC.
3347
e9582e71
AC
3348@item DEPRECATED_INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO (@var{fromleaf}, @var{frame})
3349@findex DEPRECATED_INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO
c906108c
SS
3350If additional information about the frame is required this should be
3351stored in @code{frame->extra_info}. Space for @code{frame->extra_info}
372613e3 3352is allocated using @code{frame_extra_info_zalloc}.
c906108c 3353
a5afb99f
AC
3354@item DEPRECATED_INIT_FRAME_PC (@var{fromleaf}, @var{prev})
3355@findex DEPRECATED_INIT_FRAME_PC
c906108c
SS
3356This is a C statement that sets the pc of the frame pointed to by
3357@var{prev}. [By default...]
3358
56caf160
EZ
3359@item INNER_THAN (@var{lhs}, @var{rhs})
3360@findex INNER_THAN
c906108c
SS
3361Returns non-zero if stack address @var{lhs} is inner than (nearer to the
3362stack top) stack address @var{rhs}. Define this as @code{lhs < rhs} if
3363the target's stack grows downward in memory, or @code{lhs > rsh} if the
3364stack grows upward.
3365
9e5abb06
CV
3366@item gdbarch_in_function_epilogue_p (@var{gdbarch}, @var{pc})
3367@findex gdbarch_in_function_epilogue_p
3368Returns non-zero if the given @var{pc} is in the epilogue of a function.
3369The epilogue of a function is defined as the part of a function where
3370the stack frame of the function already has been destroyed up to the
3371final `return from function call' instruction.
3372
aa2a3f87
AC
3373@item DEPRECATED_SIGTRAMP_START (@var{pc})
3374@findex DEPRECATED_SIGTRAMP_START
3375@itemx DEPRECATED_SIGTRAMP_END (@var{pc})
3376@findex DEPRECATED_SIGTRAMP_END
56caf160 3377Define these to be the start and end address of the @code{sigtramp} for the
c906108c
SS
3378given @var{pc}. On machines where the address is just a compile time
3379constant, the macro expansion will typically just ignore the supplied
3380@var{pc}.
3381
56caf160
EZ
3382@item IN_SOLIB_CALL_TRAMPOLINE (@var{pc}, @var{name})
3383@findex IN_SOLIB_CALL_TRAMPOLINE
c906108c
SS
3384Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
3385trampoline that connects to a shared library.
3386
56caf160
EZ
3387@item IN_SOLIB_RETURN_TRAMPOLINE (@var{pc}, @var{name})
3388@findex IN_SOLIB_RETURN_TRAMPOLINE
c906108c
SS
3389Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
3390trampoline that returns from a shared library.
3391
56caf160
EZ
3392@item IN_SOLIB_DYNSYM_RESOLVE_CODE (@var{pc})
3393@findex IN_SOLIB_DYNSYM_RESOLVE_CODE
d4f3574e
SS
3394Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
3395dynamic linker.
3396
56caf160
EZ
3397@item SKIP_SOLIB_RESOLVER (@var{pc})
3398@findex SKIP_SOLIB_RESOLVER
d4f3574e
SS
3399Define this to evaluate to the (nonzero) address at which execution
3400should continue to get past the dynamic linker's symbol resolution
3401function. A zero value indicates that it is not important or necessary
3402to set a breakpoint to get through the dynamic linker and that single
3403stepping will suffice.
3404
fc0c74b1
AC
3405@item INTEGER_TO_ADDRESS (@var{type}, @var{buf})
3406@findex INTEGER_TO_ADDRESS
3407@cindex converting integers to addresses
3408Define this when the architecture needs to handle non-pointer to address
3409conversions specially. Converts that value to an address according to
3410the current architectures conventions.
3411
3412@emph{Pragmatics: When the user copies a well defined expression from
3413their source code and passes it, as a parameter, to @value{GDBN}'s
3414@code{print} command, they should get the same value as would have been
3415computed by the target program. Any deviation from this rule can cause
3416major confusion and annoyance, and needs to be justified carefully. In
3417other words, @value{GDBN} doesn't really have the freedom to do these
3418conversions in clever and useful ways. It has, however, been pointed
3419out that users aren't complaining about how @value{GDBN} casts integers
3420to pointers; they are complaining that they can't take an address from a
3421disassembly listing and give it to @code{x/i}. Adding an architecture
3422method like @code{INTEGER_TO_ADDRESS} certainly makes it possible for
3423@value{GDBN} to ``get it right'' in all circumstances.}
3424
3425@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Pointers Are Not Always
3426Addresses}.
3427
c906108c 3428@item NO_HIF_SUPPORT
56caf160 3429@findex NO_HIF_SUPPORT
c906108c
SS
3430(Specific to the a29k.)
3431
93e79dbd 3432@item POINTER_TO_ADDRESS (@var{type}, @var{buf})
56caf160 3433@findex POINTER_TO_ADDRESS
93e79dbd
JB
3434Assume that @var{buf} holds a pointer of type @var{type}, in the
3435appropriate format for the current architecture. Return the byte
3436address the pointer refers to.
3437@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Pointers Are Not Always Addresses}.
3438
9fb4dd36 3439@item REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE (@var{reg})
56caf160 3440@findex REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE
9fb4dd36 3441Return non-zero if @var{reg} uses different raw and virtual formats.
13d01224
AC
3442@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
3443
3444@item REGISTER_TO_VALUE(@var{regnum}, @var{type}, @var{from}, @var{to})
3445@findex REGISTER_TO_VALUE
3446Convert the raw contents of register @var{regnum} into a value of type
3447@var{type}.
4281a42e 3448@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3449
12c266ea
AC
3450@item DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE (@var{reg})
3451@findex DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE
b2e75d78
AC
3452Return the raw size of @var{reg}; defaults to the size of the register's
3453virtual type.
13d01224 3454@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3455
617073a9
AC
3456@item register_reggroup_p (@var{gdbarch}, @var{regnum}, @var{reggroup})
3457@findex register_reggroup_p
3458@cindex register groups
3459Return non-zero if register @var{regnum} is a member of the register
3460group @var{reggroup}.
3461
3462By default, registers are grouped as follows:
3463
3464@table @code
3465@item float_reggroup
3466Any register with a valid name and a floating-point type.
3467@item vector_reggroup
3468Any register with a valid name and a vector type.
3469@item general_reggroup
3470Any register with a valid name and a type other than vector or
3471floating-point. @samp{float_reggroup}.
3472@item save_reggroup
3473@itemx restore_reggroup
3474@itemx all_reggroup
3475Any register with a valid name.
3476@end table
3477
f30992d4
AC
3478@item DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_SIZE (@var{reg})
3479@findex DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_SIZE
b2e75d78
AC
3480Return the virtual size of @var{reg}; defaults to the size of the
3481register's virtual type.
13d01224
AC
3482Return the virtual size of @var{reg}.
3483@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3484
2e092625 3485@item DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})
56caf160 3486@findex REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE
9fb4dd36 3487Return the virtual type of @var{reg}.
13d01224 3488@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3489
77e7e267
AC
3490@item struct type *register_type (@var{gdbarch}, @var{reg})
3491@findex register_type
3492If defined, return the type of register @var{reg}. This function
2e092625 3493superseeds @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE}. @xref{Target Architecture
77e7e267
AC
3494Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
3495
9fb4dd36 3496@item REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL(@var{reg}, @var{type}, @var{from}, @var{to})
56caf160 3497@findex REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL
9fb4dd36 3498Convert the value of register @var{reg} from its raw form to its virtual
4281a42e 3499form.
13d01224 3500@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36
JB
3501
3502@item REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW(@var{type}, @var{reg}, @var{from}, @var{to})
56caf160 3503@findex REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW
9fb4dd36 3504Convert the value of register @var{reg} from its virtual form to its raw
4281a42e 3505form.
13d01224 3506@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Raw and Virtual Register Representations}.
9fb4dd36 3507
0ab4b752
MK
3508@item const struct regset *regset_from_core_section (struct gdbarch * @var{gdbarch}, const char * @var{sect_name}, size_t @var{sect_size})
3509@findex regset_from_core_section
3510Return the appropriate register set for a core file section with name
3511@var{sect_name} and size @var{sect_size}.
3512
b0ed3589 3513@item SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP_P()
56caf160 3514@findex SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP_P
c906108c 3515Define this as 1 if the target does not have a hardware single-step
56caf160 3516mechanism. The macro @code{SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP} must also be defined.
c906108c 3517
56caf160
EZ
3518@item SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP(@var{signal}, @var{insert_breapoints_p})
3519@findex SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP
3520A function that inserts or removes (depending on
c906108c 3521@var{insert_breapoints_p}) breakpoints at each possible destinations of
56caf160 3522the next instruction. See @file{sparc-tdep.c} and @file{rs6000-tdep.c}
c906108c
SS
3523for examples.
3524
da59e081 3525@item SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING
56caf160 3526@findex SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING
da59e081
JM
3527Somebody clever observed that, the more actual addresses you have in the
3528debug information, the more time the linker has to spend relocating
3529them. So whenever there's some other way the debugger could find the
3530address it needs, you should omit it from the debug info, to make
3531linking faster.
3532
3533@code{SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING} indicates that a particular set of
3534hacks of this sort are in use, affecting @code{N_SO} and @code{N_FUN}
3535entries in stabs-format debugging information. @code{N_SO} stabs mark
3536the beginning and ending addresses of compilation units in the text
3537segment. @code{N_FUN} stabs mark the starts and ends of functions.
3538
3539@code{SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING} means two things:
da59e081 3540
56caf160 3541@itemize @bullet
da59e081
JM
3542@item
3543@code{N_FUN} stabs have an address of zero. Instead, you should find the
3544addresses where the function starts by taking the function name from
56caf160
EZ
3545the stab, and then looking that up in the minsyms (the
3546linker/assembler symbol table). In other words, the stab has the
3547name, and the linker/assembler symbol table is the only place that carries
da59e081
JM
3548the address.
3549
3550@item
3551@code{N_SO} stabs have an address of zero, too. You just look at the
3552@code{N_FUN} stabs that appear before and after the @code{N_SO} stab,
3553and guess the starting and ending addresses of the compilation unit from
3554them.
da59e081
JM
3555@end itemize
3556
c906108c 3557@item PC_LOAD_SEGMENT
56caf160 3558@findex PC_LOAD_SEGMENT
c906108c
SS
3559If defined, print information about the load segment for the program
3560counter. (Defined only for the RS/6000.)
3561
3562@item PC_REGNUM
56caf160 3563@findex PC_REGNUM
c906108c 3564If the program counter is kept in a register, then define this macro to
cce74817
JM
3565be the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register.
3566
3567This should only need to be defined if @code{TARGET_READ_PC} and
3568@code{TARGET_WRITE_PC} are not defined.
c906108c 3569
2df3850c 3570@item PARM_BOUNDARY
56caf160 3571@findex PARM_BOUNDARY
2df3850c
JM
3572If non-zero, round arguments to a boundary of this many bits before
3573pushing them on the stack.
3574
a38c9fe6
MK
3575@item stabs_argument_has_addr (@var{gdbarch}, @var{type})
3576@findex stabs_argument_has_addr
3577@findex DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR
3578@anchor{stabs_argument_has_addr} Define this to return nonzero if a
3579function argument of type @var{type} is passed by reference instead of
3580value.
3581
ee206350
AG
3582This method replaces @code{DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR}
3583(@pxref{DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR}).
a38c9fe6 3584
c906108c 3585@item PROCESS_LINENUMBER_HOOK
56caf160 3586@findex PROCESS_LINENUMBER_HOOK
c906108c
SS
3587A hook defined for XCOFF reading.
3588
3589@item PROLOGUE_FIRSTLINE_OVERLAP
56caf160 3590@findex PROLOGUE_FIRSTLINE_OVERLAP
c906108c
SS
3591(Only used in unsupported Convex configuration.)
3592
3593@item PS_REGNUM
56caf160 3594@findex PS_REGNUM
c906108c
SS
3595If defined, this is the number of the processor status register. (This
3596definition is only used in generic code when parsing "$ps".)
3597
749b82f6
AC
3598@item DEPRECATED_POP_FRAME
3599@findex DEPRECATED_POP_FRAME
3600@findex frame_pop
3601If defined, used by @code{frame_pop} to remove a stack frame. This
3602method has been superseeded by generic code.
c906108c 3603
d4b6d575 3604@item push_dummy_call (@var{gdbarch}, @var{function}, @var{regcache}, @var{pc_addr}, @var{nargs}, @var{args}, @var{sp}, @var{struct_return}, @var{struct_addr})
b81774d8
AC
3605@findex push_dummy_call
3606@findex DEPRECATED_PUSH_ARGUMENTS.
39fe6e80
AC
3607@anchor{push_dummy_call} Define this to push the dummy frame's call to
3608the inferior function onto the stack. In addition to pushing
3609@var{nargs}, the code should push @var{struct_addr} (when
3610@var{struct_return}), and the return address (@var{bp_addr}).
c906108c 3611
86fe4aaa 3612@var{function} is a pointer to a @code{struct value}; on architectures that use
d4b6d575
RC
3613function descriptors, this contains the function descriptor value.
3614
b24da7d0 3615Returns the updated top-of-stack pointer.
b81774d8
AC
3616
3617This method replaces @code{DEPRECATED_PUSH_ARGUMENTS}.
3618
7043d8dc
AC
3619@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})
3620@findex push_dummy_code
7043d8dc
AC
3621@anchor{push_dummy_code} Given a stack based call dummy, push the
3622instruction sequence (including space for a breakpoint) to which the
3623called function should return.
3624
3625Set @var{bp_addr} to the address at which the breakpoint instruction
3626should be inserted, @var{real_pc} to the resume address when starting
3627the call sequence, and return the updated inner-most stack address.
3628
3629By default, the stack is grown sufficient to hold a frame-aligned
3630(@pxref{frame_align}) breakpoint, @var{bp_addr} is set to the address
3631reserved for that breakpoint, and @var{real_pc} set to @var{funaddr}.
3632
434b87dd 3633This method replaces @code{CALL_DUMMY_LOCATION},
28954179 3634@code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_SIZE}.
7043d8dc 3635
56caf160
EZ
3636@item REGISTER_NAME(@var{i})
3637@findex REGISTER_NAME
3638Return the name of register @var{i} as a string. May return @code{NULL}
3639or @code{NUL} to indicate that register @var{i} is not valid.
c906108c 3640
8e823e25
MK
3641@item DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR (@var{gcc_p}, @var{type})
3642@findex DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR
a38c9fe6
MK
3643@anchor{DEPRECATED_REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR}Define this to return 1 if the
3644given type will be passed by pointer rather than directly.
3645
3646This method has been replaced by @code{stabs_argument_has_addr}
3647(@pxref{stabs_argument_has_addr}).
c906108c 3648
b24da7d0
AC
3649@item SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS (@var{sp})
3650@findex SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS
3651@anchor{SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS} Used in @samp{call_function_by_hand} to
3652notify the target dependent code of the top-of-stack value that will be
3653passed to the the inferior code. This is the value of the @code{SP}
3654after both the dummy frame and space for parameters/results have been
3655allocated on the stack. @xref{unwind_dummy_id}.
43ff13b4 3656
c906108c 3657@item SDB_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3658@findex SDB_REG_TO_REGNUM
25822942 3659Define this to convert sdb register numbers into @value{GDBN} regnums. If not
c906108c
SS
3660defined, no conversion will be done.
3661
963e2bb7 3662@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
3663@findex gdbarch_return_value
3664@anchor{gdbarch_return_value} Given a function with a return-value of
3665type @var{rettype}, return which return-value convention that function
3666would use.
3667
3668@value{GDBN} currently recognizes two function return-value conventions:
3669@code{RETURN_VALUE_REGISTER_CONVENTION} where the return value is found
3670in registers; and @code{RETURN_VALUE_STRUCT_CONVENTION} where the return
3671value is found in memory and the address of that memory location is
3672passed in as the function's first parameter.
3673
963e2bb7
AC
3674If the register convention is being used, and @var{writebuf} is
3675non-@code{NULL}, also copy the return-value in @var{writebuf} into
92ad9cd9
AC
3676@var{regcache}.
3677
963e2bb7 3678If the register convention is being used, and @var{readbuf} is
92ad9cd9 3679non-@code{NULL}, also copy the return value from @var{regcache} into
963e2bb7 3680@var{readbuf} (@var{regcache} contains a copy of the registers from the
92ad9cd9
AC
3681just returned function).
3682
74055713 3683@xref{DEPRECATED_EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS}, for a description of how
92ad9cd9
AC
3684return-values that use the struct convention are handled.
3685
3686@emph{Maintainer note: This method replaces separate predicate, extract,
3687store methods. By having only one method, the logic needed to determine
3688the return-value convention need only be implemented in one place. If
3689@value{GDBN} were written in an @sc{oo} language, this method would
3690instead return an object that knew how to perform the register
3691return-value extract and store.}
3692
3693@emph{Maintainer note: This method does not take a @var{gcc_p}
3694parameter, and such a parameter should not be added. If an architecture
3695that requires per-compiler or per-function information be identified,
3696then the replacement of @var{rettype} with @code{struct value}
3697@var{function} should be persued.}
3698
3699@emph{Maintainer note: The @var{regcache} parameter limits this methods
3700to the inner most frame. While replacing @var{regcache} with a
3701@code{struct frame_info} @var{frame} parameter would remove that
3702limitation there has yet to be a demonstrated need for such a change.}
3703
c2c6d25f 3704@item SKIP_PERMANENT_BREAKPOINT
56caf160 3705@findex SKIP_PERMANENT_BREAKPOINT
25822942 3706Advance the inferior's PC past a permanent breakpoint. @value{GDBN} normally
c2c6d25f
JM
3707steps over a breakpoint by removing it, stepping one instruction, and
3708re-inserting the breakpoint. However, permanent breakpoints are
3709hardwired into the inferior, and can't be removed, so this strategy
56caf160 3710doesn't work. Calling @code{SKIP_PERMANENT_BREAKPOINT} adjusts the processor's
c2c6d25f
JM
3711state so that execution will resume just after the breakpoint. This
3712macro does the right thing even when the breakpoint is in the delay slot
3713of a branch or jump.
3714
56caf160
EZ
3715@item SKIP_PROLOGUE (@var{pc})
3716@findex SKIP_PROLOGUE
b83266a0
SS
3717A C expression that returns the address of the ``real'' code beyond the
3718function entry prologue found at @var{pc}.
c906108c 3719
56caf160
EZ
3720@item SKIP_TRAMPOLINE_CODE (@var{pc})
3721@findex SKIP_TRAMPOLINE_CODE
c906108c
SS
3722If the target machine has trampoline code that sits between callers and
3723the functions being called, then define this macro to return a new PC
3724that is at the start of the real function.
