21db4752bc74b553bfdc89a71c130dab1ca59e61
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-1996, 1998-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c
4 @c %**start of header
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7 @setfilename gdb.info
8 @c
9 @include gdb-cfg.texi
10 @c
11 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
12 @setchapternewpage odd
13 @c %**end of header
14
15 @iftex
16 @c @smallbook
17 @c @cropmarks
18 @end iftex
19
20 @finalout
21 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
22 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
23 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
24 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
25 @syncodeindex ky fn
26 @syncodeindex tp fn
27
28 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
29 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
30 @syncodeindex vr fn
31 @syncodeindex fn fn
32
33 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
34 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
35 @set EDITION Tenth
36
37 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
38 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
39
40 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
41
42 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
43 @c manuals to an info tree.
44 @dircategory Software development
45 @direntry
46 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
47 @end direntry
48
49 @copying
50 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
51 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
52 2011, 2012
53 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
54
55 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
56 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
57 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
58 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
59 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
60 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
61
62 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
63 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
64 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
65 @end copying
66
67 @ifnottex
68 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
69
70 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
71 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
72 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
73 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
74 @end ifset
75 Version @value{GDBVN}.
76
77 @insertcopying
78 @end ifnottex
79
80 @titlepage
81 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
82 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
85 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
86 @sp 1
87 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
88 @end ifset
89 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
90 @page
91 @tex
92 {\parskip=0pt
93 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
94 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
95 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
96 }
97 @end tex
98
99 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
100 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
101 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
102 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
103 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
104
105 @insertcopying
106 @end titlepage
107 @page
108
109 @ifnottex
110 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
111
112 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
113
114 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
115
116 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
117 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
118 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
119 @end ifset
120 Version @value{GDBVN}.
121
122 Copyright (C) 1988-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
123
124 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
125 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
126 software in general. We will miss him.
127
128 @menu
129 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
130 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
131
132 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
133 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
134 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
135 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
136 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
137 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
138 * Stack:: Examining the stack
139 * Source:: Examining source files
140 * Data:: Examining data
141 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
142 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
143 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
144 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
145
146 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
147
148 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
149 * Altering:: Altering execution
150 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
151 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
152 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
153 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
154 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
155 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
156 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
157 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
158 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
159 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
160 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
161 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
162 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
163
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
167 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
168 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
169 @end ifset
170 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
171 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
172 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
173 @end ifclear
174 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
175 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
176 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
177 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
178 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
179 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
180 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
181 @value{GDBN}
182 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
183 the operating system
184 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
185 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
186 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
187 how you can copy and share GDB
188 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
189 * Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
190 * Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
191 functions, and Python data types
192 @end menu
193
194 @end ifnottex
195
196 @contents
197
198 @node Summary
199 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
200
201 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
202 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
203 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
204
205 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
206 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
207
208 @itemize @bullet
209 @item
210 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
211
212 @item
213 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
214
215 @item
216 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
217
218 @item
219 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
220 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
221 @end itemize
222
223 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
224 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
225 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
226
227 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
228 @ref{D,,D}.
229
230 @cindex Modula-2
231 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
232 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
233
234 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
235 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
236
237 @cindex Pascal
238 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
239 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
240 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
241 syntax.
242
243 @cindex Fortran
244 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
245 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
246 underscore.
247
248 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
249 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
250
251 @menu
252 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
253 * Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
254 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
255 @end menu
256
257 @node Free Software
258 @unnumberedsec Free Software
259
260 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
261 General Public License
262 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
263 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
264 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
265 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
266 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
267 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
268
269 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
270 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
271 from anyone else.
272
273 @node Free Documentation
274 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
275
276 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
277 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
278 include with the free software. Many of our most important
279 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
280 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
281 when an important free software package does not come with a free
282 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
283 gaps today.
284
285 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
286 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
287 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
288 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
289 them from the free software world.
290
291 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
292 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
293 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
294 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
295 contract to make it non-free.
296
297 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
298 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
299 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
300 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
301 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
302 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
303 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
304
305 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
306 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
307 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
308 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
309
310 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
311 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
312 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
313 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
314 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
315 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
316 community.
317
318 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
319 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
320 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
321 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
322 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
323 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
324 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
325 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
326 of the manual.
327
328 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
329 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
330 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
331 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
332 manual to replace it.
333
334 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
335 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
336 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
337 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
338 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
339 the free software community.
340
341 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
342 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
343 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
344 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
345 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
346 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
347 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
348 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
349 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
350
351 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
352 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
353 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
354 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
355 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
356 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
357 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
358 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
359
360 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
361 published by other publishers, at
362 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
363
364 @node Contributors
365 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
366
367 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
368 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
369 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
370 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
371 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
372 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
373 blow-by-blow account.
374
375 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
376
377 @quotation
378 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
379 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
380 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
381 @end quotation
382
383 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
384 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
385 releases:
386 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
387 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
388 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
389 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
390 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
391 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
392 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
393 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
394 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
395
396 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
397 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
398
399 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
400 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
401 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
402 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
403 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
404
405 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
406 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
407 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
408
409 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
410 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
411
412 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
413
414 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
415 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
416 support.
417 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
418 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
419 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
420 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
421 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
422 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
423 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
424 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
425 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
426 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
427 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
428 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
429 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
430 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
431 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
432 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
433
434 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
435
436 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
437 libraries.
438
439 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
440 about several machine instruction sets.
441
442 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
443 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
444 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
445 and RDI targets, respectively.
446
447 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
448 command-line editing and command history.
449
450 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
451 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
452
453 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
454 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
455 symbols.
456
457 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
458 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
459
460 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
461
462 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
463 processors.
464
465 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
466
467 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
468
469 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
470
471 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
472 watchpoints.
473
474 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
475
476 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
477
478 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
479 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
480
481 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
482 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
483 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
484 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
485 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
486 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
487 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
488
489 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
490 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
491
492 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
493 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
494 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
495 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
496 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
497 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
498 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
499 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
500 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
501 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
502 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
503 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
504 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
505 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
506 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
507
508 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
509 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
510
511 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
512 Hat.
513
514 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
515 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
516 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
517 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
518 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
519 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
520
521 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
522 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
523 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
524 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
525 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
526 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
527 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
528 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
529 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
530 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
531 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
532 Weigand.
533
534 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
535 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
536 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
537 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
538
539 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
540 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
541
542 @node Sample Session
543 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
544
545 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
546 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
547 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
548
549 @iftex
550 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
551 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
552 @end iftex
553
554 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
555 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
556
557 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
558 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
559 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
560 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
561 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
562 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
563 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
564 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
565 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
566
567 @smallexample
568 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
569 $ @b{./m4}
570 @b{define(foo,0000)}
571
572 @b{foo}
573 0000
574 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
575
576 @b{bar}
577 0000
578 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
579
580 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
581 @b{baz}
582 @b{Ctrl-d}
583 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
584 @end smallexample
585
586 @noindent
587 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
588
589 @smallexample
590 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
591 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
592 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
593 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
594 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
595 the conditions.
596 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
597 for details.
598
599 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
600 (@value{GDBP})
601 @end smallexample
602
603 @noindent
604 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
605 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
606 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
607 that examples fit in this manual.
608
609 @smallexample
610 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
611 @end smallexample
612
613 @noindent
614 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
615 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
616 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
617 @code{break} command.
618
619 @smallexample
620 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
621 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
622 @end smallexample
623
624 @noindent
625 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
626 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
627 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
628
629 @smallexample
630 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
631 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
632 @b{define(foo,0000)}
633
634 @b{foo}
635 0000
636 @end smallexample
637
638 @noindent
639 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
640 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
641 context where it stops.
642
643 @smallexample
644 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
645
646 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
647 at builtin.c:879
648 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
649 @end smallexample
650
651 @noindent
652 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
653 the next line of the current function.
654
655 @smallexample
656 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
657 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
658 : nil,
659 @end smallexample
660
661 @noindent
662 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
663 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
664 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
665 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
666
667 @smallexample
668 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
669 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
670 at input.c:530
671 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
672 @end smallexample
673
674 @noindent
675 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
676 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
677 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
678 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
679 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
680 stack frame for each active subroutine.
681
682 @smallexample
683 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
684 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
685 at input.c:530
686 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
687 at builtin.c:882
688 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
689 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
690 at macro.c:71
691 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
692 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
693 @end smallexample
694
695 @noindent
696 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
697 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
698 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
699
700 @smallexample
701 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
702 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
703 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
704 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
705 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
706 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
707 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
708 : xstrdup(rq);
709 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
710 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
711 @end smallexample
712
713 @noindent
714 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
715 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
716 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
717 (@code{print}) to see their values.
718
719 @smallexample
720 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
721 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
722 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
723 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
724 @end smallexample
725
726 @noindent
727 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
728 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
729 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
730
731 @smallexample
732 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
733 533 xfree(rquote);
734 534
735 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
736 : xstrdup (lq);
737 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
738 : xstrdup (rq);
739 537
740 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
741 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
742 540 @}
743 541
744 542 void
745 @end smallexample
746
747 @noindent
748 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
749 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
750
751 @smallexample
752 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
753 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
754 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
755 540 @}
756 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
757 $3 = 9
758 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
759 $4 = 7
760 @end smallexample
761
762 @noindent
763 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
764 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
765 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
766 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
767 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
768 assignments.
769
770 @smallexample
771 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
772 $5 = 7
773 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
774 $6 = 9
775 @end smallexample
776
777 @noindent
778 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
779 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
780 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
781 example that caused trouble initially:
782
783 @smallexample
784 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
785 Continuing.
786
787 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
788
789 baz
790 0000
791 @end smallexample
792
793 @noindent
794 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
795 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
796 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
797
798 @smallexample
799 @b{Ctrl-d}
800 Program exited normally.
801 @end smallexample
802
803 @noindent
804 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
805 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
806 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
807
808 @smallexample
809 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
810 @end smallexample
811
812 @node Invocation
813 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
814
815 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
816 The essentials are:
817 @itemize @bullet
818 @item
819 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
820 @item
821 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
822 @end itemize
823
824 @menu
825 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
826 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
827 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
828 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
829 @end menu
830
831 @node Invoking GDB
832 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
833
834 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
835 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
836
837 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
838 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
839
840 The command-line options described here are designed
841 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
842 options may effectively be unavailable.
843
844 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
845 specifying an executable program:
846
847 @smallexample
848 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
849 @end smallexample
850
851 @noindent
852 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
853 specified:
854
855 @smallexample
856 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
857 @end smallexample
858
859 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
860 to debug a running process:
861
862 @smallexample
863 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
864 @end smallexample
865
866 @noindent
867 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
868 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
869
870 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
871 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
872 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
873 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
874 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
875
876 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
877 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
878 option processing.
879 @smallexample
880 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
881 @end smallexample
882 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
883 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
884
885 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
886 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
887
888 @smallexample
889 @value{GDBP} -silent
890 @end smallexample
891
892 @noindent
893 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
894 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
895
896 @noindent
897 Type
898
899 @smallexample
900 @value{GDBP} -help
901 @end smallexample
902
903 @noindent
904 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
905 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
906
907 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
908 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
909 @samp{-x} option is used.
910
911
912 @menu
913 * File Options:: Choosing files
914 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
915 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
916 @end menu
917
918 @node File Options
919 @subsection Choosing Files
920
921 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
922 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
923 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
924 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
925 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
926 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
927 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
928 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
929 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
930 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
931 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
932 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
933 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
934
935 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
936 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
937 argument and ignore it.
938
939 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
940 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
941 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
942 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
943 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
944
945 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
946 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
947 @c it.
948
949 @table @code
950 @item -symbols @var{file}
951 @itemx -s @var{file}
952 @cindex @code{--symbols}
953 @cindex @code{-s}
954 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
955
956 @item -exec @var{file}
957 @itemx -e @var{file}
958 @cindex @code{--exec}
959 @cindex @code{-e}
960 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
961 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
962
963 @item -se @var{file}
964 @cindex @code{--se}
965 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
966 file.
967
968 @item -core @var{file}
969 @itemx -c @var{file}
970 @cindex @code{--core}
971 @cindex @code{-c}
972 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
973
974 @item -pid @var{number}
975 @itemx -p @var{number}
976 @cindex @code{--pid}
977 @cindex @code{-p}
978 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
979
980 @item -command @var{file}
981 @itemx -x @var{file}
982 @cindex @code{--command}
983 @cindex @code{-x}
984 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
985 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
986 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
987
988 @item -eval-command @var{command}
989 @itemx -ex @var{command}
990 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
991 @cindex @code{-ex}
992 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
993
994 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
995 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
996
997 @smallexample
998 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
999 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1000 @end smallexample
1001
1002 @item -init-command @var{file}
1003 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1004 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1005 @cindex @code{-ix}
1006 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1007 after loading gdbinit files).
1008 @xref{Startup}.
1009
1010 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1011 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1012 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1013 @cindex @code{-iex}
1014 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1015 after loading gdbinit files).
1016 @xref{Startup}.
1017
1018 @item -directory @var{directory}
1019 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1020 @cindex @code{--directory}
1021 @cindex @code{-d}
1022 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1023
1024 @item -r
1025 @itemx -readnow
1026 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1027 @cindex @code{-r}
1028 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1029 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1030 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1031
1032 @end table
1033
1034 @node Mode Options
1035 @subsection Choosing Modes
1036
1037 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1038 batch mode or quiet mode.
1039
1040 @table @code
1041 @anchor{-nx}
1042 @item -nx
1043 @itemx -n
1044 @cindex @code{--nx}
1045 @cindex @code{-n}
1046 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1047 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1048
1049 @table @code
1050 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1051 This is the system-wide init file.
1052 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1053 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1054 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1055 have been processed.
1056 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1057 This is the init file in your home directory.
1058 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1059 command options have been processed.
1060 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1061 This is the init file in the current directory.
1062 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1063 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1064 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1065 @end table
1066
1067 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1068 For documentation on how to write command files,
1069 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1070
1071 @anchor{-nh}
1072 @item -nh
1073 @cindex @code{--nh}
1074 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1075 in your home directory.
1076 @xref{Startup}.
1077
1078 @item -quiet
1079 @itemx -silent
1080 @itemx -q
1081 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1082 @cindex @code{--silent}
1083 @cindex @code{-q}
1084 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1085 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1086
1087 @item -batch
1088 @cindex @code{--batch}
1089 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1090 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1091 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1092 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1093 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1094 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1095 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1096
1097 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1098 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1099 make this more useful, the message
1100
1101 @smallexample
1102 Program exited normally.
1103 @end smallexample
1104
1105 @noindent
1106 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1107 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1108 mode.
1109
1110 @item -batch-silent
1111 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1112 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1113 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1114 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1115 for an interactive session.
1116
1117 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1118 messages, for example.
1119
1120 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1121 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1122
1123 @item -return-child-result
1124 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1125 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1126 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1127
1128 @itemize @bullet
1129 @item
1130 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1131 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1132 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1133 @item
1134 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1135 @item
1136 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1137 the exit code will be -1.
1138 @end itemize
1139
1140 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1141 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1142 interface.
1143
1144 @item -nowindows
1145 @itemx -nw
1146 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1147 @cindex @code{-nw}
1148 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1149 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1150 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1151
1152 @item -windows
1153 @itemx -w
1154 @cindex @code{--windows}
1155 @cindex @code{-w}
1156 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1157 used if possible.
1158
1159 @item -cd @var{directory}
1160 @cindex @code{--cd}
1161 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1162 instead of the current directory.
1163
1164 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1165 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1166 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1167 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1168 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1169
1170 @item -fullname
1171 @itemx -f
1172 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1173 @cindex @code{-f}
1174 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1175 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1176 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1177 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1178 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1179 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1180 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1181 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1182 frame.
1183
1184 @item -epoch
1185 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1186 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1187 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1188 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1189 separate window.
1190
1191 @item -annotate @var{level}
1192 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1193 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1194 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1195 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1196 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1197 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1198 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1199 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1200 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1201
1202 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1203 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1204
1205 @item --args
1206 @cindex @code{--args}
1207 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1208 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1209 This option stops option processing.
1210
1211 @item -baud @var{bps}
1212 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1213 @cindex @code{--baud}
1214 @cindex @code{-b}
1215 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1216 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1217
1218 @item -l @var{timeout}
1219 @cindex @code{-l}
1220 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1221 for remote debugging.
1222
1223 @item -tty @var{device}
1224 @itemx -t @var{device}
1225 @cindex @code{--tty}
1226 @cindex @code{-t}
1227 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1228 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1229
1230 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1231 @item -tui
1232 @cindex @code{--tui}
1233 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1234 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1235 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1236 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1237 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1238 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1239
1240 @c @item -xdb
1241 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1242 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1243 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1244 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1245 @c systems.
1246
1247 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1248 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1249 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1250 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1251 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1252 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1253
1254 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1255 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1256 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1257 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1258 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1259 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1260
1261 @item -write
1262 @cindex @code{--write}
1263 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1264 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1265 (@pxref{Patching}).
1266
1267 @item -statistics
1268 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1269 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1270 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1271
1272 @item -version
1273 @cindex @code{--version}
1274 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1275 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1276
1277 @end table
1278
1279 @node Startup
1280 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1281 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1282
1283 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1284
1285 @enumerate
1286 @item
1287 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1288 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1289
1290 @item
1291 @cindex init file
1292 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1293 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1294 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1295 that file.
1296
1297 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1298 @item
1299 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1300 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1301 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1302 that file.
1303
1304 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1305 @item
1306 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1307 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1308 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1309 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1310 gets loaded.
1311
1312 @item
1313 Processes command line options and operands.
1314
1315 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1316 @item
1317 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1318 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1319 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1320 This is only done if the current directory is
1321 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1322 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1323 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1324 @value{GDBN}.
1325
1326 @item
1327 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1328 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1329 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1330 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1331
1332 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1333 you must do something like the following:
1334
1335 @smallexample
1336 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1337 @end smallexample
1338
1339 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1340 off too late.
1341
1342 @item
1343 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1344 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1345 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1346
1347 @item
1348 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1349 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1350 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1351 @end enumerate
1352
1353 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1354 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1355 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1356 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1357 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1358 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1359
1360 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1361 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1362
1363 @cindex init file name
1364 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1365 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1366 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1367 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1368 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1369 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1370 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1371 the file to the standard name.
1372
1373
1374 @node Quitting GDB
1375 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1376 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1377 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1378
1379 @table @code
1380 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1381 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1382 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1383 @itemx q
1384 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1385 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1386 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1387 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1388 error code.
1389 @end table
1390
1391 @cindex interrupt
1392 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1393 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1394 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1395 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1396 until a time when it is safe.
1397
1398 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1399 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1400 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1401
1402 @node Shell Commands
1403 @section Shell Commands
1404
1405 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1406 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1407 just use the @code{shell} command.
1408
1409 @table @code
1410 @kindex shell
1411 @kindex !
1412 @cindex shell escape
1413 @item shell @var{command-string}
1414 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1415 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1416 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1417 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1418 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1419 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1420 @end table
1421
1422 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1423 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1424 @value{GDBN}:
1425
1426 @table @code
1427 @kindex make
1428 @cindex calling make
1429 @item make @var{make-args}
1430 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1431 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1432 @end table
1433
1434 @node Logging Output
1435 @section Logging Output
1436 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1437 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1438
1439 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1440 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1441
1442 @table @code
1443 @kindex set logging
1444 @item set logging on
1445 Enable logging.
1446 @item set logging off
1447 Disable logging.
1448 @cindex logging file name
1449 @item set logging file @var{file}
1450 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1451 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1452 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1453 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1454 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1455 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1456 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1457 @kindex show logging
1458 @item show logging
1459 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1460 @end table
1461
1462 @node Commands
1463 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1464
1465 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1466 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1467 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1468 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1469 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1470
1471 @menu
1472 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1473 * Completion:: Command completion
1474 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1475 @end menu
1476
1477 @node Command Syntax
1478 @section Command Syntax
1479
1480 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1481 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1482 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1483 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1484 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1485 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1486
1487 @cindex abbreviation
1488 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1489 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1490 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1491 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1492 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1493 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1494 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1495
1496 @cindex repeating commands
1497 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1498 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1499 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1500 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1501 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1502 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1503 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1504
1505 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1506 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1507 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1508
1509 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1510 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1511 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1512 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1513 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1514
1515 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1516 @cindex comment
1517 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1518 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1519 Files,,Command Files}).
1520
1521 @cindex repeating command sequences
1522 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1523 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1524 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1525 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1526 for editing.
1527
1528 @node Completion
1529 @section Command Completion
1530
1531 @cindex completion
1532 @cindex word completion
1533 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1534 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1535 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1536 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1537
1538 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1539 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1540 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1541 enter it). For example, if you type
1542
1543 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1544 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1545 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1546 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1547 @smallexample
1548 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1549 @end smallexample
1550
1551 @noindent
1552 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1553 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1554
1555 @smallexample
1556 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1557 @end smallexample
1558
1559 @noindent
1560 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1561 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1562 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1563 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1564 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1565 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1566
1567 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1568 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1569 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1570 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1571 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1572 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1573 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1574 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1575 example:
1576
1577 @smallexample
1578 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1579 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1580 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1581 make_abs_section make_function_type
1582 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1583 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1584 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1585 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1586 @end smallexample
1587
1588 @noindent
1589 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1590 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1591 command.
1592
1593 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1594 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1595 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1596 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1597 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1598
1599 @cindex quotes in commands
1600 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1601 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1602 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1603 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1604 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1605 @value{GDBN} commands.
1606
1607 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1608 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1609 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1610 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1611 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1612 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1613 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1614 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1615 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1616 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1617 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1618
1619 @smallexample
1620 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1621 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1622 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1623 @end smallexample
1624
1625 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1626 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1627 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1628 place:
1629
1630 @smallexample
1631 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1632 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1633 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1634 @end smallexample
1635
1636 @noindent
1637 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1638 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1639 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1640
1641 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1642 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1643 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1644 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1645
1646 @cindex completion of structure field names
1647 @cindex structure field name completion
1648 @cindex completion of union field names
1649 @cindex union field name completion
1650 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1651 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1652 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1653 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1654 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1655 left-hand-side:
1656
1657 @smallexample
1658 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1659 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1660 to_data to_isatty to_write
1661 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1662 to_flush to_read
1663 @end smallexample
1664
1665 @noindent
1666 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1667 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1668 follows:
1669
1670 @smallexample
1671 struct ui_file
1672 @{
1673 int *magic;
1674 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1675 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1676 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1677 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1678 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1679 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1680 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1681 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1682 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1683 void *to_data;
1684 @}
1685 @end smallexample
1686
1687
1688 @node Help
1689 @section Getting Help
1690 @cindex online documentation
1691 @kindex help
1692
1693 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1694 using the command @code{help}.
1695
1696 @table @code
1697 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1698 @item help
1699 @itemx h
1700 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1701 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1702
1703 @smallexample
1704 (@value{GDBP}) help
1705 List of classes of commands:
1706
1707 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1708 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1709 data -- Examining data
1710 files -- Specifying and examining files
1711 internals -- Maintenance commands
1712 obscure -- Obscure features
1713 running -- Running the program
1714 stack -- Examining the stack
1715 status -- Status inquiries
1716 support -- Support facilities
1717 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1718 stopping the program
1719 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1720
1721 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1722 commands in that class.
1723 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1724 documentation.
1725 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1726 (@value{GDBP})
1727 @end smallexample
1728 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1729
1730 @item help @var{class}
1731 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1732 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1733 help display for the class @code{status}:
1734
1735 @smallexample
1736 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1737 Status inquiries.
1738
1739 List of commands:
1740
1741 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1742 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1743 info -- Generic command for showing things
1744 about the program being debugged
1745 show -- Generic command for showing things
1746 about the debugger
1747
1748 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1749 documentation.
1750 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1751 (@value{GDBP})
1752 @end smallexample
1753
1754 @item help @var{command}
1755 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1756 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1757
1758 @kindex apropos
1759 @item apropos @var{args}
1760 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1761 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1762 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1763
1764 @smallexample
1765 apropos alias
1766 @end smallexample
1767
1768 @noindent
1769 results in:
1770
1771 @smallexample
1772 @c @group
1773 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1774 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1775 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1776 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1777 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1778 @c @end group
1779 @end smallexample
1780
1781 @kindex complete
1782 @item complete @var{args}
1783 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1784 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1785 command you want completed. For example:
1786
1787 @smallexample
1788 complete i
1789 @end smallexample
1790
1791 @noindent results in:
1792
1793 @smallexample
1794 @group
1795 if
1796 ignore
1797 info
1798 inspect
1799 @end group
1800 @end smallexample
1801
1802 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1803 @end table
1804
1805 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1806 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1807 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1808 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1809 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1810 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1811 Index}.
1812
1813 @c @group
1814 @table @code
1815 @kindex info
1816 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1817 @item info
1818 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1819 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1820 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1821 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1822 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1823 @w{@code{help info}}.
1824
1825 @kindex set
1826 @item set
1827 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1828 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1829 @code{set prompt $}.
1830
1831 @kindex show
1832 @item show
1833 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1834 @value{GDBN} itself.
1835 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1836 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1837 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1838 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1839
1840 @kindex info set
1841 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1842 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1843 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1844 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1845 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1846 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1847 @end table
1848 @c @end group
1849
1850 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1851 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1852
1853 @table @code
1854 @kindex show version
1855 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1856 @item show version
1857 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1858 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1859 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1860 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1861 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1862 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1863 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1864 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1865 @value{GDBN}.
1866
1867 @kindex show copying
1868 @kindex info copying
1869 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1870 @item show copying
1871 @itemx info copying
1872 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1873
1874 @kindex show warranty
1875 @kindex info warranty
1876 @item show warranty
1877 @itemx info warranty
1878 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1879 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1880
1881 @end table
1882
1883 @node Running
1884 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1885
1886 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1887 debugging information when you compile it.
1888
1889 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1890 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1891 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1892 kill a child process.
1893
1894 @menu
1895 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1896 * Starting:: Starting your program
1897 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1898 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1899
1900 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1901 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1902 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1903 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1904
1905 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1906 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1907 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1908 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1909 @end menu
1910
1911 @node Compilation
1912 @section Compiling for Debugging
1913
1914 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1915 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1916 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1917 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1918 and addresses in the executable code.