3725
3726@item SP_REGNUM
56caf160 3727@findex SP_REGNUM
cce74817 3728If the stack-pointer is kept in a register, then define this macro to be
6c0e89ed
AC
3729the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register, or -1 if
3730there is no such register.
c906108c
SS
3731
3732@item STAB_REG_TO_REGNUM
56caf160 3733@findex STAB_REG_TO_REGNUM
c906108c 3734Define this to convert stab register numbers (as gotten from `r'
25822942 3735declarations) into @value{GDBN} regnums. If not defined, no conversion will be
c906108c
SS
3736done.
3737
f27dd7fd
AC
3738@item DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN (@var{addr})
3739@anchor{DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN}
3740@findex DEPRECATED_STACK_ALIGN
790eb8f5
AC
3741Define this to increase @var{addr} so that it meets the alignment
3742requirements for the processor's stack.
3743
3744Unlike @ref{frame_align}, this function always adjusts @var{addr}
3745upwards.
3746
3747By default, no stack alignment is performed.
c906108c 3748
56caf160
EZ
3749@item STEP_SKIPS_DELAY (@var{addr})
3750@findex STEP_SKIPS_DELAY
c906108c
SS
3751Define this to return true if the address is of an instruction with a
3752delay slot. If a breakpoint has been placed in the instruction's delay
25822942 3753slot, @value{GDBN} will single-step over that instruction before resuming
c906108c
SS
3754normally. Currently only defined for the Mips.
3755
ebba8386 3756@item STORE_RETURN_VALUE (@var{type}, @var{regcache}, @var{valbuf})
56caf160 3757@findex STORE_RETURN_VALUE
ebba8386
AC
3758A C expression that writes the function return value, found in
3759@var{valbuf}, into the @var{regcache}. @var{type} is the type of the
3760value that is to be returned.
c906108c 3761
92ad9cd9
AC
3762This method has been deprecated in favour of @code{gdbarch_return_value}
3763(@pxref{gdbarch_return_value}).
3764
c906108c 3765@item SYMBOL_RELOADING_DEFAULT
56caf160
EZ
3766@findex SYMBOL_RELOADING_DEFAULT
3767The default value of the ``symbol-reloading'' variable. (Never defined in
c906108c
SS
3768current sources.)
3769
c906108c 3770@item TARGET_CHAR_BIT
56caf160 3771@findex TARGET_CHAR_BIT
c906108c
SS
3772Number of bits in a char; defaults to 8.
3773
c3d3ce5b
JB
3774@item TARGET_CHAR_SIGNED
3775@findex TARGET_CHAR_SIGNED
3776Non-zero if @code{char} is normally signed on this architecture; zero if
3777it should be unsigned.
3778
3779The ISO C standard requires the compiler to treat @code{char} as
3780equivalent to either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char}; any
3781character in the standard execution set is supposed to be positive.
3782Most compilers treat @code{char} as signed, but @code{char} is unsigned
3783on the IBM S/390, RS6000, and PowerPC targets.
3784
c906108c 3785@item TARGET_COMPLEX_BIT
56caf160 3786@findex TARGET_COMPLEX_BIT
c906108c
SS
3787Number of bits in a complex number; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_FLOAT_BIT}.
3788
ac9a91a7
JM
3789At present this macro is not used.
3790
c906108c 3791@item TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT
56caf160 3792@findex TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT
c906108c
SS
3793Number of bits in a double float; defaults to @code{8 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3794
3795@item TARGET_DOUBLE_COMPLEX_BIT
56caf160 3796@findex TARGET_DOUBLE_COMPLEX_BIT
c906108c
SS
3797Number of bits in a double complex; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT}.
3798
ac9a91a7
JM
3799At present this macro is not used.
3800
c906108c 3801@item TARGET_FLOAT_BIT
56caf160 3802@findex TARGET_FLOAT_BIT
c906108c
SS
3803Number of bits in a float; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3804
3805@item TARGET_INT_BIT
56caf160 3806@findex TARGET_INT_BIT
c906108c
SS
3807Number of bits in an integer; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3808
3809@item TARGET_LONG_BIT
56caf160 3810@findex TARGET_LONG_BIT
c906108c
SS
3811Number of bits in a long integer; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3812
3813@item TARGET_LONG_DOUBLE_BIT
56caf160 3814@findex TARGET_LONG_DOUBLE_BIT
c906108c
SS
3815Number of bits in a long double float;
3816defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT}.
3817
3818@item TARGET_LONG_LONG_BIT
56caf160 3819@findex TARGET_LONG_LONG_BIT
c906108c
SS
3820Number of bits in a long long integer; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_LONG_BIT}.
3821
3822@item TARGET_PTR_BIT
56caf160 3823@findex TARGET_PTR_BIT
c906108c
SS
3824Number of bits in a pointer; defaults to @code{TARGET_INT_BIT}.
3825
3826@item TARGET_SHORT_BIT
56caf160 3827@findex TARGET_SHORT_BIT
c906108c
SS
3828Number of bits in a short integer; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
3829
3830@item TARGET_READ_PC
56caf160
EZ
3831@findex TARGET_READ_PC
3832@itemx TARGET_WRITE_PC (@var{val}, @var{pid})
3833@findex TARGET_WRITE_PC
0717ae8a 3834@anchor{TARGET_WRITE_PC}
56caf160
EZ
3835@itemx TARGET_READ_SP
3836@findex TARGET_READ_SP
56caf160
EZ
3837@itemx TARGET_READ_FP
3838@findex TARGET_READ_FP
56caf160
EZ
3839@findex read_pc
3840@findex write_pc
3841@findex read_sp
56caf160 3842@findex read_fp
a9e5fdc2 3843@anchor{TARGET_READ_SP} These change the behavior of @code{read_pc},
8d2c00cb 3844@code{write_pc}, and @code{read_sp}. For most targets, these may be
9c8dbfa9
AC
3845left undefined. @value{GDBN} will call the read and write register
3846functions with the relevant @code{_REGNUM} argument.
c906108c
SS
3847
3848These macros are useful when a target keeps one of these registers in a
3849hard to get at place; for example, part in a segment register and part
3850in an ordinary register.
3851
a9e5fdc2
AC
3852@xref{unwind_sp}, which replaces @code{TARGET_READ_SP}.
3853
56caf160
EZ
3854@item TARGET_VIRTUAL_FRAME_POINTER(@var{pc}, @var{regp}, @var{offsetp})
3855@findex TARGET_VIRTUAL_FRAME_POINTER
0ba6dca9
AC
3856Returns a @code{(register, offset)} pair representing the virtual frame
3857pointer in use at the code address @var{pc}. If virtual frame pointers
3858are not used, a default definition simply returns
3859@code{DEPRECATED_FP_REGNUM}, with an offset of zero.
c906108c 3860
9742079a
EZ
3861@item TARGET_HAS_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINTS
3862If non-zero, the target has support for hardware-assisted
3863watchpoints. @xref{Algorithms, watchpoints}, for more details and
3864other related macros.
3865
7ccaa899
EZ
3866@item TARGET_PRINT_INSN (@var{addr}, @var{info})
3867@findex TARGET_PRINT_INSN
3868This is the function used by @value{GDBN} to print an assembly
3869instruction. It prints the instruction at address @var{addr} in
3870debugged memory and returns the length of the instruction, in bytes. If
3871a target doesn't define its own printing routine, it defaults to an
d7a27068
AC
3872accessor function for the global pointer
3873@code{deprecated_tm_print_insn}. This usually points to a function in
3874the @code{opcodes} library (@pxref{Support Libraries, ,Opcodes}).
3875@var{info} is a structure (of type @code{disassemble_info}) defined in
3876@file{include/dis-asm.h} used to pass information to the instruction
3877decoding routine.
7ccaa899 3878
6314f104
AC
3879@item struct frame_id unwind_dummy_id (struct frame_info *@var{frame})
3880@findex unwind_dummy_id
3881@anchor{unwind_dummy_id} Given @var{frame} return a @code{struct
3882frame_id} that uniquely identifies an inferior function call's dummy
b24da7d0
AC
3883frame. The value returned must match the dummy frame stack value
3884previously saved using @code{SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS}.
3885@xref{SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS}.
6314f104 3886
b5622e8d
AC
3887@item DEPRECATED_USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION (@var{gcc_p}, @var{type})
3888@findex DEPRECATED_USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION
c906108c
SS
3889If defined, this must be an expression that is nonzero if a value of the
3890given @var{type} being returned from a function must have space
3891allocated for it on the stack. @var{gcc_p} is true if the function
3892being considered is known to have been compiled by GCC; this is helpful
3893for systems where GCC is known to use different calling convention than
3894other compilers.
3895
92ad9cd9
AC
3896This method has been deprecated in favour of @code{gdbarch_return_value}
3897(@pxref{gdbarch_return_value}).
3898
13d01224
AC
3899@item VALUE_TO_REGISTER(@var{type}, @var{regnum}, @var{from}, @var{to})
3900@findex VALUE_TO_REGISTER
3901Convert a value of type @var{type} into the raw contents of register
3902@var{regnum}'s.
3903@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
3904
56caf160
EZ
3905@item VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK (@var{desc}, @var{gcc_p})
3906@findex VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK
c906108c
SS
3907For dbx-style debugging information, if the compiler puts variable
3908declarations inside LBRAC/RBRAC blocks, this should be defined to be
3909nonzero. @var{desc} is the value of @code{n_desc} from the
25822942 3910@code{N_RBRAC} symbol, and @var{gcc_p} is true if @value{GDBN} has noticed the
c906108c
SS
3911presence of either the @code{GCC_COMPILED_SYMBOL} or the
3912@code{GCC2_COMPILED_SYMBOL}. By default, this is 0.
3913
56caf160
EZ
3914@item OS9K_VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK (@var{desc}, @var{gcc_p})
3915@findex OS9K_VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK
c906108c 3916Similarly, for OS/9000. Defaults to 1.
c906108c
SS
3917@end table
3918
3919Motorola M68K target conditionals.
3920
56caf160 3921@ftable @code
c906108c
SS
3922@item BPT_VECTOR
3923Define this to be the 4-bit location of the breakpoint trap vector. If
3924not defined, it will default to @code{0xf}.
3925
3926@item REMOTE_BPT_VECTOR
3927Defaults to @code{1}.
a23a7bf1
JB
3928
3929@item NAME_OF_MALLOC
3930@findex NAME_OF_MALLOC
3931A string containing the name of the function to call in order to
3932allocate some memory in the inferior. The default value is "malloc".
3933
56caf160 3934@end ftable
c906108c
SS
3935
3936@section Adding a New Target
3937
56caf160 3938@cindex adding a target
af6c57ea 3939The following files add a target to @value{GDBN}:
c906108c
SS
3940
3941@table @file
56caf160 3942@vindex TDEPFILES
c906108c
SS
3943@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{ttt}.mt
3944Contains a Makefile fragment specific to this target. Specifies what
3945object files are needed for target @var{ttt}, by defining
104c1213
JM
3946@samp{TDEPFILES=@dots{}} and @samp{TDEPLIBS=@dots{}}. Also specifies
3947the header file which describes @var{ttt}, by defining @samp{TM_FILE=
3948tm-@var{ttt}.h}.
3949
3950You can also define @samp{TM_CFLAGS}, @samp{TM_CLIBS}, @samp{TM_CDEPS},
3951but these are now deprecated, replaced by autoconf, and may go away in
25822942 3952future versions of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c 3953
c906108c
SS
3954@item gdb/@var{ttt}-tdep.c
3955Contains any miscellaneous code required for this target machine. On
3956some machines it doesn't exist at all. Sometimes the macros in
3957@file{tm-@var{ttt}.h} become very complicated, so they are implemented
3958as functions here instead, and the macro is simply defined to call the
3959function. This is vastly preferable, since it is easier to understand
3960and debug.
3961
af6c57ea
AC
3962@item gdb/@var{arch}-tdep.c
3963@itemx gdb/@var{arch}-tdep.h
3964This often exists to describe the basic layout of the target machine's
3965processor chip (registers, stack, etc.). If used, it is included by
3966@file{@var{ttt}-tdep.h}. It can be shared among many targets that use
3967the same processor.
3968
3969@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/tm-@var{ttt}.h
3970(@file{tm.h} is a link to this file, created by @code{configure}). Contains
3971macro definitions about the target machine's registers, stack frame
3972format and instructions.
3973
3974New targets do not need this file and should not create it.
3975
c906108c
SS
3976@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/tm-@var{arch}.h
3977This often exists to describe the basic layout of the target machine's
56caf160 3978processor chip (registers, stack, etc.). If used, it is included by
c906108c
SS
3979@file{tm-@var{ttt}.h}. It can be shared among many targets that use the
3980same processor.
3981
af6c57ea
AC
3982New targets do not need this file and should not create it.
3983
c906108c
SS
3984@end table
3985
3986If you are adding a new operating system for an existing CPU chip, add a
3987@file{config/tm-@var{os}.h} file that describes the operating system
3988facilities that are unusual (extra symbol table info; the breakpoint
56caf160 3989instruction needed; etc.). Then write a @file{@var{arch}/tm-@var{os}.h}
c906108c
SS
3990that just @code{#include}s @file{tm-@var{arch}.h} and
3991@file{config/tm-@var{os}.h}.
3992
3993
3352e23e
AC
3994@section Converting an existing Target Architecture to Multi-arch
3995@cindex converting targets to multi-arch
3996
3997This section describes the current accepted best practice for converting
3998an existing target architecture to the multi-arch framework.
3999
4000The process consists of generating, testing, posting and committing a
4001sequence of patches. Each patch must contain a single change, for
4002instance:
4003
4004@itemize @bullet
4005
4006@item
4007Directly convert a group of functions into macros (the conversion does
4008not change the behavior of any of the functions).
4009
4010@item
4011Replace a non-multi-arch with a multi-arch mechanism (e.g.,
4012@code{FRAME_INFO}).
4013
4014@item
4015Enable multi-arch level one.
4016
4017@item
4018Delete one or more files.
4019
4020@end itemize
4021
4022@noindent
4023There isn't a size limit on a patch, however, a developer is strongly
4024encouraged to keep the patch size down.
4025
4026Since each patch is well defined, and since each change has been tested
4027and shows no regressions, the patches are considered @emph{fairly}
4028obvious. Such patches, when submitted by developers listed in the
4029@file{MAINTAINERS} file, do not need approval. Occasional steps in the
4030process may be more complicated and less clear. The developer is
4031expected to use their judgment and is encouraged to seek advice as
4032needed.
4033
4034@subsection Preparation
4035
4036The first step is to establish control. Build (with @option{-Werror}
4037enabled) and test the target so that there is a baseline against which
4038the debugger can be compared.
4039
4040At no stage can the test results regress or @value{GDBN} stop compiling
4041with @option{-Werror}.
4042
4043@subsection Add the multi-arch initialization code
4044
4045The objective of this step is to establish the basic multi-arch
4046framework. It involves
4047
4048@itemize @bullet
4049
4050@item
4051The addition of a @code{@var{arch}_gdbarch_init} function@footnote{The
4052above is from the original example and uses K&R C. @value{GDBN}
4053has since converted to ISO C but lets ignore that.} that creates
4054the architecture:
4055@smallexample
4056static struct gdbarch *
4057d10v_gdbarch_init (info, arches)
4058 struct gdbarch_info info;
4059 struct gdbarch_list *arches;
4060@{
4061 struct gdbarch *gdbarch;
4062 /* there is only one d10v architecture */
4063 if (arches != NULL)
4064 return arches->gdbarch;
4065 gdbarch = gdbarch_alloc (&info, NULL);
4066 return gdbarch;
4067@}
4068@end smallexample
4069@noindent
4070@emph{}
4071
4072@item
4073A per-architecture dump function to print any architecture specific
4074information:
4075@smallexample
4076static void
4077mips_dump_tdep (struct gdbarch *current_gdbarch,
4078 struct ui_file *file)
4079@{
4080 @dots{} code to print architecture specific info @dots{}
4081@}
4082@end smallexample
4083
4084@item
4085A change to @code{_initialize_@var{arch}_tdep} to register this new
4086architecture:
4087@smallexample
4088void
4089_initialize_mips_tdep (void)
4090@{
4091 gdbarch_register (bfd_arch_mips, mips_gdbarch_init,
4092 mips_dump_tdep);
4093@end smallexample
4094
4095@item
4096Add the macro @code{GDB_MULTI_ARCH}, defined as 0 (zero), to the file@*
4097@file{config/@var{arch}/tm-@var{arch}.h}.
4098
4099@end itemize
4100
4101@subsection Update multi-arch incompatible mechanisms
4102
4103Some mechanisms do not work with multi-arch. They include:
4104
4105@table @code
3352e23e 4106@item FRAME_FIND_SAVED_REGS
f30ee0bc 4107Replaced with @code{DEPRECATED_FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS}
3352e23e
AC
4108@end table
4109
4110@noindent
4111At this stage you could also consider converting the macros into
4112functions.
4113
4114@subsection Prepare for multi-arch level to one
4115
4116Temporally set @code{GDB_MULTI_ARCH} to @code{GDB_MULTI_ARCH_PARTIAL}
4117and then build and start @value{GDBN} (the change should not be
4118committed). @value{GDBN} may not build, and once built, it may die with
4119an internal error listing the architecture methods that must be
4120provided.
4121
4122Fix any build problems (patch(es)).
4123
4124Convert all the architecture methods listed, which are only macros, into
4125functions (patch(es)).
4126
4127Update @code{@var{arch}_gdbarch_init} to set all the missing
4128architecture methods and wrap the corresponding macros in @code{#if
4129!GDB_MULTI_ARCH} (patch(es)).
4130
4131@subsection Set multi-arch level one
4132
4133Change the value of @code{GDB_MULTI_ARCH} to GDB_MULTI_ARCH_PARTIAL (a
4134single patch).
4135
4136Any problems with throwing ``the switch'' should have been fixed
4137already.
4138
4139@subsection Convert remaining macros
4140
4141Suggest converting macros into functions (and setting the corresponding
4142architecture method) in small batches.
4143
4144@subsection Set multi-arch level to two
4145
4146This should go smoothly.
4147
4148@subsection Delete the TM file
4149
4150The @file{tm-@var{arch}.h} can be deleted. @file{@var{arch}.mt} and
4151@file{configure.in} updated.
4152
4153
c906108c
SS
4154@node Target Vector Definition
4155
4156@chapter Target Vector Definition
56caf160 4157@cindex target vector
c906108c 4158
56caf160
EZ
4159The target vector defines the interface between @value{GDBN}'s
4160abstract handling of target systems, and the nitty-gritty code that
4161actually exercises control over a process or a serial port.
4162@value{GDBN} includes some 30-40 different target vectors; however,
4163each configuration of @value{GDBN} includes only a few of them.
c906108c
SS
4164
4165@section File Targets
4166
4167Both executables and core files have target vectors.
4168
4169@section Standard Protocol and Remote Stubs
4170
56caf160
EZ
4171@value{GDBN}'s file @file{remote.c} talks a serial protocol to code
4172that runs in the target system. @value{GDBN} provides several sample
4173@dfn{stubs} that can be integrated into target programs or operating
4174systems for this purpose; they are named @file{*-stub.c}.
c906108c 4175
56caf160
EZ
4176The @value{GDBN} user's manual describes how to put such a stub into
4177your target code. What follows is a discussion of integrating the
4178SPARC stub into a complicated operating system (rather than a simple
4179program), by Stu Grossman, the author of this stub.
c906108c
SS
4180
4181The trap handling code in the stub assumes the following upon entry to
56caf160 4182@code{trap_low}:
c906108c
SS
4183
4184@enumerate
56caf160
EZ
4185@item
4186%l1 and %l2 contain pc and npc respectively at the time of the trap;
c906108c 4187
56caf160
EZ
4188@item
4189traps are disabled;
c906108c 4190
56caf160
EZ
4191@item
4192you are in the correct trap window.
c906108c
SS
4193@end enumerate
4194
4195As long as your trap handler can guarantee those conditions, then there
56caf160 4196is no reason why you shouldn't be able to ``share'' traps with the stub.
c906108c
SS
4197The stub has no requirement that it be jumped to directly from the
4198hardware trap vector. That is why it calls @code{exceptionHandler()},
4199which is provided by the external environment. For instance, this could
56caf160 4200set up the hardware traps to actually execute code which calls the stub
c906108c
SS
4201first, and then transfers to its own trap handler.
4202
4203For the most point, there probably won't be much of an issue with
56caf160 4204``sharing'' traps, as the traps we use are usually not used by the kernel,
c906108c
SS
4205and often indicate unrecoverable error conditions. Anyway, this is all
4206controlled by a table, and is trivial to modify. The most important
4207trap for us is for @code{ta 1}. Without that, we can't single step or
4208do breakpoints. Everything else is unnecessary for the proper operation
4209of the debugger/stub.
4210
4211From reading the stub, it's probably not obvious how breakpoints work.
25822942 4212They are simply done by deposit/examine operations from @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
4213
4214@section ROM Monitor Interface
4215
4216@section Custom Protocols
4217
4218@section Transport Layer
4219
4220@section Builtin Simulator
4221
4222
4223@node Native Debugging
4224
4225@chapter Native Debugging
56caf160 4226@cindex native debugging
c906108c 4227
25822942 4228Several files control @value{GDBN}'s configuration for native support:
c906108c
SS
4229
4230@table @file
56caf160 4231@vindex NATDEPFILES
c906108c 4232@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{xyz}.mh
7fd60527 4233Specifies Makefile fragments needed by a @emph{native} configuration on
c906108c
SS
4234machine @var{xyz}. In particular, this lists the required
4235native-dependent object files, by defining @samp{NATDEPFILES=@dots{}}.
4236Also specifies the header file which describes native support on
4237@var{xyz}, by defining @samp{NAT_FILE= nm-@var{xyz}.h}. You can also
4238define @samp{NAT_CFLAGS}, @samp{NAT_ADD_FILES}, @samp{NAT_CLIBS},
4239@samp{NAT_CDEPS}, etc.; see @file{Makefile.in}.
4240
7fd60527
AC
4241@emph{Maintainer's note: The @file{.mh} suffix is because this file
4242originally contained @file{Makefile} fragments for hosting @value{GDBN}
4243on machine @var{xyz}. While the file is no longer used for this
937f164b 4244purpose, the @file{.mh} suffix remains. Perhaps someone will
7fd60527
AC
4245eventually rename these fragments so that they have a @file{.mn}
4246suffix.}
4247
c906108c 4248@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/nm-@var{xyz}.h
56caf160 4249(@file{nm.h} is a link to this file, created by @code{configure}). Contains C
c906108c
SS
4250macro definitions describing the native system environment, such as
4251child process control and core file support.
4252
4253@item gdb/@var{xyz}-nat.c
4254Contains any miscellaneous C code required for this native support of
4255this machine. On some machines it doesn't exist at all.
c906108c
SS
4256@end table
4257
4258There are some ``generic'' versions of routines that can be used by
4259various systems. These can be customized in various ways by macros
4260defined in your @file{nm-@var{xyz}.h} file. If these routines work for
4261the @var{xyz} host, you can just include the generic file's name (with
4262@samp{.o}, not @samp{.c}) in @code{NATDEPFILES}.
4263
4264Otherwise, if your machine needs custom support routines, you will need
4265to write routines that perform the same functions as the generic file.
56caf160 4266Put them into @file{@var{xyz}-nat.c}, and put @file{@var{xyz}-nat.o}
c906108c
SS
4267into @code{NATDEPFILES}.
4268
4269@table @file
c906108c
SS
4270@item inftarg.c
4271This contains the @emph{target_ops vector} that supports Unix child
4272processes on systems which use ptrace and wait to control the child.
4273
4274@item procfs.c
4275This contains the @emph{target_ops vector} that supports Unix child
4276processes on systems which use /proc to control the child.
4277
4278@item fork-child.c
56caf160
EZ
4279This does the low-level grunge that uses Unix system calls to do a ``fork
4280and exec'' to start up a child process.
c906108c
SS
4281
4282@item infptrace.c
4283This is the low level interface to inferior processes for systems using
4284the Unix @code{ptrace} call in a vanilla way.
c906108c
SS
4285@end table
4286
4287@section Native core file Support
56caf160 4288@cindex native core files
c906108c
SS
4289
4290@table @file
56caf160 4291@findex fetch_core_registers
c906108c
SS
4292@item core-aout.c::fetch_core_registers()
4293Support for reading registers out of a core file. This routine calls
4294@code{register_addr()}, see below. Now that BFD is used to read core
4295files, virtually all machines should use @code{core-aout.c}, and should
4296just provide @code{fetch_core_registers} in @code{@var{xyz}-nat.c} (or
4297@code{REGISTER_U_ADDR} in @code{nm-@var{xyz}.h}).
4298
4299@item core-aout.c::register_addr()
4300If your @code{nm-@var{xyz}.h} file defines the macro
4301@code{REGISTER_U_ADDR(addr, blockend, regno)}, it should be defined to
25822942 4302set @code{addr} to the offset within the @samp{user} struct of @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
4303register number @code{regno}. @code{blockend} is the offset within the
4304``upage'' of @code{u.u_ar0}. If @code{REGISTER_U_ADDR} is defined,
4305@file{core-aout.c} will define the @code{register_addr()} function and
4306use the macro in it. If you do not define @code{REGISTER_U_ADDR}, but
4307you are using the standard @code{fetch_core_registers()}, you will need
4308to define your own version of @code{register_addr()}, put it into your
4309@code{@var{xyz}-nat.c} file, and be sure @code{@var{xyz}-nat.o} is in
4310the @code{NATDEPFILES} list. If you have your own
4311@code{fetch_core_registers()}, you may not need a separate
4312@code{register_addr()}. Many custom @code{fetch_core_registers()}
4313implementations simply locate the registers themselves.@refill
c906108c
SS
4314@end table
4315
25822942 4316When making @value{GDBN} run native on a new operating system, to make it
c906108c
SS
4317possible to debug core files, you will need to either write specific
4318code for parsing your OS's core files, or customize
4319@file{bfd/trad-core.c}. First, use whatever @code{#include} files your
4320machine uses to define the struct of registers that is accessible
4321(possibly in the u-area) in a core file (rather than
4322@file{machine/reg.h}), and an include file that defines whatever header
56caf160
EZ
4323exists on a core file (e.g. the u-area or a @code{struct core}). Then
4324modify @code{trad_unix_core_file_p} to use these values to set up the
c906108c
SS
4325section information for the data segment, stack segment, any other
4326segments in the core file (perhaps shared library contents or control
4327information), ``registers'' segment, and if there are two discontiguous
4328sets of registers (e.g. integer and float), the ``reg2'' segment. This
4329section information basically delimits areas in the core file in a
4330standard way, which the section-reading routines in BFD know how to seek
4331around in.
4332
25822942 4333Then back in @value{GDBN}, you need a matching routine called
56caf160 4334@code{fetch_core_registers}. If you can use the generic one, it's in
c906108c
SS
4335@file{core-aout.c}; if not, it's in your @file{@var{xyz}-nat.c} file.
4336It will be passed a char pointer to the entire ``registers'' segment,
4337its length, and a zero; or a char pointer to the entire ``regs2''
4338segment, its length, and a 2. The routine should suck out the supplied
25822942 4339register values and install them into @value{GDBN}'s ``registers'' array.
c906108c
SS
4340
4341If your system uses @file{/proc} to control processes, and uses ELF
4342format core files, then you may be able to use the same routines for
4343reading the registers out of processes and out of core files.
4344
4345@section ptrace
4346
4347@section /proc
4348
4349@section win32
4350
4351@section shared libraries
4352
4353@section Native Conditionals
56caf160 4354@cindex native conditionals
c906108c 4355
56caf160
EZ
4356When @value{GDBN} is configured and compiled, various macros are
4357defined or left undefined, to control compilation when the host and
4358target systems are the same. These macros should be defined (or left
4359undefined) in @file{nm-@var{system}.h}.
c906108c 4360
1f6d4158
AC
4361@table @code
4362
c906108c 4363@item CHILD_PREPARE_TO_STORE
56caf160 4364@findex CHILD_PREPARE_TO_STORE
c906108c
SS
4365If the machine stores all registers at once in the child process, then
4366define this to ensure that all values are correct. This usually entails
4367a read from the child.
4368
4369[Note that this is incorrectly defined in @file{xm-@var{system}.h} files
4370currently.]
4371
4372@item FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS
56caf160 4373@findex FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS
c906108c
SS
4374Define this if the native-dependent code will provide its own routines
4375@code{fetch_inferior_registers} and @code{store_inferior_registers} in
56caf160 4376@file{@var{host}-nat.c}. If this symbol is @emph{not} defined, and
c906108c
SS
4377@file{infptrace.c} is included in this configuration, the default
4378routines in @file{infptrace.c} are used for these functions.
4379
c906108c 4380@item FP0_REGNUM
56caf160 4381@findex FP0_REGNUM
c906108c
SS
4382This macro is normally defined to be the number of the first floating
4383point register, if the machine has such registers. As such, it would
56caf160 4384appear only in target-specific code. However, @file{/proc} support uses this
c906108c
SS
4385to decide whether floats are in use on this target.
4386
4387@item GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
56caf160 4388@findex GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
c906108c
SS
4389For most machines, this is a target-dependent parameter. On the
4390DECstation and the Iris, this is a native-dependent parameter, since
56caf160 4391@file{setjmp.h} is needed to define it.
c906108c 4392
56caf160 4393This macro determines the target PC address that @code{longjmp} will jump to,
c906108c 4394assuming that we have just stopped at a longjmp breakpoint. It takes a
56caf160 4395@code{CORE_ADDR *} as argument, and stores the target PC value through this
c906108c
SS
4396pointer. It examines the current state of the machine as needed.
4397
9742079a
EZ
4398@item I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS
4399An x86-based machine can define this to use the generic x86 watchpoint
4400support; see @ref{Algorithms, I386_USE_GENERIC_WATCHPOINTS}.
4401
c906108c 4402@item KERNEL_U_ADDR
56caf160 4403@findex KERNEL_U_ADDR
c906108c 4404Define this to the address of the @code{u} structure (the ``user
25822942 4405struct'', also known as the ``u-page'') in kernel virtual memory. @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
4406needs to know this so that it can subtract this address from absolute
4407addresses in the upage, that are obtained via ptrace or from core files.
4408On systems that don't need this value, set it to zero.
4409
c906108c 4410@item KERNEL_U_ADDR_HPUX
56caf160 4411@findex KERNEL_U_ADDR_HPUX
25822942 4412Define this to cause @value{GDBN} to determine the address of @code{u} at
c906108c
SS
4413runtime, by using HP-style @code{nlist} on the kernel's image in the
4414root directory.
4415
4416@item ONE_PROCESS_WRITETEXT
56caf160 4417@findex ONE_PROCESS_WRITETEXT
c906108c
SS
4418Define this to be able to, when a breakpoint insertion fails, warn the
4419user that another process may be running with the same executable.
4420
4421@item PROC_NAME_FMT
56caf160 4422@findex PROC_NAME_FMT
c906108c
SS
4423Defines the format for the name of a @file{/proc} device. Should be
4424defined in @file{nm.h} @emph{only} in order to override the default
4425definition in @file{procfs.c}.
4426
c906108c 4427@item PTRACE_ARG3_TYPE
56caf160 4428@findex PTRACE_ARG3_TYPE
c906108c
SS
4429The type of the third argument to the @code{ptrace} system call, if it
4430exists and is different from @code{int}.
4431
4432@item REGISTER_U_ADDR
56caf160 4433@findex REGISTER_U_ADDR
c906108c
SS
4434Defines the offset of the registers in the ``u area''.
4435
4436@item SHELL_COMMAND_CONCAT
56caf160 4437@findex SHELL_COMMAND_CONCAT
c906108c
SS
4438If defined, is a string to prefix on the shell command used to start the
4439inferior.
4440
4441@item SHELL_FILE
56caf160 4442@findex SHELL_FILE
c906108c
SS
4443If defined, this is the name of the shell to use to run the inferior.
4444Defaults to @code{"/bin/sh"}.
4445
990f9fe3 4446@item SOLIB_ADD (@var{filename}, @var{from_tty}, @var{targ}, @var{readsyms})
56caf160 4447@findex SOLIB_ADD
c906108c 4448Define this to expand into an expression that will cause the symbols in
990f9fe3
FF
4449@var{filename} to be added to @value{GDBN}'s symbol table. If
4450@var{readsyms} is zero symbols are not read but any necessary low level
4451processing for @var{filename} is still done.
c906108c
SS
4452
4453@item SOLIB_CREATE_INFERIOR_HOOK
56caf160 4454@findex SOLIB_CREATE_INFERIOR_HOOK
c906108c
SS
4455Define this to expand into any shared-library-relocation code that you
4456want to be run just after the child process has been forked.
4457
4458@item START_INFERIOR_TRAPS_EXPECTED
56caf160
EZ
4459@findex START_INFERIOR_TRAPS_EXPECTED
4460When starting an inferior, @value{GDBN} normally expects to trap
4461twice; once when
c906108c
SS
4462the shell execs, and once when the program itself execs. If the actual
4463number of traps is something other than 2, then define this macro to
4464expand into the number expected.
4465
c906108c 4466@item USE_PROC_FS
56caf160 4467@findex USE_PROC_FS
c906108c 4468This determines whether small routines in @file{*-tdep.c}, which
56caf160
EZ
4469translate register values between @value{GDBN}'s internal
4470representation and the @file{/proc} representation, are compiled.
c906108c
SS
4471
4472@item U_REGS_OFFSET
56caf160 4473@findex U_REGS_OFFSET
c906108c
SS
4474This is the offset of the registers in the upage. It need only be
4475defined if the generic ptrace register access routines in
4476@file{infptrace.c} are being used (that is, @file{infptrace.c} is
4477configured in, and @code{FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS} is not defined). If
4478the default value from @file{infptrace.c} is good enough, leave it
4479undefined.
4480
4481The default value means that u.u_ar0 @emph{points to} the location of
4482the registers. I'm guessing that @code{#define U_REGS_OFFSET 0} means
56caf160 4483that @code{u.u_ar0} @emph{is} the location of the registers.
c906108c
SS
4484
4485@item CLEAR_SOLIB
56caf160
EZ
4486@findex CLEAR_SOLIB
4487See @file{objfiles.c}.
c906108c
SS
4488
4489@item DEBUG_PTRACE
56caf160
EZ
4490@findex DEBUG_PTRACE
4491Define this to debug @code{ptrace} calls.
c906108c
SS
4492@end table
4493
4494
4495@node Support Libraries
4496
4497@chapter Support Libraries
4498
4499@section BFD
56caf160 4500@cindex BFD library
c906108c 4501
25822942 4502BFD provides support for @value{GDBN} in several ways:
c906108c
SS
4503
4504@table @emph
c906108c
SS
4505@item identifying executable and core files
4506BFD will identify a variety of file types, including a.out, coff, and
4507several variants thereof, as well as several kinds of core files.
4508
4509@item access to sections of files
4510BFD parses the file headers to determine the names, virtual addresses,
4511sizes, and file locations of all the various named sections in files
56caf160
EZ
4512(such as the text section or the data section). @value{GDBN} simply
4513calls BFD to read or write section @var{x} at byte offset @var{y} for
4514length @var{z}.
c906108c
SS
4515
4516@item specialized core file support
4517BFD provides routines to determine the failing command name stored in a
4518core file, the signal with which the program failed, and whether a core
56caf160 4519file matches (i.e.@: could be a core dump of) a particular executable
c906108c
SS
4520file.
4521
4522@item locating the symbol information
25822942
DB
4523@value{GDBN} uses an internal interface of BFD to determine where to find the
4524symbol information in an executable file or symbol-file. @value{GDBN} itself
c906108c 4525handles the reading of symbols, since BFD does not ``understand'' debug
25822942 4526symbols, but @value{GDBN} uses BFD's cached information to find the symbols,
c906108c 4527string table, etc.
c906108c
SS
4528@end table
4529
4530@section opcodes
56caf160 4531@cindex opcodes library
c906108c 4532
25822942 4533The opcodes library provides @value{GDBN}'s disassembler. (It's a separate
c906108c
SS
4534library because it's also used in binutils, for @file{objdump}).
4535
4536@section readline
4537
4538@section mmalloc
4539
4540@section libiberty
1eb288ea
EZ
4541@cindex @code{libiberty} library
4542
4543The @code{libiberty} library provides a set of functions and features
4544that integrate and improve on functionality found in modern operating
4545systems. Broadly speaking, such features can be divided into three
4546groups: supplemental functions (functions that may be missing in some
4547environments and operating systems), replacement functions (providing
4548a uniform and easier to use interface for commonly used standard
4549functions), and extensions (which provide additional functionality
4550beyond standard functions).
4551
4552@value{GDBN} uses various features provided by the @code{libiberty}
4553library, for instance the C@t{++} demangler, the @acronym{IEEE}
4554floating format support functions, the input options parser
4555@samp{getopt}, the @samp{obstack} extension, and other functions.