1919
1920 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1921 the compiler.
1922
1923 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1924 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1925 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1926 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1927 executables containing debugging information.
1928
1929 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1930 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1931 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1932 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1933 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1934
1935 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1936 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1937 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1938
1939 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1940 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1941 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1942 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1943 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1944 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1945
1946 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1947 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1948 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1949
1950 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1951 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1952 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1953 format in @value{GDBN}.
1954
1955 @need 2000
1956 @node Starting
1957 @section Starting your Program
1958 @cindex starting
1959 @cindex running
1960
1961 @table @code
1962 @kindex run
1963 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1964 @item run
1965 @itemx r
1966 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1967 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1968 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1969 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1970 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1971
1972 @end table
1973
1974 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1975 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1976 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1977 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1978 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1979 message like this one:
1980
1981 @smallexample
1982 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1983 Try "help target" or "continue".
1984 @end smallexample
1985
1986 @noindent
1987 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1988 first (@pxref{load}).
1989
1990 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1991 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1992 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1993 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1994 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1995 divided into four categories:
1996
1997 @table @asis
1998 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1999 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2000 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2001 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2002 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2003 the arguments.
2004 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2005 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
2006 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
2007
2008 @item The @emph{environment.}
2009 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2010 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2011 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2012 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2013
2014 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2015 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2016 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2017 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2018
2019 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2020 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2021 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2022 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2023 set a different device for your program.
2024 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2025
2026 @cindex pipes
2027 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2028 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2029 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2030 wrong program.
2031 @end table
2032
2033 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2034 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2035 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2036 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2037 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2038
2039 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2040 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2041 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2042 your current breakpoints.
2043
2044 @table @code
2045 @kindex start
2046 @item start
2047 @cindex run to main procedure
2048 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2049 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2050 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2051 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2052 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2053 procedure, depending on the language used.
2054
2055 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2056 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2057 the @samp{run} command.
2058
2059 @cindex elaboration phase
2060 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2061 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2062 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2063 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2064 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2065 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2066 will remain to halt execution.
2067
2068 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2069 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2070 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2071 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2072 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2073
2074 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2075 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2076 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2077 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2078 elaboration code before running your program.
2079
2080 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2081 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2082 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2083 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2084 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2085 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2086 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2087 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2088 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2089 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2090 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2091
2092 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2093 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2094 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2095 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2096
2097 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2098 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2099 environment:
2100
2101 @smallexample
2102 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2103 (@value{GDBP}) run
2104 @end smallexample
2105
2106 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2107 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2108
2109 @kindex set disable-randomization
2110 @item set disable-randomization
2111 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2112 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2113 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2114 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2115 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2116
2117 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2118 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2119
2120 @smallexample
2121 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2122 @end smallexample
2123
2124 @item set disable-randomization off
2125 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2126 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2127 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2128 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2129 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2130 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2131
2132 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2133 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2134 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2135 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2136 a code at its expected addresses.
2137
2138 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2139 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2140 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2141 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2142 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2143 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2144 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2145 a randomly chosen address.
2146
2147 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2148 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2149 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2150 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2151 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2152
2153 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2154 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2155
2156 @item show disable-randomization
2157 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2158 the virtual address space of the started program.
2159
2160 @end table
2161
2162 @node Arguments
2163 @section Your Program's Arguments
2164
2165 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2166 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2167 @code{run} command.
2168 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2169 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2170 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2171 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2172 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2173
2174 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2175 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2176 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2177 the program, not by the shell.
2178
2179 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2180 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2181
2182 @table @code
2183 @kindex set args
2184 @item set args
2185 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2186 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2187 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2188 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2189 it again without arguments.
2190
2191 @kindex show args
2192 @item show args
2193 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2194 @end table
2195
2196 @node Environment
2197 @section Your Program's Environment
2198
2199 @cindex environment (of your program)
2200 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2201 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2202 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2203 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2204 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2205 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2206 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2207
2208 @table @code
2209 @kindex path
2210 @item path @var{directory}
2211 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2212 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2213 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2214 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2215 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2216 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2217 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2218
2219 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2220 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2221 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2222 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2223 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2224 @var{directory} to the search path.
2225 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2226 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2227
2228 @kindex show paths
2229 @item show paths
2230 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2231 environment variable).
2232
2233 @kindex show environment
2234 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2235 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2236 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2237 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2238 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2239
2240 @kindex set environment
2241 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2242 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2243 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2244 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2245 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2246 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2247 null value.
2248 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2249 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2250
2251 For example, this command:
2252
2253 @smallexample
2254 set env USER = foo
2255 @end smallexample
2256
2257 @noindent
2258 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2259 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2260 are not actually required.)
2261
2262 @kindex unset environment
2263 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2264 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2265 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2266 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2267 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2268 @end table
2269
2270 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2271 the shell indicated
2272 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2273 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2274 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2275 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2276 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2277 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2278 @file{.profile}.
2279
2280 @node Working Directory
2281 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2282
2283 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2284 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2285 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2286 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2287 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2288 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2289
2290 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2291 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2292 Specify Files}.
2293
2294 @table @code
2295 @kindex cd
2296 @cindex change working directory
2297 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2298 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2299 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2300
2301 @kindex pwd
2302 @item pwd
2303 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2304 @end table
2305
2306 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2307 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2308 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2309 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2310 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2311 current working directory of the debuggee.
2312
2313 @node Input/Output
2314 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2315
2316 @cindex redirection
2317 @cindex i/o
2318 @cindex terminal
2319 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2320 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2321 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2322 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2323 running your program.
2324
2325 @table @code
2326 @kindex info terminal
2327 @item info terminal
2328 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2329 program is using.
2330 @end table
2331
2332 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2333 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2334
2335 @smallexample
2336 run > outfile
2337 @end smallexample
2338
2339 @noindent
2340 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2341
2342 @kindex tty
2343 @cindex controlling terminal
2344 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2345 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2346 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2347 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2348 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2349
2350 @smallexample
2351 tty /dev/ttyb
2352 @end smallexample
2353
2354 @noindent
2355 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2356 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2357 that as their controlling terminal.
2358
2359 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2360 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2361 terminal.
2362
2363 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2364 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2365 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2366 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2367
2368 @cindex inferior tty
2369 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2370 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2371 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2372 program.
2373
2374 @table @code
2375 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2376 @kindex set inferior-tty
2377 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2378
2379 @item show inferior-tty
2380 @kindex show inferior-tty
2381 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2382 @end table
2383
2384 @node Attach
2385 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2386 @kindex attach
2387 @cindex attach
2388
2389 @table @code
2390 @item attach @var{process-id}
2391 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2392 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2393 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2394 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2395 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2396
2397 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2398 executing the command.
2399 @end table
2400
2401 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2402 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2403 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2404 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2405
2406 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2407 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2408 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2409 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2410 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2411 Specify Files}.
2412
2413 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2414 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2415 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2416 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2417 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2418 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2419 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2420
2421 @table @code
2422 @kindex detach
2423 @item detach
2424 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2425 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2426 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2427 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2428 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2429 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2430 executing the command.
2431 @end table
2432
2433 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2434 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2435 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2436 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2437 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2438 Messages}).
2439
2440 @node Kill Process
2441 @section Killing the Child Process
2442
2443 @table @code
2444 @kindex kill
2445 @item kill
2446 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2447 @end table
2448
2449 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2450 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2451 is running.
2452
2453 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2454 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2455 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2456 outside the debugger.
2457
2458 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2459 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2460 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2461 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2462 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2463 breakpoint settings).
2464
2465 @node Inferiors and Programs
2466 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2467
2468 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2469 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2470 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2471 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2472 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2473 from multiple executables.
2474
2475 @cindex inferior
2476 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2477 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2478 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2479 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2480 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2481 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2482 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2483 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2484 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2485 threads running in it.
2486
2487 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2488 inferiors}}:
2489
2490 @table @code
2491 @kindex info inferiors
2492 @item info inferiors
2493 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2494
2495 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2496
2497 @enumerate
2498 @item
2499 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2500
2501 @item
2502 the target system's inferior identifier
2503
2504 @item
2505 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2506
2507 @end enumerate
2508
2509 @noindent
2510 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2511 indicates the current inferior.
2512
2513 For example,
2514 @end table
2515 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2516
2517 @smallexample
2518 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2519 Num Description Executable
2520 2 process 2307 hello
2521 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2522 @end smallexample
2523
2524 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2525
2526 @table @code
2527 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2528 @item inferior @var{infno}
2529 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2530 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2531 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2532 @end table
2533
2534
2535 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2536 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2537 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2538 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2539 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2540 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2541
2542 @table @code
2543 @kindex add-inferior
2544 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2545 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2546 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2547 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2548 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2549 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2550
2551 @kindex clone-inferior
2552 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2553 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2554 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2555 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2556 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2557
2558 @smallexample
2559 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2560 Num Description Executable
2561 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2562 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2563 Added inferior 2.
2564 1 inferiors added.
2565 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2566 Num Description Executable
2567 2 <null> helloworld
2568 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2569 @end smallexample
2570
2571 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2572
2573 @kindex remove-inferiors
2574 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2575 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2576 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2577 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2578
2579 @end table
2580
2581 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2582 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2583 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2584 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2585
2586 @table @code
2587 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2588 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2589 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2590 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2591 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2592 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2593
2594 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2595 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2596 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2597 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2598 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2599 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2600 @end table
2601
2602 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2603 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2604 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2605 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2606
2607
2608 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2609 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2610
2611 @table @code
2612 @kindex set print inferior-events
2613 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2614 @item set print inferior-events
2615 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2616 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2617 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2618 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2619 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2620 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2621
2622 @kindex show print inferior-events
2623 @item show print inferior-events
2624 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2625 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2626 @end table
2627
2628 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2629 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2630 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2631
2632
2633 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2634 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2635 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2636 info program-spaces}} command.
2637
2638 @table @code
2639 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2640 @item maint info program-spaces
2641 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2642 @value{GDBN}.
2643
2644 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2645
2646 @enumerate
2647 @item
2648 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2649
2650 @item
2651 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2652 the @code{file} command.
2653
2654 @end enumerate
2655
2656 @noindent
2657 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2658 indicates the current program space.
2659
2660 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2661 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2662 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2663
2664 @smallexample
2665 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2666 Id Executable
2667 2 goodbye
2668 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2669 * 1 hello
2670 @end smallexample
2671
2672 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2673 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2674 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2675 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2676 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2677
2678 @smallexample
2679 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2680 Id Executable
2681 * 1 vfork-test
2682 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2683 @end smallexample
2684
2685 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2686 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2687 @end table
2688
2689 @node Threads
2690 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2691
2692 @cindex threads of execution
2693 @cindex multiple threads
2694 @cindex switching threads
2695 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2696 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2697 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2698 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2699 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2700 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2701 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2702
2703 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2704 programs:
2705
2706 @itemize @bullet
2707 @item automatic notification of new threads
2708 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2709 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2710 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2711 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2712 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2713 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2714 messages on thread start and exit.
2715 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2716 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2717 isn't compatible with the program.
2718 @end itemize
2719
2720 @quotation
2721 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2722 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2723 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2724 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2725 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2726 like this:
2727
2728 @smallexample
2729 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2730 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2731 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2732 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2733 @end smallexample
2734 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2735 @c doesn't support threads"?
2736 @end quotation
2737
2738 @cindex focus of debugging
2739 @cindex current thread
2740 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2741 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2742 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2743 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2744 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2745
2746 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2747 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2748 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2749 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2750 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2751 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2752 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2753 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2754 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2755 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2756
2757 @smallexample
2758 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2759 @end smallexample
2760
2761 @noindent
2762 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2763 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2764 further qualifier.
2765
2766 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2767 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2768 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2769 @c program?
2770 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2771 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2772 @c threads ab initio?
2773
2774 @cindex thread number
2775 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2776 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2777 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2778
2779 @table @code
2780 @kindex info threads
2781 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2782 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2783 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2784 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2785 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2786
2787 @enumerate
2788 @item
2789 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2790
2791 @item
2792 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2793
2794 @item
2795 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2796 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2797 program itself.
2798
2799 @item
2800 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2801 @end enumerate
2802
2803 @noindent
2804 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2805 indicates the current thread.
2806
2807 For example,
2808 @end table
2809 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2810
2811 @smallexample
2812 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2813 Id Target Id Frame
2814 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2815 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2816 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2817 at threadtest.c:68
2818 @end smallexample
2819
2820 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2821 Solaris-specific command:
2822
2823 @table @code
2824 @item maint info sol-threads
2825 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2826 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2827 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2828 @end table
2829
2830 @table @code
2831 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2832 @item thread @var{threadno}
2833 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2834 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2835 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2836 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2837 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2838
2839 @smallexample
2840 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2841 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2842 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2843 8 printf ("hello\n");
2844 @end smallexample
2845
2846 @noindent
2847 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2848 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2849 threads.
2850
2851 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2852 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2853 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2854 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2855 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2856 information on convenience variables.
2857
2858 @kindex thread apply
2859 @cindex apply command to several threads
2860 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2861 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2862 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2863 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2864 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2865 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2866 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2867 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2868
2869 @kindex thread name
2870 @cindex name a thread
2871 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2872 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2873 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2874 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2875
2876 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2877 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2878 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2879 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2880 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2881
2882 @kindex thread find
2883 @cindex search for a thread
2884 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2885 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2886 matches the supplied regular expression.
2887
2888 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2889 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2890 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2891 is the LWP id.
2892
2893 @smallexample
2894 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2895 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2896 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2897 Id Target Id Frame
2898 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2899 @end smallexample
2900
2901 @kindex set print thread-events
2902 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2903 @item set print thread-events
2904 @itemx set print thread-events on
2905 @itemx set print thread-events off
2906 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2907 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2908 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2909 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2910 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2911
2912 @kindex show print thread-events
2913 @item show print thread-events
2914 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2915 have started and exited.
2916 @end table
2917
2918 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2919 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2920 programs with multiple threads.
2921
2922 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2923 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2924
2925 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2926 @table @code
2927 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2928 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2929 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2930 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2931 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2932 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2933 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2934 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2935 macro.
2936
2937 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2938 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2939 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2940 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2941 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2942 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2943
2944 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2945 refers to the default system directories that are
2946 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2947 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2948 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2949
2950 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2951 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2952 was loaded in the inferior process.
2953
2954 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2955 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2956 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2957 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2958 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2959 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2960 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2961
2962 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2963 only on some platforms.
2964
2965 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2966 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2967 Display current libthread_db search path.
2968
2969 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2970 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2971 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2972 @item set debug libthread-db
2973 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2974 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2975 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2976 @end table
2977
2978 @node Forks
2979 @section Debugging Forks
2980
2981 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2982 @cindex multiple processes
2983 @cindex processes, multiple
2984 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2985 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2986 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2987 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2988 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2989 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2990 will cause it to terminate.
2991
2992 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2993 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2994 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2995 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2996 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2997 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2998 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2999 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3000 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3001 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3002
3003 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3004 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3005 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3006 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3007
3008 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3009 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3010
3011 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3012 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3013
3014 @table @code
3015 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3016 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3017 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3018 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3019 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3020
3021 @table @code
3022 @item parent
3023 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3024 unimpeded. This is the default.
3025
3026 @item child
3027 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3028 unimpeded.
3029
3030 @end table
3031
3032 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3033 @item show follow-fork-mode
3034 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3035 @end table
3036
3037 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3038 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3039 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3040
3041 @table @code
3042 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3043 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3044 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3045 retain debugger control over them both.
3046
3047 @table @code
3048 @item on
3049 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3050 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3051 independently. This is the default.
3052
3053 @item off
3054 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3055 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3056 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3057 is held suspended.
3058
3059 @end table
3060
3061 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3062 @item show detach-on-fork
3063 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3064 @end table
3065
3066 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3067 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3068 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3069 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3070 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3071 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3072
3073 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3074 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3075 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3076 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3077 and Programs}.
3078
3079 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3080 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3081 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3082 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3083 the child process's @code{main}.
3084
3085 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3086 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3087
3088 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3089 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3090 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3091 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3092 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3093 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3094 command.
3095
3096 @table @code
3097 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3098 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3099
3100 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3101 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3102
3103 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3104
3105 @table @code
3106 @item new
3107 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3108 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3109 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3110 original inferior.
3111
3112 For example:
3113
3114 @smallexample
3115 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3116 (gdb) info inferior
3117 Id Description Executable
3118 * 1 <null> prog1
3119 (@value{GDBP}) run
3120 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3121 Program exited normally.
3122 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3123 Id Description Executable
3124 * 2 <null> prog2
3125 1 <null> prog1
3126 @end smallexample
3127
3128 @item same
3129 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3130 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3131 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3132 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3133 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3134
3135 For example:
3136
3137 @smallexample
3138 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3139 Id Description Executable
3140 * 1 <null> prog1
3141 (@value{GDBP}) run
3142 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3143 Program exited normally.
3144 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3145 Id Description Executable
3146 * 1 <null> prog2
3147 @end smallexample
3148
3149 @end table
3150 @end table
3151
3152 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3153 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3154 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3155
3156 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3157 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3158
3159 @cindex checkpoint
3160 @cindex restart
3161 @cindex bookmark
3162 @cindex snapshot of a process
3163 @cindex rewind program state
3164
3165 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3166 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3167 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3168 later.
3169
3170 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3171 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3172 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3173 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3174 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3175
3176 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3177 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3178 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3179 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3180 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3181 start again from there.
3182
3183 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3184 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3185
3186 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3187
3188 @table @code
3189 @kindex checkpoint
3190 @item checkpoint
3191 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3192 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3193 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3194
3195 @kindex info checkpoints
3196 @item info checkpoints
3197 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3198 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3199 listed:
3200
3201 @table @code
3202 @item Checkpoint ID
3203 @item Process ID
3204 @item Code Address
3205 @item Source line, or label
3206 @end table
3207
3208 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3209 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3210 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3211 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3212 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3213 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3214 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3215
3216 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3217 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3218 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3219 the debugger.
3220
3221 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3222 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3223 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3224
3225 @end table
3226
3227 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3228 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3229 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3230 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3231 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3232 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3233 previously read data can be read again.
3234
3235 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3236 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3237 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3238 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3239 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3240 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3241
3242 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3243 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3244 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3245 different execution path this time.
3246
3247 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3248 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3249 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3250 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3251 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3252 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3253 potentially pose a problem.
3254
3255 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3256
3257 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3258 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3259 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3260 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3261 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3262 next.
3263
3264 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3265 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3266 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3267 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3268 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3269
3270 @node Stopping
3271 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3272
3273 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3274 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3275 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3276
3277 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3278 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3279 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3280 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3281 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3282 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3283 explicitly request this information at any time.
3284
3285 @table @code
3286 @kindex info program
3287 @item info program
3288 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3289 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3290 @end table
3291
3292 @menu
3293 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3294 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3295 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3296 Skipping over functions and files
3297 * Signals:: Signals
3298 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3299 @end menu
3300
3301 @node Breakpoints
3302 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3303
3304 @cindex breakpoints
3305 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3306 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3307 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3308 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3309 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3310 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3311 program.
3312
3313 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3314 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3315 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3316 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3317 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3318 call).
3319
3320 @cindex watchpoints
3321 @cindex data breakpoints
3322 @cindex memory tracing
3323 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3324 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3325 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3326 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3327 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3328 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3329 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3330 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3331 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3332 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3333 same commands.
3334
3335 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3336 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3337 Automatic Display}.
3338
3339 @cindex catchpoints
3340 @cindex breakpoint on events
3341 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3342 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3343 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3344 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3345 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3346 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3347 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3348
3349 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3350 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3351 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3352 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3353 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3354 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3355 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3356 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3357 enable it again.
3358
3359 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3360 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3361 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3362 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3363 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3364 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3365 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3366
3367 @menu
3368 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3369 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3370 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3371 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3372 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3373 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3374 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3375 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3376 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3377 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3378 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3379 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3380 @end menu
3381
3382 @node Set Breaks
3383 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3384
3385 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3386 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3387 @c
3388 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3389
3390 @kindex break
3391 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3392 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3393 @cindex latest breakpoint
3394 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3395 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3396 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3397 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3398 convenience variables.
3399
3400 @table @code
3401 @item break @var{location}
3402 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3403 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3404 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3405 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3406 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3407
3408 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3409 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3410 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3411 that situation.
3412
3413 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3414 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3415 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3416
3417 @item break
3418 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3419 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3420 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3421 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3422 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3423 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3424 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3425 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3426 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3427 inside loops.
3428
3429 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3430 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3431 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3432 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3433 existed when your program stopped.
3434
3435 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3436 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3437 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3438 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3439 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3440 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3441 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3442
3443 @kindex tbreak
3444 @item tbreak @var{args}
3445 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3446 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3447 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3448 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3449
3450 @kindex hbreak
3451 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3452 @item hbreak @var{args}
3453 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3454 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3455 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3456 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3457 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3458 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3459 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3460 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3461 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3462 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3463 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3464 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3465 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3466 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3467 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3468 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3469 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3470 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3471
3472 @kindex thbreak
3473 @item thbreak @var{args}
3474 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3475 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3476 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3477 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3478 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3479 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3480 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3481 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3482
3483 @kindex rbreak
3484 @cindex regular expression
3485 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3486 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3487 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3488 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3489 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3490 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3491 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3492 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3493 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3494
3495 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3496 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3497 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3498 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3499 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3500 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3501
3502 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3503 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3504 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3505 classes.
3506
3507 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3508 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3509 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3510
3511 @smallexample
3512 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3513 @end smallexample
3514
3515 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3516 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3517 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3518 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3519 every function in a given file:
3520
3521 @smallexample
3522 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3523 @end smallexample
3524
3525 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3526 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3527
3528 @kindex info breakpoints
3529 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3530 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3531 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3532 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3533 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3534 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3535 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3536
3537 @table @emph
3538 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3539 @item Type
3540 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3541 @item Disposition
3542 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3543 @item Enabled or Disabled
3544 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3545 that are not enabled.
3546 @item Address
3547 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3548 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3549 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3550 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3551 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3552 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3553 @item What
3554 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3555 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3556 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3557 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3558 @end table
3559
3560 @noindent
3561 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3562 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3563 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3564 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3565 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3566 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3567
3568 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3569 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3570 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3571 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3572
3573 @noindent
3574 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3575 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3576 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3577 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3578 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3579
3580 @noindent
3581 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3582 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3583 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3584 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3585 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3586 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3587
3588 @noindent
3589 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3590 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3591
3592 @end table
3593
3594 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3595 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3596 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3597 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3598
3599 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3600 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3601 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3602 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3603
3604 @itemize @bullet
3605 @item
3606 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3607
3608 @item
3609 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3610 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3611
3612 @item
3613 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3614 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3615
3616 @item
3617 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3618 several places where that function is inlined.
3619 @end itemize
3620
3621 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3622 the relevant locations.
3623
3624 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3625 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3626 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3627 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3628 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3629 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3630 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3631
3632 For example:
3633
3634 @smallexample
3635 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3636 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3637 stop only if i==1
3638 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3639 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3640 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3641 @end smallexample
3642
3643 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3644 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3645 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3646 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3647 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3648 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3649 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3650 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3651 that belong to that breakpoint.
3652
3653 @cindex pending breakpoints
3654 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3655 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3656 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3657 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3658 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3659 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3660 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3661 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3662 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3663 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3664 is not yet resolved.
3665
3666 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3667 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3668 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3669 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3670 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3671 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3672
3673 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3674 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3675 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3676 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3677
3678 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3679 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3680 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3681
3682 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3683 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3684 address specification to an address:
3685
3686 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3687 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3688 @table @code
3689 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3690 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3691 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3692
3693 @item set breakpoint pending on
3694 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3695 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3696
3697 @item set breakpoint pending off
3698 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3699 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3700 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3701
3702 @item show breakpoint pending
3703 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3704 @end table
3705
3706 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3707 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3708 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3709
3710 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3711 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3712 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3713 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3714 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3715 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3716 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3717 breakpoints.
3718
3719 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3720
3721 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3722 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3723 @table @code
3724 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3725 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3726 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3727 breakpoint must be used.
3728
3729 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3730 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3731 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3732 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3733 @end table
3734
3735 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3736 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3737 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3738 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3739 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3740 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3741 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3742 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3743 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3744
3745 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3746 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3747 @table @code
3748 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3749 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3750 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3751 removed from the target when it stops.
3752
3753 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3754 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3755 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3756 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3757 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3758
3759 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3760 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3761 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3762 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3763 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3764 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3765 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3766 @end table
3767
3768 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3769 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3770 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3771
3772 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3773 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3774
3775 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3776
3777 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3778 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3779 @table @code
3780 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3781 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3782 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3783 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3784 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3785
3786 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3787 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3788 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3789 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3790 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3791 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3792 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3793 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3794 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3795 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3796 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3797 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3798 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3799
3800 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3801 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3802 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3803 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3804 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3805 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3806 @end table
3807
3808
3809 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3810 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3811 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3812 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3813 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3814 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3815 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3816 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3817
3818
3819 @node Set Watchpoints
3820 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3821
3822 @cindex setting watchpoints
3823 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3824 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3825 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3826 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3827 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3828
3829 @itemize @bullet
3830 @item
3831 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3832
3833 @item
3834 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3835 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3836 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3837
3838 @item
3839 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3840 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3841 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3842 @end itemize
3843
3844 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3845 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3846 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3847 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3848 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3849 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3850 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3851 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3852 the expression changes.
3853
3854 @cindex software watchpoints
3855 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3856 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3857 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3858 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3859 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3860 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3861 culprit.)
3862
3863 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3864 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3865 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3866
3867 @table @code
3868 @kindex watch
3869 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3870 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3871 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3872 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3873 to watch the value of a single variable:
3874
3875 @smallexample
3876 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3877 @end smallexample
3878
3879 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3880 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3881 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3882 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3883 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3884 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3885
3886 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3887 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3888 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3889 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3890 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3891 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3892 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3893 error.
3894
3895 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3896 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3897 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3898 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3899 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3900 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3901 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3902 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3903 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3904 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3905 Examples:
3906
3907 @smallexample
3908 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3909 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3910 @end smallexample
3911
3912 @kindex rwatch
3913 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3914 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3915 by the program.