4556
4557@subsection @code{obstacks} in @value{GDBN}
4558@cindex @code{obstacks}
4559
4560The obstack mechanism provides a convenient way to allocate and free
4561chunks of memory. Each obstack is a pool of memory that is managed
4562like a stack. Objects (of any nature, size and alignment) are
4563allocated and freed in a @acronym{LIFO} fashion on an obstack (see
4564@code{libiberty}'s documenatation for a more detailed explanation of
4565@code{obstacks}).
4566
4567The most noticeable use of the @code{obstacks} in @value{GDBN} is in
4568object files. There is an obstack associated with each internal
4569representation of an object file. Lots of things get allocated on
4570these @code{obstacks}: dictionary entries, blocks, blockvectors,
4571symbols, minimal symbols, types, vectors of fundamental types, class
4572fields of types, object files section lists, object files section
4573offets lists, line tables, symbol tables, partial symbol tables,
4574string tables, symbol table private data, macros tables, debug
4575information sections and entries, import and export lists (som),
4576unwind information (hppa), dwarf2 location expressions data. Plus
4577various strings such as directory names strings, debug format strings,
4578names of types.
4579
4580An essential and convenient property of all data on @code{obstacks} is
4581that memory for it gets allocated (with @code{obstack_alloc}) at
4582various times during a debugging sesssion, but it is released all at
4583once using the @code{obstack_free} function. The @code{obstack_free}
4584function takes a pointer to where in the stack it must start the
4585deletion from (much like the cleanup chains have a pointer to where to
4586start the cleanups). Because of the stack like structure of the
4587@code{obstacks}, this allows to free only a top portion of the
4588obstack. There are a few instances in @value{GDBN} where such thing
4589happens. Calls to @code{obstack_free} are done after some local data
4590is allocated to the obstack. Only the local data is deleted from the
4591obstack. Of course this assumes that nothing between the
4592@code{obstack_alloc} and the @code{obstack_free} allocates anything
4593else on the same obstack. For this reason it is best and safest to
4594use temporary @code{obstacks}.
4595
4596Releasing the whole obstack is also not safe per se. It is safe only
4597under the condition that we know the @code{obstacks} memory is no
4598longer needed. In @value{GDBN} we get rid of the @code{obstacks} only
4599when we get rid of the whole objfile(s), for instance upon reading a
4600new symbol file.
c906108c
SS
4601
4602@section gnu-regex
56caf160 4603@cindex regular expressions library
c906108c
SS
4604
4605Regex conditionals.
4606
4607@table @code
c906108c
SS
4608@item C_ALLOCA
4609
4610@item NFAILURES
4611
4612@item RE_NREGS
4613
4614@item SIGN_EXTEND_CHAR
4615
4616@item SWITCH_ENUM_BUG
4617
4618@item SYNTAX_TABLE
4619
4620@item Sword
4621
4622@item sparc
c906108c
SS
4623@end table
4624
4625@section include
4626
4627@node Coding
4628
4629@chapter Coding
4630
4631This chapter covers topics that are lower-level than the major
25822942 4632algorithms of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
4633
4634@section Cleanups
56caf160 4635@cindex cleanups
c906108c
SS
4636
4637Cleanups are a structured way to deal with things that need to be done
cc1cb004 4638later.
c906108c 4639
cc1cb004
AC
4640When your code does something (e.g., @code{xmalloc} some memory, or
4641@code{open} a file) that needs to be undone later (e.g., @code{xfree}
4642the memory or @code{close} the file), it can make a cleanup. The
4643cleanup will be done at some future point: when the command is finished
4644and control returns to the top level; when an error occurs and the stack
4645is unwound; or when your code decides it's time to explicitly perform
4646cleanups. Alternatively you can elect to discard the cleanups you
4647created.
c906108c
SS
4648
4649Syntax:
4650
4651@table @code
c906108c
SS
4652@item struct cleanup *@var{old_chain};
4653Declare a variable which will hold a cleanup chain handle.
4654
56caf160 4655@findex make_cleanup
c906108c
SS
4656@item @var{old_chain} = make_cleanup (@var{function}, @var{arg});
4657Make a cleanup which will cause @var{function} to be called with
4658@var{arg} (a @code{char *}) later. The result, @var{old_chain}, is a
cc1cb004
AC
4659handle that can later be passed to @code{do_cleanups} or
4660@code{discard_cleanups}. Unless you are going to call
4661@code{do_cleanups} or @code{discard_cleanups}, you can ignore the result
4662from @code{make_cleanup}.
c906108c 4663
56caf160 4664@findex do_cleanups
c906108c 4665@item do_cleanups (@var{old_chain});
cc1cb004
AC
4666Do all cleanups added to the chain since the corresponding
4667@code{make_cleanup} call was made.
4668
4669@findex discard_cleanups
4670@item discard_cleanups (@var{old_chain});
4671Same as @code{do_cleanups} except that it just removes the cleanups from
4672the chain and does not call the specified functions.
4673@end table
4674
4675Cleanups are implemented as a chain. The handle returned by
4676@code{make_cleanups} includes the cleanup passed to the call and any
4677later cleanups appended to the chain (but not yet discarded or
4678performed). E.g.:
56caf160 4679
474c8240 4680@smallexample
c906108c 4681make_cleanup (a, 0);
cc1cb004
AC
4682@{
4683 struct cleanup *old = make_cleanup (b, 0);
4684 make_cleanup (c, 0)
4685 ...
4686 do_cleanups (old);
4687@}
474c8240 4688@end smallexample
56caf160 4689
c906108c 4690@noindent
cc1cb004
AC
4691will call @code{c()} and @code{b()} but will not call @code{a()}. The
4692cleanup that calls @code{a()} will remain in the cleanup chain, and will
4693be done later unless otherwise discarded.@refill
4694
4695Your function should explicitly do or discard the cleanups it creates.
4696Failing to do this leads to non-deterministic behavior since the caller
4697will arbitrarily do or discard your functions cleanups. This need leads
4698to two common cleanup styles.
4699
4700The first style is try/finally. Before it exits, your code-block calls
4701@code{do_cleanups} with the old cleanup chain and thus ensures that your
4702code-block's cleanups are always performed. For instance, the following
4703code-segment avoids a memory leak problem (even when @code{error} is
4704called and a forced stack unwind occurs) by ensuring that the
4705@code{xfree} will always be called:
c906108c 4706
474c8240 4707@smallexample
cc1cb004
AC
4708struct cleanup *old = make_cleanup (null_cleanup, 0);
4709data = xmalloc (sizeof blah);
4710make_cleanup (xfree, data);
4711... blah blah ...
4712do_cleanups (old);
474c8240 4713@end smallexample
cc1cb004
AC
4714
4715The second style is try/except. Before it exits, your code-block calls
4716@code{discard_cleanups} with the old cleanup chain and thus ensures that
4717any created cleanups are not performed. For instance, the following
4718code segment, ensures that the file will be closed but only if there is
4719an error:
4720
474c8240 4721@smallexample
cc1cb004
AC
4722FILE *file = fopen ("afile", "r");
4723struct cleanup *old = make_cleanup (close_file, file);
4724... blah blah ...
4725discard_cleanups (old);
4726return file;
474c8240 4727@end smallexample
c906108c
SS
4728
4729Some functions, e.g. @code{fputs_filtered()} or @code{error()}, specify
4730that they ``should not be called when cleanups are not in place''. This
4731means that any actions you need to reverse in the case of an error or
4732interruption must be on the cleanup chain before you call these
4733functions, since they might never return to your code (they
4734@samp{longjmp} instead).
4735
ba8c9337
AC
4736@section Per-architecture module data
4737@cindex per-architecture module data
4738@cindex multi-arch data
4739@cindex data-pointer, per-architecture/per-module
4740
fc989b7a
AC
4741The multi-arch framework includes a mechanism for adding module
4742specific per-architecture data-pointers to the @code{struct gdbarch}
4743architecture object.
4744
4745A module registers one or more per-architecture data-pointers using:
4746
4747@deftypefun struct gdbarch_data *gdbarch_data_register_pre_init (gdbarch_data_pre_init_ftype *@var{pre_init})
4748@var{pre_init} is used to, on-demand, allocate an initial value for a
4749per-architecture data-pointer using the architecture's obstack (passed
4750in as a parameter). Since @var{pre_init} can be called during
4751architecture creation, it is not parameterized with the architecture.
4752and must not call modules that use per-architecture data.
4753@end deftypefun
ba8c9337 4754
fc989b7a
AC
4755@deftypefun struct gdbarch_data *gdbarch_data_register_post_init (gdbarch_data_post_init_ftype *@var{post_init})
4756@var{post_init} is used to obtain an initial value for a
4757per-architecture data-pointer @emph{after}. Since @var{post_init} is
4758always called after architecture creation, it both receives the fully
4759initialized architecture and is free to call modules that use
4760per-architecture data (care needs to be taken to ensure that those
4761other modules do not try to call back to this module as that will
4762create in cycles in the initialization call graph).
4763@end deftypefun
ba8c9337 4764
fc989b7a
AC
4765These functions return a @code{struct gdbarch_data} that is used to
4766identify the per-architecture data-pointer added for that module.
ba8c9337 4767
fc989b7a 4768The per-architecture data-pointer is accessed using the function:
ba8c9337 4769
fc989b7a
AC
4770@deftypefun void *gdbarch_data (struct gdbarch *@var{gdbarch}, struct gdbarch_data *@var{data_handle})
4771Given the architecture @var{arch} and module data handle
4772@var{data_handle} (returned by @code{gdbarch_data_register_pre_init}
4773or @code{gdbarch_data_register_post_init}), this function returns the
4774current value of the per-architecture data-pointer. If the data
4775pointer is @code{NULL}, it is first initialized by calling the
4776corresponding @var{pre_init} or @var{post_init} method.
ba8c9337
AC
4777@end deftypefun
4778
fc989b7a 4779The examples below assume the following definitions:
ba8c9337
AC
4780
4781@smallexample
e7f16015 4782struct nozel @{ int total; @};
ba8c9337 4783static struct gdbarch_data *nozel_handle;
ba8c9337
AC
4784@end smallexample
4785
fc989b7a
AC
4786A module can extend the architecture vector, adding additional
4787per-architecture data, using the @var{pre_init} method. The module's
4788per-architecture data is then initialized during architecture
4789creation.
ba8c9337 4790
fc989b7a
AC
4791In the below, the module's per-architecture @emph{nozel} is added. An
4792architecture can specify its nozel by calling @code{set_gdbarch_nozel}
4793from @code{gdbarch_init}.
ba8c9337
AC
4794
4795@smallexample
fc989b7a
AC
4796static void *
4797nozel_pre_init (struct obstack *obstack)
ba8c9337 4798@{
fc989b7a
AC
4799 struct nozel *data = OBSTACK_ZALLOC (obstack, struct nozel);
4800 return data;
4801@}
ba8c9337
AC
4802@end smallexample
4803
ba8c9337 4804@smallexample
fc989b7a
AC
4805extern void
4806set_gdbarch_nozel (struct gdbarch *gdbarch, int total)
ba8c9337 4807@{
ba8c9337 4808 struct nozel *data = gdbarch_data (gdbarch, nozel_handle);
fc989b7a 4809 data->total = nozel;
ba8c9337
AC
4810@}
4811@end smallexample
4812
fc989b7a
AC
4813A module can on-demand create architecture dependant data structures
4814using @code{post_init}.
ba8c9337 4815
fc989b7a
AC
4816In the below, the nozel's total is computed on-demand by
4817@code{nozel_post_init} using information obtained from the
4818architecture.
ba8c9337
AC
4819
4820@smallexample
fc989b7a
AC
4821static void *
4822nozel_post_init (struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
ba8c9337 4823@{
fc989b7a
AC
4824 struct nozel *data = GDBARCH_OBSTACK_ZALLOC (gdbarch, struct nozel);
4825 nozel->total = gdbarch@dots{} (gdbarch);
4826 return data;
ba8c9337
AC
4827@}
4828@end smallexample
4829
4830@smallexample
fc989b7a
AC
4831extern int
4832nozel_total (struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
ba8c9337 4833@{
fc989b7a
AC
4834 struct nozel *data = gdbarch_data (gdbarch, nozel_handle);
4835 return data->total;
ba8c9337
AC
4836@}
4837@end smallexample
4838
c906108c 4839@section Wrapping Output Lines
56caf160 4840@cindex line wrap in output
c906108c 4841
56caf160 4842@findex wrap_here
c906108c
SS
4843Output that goes through @code{printf_filtered} or @code{fputs_filtered}
4844or @code{fputs_demangled} needs only to have calls to @code{wrap_here}
4845added in places that would be good breaking points. The utility
4846routines will take care of actually wrapping if the line width is
4847exceeded.
4848
4849The argument to @code{wrap_here} is an indentation string which is
4850printed @emph{only} if the line breaks there. This argument is saved
4851away and used later. It must remain valid until the next call to
4852@code{wrap_here} or until a newline has been printed through the
4853@code{*_filtered} functions. Don't pass in a local variable and then
4854return!
4855
56caf160 4856It is usually best to call @code{wrap_here} after printing a comma or
c906108c
SS
4857space. If you call it before printing a space, make sure that your
4858indentation properly accounts for the leading space that will print if
4859the line wraps there.
4860
4861Any function or set of functions that produce filtered output must
4862finish by printing a newline, to flush the wrap buffer, before switching
56caf160 4863to unfiltered (@code{printf}) output. Symbol reading routines that
c906108c
SS
4864print warnings are a good example.
4865
25822942 4866@section @value{GDBN} Coding Standards
56caf160 4867@cindex coding standards
c906108c 4868
25822942 4869@value{GDBN} follows the GNU coding standards, as described in
c906108c 4870@file{etc/standards.texi}. This file is also available for anonymous
af6c57ea
AC
4871FTP from GNU archive sites. @value{GDBN} takes a strict interpretation
4872of the standard; in general, when the GNU standard recommends a practice
4873but does not require it, @value{GDBN} requires it.
c906108c 4874
56caf160
EZ
4875@value{GDBN} follows an additional set of coding standards specific to
4876@value{GDBN}, as described in the following sections.
c906108c 4877
af6c57ea 4878
b9aa90c9 4879@subsection ISO C
af6c57ea 4880
b9aa90c9
AC
4881@value{GDBN} assumes an ISO/IEC 9899:1990 (a.k.a.@: ISO C90) compliant
4882compiler.
af6c57ea 4883
b9aa90c9 4884@value{GDBN} does not assume an ISO C or POSIX compliant C library.
af6c57ea
AC
4885
4886
4887@subsection Memory Management
4888
4889@value{GDBN} does not use the functions @code{malloc}, @code{realloc},
4890@code{calloc}, @code{free} and @code{asprintf}.
4891
4892@value{GDBN} uses the functions @code{xmalloc}, @code{xrealloc} and
4893@code{xcalloc} when allocating memory. Unlike @code{malloc} et.al.@:
4894these functions do not return when the memory pool is empty. Instead,
4895they unwind the stack using cleanups. These functions return
4896@code{NULL} when requested to allocate a chunk of memory of size zero.
4897
4898@emph{Pragmatics: By using these functions, the need to check every
4899memory allocation is removed. These functions provide portable
4900behavior.}
4901
4902@value{GDBN} does not use the function @code{free}.
4903
4904@value{GDBN} uses the function @code{xfree} to return memory to the
4905memory pool. Consistent with ISO-C, this function ignores a request to
4906free a @code{NULL} pointer.
4907
4908@emph{Pragmatics: On some systems @code{free} fails when passed a
4909@code{NULL} pointer.}
4910
4911@value{GDBN} can use the non-portable function @code{alloca} for the
4912allocation of small temporary values (such as strings).
4913
4914@emph{Pragmatics: This function is very non-portable. Some systems
4915restrict the memory being allocated to no more than a few kilobytes.}
4916
4917@value{GDBN} uses the string function @code{xstrdup} and the print
b435e160 4918function @code{xstrprintf}.
af6c57ea
AC
4919
4920@emph{Pragmatics: @code{asprintf} and @code{strdup} can fail. Print
4921functions such as @code{sprintf} are very prone to buffer overflow
4922errors.}
4923
4924
4925@subsection Compiler Warnings
56caf160 4926@cindex compiler warnings
af6c57ea
AC
4927
4928With few exceptions, developers should include the configuration option
4929@samp{--enable-gdb-build-warnings=,-Werror} when building @value{GDBN}.
4930The exceptions are listed in the file @file{gdb/MAINTAINERS}.
4931
4932This option causes @value{GDBN} (when built using GCC) to be compiled
4933with a carefully selected list of compiler warning flags. Any warnings
4934from those flags being treated as errors.
4935
4936The current list of warning flags includes:
4937
4938@table @samp
4939@item -Wimplicit
4940Since @value{GDBN} coding standard requires all functions to be declared
4941using a prototype, the flag has the side effect of ensuring that
4942prototyped functions are always visible with out resorting to
4943@samp{-Wstrict-prototypes}.
4944
4945@item -Wreturn-type
4946Such code often appears to work except on instruction set architectures
4947that use register windows.
4948
4949@item -Wcomment
4950
4951@item -Wtrigraphs
4952
4953@item -Wformat
153721e6 4954@itemx -Wformat-nonliteral
af6c57ea 4955Since @value{GDBN} uses the @code{format printf} attribute on all
153721e6 4956@code{printf} like functions these check not just @code{printf} calls
af6c57ea
AC
4957but also calls to functions such as @code{fprintf_unfiltered}.
4958
4959@item -Wparentheses
4960This warning includes uses of the assignment operator within an
4961@code{if} statement.
4962
4963@item -Wpointer-arith
4964
4965@item -Wuninitialized
0f0cffd2
AC
4966
4967@item -Wunused-label
4968This warning has the additional benefit of detecting the absence of the
4969@code{case} reserved word in a switch statement:
4970@smallexample
4971enum @{ FD_SCHEDULED, NOTHING_SCHEDULED @} sched;
4972@dots{}
4973switch (sched)
4974 @{
4975 case FD_SCHEDULED:
4976 @dots{};
4977 break;
4978 NOTHING_SCHEDULED:
4979 @dots{};
4980 break;
4981 @}
4982@end smallexample
c9830293
AC
4983
4984@item -Wunused-function
af6c57ea
AC
4985@end table
4986
4987@emph{Pragmatics: Due to the way that @value{GDBN} is implemented most
4988functions have unused parameters. Consequently the warning
4989@samp{-Wunused-parameter} is precluded from the list. The macro
4990@code{ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED} is not used as it leads to false negatives ---
4991it is not an error to have @code{ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED} on a parameter that
4992is being used. The options @samp{-Wall} and @samp{-Wunused} are also
4993precluded because they both include @samp{-Wunused-parameter}.}
4994
4995@emph{Pragmatics: @value{GDBN} has not simply accepted the warnings
4996enabled by @samp{-Wall -Werror -W...}. Instead it is selecting warnings
4997when and where their benefits can be demonstrated.}
c906108c
SS
4998
4999@subsection Formatting
5000
56caf160 5001@cindex source code formatting
c906108c
SS
5002The standard GNU recommendations for formatting must be followed
5003strictly.
5004
af6c57ea
AC
5005A function declaration should not have its name in column zero. A
5006function definition should have its name in column zero.
5007
474c8240 5008@smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5009/* Declaration */
5010static void foo (void);
5011/* Definition */
5012void
5013foo (void)
5014@{
5015@}
474c8240 5016@end smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5017
5018@emph{Pragmatics: This simplifies scripting. Function definitions can
5019be found using @samp{^function-name}.}
c906108c 5020
af6c57ea
AC
5021There must be a space between a function or macro name and the opening
5022parenthesis of its argument list (except for macro definitions, as
5023required by C). There must not be a space after an open paren/bracket
5024or before a close paren/bracket.
c906108c
SS
5025
5026While additional whitespace is generally helpful for reading, do not use
5027more than one blank line to separate blocks, and avoid adding whitespace
af6c57ea
AC
5028after the end of a program line (as of 1/99, some 600 lines had
5029whitespace after the semicolon). Excess whitespace causes difficulties
5030for @code{diff} and @code{patch} utilities.
5031
5032Pointers are declared using the traditional K&R C style:
5033
474c8240 5034@smallexample
af6c57ea 5035void *foo;
474c8240 5036@end smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5037
5038@noindent
5039and not:
5040
474c8240 5041@smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5042void * foo;
5043void* foo;
474c8240 5044@end smallexample
c906108c
SS
5045
5046@subsection Comments
5047
56caf160 5048@cindex comment formatting
c906108c
SS
5049The standard GNU requirements on comments must be followed strictly.
5050
af6c57ea
AC
5051Block comments must appear in the following form, with no @code{/*}- or
5052@code{*/}-only lines, and no leading @code{*}:
c906108c 5053
474c8240 5054@smallexample
c906108c
SS
5055/* Wait for control to return from inferior to debugger. If inferior
5056 gets a signal, we may decide to start it up again instead of
5057 returning. That is why there is a loop in this function. When
5058 this function actually returns it means the inferior should be left
25822942 5059 stopped and @value{GDBN} should read more commands. */
474c8240 5060@end smallexample
c906108c
SS
5061
5062(Note that this format is encouraged by Emacs; tabbing for a multi-line
56caf160 5063comment works correctly, and @kbd{M-q} fills the block consistently.)
c906108c
SS
5064
5065Put a blank line between the block comments preceding function or
5066variable definitions, and the definition itself.
5067
5068In general, put function-body comments on lines by themselves, rather
5069than trying to fit them into the 20 characters left at the end of a
5070line, since either the comment or the code will inevitably get longer
5071than will fit, and then somebody will have to move it anyhow.
5072
5073@subsection C Usage
5074
56caf160 5075@cindex C data types
c906108c
SS
5076Code must not depend on the sizes of C data types, the format of the
5077host's floating point numbers, the alignment of anything, or the order
5078of evaluation of expressions.
5079
56caf160 5080@cindex function usage
c906108c 5081Use functions freely. There are only a handful of compute-bound areas
56caf160
EZ
5082in @value{GDBN} that might be affected by the overhead of a function
5083call, mainly in symbol reading. Most of @value{GDBN}'s performance is
5084limited by the target interface (whether serial line or system call).
c906108c
SS
5085
5086However, use functions with moderation. A thousand one-line functions
5087are just as hard to understand as a single thousand-line function.
5088
af6c57ea 5089@emph{Macros are bad, M'kay.}
9e678452
CF
5090(But if you have to use a macro, make sure that the macro arguments are
5091protected with parentheses.)
af6c57ea
AC
5092
5093@cindex types
c906108c 5094
af6c57ea
AC
5095Declarations like @samp{struct foo *} should be used in preference to
5096declarations like @samp{typedef struct foo @{ @dots{} @} *foo_ptr}.
5097
5098
5099@subsection Function Prototypes
56caf160 5100@cindex function prototypes
af6c57ea
AC
5101
5102Prototypes must be used when both @emph{declaring} and @emph{defining}
5103a function. Prototypes for @value{GDBN} functions must include both the
5104argument type and name, with the name matching that used in the actual
5105function definition.
c906108c 5106
53a5351d
JM
5107All external functions should have a declaration in a header file that
5108callers include, except for @code{_initialize_*} functions, which must
5109be external so that @file{init.c} construction works, but shouldn't be
5110visible to random source files.
c906108c 5111
af6c57ea
AC
5112Where a source file needs a forward declaration of a static function,
5113that declaration must appear in a block near the top of the source file.
5114
5115
5116@subsection Internal Error Recovery
5117
5118During its execution, @value{GDBN} can encounter two types of errors.
5119User errors and internal errors. User errors include not only a user
5120entering an incorrect command but also problems arising from corrupt
5121object files and system errors when interacting with the target.
937f164b
FF
5122Internal errors include situations where @value{GDBN} has detected, at
5123run time, a corrupt or erroneous situation.
af6c57ea
AC
5124
5125When reporting an internal error, @value{GDBN} uses
5126@code{internal_error} and @code{gdb_assert}.
5127
5128@value{GDBN} must not call @code{abort} or @code{assert}.
5129
5130@emph{Pragmatics: There is no @code{internal_warning} function. Either
5131the code detected a user error, recovered from it and issued a
5132@code{warning} or the code failed to correctly recover from the user
5133error and issued an @code{internal_error}.}
5134
5135@subsection File Names
5136
5137Any file used when building the core of @value{GDBN} must be in lower
5138case. Any file used when building the core of @value{GDBN} must be 8.3
5139unique. These requirements apply to both source and generated files.
5140
5141@emph{Pragmatics: The core of @value{GDBN} must be buildable on many
5142platforms including DJGPP and MacOS/HFS. Every time an unfriendly file
5143is introduced to the build process both @file{Makefile.in} and
5144@file{configure.in} need to be modified accordingly. Compare the
5145convoluted conversion process needed to transform @file{COPYING} into
5146@file{copying.c} with the conversion needed to transform
5147@file{version.in} into @file{version.c}.}
5148
5149Any file non 8.3 compliant file (that is not used when building the core
5150of @value{GDBN}) must be added to @file{gdb/config/djgpp/fnchange.lst}.
5151
5152@emph{Pragmatics: This is clearly a compromise.}
5153
5154When @value{GDBN} has a local version of a system header file (ex
5155@file{string.h}) the file name based on the POSIX header prefixed with
b4177fca
DJ
5156@file{gdb_} (@file{gdb_string.h}). These headers should be relatively
5157independent: they should use only macros defined by @file{configure},
5158the compiler, or the host; they should include only system headers; they
5159should refer only to system types. They may be shared between multiple
5160programs, e.g.@: @value{GDBN} and @sc{gdbserver}.
af6c57ea
AC
5161
5162For other files @samp{-} is used as the separator.
5163
5164
5165@subsection Include Files
5166
e2b28d04 5167A @file{.c} file should include @file{defs.h} first.
af6c57ea 5168
e2b28d04
AC
5169A @file{.c} file should directly include the @code{.h} file of every
5170declaration and/or definition it directly refers to. It cannot rely on
5171indirect inclusion.
af6c57ea 5172
e2b28d04
AC
5173A @file{.h} file should directly include the @code{.h} file of every
5174declaration and/or definition it directly refers to. It cannot rely on
5175indirect inclusion. Exception: The file @file{defs.h} does not need to
5176be directly included.
af6c57ea 5177
e2b28d04 5178An external declaration should only appear in one include file.
af6c57ea 5179
e2b28d04
AC
5180An external declaration should never appear in a @code{.c} file.
5181Exception: a declaration for the @code{_initialize} function that
5182pacifies @option{-Wmissing-declaration}.
5183
5184A @code{typedef} definition should only appear in one include file.
5185
5186An opaque @code{struct} declaration can appear in multiple @file{.h}
5187files. Where possible, a @file{.h} file should use an opaque
5188@code{struct} declaration instead of an include.
5189
5190All @file{.h} files should be wrapped in:
af6c57ea 5191
474c8240 5192@smallexample
af6c57ea
AC
5193#ifndef INCLUDE_FILE_NAME_H
5194#define INCLUDE_FILE_NAME_H
5195header body
5196#endif
474c8240 5197@end smallexample
af6c57ea 5198
c906108c 5199
dab11f21 5200@subsection Clean Design and Portable Implementation
c906108c 5201
56caf160 5202@cindex design
c906108c 5203In addition to getting the syntax right, there's the little question of
25822942 5204semantics. Some things are done in certain ways in @value{GDBN} because long
c906108c
SS
5205experience has shown that the more obvious ways caused various kinds of
5206trouble.
5207
56caf160 5208@cindex assumptions about targets
c906108c
SS
5209You can't assume the byte order of anything that comes from a target
5210(including @var{value}s, object files, and instructions). Such things
56caf160
EZ
5211must be byte-swapped using @code{SWAP_TARGET_AND_HOST} in
5212@value{GDBN}, or one of the swap routines defined in @file{bfd.h},
5213such as @code{bfd_get_32}.
c906108c
SS
5214
5215You can't assume that you know what interface is being used to talk to
5216the target system. All references to the target must go through the
5217current @code{target_ops} vector.
5218
5219You can't assume that the host and target machines are the same machine
5220(except in the ``native'' support modules). In particular, you can't
5221assume that the target machine's header files will be available on the
5222host machine. Target code must bring along its own header files --
5223written from scratch or explicitly donated by their owner, to avoid
5224copyright problems.
5225
56caf160 5226@cindex portability
c906108c
SS
5227Insertion of new @code{#ifdef}'s will be frowned upon. It's much better
5228to write the code portably than to conditionalize it for various
5229systems.
5230
56caf160 5231@cindex system dependencies
c906108c
SS
5232New @code{#ifdef}'s which test for specific compilers or manufacturers
5233or operating systems are unacceptable. All @code{#ifdef}'s should test
5234for features. The information about which configurations contain which
5235features should be segregated into the configuration files. Experience
5236has proven far too often that a feature unique to one particular system
5237often creeps into other systems; and that a conditional based on some
5238predefined macro for your current system will become worthless over
5239time, as new versions of your system come out that behave differently
5240with regard to this feature.
5241
5242Adding code that handles specific architectures, operating systems,
af6c57ea 5243target interfaces, or hosts, is not acceptable in generic code.
c906108c 5244
dab11f21
EZ
5245@cindex portable file name handling
5246@cindex file names, portability
5247One particularly notorious area where system dependencies tend to
5248creep in is handling of file names. The mainline @value{GDBN} code
5249assumes Posix semantics of file names: absolute file names begin with
5250a forward slash @file{/}, slashes are used to separate leading
5251directories, case-sensitive file names. These assumptions are not
5252necessarily true on non-Posix systems such as MS-Windows. To avoid
5253system-dependent code where you need to take apart or construct a file
5254name, use the following portable macros:
5255
5256@table @code
5257@findex HAVE_DOS_BASED_FILE_SYSTEM
5258@item HAVE_DOS_BASED_FILE_SYSTEM
5259This preprocessing symbol is defined to a non-zero value on hosts
5260whose filesystems belong to the MS-DOS/MS-Windows family. Use this
5261symbol to write conditional code which should only be compiled for
5262such hosts.
5263
5264@findex IS_DIR_SEPARATOR
4be31470 5265@item IS_DIR_SEPARATOR (@var{c})
dab11f21
EZ
5266Evaluates to a non-zero value if @var{c} is a directory separator
5267character. On Unix and GNU/Linux systems, only a slash @file{/} is
5268such a character, but on Windows, both @file{/} and @file{\} will
5269pass.
5270
5271@findex IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH
5272@item IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH (@var{file})
5273Evaluates to a non-zero value if @var{file} is an absolute file name.
5274For Unix and GNU/Linux hosts, a name which begins with a slash
5275@file{/} is absolute. On DOS and Windows, @file{d:/foo} and
5276@file{x:\bar} are also absolute file names.
5277
5278@findex FILENAME_CMP
5279@item FILENAME_CMP (@var{f1}, @var{f2})
5280Calls a function which compares file names @var{f1} and @var{f2} as
5281appropriate for the underlying host filesystem. For Posix systems,
5282this simply calls @code{strcmp}; on case-insensitive filesystems it
5283will call @code{strcasecmp} instead.
5284
5285@findex DIRNAME_SEPARATOR
5286@item DIRNAME_SEPARATOR
5287Evaluates to a character which separates directories in
5288@code{PATH}-style lists, typically held in environment variables.
5289This character is @samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on DOS and Windows.
5290
5291@findex SLASH_STRING
5292@item SLASH_STRING
5293This evaluates to a constant string you should use to produce an
5294absolute filename from leading directories and the file's basename.
5295@code{SLASH_STRING} is @code{"/"} on most systems, but might be
5296@code{"\\"} for some Windows-based ports.
5297@end table
5298
5299In addition to using these macros, be sure to use portable library
5300functions whenever possible. For example, to extract a directory or a
5301basename part from a file name, use the @code{dirname} and
5302@code{basename} library functions (available in @code{libiberty} for
5303platforms which don't provide them), instead of searching for a slash
5304with @code{strrchr}.
5305
25822942
DB
5306Another way to generalize @value{GDBN} along a particular interface is with an
5307attribute struct. For example, @value{GDBN} has been generalized to handle
56caf160
EZ
5308multiple kinds of remote interfaces---not by @code{#ifdef}s everywhere, but
5309by defining the @code{target_ops} structure and having a current target (as
c906108c
SS
5310well as a stack of targets below it, for memory references). Whenever
5311something needs to be done that depends on which remote interface we are
56caf160
EZ
5312using, a flag in the current target_ops structure is tested (e.g.,
5313@code{target_has_stack}), or a function is called through a pointer in the
c906108c 5314current target_ops structure. In this way, when a new remote interface
56caf160 5315is added, only one module needs to be touched---the one that actually
c906108c
SS
5316implements the new remote interface. Other examples of
5317attribute-structs are BFD access to multiple kinds of object file
25822942 5318formats, or @value{GDBN}'s access to multiple source languages.
c906108c 5319
56caf160
EZ
5320Please avoid duplicating code. For example, in @value{GDBN} 3.x all
5321the code interfacing between @code{ptrace} and the rest of
5322@value{GDBN} was duplicated in @file{*-dep.c}, and so changing
5323something was very painful. In @value{GDBN} 4.x, these have all been
5324consolidated into @file{infptrace.c}. @file{infptrace.c} can deal
5325with variations between systems the same way any system-independent
5326file would (hooks, @code{#if defined}, etc.), and machines which are
5327radically different don't need to use @file{infptrace.c} at all.
c906108c 5328
af6c57ea
AC
5329All debugging code must be controllable using the @samp{set debug
5330@var{module}} command. Do not use @code{printf} to print trace
5331messages. Use @code{fprintf_unfiltered(gdb_stdlog, ...}. Do not use
5332@code{#ifdef DEBUG}.
5333
c906108c 5334
8487521e 5335@node Porting GDB
c906108c 5336
25822942 5337@chapter Porting @value{GDBN}
56caf160 5338@cindex porting to new machines
c906108c 5339
56caf160
EZ
5340Most of the work in making @value{GDBN} compile on a new machine is in
5341specifying the configuration of the machine. This is done in a
5342dizzying variety of header files and configuration scripts, which we
5343hope to make more sensible soon. Let's say your new host is called an
5344@var{xyz} (e.g., @samp{sun4}), and its full three-part configuration
5345name is @code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}} (e.g.,
5346@samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}). In particular:
c906108c 5347
56caf160
EZ
5348@itemize @bullet
5349@item
c906108c
SS
5350In the top level directory, edit @file{config.sub} and add @var{arch},
5351@var{xvend}, and @var{xos} to the lists of supported architectures,
5352vendors, and operating systems near the bottom of the file. Also, add
5353@var{xyz} as an alias that maps to
5354@code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}. You can test your changes by
5355running
5356
474c8240 5357@smallexample
c906108c 5358./config.sub @var{xyz}
474c8240 5359@end smallexample
56caf160 5360
c906108c
SS
5361@noindent
5362and
56caf160 5363
474c8240 5364@smallexample
c906108c 5365./config.sub @code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}
474c8240 5366@end smallexample
56caf160 5367
c906108c
SS
5368@noindent
5369which should both respond with @code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}
5370and no error messages.
5371
56caf160 5372@noindent
c906108c
SS
5373You need to port BFD, if that hasn't been done already. Porting BFD is
5374beyond the scope of this manual.
5375
56caf160 5376@item
25822942 5377To configure @value{GDBN} itself, edit @file{gdb/configure.host} to recognize
c906108c
SS
5378your system and set @code{gdb_host} to @var{xyz}, and (unless your
5379desired target is already available) also edit @file{gdb/configure.tgt},
5380setting @code{gdb_target} to something appropriate (for instance,
5381@var{xyz}).
5382
7fd60527
AC
5383@emph{Maintainer's note: Work in progress. The file
5384@file{gdb/configure.host} originally needed to be modified when either a
5385new native target or a new host machine was being added to @value{GDBN}.
5386Recent changes have removed this requirement. The file now only needs
5387to be modified when adding a new native configuration. This will likely
5388changed again in the future.}
5389
56caf160 5390@item
25822942 5391Finally, you'll need to specify and define @value{GDBN}'s host-, native-, and
c906108c
SS
5392target-dependent @file{.h} and @file{.c} files used for your
5393configuration.