3916
3917 @kindex awatch
3918 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3919 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3920 or written into by the program.
3921
3922 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3923 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3924 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3925 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3926 @end table
3927
3928 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3929 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3930 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3931 a never-changing value:
3932
3933 @smallexample
3934 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3935 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3936 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3937 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3938 @end smallexample
3939
3940 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3941 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3942 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3943 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3944 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3945 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3946
3947 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3948 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3949 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3950 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3951 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3952 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3953 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3954 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3955
3956 @table @code
3957 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3958 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3959 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3960
3961 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3962 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3963 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3964 @end table
3965
3966 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3967 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3968 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3969
3970 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3971
3972 @smallexample
3973 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3974 @end smallexample
3975
3976 @noindent
3977 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3978
3979 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3980 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3981 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3982 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3983 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3984 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3985 will print a message like this:
3986
3987 @smallexample
3988 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3989 @end smallexample
3990
3991 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3992 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3993 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3994 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3995 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3996 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3997 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3998 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3999
4000 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4001 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4002 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4003 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4004 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4005 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4006
4007 @smallexample
4008 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4009 @end smallexample
4010
4011 @noindent
4012 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4013
4014 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4015 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4016 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4017 expression with separately allocated resources.
4018
4019 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4020 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4021 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4022
4023 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4024 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4025 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4026 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4027 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4028 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4029 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4030 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4031 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4032
4033 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4034 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4035 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4036 watched expression from every thread.
4037
4038 @quotation
4039 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4040 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4041 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4042 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4043 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4044 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4045 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4046 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4047 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4048 @end quotation
4049
4050 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4051
4052 @node Set Catchpoints
4053 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4054 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4055 @cindex exception handlers
4056 @cindex event handling
4057
4058 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4059 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4060 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4061
4062 @table @code
4063 @kindex catch
4064 @item catch @var{event}
4065 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4066 @table @code
4067 @item throw
4068 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4069 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
4070
4071 @item catch
4072 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4073
4074 @item exception
4075 @cindex Ada exception catching
4076 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4077 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4078 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4079 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4080 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4081
4082 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4083 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4084 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4085 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4086 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4087 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4088 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4089 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4090
4091 @item exception unhandled
4092 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4093
4094 @item assert
4095 A failed Ada assertion.
4096
4097 @item exec
4098 @cindex break on fork/exec
4099 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4100 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4101
4102 @item syscall
4103 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4104 @cindex break on a system call.
4105 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4106 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4107 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4108 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4109 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4110 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4111 will be caught.
4112
4113 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4114 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4115 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4116 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4117
4118 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4119 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4120 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4121 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4122
4123 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4124 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4125 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4126 available choices.
4127
4128 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4129 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4130 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4131 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4132 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4133 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4134 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4135 behind the OS upgrades).
4136
4137 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4138 arguments to it:
4139
4140 @smallexample
4141 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4142 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4143 (@value{GDBP}) r
4144 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4145
4146 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4147 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4148 (@value{GDBP}) c
4149 Continuing.
4150
4151 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4152 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4153 (@value{GDBP})
4154 @end smallexample
4155
4156 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4157
4158 @smallexample
4159 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4160 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4161 (@value{GDBP}) r
4162 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4163
4164 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4165 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4166 (@value{GDBP}) c
4167 Continuing.
4168
4169 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4170 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4171 (@value{GDBP})
4172 @end smallexample
4173
4174 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4175 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4176 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4177
4178 @smallexample
4179 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4180 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4181 (@value{GDBP}) r
4182 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4183
4184 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4185 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4186 (@value{GDBP}) c
4187 Continuing.
4188
4189 Program exited normally.
4190 (@value{GDBP})
4191 @end smallexample
4192
4193 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4194 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4195 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4196 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4197
4198 @smallexample
4199 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4200 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4201 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4202 (@value{GDBP})
4203 @end smallexample
4204
4205 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4206 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4207 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4208 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4209 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4210 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4211
4212 @smallexample
4213 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4214 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4215 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4216 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4217 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4218 (@value{GDBP})
4219 @end smallexample
4220
4221 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4222
4223 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4224 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4225
4226 @smallexample
4227 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4228 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4229 @end smallexample
4230
4231 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4232
4233 @item fork
4234 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4235 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4236
4237 @item vfork
4238 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4239 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4240
4241 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4242 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4243 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4244 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4245 matches one of the affected libraries.
4246
4247 @end table
4248
4249 @item tcatch @var{event}
4250 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4251 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4252
4253 @end table
4254
4255 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4256
4257 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4258 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4259
4260 @itemize @bullet
4261 @item
4262 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4263 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4264 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4265 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4266 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4267 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4268 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4269 disabled within interactive calls.
4270
4271 @item
4272 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4273
4274 @item
4275 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4276 @end itemize
4277
4278 @cindex raise exceptions
4279 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4280 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4281 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4282 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4283 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4284 out where the exception was raised.
4285
4286 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4287 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4288 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4289 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4290
4291 @smallexample
4292 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4293 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4294 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4295 @end smallexample
4296
4297 @noindent
4298 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4299 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4300 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4301
4302 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4303 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4304 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4305 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4306 raised.
4307
4308
4309 @node Delete Breaks
4310 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4311
4312 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4313 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4314 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4315 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4316 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4317 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4318
4319 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4320 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4321 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4322 their breakpoint numbers.
4323
4324 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4325 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4326 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4327
4328 @table @code
4329 @kindex clear
4330 @item clear
4331 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4332 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4333 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4334 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4335
4336 @item clear @var{location}
4337 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4338 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4339 most useful ones are listed below:
4340
4341 @table @code
4342 @item clear @var{function}
4343 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4344 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4345
4346 @item clear @var{linenum}
4347 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4348 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4349 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4350 @end table
4351
4352 @cindex delete breakpoints
4353 @kindex delete
4354 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4355 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4356 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4357 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4358 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4359 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4360 @end table
4361
4362 @node Disabling
4363 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4364
4365 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4366 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4367 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4368 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4369 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4370
4371 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4372 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4373 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4374 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4375 do not know which numbers to use.
4376
4377 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4378 affects all of its locations.
4379
4380 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4381 different states of enablement:
4382
4383 @itemize @bullet
4384 @item
4385 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4386 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4387 @item
4388 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4389 @item
4390 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4391 disabled.
4392 @item
4393 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4394 N times, then becomes disabled.
4395 @item
4396 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4397 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4398 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4399 @end itemize
4400
4401 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4402 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4403
4404 @table @code
4405 @kindex disable
4406 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4407 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4408 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4409 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4410 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4411 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4412 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4413
4414 @kindex enable
4415 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4416 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4417 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4418
4419 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4420 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4421 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4422
4423 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4424 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4425 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4426 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4427 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4428 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4429 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4430
4431 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4432 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4433 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4434 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4435 @end table
4436
4437 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4438 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4439 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4440 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4441 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4442 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4443 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4444 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4445 Stepping}.)
4446
4447 @node Conditions
4448 @subsection Break Conditions
4449 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4450 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4451
4452 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4453 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4454 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4455 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4456 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4457 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4458 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4459 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4460
4461 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4462 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4463 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4464 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4465 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4466
4467 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4468 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4469 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4470 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4471 one.
4472
4473 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4474 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4475 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4476 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4477 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4478 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4479 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4480 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4481 conditions for the
4482 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4483 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4484
4485 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4486 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4487 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4488 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4489 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4490 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4491
4492 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4493 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4494 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4495 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4496 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4497
4498 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4499 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4500 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4501 with the @code{condition} command.
4502
4503 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4504 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4505 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4506 catchpoint.
4507
4508 @table @code
4509 @kindex condition
4510 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4511 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4512 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4513 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4514 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4515 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4516 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4517 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4518 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4519 prints an error message:
4520
4521 @smallexample
4522 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4523 @end smallexample
4524
4525 @noindent
4526 @value{GDBN} does
4527 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4528 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4529 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4530
4531 @item condition @var{bnum}
4532 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4533 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4534 @end table
4535
4536 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4537 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4538 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4539 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4540 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4541 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4542 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4543 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4544 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4545 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4546 your program reaches it.
4547
4548 @table @code
4549 @kindex ignore
4550 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4551 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4552 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4553 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4554 takes no action.
4555
4556 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4557 a count of zero.
4558
4559 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4560 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4561 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4562 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4563
4564 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4565 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4566 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4567
4568 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4569 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4570 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4571 Variables}.
4572 @end table
4573
4574 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4575
4576
4577 @node Break Commands
4578 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4579
4580 @cindex breakpoint commands
4581 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4582 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4583 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4584 enable other breakpoints.
4585
4586 @table @code
4587 @kindex commands
4588 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4589 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4590 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4591 @itemx end
4592 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4593 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4594 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4595
4596 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4597 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4598
4599 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4600 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4601 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4602 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4603 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4604 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4605 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4606 Expressions}).
4607 @end table
4608
4609 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4610 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4611
4612 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4613 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4614 that resumes execution.
4615
4616 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4617 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4618 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4619 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4620 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4621
4622 @kindex silent
4623 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4624 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4625 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4626 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4627 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4628 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4629
4630 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4631 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4632 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4633
4634 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4635 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4636
4637 @smallexample
4638 break foo if x>0
4639 commands
4640 silent
4641 printf "x is %d\n",x
4642 cont
4643 end
4644 @end smallexample
4645
4646 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4647 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4648 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4649 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4650 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4651 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4652 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4653
4654 @smallexample
4655 break 403
4656 commands
4657 silent
4658 set x = y + 4
4659 cont
4660 end
4661 @end smallexample
4662
4663 @node Dynamic Printf
4664 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4665
4666 @cindex dynamic printf
4667 @cindex dprintf
4668 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4669 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4670 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4671 having to recompile it.
4672
4673 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4674 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4675 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4676 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4677 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4678 redirects to files and so forth.
4679
4680 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4681 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4682 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4683 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4684 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4685 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4686 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4687
4688 @table @code
4689 @kindex dprintf
4690 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4691 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4692 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4693 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4694
4695 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4696 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4697 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4698 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4699 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4700 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4701
4702 @item gdb
4703 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4704 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4705
4706 @item call
4707 @kindex dprintf-style call
4708 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4709 @code{printf}).
4710
4711 @item agent
4712 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4713 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4714 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4715 support running commands on the target.
4716
4717 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4718 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4719 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4720 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4721 command.
4722
4723 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4724 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4725 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4726 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4727 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4728 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4729
4730 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4731 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4732 you could do the following:
4733
4734 @example
4735 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4736 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4737 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4738 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4739 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4740 (gdb) info break
4741 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4742 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4743 continue
4744 (gdb)
4745 @end example
4746
4747 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4748 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4749 the variable settings.
4750
4751 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
4752 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4753 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4754 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4755 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4756 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4757
4758 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
4759 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4760 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4761
4762 @end table
4763
4764 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4765 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4766 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4767 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4768 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4769 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4770
4771 @node Save Breakpoints
4772 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4773
4774 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4775 breakpoints}} command.
4776
4777 @table @code
4778 @kindex save breakpoints
4779 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4780 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4781 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4782 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4783 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4784 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4785 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4786 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4787 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4788 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4789 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4790 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4791 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4792 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4793 that can no longer be recreated.
4794 @end table
4795
4796 @node Static Probe Points
4797 @subsection Static Probe Points
4798
4799 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4800 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4801 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4802 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4803 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4804 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4805 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4806
4807 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4808 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4809 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4810 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4811 in your applications.
4812
4813 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4814 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4815 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4816 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4817 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4818 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4819 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4820 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4821
4822 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4823 probes}, with optional arguments:
4824
4825 @table @code
4826 @kindex info probes
4827 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4828 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4829 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4830 probes from all providers are listed.
4831
4832 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4833 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4834 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4835
4836 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4837 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4838 given, all object files are considered.
4839
4840 @item info probes all
4841 List the available static probes, from all types.
4842 @end table
4843
4844 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4845 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4846 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4847 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4848 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4849 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4850 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4851 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4852 at the current probe point.
4853
4854 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4855 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4856 an error message.
4857
4858
4859 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4860 @node Error in Breakpoints
4861 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4862
4863 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4864 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4865
4866 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4867 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4868 @smallexample
4869 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4870 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4871 @end smallexample
4872
4873 @noindent
4874 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4875 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4876 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4877
4878 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4879 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4880
4881 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4882 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4883 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4884
4885 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4886 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4887 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4888 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4889
4890 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4891 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4892 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4893 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4894 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4895 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4896 first in the bundle.
4897
4898 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4899 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4900 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4901 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4902 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4903 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4904 is hit.
4905
4906 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4907 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4908
4909 @smallexample
4910 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4911 @end smallexample
4912
4913 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4914 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4915 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4916 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4917 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4918 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4919 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4920 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4921
4922 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4923 adjusted breakpoints:
4924
4925 @smallexample
4926 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4927 to 0x00010410.
4928 @end smallexample
4929
4930 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4931 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4932 frequently than expected.
4933
4934 @node Continuing and Stepping
4935 @section Continuing and Stepping
4936
4937 @cindex stepping
4938 @cindex continuing
4939 @cindex resuming execution
4940 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4941 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4942 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4943 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4944 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4945 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4946 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4947 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4948
4949 @table @code
4950 @kindex continue
4951 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4952 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4953 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4954 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4955 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4956 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4957 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4958 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4959 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4960 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4961
4962 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4963 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4964 @code{continue} is ignored.
4965
4966 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4967 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4968 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4969 @code{continue}.
4970 @end table
4971
4972 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4973 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4974 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4975 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4976
4977 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4978 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4979 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4980 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4981 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4982 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4983
4984 @table @code
4985 @kindex step
4986 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4987 @item step
4988 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4989 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4990 abbreviated @code{s}.
4991
4992 @quotation
4993 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4994 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4995 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4996 @c distinction here.
4997 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4998 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4999 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5000 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5001 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5002 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5003 below.
5004 @end quotation
5005
5006 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5007 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5008 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5009 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5010 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5011 called within the line.
5012
5013 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5014 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5015 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5016 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5017 was any debugging information about the routine.
5018
5019 @item step @var{count}
5020 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5021 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5022 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5023
5024 @kindex next
5025 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5026 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5027 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5028 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5029 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5030 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5031 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5032 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5033
5034 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5035
5036
5037 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5038 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5039 @c
5040 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5041 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5042 @c function are executed without stopping.
5043
5044 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5045 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5046 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5047
5048 @kindex set step-mode
5049 @item set step-mode
5050 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5051 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5052 @itemx set step-mode on
5053 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5054 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5055 information rather than stepping over it.
5056
5057 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5058 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5059 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5060
5061 @item set step-mode off
5062 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5063 debug information. This is the default.
5064
5065 @item show step-mode
5066 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5067 source line debug information.
5068
5069 @kindex finish
5070 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5071 @item finish
5072 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5073 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5074 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5075
5076 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5077 ,Returning from a Function}).
5078
5079 @kindex until
5080 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5081 @cindex run until specified location
5082 @item until
5083 @itemx u
5084 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5085 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5086 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5087 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5088 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5089 than the address of the jump.
5090
5091 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5092 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5093 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5094 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5095 through the next iteration.
5096
5097 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5098 stack frame.
5099
5100 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5101 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5102 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5103 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5104 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5105
5106 @smallexample
5107 (@value{GDBP}) f
5108 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5109 206 expand_input();
5110 (@value{GDBP}) until
5111 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5112 @end smallexample
5113
5114 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5115 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5116 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5117 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5118 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5119 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5120 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5121
5122 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5123 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5124 argument.
5125
5126 @item until @var{location}
5127 @itemx u @var{location}
5128 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5129 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5130 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5131 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5132 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5133 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5134 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5135 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5136 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5137 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5138 invocations have returned.
5139
5140 @smallexample
5141 94 int factorial (int value)
5142 95 @{
5143 96 if (value > 1) @{
5144 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5145 98 @}
5146 99 return (value);
5147 100 @}
5148 @end smallexample
5149
5150
5151 @kindex advance @var{location}
5152 @item advance @var{location}
5153 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5154 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5155 @ref{Specify Location}.
5156 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5157 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5158 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5159 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5160
5161
5162 @kindex stepi
5163 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5164 @item stepi
5165 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5166 @itemx si
5167 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5168
5169 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5170 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5171 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5172 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5173
5174 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5175
5176 @need 750
5177 @kindex nexti
5178 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5179 @item nexti
5180 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5181 @itemx ni
5182 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5183 proceed until the function returns.
5184
5185 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5186 @end table
5187
5188 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5189 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5190 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5191
5192 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5193 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5194 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5195
5196 For example, consider the following C function:
5197
5198 @smallexample
5199 101 int func()
5200 102 @{
5201 103 foo(boring());
5202 104 bar(boring());
5203 105 @}
5204 @end smallexample
5205
5206 @noindent
5207 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5208 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5209 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5210 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5211
5212 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5213 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5214 is called from many places.
5215
5216 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5217 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5218 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5219 @code{foo}.
5220
5221 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5222 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5223
5224 @table @code
5225 @kindex skip function
5226 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5227 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5228 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5229 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5230 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5231
5232 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5233 will be skipped.
5234
5235 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5236 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5237
5238 @kindex skip file
5239 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5240 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5241 will be skipped over when stepping.
5242
5243 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5244 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5245 @end table
5246
5247 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5248 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5249
5250 @table @code
5251 @kindex info skip
5252 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5253 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5254 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5255 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5256
5257 @table @emph
5258 @item Identifier
5259 A number identifying this skip.
5260 @item Type
5261 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5262 @item Enabled or Disabled
5263 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5264 @item Address
5265 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5266 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5267 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5268 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5269 address here.
5270 @item What
5271 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5272 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5273 where it is defined.
5274 @end table
5275
5276 @kindex skip delete
5277 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5278 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5279 skips.
5280
5281 @kindex skip enable
5282 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5283 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5284 skips.
5285
5286 @kindex skip disable
5287 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5288 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5289 skips.
5290
5291 @end table
5292
5293 @node Signals
5294 @section Signals
5295 @cindex signals
5296
5297 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5298 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5299 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5300 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5301 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5302 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5303 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5304 requested an alarm).
5305
5306 @cindex fatal signals
5307 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5308 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5309 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5310 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5311 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5312 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5313
5314 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5315 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5316 signal.
5317
5318 @cindex handling signals
5319 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5320 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5321 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5322 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5323 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5324
5325 @table @code
5326 @kindex info signals
5327 @kindex info handle
5328 @item info signals
5329 @itemx info handle
5330 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5331 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5332 the defined types of signals.
5333
5334 @item info signals @var{sig}
5335 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5336
5337 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5338
5339 @kindex handle
5340 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5341 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5342 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5343 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5344 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5345 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5346 say what change to make.
5347 @end table
5348
5349 @c @group
5350 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5351 Their full names are:
5352
5353 @table @code
5354 @item nostop
5355 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5356 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5357
5358 @item stop
5359 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5360 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5361
5362 @item print
5363 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5364
5365 @item noprint
5366 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5367 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5368
5369 @item pass
5370 @itemx noignore
5371 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5372 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5373 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5374
5375 @item nopass
5376 @itemx ignore
5377 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5378 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5379 @end table
5380 @c @end group
5381
5382 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5383 program until you
5384 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5385 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5386 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5387 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5388 program sees that signal when you continue.
5389
5390 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5391 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5392 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5393 erroneous signals.
5394
5395 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5396 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5397 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5398 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5399 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5400 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5401 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5402 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5403 Program a Signal}.
5404
5405 @cindex extra signal information
5406 @anchor{extra signal information}
5407
5408 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5409 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5410 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5411 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5412 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5413 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5414 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5415 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5416 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5417 system header.
5418
5419 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5420 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5421
5422 @smallexample
5423 @group
5424 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5425 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5426 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5427 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5428 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5429 type = struct @{
5430 int si_signo;
5431 int si_errno;
5432 int si_code;
5433 union @{
5434 int _pad[28];
5435 struct @{...@} _kill;
5436 struct @{...@} _timer;
5437 struct @{...@} _rt;
5438 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5439 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5440 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5441 @} _sifields;
5442 @}
5443 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5444 type = struct @{
5445 void *si_addr;
5446 @}
5447 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5448 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5449 @end group
5450 @end smallexample
5451
5452 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5453
5454 @node Thread Stops
5455 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5456
5457 @cindex stopped threads
5458 @cindex threads, stopped
5459
5460 @cindex continuing threads
5461 @cindex threads, continuing
5462
5463 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5464 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5465 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5466 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5467 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5468 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5469 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5470 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5471 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5472
5473 @menu
5474 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5475 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5476 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5477 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5478 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5479 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5480 @end menu
5481
5482 @node All-Stop Mode
5483 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5484
5485 @cindex all-stop mode
5486
5487 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5488 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5489 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5490 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5491 underfoot.
5492
5493 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5494 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5495 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5496
5497 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5498 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5499 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5500 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5501 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5502 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5503 stops.
5504
5505 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5506 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5507 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5508 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5509
5510 @cindex automatic thread selection
5511 @cindex switching threads automatically
5512 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5513 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5514 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5515 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5516 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5517 thread.
5518
5519 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5520 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5521
5522 @table @code
5523 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5524 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5525 @cindex lock scheduler
5526 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5527 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5528 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5529 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5530 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5531 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5532 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5533 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5534 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5535 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5536 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5537 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5538
5539 @item show scheduler-locking
5540 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5541 @end table
5542
5543 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5544 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5545 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5546 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5547 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5548 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5549 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5550 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5551 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5552 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5553 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5554 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5555 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5556 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5557
5558 @table @code
5559 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5560 @item set schedule-multiple
5561 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5562 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5563 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5564 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5565 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5566 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5567
5568 @item show schedule-multiple
5569 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5570 multiple processes.
5571 @end table
5572
5573 @node Non-Stop Mode
5574 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5575
5576 @cindex non-stop mode
5577
5578 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5579 @c with more details.
5580
5581 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5582 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5583 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5584 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5585 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5586 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5587
5588 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5589 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5590 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5591 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5592 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5593 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5594 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5595 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5596 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5597 independently and simultaneously.
5598
5599 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5600 or attach to your program:
5601
5602 @smallexample
5603 # Enable the async interface.
5604 set target-async 1
5605
5606 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5607 set pagination off
5608
5609 # Finally, turn it on!
5610 set non-stop on
5611 @end smallexample
5612
5613 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5614
5615 @table @code
5616 @kindex set non-stop
5617 @item set non-stop on
5618 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5619 @item set non-stop off
5620 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5621 @kindex show non-stop
5622 @item show non-stop
5623 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5624 @end table
5625
5626 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5627 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5628 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5629 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5630 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5631 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5632 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5633 default.
5634
5635 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5636 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5637 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5638
5639 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5640 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5641 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5642 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5643 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5644
5645 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5646 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5647 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5648 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5649 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5650
5651 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5652
5653 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5654 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5655 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5656 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5657 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5658 previously current thread.
5659
5660 @node Background Execution
5661 @subsection Background Execution
5662
5663 @cindex foreground execution
5664 @cindex background execution
5665 @cindex asynchronous execution
5666 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5667
5668 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5669 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5670 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5671 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5672 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5673 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5674
5675 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5676 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5677 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5678
5679 @table @code
5680 @kindex set target-async
5681 @item set target-async on
5682 Enable asynchronous mode.
5683 @item set target-async off
5684 Disable asynchronous mode.
5685 @kindex show target-async
5686 @item show target-async
5687 Show the current target-async setting.
5688 @end table
5689
5690 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5691 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5692
5693 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5694 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5695 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5696 are:
5697
5698 @table @code
5699 @kindex run&
5700 @item run
5701 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5702
5703 @item attach
5704 @kindex attach&
5705 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5706
5707 @item step
5708 @kindex step&
5709 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5710
5711 @item stepi
5712 @kindex stepi&
5713 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5714
5715 @item next
5716 @kindex next&
5717 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5718
5719 @item nexti
5720 @kindex nexti&
5721 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5722
5723 @item continue
5724 @kindex continue&
5725 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5726
5727 @item finish
5728 @kindex finish&
5729 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5730
5731 @item until
5732 @kindex until&
5733 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5734
5735 @end table
5736
5737 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5738 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5739 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5740 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5741 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5742 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5743
5744 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5745 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5746
5747 @table @code
5748 @kindex interrupt
5749 @item interrupt
5750 @itemx interrupt -a
5751
5752 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5753 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5754 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5755 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5756 @end table
5757
5758 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5759 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5760
5761 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5762 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5763 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5764
5765 @table @code
5766 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5767 @cindex thread breakpoints
5768 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5769 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5770 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5771 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5772 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5773 specify some source line.
5774
5775 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5776 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5777 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5778 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5779 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5780
5781 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5782 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5783 program.
5784
5785 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5786 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5787 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5788
5789 @smallexample
5790 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5791 @end smallexample
5792
5793 @end table
5794
5795 @node Interrupted System Calls
5796 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5797
5798 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5799 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5800 @cindex premature return from system calls
5801 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5802 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5803 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5804 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5805 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5806 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5807 stop execution.
5808
5809 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5810 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5811 style anyways.
5812
5813 For example, do not write code like this:
5814
5815 @smallexample
5816 sleep (10);
5817 @end smallexample
5818
5819 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5820 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5821
5822 Instead, write this:
5823
5824 @smallexample
5825 int unslept = 10;
5826 while (unslept > 0)
5827 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5828 @end smallexample
5829
5830 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5831 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5832 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5833 @value{GDBN}.
5834
5835 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5836 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5837 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5838 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5839
5840 @node Observer Mode
5841 @subsection Observer Mode
5842
5843 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5844 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5845 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5846 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5847 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5848
5849 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5850 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5851 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5852 mode.
5853
5854 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5855 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5856 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5857 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5858 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5859
5860 @table @code
5861
5862 @kindex observer
5863 @item set observer on
5864 @itemx set observer off
5865 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5866 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5867 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5868 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5869
5870 @item show observer
5871 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5872
5873 @kindex may-write-registers
5874 @item set may-write-registers on
5875 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5876 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5877 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5878 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5879
5880 @item show may-write-registers
5881 Show the current permission to write registers.
5882
5883 @kindex may-write-memory
5884 @item set may-write-memory on
5885 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5886 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5887 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5888 defaults to @code{on}.
5889
5890 @item show may-write-memory
5891 Show the current permission to write memory.
5892
5893 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5894 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5895 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5896 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5897 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5898 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5899
5900 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5901 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5902
5903 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5904 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5905 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5906 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5907 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5908 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5909 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5910
5911 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5912 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5913
5914 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5915 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5916 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5917 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5918 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5919 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5920 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5921
5922 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5923 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5924
5925 @kindex may-interrupt
5926 @item set may-interrupt on
5927 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5928 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5929 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5930 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5931 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5932
5933 @item show may-interrupt
5934 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5935
5936 @end table
5937
5938 @node Reverse Execution
5939 @chapter Running programs backward
5940 @cindex reverse execution
5941 @cindex running programs backward
5942
5943 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5944 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5945 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5946 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5947
5948 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5949 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5950 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5951 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5952 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5953 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5954
5955 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5956 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5957 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5958 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5959 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5960 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5961 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5962 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5963 prior values@footnote{
5964 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5965 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5966 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5967
5968 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5969 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5970 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5971 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5972 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5973 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5974 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5975 }.
5976
5977 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5978 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5979
5980 @table @code
5981 @kindex reverse-continue
5982 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5983 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5984 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5985 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5986 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5987 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5988 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5989
5990 @kindex reverse-step
5991 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5992 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5993 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5994 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5995
5996 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5997 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5998 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5999 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6000 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6001 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6002
6003 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6004 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6005
6006 @kindex reverse-stepi
6007 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6008 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6009 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6010 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6011 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6012 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6013 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6014
6015 @kindex reverse-next
6016 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6017 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6018 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6019 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6020 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6021 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6022 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6023 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6024 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6025 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6026
6027 @kindex reverse-nexti
6028 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6029 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6030 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6031 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6032 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6033 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6034 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6035 frame) is reached.
6036
6037 @kindex reverse-finish
6038 @item reverse-finish
6039 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6040 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6041 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6042 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6043
6044 @kindex set exec-direction
6045 @item set exec-direction
6046 Set the direction of target execution.
6047 @item set exec-direction reverse
6048 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6049 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6050 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6051 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6052 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6053 @item set exec-direction forward
6054 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6055 This is the default.
6056 @end table
6057
6058
6059 @node Process Record and Replay
6060 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6061 @cindex process record and replay
6062 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6063
6064 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6065 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6066 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6067
6068 @cindex replay mode
6069 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6070 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6071 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6072 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6073 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6074 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6075 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6076 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6077 execution log.
6078
6079 @cindex record mode
6080 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6081 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6082 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6083 for future replay.
6084
6085 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6086 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6087 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6088 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6089 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6090 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6091
6092 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6093 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6094 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6095 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6096
6097 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6098 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6099
6100 @table @code
6101 @kindex target record
6102 @kindex record
6103 @kindex rec
6104 @item target record
6105 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
6106 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
6107 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
6108 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
6109 the @kbd{target record} command.
6110
6111 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
6112
6113 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6114 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6115 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6116 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6117 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6118
6119 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6120 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6121 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6122 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
6123 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
6124 support these two modes.
6125
6126 @kindex record stop
6127 @kindex rec s
6128 @item record stop
6129 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6130 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6131 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6132
6133 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6134 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6135 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6136 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6137 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6138
6139 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6140 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6141 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6142 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6143 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6144
6145 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6146 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6147
6148 @kindex record save
6149 @item record save @var{filename}
6150 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6151 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6152 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6153
6154 @kindex record restore
6155 @item record restore @var{filename}
6156 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6157 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6158
6159 @kindex set record insn-number-max
6160 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
6161 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
6162
6163 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6164 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6165 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6166 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6167 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6168 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6169 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6170 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6171
6172 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
6173 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
6174 instructions is unlimited in this case.
6175
6176 @kindex show record insn-number-max
6177 @item show record insn-number-max
6178 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
6179
6180 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
6181 @item set record stop-at-limit
6182 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
6183 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
6184 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
6185 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
6186 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
6187 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
6188
6189 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6190 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6191
6192 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
6193 @item show record stop-at-limit
6194 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6195
6196 @kindex set record memory-query
6197 @item set record memory-query
6198 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6199 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
6200 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
6201
6202 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6203 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6204 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6205 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6206 results.
6207
6208 @kindex show record memory-query
6209 @item show record memory-query
6210 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6211
6212 @kindex info record
6213 @item info record
6214 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
6215 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6216
6217 @itemize @bullet
6218 @item
6219 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6220 @item
6221 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6222 @item
6223 Highest recorded instruction number.
6224 @item
6225 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6226 @item
6227 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6228 @item
6229 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6230 @end itemize
6231
6232 @kindex record delete
6233 @kindex rec del
6234 @item record delete
6235 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6236 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6237 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6238 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6239 @end table
6240
6241
6242 @node Stack
6243 @chapter Examining the Stack
6244
6245 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6246 stopped and how it got there.
6247
6248 @cindex call stack
6249 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6250 is generated.
6251 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6252 the arguments of the call,
6253 and the local variables of the function being called.
6254 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6255 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6256 stack}.
6257
6258 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6259 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6260
6261 @cindex selected frame
6262 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6263 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6264 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6265 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6266 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6267 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6268
6269 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6270 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6271 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6272
6273 @menu
6274 * Frames:: Stack frames
6275 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6276 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6277 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6278
6279 @end menu
6280
6281 @node Frames
6282 @section Stack Frames
6283
6284 @cindex frame, definition
6285 @cindex stack frame
6286 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6287 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6288 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6289 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6290 which the function is executing.
6291
6292 @cindex initial frame
6293 @cindex outermost frame
6294 @cindex innermost frame
6295 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6296 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6297 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6298 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6299 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6300 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6301 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6302 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6303
6304 @cindex frame pointer
6305 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6306 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6307 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6308 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6309 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6310 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6311
6312 @cindex frame number
6313 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6314 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6315 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6316 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6317 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6318
6319 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6320 @c underflow problems.
6321 @cindex frameless execution
6322 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6323 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6324 @smallexample
6325 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6326 @end smallexample
6327 generates functions without a frame.)
6328 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6329 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6330 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6331 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6332 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6333 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6334 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6335
6336 @table @code
6337 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6338 @cindex current stack frame
6339 @item frame @var{args}
6340 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6341 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6342 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6343 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6344
6345 @kindex select-frame
6346 @cindex selecting frame silently
6347 @item select-frame
6348 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6349 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6350 @code{frame}.
6351 @end table
6352
6353 @node Backtrace
6354 @section Backtraces
6355
6356 @cindex traceback
6357 @cindex call stack traces
6358 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6359 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6360 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6361 stack.
6362
6363 @table @code
6364 @kindex backtrace
6365 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6366 @item backtrace
6367 @itemx bt
6368 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6369 frames in the stack.
6370
6371 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6372 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6373
6374 @item backtrace @var{n}
6375 @itemx bt @var{n}
6376 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6377
6378 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6379 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6380 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6381
6382 @item backtrace full
6383 @itemx bt full
6384 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6385 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6386 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6387 number of frames to print, as described above.
6388 @end table
6389
6390 @kindex where
6391 @kindex info stack
6392 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6393 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6394
6395 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6396 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6397 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6398 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6399 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6400 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6401 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6402 multi-threaded program.
6403
6404 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6405 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6406 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6407 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6408 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6409 line number.
6410
6411 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6412 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6413
6414 @smallexample
6415 @group
6416 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6417 at builtin.c:993
6418 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6419 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6420 at macro.c:71
6421 (More stack frames follow...)
6422 @end group
6423 @end smallexample
6424
6425 @noindent
6426 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6427 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6428 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6429
6430 @noindent
6431 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6432 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6433 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6434 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6435 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6436
6437 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6438 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6439 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6440 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6441 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6442 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6443 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6444 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6445 such a backtrace might look like:
6446
6447 @smallexample
6448 @group
6449 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6450 at builtin.c:993
6451 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6452 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6453 at macro.c:71
6454 (More stack frames follow...)
6455 @end group
6456 @end smallexample
6457
6458 @noindent
6459 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6460 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6461
6462 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6463 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6464 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6465
6466 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6467 @cindex program entry point
6468 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6469 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6470 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6471 @code{main}@footnote{
6472 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6473 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6474 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6475 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6476 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6477 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6478
6479 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6480 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6481
6482 @table @code
6483 @item set backtrace past-main
6484 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6485 @kindex set backtrace
6486 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6487
6488 @item set backtrace past-main off
6489 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6490 default.
6491
6492 @item show backtrace past-main
6493 @kindex show backtrace
6494 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6495
6496 @item set backtrace past-entry
6497 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6498 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6499 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6500 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6501
6502 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6503 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6504 application. This is the default.
6505
6506 @item show backtrace past-entry
6507 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6508
6509 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6510 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6511 @cindex backtrace limit
6512 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6513 unlimited.
6514
6515 @item show backtrace limit
6516 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6517 @end table
6518
6519 @node Selection
6520 @section Selecting a Frame
6521
6522 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6523 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6524 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6525 of the stack frame just selected.
6526
6527 @table @code
6528 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6529 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6530 @item frame @var{n}
6531 @itemx f @var{n}
6532 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6533 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6534 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6535 @code{main}.
6536
6537 @item frame @var{addr}
6538 @itemx f @var{addr}
6539 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6540 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6541 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6542 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6543 switches between them.
6544
6545 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6546 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6547
6548 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6549 pointer and a program counter.
6550
6551 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6552 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6553
6554 @kindex up
6555 @item up @var{n}
6556 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6557 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6558 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6559
6560 @kindex down
6561 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6562 @item down @var{n}
6563 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6564 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6565 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6566 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6567 @end table
6568
6569 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6570 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6571 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6572 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6573
6574 @need 1000
6575 For example:
6576
6577 @smallexample
6578 @group
6579 (@value{GDBP}) up
6580 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6581 at env.c:10
6582 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6583 @end group
6584 @end smallexample
6585
6586 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6587 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6588 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6589 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6590 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6591 for details.
6592
6593 @table @code
6594 @kindex down-silently
6595 @kindex up-silently
6596 @item up-silently @var{n}
6597 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6598 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6599 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6600 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6601 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6602 distracting.
6603 @end table
6604
6605 @node Frame Info
6606 @section Information About a Frame
6607
6608 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6609 stack frame.
6610
6611 @table @code
6612 @item frame
6613 @itemx f
6614 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6615 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6616 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6617 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6618 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6619
6620 @kindex info frame
6621 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6622 @item info frame
6623 @itemx info f
6624 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6625 including:
6626
6627 @itemize @bullet
6628 @item
6629 the address of the frame
6630 @item
6631 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6632 @item
6633 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6634 @item
6635 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6636 @item
6637 the address of the frame's arguments
6638 @item
6639 the address of the frame's local variables
6640 @item
6641 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6642 @item
6643 which registers were saved in the frame
6644 @end itemize
6645
6646 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6647 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6648 the usual conventions.
6649
6650 @item info frame @var{addr}
6651 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6652 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6653 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6654 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6655 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6656 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6657
6658 @kindex info args
6659 @item info args
6660 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6661
6662 @item info locals
6663 @kindex info locals
6664 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6665 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6666 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6667
6668 @end table
6669
6670
6671 @node Source
6672 @chapter Examining Source Files
6673
6674 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6675 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6676 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6677 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6678 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6679 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6680 source files by explicit command.
6681
6682 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6683 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6684 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6685
6686 @menu
6687 * List:: Printing source lines
6688 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6689 * Edit:: Editing source files
6690 * Search:: Searching source files
6691 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6692 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6693 @end menu
6694
6695 @node List
6696 @section Printing Source Lines
6697
6698 @kindex list
6699 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6700 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6701 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6702 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6703 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6704
6705 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6706
6707 @table @code
6708 @item list @var{linenum}
6709 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6710 current source file.
6711
6712 @item list @var{function}
6713 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6714 @var{function}.
6715
6716 @item list
6717 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6718 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6719 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6720 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6721 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6722
6723 @item list -
6724 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6725 @end table
6726
6727 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6728 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6729 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6730
6731 @table @code
6732 @kindex set listsize
6733 @item set listsize @var{count}
6734 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6735 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6736 Setting @var{count} to -1 means there's no limit and 0 means suppress
6737 display of source lines.
6738
6739 @kindex show listsize
6740 @item show listsize
6741 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6742 @end table
6743
6744 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6745 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6746 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6747 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6748 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6749
6750 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6751 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6752 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6753 to specify some source line.
6754
6755 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6756
6757 @table @code
6758 @item list @var{linespec}
6759 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6760
6761 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6762 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6763 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6764 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6765 the same source file as the first linespec.
6766
6767 @item list ,@var{last}
6768 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6769
6770 @item list @var{first},
6771 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6772
6773 @item list +
6774 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6775
6776 @item list -
6777 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6778
6779 @item list
6780 As described in the preceding table.
6781 @end table
6782
6783 @node Specify Location
6784 @section Specifying a Location
6785 @cindex specifying location
6786 @cindex linespec
6787
6788 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6789 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6790 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6791 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6792
6793 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6794 @value{GDBN} understands:
6795
6796 @table @code
6797 @item @var{linenum}
6798 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6799
6800 @item -@var{offset}
6801 @itemx +@var{offset}
6802 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6803 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6804 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6805 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6806 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6807 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6808 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6809 linespec.
6810
6811 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6812 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6813 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
6814 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
6815 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
6816 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
6817 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
6818
6819 @item @var{function}
6820 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6821 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6822
6823 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6824 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6825
6826 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6827 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6828 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6829 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6830 functions in different source files.
6831
6832 @item @var{label}
6833 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6834 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6835 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6836 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6837 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6838
6839 @item *@var{address}
6840 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6841 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6842 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6843 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6844 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6845 source files.
6846
6847 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6848 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6849 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6850 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6851 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6852 of @var{address}:
6853
6854 @table @code
6855 @item @var{expression}
6856 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6857
6858 @item @var{funcaddr}
6859 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6860 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6861 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6862 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6863 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6864 (although the Pascal form also works).
6865
6866 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6867 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6868
6869 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6870 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6871 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6872 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6873 functions with identical names in different source files.
6874 @end table
6875
6876 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
6877 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
6878 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
6879 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
6880 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
6881 specifies the location of such a static probe.
6882
6883 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
6884 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
6885 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
6886 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
6887 each one of those probes.
6888
6889 @end table
6890
6891
6892 @node Edit
6893 @section Editing Source Files
6894 @cindex editing source files
6895
6896 @kindex edit
6897 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6898 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6899 The editing program of your choice
6900 is invoked with the current line set to
6901 the active line in the program.
6902 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6903 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6904
6905 @table @code
6906 @item edit @var{location}
6907 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6908 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6909 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6910 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6911 command most commonly used:
6912
6913 @table @code
6914 @item edit @var{number}
6915 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6916
6917 @item edit @var{function}
6918 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6919 @end table
6920
6921 @end table
6922
6923 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6924 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6925 @footnote{
6926 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6927 following command-line syntax:
6928 @smallexample
6929 ex +@var{number} file
6930 @end smallexample
6931 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6932 the file where to start editing.}.
6933 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6934 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6935 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6936 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6937 @smallexample
6938 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6939 export EDITOR
6940 gdb @dots{}
6941 @end smallexample
6942 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6943 @smallexample
6944 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6945 gdb @dots{}
6946 @end smallexample
6947
6948 @node Search
6949 @section Searching Source Files
6950 @cindex searching source files
6951
6952 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6953 regular expression.
6954
6955 @table @code
6956 @kindex search
6957 @kindex forward-search
6958 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6959 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6960 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6961 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6962 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6963 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6964 @code{fo}.
6965
6966 @kindex reverse-search
6967 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6968 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6969 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6970 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6971 this command as @code{rev}.
6972 @end table
6973
6974 @node Source Path
6975 @section Specifying Source Directories
6976
6977 @cindex source path
6978 @cindex directories for source files
6979 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6980 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6981 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6982 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6983 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6984 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6985 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6986
6987 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6988 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6989 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6990 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6991 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6992 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6993 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6994 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6995 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6996 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6997 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6998
6999 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7000 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7001 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7002 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7003 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7004 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7005
7006 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7007 source files.
7008
7009 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7010 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7011 each line is in the file.
7012
7013 @kindex directory
7014 @kindex dir
7015 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7016 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7017 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7018
7019 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7020 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7021
7022 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7023 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7024 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7025 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7026 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7027 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7028 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7029 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7030 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7031 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7032 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7033 name to look up the sources.
7034
7035 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7036 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7037 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7038 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7039 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7040 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7041 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7042 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7043
7044 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7045 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7046 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7047 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7048 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7049 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7050 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7051
7052 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7053 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7054 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7055 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7056 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7057 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7058 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7059 command.
7060
7061 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7062 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7063 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7064 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7065 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7066 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7067 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7068
7069 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7070 @cindex default source path substitution
7071 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7072 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7073 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7074 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7075 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7076 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7077 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7078 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7079 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7080 together.
7081
7082 @table @code
7083 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7084 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7085 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7086 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7087 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7088 part of absolute file names) or
7089 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7090 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7091
7092 @kindex cdir
7093 @kindex cwd
7094 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7095 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7096 @cindex compilation directory
7097 @cindex current directory
7098 @cindex working directory
7099 @cindex directory, current
7100 @cindex directory, compilation
7101 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7102 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7103 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7104 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7105 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7106 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7107
7108 @item directory
7109 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7110
7111 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7112 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7113
7114 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7115 @kindex set directories
7116 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7117 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7118
7119 @item show directories
7120 @kindex show directories
7121 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7122
7123 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7124 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7125 @kindex set substitute-path
7126 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7127 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7128 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7129
7130 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7131 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7132
7133 @smallexample
7134 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7135 @end smallexample
7136
7137 @noindent
7138 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7139 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7140 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7141
7142 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7143 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7144 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7145 the substitution.
7146
7147 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7148
7149 @smallexample
7150 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7151 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7152 @end smallexample
7153
7154 @noindent
7155 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7156 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7157 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7158 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7159
7160
7161 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7162 @kindex unset substitute-path
7163 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7164 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7165 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7166
7167 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7168
7169 @item show substitute-path [path]
7170 @kindex show substitute-path
7171 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7172 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7173
7174 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7175 rules.
7176
7177 @end table
7178
7179 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7180 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7181 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7182
7183 @enumerate
7184 @item
7185 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7186
7187 @item
7188 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7189 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7190 directories in one command.
7191 @end enumerate
7192
7193 @node Machine Code
7194 @section Source and Machine Code
7195 @cindex source line and its code address
7196
7197 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7198 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7199 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7200 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7201 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7202 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7203 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7204 well as hex.
7205
7206 @table @code
7207 @kindex info line
7208 @item info line @var{linespec}
7209 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7210 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7211 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7212 @end table
7213
7214 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7215 the object code for the first line of function
7216 @code{m4_changequote}:
7217
7218 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7219 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7220 @smallexample
7221 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7222 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7223 @end smallexample
7224
7225 @noindent
7226 @cindex code address and its source line
7227 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7228 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7229 @smallexample
7230 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7231 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7232 @end smallexample
7233
7234 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7235 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7236 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7237 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7238 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7239 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7240 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7241 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7242 Variables}).
7243
7244 @table @code
7245 @kindex disassemble
7246 @cindex assembly instructions
7247 @cindex instructions, assembly
7248 @cindex machine instructions
7249 @cindex listing machine instructions
7250 @item disassemble
7251 @itemx disassemble /m
7252 @itemx disassemble /r
7253 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7254 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7255 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7256 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7257 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7258 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7259 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7260 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7261 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7262 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7263
7264 @table @code
7265 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7266 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7267 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7268 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7269 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7270 @end table
7271
7272 @noindent
7273 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7274 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7275
7276 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7277 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7278
7279 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7280 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7281 @end table
7282
7283 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7284 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7285
7286 @smallexample
7287 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7288 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7289 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7290 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7291 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7292 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7293 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7294 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7295 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7296 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7297 End of assembler dump.
7298 @end smallexample
7299
7300 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7301 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7302
7303 @smallexample
7304 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7305 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7306 5 @{
7307 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7308 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7309 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7310 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7311 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7312
7313 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7314 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7315 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7316
7317 7 return 0;
7318 8 @}
7319 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7320 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7321 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7322
7323 End of assembler dump.
7324 @end smallexample
7325
7326 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7327
7328 @smallexample
7329 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7330 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7331 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7332 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7333 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7334 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7335 End of assembler dump.
7336 @end smallexample
7337
7338 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7339 mnemonics or other syntax.
7340
7341 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7342 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7343 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7344 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7345 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7346
7347 @table @code
7348 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7349 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7350 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7351 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7352 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7353 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7354
7355 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7356 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7357 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7358 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7359
7360 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7361 @item show disassembly-flavor
7362 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7363 @end table
7364
7365 @table @code
7366 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7367 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7368 @item set disassemble-next-line
7369 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7370 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7371 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7372 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7373 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7374 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7375 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7376 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7377 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7378 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7379 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7380 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7381 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7382 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7383 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7384 instruction.
7385 @end table
7386
7387
7388 @node Data
7389 @chapter Examining Data
7390
7391 @cindex printing data
7392 @cindex examining data
7393 @kindex print
7394 @kindex inspect
7395 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
7396 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
7397 @c different window or something like that.
7398 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7399 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7400 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7401 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7402 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7403 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7404
7405 @table @code
7406 @item print @var{expr}
7407 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7408 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7409 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7410 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7411 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7412 Formats}.
7413
7414 @item print
7415 @itemx print /@var{f}
7416 @cindex reprint the last value
7417 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7418 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7419 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7420 @end table
7421
7422 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7423 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7424 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7425
7426 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7427 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7428 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7429 Table}.
7430
7431 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7432 @kindex explore
7433 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7434 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7435 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7436 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7437 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7438 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7439 embedded in the higher level data types.
7440
7441 @table @code
7442 @item explore @var{arg}
7443 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7444 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7445 @end table
7446
7447 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7448 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7449 C program as
7450
7451 @smallexample
7452 struct SimpleStruct
7453 @{
7454 int i;
7455 double d;
7456 @};
7457
7458 struct ComplexStruct
7459 @{
7460 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7461 int arr[10];
7462 @};
7463 @end smallexample
7464
7465 @noindent
7466 followed by variable declarations as
7467
7468 @smallexample
7469 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7470 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7471 @end smallexample
7472
7473 @noindent
7474 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7475 @code{explore} command as follows.
7476
7477 @smallexample
7478 (gdb) explore cs
7479 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7480 the following fields:
7481
7482 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7483 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7484
7485 Enter the field number of choice:
7486 @end smallexample
7487
7488 @noindent
7489 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7490 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7491 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7492 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7493 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7494 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7495 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7496 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7497
7498 @smallexample
7499 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7500 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7501 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7502 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7503
7504 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7505 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7506
7507 Press enter to return to parent value:
7508 @end smallexample
7509
7510 @noindent
7511 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7512 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7513 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7514 to explore.
7515
7516 @smallexample
7517 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7518 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7519
7520 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7521
7522 (cs.arr)[5] = 4
7523
7524 Press enter to return to parent value:
7525 @end smallexample
7526
7527 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7528 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7529 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7530 level data structure).
7531
7532 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7533 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7534 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7535 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7536 same example as above, your can explore the type
7537 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7538 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7539
7540 @smallexample
7541 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7542 @end smallexample
7543
7544 @noindent
7545 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7546 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7547 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7548 example.
7549
7550 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7551 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7552 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7553 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7554 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7555
7556 @table @code
7557 @item explore value @var{expr}
7558 @cindex explore value
7559 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7560 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
7561 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
7562 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
7563 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
7564
7565 @item explore type @var{arg}
7566 @cindex explore type
7567 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
7568 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
7569 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
7570 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
7571 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
7572 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
7573 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
7574 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
7575 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
7576 @end table
7577
7578 @menu
7579 * Expressions:: Expressions
7580 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7581 * Variables:: Program variables
7582 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7583 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7584 * Memory:: Examining memory
7585 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7586 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7587 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7588 * Value History:: Value history
7589 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7590 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
7591 * Registers:: Registers
7592 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7593 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7594 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7595 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7596 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7597 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7598 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7599 character set than GDB does
7600 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7601 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7602 @end menu
7603
7604 @node Expressions
7605 @section Expressions
7606
7607 @cindex expressions
7608 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7609 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7610 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7611 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7612 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7613 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7614 @ref{Compilation}.
7615
7616 @cindex arrays in expressions
7617 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7618 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7619 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7620 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7621 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7622 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7623
7624 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7625 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7626 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7627 languages.
7628
7629 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7630 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7631
7632 @cindex casts, in expressions
7633 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7634 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7635 at that address in memory.
7636 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7637
7638 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7639 to programming languages:
7640
7641 @table @code
7642 @item @@
7643 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7644 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7645
7646 @item ::
7647 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7648 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7649
7650 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7651 @cindex type casting memory
7652 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7653 @cindex casts, to view memory
7654 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7655 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7656 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7657 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7658 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7659 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7660 @end table
7661
7662 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7663 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7664 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7665
7666 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7667 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7668 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7669 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7670 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7671 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7672 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7673
7674 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7675 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7676 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7677 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7678 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7679 as well.
7680
7681 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7682 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7683 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7684 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7685 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7686 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7687 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7688 choices.
7689
7690 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7691 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7692 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7693
7694 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7695 @smallexample
7696 @group
7697 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7698 [0] cancel
7699 [1] all
7700 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7701 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7702 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7703 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7704 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7705 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7706 > 2 4 6
7707 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7708 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7709 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7710 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7711 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7712 breakpoints.
7713 (@value{GDBP})
7714 @end group
7715 @end smallexample
7716
7717 @table @code
7718 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7719 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7720 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7721
7722 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7723 is ambiguous.
7724
7725 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7726 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7727 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7728 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7729 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7730 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7731 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7732 in the use of the menu.
7733
7734 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7735 when an ambiguity is detected.
7736
7737 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7738 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7739
7740 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7741 @item show multiple-symbols
7742 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7743 @end table
7744
7745 @node Variables
7746 @section Program Variables
7747
7748 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7749 in your program.