56caf160 5394@end itemize
c906108c 5395
d52fe014
AC
5396@node Versions and Branches
5397@chapter Versions and Branches
8973da3a 5398
d52fe014 5399@section Versions
8973da3a 5400
d52fe014
AC
5401@value{GDBN}'s version is determined by the file
5402@file{gdb/version.in} and takes one of the following forms:
fb0ff88f 5403
d52fe014
AC
5404@table @asis
5405@item @var{major}.@var{minor}
5406@itemx @var{major}.@var{minor}.@var{patchlevel}
53531fc1
AC
5407an official release (e.g., 6.2 or 6.2.1)
5408@item @var{major}.@var{minor}.@var{patchlevel}.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD}
5409a snapshot taken at @var{YYYY}-@var{MM}-@var{DD}-gmt (e.g.,
54106.1.50.20020302, 6.1.90.20020304, or 6.1.0.20020308)
5411@item @var{major}.@var{minor}.@var{patchlevel}.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD}-cvs
5412a @sc{cvs} check out drawn on @var{YYYY}-@var{MM}-@var{DD} (e.g.,
54136.1.50.20020302-cvs, 6.1.90.20020304-cvs, or 6.1.0.20020308-cvs)
5414@item @var{major}.@var{minor}.@var{patchlevel}.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD} (@var{vendor})
d52fe014 5415a vendor specific release of @value{GDBN}, that while based on@*
53531fc1
AC
5416@var{major}.@var{minor}.@var{patchlevel}.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD},
5417may include additional changes
d52fe014 5418@end table
fb0ff88f 5419
d52fe014
AC
5420@value{GDBN}'s mainline uses the @var{major} and @var{minor} version
5421numbers from the most recent release branch, with a @var{patchlevel}
53531fc1
AC
5422of 50. At the time each new release branch is created, the mainline's
5423@var{major} and @var{minor} version numbers are updated.
fb0ff88f 5424
53531fc1
AC
5425@value{GDBN}'s release branch is similar. When the branch is cut, the
5426@var{patchlevel} is changed from 50 to 90. As draft releases are
5427drawn from the branch, the @var{patchlevel} is incremented. Once the
5428first release (@var{major}.@var{minor}) has been made, the
5429@var{patchlevel} is set to 0 and updates have an incremented
5430@var{patchlevel}.
5431
5432For snapshots, and @sc{cvs} check outs, it is also possible to
5433identify the @sc{cvs} origin:
5434
5435@table @asis
5436@item @var{major}.@var{minor}.50.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD}
5437drawn from the @sc{head} of mainline @sc{cvs} (e.g., 6.1.50.20020302)
5438@item @var{major}.@var{minor}.90.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD}
5439@itemx @var{major}.@var{minor}.91.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD} @dots{}
5440drawn from a release branch prior to the release (e.g.,
54416.1.90.20020304)
5442@item @var{major}.@var{minor}.0.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD}
5443@itemx @var{major}.@var{minor}.1.@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD} @dots{}
5444drawn from a release branch after the release (e.g., 6.2.0.20020308)
5445@end table
fb0ff88f 5446
d52fe014
AC
5447If the previous @value{GDBN} version is 6.1 and the current version is
54486.2, then, substituting 6 for @var{major} and 1 or 2 for @var{minor},
5449here's an illustration of a typical sequence:
fb0ff88f 5450
d52fe014
AC
5451@smallexample
5452 <HEAD>
5453 |
53531fc1 54546.1.50.20020302-cvs
d52fe014 5455 |
53531fc1 5456 +--------------------------.
d52fe014 5457 | <gdb_6_2-branch>
d52fe014 5458 | |
53531fc1
AC
54596.2.50.20020303-cvs 6.1.90 (draft #1)
5460 | |
54616.2.50.20020304-cvs 6.1.90.20020304-cvs
5462 | |
54636.2.50.20020305-cvs 6.1.91 (draft #2)
d52fe014 5464 | |
53531fc1
AC
54656.2.50.20020306-cvs 6.1.91.20020306-cvs
5466 | |
54676.2.50.20020307-cvs 6.2 (release)
5468 | |
54696.2.50.20020308-cvs 6.2.0.20020308-cvs
5470 | |
54716.2.50.20020309-cvs 6.2.1 (update)
5472 | |
54736.2.50.20020310-cvs <branch closed>
d52fe014 5474 |
53531fc1 54756.2.50.20020311-cvs
d52fe014 5476 |
53531fc1 5477 +--------------------------.
d52fe014 5478 | <gdb_6_3-branch>
53531fc1
AC
5479 | |
54806.3.50.20020312-cvs 6.2.90 (draft #1)
5481 | |
d52fe014 5482@end smallexample
fb0ff88f 5483
d52fe014
AC
5484@section Release Branches
5485@cindex Release Branches
fb0ff88f 5486
d52fe014
AC
5487@value{GDBN} draws a release series (6.2, 6.2.1, @dots{}) from a
5488single release branch, and identifies that branch using the @sc{cvs}
5489branch tags:
fb0ff88f 5490
d52fe014
AC
5491@smallexample
5492gdb_@var{major}_@var{minor}-@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD}-branchpoint
5493gdb_@var{major}_@var{minor}-branch
5494gdb_@var{major}_@var{minor}-@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD}-release
5495@end smallexample
5496
5497@emph{Pragmatics: To help identify the date at which a branch or
5498release is made, both the branchpoint and release tags include the
5499date that they are cut (@var{YYYY}@var{MM}@var{DD}) in the tag. The
5500branch tag, denoting the head of the branch, does not need this.}
5501
5502@section Vendor Branches
5503@cindex vendor branches
fb0ff88f
AC
5504
5505To avoid version conflicts, vendors are expected to modify the file
5506@file{gdb/version.in} to include a vendor unique alphabetic identifier
5507(an official @value{GDBN} release never uses alphabetic characters in
d52fe014
AC
5508its version identifer). E.g., @samp{6.2widgit2}, or @samp{6.2 (Widgit
5509Inc Patch 2)}.
5510
5511@section Experimental Branches
5512@cindex experimental branches
5513
5514@subsection Guidelines
5515
5516@value{GDBN} permits the creation of branches, cut from the @sc{cvs}
5517repository, for experimental development. Branches make it possible
5518for developers to share preliminary work, and maintainers to examine
5519significant new developments.
fb0ff88f 5520
d52fe014 5521The following are a set of guidelines for creating such branches:
fb0ff88f 5522
d52fe014
AC
5523@table @emph
5524
5525@item a branch has an owner
5526The owner can set further policy for a branch, but may not change the
5527ground rules. In particular, they can set a policy for commits (be it
5528adding more reviewers or deciding who can commit).
5529
5530@item all commits are posted
5531All changes committed to a branch shall also be posted to
5532@email{gdb-patches@@sources.redhat.com, the @value{GDBN} patches
5533mailing list}. While commentary on such changes are encouraged, people
5534should remember that the changes only apply to a branch.
5535
5536@item all commits are covered by an assignment
5537This ensures that all changes belong to the Free Software Foundation,
5538and avoids the possibility that the branch may become contaminated.
5539
5540@item a branch is focused
5541A focused branch has a single objective or goal, and does not contain
5542unnecessary or irrelevant changes. Cleanups, where identified, being
5543be pushed into the mainline as soon as possible.
5544
5545@item a branch tracks mainline
5546This keeps the level of divergence under control. It also keeps the
5547pressure on developers to push cleanups and other stuff into the
5548mainline.
5549
5550@item a branch shall contain the entire @value{GDBN} module
5551The @value{GDBN} module @code{gdb} should be specified when creating a
5552branch (branches of individual files should be avoided). @xref{Tags}.
5553
5554@item a branch shall be branded using @file{version.in}
5555The file @file{gdb/version.in} shall be modified so that it identifies
5556the branch @var{owner} and branch @var{name}, e.g.,
53531fc1 5557@samp{6.2.50.20030303_owner_name} or @samp{6.2 (Owner Name)}.
d52fe014
AC
5558
5559@end table
fb0ff88f 5560
d52fe014
AC
5561@subsection Tags
5562@anchor{Tags}
fb0ff88f 5563
d52fe014
AC
5564To simplify the identification of @value{GDBN} branches, the following
5565branch tagging convention is strongly recommended:
fb0ff88f 5566
d52fe014 5567@table @code
fb0ff88f 5568
d52fe014
AC
5569@item @var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{YYYYMMDD}-branchpoint
5570@itemx @var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{YYYYMMDD}-branch
5571The branch point and corresponding branch tag. @var{YYYYMMDD} is the
5572date that the branch was created. A branch is created using the
5573sequence: @anchor{experimental branch tags}
474c8240 5574@smallexample
d52fe014
AC
5575cvs rtag @var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{YYYYMMDD}-branchpoint gdb
5576cvs rtag -b -r @var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{YYYYMMDD}-branchpoint \
5577 @var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{YYYYMMDD}-branch gdb
474c8240 5578@end smallexample
fb0ff88f 5579
d52fe014
AC
5580@item @var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{yyyymmdd}-mergepoint
5581The tagged point, on the mainline, that was used when merging the branch
5582on @var{yyyymmdd}. To merge in all changes since the branch was cut,
5583use a command sequence like:
474c8240 5584@smallexample
d52fe014
AC
5585cvs rtag @var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{yyyymmdd}-mergepoint gdb
5586cvs update \
5587 -j@var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{YYYYMMDD}-branchpoint
5588 -j@var{owner}_@var{name}-@var{yyyymmdd}-mergepoint
474c8240 5589@end smallexample
d52fe014
AC
5590@noindent
5591Similar sequences can be used to just merge in changes since the last
5592merge.
5593
5594@end table
fb0ff88f 5595
d52fe014
AC
5596@noindent
5597For further information on @sc{cvs}, see
5598@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/cvs/, Concurrent Versions System}.
5599
5600@node Releasing GDB
fb0ff88f 5601
d52fe014
AC
5602@chapter Releasing @value{GDBN}
5603@cindex making a new release of gdb
fb0ff88f 5604
9bb0a4d8
AC
5605@section Branch Commit Policy
5606
5607The branch commit policy is pretty slack. @value{GDBN} releases 5.0,
56085.1 and 5.2 all used the below:
5609
5610@itemize @bullet
5611@item
5612The @file{gdb/MAINTAINERS} file still holds.
5613@item
5614Don't fix something on the branch unless/until it is also fixed in the
5615trunk. If this isn't possible, mentioning it in the @file{gdb/PROBLEMS}
4be31470 5616file is better than committing a hack.
9bb0a4d8
AC
5617@item
5618When considering a patch for the branch, suggested criteria include:
5619Does it fix a build? Does it fix the sequence @kbd{break main; run}
5620when debugging a static binary?
5621@item
5622The further a change is from the core of @value{GDBN}, the less likely
5623the change will worry anyone (e.g., target specific code).
5624@item
5625Only post a proposal to change the core of @value{GDBN} after you've
5626sent individual bribes to all the people listed in the
5627@file{MAINTAINERS} file @t{;-)}
5628@end itemize
5629
5630@emph{Pragmatics: Provided updates are restricted to non-core
5631functionality there is little chance that a broken change will be fatal.
5632This means that changes such as adding a new architectures or (within
5633reason) support for a new host are considered acceptable.}
5634
5635
cbb09e6a 5636@section Obsoleting code
8973da3a 5637
8642bc8f 5638Before anything else, poke the other developers (and around the source
4be31470
EZ
5639code) to see if there is anything that can be removed from @value{GDBN}
5640(an old target, an unused file).
8973da3a 5641
8642bc8f 5642Obsolete code is identified by adding an @code{OBSOLETE} prefix to every
cbb09e6a
AC
5643line. Doing this means that it is easy to identify something that has
5644been obsoleted when greping through the sources.
8973da3a 5645
cbb09e6a
AC
5646The process is done in stages --- this is mainly to ensure that the
5647wider @value{GDBN} community has a reasonable opportunity to respond.
5648Remember, everything on the Internet takes a week.
8973da3a 5649
cbb09e6a 5650@enumerate
8973da3a 5651@item
cbb09e6a
AC
5652Post the proposal on @email{gdb@@sources.redhat.com, the GDB mailing
5653list} Creating a bug report to track the task's state, is also highly
5654recommended.
8973da3a 5655@item
cbb09e6a 5656Wait a week or so.
8973da3a 5657@item
cbb09e6a
AC
5658Post the proposal on @email{gdb-announce@@sources.redhat.com, the GDB
5659Announcement mailing list}.
8973da3a 5660@item
cbb09e6a 5661Wait a week or so.
8973da3a 5662@item
cbb09e6a
AC
5663Go through and edit all relevant files and lines so that they are
5664prefixed with the word @code{OBSOLETE}.
5665@item
5666Wait until the next GDB version, containing this obsolete code, has been
5667released.
5668@item
5669Remove the obsolete code.
5670@end enumerate
5671
5672@noindent
5673@emph{Maintainer note: While removing old code is regrettable it is
5674hopefully better for @value{GDBN}'s long term development. Firstly it
5675helps the developers by removing code that is either no longer relevant
5676or simply wrong. Secondly since it removes any history associated with
5677the file (effectively clearing the slate) the developer has a much freer
5678hand when it comes to fixing broken files.}
8973da3a 5679
8973da3a 5680
9ae8b82c
AC
5681
5682@section Before the Branch
8973da3a 5683
8642bc8f
AC
5684The most important objective at this stage is to find and fix simple
5685changes that become a pain to track once the branch is created. For
5686instance, configuration problems that stop @value{GDBN} from even
5687building. If you can't get the problem fixed, document it in the
5688@file{gdb/PROBLEMS} file.
8973da3a 5689
9ae8b82c 5690@subheading Prompt for @file{gdb/NEWS}
8973da3a 5691
9ae8b82c
AC
5692People always forget. Send a post reminding them but also if you know
5693something interesting happened add it yourself. The @code{schedule}
5694script will mention this in its e-mail.
8973da3a 5695
9ae8b82c 5696@subheading Review @file{gdb/README}
8973da3a 5697
9ae8b82c
AC
5698Grab one of the nightly snapshots and then walk through the
5699@file{gdb/README} looking for anything that can be improved. The
5700@code{schedule} script will mention this in its e-mail.
8642bc8f
AC
5701
5702@subheading Refresh any imported files.
8973da3a 5703
8642bc8f 5704A number of files are taken from external repositories. They include:
8973da3a 5705
8642bc8f
AC
5706@itemize @bullet
5707@item
5708@file{texinfo/texinfo.tex}
5709@item
9ae8b82c
AC
5710@file{config.guess} et.@: al.@: (see the top-level @file{MAINTAINERS}
5711file)
5712@item
5713@file{etc/standards.texi}, @file{etc/make-stds.texi}
8642bc8f
AC
5714@end itemize
5715
9ae8b82c 5716@subheading Check the ARI
8642bc8f 5717
9ae8b82c
AC
5718@uref{http://sources.redhat.com/gdb/ari,,A.R.I.} is an @code{awk} script
5719(Awk Regression Index ;-) that checks for a number of errors and coding
5720conventions. The checks include things like using @code{malloc} instead
5721of @code{xmalloc} and file naming problems. There shouldn't be any
5722regressions.
8642bc8f 5723
9ae8b82c 5724@subsection Review the bug data base
8642bc8f 5725
9ae8b82c 5726Close anything obviously fixed.
8642bc8f 5727
9ae8b82c 5728@subsection Check all cross targets build
8642bc8f 5729
9ae8b82c 5730The targets are listed in @file{gdb/MAINTAINERS}.
8642bc8f 5731
8642bc8f 5732
30107679 5733@section Cut the Branch
8642bc8f 5734
30107679 5735@subheading Create the branch
8642bc8f 5736
474c8240 5737@smallexample
30107679
AC
5738$ u=5.1
5739$ v=5.2
5740$ V=`echo $v | sed 's/\./_/g'`
5741$ D=`date -u +%Y-%m-%d`
5742$ echo $u $V $D
57435.1 5_2 2002-03-03
5744$ echo cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src rtag \
5745-D $D-gmt gdb_$V-$D-branchpoint insight+dejagnu
5746cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src rtag
5747-D 2002-03-03-gmt gdb_5_2-2002-03-03-branchpoint insight+dejagnu
5748$ ^echo ^^
5749...
5750$ echo cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src rtag \
5751-b -r gdb_$V-$D-branchpoint gdb_$V-branch insight+dejagnu
5752cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src rtag \
5753-b -r gdb_5_2-2002-03-03-branchpoint gdb_5_2-branch insight+dejagnu
5754$ ^echo ^^
5755...
8642bc8f 5756$
474c8240 5757@end smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
5758
5759@itemize @bullet
5760@item
30107679
AC
5761by using @kbd{-D YYYY-MM-DD-gmt} the branch is forced to an exact
5762date/time.
5763@item
5764the trunk is first taged so that the branch point can easily be found
5765@item
5766Insight (which includes GDB) and dejagnu are all tagged at the same time
8642bc8f 5767@item
30107679 5768@file{version.in} gets bumped to avoid version number conflicts
8642bc8f 5769@item
30107679
AC
5770the reading of @file{.cvsrc} is disabled using @file{-f}
5771@end itemize
5772
5773@subheading Update @file{version.in}
5774
5775@smallexample
5776$ u=5.1
5777$ v=5.2
5778$ V=`echo $v | sed 's/\./_/g'`
5779$ echo $u $v$V
57805.1 5_2
5781$ cd /tmp
5782$ echo cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src co \
5783-r gdb_$V-branch src/gdb/version.in
5784cvs -f -d :ext:sources.redhat.com:/cvs/src co
5785 -r gdb_5_2-branch src/gdb/version.in
5786$ ^echo ^^
5787U src/gdb/version.in
5788$ cd src/gdb
5789$ echo $u.90-0000-00-00-cvs > version.in
5790$ cat version.in
57915.1.90-0000-00-00-cvs
5792$ cvs -f commit version.in
5793@end smallexample
5794
5795@itemize @bullet
5796@item
5797@file{0000-00-00} is used as a date to pump prime the version.in update
5798mechanism
5799@item
5800@file{.90} and the previous branch version are used as fairly arbitrary
5801initial branch version number
8642bc8f
AC
5802@end itemize
5803
8642bc8f
AC
5804
5805@subheading Update the web and news pages
5806
30107679
AC
5807Something?
5808
8642bc8f
AC
5809@subheading Tweak cron to track the new branch
5810
30107679
AC
5811The file @file{gdbadmin/cron/crontab} contains gdbadmin's cron table.
5812This file needs to be updated so that:
5813
5814@itemize @bullet
5815@item
5816a daily timestamp is added to the file @file{version.in}
5817@item
5818the new branch is included in the snapshot process
5819@end itemize
5820
5821@noindent
5822See the file @file{gdbadmin/cron/README} for how to install the updated
5823cron table.
5824
5825The file @file{gdbadmin/ss/README} should also be reviewed to reflect
5826any changes. That file is copied to both the branch/ and current/
5827snapshot directories.
5828
5829
5830@subheading Update the NEWS and README files
5831
5832The @file{NEWS} file needs to be updated so that on the branch it refers
5833to @emph{changes in the current release} while on the trunk it also
5834refers to @emph{changes since the current release}.
5835
5836The @file{README} file needs to be updated so that it refers to the
5837current release.