7750
7751 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7752 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7753
7754 @itemize @bullet
7755 @item
7756 global (or file-static)
7757 @end itemize
7758
7759 @noindent or
7760
7761 @itemize @bullet
7762 @item
7763 visible according to the scope rules of the
7764 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7765 @end itemize
7766
7767 @noindent This means that in the function
7768
7769 @smallexample
7770 foo (a)
7771 int a;
7772 @{
7773 bar (a);
7774 @{
7775 int b = test ();
7776 bar (b);
7777 @}
7778 @}
7779 @end smallexample
7780
7781 @noindent
7782 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7783 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7784 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7785 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7786
7787 @cindex variable name conflict
7788 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7789 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7790 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7791 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7792 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7793 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
7794 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7795
7796 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7797 @ifnotinfo
7798 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7799 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7800 @end ifnotinfo
7801 @smallexample
7802 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7803 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7804 @end smallexample
7805
7806 @noindent
7807 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7808 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7809 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7810 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7811
7812 @smallexample
7813 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7814 @end smallexample
7815
7816 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
7817 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
7818 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
7819 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
7820 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
7821
7822 @smallexample
7823 void
7824 foo (int a)
7825 @{
7826 if (a < 10)
7827 bar (a);
7828 else
7829 process (a); /* Stop here */
7830 @}
7831
7832 int
7833 bar (int a)
7834 @{
7835 foo (a + 5);
7836 @}
7837 @end smallexample
7838
7839 @noindent
7840 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
7841 here is what you might see
7842 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
7843
7844 @smallexample
7845 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7846 $1 = 10
7847 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7848 $2 = 5
7849 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
7850 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
7851 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7852 $3 = 5
7853 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7854 $4 = 0
7855 @end smallexample
7856
7857 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7858 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7859 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7860 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7861 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7862 @c conflict?? --mew
7863
7864 @cindex wrong values
7865 @cindex variable values, wrong
7866 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7867 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7868 @quotation
7869 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7870 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7871 scope, and just before exit.
7872 @end quotation
7873 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7874 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7875 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7876 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7877 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7878 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7879 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7880 variable definitions may be gone.
7881
7882 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7883 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7884 when compiling.
7885
7886 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7887 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7888 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7889 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7890 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7891 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7892 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7893
7894 @smallexample
7895 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7896 @end smallexample
7897
7898 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7899 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7900 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
7901 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
7902 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7903
7904 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7905 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7906 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7907 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7908
7909 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
7910 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
7911 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
7912 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
7913 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
7914
7915 @smallexample
7916 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
7917 29 i++;
7918 (gdb) next
7919 30 e (i);
7920 (gdb) print i
7921 $1 = 31
7922 (gdb) print i@@entry
7923 $2 = 30
7924 @end smallexample
7925
7926 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7927 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7928 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7929 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7930 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7931 For program code
7932
7933 @smallexample
7934 char var0[] = "A";
7935 signed char var1[] = "A";
7936 @end smallexample
7937
7938 You get during debugging
7939 @smallexample
7940 (gdb) print var0
7941 $1 = "A"
7942 (gdb) print var1
7943 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7944 @end smallexample
7945
7946 @node Arrays
7947 @section Artificial Arrays
7948
7949 @cindex artificial array
7950 @cindex arrays
7951 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7952 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7953 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7954 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7955 program.
7956
7957 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7958 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7959 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7960 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7961 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7962 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7963 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7964 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7965 example. If a program says
7966
7967 @smallexample
7968 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7969 @end smallexample
7970
7971 @noindent
7972 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7973
7974 @smallexample
7975 p *array@@len
7976 @end smallexample
7977
7978 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7979 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7980 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7981 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7982 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7983
7984 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7985 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7986 The value need not be in memory:
7987 @smallexample
7988 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7989 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7990 @end smallexample
7991
7992 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7993 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7994 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7995 @smallexample
7996 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7997 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7998 @end smallexample
7999
8000 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8001 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8002 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8003 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8004 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8005 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8006 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8007 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8008 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8009 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8010
8011 @smallexample
8012 set $i = 0
8013 p dtab[$i++]->fv
8014 @key{RET}
8015 @key{RET}
8016 @dots{}
8017 @end smallexample
8018
8019 @node Output Formats
8020 @section Output Formats
8021
8022 @cindex formatted output
8023 @cindex output formats
8024 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8025 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8026 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8027 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8028 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8029
8030 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8031 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8032 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8033 letters supported are:
8034
8035 @table @code
8036 @item x
8037 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8038 hexadecimal.
8039
8040 @item d
8041 Print as integer in signed decimal.
8042
8043 @item u
8044 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8045
8046 @item o
8047 Print as integer in octal.
8048
8049 @item t
8050 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8051 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8052 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8053 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8054
8055 @item a
8056 @cindex unknown address, locating
8057 @cindex locate address
8058 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8059 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8060 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8061
8062 @smallexample
8063 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8064 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8065 @end smallexample
8066
8067 @noindent
8068 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8069 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8070
8071 @item c
8072 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8073 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8074 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8075 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8076
8077 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8078 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8079 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8080 data.
8081
8082 @item f
8083 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8084 using typical floating point syntax.
8085
8086 @item s
8087 @cindex printing strings
8088 @cindex printing byte arrays
8089 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8090 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8091 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8092 natural types.
8093
8094 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8095 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8096 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8097 array.
8098
8099 @item r
8100 @cindex raw printing
8101 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8102 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8103 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8104 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8105 pretty-printer which might exist.
8106 @end table
8107
8108 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8109
8110 @smallexample
8111 p/x $pc
8112 @end smallexample
8113
8114 @noindent
8115 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8116 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8117
8118 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8119 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8120 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8121
8122 @node Memory
8123 @section Examining Memory
8124
8125 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8126 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8127
8128 @cindex examining memory
8129 @table @code
8130 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8131 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8132 @itemx x @var{addr}
8133 @itemx x
8134 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8135 @end table
8136
8137 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8138 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8139 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8140 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8141 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8142
8143 @table @r
8144 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8145 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8146 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8147 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8148 @c 4.1.2.
8149
8150 @item @var{f}, the display format
8151 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8152 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8153 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8154 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8155 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8156
8157 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8158 The unit size is any of
8159
8160 @table @code
8161 @item b
8162 Bytes.
8163 @item h
8164 Halfwords (two bytes).
8165 @item w
8166 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8167 @item g
8168 Giant words (eight bytes).
8169 @end table
8170
8171 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8172 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8173 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8174 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8175 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8176 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8177 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8178 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8179 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8180 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8181 be altered.
8182
8183 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8184 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8185 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8186 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8187 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8188 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8189 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8190 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8191 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8192 a value from memory).
8193 @end table
8194
8195 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8196 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8197 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8198 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8199 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8200
8201 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8202 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8203 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8204 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8205 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8206
8207 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8208 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8209 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8210 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8211 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8212 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8213 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8214 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8215 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8216
8217 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8218 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8219 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8220 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8221 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8222 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8223 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8224
8225 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8226 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8227
8228 @smallexample
8229 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8230 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8231 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8232 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8233 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8234 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8235 @end smallexample
8236
8237 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8238 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8239 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8240 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8241 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8242 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8243 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8244 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8245 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8246
8247 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8248 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8249 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8250
8251 @cindex remote memory comparison
8252 @cindex verify remote memory image
8253 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8254 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8255 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8256 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8257 situations.
8258
8259 @table @code
8260 @kindex compare-sections
8261 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8262 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8263 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8264 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8265 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8266 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8267 remote request.
8268 @end table
8269
8270 @node Auto Display
8271 @section Automatic Display
8272 @cindex automatic display
8273 @cindex display of expressions
8274
8275 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8276 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8277 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8278 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8279 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8280 The automatic display looks like this:
8281
8282 @smallexample
8283 2: foo = 38
8284 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8285 @end smallexample
8286
8287 @noindent
8288 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8289 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8290 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8291 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8292 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8293 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8294
8295 @table @code
8296 @kindex display
8297 @item display @var{expr}
8298 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8299 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8300
8301 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8302
8303 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8304 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8305 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8306 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8307 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8308
8309 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8310 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8311 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8312 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8313 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8314 @end table
8315
8316 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8317 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8318 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8319
8320 @table @code
8321 @kindex delete display
8322 @kindex undisplay
8323 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8324 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8325 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8326 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8327 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8328 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8329 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8330
8331 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8332 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8333
8334 @kindex disable display
8335 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8336 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8337 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8338 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8339 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8340 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8341 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8342 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8343
8344 @kindex enable display
8345 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8346 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8347 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8348 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8349 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8350 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8351 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8352
8353 @item display
8354 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8355 done when your program stops.
8356
8357 @kindex info display
8358 @item info display
8359 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8360 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8361 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8362 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8363 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8364 @end table
8365
8366 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8367 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8368 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8369 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8370 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8371 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8372 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8373 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8374 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8375 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8376 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8377
8378 @node Print Settings
8379 @section Print Settings
8380
8381 @cindex format options
8382 @cindex print settings
8383 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8384 and symbols are printed.
8385
8386 @noindent
8387 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8388
8389 @table @code
8390 @kindex set print
8391 @item set print address
8392 @itemx set print address on
8393 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8394 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8395 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8396 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8397 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8398 @code{set print address on}:
8399
8400 @smallexample
8401 @group
8402 (@value{GDBP}) f
8403 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8404 at input.c:530
8405 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8406 @end group
8407 @end smallexample
8408
8409 @item set print address off
8410 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8411 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8412
8413 @smallexample
8414 @group
8415 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8416 (@value{GDBP}) f
8417 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8418 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8419 @end group
8420 @end smallexample
8421
8422 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8423 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8424 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8425 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8426
8427 @kindex show print
8428 @item show print address
8429 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8430 @end table
8431
8432 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8433 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8434 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8435 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8436 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8437 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8438 it prints a symbolic address:
8439
8440 @table @code
8441 @item set print symbol-filename on
8442 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8443 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8444 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8445 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8446
8447 @item set print symbol-filename off
8448 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8449 default.
8450
8451 @item show print symbol-filename
8452 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8453 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8454 @end table
8455
8456 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8457 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8458 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8459
8460 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8461 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8462
8463 @table @code
8464 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8465 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8466 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8467 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8468 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
8469 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
8470
8471 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8472 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8473 symbolic address.
8474 @end table
8475
8476 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8477 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8478 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8479 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8480 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8481 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8482 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8483 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8484
8485 @smallexample
8486 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8487 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8488 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8489 @end smallexample
8490
8491 @quotation
8492 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8493 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8494 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8495 @end quotation
8496
8497 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8498 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8499
8500 @table @code
8501 @item set print symbol on
8502 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8503 one exists.
8504
8505 @item set print symbol off
8506 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8507 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8508 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8509
8510 @item show print symbol
8511 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8512 address.
8513 @end table
8514
8515 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8516
8517 @table @code
8518 @item set print array
8519 @itemx set print array on
8520 @cindex pretty print arrays
8521 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8522 but uses more space. The default is off.
8523
8524 @item set print array off
8525 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8526
8527 @item show print array
8528 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8529 arrays.
8530
8531 @cindex print array indexes
8532 @item set print array-indexes
8533 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8534 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8535 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8536 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8537
8538 @item set print array-indexes off
8539 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8540
8541 @item show print array-indexes
8542 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8543 arrays.
8544
8545 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8546 @cindex number of array elements to print
8547 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8548 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8549 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8550 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8551 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8552 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8553 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8554
8555 @item show print elements
8556 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8557 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8558
8559 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8560 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8561 @cindex printing frame argument values
8562 @cindex print all frame argument values
8563 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8564 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8565 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8566 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8567 values are:
8568
8569 @table @code
8570 @item all
8571 The values of all arguments are printed.
8572
8573 @item scalars
8574 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8575 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8576 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8577 only scalar arguments are shown:
8578
8579 @smallexample
8580 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8581 at frame-args.c:23
8582 @end smallexample
8583
8584 @item none
8585 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8586 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8587
8588 @smallexample
8589 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8590 at frame-args.c:23
8591 @end smallexample
8592 @end table
8593
8594 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8595 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8596 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8597 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8598 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8599 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8600 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8601 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8602 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8603 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8604
8605 @item show print frame-arguments
8606 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8607
8608 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8609 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8610 @kindex set print entry-values
8611 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8612 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8613 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8614 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8615 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8616
8617 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8618 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8619 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8620 @code{no} setting.
8621
8622 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8623 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8624 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8625 this information.
8626
8627 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8628
8629 @table @code
8630 @item no
8631 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8632 point.
8633 @smallexample
8634 #0 equal (val=5)
8635 #0 different (val=6)
8636 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8637 #0 born (val=10)
8638 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8639 @end smallexample
8640
8641 @item only
8642 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8643 values are never printed.
8644 @smallexample
8645 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8646 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8647 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8648 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8649 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8650 @end smallexample
8651
8652 @item preferred
8653 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8654 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8655 value for such parameter.
8656 @smallexample
8657 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8658 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8659 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8660 #0 born (val=10)
8661 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8662 @end smallexample
8663
8664 @item if-needed
8665 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8666 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8667 parameter.
8668 @smallexample
8669 #0 equal (val=5)
8670 #0 different (val=6)
8671 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8672 #0 born (val=10)
8673 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8674 @end smallexample
8675
8676 @item both
8677 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8678 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8679 optimizations.
8680 @smallexample
8681 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8682 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8683 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8684 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8685 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8686 @end smallexample
8687
8688 @item compact
8689 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8690 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8691 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8692 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8693 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8694 @smallexample
8695 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8696 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8697 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8698 #0 born (val=10)
8699 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8700 @end smallexample
8701
8702 @item default
8703 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8704 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8705 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8706 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8707 @smallexample
8708 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8709 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8710 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8711 #0 born (val=10)
8712 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8713 @end smallexample
8714 @end table
8715
8716 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8717 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8718
8719 @item show print entry-values
8720 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8721 entry.
8722
8723 @item set print repeats
8724 @cindex repeated array elements
8725 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8726 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8727 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8728 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8729 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8730 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8731 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8732
8733 @item show print repeats
8734 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8735 elements.
8736
8737 @item set print null-stop
8738 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8739 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8740 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8741 contain only short strings.
8742 The default is off.
8743
8744 @item show print null-stop
8745 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8746 @sc{null} character.
8747
8748 @item set print pretty on
8749 @cindex print structures in indented form
8750 @cindex indentation in structure display
8751 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8752 per line, like this:
8753
8754 @smallexample
8755 @group
8756 $1 = @{
8757 next = 0x0,
8758 flags = @{
8759 sweet = 1,
8760 sour = 1
8761 @},
8762 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
8763 @}
8764 @end group
8765 @end smallexample
8766
8767 @item set print pretty off
8768 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8769
8770 @smallexample
8771 @group
8772 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8773 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8774 @end group
8775 @end smallexample
8776
8777 @noindent
8778 This is the default format.
8779
8780 @item show print pretty
8781 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8782
8783 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8784 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8785 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8786 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8787 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8788 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8789 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8790 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8791
8792 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8793 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8794 international character sets, and is the default.
8795
8796 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8797 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8798
8799 @item set print union on
8800 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8801 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8802 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8803
8804 @item set print union off
8805 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8806 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8807 instead.
8808
8809 @item show print union
8810 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8811 structures and other unions.
8812
8813 For example, given the declarations
8814
8815 @smallexample
8816 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8817 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8818 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8819 Bug_forms;
8820
8821 struct thing @{
8822 Species it;
8823 union @{
8824 Tree_forms tree;
8825 Bug_forms bug;
8826 @} form;
8827 @};
8828
8829 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8830 @end smallexample
8831
8832 @noindent
8833 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8834
8835 @smallexample
8836 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8837 @end smallexample
8838
8839 @noindent
8840 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8841
8842 @smallexample
8843 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8844 @end smallexample
8845
8846 @noindent
8847 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8848 and in Pascal.
8849 @end table
8850
8851 @need 1000
8852 @noindent
8853 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8854
8855 @table @code
8856 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8857 @item set print demangle
8858 @itemx set print demangle on
8859 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8860 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8861 linkage. The default is on.
8862
8863 @item show print demangle
8864 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8865
8866 @item set print asm-demangle
8867 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8868 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8869 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8870 The default is off.
8871
8872 @item show print asm-demangle
8873 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8874 or demangled form.
8875
8876 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8877 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8878 @kindex set demangle-style
8879 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8880 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8881 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8882
8883 @table @code
8884 @item auto
8885 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8886
8887 @item gnu
8888 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8889 This is the default.
8890
8891 @item hp
8892 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8893
8894 @item lucid
8895 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8896
8897 @item arm
8898 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8899 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8900 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8901 require further enhancement to permit that.
8902
8903 @end table
8904 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8905
8906 @item show demangle-style
8907 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8908
8909 @item set print object
8910 @itemx set print object on
8911 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8912 @cindex display derived types
8913 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8914 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8915 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
8916 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
8917 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
8918 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
8919 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
8920
8921 @item set print object off
8922 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8923 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8924
8925 @item show print object
8926 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8927
8928 @item set print static-members
8929 @itemx set print static-members on
8930 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8931 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8932
8933 @item set print static-members off
8934 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8935
8936 @item show print static-members
8937 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8938
8939 @item set print pascal_static-members
8940 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8941 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8942 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8943 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8944
8945 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8946 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8947
8948 @item show print pascal_static-members
8949 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8950
8951 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8952 @item set print vtbl
8953 @itemx set print vtbl on
8954 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8955 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8956 @cindex VTBL display
8957 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8958 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8959 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8960
8961 @item set print vtbl off
8962 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8963
8964 @item show print vtbl
8965 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8966 @end table
8967
8968 @node Pretty Printing
8969 @section Pretty Printing
8970
8971 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8972 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8973 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8974
8975 @menu
8976 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8977 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8978 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8979 @end menu
8980
8981 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8982 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8983
8984 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8985 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8986 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8987
8988 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8989 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8990 pretty-printers with their names.
8991 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8992 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8993 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8994 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8995
8996 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8997 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8998 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8999 do anything special.
9000
9001 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9002
9003 @itemize @bullet
9004 @item
9005 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9006 all inferiors.
9007
9008 @item
9009 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9010 when debugging that program.
9011 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9012
9013 @item
9014 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9015 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9016 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9017 @end itemize
9018
9019 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9020 pretty-printers are selected,
9021
9022 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9023 for new types.
9024
9025 @node Pretty-Printer Example
9026 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9027
9028 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9029
9030 @smallexample
9031 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9032 $1 = @{
9033 static npos = 4294967295,
9034 _M_dataplus = @{
9035 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9036 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9037 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9038 @},
9039 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9040 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9041 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9042 @}
9043 @}
9044 @end smallexample
9045
9046 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9047
9048 @smallexample
9049 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9050 $2 = "abcd"
9051 @end smallexample
9052
9053 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
9054 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9055 @cindex pretty-printer commands
9056
9057 @table @code
9058 @kindex info pretty-printer
9059 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9060 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9061 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9062
9063 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9064 whose pretty-printers to list.
9065 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9066 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9067 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9068 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9069 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9070
9071 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9072 to list.
9073
9074 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9075 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9076 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9077 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9078
9079 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9080 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9081 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9082 @end table
9083
9084 Example:
9085
9086 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9087 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9088 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9089 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9090
9091 @smallexample
9092 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9093 library1.so:
9094 foo
9095 library2.so:
9096 bar
9097 bar1
9098 bar2
9099 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9100 library2.so:
9101 bar
9102 bar1
9103 bar2
9104 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9105 1 printer disabled
9106 2 of 3 printers enabled
9107 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9108 library1.so:
9109 foo [disabled]
9110 library2.so:
9111 bar
9112 bar1
9113 bar2
9114 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9115 1 printer disabled
9116 1 of 3 printers enabled
9117 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9118 library1.so:
9119 foo [disabled]
9120 library2.so:
9121 bar
9122 bar1 [disabled]
9123 bar2
9124 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9125 1 printer disabled
9126 0 of 3 printers enabled
9127 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9128 library1.so:
9129 foo [disabled]
9130 library2.so:
9131 bar [disabled]
9132 bar1 [disabled]
9133 bar2
9134 @end smallexample
9135
9136 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9137 as can each individual subprinter.
9138
9139 @node Value History
9140 @section Value History
9141
9142 @cindex value history
9143 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9144 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9145 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9146 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9147 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9148 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9149 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9150 symbol table.
9151
9152 @cindex @code{$}
9153 @cindex @code{$$}
9154 @cindex history number
9155 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9156 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9157 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9158 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9159 history number.
9160
9161 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9162 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9163 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9164 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9165 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9166 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9167 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9168
9169 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9170 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9171
9172 @smallexample
9173 p *$
9174 @end smallexample
9175
9176 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9177 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9178
9179 @smallexample
9180 p *$.next
9181 @end smallexample
9182
9183 @noindent
9184 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9185 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9186
9187 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9188 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9189
9190 @smallexample
9191 print x
9192 set x=5
9193 @end smallexample
9194
9195 @noindent
9196 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9197 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9198
9199 @table @code
9200 @kindex show values
9201 @item show values
9202 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9203 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9204 values} does not change the history.
9205
9206 @item show values @var{n}
9207 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9208
9209 @item show values +
9210 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9211 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9212 @end table
9213
9214 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9215 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9216
9217 @node Convenience Vars
9218 @section Convenience Variables
9219
9220 @cindex convenience variables
9221 @cindex user-defined variables
9222 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9223 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9224 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9225 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9226 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9227
9228 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9229 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9230 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9231 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9232 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9233
9234 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9235 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9236 For example:
9237
9238 @smallexample
9239 set $foo = *object_ptr
9240 @end smallexample
9241
9242 @noindent
9243 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9244 @code{object_ptr}.
9245
9246 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9247 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9248 value with another assignment at any time.
9249
9250 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9251 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9252 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9253 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9254
9255 @table @code
9256 @kindex show convenience
9257 @cindex show all user variables and functions
9258 @item show convenience
9259 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9260 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9261 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9262
9263 @kindex init-if-undefined
9264 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9265 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9266 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9267 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9268 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9269 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9270 override default values used in a command script.
9271
9272 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9273 any side-effects do not occur.
9274 @end table
9275
9276 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9277 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9278 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9279
9280 @smallexample
9281 set $i = 0
9282 print bar[$i++]->contents
9283 @end smallexample
9284
9285 @noindent
9286 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9287
9288 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9289 values likely to be useful.
9290
9291 @table @code
9292 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9293 @item $_
9294 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9295 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9296 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9297 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9298 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9299 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9300 to the type of @code{$__}.
9301
9302 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9303 @item $__
9304 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9305 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9306 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9307
9308 @item $_exitcode
9309 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9310 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
9311 the program being debugged terminates.
9312
9313 @item $_probe_argc
9314 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9315 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9316
9317 @item $_sdata
9318 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9319 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9320 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9321 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9322 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9323
9324 @item $_siginfo
9325 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9326 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9327 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9328 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9329 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9330
9331 @item $_tlb
9332 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9333 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9334 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9335 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9336 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9337 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9338
9339 @end table
9340
9341 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9342 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9343 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9344
9345 @node Convenience Funs
9346 @section Convenience Functions
9347
9348 @cindex convenience functions
9349 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9350 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9351 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9352 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9353 @value{GDBN}.
9354
9355 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9356 @code{Python} support.
9357
9358 @table @code
9359
9360 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
9361 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
9362 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
9363 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
9364 Otherwise it returns zero.
9365
9366 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
9367 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
9368 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
9369 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
9370 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
9371 regular expression support.
9372
9373 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
9374 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
9375 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
9376 Otherwise it returns zero.
9377
9378 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
9379 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
9380 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
9381
9382 @end table
9383
9384 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
9385 convenience functions.
9386
9387 @table @code
9388 @item help function
9389 @kindex help function
9390 @cindex show all convenience functions
9391 Print a list of all convenience functions.
9392 @end table
9393
9394 @node Registers
9395 @section Registers
9396
9397 @cindex registers
9398 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9399 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9400 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9401 your machine.
9402
9403 @table @code
9404 @kindex info registers
9405 @item info registers
9406 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9407 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9408
9409 @kindex info all-registers
9410 @cindex floating point registers
9411 @item info all-registers
9412 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9413 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9414
9415 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
9416 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
9417 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
9418 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
9419 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
9420 @end table
9421
9422 @cindex stack pointer register
9423 @cindex program counter register
9424 @cindex process status register
9425 @cindex frame pointer register
9426 @cindex standard registers
9427 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
9428 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
9429 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
9430 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
9431 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
9432 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
9433 register that contains the processor status. For example,
9434 you could print the program counter in hex with
9435
9436 @smallexample
9437 p/x $pc
9438 @end smallexample
9439
9440 @noindent
9441 or print the instruction to be executed next with
9442
9443 @smallexample
9444 x/i $pc
9445 @end smallexample
9446
9447 @noindent
9448 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
9449 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
9450 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
9451 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
9452 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
9453 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
9454 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
9455
9456 @smallexample
9457 set $sp += 4
9458 @end smallexample
9459
9460 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
9461 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
9462 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
9463 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
9464 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
9465 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
9466 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9467
9468 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9469 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9470 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9471 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9472 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9473 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9474 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9475
9476 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9477 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9478 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9479 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9480 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9481 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9482 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9483 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9484 prints the data in both formats.
9485
9486 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
9487 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
9488 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9489 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9490 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9491 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9492 registers in @code{struct} notation:
9493
9494 @smallexample
9495 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9496 $1 = @{
9497 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9498 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9499 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9500 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9501 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9502 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9503 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9504 @}
9505 @end smallexample
9506
9507 @noindent
9508 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9509 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9510 value to a @code{struct} member:
9511
9512 @smallexample
9513 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9514 @end smallexample
9515
9516 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9517 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9518 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9519 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9520 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9521 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9522
9523 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9524 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9525 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9526 frame makes no difference.
9527
9528 @node Floating Point Hardware
9529 @section Floating Point Hardware
9530 @cindex floating point
9531
9532 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9533 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9534
9535 @table @code
9536 @kindex info float
9537 @item info float
9538 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9539 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9540 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9541 the ARM and x86 machines.
9542 @end table
9543
9544 @node Vector Unit
9545 @section Vector Unit
9546 @cindex vector unit
9547
9548 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9549 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9550
9551 @table @code
9552 @kindex info vector
9553 @item info vector
9554 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9555 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9556 @end table
9557
9558 @node OS Information
9559 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9560 @cindex OS information
9561
9562 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9563 you debug your program.
9564
9565 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
9566 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
9567 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
9568 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
9569 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
9570 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
9571 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
9572 structure.
9573
9574 @table @code
9575 @item info udot
9576 @kindex info udot
9577 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
9578 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
9579 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
9580 the @code{examine} command.
9581 @end table
9582
9583 @cindex auxiliary vector
9584 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9585 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9586 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9587 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9588 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9589 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9590 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9591 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9592 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9593 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9594 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9595 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9596
9597 @table @code
9598 @kindex info auxv
9599 @item info auxv
9600 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9601 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9602 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9603 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9604 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9605 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9606 an unrecognized tag.
9607 @end table
9608
9609 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
9610 information and show it to you. The types of information available
9611 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
9612 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
9613 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
9614 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9615 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9616
9617 @table @code
9618 @kindex info os
9619 @item info os @var{infotype}
9620
9621 Display OS information of the requested type.
9622
9623 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
9624
9625 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
9626 @table @code
9627 @kindex info os processes
9628 @item processes
9629 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9630 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
9631 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
9632 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
9633 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
9634 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
9635
9636 @kindex info os procgroups
9637 @item procgroups
9638 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
9639 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
9640 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
9641 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
9642 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
9643 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
9644 and the process group leader is listed first.
9645
9646 @kindex info os threads
9647 @item threads
9648 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
9649 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
9650 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
9651 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
9652 process is not listed.
9653
9654 @kindex info os files
9655 @item files
9656 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
9657 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
9658 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
9659 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
9660
9661 @kindex info os sockets
9662 @item sockets
9663 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
9664 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
9665 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
9666 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
9667 connection.
9668
9669 @kindex info os shm
9670 @item shm
9671 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
9672 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
9673 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
9674 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
9675 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
9676 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
9677 attached to, detach from, and changed.
9678
9679 @kindex info os semaphores
9680 @item semaphores
9681 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
9682 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
9683 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
9684 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
9685 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
9686
9687 @kindex info os msg
9688 @item msg
9689 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
9690 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
9691 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
9692 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
9693 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
9694 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
9695 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
9696 the message queue was last changed.
9697
9698 @kindex info os modules
9699 @item modules
9700 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
9701 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
9702 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
9703 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
9704 in memory.
9705 @end table
9706
9707 @item info os
9708 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
9709 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
9710 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
9711 types, this command will report an error.
9712 @end table
9713
9714 @node Memory Region Attributes
9715 @section Memory Region Attributes
9716 @cindex memory region attributes
9717
9718 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9719 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9720 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9721 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9722 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9723 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9724 user can override the fetched regions.
9725
9726 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9727 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9728 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9729 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9730 all memory.
9731
9732 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9733 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9734
9735 @table @code
9736 @kindex mem
9737 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9738 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9739 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9740 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9741 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9742 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9743
9744 @item mem auto
9745 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9746 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9747
9748 @kindex delete mem
9749 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9750 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9751 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9752
9753 @kindex disable mem
9754 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9755 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9756 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9757 It may be enabled again later.
9758
9759 @kindex enable mem
9760 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9761 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9762
9763 @kindex info mem
9764 @item info mem
9765 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9766 for each region:
9767
9768 @table @emph
9769 @item Memory Region Number
9770 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9771 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9772 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9773
9774 @item Lo Address
9775 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9776
9777 @item Hi Address
9778 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9779
9780 @item Attributes
9781 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9782 @end table
9783 @end table
9784
9785
9786 @subsection Attributes
9787
9788 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9789 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9790 write accesses to a memory region.
9791
9792 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9793 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9794 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9795
9796 @table @code
9797 @item ro
9798 Memory is read only.
9799 @item wo
9800 Memory is write only.
9801 @item rw
9802 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9803 @end table
9804
9805 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9806 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9807 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9808 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9809 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9810
9811 @table @code
9812 @item 8
9813 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9814 @item 16
9815 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9816 @item 32
9817 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9818 @item 64
9819 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9820 @end table
9821
9822 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9823 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9824 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9825 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
9826 @c
9827 @c @table @code
9828 @c @item hwbreak
9829 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
9830 @c @item swbreak (default)
9831 @c @end table
9832
9833 @subsubsection Data Cache
9834 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
9835 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
9836 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
9837 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
9838 registers.
9839
9840 @table @code
9841 @item cache
9842 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
9843 @item nocache
9844 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
9845 @end table
9846
9847 @subsection Memory Access Checking
9848 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
9849 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
9850 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
9851 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
9852
9853 @table @code
9854 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
9855 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
9856 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
9857 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
9858 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
9859 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
9860 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
9861 The default value is @code{on}.
9862 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
9863 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
9864 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
9865 @end table
9866
9867
9868 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
9869 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9870 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
9871 @c
9872 @c @table @code
9873 @c @item verify
9874 @c @item noverify (default)
9875 @c @end table
9876
9877 @node Dump/Restore Files
9878 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
9879 @cindex dump/restore files
9880 @cindex append data to a file
9881 @cindex dump data to a file
9882 @cindex restore data from a file
9883
9884 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
9885 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
9886 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
9887 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
9888 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
9889 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
9890 files.
9891
9892 @table @code
9893
9894 @kindex dump
9895 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9896 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9897 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9898 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
9899
9900 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
9901 @table @code
9902 @item binary
9903 Raw binary form.
9904 @item ihex
9905 Intel hex format.
9906 @item srec
9907 Motorola S-record format.
9908 @item tekhex
9909 Tektronix Hex format.
9910 @end table
9911
9912 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
9913 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
9914 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
9915 form.
9916
9917 @kindex append
9918 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9919 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9920 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9921 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
9922 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
9923
9924 @kindex restore
9925 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
9926 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
9927 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
9928 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
9929 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
9930
9931 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
9932 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
9933 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9934 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9935 from that location.
9936
9937 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9938 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9939 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9940 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9941
9942 @end table
9943
9944 @node Core File Generation
9945 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9946 @cindex dump core from inferior
9947
9948 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9949 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9950 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9951 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9952 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9953 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9954 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9955
9956 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9957 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9958 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9959
9960 @table @code
9961 @kindex gcore
9962 @kindex generate-core-file
9963 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9964 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9965 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9966 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9967 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9968 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9969
9970 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9971 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9972 @end table
9973
9974 @node Character Sets
9975 @section Character Sets
9976 @cindex character sets
9977 @cindex charset
9978 @cindex translating between character sets
9979 @cindex host character set
9980 @cindex target character set
9981
9982 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9983 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9984 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9985 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9986 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9987 @dfn{target character set}.
9988
9989 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9990 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9991 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9992 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9993 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9994 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9995 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9996 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9997 character and string literals in expressions.
9998
9999 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10000 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10001 target-charset} command, described below.
10002
10003 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10004 support:
10005
10006 @table @code
10007 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
10008 @kindex set target-charset
10009 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10010 list of supported target character sets, type
10011 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10012
10013 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
10014 @kindex set host-charset
10015 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10016
10017 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10018 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10019 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10020 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10021 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10022
10023 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10024 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10025 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10026
10027 @item set charset @var{charset}
10028 @kindex set charset
10029 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10030 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10031 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10032 for both host and target.
10033
10034 @item show charset
10035 @kindex show charset
10036 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10037
10038 @item show host-charset
10039 @kindex show host-charset
10040 Show the name of the current host character set.
10041
10042 @item show target-charset
10043 @kindex show target-charset
10044 Show the name of the current target character set.
10045
10046 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10047 @kindex set target-wide-charset
10048 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10049 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10050 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10051 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10052
10053 @item show target-wide-charset
10054 @kindex show target-wide-charset
10055 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10056 @end table
10057
10058 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10059 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10060 @file{charset-test.c}:
10061
10062 @smallexample
10063 #include <stdio.h>
10064
10065 char ascii_hello[]
10066 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10067 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10068 char ibm1047_hello[]
10069 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10070 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10071
10072 main ()
10073 @{
10074 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10075 @}
10076 @end smallexample
10077
10078 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10079 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10080 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10081
10082 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10083
10084 @smallexample
10085 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10086 $ gdb -nw charset-test
10087 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10088 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10089 @dots{}
10090 (@value{GDBP})
10091 @end smallexample
10092
10093 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10094 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10095 strings:
10096
10097 @smallexample
10098 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10099 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10100 (@value{GDBP})
10101 @end smallexample
10102
10103 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10104 initial character set:
10105 @smallexample
10106 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10107 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10108 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10109 (@value{GDBP})
10110 @end smallexample
10111
10112 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10113 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10114 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10115 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10116 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10117
10118 @smallexample
10119 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10120 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10121 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10122 $2 = 72 'H'
10123 (@value{GDBP})
10124 @end smallexample
10125
10126 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10127 literals you use in expressions:
10128
10129 @smallexample
10130 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10131 $3 = 43 '+'
10132 (@value{GDBP})
10133 @end smallexample
10134
10135 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10136 character.
10137
10138 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10139 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10140 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10141
10142 @smallexample
10143 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10144 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10145 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10146 $5 = 200 '\310'
10147 (@value{GDBP})
10148 @end smallexample
10149
10150 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10151 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10152
10153 @smallexample
10154 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10155 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10156 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10157 @end smallexample
10158
10159 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10160 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10161 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10162 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10163 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10164
10165 @smallexample
10166 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10167 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10168 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10169 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10170 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10171 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10172 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10173 $7 = 72 '\110'
10174 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10175 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10176 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10177 $9 = 200 'H'
10178 (@value{GDBP})
10179 @end smallexample
10180
10181 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10182 string literals you use in expressions:
10183
10184 @smallexample
10185 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10186 $10 = 78 '+'
10187 (@value{GDBP})
10188 @end smallexample
10189
10190 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10191 character.
10192
10193 @node Caching Remote Data
10194 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10195 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10196
10197 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10198 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10199 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10200 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10201 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10202 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10203 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10204 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10205 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10206 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10207 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10208 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10209 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10210 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10211 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10212
10213 @table @code
10214 @kindex set remotecache
10215 @item set remotecache on
10216 @itemx set remotecache off
10217 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10218 with old scripts.
10219
10220 @kindex show remotecache
10221 @item show remotecache
10222 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10223
10224 @kindex set stack-cache
10225 @item set stack-cache on
10226 @itemx set stack-cache off
10227 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10228 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10229
10230 @kindex show stack-cache
10231 @item show stack-cache
10232 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10233
10234 @kindex info dcache
10235 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10236 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10237 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10238 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10239 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10240 operation.
10241
10242 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10243 printed in hex.
10244
10245 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10246 @cindex dcache size
10247 @kindex set dcache size
10248 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10249
10250 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10251 @cindex dcache line-size
10252 @kindex set dcache line-size
10253 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10254 Must be a power of 2.
10255
10256 @item show dcache size
10257 @kindex show dcache size
10258 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10259
10260 @item show dcache line-size
10261 @kindex show dcache line-size
10262 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10263
10264 @end table
10265
10266 @node Searching Memory
10267 @section Search Memory
10268 @cindex searching memory
10269
10270 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10271 @code{find} command.
10272
10273 @table @code
10274 @kindex find
10275 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10276 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10277 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10278 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10279 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10280 @end table
10281
10282 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10283 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10284
10285 @table @r
10286 @item @var{s}, search query size
10287 The size of each search query value.
10288
10289 @table @code
10290 @item b
10291 bytes
10292 @item h
10293 halfwords (two bytes)
10294 @item w
10295 words (four bytes)
10296 @item g
10297 giant words (eight bytes)
10298 @end table
10299
10300 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10301 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10302 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10303
10304 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10305 value's type in the current language.
10306 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10307 pattern as a mixture of types.
10308 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10309 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10310 which is typically four bytes.
10311
10312 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10313 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10314 @end table
10315
10316 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10317 (@code{"}).
10318 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10319 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10320
10321 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10322 number of matches found.
10323
10324 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10325 @samp{$_}.
10326 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10327
10328 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10329
10330 @smallexample
10331 void
10332 hello ()
10333 @{
10334 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10335 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10336 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10337 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10338 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10339 @}
10340 @end smallexample
10341
10342 @noindent
10343 you get during debugging:
10344
10345 @smallexample
10346 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10347 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10348 1 pattern found
10349 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10350 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10351 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10352 2 patterns found
10353 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10354 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10355 1 pattern found
10356 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10357 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10358 1 pattern found
10359 (gdb) print $numfound
10360 $1 = 1
10361 (gdb) print $_
10362 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10363 @end smallexample
10364
10365 @node Optimized Code
10366 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10367 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10368 @cindex debugging optimized code
10369
10370 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10371 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10372 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10373 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10374 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10375 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10376 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10377
10378 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10379 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10380 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10381 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10382
10383 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10384 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10385 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10386 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10387 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10388 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10389
10390 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10391 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10392 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10393 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10394 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10395
10396 @menu
10397 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10398 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10399 @end menu
10400
10401 @node Inline Functions
10402 @section Inline Functions
10403 @cindex inline functions, debugging
10404
10405 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10406 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10407 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10408 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10409 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
10410 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
10411 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
10412 @code{info frame} command.
10413
10414 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
10415 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
10416 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
10417 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
10418 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
10419 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
10420 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
10421 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
10422 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
10423 local variables in the caller.
10424
10425 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
10426 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
10427 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
10428 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
10429 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
10430 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
10431 instructions are executed.
10432
10433 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
10434 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
10435 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
10436 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
10437
10438 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
10439 function calls are the same as normal calls:
10440
10441 @itemize @bullet
10442 @item
10443 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
10444 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
10445 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
10446 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
10447 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
10448 or inside the inlined function instead.
10449
10450 @item
10451 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
10452 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
10453 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
10454 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
10455
10456 @end itemize
10457
10458 @node Tail Call Frames
10459 @section Tail Call Frames
10460 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
10461
10462 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
10463 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
10464 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
10465 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
10466 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
10467
10468 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
10469 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
10470 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
10471 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
10472 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
10473 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
10474 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
10475
10476 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10477 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
10478 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10479 this information.
10480
10481 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
10482 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
10483
10484 @smallexample
10485 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
10486 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
10487 (gdb) info frame
10488 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
10489 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
10490 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
10491 source language c++.
10492 Arglist at unknown address.
10493 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
10494 @end smallexample
10495
10496 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
10497 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
10498 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
10499 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
10500 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
10501 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
10502
10503 @table @code
10504 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
10505 @item set debug entry-values
10506 @kindex set debug entry-values
10507 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
10508 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
10509 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
10510 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
10511 result.
10512
10513 @item show debug entry-values
10514 @kindex show debug entry-values
10515 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
10516 values at function entry and tail calls.
10517 @end table
10518
10519 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
10520 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
10521 reference by variable @code{x}):
10522
10523 @smallexample
10524 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
10525 void (*x) (void) = c;
10526 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10527 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
10528 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
10529
10530 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
10531 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
10532 a () at t.c:3
10533 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10534 (gdb) bt
10535 #0 a () at t.c:3
10536 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
10537 @end smallexample
10538
10539 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
10540
10541 @smallexample
10542 int i;
10543 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
10544 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10545 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10546 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10547 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10548 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10549 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10550 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10551
10552 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10553 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10554 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10555 (gdb) bt
10556 #0 f () at t.c:2
10557 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10558 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10559 @end smallexample
10560
10561 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10562 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10563
10564 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10565 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10566 @set ARROW @click{}
10567 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10568 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10569 @end ifset
10570 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10571 @set ARROW ->
10572 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
10573 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
10574 @end ifclear
10575
10576 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
10577 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
10578 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
10579
10580 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
10581 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
10582 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
10583 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
10584 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
10585 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
10586
10587 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
10588 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
10589 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
10590 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
10591 omitted.
10592
10593 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
10594 entry may fail:
10595
10596 @smallexample
10597 int v;
10598 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
10599 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
10600 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
10601 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
10602 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
10603 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
10604
10605 (gdb) bt
10606 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
10607 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
10608 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
10609 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
10610 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
10611 @end smallexample
10612
10613 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
10614 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
10615 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
10616 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
10617 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
10618
10619 @node Macros
10620 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10621
10622 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10623 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10624 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10625 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10626 where it was defined.
10627
10628 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10629 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10630 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10631 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10632
10633 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10634 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10635 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10636 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10637 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10638 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10639 see @ref{List}.
10640
10641 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10642 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10643 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10644
10645 @table @code
10646
10647 @kindex macro expand
10648 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10649 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10650 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10651 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10652 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10653 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10654 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10655 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10656 it can be any string of tokens.
10657
10658 @kindex macro exp1
10659 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10660 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10661 @cindex expand macro once
10662 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10663 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10664 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10665 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10666 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10667 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10668 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10669 can be any string of tokens.
10670
10671 @kindex info macro
10672 @cindex macro definition, showing
10673 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10674 @cindex macros, from debug info
10675 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10676 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10677 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10678 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10679 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10680 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10681
10682 @kindex info macros
10683 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10684 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10685 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10686 command-line where those definitions were established.
10687
10688 @kindex macro define
10689 @cindex user-defined macros
10690 @cindex defining macros interactively
10691 @cindex macros, user-defined
10692 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10693 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10694 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10695 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10696 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10697 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10698 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10699 @var{arglist}.
10700
10701 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10702 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10703 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10704 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10705 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10706
10707 @kindex macro undef
10708 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10709 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10710 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10711 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10712 in the program being debugged.
10713
10714 @kindex macro list
10715 @item macro list
10716 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10717 @end table
10718
10719 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10720 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10721 show our source files:
10722
10723 @smallexample
10724 $ cat sample.c
10725 #include <stdio.h>
10726 #include "sample.h"
10727
10728 #define M 42
10729 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10730
10731 main ()
10732 @{
10733 #define N 28
10734 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10735 #undef N
10736 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10737 #define N 1729
10738 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10739 @}
10740 $ cat sample.h
10741 #define Q <
10742 $
10743 @end smallexample
10744
10745 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10746 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10747 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10748 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10749 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10750 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10751 information.
10752
10753 @smallexample
10754 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10755 $
10756 @end smallexample
10757
10758 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10759
10760 @smallexample
10761 $ gdb -nw sample
10762 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10763 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10764 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10765 (@value{GDBP})
10766 @end smallexample
10767
10768 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10769 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10770 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10771
10772 @smallexample
10773 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10774 3
10775 4 #define M 42
10776 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10777 6
10778 7 main ()
10779 8 @{
10780 9 #define N 28
10781 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10782 11 #undef N
10783 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10784 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10785 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10786 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10787 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10788 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10789 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10790 #define Q <
10791 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10792 expands to: (42 + 1)
10793 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10794 expands to: once (M + 1)
10795 (@value{GDBP})
10796 @end smallexample
10797
10798 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10799 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10800 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10801 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10802
10803 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10804 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10805
10806 @smallexample
10807 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10808 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10809 (@value{GDBP}) run
10810 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10811
10812 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10813 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10814 (@value{GDBP})
10815 @end smallexample
10816
10817 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10818
10819 @smallexample
10820 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10821 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10822 #define N 28
10823 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10824 expands to: 28 < 42
10825 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10826 $1 = 1
10827 (@value{GDBP})
10828 @end smallexample
10829
10830 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
10831 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
10832 thereof) in force at each point:
10833
10834 @smallexample
10835 (@value{GDBP}) next
10836 Hello, world!
10837 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10838 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10839 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
10840 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
10841 (@value{GDBP}) next
10842 We're so creative.
10843 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10844 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10845 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
10846 #define N 1729
10847 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10848 expands to: 1729 < 42
10849 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10850 $2 = 0
10851 (@value{GDBP})
10852 @end smallexample
10853
10854 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
10855 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
10856 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
10857 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
10858
10859 @smallexample
10860 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
10861 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
10862 -D__STDC__=1
10863 (@value{GDBP})
10864 @end smallexample
10865
10866
10867 @node Tracepoints
10868 @chapter Tracepoints
10869 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
10870 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
10871
10872 @cindex tracepoints
10873 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
10874 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
10875 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
10876 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
10877 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
10878 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
10879 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
10880
10881 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
10882 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
10883 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
10884 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
10885 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
10886 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
10887 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
10888 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
10889 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
10890 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
10891 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
10892
10893 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
10894 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
10895 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
10896 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
10897 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
10898 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
10899 Packets}.
10900
10901 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
10902 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
10903 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
10904
10905 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
10906
10907 @menu
10908 * Set Tracepoints::
10909 * Analyze Collected Data::
10910 * Tracepoint Variables::
10911 * Trace Files::
10912 @end menu
10913
10914 @node Set Tracepoints
10915 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
10916
10917 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
10918 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
10919 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
10920 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
10921 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
10922 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
10923 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
10924
10925 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
10926 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
10927 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
10928 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
10929 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
10930 tracepoint was hit.
10931
10932 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
10933 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
10934 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
10935 either.
10936
10937 @cindex fast tracepoints
10938 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
10939 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
10940 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
10941
10942 @cindex static tracepoints
10943 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
10944 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
10945 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
10946 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
10947 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
10948 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
10949 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
10950 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
10951 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
10952 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
10953 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
10954 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
10955 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
10956 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
10957 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
10958 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
10959 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
10960 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
10961 static tracepoint marker.
10962
10963 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
10964 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
10965
10966 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
10967 conditions and actions.
10968
10969 @menu
10970 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
10971 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
10972 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
10973 * Tracepoint Conditions::
10974 * Trace State Variables::
10975 * Tracepoint Actions::
10976 * Listing Tracepoints::
10977 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
10978 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
10979 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
10980 @end menu
10981
10982 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
10983 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
10984
10985 @table @code
10986 @cindex set tracepoint
10987 @kindex trace
10988 @item trace @var{location}
10989 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
10990 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
10991 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
10992 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
10993 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
10994 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
10995 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
10996 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
10997 in tracing}).
10998 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
10999 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11000 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11001 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11002 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11003 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11004 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11005 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11006 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11007 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11008 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11009 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11010
11011 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11012
11013 @smallexample
11014 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11015
11016 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11017
11018 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11019
11020 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11021
11022 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11023 @end smallexample
11024
11025 @noindent
11026 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11027
11028 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11029 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11030 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11031 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11032 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11033 information on tracepoint conditions.
11034
11035 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11036 @cindex set fast tracepoint
11037 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11038 @kindex ftrace
11039 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11040 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11041 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11042 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11043 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11044 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11045 message.
11046
11047 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11048 @code{trace}.
11049
11050 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11051 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11052 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11053 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11054 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11055 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11056 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11057 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11058
11059 @example
11060 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11061 @end example
11062
11063 @noindent
11064 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11065 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11066
11067 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11068 @cindex set static tracepoint
11069 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
11070 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11071 @kindex strace
11072 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11073 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11074 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11075 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11076 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11077
11078 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11079 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11080 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11081 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11082 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11083 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11084 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11085 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11086 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11087 tracing engine:
11088
11089 @smallexample
11090 main ()
11091 @{
11092 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11093 @}
11094 @end smallexample
11095
11096 @noindent
11097 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11098 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11099
11100 @smallexample
11101 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11102 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11103 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11104 Data: "str %s"
11105 [etc...]
11106 @end smallexample
11107
11108 @noindent
11109 so you may probe the marker above with:
11110
11111 @smallexample
11112 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11113 @end smallexample
11114
11115 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11116 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11117 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11118 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11119 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11120 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11121 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11122 the @samp{Data:} field.
11123
11124 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11125 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11126 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11127
11128 @vindex $tpnum
11129 @cindex last tracepoint number
11130 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11131 @cindex tracepoint number
11132 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11133 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11134
11135 @kindex delete tracepoint
11136 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11137 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11138 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11139 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11140 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11141
11142 Examples:
11143
11144 @smallexample
11145 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11146
11147 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11148 @end smallexample
11149
11150 @noindent
11151 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11152 @end table
11153
11154 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11155 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11156
11157 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11158
11159 @table @code
11160 @kindex disable tracepoint
11161 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11162 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11163 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11164 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11165 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11166 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11167 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11168 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11169 next trace experiment.
11170
11171 @kindex enable tracepoint
11172 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11173 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11174 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11175 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11176 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11177 next time a trace experiment is run.
11178 @end table
11179
11180 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11181 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11182
11183 @table @code
11184 @kindex passcount
11185 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11186 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11187 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11188 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11189 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11190 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11191 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11192 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11193 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11194 user.
11195
11196 Examples:
11197
11198 @smallexample
11199 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11200 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11201
11202 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11203 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11204 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11205 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11206 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11207 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11208 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11209 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11210 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11211 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11212 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11213 @end smallexample
11214 @end table
11215
11216 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11217 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11218 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11219 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11220
11221 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11222 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11223 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11224 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11225 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11226 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11227 is true.
11228
11229 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11230 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11231 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11232 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11233 just as with breakpoints.
11234
11235 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11236 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11237 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11238 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11239 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11240 accesses, and so forth.
11241
11242 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11243 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11244 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11245 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11246 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11247 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11248 search through.
11249
11250 @smallexample
11251 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11252 @end smallexample
11253
11254 @node Trace State Variables
11255 @subsection Trace State Variables
11256 @cindex trace state variables
11257
11258 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11259 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11260 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11261 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11262 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11263 integers.
11264
11265 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11266 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11267 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11268 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11269
11270 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11271 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11272 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11273 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11274 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11275 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11276 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11277 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11278 variable with the same name.
11279
11280 @table @code
11281
11282 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11283 @kindex tvariable
11284 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11285 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11286 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11287 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11288 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11289 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11290 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11291 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11292 value. The default initial value is 0.
11293
11294 @item info tvariables
11295 @kindex info tvariables
11296 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11297 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11298 currently running.
11299
11300 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11301 @kindex delete tvariable
11302 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11303 are specified.
11304
11305 @end table
11306
11307 @node Tracepoint Actions
11308 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11309
11310 @table @code
11311 @kindex actions
11312 @cindex tracepoint actions
11313 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11314 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11315 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11316 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11317 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11318 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11319 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11320 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11321 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11322 @code{while-stepping}.