5838
5839@subheading Post the branch info
5840
5841Send an announcement to the mailing lists:
5842
5843@itemize @bullet
5844@item
5845@email{gdb-announce@@sources.redhat.com, GDB Announcement mailing list}
5846@item
5847@email{gdb@@sources.redhat.com, GDB Discsussion mailing list} and
5848@email{gdb-testers@@sources.redhat.com, GDB Discsussion mailing list}
16737d73 5849@end itemize
30107679
AC
5850
5851@emph{Pragmatics: The branch creation is sent to the announce list to
5852ensure that people people not subscribed to the higher volume discussion
5853list are alerted.}
5854
5855The announcement should include:
5856
5857@itemize @bullet
5858@item
5859the branch tag
5860@item
5861how to check out the branch using CVS
5862@item
5863the date/number of weeks until the release
5864@item
5865the branch commit policy
5866still holds.
16737d73 5867@end itemize
30107679 5868
8642bc8f
AC
5869@section Stabilize the branch
5870
5871Something goes here.
5872
5873@section Create a Release
5874
0816590b
AC
5875The process of creating and then making available a release is broken
5876down into a number of stages. The first part addresses the technical
5877process of creating a releasable tar ball. The later stages address the
5878process of releasing that tar ball.
8973da3a 5879
0816590b
AC
5880When making a release candidate just the first section is needed.
5881
5882@subsection Create a release candidate
5883
5884The objective at this stage is to create a set of tar balls that can be
5885made available as a formal release (or as a less formal release
5886candidate).
5887
5888@subsubheading Freeze the branch
5889
5890Send out an e-mail notifying everyone that the branch is frozen to
5891@email{gdb-patches@@sources.redhat.com}.
5892
5893@subsubheading Establish a few defaults.
8973da3a 5894
474c8240 5895@smallexample
0816590b
AC
5896$ b=gdb_5_2-branch
5897$ v=5.2
8642bc8f
AC
5898$ t=/sourceware/snapshot-tmp/gdbadmin-tmp
5899$ echo $t/$b/$v
0816590b 5900/sourceware/snapshot-tmp/gdbadmin-tmp/gdb_5_2-branch/5.2
8642bc8f
AC
5901$ mkdir -p $t/$b/$v
5902$ cd $t/$b/$v
5903$ pwd
0816590b 5904/sourceware/snapshot-tmp/gdbadmin-tmp/gdb_5_2-branch/5.2
8973da3a
AC
5905$ which autoconf
5906/home/gdbadmin/bin/autoconf
8642bc8f 5907$
474c8240 5908@end smallexample
8973da3a 5909
0816590b
AC
5910@noindent
5911Notes:
8973da3a 5912
0816590b
AC
5913@itemize @bullet
5914@item
5915Check the @code{autoconf} version carefully. You want to be using the
4a2b4636
JB
5916version taken from the @file{binutils} snapshot directory, which can be
5917found at @uref{ftp://sources.redhat.com/pub/binutils/}. It is very
0816590b
AC
5918unlikely that a system installed version of @code{autoconf} (e.g.,
5919@file{/usr/bin/autoconf}) is correct.
5920@end itemize
5921
5922@subsubheading Check out the relevant modules:
8973da3a 5923
474c8240 5924@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
5925$ for m in gdb insight dejagnu
5926do
8973da3a
AC
5927( mkdir -p $m && cd $m && cvs -q -f -d /cvs/src co -P -r $b $m )
5928done
8642bc8f 5929$
474c8240 5930@end smallexample
8973da3a 5931
0816590b
AC
5932@noindent
5933Note:
8642bc8f 5934
0816590b
AC
5935@itemize @bullet
5936@item
5937The reading of @file{.cvsrc} is disabled (@file{-f}) so that there isn't
5938any confusion between what is written here and what your local
5939@code{cvs} really does.
5940@end itemize
5941
5942@subsubheading Update relevant files.
8973da3a 5943
0816590b
AC
5944@table @file
5945
5946@item gdb/NEWS
8642bc8f
AC
5947
5948Major releases get their comments added as part of the mainline. Minor
5949releases should probably mention any significant bugs that were fixed.
5950
0816590b 5951Don't forget to include the @file{ChangeLog} entry.
8973da3a 5952
474c8240 5953@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
5954$ emacs gdb/src/gdb/NEWS
5955...
5956c-x 4 a
5957...
5958c-x c-s c-x c-c
5959$ cp gdb/src/gdb/NEWS insight/src/gdb/NEWS
5960$ cp gdb/src/gdb/ChangeLog insight/src/gdb/ChangeLog
474c8240 5961@end smallexample
8973da3a 5962
0816590b
AC
5963@item gdb/README
5964
5965You'll need to update:
8973da3a 5966
0816590b
AC
5967@itemize @bullet
5968@item
5969the version
5970@item
5971the update date
5972@item
5973who did it
5974@end itemize
8973da3a 5975
474c8240 5976@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
5977$ emacs gdb/src/gdb/README
5978...
8973da3a 5979c-x 4 a
8642bc8f 5980...
8973da3a 5981c-x c-s c-x c-c
8642bc8f
AC
5982$ cp gdb/src/gdb/README insight/src/gdb/README
5983$ cp gdb/src/gdb/ChangeLog insight/src/gdb/ChangeLog
474c8240 5984@end smallexample
8973da3a 5985
0816590b
AC
5986@emph{Maintainer note: Hopefully the @file{README} file was reviewed
5987before the initial branch was cut so just a simple substitute is needed
5988to get it updated.}
8973da3a 5989
8642bc8f
AC
5990@emph{Maintainer note: Other projects generate @file{README} and
5991@file{INSTALL} from the core documentation. This might be worth
5992pursuing.}
8973da3a 5993
0816590b 5994@item gdb/version.in
8973da3a 5995
474c8240 5996@smallexample
8642bc8f 5997$ echo $v > gdb/src/gdb/version.in
0816590b
AC
5998$ cat gdb/src/gdb/version.in
59995.2
8642bc8f 6000$ emacs gdb/src/gdb/version.in
8973da3a
AC
6001...
6002c-x 4 a
0816590b 6003... Bump to version ...
8973da3a 6004c-x c-s c-x c-c
8642bc8f
AC
6005$ cp gdb/src/gdb/version.in insight/src/gdb/version.in
6006$ cp gdb/src/gdb/ChangeLog insight/src/gdb/ChangeLog
474c8240 6007@end smallexample
8973da3a 6008
0816590b 6009@item dejagnu/src/dejagnu/configure.in
8642bc8f
AC
6010
6011Dejagnu is more complicated. The version number is a parameter to
0816590b 6012@code{AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE}. Tweak it to read something like gdb-5.1.91.
8642bc8f 6013
0816590b 6014Don't forget to re-generate @file{configure}.
8642bc8f 6015
0816590b 6016Don't forget to include a @file{ChangeLog} entry.
8642bc8f 6017
0816590b
AC
6018@smallexample
6019$ emacs dejagnu/src/dejagnu/configure.in
6020...
6021c-x 4 a
6022...
6023c-x c-s c-x c-c
6024$ ( cd dejagnu/src/dejagnu && autoconf )
6025@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6026
0816590b
AC
6027@end table
6028
6029@subsubheading Do the dirty work
6030
6031This is identical to the process used to create the daily snapshot.
8973da3a 6032
4ce8657e
MC
6033@smallexample
6034$ for m in gdb insight
6035do
6036( cd $m/src && gmake -f src-release $m.tar )
6037done
6038$ ( m=dejagnu; cd $m/src && gmake -f src-release $m.tar.bz2 )
6039@end smallexample
6040
6041If the top level source directory does not have @file{src-release}
6042(@value{GDBN} version 5.3.1 or earlier), try these commands instead:
6043
474c8240 6044@smallexample
0816590b 6045$ for m in gdb insight
8642bc8f 6046do
0816590b 6047( cd $m/src && gmake -f Makefile.in $m.tar )
8973da3a 6048done
0816590b 6049$ ( m=dejagnu; cd $m/src && gmake -f Makefile.in $m.tar.bz2 )
474c8240 6050@end smallexample
8973da3a 6051
0816590b 6052@subsubheading Check the source files
8642bc8f 6053
0816590b 6054You're looking for files that have mysteriously disappeared.
8642bc8f
AC
6055@kbd{distclean} has the habit of deleting files it shouldn't. Watch out
6056for the @file{version.in} update @kbd{cronjob}.
8973da3a 6057
474c8240 6058@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
6059$ ( cd gdb/src && cvs -f -q -n update )
6060M djunpack.bat
0816590b 6061? gdb-5.1.91.tar
8642bc8f 6062? proto-toplev
0816590b 6063@dots{} lots of generated files @dots{}
8642bc8f
AC
6064M gdb/ChangeLog
6065M gdb/NEWS
6066M gdb/README
6067M gdb/version.in
0816590b 6068@dots{} lots of generated files @dots{}
8642bc8f 6069$
474c8240 6070@end smallexample
8973da3a 6071
0816590b 6072@noindent
8642bc8f
AC
6073@emph{Don't worry about the @file{gdb.info-??} or
6074@file{gdb/p-exp.tab.c}. They were generated (and yes @file{gdb.info-1}
6075was also generated only something strange with CVS means that they
6076didn't get supressed). Fixing it would be nice though.}
8973da3a 6077
0816590b 6078@subsubheading Create compressed versions of the release
8973da3a 6079
474c8240 6080@smallexample
0816590b
AC
6081$ cp */src/*.tar .
6082$ cp */src/*.bz2 .
6083$ ls -F
6084dejagnu/ dejagnu-gdb-5.2.tar.bz2 gdb/ gdb-5.2.tar insight/ insight-5.2.tar
6085$ for m in gdb insight
6086do
6087bzip2 -v -9 -c $m-$v.tar > $m-$v.tar.bz2
6088gzip -v -9 -c $m-$v.tar > $m-$v.tar.gz
6089done
6090$
474c8240 6091@end smallexample
8973da3a 6092
0816590b
AC
6093@noindent
6094Note:
6095
6096@itemize @bullet
6097@item
6098A pipe such as @kbd{bunzip2 < xxx.bz2 | gzip -9 > xxx.gz} is not since,
6099in that mode, @code{gzip} does not know the name of the file and, hence,
6100can not include it in the compressed file. This is also why the release
6101process runs @code{tar} and @code{bzip2} as separate passes.
6102@end itemize
6103
6104@subsection Sanity check the tar ball
8973da3a 6105
0816590b 6106Pick a popular machine (Solaris/PPC?) and try the build on that.
8973da3a 6107
0816590b
AC
6108@smallexample
6109$ bunzip2 < gdb-5.2.tar.bz2 | tar xpf -
6110$ cd gdb-5.2
6111$ ./configure
6112$ make
6113@dots{}
6114$ ./gdb/gdb ./gdb/gdb
6115GNU gdb 5.2
6116@dots{}
6117(gdb) b main
6118Breakpoint 1 at 0x80732bc: file main.c, line 734.
6119(gdb) run
6120Starting program: /tmp/gdb-5.2/gdb/gdb
6121
6122Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xbffff8b4) at main.c:734
6123734 catch_errors (captured_main, &args, "", RETURN_MASK_ALL);
6124(gdb) print args
6125$1 = @{argc = 136426532, argv = 0x821b7f0@}
6126(gdb)
6127@end smallexample
8973da3a 6128
0816590b 6129@subsection Make a release candidate available
8973da3a 6130
0816590b 6131If this is a release candidate then the only remaining steps are:
8642bc8f 6132
0816590b
AC
6133@enumerate
6134@item
6135Commit @file{version.in} and @file{ChangeLog}
6136@item
6137Tweak @file{version.in} (and @file{ChangeLog} to read
6138@var{L}.@var{M}.@var{N}-0000-00-00-cvs so that the version update
6139process can restart.
6140@item
6141Make the release candidate available in
6142@uref{ftp://sources.redhat.com/pub/gdb/snapshots/branch}
6143@item
6144Notify the relevant mailing lists ( @email{gdb@@sources.redhat.com} and
6145@email{gdb-testers@@sources.redhat.com} that the candidate is available.
6146@end enumerate
8642bc8f 6147
0816590b 6148@subsection Make a formal release available
8642bc8f 6149
0816590b 6150(And you thought all that was required was to post an e-mail.)
8642bc8f 6151
0816590b 6152@subsubheading Install on sware
8642bc8f 6153
0816590b 6154Copy the new files to both the release and the old release directory:
8642bc8f 6155
474c8240 6156@smallexample
0816590b 6157$ cp *.bz2 *.gz ~ftp/pub/gdb/old-releases/
8642bc8f 6158$ cp *.bz2 *.gz ~ftp/pub/gdb/releases
474c8240 6159@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6160
0816590b
AC
6161@noindent
6162Clean up the releases directory so that only the most recent releases
6163are available (e.g. keep 5.2 and 5.2.1 but remove 5.1):
6164
6165@smallexample
6166$ cd ~ftp/pub/gdb/releases
6167$ rm @dots{}
6168@end smallexample
6169
6170@noindent
6171Update the file @file{README} and @file{.message} in the releases
6172directory:
6173
6174@smallexample
6175$ vi README
6176@dots{}
6177$ rm -f .message
6178$ ln README .message
6179@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6180
0816590b 6181@subsubheading Update the web pages.
8973da3a 6182
0816590b
AC
6183@table @file
6184
6185@item htdocs/download/ANNOUNCEMENT
6186This file, which is posted as the official announcement, includes:
8973da3a
AC
6187@itemize @bullet
6188@item
0816590b 6189General announcement
8642bc8f 6190@item
0816590b
AC
6191News. If making an @var{M}.@var{N}.1 release, retain the news from
6192earlier @var{M}.@var{N} release.
8973da3a 6193@item
0816590b
AC
6194Errata
6195@end itemize
6196
6197@item htdocs/index.html
6198@itemx htdocs/news/index.html
6199@itemx htdocs/download/index.html
6200These files include:
6201@itemize @bullet
8642bc8f 6202@item
0816590b 6203announcement of the most recent release
8642bc8f 6204@item
0816590b 6205news entry (remember to update both the top level and the news directory).
8973da3a 6206@end itemize
0816590b 6207These pages also need to be regenerate using @code{index.sh}.
8973da3a 6208
0816590b 6209@item download/onlinedocs/
8642bc8f
AC
6210You need to find the magic command that is used to generate the online
6211docs from the @file{.tar.bz2}. The best way is to look in the output
0816590b 6212from one of the nightly @code{cron} jobs and then just edit accordingly.
8642bc8f
AC
6213Something like:
6214
474c8240 6215@smallexample
8642bc8f 6216$ ~/ss/update-web-docs \
0816590b 6217 ~ftp/pub/gdb/releases/gdb-5.2.tar.bz2 \
8642bc8f 6218 $PWD/www \
0816590b 6219 /www/sourceware/htdocs/gdb/download/onlinedocs \
8642bc8f 6220 gdb
474c8240 6221@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6222
0816590b
AC
6223@item download/ari/
6224Just like the online documentation. Something like:
8642bc8f 6225
0816590b
AC
6226@smallexample
6227$ /bin/sh ~/ss/update-web-ari \
6228 ~ftp/pub/gdb/releases/gdb-5.2.tar.bz2 \
6229 $PWD/www \
6230 /www/sourceware/htdocs/gdb/download/ari \
6231 gdb
6232@end smallexample
6233
6234@end table
6235
6236@subsubheading Shadow the pages onto gnu
6237
6238Something goes here.
6239
6240
6241@subsubheading Install the @value{GDBN} tar ball on GNU
6242
6243At the time of writing, the GNU machine was @kbd{gnudist.gnu.org} in
6244@file{~ftp/gnu/gdb}.
6245
6246@subsubheading Make the @file{ANNOUNCEMENT}
6247
6248Post the @file{ANNOUNCEMENT} file you created above to:
8642bc8f
AC
6249
6250@itemize @bullet
6251@item
6252@email{gdb-announce@@sources.redhat.com, GDB Announcement mailing list}
6253@item
0816590b
AC
6254@email{info-gnu@@gnu.org, General GNU Announcement list} (but delay it a
6255day or so to let things get out)
6256@item
6257@email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, GDB Bug Report mailing list}
8642bc8f
AC
6258@end itemize
6259
0816590b 6260@subsection Cleanup
8642bc8f 6261
0816590b 6262The release is out but you're still not finished.
8642bc8f 6263
0816590b 6264@subsubheading Commit outstanding changes
8642bc8f 6265
0816590b 6266In particular you'll need to commit any changes to:
8642bc8f
AC
6267
6268@itemize @bullet
6269@item
6270@file{gdb/ChangeLog}
6271@item
6272@file{gdb/version.in}
6273@item
6274@file{gdb/NEWS}
6275@item
6276@file{gdb/README}
6277@end itemize
6278
0816590b 6279@subsubheading Tag the release
8642bc8f
AC
6280
6281Something like:
6282
474c8240 6283@smallexample
8642bc8f
AC
6284$ d=`date -u +%Y-%m-%d`
6285$ echo $d
62862002-01-24
6287$ ( cd insight/src/gdb && cvs -f -q update )
0816590b 6288$ ( cd insight/src && cvs -f -q tag gdb_5_2-$d-release )
474c8240 6289@end smallexample
8642bc8f 6290
0816590b
AC
6291Insight is used since that contains more of the release than
6292@value{GDBN} (@code{dejagnu} doesn't get tagged but I think we can live
6293with that).
6294
6295@subsubheading Mention the release on the trunk
8642bc8f 6296
0816590b
AC
6297Just put something in the @file{ChangeLog} so that the trunk also
6298indicates when the release was made.
6299
6300@subsubheading Restart @file{gdb/version.in}
8642bc8f
AC
6301
6302If @file{gdb/version.in} does not contain an ISO date such as
6303@kbd{2002-01-24} then the daily @code{cronjob} won't update it. Having
6304committed all the release changes it can be set to
0816590b 6305@file{5.2.0_0000-00-00-cvs} which will restart things (yes the @kbd{_}
8642bc8f
AC
6306is important - it affects the snapshot process).
6307
6308Don't forget the @file{ChangeLog}.
6309
0816590b 6310@subsubheading Merge into trunk
8973da3a 6311
8642bc8f
AC
6312The files committed to the branch may also need changes merged into the
6313trunk.
8973da3a 6314
0816590b
AC
6315@subsubheading Revise the release schedule
6316
6317Post a revised release schedule to @email{gdb@@sources.redhat.com, GDB
6318Discussion List} with an updated announcement. The schedule can be
6319generated by running:
6320
6321@smallexample
6322$ ~/ss/schedule `date +%s` schedule
6323@end smallexample
6324
6325@noindent
6326The first parameter is approximate date/time in seconds (from the epoch)
6327of the most recent release.
6328
6329Also update the schedule @code{cronjob}.