11323
11324 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11325 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11326 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11327
11328 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11329 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11330 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11331
11332 @smallexample
11333 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11334
11335 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11336
11337 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11338 @end smallexample
11339
11340 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11341 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11342 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11343 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11344 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11345 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11346 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11347 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11348
11349 @smallexample
11350 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11351 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11352 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11353 > collect bar,baz
11354 > collect $regs
11355 > while-stepping 12
11356 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11357 > end
11358 end
11359 @end smallexample
11360
11361 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11362 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11363 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11364 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11365 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11366 special arguments are supported:
11367
11368 @table @code
11369 @item $regs
11370 Collect all registers.
11371
11372 @item $args
11373 Collect all function arguments.
11374
11375 @item $locals
11376 Collect all local variables.
11377
11378 @item $_ret
11379 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11380 of a backtrace.
11381
11382 @item $_probe_argc
11383 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11384 tracepoint is located.
11385 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11386
11387 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11388 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11389 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11390 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11391
11392 @item $_sdata
11393 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11394 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11395 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11396 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11397 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11398 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11399 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11400 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11401 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11402
11403 @smallexample
11404 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11405 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11406 @end smallexample
11407
11408 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11409 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
11410 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
11411 @value{GDBN}.
11412 @end table
11413
11414 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
11415 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
11416 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
11417
11418 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
11419 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
11420 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
11421 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
11422 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
11423 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
11424 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
11425 @samp{mystr}.
11426
11427 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
11428 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
11429
11430 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
11431 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11432 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
11433 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
11434 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
11435 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
11436 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
11437 action were used.
11438
11439 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
11440 @item while-stepping @var{n}
11441 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
11442 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
11443 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
11444 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
11445
11446 @smallexample
11447 > while-stepping 12
11448 > collect $regs, myglobal
11449 > end
11450 >
11451 @end smallexample
11452
11453 @noindent
11454 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
11455 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
11456 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
11457 @code{stepping}.
11458
11459 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11460 @kindex set default-collect
11461 @cindex default collection action
11462 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
11463 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
11464 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
11465 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
11466 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
11467 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
11468
11469 @item show default-collect
11470 @kindex show default-collect
11471 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
11472 tracepoint hit.
11473
11474 @end table
11475
11476 @node Listing Tracepoints
11477 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
11478
11479 @table @code
11480 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11481 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11482 @cindex information about tracepoints
11483 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
11484 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
11485 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
11486 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
11487 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
11488 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
11489
11490 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
11491 tracing:
11492
11493 @itemize @bullet
11494 @item
11495 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
11496 @end itemize
11497
11498 @smallexample
11499 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
11500 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
11501 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
11502 while-stepping 20
11503 collect globfoo, $regs
11504 end
11505 collect globfoo2
11506 end
11507 pass count 1200
11508 (@value{GDBP})
11509 @end smallexample
11510
11511 @noindent
11512 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
11513 @end table
11514
11515 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11516 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11517
11518 @table @code
11519 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
11520 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
11521 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
11522 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
11523 program.
11524
11525 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
11526
11527 @table @emph
11528 @item Count
11529 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
11530 stable identifier.
11531 @item ID
11532 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
11533 @item Enabled or Disabled
11534 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
11535 that are not enabled.
11536 @item Address
11537 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
11538 @item What
11539 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
11540 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
11541 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
11542 will be left blank.
11543 @end table
11544
11545 @noindent
11546 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
11547
11548 @table @emph
11549 @item Data
11550 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
11551 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
11552 marker call.
11553 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
11554 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11555 @end table
11556
11557 @smallexample
11558 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11559 Cnt ID Enb Address What
11560 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
11561 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
11562 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
11563 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
11564 Data: str %s
11565 (@value{GDBP})
11566 @end smallexample
11567 @end table
11568
11569 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11570 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11571
11572 @table @code
11573 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
11574 @cindex start a new trace experiment
11575 @cindex collected data discarded
11576 @item tstart
11577 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
11578 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
11579 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
11580 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
11581 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
11582 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
11583 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
11584 information, and so forth.
11585
11586 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
11587 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
11588 @item tstop
11589 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
11590 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
11591 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
11592 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
11593 needs to be stopped quickly.
11594
11595 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
11596 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
11597 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
11598
11599 @kindex tstatus
11600 @cindex status of trace data collection
11601 @cindex trace experiment, status of
11602 @item tstatus
11603 This command displays the status of the current trace data
11604 collection.
11605 @end table
11606
11607 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
11608
11609 @smallexample
11610 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
11611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11612 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
11613 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
11614 > while-stepping 11
11615 > collect $regs
11616 > end
11617 > end
11618 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11619 [time passes @dots{}]
11620 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
11621 @end smallexample
11622
11623 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
11624 @cindex disconnected tracing
11625 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
11626 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
11627 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
11628 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
11629 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
11630 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11631 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11632 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11633
11634 @table @code
11635 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11636 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11637 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11638 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11639 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11640 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11641 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11642 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11643
11644 @item show disconnected-tracing
11645 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11646 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11647
11648 @end table
11649
11650 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11651 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11652 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11653 it will continue after reconnection.
11654
11655 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11656 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11657 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11658 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11659 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11660 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11661 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11662 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11663 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11664 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11665
11666 @cindex circular trace buffer
11667 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11668 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11669 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11670 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11671 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11672 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11673 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11674 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11675 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11676 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11677 the next run.
11678
11679 @table @code
11680 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11681 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11682 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11683 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11684 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11685 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11686 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11687
11688 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11689 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11690 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11691 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11692 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11693 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11694
11695 @end table
11696
11697 @table @code
11698 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11699 @kindex set trace-user
11700
11701 @item show trace-user
11702 @kindex show trace-user
11703
11704 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11705 @kindex set trace-notes
11706 Set the trace run's notes.
11707
11708 @item show trace-notes
11709 @kindex show trace-notes
11710 Show the trace run's notes.
11711
11712 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11713 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11714 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11715 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11716 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11717
11718 @item show trace-stop-notes
11719 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11720 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11721
11722 @end table
11723
11724 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11725 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11726
11727 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11728 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11729 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11730 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11731 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11732 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11733 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11734 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11735 mentioned here.
11736
11737 @itemize @bullet
11738
11739 @item
11740 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11741 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11742 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11743 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11744 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11745 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11746 cannot be collected either.
11747
11748 @item
11749 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11750 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11751 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11752 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11753 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11754 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11755 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11756 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11757 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11758 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11759
11760 @item
11761 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11762 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11763 in a misleading way.
11764
11765 @item
11766 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11767 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11768 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11769 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11770 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11771 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11772 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11773 by @code{ptr}.
11774
11775 @item
11776 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11777 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11778 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11779 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11780 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11781 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11782 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11783 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11784 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11785 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11786 invalid address.
11787
11788 @item
11789 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11790 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11791 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11792 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11793 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11794 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11795 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
11796 it to zero.
11797
11798 @end itemize
11799
11800 @node Analyze Collected Data
11801 @section Using the Collected Data
11802
11803 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
11804 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
11805 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
11806 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
11807 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
11808 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
11809 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
11810 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
11811 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
11812 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
11813 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
11814 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
11815 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
11816 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
11817 the buffer will fail.
11818
11819 @menu
11820 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
11821 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
11822 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
11823 @end menu
11824
11825 @node tfind
11826 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
11827
11828 @kindex tfind
11829 @cindex select trace snapshot
11830 @cindex find trace snapshot
11831 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
11832 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
11833 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
11834 snapshot is selected.
11835
11836 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
11837
11838 @table @code
11839 @item tfind start
11840 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
11841 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
11842
11843 @item tfind none
11844 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
11845
11846 @item tfind end
11847 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
11848
11849 @item tfind
11850 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
11851
11852 @item tfind -
11853 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
11854 retracing earlier steps.
11855
11856 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
11857 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
11858 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
11859 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
11860 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
11861
11862 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
11863 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
11864 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
11865 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
11866 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
11867
11868 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11869 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
11870 addresses (exclusive).
11871
11872 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11873 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
11874 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
11875
11876 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
11877 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
11878 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
11879 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
11880 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
11881 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
11882 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
11883 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
11884 @end table
11885
11886 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
11887 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
11888 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
11889 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
11890 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
11891 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
11892 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
11893 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
11894 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
11895 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
11896 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
11897 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
11898 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
11899 tracepoint as the current one.
11900
11901 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
11902 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
11903 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
11904 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
11905 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
11906
11907 @smallexample
11908 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11909 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11910 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
11911 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
11912 > tfind
11913 > end
11914
11915 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
11916 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
11917 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
11918 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
11919 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
11920 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
11921 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
11922 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
11923 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
11924 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
11925 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
11926 @end smallexample
11927
11928 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
11929 the buffer:
11930
11931 @smallexample
11932 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11933 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11934 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
11935 > tfind line
11936 > end
11937
11938 Frame 0, X = 1
11939 Frame 7, X = 2
11940 Frame 13, X = 255
11941 @end smallexample
11942
11943 @node tdump
11944 @subsection @code{tdump}
11945 @kindex tdump
11946 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
11947 @cindex tracepoint data, display
11948
11949 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
11950 the current trace snapshot.
11951
11952 @smallexample
11953 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
11954 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11955 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
11956 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
11957 > end
11958
11959 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11960
11961 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
11962 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
11963 at gdb_test.c:444
11964 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
11965
11966 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
11967 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
11968 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
11969 d1 0x18 24
11970 d2 0x80 128
11971 d3 0x33 51
11972 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
11973 d5 0x22 34
11974 d6 0xe0 224
11975 d7 0x380035 3670069
11976 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
11977 a1 0x3000668 50333288
11978 a2 0x100 256
11979 a3 0x322000 3284992
11980 a4 0x3000698 50333336
11981 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
11982 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
11983 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
11984 ps 0x0 0
11985 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
11986 fpcontrol 0x0 0
11987 fpstatus 0x0 0
11988 fpiaddr 0x0 0
11989 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
11990 p1 = (void *) 0x11
11991 p2 = (void *) 0x22
11992 p3 = (void *) 0x33
11993 p4 = (void *) 0x44
11994 p5 = (void *) 0x55
11995 p6 = (void *) 0x66
11996 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
11997
11998 (@value{GDBP})
11999 @end smallexample
12000
12001 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12002 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12003 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12004 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12005
12006 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12007 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12008 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12009 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12010 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12011 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12012 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12013 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12014 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12015 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12016
12017 @node save tracepoints
12018 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12019 @kindex save tracepoints
12020 @kindex save-tracepoints
12021 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12022
12023 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12024 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12025 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12026 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12027 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12028 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12029
12030 @node Tracepoint Variables
12031 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12032 @cindex tracepoint variables
12033 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12034
12035 @table @code
12036 @vindex $trace_frame
12037 @item (int) $trace_frame
12038 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12039 snapshot is selected.
12040
12041 @vindex $tracepoint
12042 @item (int) $tracepoint
12043 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12044
12045 @vindex $trace_line
12046 @item (int) $trace_line
12047 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12048
12049 @vindex $trace_file
12050 @item (char []) $trace_file
12051 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12052
12053 @vindex $trace_func
12054 @item (char []) $trace_func
12055 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12056 @end table
12057
12058 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12059 use @code{output} instead.
12060
12061 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12062 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12063 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12064 which are managed by the target.
12065
12066 @smallexample
12067 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12068
12069 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12070 > output $trace_file
12071 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12072 > tfind
12073 > end
12074 @end smallexample
12075
12076 @node Trace Files
12077 @section Using Trace Files
12078 @cindex trace files
12079
12080 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12081 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12082 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12083 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12084 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12085
12086 @table @code
12087
12088 @kindex tsave
12089 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12090 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12091 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12092 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12093 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12094 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12095 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12096 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12097 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12098
12099 @kindex target tfile
12100 @kindex tfile
12101 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12102 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
12103 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
12104 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
12105 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
12106 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
12107 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
12108
12109 @end table
12110
12111 @node Overlays
12112 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12113 @cindex overlays
12114
12115 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12116 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12117 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12118 use overlays.
12119
12120 @menu
12121 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12122 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12123 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12124 mapped by asking the inferior.
12125 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12126 @end menu
12127
12128 @node How Overlays Work
12129 @section How Overlays Work
12130 @cindex mapped overlays
12131 @cindex unmapped overlays
12132 @cindex load address, overlay's
12133 @cindex mapped address
12134 @cindex overlay area
12135
12136 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12137 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12138 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12139 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12140 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12141
12142 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12143 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12144 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12145 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12146 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12147 largest overlay as well.
12148
12149 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12150 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12151 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12152 there.
12153
12154 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12155 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12156 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12157
12158 @smallexample
12159 @group
12160 Data Instruction Larger
12161 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12162 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12163 | | | | | |
12164 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12165 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12166 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12167 | and heap | | | | | |
12168 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12169 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12170 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12171 | | | | | |
12172 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12173 address | | | | | |
12174 | overlay | <-' | | |
12175 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12176 | | <---. | | load address
12177 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12178 | | | |
12179 +-----------+ | |
12180 +-----------+
12181 | |
12182 +-----------+
12183
12184 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12185 @end group
12186 @end smallexample
12187
12188 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12189 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12190 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12191 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12192 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12193 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12194 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12195 program and the overlay area.
12196
12197 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12198 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12199 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12200 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12201 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12202 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12203 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12204
12205 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12206 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12207 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12208
12209 @itemize @bullet
12210
12211 @item
12212 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12213 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12214 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12215 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12216
12217 @item
12218 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12219 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12220 your program's performance.
12221
12222 @item
12223 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12224 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12225 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12226 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12227 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12228 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12229 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12230
12231 @item
12232 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12233 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12234 instruction and data spaces.
12235
12236 @end itemize
12237
12238 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12239 improved in many ways:
12240
12241 @itemize @bullet
12242
12243 @item
12244 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12245 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12246 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12247 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12248 area in the usual way.
12249
12250 @item
12251 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12252 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12253
12254 @item
12255 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12256 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12257 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12258 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12259 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12260 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12261 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12262
12263 @end itemize
12264
12265
12266 @node Overlay Commands
12267 @section Overlay Commands
12268
12269 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12270 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12271 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12272 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12273 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12274 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12275
12276 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12277 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12278
12279 @table @code
12280 @item overlay off
12281 @kindex overlay
12282 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12283 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12284 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12285 overlay support is disabled.
12286
12287 @item overlay manual
12288 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12289 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12290 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12291 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12292 commands described below.
12293
12294 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12295 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12296 @cindex map an overlay
12297 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12298 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12299 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12300 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12301 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12302 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12303
12304 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12305 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12306 @cindex unmap an overlay
12307 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12308 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12309 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12310 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12311
12312 @item overlay auto
12313 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12314 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12315 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12316 Overlay Debugging}.
12317
12318 @item overlay load-target
12319 @itemx overlay load
12320 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12321 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12322 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12323 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12324 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12325 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12326
12327 @item overlay list-overlays
12328 @itemx overlay list
12329 @cindex listing mapped overlays
12330 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12331 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12332
12333 @end table
12334
12335 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12336 of the function the address falls in:
12337
12338 @smallexample
12339 (@value{GDBP}) print main
12340 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12341 @end smallexample
12342 @noindent
12343 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12344 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12345 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12346 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12347
12348 @smallexample
12349 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12350 No sections are mapped.
12351 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12352 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
12353 @end smallexample
12354 @noindent
12355 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
12356 name normally:
12357
12358 @smallexample
12359 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12360 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
12361 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
12362 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12363 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
12364 @end smallexample
12365
12366 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
12367 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
12368 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
12369 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
12370 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
12371
12372 @itemize @bullet
12373 @item
12374 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
12375 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
12376 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
12377 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
12378 @item
12379 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
12380 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
12381 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
12382 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
12383 breakpoints properly.
12384 @end itemize
12385
12386
12387 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
12388 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
12389 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
12390
12391 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
12392 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
12393 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
12394 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
12395 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
12396 current state of the overlays.
12397
12398 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
12399 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
12400
12401 @table @asis
12402
12403 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
12404 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
12405
12406 @smallexample
12407 struct
12408 @{
12409 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
12410 unsigned long vma;
12411
12412 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
12413 unsigned long size;
12414
12415 /* The overlay's load address. */
12416 unsigned long lma;
12417
12418 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
12419 zero otherwise. */
12420 unsigned long mapped;
12421 @}
12422 @end smallexample
12423
12424 @item @code{_novlys}:
12425 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
12426 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
12427
12428 @end table
12429
12430 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
12431 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
12432 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
12433 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
12434 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
12435 currently mapped.
12436
12437 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
12438 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
12439 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
12440 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
12441 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
12442 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
12443 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
12444 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
12445 are not being executed.
12446
12447 @node Overlay Sample Program
12448 @section Overlay Sample Program
12449 @cindex overlay example program
12450
12451 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
12452 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
12453 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
12454 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
12455 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
12456 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
12457 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
12458
12459 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
12460 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
12461 suite. The program consists of the following files from
12462 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
12463
12464 @table @file
12465 @item overlays.c
12466 The main program file.
12467 @item ovlymgr.c
12468 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
12469 @item foo.c
12470 @itemx bar.c
12471 @itemx baz.c
12472 @itemx grbx.c
12473 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
12474 @item d10v.ld
12475 @itemx m32r.ld
12476 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
12477 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
12478 @end table
12479
12480 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
12481 cross-compiler like this:
12482
12483 @smallexample
12484 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
12485 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
12486 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
12487 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
12488 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
12489 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
12490 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
12491 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
12492 @end smallexample
12493
12494 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
12495 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
12496 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
12497
12498
12499 @node Languages
12500 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
12501 @cindex languages
12502
12503 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
12504 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
12505 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
12506 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
12507 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
12508 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
12509
12510 @cindex working language
12511 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
12512 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
12513 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
12514 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
12515 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
12516 language}.
12517
12518 @menu
12519 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
12520 * Show:: Displaying the language
12521 * Checks:: Type and range checks
12522 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
12523 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
12524 @end menu
12525
12526 @node Setting
12527 @section Switching Between Source Languages
12528
12529 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
12530 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
12531 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
12532 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
12533 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
12534 are printed, etc.
12535
12536 In addition to the working language, every source file that
12537 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
12538 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
12539 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
12540 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
12541 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
12542 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
12543 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
12544 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
12545 Displaying the Language}.
12546
12547 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
12548 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
12549 another language. In that case, make the
12550 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
12551 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
12552 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
12553
12554 @menu
12555 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
12556 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
12557 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
12558 @end menu
12559
12560 @node Filenames
12561 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
12562
12563 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
12564 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
12565
12566 @table @file
12567 @item .ada
12568 @itemx .ads
12569 @itemx .adb
12570 @itemx .a
12571 Ada source file.
12572
12573 @item .c
12574 C source file
12575
12576 @item .C
12577 @itemx .cc
12578 @itemx .cp
12579 @itemx .cpp
12580 @itemx .cxx
12581 @itemx .c++
12582 C@t{++} source file
12583
12584 @item .d
12585 D source file
12586
12587 @item .m
12588 Objective-C source file
12589
12590 @item .f
12591 @itemx .F
12592 Fortran source file
12593
12594 @item .mod
12595 Modula-2 source file
12596
12597 @item .s
12598 @itemx .S
12599 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
12600 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
12601 @end table
12602
12603 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
12604 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
12605
12606 @node Manually
12607 @subsection Setting the Working Language
12608
12609 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
12610 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
12611 your program.
12612
12613 @kindex set language
12614 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
12615 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
12616 a language, such as
12617 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
12618 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
12619
12620 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
12621 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
12622 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
12623 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
12624 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
12625 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
12626 command such as:
12627
12628 @smallexample
12629 print a = b + c
12630 @end smallexample
12631
12632 @noindent
12633 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12634 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12635 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12636 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12637
12638 @node Automatically
12639 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12640
12641 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12642 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12643 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12644 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12645 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12646 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12647 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12648 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12649 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12650
12651 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12652 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12653 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12654 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12655 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12656
12657 @node Show
12658 @section Displaying the Language
12659
12660 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12661 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12662
12663 @table @code
12664 @item show language
12665 @kindex show language
12666 Display the current working language. This is the
12667 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12668 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12669
12670 @item info frame
12671 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12672 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12673 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12674 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12675 information listed here.
12676
12677 @item info source
12678 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12679 Display the source language of this source file.
12680 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12681 information listed here.
12682 @end table
12683
12684 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12685 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12686 with a language explicitly:
12687
12688 @table @code
12689 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12690 @kindex set extension-language
12691 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12692 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12693
12694 @item info extensions
12695 @kindex info extensions
12696 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12697 @end table
12698
12699 @node Checks
12700 @section Type and Range Checking
12701
12702 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12703 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12704 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
12705 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12706 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12707 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
12708 errors when your program is running.
12709
12710 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
12711 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
12712 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
12713 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
12714
12715 @menu
12716 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12717 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12718 @end menu
12719
12720 @cindex type checking
12721 @cindex checks, type
12722 @node Type Checking
12723 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12724
12725 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12726 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12727 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12728 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12729
12730 @smallexample
12731 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
12732
12733 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
12734 $1 = 2
12735 @exdent but
12736 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
12737 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
12738 @end smallexample
12739
12740 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
12741 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
12742
12743 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12744 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
12745 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12746 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
12747 expressions like the second example above.
12748
12749 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
12750 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12751 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12752 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12753 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
12754 little sense to evaluate anyway.
12755
12756 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
12757
12758 @kindex set check type
12759 @kindex show check type
12760 @table @code
12761 @item set check type on
12762 @itemx set check type off
12763 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
12764 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12765 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12766
12767 @item show check type
12768 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
12769 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
12770 @end table
12771
12772 @cindex range checking
12773 @cindex checks, range
12774 @node Range Checking
12775 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12776
12777 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12778 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12779 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12780 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12781 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12782
12783 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12784 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12785 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12786 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12787
12788 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12789 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12790 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
12791 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
12792 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
12793 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
12794
12795 @smallexample
12796 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
12797 @end smallexample
12798
12799 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
12800 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
12801 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
12802
12803 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
12804
12805 @kindex set check range
12806 @kindex show check range
12807 @table @code
12808 @item set check range auto
12809 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
12810 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12811 each language.
12812
12813 @item set check range on
12814 @itemx set check range off
12815 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12816 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
12817 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
12818 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
12819
12820 @item set check range warn
12821 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
12822 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
12823 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
12824 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
12825 systems).
12826
12827 @item show range
12828 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
12829 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
12830 @end table
12831
12832 @node Supported Languages
12833 @section Supported Languages
12834
12835 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
12836 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
12837 @c This is false ...
12838 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
12839 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
12840 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
12841 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
12842 language.
12843
12844 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
12845 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
12846 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
12847 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
12848 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
12849 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
12850 language reference or tutorial.
12851
12852 @menu
12853 * C:: C and C@t{++}
12854 * D:: D
12855 * Go:: Go
12856 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
12857 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
12858 * Fortran:: Fortran
12859 * Pascal:: Pascal
12860 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
12861 * Ada:: Ada
12862 @end menu
12863
12864 @node C
12865 @subsection C and C@t{++}
12866
12867 @cindex C and C@t{++}
12868 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
12869
12870 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
12871 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
12872 together.
12873
12874 @cindex C@t{++}
12875 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
12876 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
12877 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
12878 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
12879 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
12880 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
12881 compiler (@code{aCC}).
12882
12883 @menu
12884 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
12885 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
12886 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
12887 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
12888 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
12889 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
12890 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
12891 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
12892 @end menu
12893
12894 @node C Operators
12895 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
12896
12897 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
12898
12899 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12900 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12901 often defined on groups of types.
12902
12903 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
12904
12905 @itemize @bullet
12906
12907 @item
12908 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
12909 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
12910
12911 @item
12912 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
12913 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
12914
12915 @item
12916 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
12917
12918 @item
12919 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
12920
12921 @end itemize
12922
12923 @noindent
12924 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
12925 in order of increasing precedence:
12926
12927 @table @code
12928 @item ,
12929 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
12930 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
12931 expression being the last expression evaluated.
12932
12933 @item =
12934 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
12935 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
12936
12937 @item @var{op}=
12938 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
12939 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
12940 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
12941 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
12942 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
12943
12944 @item ?:
12945 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
12946 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
12947 integral type.
12948
12949 @item ||
12950 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12951
12952 @item &&
12953 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12954
12955 @item |
12956 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12957
12958 @item ^
12959 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12960
12961 @item &
12962 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12963
12964 @item ==@r{, }!=
12965 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
12966 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
12967
12968 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
12969 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
12970 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
12971 and non-zero for true.
12972
12973 @item <<@r{, }>>
12974 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
12975
12976 @item @@
12977 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12978
12979 @item +@r{, }-
12980 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
12981 pointer types.
12982
12983 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
12984 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
12985 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
12986 integral types.
12987
12988 @item ++@r{, }--
12989 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
12990 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
12991 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
12992 operation takes place.
12993
12994 @item *
12995 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
12996 @code{++}.
12997
12998 @item &
12999 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13000
13001 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13002 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13003 to examine the address
13004 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13005 stored.
13006
13007 @item -
13008 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13009 precedence as @code{++}.
13010
13011 @item !
13012 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13013 @code{++}.
13014
13015 @item ~
13016 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13017 @code{++}.
13018
13019
13020 @item .@r{, }->
13021 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13022 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13023 pointer based on the stored type information.
13024 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13025
13026 @item .*@r{, }->*
13027 Dereferences of pointers to members.
13028
13029 @item []
13030 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13031 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13032
13033 @item ()
13034 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13035
13036 @item ::
13037 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13038 and @code{class} types.
13039
13040 @item ::
13041 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13042 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13043 above.
13044 @end table
13045
13046 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13047 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13048 predefined meaning.
13049
13050 @node C Constants
13051 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13052
13053 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13054
13055 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13056 following ways:
13057
13058 @itemize @bullet
13059 @item
13060 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13061 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13062 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13063 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13064 @code{long} value.
13065
13066 @item
13067 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13068 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13069 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13070 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13071 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13072 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13073 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13074 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13075 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13076 constant.
13077
13078 @item
13079 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13080 integral equivalents.
13081
13082 @item
13083 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13084 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13085 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13086 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13087 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13088 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13089 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13090 @samp{\n} for newline.