6330
8642bc8f 6331@section Post release
8973da3a 6332
8642bc8f 6333Remove any @code{OBSOLETE} code.
8973da3a 6334
085dd6e6
JM
6335@node Testsuite
6336
6337@chapter Testsuite
56caf160 6338@cindex test suite
085dd6e6 6339
56caf160
EZ
6340The testsuite is an important component of the @value{GDBN} package.
6341While it is always worthwhile to encourage user testing, in practice
6342this is rarely sufficient; users typically use only a small subset of
6343the available commands, and it has proven all too common for a change
6344to cause a significant regression that went unnoticed for some time.
085dd6e6 6345
56caf160
EZ
6346The @value{GDBN} testsuite uses the DejaGNU testing framework.
6347DejaGNU is built using @code{Tcl} and @code{expect}. The tests
6348themselves are calls to various @code{Tcl} procs; the framework runs all the
6349procs and summarizes the passes and fails.
085dd6e6
JM
6350
6351@section Using the Testsuite
6352
56caf160 6353@cindex running the test suite
25822942 6354To run the testsuite, simply go to the @value{GDBN} object directory (or to the
085dd6e6
JM
6355testsuite's objdir) and type @code{make check}. This just sets up some
6356environment variables and invokes DejaGNU's @code{runtest} script. While
6357the testsuite is running, you'll get mentions of which test file is in use,
6358and a mention of any unexpected passes or fails. When the testsuite is
6359finished, you'll get a summary that looks like this:
56caf160 6360
474c8240 6361@smallexample
085dd6e6
JM
6362 === gdb Summary ===
6363
6364# of expected passes 6016
6365# of unexpected failures 58
6366# of unexpected successes 5
6367# of expected failures 183
6368# of unresolved testcases 3
6369# of untested testcases 5
474c8240 6370@end smallexample
56caf160 6371
085dd6e6
JM
6372The ideal test run consists of expected passes only; however, reality
6373conspires to keep us from this ideal. Unexpected failures indicate
56caf160
EZ
6374real problems, whether in @value{GDBN} or in the testsuite. Expected
6375failures are still failures, but ones which have been decided are too
6376hard to deal with at the time; for instance, a test case might work
6377everywhere except on AIX, and there is no prospect of the AIX case
6378being fixed in the near future. Expected failures should not be added
6379lightly, since you may be masking serious bugs in @value{GDBN}.
6380Unexpected successes are expected fails that are passing for some
6381reason, while unresolved and untested cases often indicate some minor
6382catastrophe, such as the compiler being unable to deal with a test
6383program.
6384
6385When making any significant change to @value{GDBN}, you should run the
6386testsuite before and after the change, to confirm that there are no
6387regressions. Note that truly complete testing would require that you
6388run the testsuite with all supported configurations and a variety of
6389compilers; however this is more than really necessary. In many cases
6390testing with a single configuration is sufficient. Other useful
6391options are to test one big-endian (Sparc) and one little-endian (x86)
6392host, a cross config with a builtin simulator (powerpc-eabi,
6393mips-elf), or a 64-bit host (Alpha).
6394
6395If you add new functionality to @value{GDBN}, please consider adding
6396tests for it as well; this way future @value{GDBN} hackers can detect
6397and fix their changes that break the functionality you added.
6398Similarly, if you fix a bug that was not previously reported as a test
6399failure, please add a test case for it. Some cases are extremely
6400difficult to test, such as code that handles host OS failures or bugs
6401in particular versions of compilers, and it's OK not to try to write
6402tests for all of those.
085dd6e6 6403
e7dc800a
MC
6404DejaGNU supports separate build, host, and target machines. However,
6405some @value{GDBN} test scripts do not work if the build machine and
6406the host machine are not the same. In such an environment, these scripts
6407will give a result of ``UNRESOLVED'', like this:
6408
6409@smallexample
6410UNRESOLVED: gdb.base/example.exp: This test script does not work on a remote host.
6411@end smallexample
6412
085dd6e6
JM
6413@section Testsuite Organization
6414
56caf160 6415@cindex test suite organization
085dd6e6
JM
6416The testsuite is entirely contained in @file{gdb/testsuite}. While the
6417testsuite includes some makefiles and configury, these are very minimal,
6418and used for little besides cleaning up, since the tests themselves
25822942 6419handle the compilation of the programs that @value{GDBN} will run. The file
085dd6e6 6420@file{testsuite/lib/gdb.exp} contains common utility procs useful for
25822942 6421all @value{GDBN} tests, while the directory @file{testsuite/config} contains
085dd6e6
JM
6422configuration-specific files, typically used for special-purpose
6423definitions of procs like @code{gdb_load} and @code{gdb_start}.
6424
6425The tests themselves are to be found in @file{testsuite/gdb.*} and
6426subdirectories of those. The names of the test files must always end
6427with @file{.exp}. DejaGNU collects the test files by wildcarding
6428in the test directories, so both subdirectories and individual files
6429get chosen and run in alphabetical order.
6430
6431The following table lists the main types of subdirectories and what they
6432are for. Since DejaGNU finds test files no matter where they are
6433located, and since each test file sets up its own compilation and
6434execution environment, this organization is simply for convenience and
6435intelligibility.
6436
56caf160 6437@table @file
085dd6e6 6438@item gdb.base
085dd6e6 6439This is the base testsuite. The tests in it should apply to all
25822942 6440configurations of @value{GDBN} (but generic native-only tests may live here).
085dd6e6 6441The test programs should be in the subset of C that is valid K&R,
49efadf5 6442ANSI/ISO, and C@t{++} (@code{#ifdef}s are allowed if necessary, for instance
085dd6e6
JM
6443for prototypes).
6444
6445@item gdb.@var{lang}
56caf160 6446Language-specific tests for any language @var{lang} besides C. Examples are
af6cf26d 6447@file{gdb.cp} and @file{gdb.java}.
085dd6e6
JM
6448
6449@item gdb.@var{platform}
085dd6e6
JM
6450Non-portable tests. The tests are specific to a specific configuration
6451(host or target), such as HP-UX or eCos. Example is @file{gdb.hp}, for
6452HP-UX.
6453
6454@item gdb.@var{compiler}
085dd6e6
JM
6455Tests specific to a particular compiler. As of this writing (June
64561999), there aren't currently any groups of tests in this category that
6457couldn't just as sensibly be made platform-specific, but one could
56caf160
EZ
6458imagine a @file{gdb.gcc}, for tests of @value{GDBN}'s handling of GCC
6459extensions.
085dd6e6
JM
6460
6461@item gdb.@var{subsystem}
25822942 6462Tests that exercise a specific @value{GDBN} subsystem in more depth. For
085dd6e6
JM
6463instance, @file{gdb.disasm} exercises various disassemblers, while
6464@file{gdb.stabs} tests pathways through the stabs symbol reader.
085dd6e6
JM
6465@end table
6466
6467@section Writing Tests
56caf160 6468@cindex writing tests
085dd6e6 6469
25822942 6470In many areas, the @value{GDBN} tests are already quite comprehensive; you
085dd6e6
JM
6471should be able to copy existing tests to handle new cases.
6472
6473You should try to use @code{gdb_test} whenever possible, since it
6474includes cases to handle all the unexpected errors that might happen.
6475However, it doesn't cost anything to add new test procedures; for
6476instance, @file{gdb.base/exprs.exp} defines a @code{test_expr} that
6477calls @code{gdb_test} multiple times.
6478
6479Only use @code{send_gdb} and @code{gdb_expect} when absolutely
25822942 6480necessary, such as when @value{GDBN} has several valid responses to a command.
085dd6e6
JM
6481
6482The source language programs do @emph{not} need to be in a consistent
25822942 6483style. Since @value{GDBN} is used to debug programs written in many different
085dd6e6 6484styles, it's worth having a mix of styles in the testsuite; for
25822942 6485instance, some @value{GDBN} bugs involving the display of source lines would
085dd6e6
JM
6486never manifest themselves if the programs used GNU coding style
6487uniformly.
6488
c906108c
SS
6489@node Hints
6490
6491@chapter Hints
6492
6493Check the @file{README} file, it often has useful information that does not
6494appear anywhere else in the directory.
6495
6496@menu
25822942 6497* Getting Started:: Getting started working on @value{GDBN}
33e16fad 6498* Debugging GDB:: Debugging @value{GDBN} with itself
c906108c
SS
6499@end menu
6500
6501@node Getting Started,,, Hints
6502
6503@section Getting Started
6504
25822942 6505@value{GDBN} is a large and complicated program, and if you first starting to
c906108c
SS
6506work on it, it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, if you
6507know how to go about it, there are ways to figure out what is going on.
6508
25822942
DB
6509This manual, the @value{GDBN} Internals manual, has information which applies
6510generally to many parts of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
6511
6512Information about particular functions or data structures are located in
6513comments with those functions or data structures. If you run across a
6514function or a global variable which does not have a comment correctly
25822942 6515explaining what is does, this can be thought of as a bug in @value{GDBN}; feel
c906108c
SS
6516free to submit a bug report, with a suggested comment if you can figure
6517out what the comment should say. If you find a comment which is
6518actually wrong, be especially sure to report that.
6519
6520Comments explaining the function of macros defined in host, target, or
6521native dependent files can be in several places. Sometimes they are
6522repeated every place the macro is defined. Sometimes they are where the
6523macro is used. Sometimes there is a header file which supplies a
6524default definition of the macro, and the comment is there. This manual
6525also documents all the available macros.
6526@c (@pxref{Host Conditionals}, @pxref{Target
6527@c Conditionals}, @pxref{Native Conditionals}, and @pxref{Obsolete
6528@c Conditionals})
6529
56caf160
EZ
6530Start with the header files. Once you have some idea of how
6531@value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables are stored (see @file{symtab.h},
6532@file{gdbtypes.h}), you will find it much easier to understand the
6533code which uses and creates those symbol tables.
c906108c
SS
6534
6535You may wish to process the information you are getting somehow, to
6536enhance your understanding of it. Summarize it, translate it to another
25822942 6537language, add some (perhaps trivial or non-useful) feature to @value{GDBN}, use
c906108c
SS
6538the code to predict what a test case would do and write the test case
6539and verify your prediction, etc. If you are reading code and your eyes
6540are starting to glaze over, this is a sign you need to use a more active
6541approach.
6542
25822942 6543Once you have a part of @value{GDBN} to start with, you can find more
c906108c
SS
6544specifically the part you are looking for by stepping through each
6545function with the @code{next} command. Do not use @code{step} or you
6546will quickly get distracted; when the function you are stepping through
6547calls another function try only to get a big-picture understanding
6548(perhaps using the comment at the beginning of the function being
6549called) of what it does. This way you can identify which of the
6550functions being called by the function you are stepping through is the
6551one which you are interested in. You may need to examine the data
6552structures generated at each stage, with reference to the comments in
6553the header files explaining what the data structures are supposed to
6554look like.
6555
6556Of course, this same technique can be used if you are just reading the
6557code, rather than actually stepping through it. The same general
6558principle applies---when the code you are looking at calls something
6559else, just try to understand generally what the code being called does,
6560rather than worrying about all its details.
6561
56caf160
EZ
6562@cindex command implementation
6563A good place to start when tracking down some particular area is with
6564a command which invokes that feature. Suppose you want to know how
6565single-stepping works. As a @value{GDBN} user, you know that the
6566@code{step} command invokes single-stepping. The command is invoked
6567via command tables (see @file{command.h}); by convention the function
6568which actually performs the command is formed by taking the name of
6569the command and adding @samp{_command}, or in the case of an
6570@code{info} subcommand, @samp{_info}. For example, the @code{step}
6571command invokes the @code{step_command} function and the @code{info
6572display} command invokes @code{display_info}. When this convention is
6573not followed, you might have to use @code{grep} or @kbd{M-x
6574tags-search} in emacs, or run @value{GDBN} on itself and set a
6575breakpoint in @code{execute_command}.
6576
6577@cindex @code{bug-gdb} mailing list
c906108c
SS
6578If all of the above fail, it may be appropriate to ask for information
6579on @code{bug-gdb}. But @emph{never} post a generic question like ``I was
6580wondering if anyone could give me some tips about understanding
25822942 6581@value{GDBN}''---if we had some magic secret we would put it in this manual.
c906108c
SS
6582Suggestions for improving the manual are always welcome, of course.
6583
33e16fad 6584@node Debugging GDB,,,Hints
c906108c 6585
25822942 6586@section Debugging @value{GDBN} with itself
56caf160 6587@cindex debugging @value{GDBN}
c906108c 6588
25822942 6589If @value{GDBN} is limping on your machine, this is the preferred way to get it
c906108c
SS
6590fully functional. Be warned that in some ancient Unix systems, like
6591Ultrix 4.2, a program can't be running in one process while it is being
56caf160 6592debugged in another. Rather than typing the command @kbd{@w{./gdb
c906108c 6593./gdb}}, which works on Suns and such, you can copy @file{gdb} to
56caf160 6594@file{gdb2} and then type @kbd{@w{./gdb ./gdb2}}.
c906108c 6595
25822942 6596When you run @value{GDBN} in the @value{GDBN} source directory, it will read a
c906108c
SS
6597@file{.gdbinit} file that sets up some simple things to make debugging
6598gdb easier. The @code{info} command, when executed without a subcommand
25822942 6599in a @value{GDBN} being debugged by gdb, will pop you back up to the top level
c906108c
SS
6600gdb. See @file{.gdbinit} for details.
6601
6602If you use emacs, you will probably want to do a @code{make TAGS} after
6603you configure your distribution; this will put the machine dependent
6604routines for your local machine where they will be accessed first by
6605@kbd{M-.}
6606
25822942 6607Also, make sure that you've either compiled @value{GDBN} with your local cc, or
c906108c
SS
6608have run @code{fixincludes} if you are compiling with gcc.
6609
6610@section Submitting Patches
6611
56caf160 6612@cindex submitting patches
c906108c 6613Thanks for thinking of offering your changes back to the community of
25822942 6614@value{GDBN} users. In general we like to get well designed enhancements.
c906108c
SS
6615Thanks also for checking in advance about the best way to transfer the
6616changes.
6617
25822942
DB
6618The @value{GDBN} maintainers will only install ``cleanly designed'' patches.
6619This manual summarizes what we believe to be clean design for @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
6620
6621If the maintainers don't have time to put the patch in when it arrives,
6622or if there is any question about a patch, it goes into a large queue
6623with everyone else's patches and bug reports.
6624
56caf160 6625@cindex legal papers for code contributions
c906108c
SS
6626The legal issue is that to incorporate substantial changes requires a
6627copyright assignment from you and/or your employer, granting ownership
6628of the changes to the Free Software Foundation. You can get the
9e0b60a8
JM
6629standard documents for doing this by sending mail to @code{gnu@@gnu.org}
6630and asking for it. We recommend that people write in "All programs
6631owned by the Free Software Foundation" as "NAME OF PROGRAM", so that
56caf160
EZ
6632changes in many programs (not just @value{GDBN}, but GAS, Emacs, GCC,
6633etc) can be
9e0b60a8 6634contributed with only one piece of legalese pushed through the
be9c6c35 6635bureaucracy and filed with the FSF. We can't start merging changes until
9e0b60a8
JM
6636this paperwork is received by the FSF (their rules, which we follow
6637since we maintain it for them).
c906108c
SS
6638
6639Technically, the easiest way to receive changes is to receive each
56caf160
EZ
6640feature as a small context diff or unidiff, suitable for @code{patch}.
6641Each message sent to me should include the changes to C code and
6642header files for a single feature, plus @file{ChangeLog} entries for
6643each directory where files were modified, and diffs for any changes
6644needed to the manuals (@file{gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo} or
6645@file{gdb/doc/gdbint.texinfo}). If there are a lot of changes for a
6646single feature, they can be split down into multiple messages.
9e0b60a8
JM
6647
6648In this way, if we read and like the feature, we can add it to the
c906108c 6649sources with a single patch command, do some testing, and check it in.
56caf160
EZ
6650If you leave out the @file{ChangeLog}, we have to write one. If you leave
6651out the doc, we have to puzzle out what needs documenting. Etc., etc.
c906108c 6652
9e0b60a8
JM
6653The reason to send each change in a separate message is that we will not
6654install some of the changes. They'll be returned to you with questions
6655or comments. If we're doing our job correctly, the message back to you
c906108c 6656will say what you have to fix in order to make the change acceptable.
9e0b60a8
JM
6657The reason to have separate messages for separate features is so that
6658the acceptable changes can be installed while one or more changes are
6659being reworked. If multiple features are sent in a single message, we
6660tend to not put in the effort to sort out the acceptable changes from
6661the unacceptable, so none of the features get installed until all are
6662acceptable.
6663
6664If this sounds painful or authoritarian, well, it is. But we get a lot
6665of bug reports and a lot of patches, and many of them don't get
6666installed because we don't have the time to finish the job that the bug
c906108c
SS
6667reporter or the contributor could have done. Patches that arrive
6668complete, working, and well designed, tend to get installed on the day
9e0b60a8
JM
6669they arrive. The others go into a queue and get installed as time
6670permits, which, since the maintainers have many demands to meet, may not
6671be for quite some time.
c906108c 6672
56caf160 6673Please send patches directly to
47b95330 6674@email{gdb-patches@@sources.redhat.com, the @value{GDBN} maintainers}.
c906108c
SS
6675
6676@section Obsolete Conditionals
56caf160 6677@cindex obsolete code
c906108c 6678
25822942 6679Fragments of old code in @value{GDBN} sometimes reference or set the following
c906108c
SS
6680configuration macros. They should not be used by new code, and old uses
6681should be removed as those parts of the debugger are otherwise touched.
6682
6683@table @code
c906108c
SS
6684@item STACK_END_ADDR
6685This macro used to define where the end of the stack appeared, for use
6686in interpreting core file formats that don't record this address in the
25822942
DB
6687core file itself. This information is now configured in BFD, and @value{GDBN}
6688gets the info portably from there. The values in @value{GDBN}'s configuration
c906108c 6689files should be moved into BFD configuration files (if needed there),
25822942 6690and deleted from all of @value{GDBN}'s config files.
c906108c
SS
6691
6692Any @file{@var{foo}-xdep.c} file that references STACK_END_ADDR
6693is so old that it has never been converted to use BFD. Now that's old!
6694
c906108c
SS
6695@end table
6696
bcd7e15f 6697@include observer.texi
2154891a 6698@raisesections
aab4e0ec 6699@include fdl.texi
2154891a 6700@lowersections
aab4e0ec 6701
56caf160
EZ
6702@node Index
6703@unnumbered Index
6704
6705@printindex cp
6706
c906108c 6707@bye
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