13091
13092 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13093 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13094 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13095 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13096
13097 @item
13098 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13099 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13100 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13101 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13102 characters.
13103
13104 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13105 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13106 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13107
13108 @item
13109 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13110 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13111
13112 @item
13113 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13114 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13115 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13116 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13117 @end itemize
13118
13119 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13120 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13121
13122 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13123 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13124
13125 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13126 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13127 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13128 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13129 @quotation
13130 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13131 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13132 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13133 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13134 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13135 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13136 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13137 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13138 @end quotation
13139
13140 @enumerate
13141
13142 @cindex member functions
13143 @item
13144 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13145
13146 @smallexample
13147 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13148 @end smallexample
13149
13150 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13151 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13152 @item
13153 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13154 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13155 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13156 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13157 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13158
13159 @cindex call overloaded functions
13160 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13161 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13162 @item
13163 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13164 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13165 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13166 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13167 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13168 default arguments.
13169
13170 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13171 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13172 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13173 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13174 number of function arguments.
13175
13176 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13177 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13178 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13179
13180 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13181 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13182 @smallexample
13183 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13184 @end smallexample
13185
13186 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13187 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13188
13189 @cindex reference declarations
13190 @item
13191 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13192 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13193 dereferenced.
13194
13195 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13196 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13197 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13198 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13199 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13200
13201 @item
13202 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13203 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13204 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13205 necessary, for example in an expression like
13206 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13207 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13208 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13209
13210 @item
13211 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13212 specification.
13213 @end enumerate
13214
13215 @node C Defaults
13216 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13217
13218 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13219
13220 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13221 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13222 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13223 selects the working language.
13224
13225 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13226 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13227 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13228 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13229 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13230 for further details.
13231
13232 @node C Checks
13233 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13234
13235 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13236
13237 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13238 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13239 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13240 constants to pointers.
13241
13242 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13243 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13244 that is not itself an array.
13245
13246 @node Debugging C
13247 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13248
13249 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13250 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13251 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13252 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13253
13254 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13255 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13256 ,Expressions}.
13257
13258 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13259 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13260
13261 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13262
13263 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13264 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13265
13266 @table @code
13267 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13268 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13269 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13270 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13271 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13272 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13273
13274 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13275 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13276 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13277 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13278 classes.
13279 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13280
13281 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13282 @item catch throw
13283 @itemx catch catch
13284 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13285 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13286
13287 @cindex inheritance
13288 @item ptype @var{typename}
13289 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13290 @var{typename}.
13291 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13292
13293 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13294 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13295 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13296 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13297 multiple inheritance is in use.
13298
13299 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13300 @item set print demangle
13301 @itemx show print demangle
13302 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13303 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13304 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13305 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13306 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13307
13308 @item set print object
13309 @itemx show print object
13310 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13311 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13312
13313 @item set print vtbl
13314 @itemx show print vtbl
13315 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13316 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13317 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13318 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13319
13320 @kindex set overload-resolution
13321 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13322 @item set overload-resolution on
13323 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13324 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13325 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13326 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13327 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13328 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13329
13330 @item set overload-resolution off
13331 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13332 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13333 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13334 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13335 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13336 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13337 argument types.
13338
13339 @kindex show overload-resolution
13340 @item show overload-resolution
13341 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13342
13343 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13344 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13345 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13346 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13347 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13348 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13349 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13350 @end table
13351
13352 @node Decimal Floating Point
13353 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
13354 @cindex decimal floating point format
13355
13356 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
13357 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
13358 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
13359 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
13360
13361 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
13362 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
13363 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
13364 target.
13365
13366 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
13367 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
13368 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
13369
13370 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
13371 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
13372 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
13373
13374 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
13375 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
13376 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
13377
13378 @node D
13379 @subsection D
13380
13381 @cindex D
13382 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
13383 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
13384 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
13385
13386 @node Go
13387 @subsection Go
13388
13389 @cindex Go (programming language)
13390 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
13391 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
13392
13393 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
13394
13395 @table @code
13396 @cindex current Go package
13397 @item The current Go package
13398 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
13399 specifying global variables and functions.
13400
13401 For example, given the program:
13402
13403 @example
13404 package main
13405 var myglob = "Shall we?"
13406 func main () @{
13407 // ...
13408 @}
13409 @end example
13410
13411 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
13412
13413 @example
13414 (gdb) p myglob
13415 (gdb) p main.myglob
13416 @end example
13417
13418 @cindex builtin Go types
13419 @item Builtin Go types
13420 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
13421 as a string.
13422
13423 @cindex builtin Go functions
13424 @item Builtin Go functions
13425 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
13426 function and handles it internally.
13427
13428 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
13429 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
13430 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
13431 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
13432 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
13433 @end table
13434
13435 @node Objective-C
13436 @subsection Objective-C
13437
13438 @cindex Objective-C
13439 This section provides information about some commands and command
13440 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
13441 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
13442 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
13443
13444 @menu
13445 * Method Names in Commands::
13446 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
13447 @end menu
13448
13449 @node Method Names in Commands
13450 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
13451
13452 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
13453 names as line specifications:
13454
13455 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
13456 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
13457 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
13458 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
13459 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
13460 @itemize
13461 @item @code{clear}
13462 @item @code{break}
13463 @item @code{info line}
13464 @item @code{jump}
13465 @item @code{list}
13466 @end itemize
13467
13468 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
13469
13470 @smallexample
13471 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
13472 @end smallexample
13473
13474 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
13475 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
13476 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
13477 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
13478 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
13479 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
13480 debugged, enter:
13481
13482 @smallexample
13483 break -[Fruit create]
13484 @end smallexample
13485
13486 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
13487 enter:
13488
13489 @smallexample
13490 list +[NSText initialize]
13491 @end smallexample
13492
13493 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
13494 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
13495 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
13496 is also possible to specify just a method name:
13497
13498 @smallexample
13499 break create
13500 @end smallexample
13501
13502 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
13503 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
13504 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
13505 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
13506 none apply.
13507
13508 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
13509 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
13510
13511 @smallexample
13512 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
13513 @end smallexample
13514
13515 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
13516 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
13517 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
13518 @kindex print-object
13519 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
13520
13521 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
13522
13523 @smallexample
13524 print -[@var{object} hash]
13525 @end smallexample
13526
13527 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
13528 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
13529 @noindent
13530 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
13531 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
13532 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
13533 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
13534 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
13535 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
13536
13537 @node OpenCL C
13538 @subsection OpenCL C
13539
13540 @cindex OpenCL C
13541 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
13542
13543 @menu
13544 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
13545 * OpenCL C Expressions::
13546 * OpenCL C Operators::
13547 @end menu
13548
13549 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
13550 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
13551
13552 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
13553 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
13554 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
13555 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
13556 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
13557
13558 @node OpenCL C Expressions
13559 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
13560
13561 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
13562 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
13563 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
13564 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
13565
13566 @node OpenCL C Operators
13567 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
13568
13569 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
13570 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
13571 vector data types.
13572
13573 @node Fortran
13574 @subsection Fortran
13575 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
13576
13577 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
13578 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
13579
13580 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
13581 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
13582 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
13583 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
13584 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
13585 underscore.
13586
13587 @menu
13588 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
13589 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
13590 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
13591 @end menu
13592
13593 @node Fortran Operators
13594 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
13595
13596 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
13597
13598 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13599 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
13600 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
13601
13602 @table @code
13603 @item **
13604 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
13605 of the second one.
13606
13607 @item :
13608 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
13609 represent a section of array.
13610
13611 @item %
13612 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
13613 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
13614 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
13615 union type.
13616 @end table
13617
13618 @node Fortran Defaults
13619 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
13620
13621 @cindex Fortran Defaults
13622
13623 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
13624 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
13625 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
13626 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
13627
13628 @node Special Fortran Commands
13629 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
13630
13631 @cindex Special Fortran commands
13632
13633 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
13634 such as displaying common blocks.
13635
13636 @table @code
13637 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13638 @kindex info common
13639 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13640 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13641 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13642 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13643 printed.
13644 @end table
13645
13646 @node Pascal
13647 @subsection Pascal
13648
13649 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13650 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13651 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13652 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13653 syntax.
13654
13655 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13656 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13657 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13658
13659 @node Modula-2
13660 @subsection Modula-2
13661
13662 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13663
13664 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13665 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13666 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13667 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13668 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13669 table.
13670
13671 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13672 @menu
13673 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13674 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13675 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13676 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13677 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13678 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13679 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13680 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13681 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13682 @end menu
13683
13684 @node M2 Operators
13685 @subsubsection Operators
13686 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13687
13688 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13689 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13690 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13691 following definitions hold:
13692
13693 @itemize @bullet
13694
13695 @item
13696 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13697 their subranges.
13698
13699 @item
13700 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13701
13702 @item
13703 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13704
13705 @item
13706 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13707 @var{type}}.
13708
13709 @item
13710 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13711
13712 @item
13713 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13714
13715 @item
13716 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13717 @end itemize
13718
13719 @noindent
13720 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13721 increasing precedence:
13722
13723 @table @code
13724 @item ,
13725 Function argument or array index separator.
13726
13727 @item :=
13728 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13729 @var{value}.
13730
13731 @item <@r{, }>
13732 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13733 types.
13734
13735 @item <=@r{, }>=
13736 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13737 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13738 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13739
13740 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13741 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13742 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13743 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13744 comment character.
13745
13746 @item IN
13747 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13748 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13749
13750 @item OR
13751 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13752
13753 @item AND@r{, }&
13754 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13755
13756 @item @@
13757 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13758
13759 @item +@r{, }-
13760 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13761 and difference on set types.
13762
13763 @item *
13764 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13765 on set types.
13766
13767 @item /
13768 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13769 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13770
13771 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
13772 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13773 precedence as @code{*}.
13774
13775 @item -
13776 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13777
13778 @item ^
13779 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13780
13781 @item NOT
13782 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13783 @code{^}.
13784
13785 @item .
13786 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13787 precedence as @code{^}.
13788
13789 @item []
13790 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
13791
13792 @item ()
13793 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
13794 as @code{^}.
13795
13796 @item ::@r{, }.
13797 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
13798 @end table
13799
13800 @quotation
13801 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
13802 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
13803 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
13804 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
13805 @end quotation
13806
13807
13808 @node Built-In Func/Proc
13809 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
13810 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
13811
13812 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
13813 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
13814
13815 @table @var
13816
13817 @item a
13818 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
13819
13820 @item c
13821 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
13822
13823 @item i
13824 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
13825
13826 @item m
13827 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
13828 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
13829 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
13830
13831 @item n
13832 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
13833
13834 @item r
13835 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
13836
13837 @item t
13838 represents a type.
13839
13840 @item v
13841 represents a variable.
13842
13843 @item x
13844 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
13845 explanation of the function for details.
13846 @end table
13847
13848 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
13849
13850 @table @code
13851 @item ABS(@var{n})
13852 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
13853
13854 @item CAP(@var{c})
13855 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
13856 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
13857
13858 @item CHR(@var{i})
13859 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13860
13861 @item DEC(@var{v})
13862 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13863
13864 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
13865 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13866 new value.
13867
13868 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13869 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
13870 set.
13871
13872 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
13873 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
13874
13875 @item HIGH(@var{a})
13876 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
13877
13878 @item INC(@var{v})
13879 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13880
13881 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
13882 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13883 new value.
13884
13885 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13886 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
13887 there. Returns the new set.
13888
13889 @item MAX(@var{t})
13890 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
13891
13892 @item MIN(@var{t})
13893 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
13894
13895 @item ODD(@var{i})
13896 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
13897
13898 @item ORD(@var{x})
13899 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
13900 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
13901 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
13902 integral, character and enumerated types.
13903
13904 @item SIZE(@var{x})
13905 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13906
13907 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
13908 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
13909
13910 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
13911 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13912
13913 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
13914 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13915 @end table
13916
13917 @quotation
13918 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
13919 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
13920 an error.
13921 @end quotation
13922
13923 @cindex Modula-2 constants
13924 @node M2 Constants
13925 @subsubsection Constants
13926
13927 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
13928 ways:
13929
13930 @itemize @bullet
13931
13932 @item
13933 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
13934 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
13935 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
13936 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
13937
13938 @item
13939 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
13940 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
13941 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
13942 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
13943 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
13944 digits.
13945
13946 @item
13947 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
13948 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
13949 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
13950 followed by a @samp{C}.
13951
13952 @item
13953 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
13954 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
13955 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
13956 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
13957 sequences.
13958
13959 @item
13960 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
13961
13962 @item
13963 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
13964 @code{FALSE}.
13965
13966 @item
13967 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
13968
13969 @item
13970 Set constants are not yet supported.
13971 @end itemize
13972
13973 @node M2 Types
13974 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
13975 @cindex Modula-2 types
13976
13977 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
13978 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
13979 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
13980 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
13981 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
13982 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
13983
13984 The first example contains the following section of code:
13985
13986 @smallexample
13987 VAR
13988 s: SET OF CHAR ;
13989 r: [20..40] ;
13990 @end smallexample
13991
13992 @noindent
13993 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
13994 @code{r} and @code{s}.
13995
13996 @smallexample
13997 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13998 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
13999 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14000 SET OF CHAR
14001 (@value{GDBP}) print r
14002 21
14003 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14004 [20..40]
14005 @end smallexample
14006
14007 @noindent
14008 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14009
14010 @smallexample
14011 VAR
14012 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14013 @end smallexample
14014
14015 @noindent
14016 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14017
14018 @smallexample
14019 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14020 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14021 @end smallexample
14022
14023 @noindent
14024 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14025 expressions using the debugger.
14026
14027 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14028 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14029
14030 @smallexample
14031 VAR
14032 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14033 @end smallexample
14034
14035 @smallexample
14036 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14037 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14038 @end smallexample
14039
14040 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14041 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14042 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14043 above.
14044
14045 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14046
14047 @smallexample
14048 TYPE
14049 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14050 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14051 VAR
14052 s: t ;
14053 BEGIN
14054 s := blue ;
14055 @end smallexample
14056
14057 @noindent
14058 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14059 and value of a variable.
14060
14061 @smallexample
14062 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14063 $1 = blue
14064 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14065 type = [blue..yellow]
14066 @end smallexample
14067
14068 @noindent
14069 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14070 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14071 their @code{C} counterparts.
14072
14073 @smallexample
14074 VAR
14075 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14076 BEGIN
14077 s[1] := 1 ;
14078 @end smallexample
14079
14080 @smallexample
14081 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14082 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14083 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14084 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14085 @end smallexample
14086
14087 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14088 pointer types as shown in this example:
14089
14090 @smallexample
14091 VAR
14092 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14093 BEGIN
14094 NEW(s) ;
14095 s^[1] := 1 ;
14096 @end smallexample
14097
14098 @noindent
14099 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14100
14101 @smallexample
14102 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14103 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14104 @end smallexample
14105
14106 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14107 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14108 types:
14109
14110 @smallexample
14111 TYPE
14112 foo = RECORD
14113 f1: CARDINAL ;
14114 f2: CHAR ;
14115 f3: myarray ;
14116 END ;
14117
14118 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14119 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14120 VAR
14121 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14122 @end smallexample
14123
14124 @noindent
14125 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14126 below.
14127
14128 @smallexample
14129 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14130 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14131 f1 : CARDINAL;
14132 f2 : CHAR;
14133 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14134 END
14135 @end smallexample
14136
14137 @node M2 Defaults
14138 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14139 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14140
14141 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14142 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14143 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14144 selected the working language.
14145
14146 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14147 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14148 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14149 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14150
14151 @node Deviations
14152 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14153 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14154
14155 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14156 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14157
14158 @itemize @bullet
14159 @item
14160 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14161 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14162 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14163 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14164 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14165 returned a pointer.)
14166
14167 @item
14168 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14169 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14170 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14171 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14172
14173 @item
14174 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14175 argument.
14176
14177 @item
14178 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14179 @end itemize
14180
14181 @node M2 Checks
14182 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14183 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14184
14185 @quotation
14186 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14187 range checking.
14188 @end quotation
14189 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14190
14191 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14192
14193 @itemize @bullet
14194 @item
14195 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14196 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14197
14198 @item
14199 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14200 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14201 @end itemize
14202
14203 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14204 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14205
14206 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14207 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14208
14209 @node M2 Scope
14210 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14211 @cindex scope
14212 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14213 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14214 @ifinfo
14215 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14216 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14217 @end ifinfo
14218 @ifnotinfo
14219 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14220 @end ifnotinfo
14221
14222 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14223 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14224 similar syntax:
14225
14226 @smallexample
14227
14228 @var{module} . @var{id}
14229 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14230 @end smallexample
14231
14232 @noindent
14233 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14234 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14235 identifier within your program, except another module.
14236
14237 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14238 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14239 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14240 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14241
14242 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14243 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14244 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14245 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14246 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14247 @var{module}.
14248
14249 @node GDB/M2
14250 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14251
14252 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14253 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14254 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14255 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14256 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14257 analogue in Modula-2.
14258
14259 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14260 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14261 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14262 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14263 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14264 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14265
14266 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14267 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14268 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14269
14270 @node Ada
14271 @subsection Ada
14272 @cindex Ada
14273
14274 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14275 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14276 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14277 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14278 to be difficult.
14279
14280
14281 @cindex expressions in Ada
14282 @menu
14283 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14284 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14285 in @value{GDBN}.
14286 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14287 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14288 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14289 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14290 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14291 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14292 Profile
14293 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14294 @end menu
14295
14296 @node Ada Mode Intro
14297 @subsubsection Introduction
14298 @cindex Ada mode, general
14299
14300 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14301 syntax, with some extensions.
14302 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14303
14304 @itemize @bullet
14305 @item
14306 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14307 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14308 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14309 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14310
14311 @item
14312 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14313 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14314
14315 @item
14316 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14317 @end itemize
14318
14319 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14320 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14321 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14322 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14323 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14324
14325 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14326 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14327 was translated from an Ada source file.
14328
14329 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14330 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14331 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14332 middle (to allow based literals).
14333
14334 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14335 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14336 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14337 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14338 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14339 functions to procedures elsewhere.
14340
14341 @node Omissions from Ada
14342 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14343 @cindex Ada, omissions from
14344
14345 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14346
14347 @itemize @bullet
14348 @item
14349 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14350
14351 @itemize @minus
14352 @item
14353 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
14354 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
14355
14356 @item
14357 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
14358
14359 @item
14360 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
14361
14362 @item
14363 @t{'Tag}.
14364
14365 @item
14366 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
14367 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
14368
14369 @item
14370 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
14371 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
14372
14373 @item
14374 @t{'Address}.
14375 @end itemize
14376
14377 @item
14378 The names in
14379 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
14380 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
14381 not currently available.
14382
14383 @item
14384 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
14385 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
14386 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
14387 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
14388 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
14389 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
14390 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
14391 indeterminate values.
14392
14393 @item
14394 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
14395 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
14396 are not implemented.
14397
14398 @item
14399 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
14400 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
14401 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
14402 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
14403 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
14404
14405 @smallexample
14406 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
14407 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
14408 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
14409 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
14410 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
14411 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
14412 @end smallexample
14413
14414 Changing a
14415 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
14416 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
14417 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
14418 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
14419 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
14420 declared to have a type such as:
14421
14422 @smallexample
14423 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
14424 Id : Integer;
14425 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
14426 end record;
14427 @end smallexample
14428
14429 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
14430 assignments:
14431
14432 @smallexample
14433 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
14434 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
14435 @end smallexample
14436
14437 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
14438 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
14439 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
14440 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
14441 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
14442 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
14443 redundant component associations, although which component values are
14444 assigned in such cases is not defined.
14445
14446 @item
14447 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
14448
14449 @item
14450 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
14451 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
14452 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
14453 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
14454 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
14455 the proper resolution.
14456
14457 @item
14458 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
14459
14460 @item
14461 Entry calls are not implemented.
14462
14463 @item
14464 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
14465 formats are not supported.
14466
14467 @item
14468 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
14469
14470 @item
14471 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
14472 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
14473 context.
14474 Should your program
14475 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
14476 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
14477 @end itemize
14478
14479 @node Additions to Ada
14480 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
14481 @cindex Ada, deviations from
14482
14483 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
14484 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
14485
14486 @itemize @bullet
14487 @item
14488 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
14489 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
14490 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
14491 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
14492 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
14493 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
14494 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
14495 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
14496
14497 @item
14498 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
14499 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
14500 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
14501
14502 @item
14503 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
14504 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
14505
14506 @item
14507 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
14508 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
14509 @end itemize
14510
14511 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
14512 additions specific to Ada:
14513
14514 @itemize @bullet
14515 @item
14516 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
14517 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
14518
14519 @smallexample
14520 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
14521 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
14522 @end smallexample
14523
14524 @item
14525 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
14526 the value of its right-hand operand.
14527 This allows, for example,
14528 complex conditional breaks:
14529
14530 @smallexample
14531 (@value{GDBP}) break f
14532 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
14533 @end smallexample
14534
14535 @item
14536 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
14537 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
14538 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
14539 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
14540 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
14541 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
14542 in strings. For example,
14543 @smallexample
14544 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
14545 @end smallexample
14546 @noindent
14547 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
14548 after each period.
14549
14550 @item
14551 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
14552 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
14553 to write
14554
14555 @smallexample
14556 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
14557 @end smallexample
14558
14559 @item
14560 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
14561 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
14562 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
14563 of 3 might print as
14564
14565 @smallexample
14566 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
14567 @end smallexample
14568
14569 @noindent
14570 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
14571 clause.
14572
14573 @item
14574 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
14575 multi-character subsequence of
14576 their names (an exact match gets preference).
14577 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
14578 in place of @t{a'length}.
14579
14580 @item
14581 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
14582 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
14583 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
14584 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
14585 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
14586 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
14587 For example,
14588 @smallexample
14589 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
14590 @end smallexample
14591
14592 @item
14593 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
14594 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
14595 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
14596 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
14597 object.
14598
14599 @end itemize
14600
14601 @node Stopping Before Main Program
14602 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
14603
14604 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
14605 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
14606 before reaching the main procedure.
14607 As defined in the Ada Reference
14608 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
14609 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
14610 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
14611 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
14612
14613 @node Ada Tasks
14614 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
14615 @cindex Ada, tasking
14616
14617 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
14618 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
14619
14620 @table @code
14621 @kindex info tasks
14622 @item info tasks
14623 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
14624
14625
14626 @smallexample
14627 @iftex
14628 @leftskip=0.5cm
14629 @end iftex
14630 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14631 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14632 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14633 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
14634 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
14635 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14636
14637 @end smallexample
14638
14639 @noindent
14640 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14641 task currently being inspected.
14642
14643 @table @asis
14644 @item ID
14645 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14646
14647 @item TID
14648 The Ada task ID.
14649
14650 @item P-ID
14651 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14652
14653 @item Pri
14654 The base priority of the task.
14655
14656 @item State
14657 Current state of the task.
14658
14659 @table @code
14660 @item Unactivated
14661 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14662 executing.
14663
14664 @item Runnable
14665 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14666 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14667
14668 @item Terminated
14669 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14670 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14671 terminated themselves.
14672
14673 @item Child Activation Wait
14674 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14675
14676 @item Accept Statement
14677 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14678
14679 @item Waiting on entry call
14680 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14681
14682 @item Async Select Wait
14683 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14684 select statement.
14685
14686 @item Delay Sleep
14687 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14688 alternative open.
14689
14690 @item Child Termination Wait
14691 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14692 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14693 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14694
14695 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14696 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14697 finish terminating.
14698
14699 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14700 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14701 @end table
14702
14703 @item Name
14704 Name of the task in the program.
14705
14706 @end table
14707
14708 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14709 @item info task @var{taskno}
14710 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14711 the following example:
14712 @smallexample
14713 @iftex
14714 @leftskip=0.5cm
14715 @end iftex
14716 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14717 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14718 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14719 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14720 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14721 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14722 Name: task_1
14723 Thread: 0x807f378
14724 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14725 Base Priority: 15
14726 State: Runnable
14727 @end smallexample
14728
14729 @item task
14730 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14731 @cindex current Ada task ID
14732 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14733
14734 @smallexample
14735 @iftex
14736 @leftskip=0.5cm
14737 @end iftex
14738 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14739 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14740 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14741 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14742 (@value{GDBP}) task
14743 [Current task is 2]
14744 @end smallexample
14745
14746 @item task @var{taskno}
14747 @cindex Ada task switching
14748 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14749 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14750 from the current task to the given task.
14751
14752 @smallexample
14753 @iftex
14754 @leftskip=0.5cm
14755 @end iftex
14756 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14757 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14758 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14759 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14760 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14761 [Switching to task 1]
14762 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14763 (@value{GDBP}) bt
14764 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14765 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14766 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14767 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14768 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14769 @end smallexample
14770
14771 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14772 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14773 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14774 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14775 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14776 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14777 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14778 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14779 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14780
14781 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14782 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14783 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14784 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14785 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14786
14787 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14788 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
14789 program.
14790
14791 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
14792 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
14793 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
14794
14795 For example,
14796
14797 @smallexample
14798 @iftex
14799 @leftskip=0.5cm
14800 @end iftex
14801 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14802 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14803 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14804 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
14805 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14806 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
14807 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
14808 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
14809 (@value{GDBP}) cont
14810 Continuing.
14811 task # 1 running
14812 task # 2 running
14813
14814 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
14815 15 flush;
14816 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14817 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14818 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14819 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
14820 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14821 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
14822 @end smallexample
14823 @end table
14824
14825 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
14826 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14827 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
14828
14829 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
14830 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
14831 the platform being used.
14832 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
14833 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
14834 as usual.
14835
14836 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
14837 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
14838 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
14839 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
14840 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
14841 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
14842
14843 @node Ravenscar Profile
14844 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
14845 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
14846
14847 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
14848 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
14849 requirements.
14850
14851 @table @code
14852 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
14853 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
14854 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
14855 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14856 Profile. This is the default.
14857
14858 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
14859 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
14860 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14861 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
14862 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
14863 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
14864 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
14865
14866 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
14867 @item show ravenscar task-switching
14868 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
14869 using the Ravenscar Profile.
14870
14871 @end table
14872
14873 @node Ada Glitches
14874 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
14875 @cindex Ada, problems
14876
14877 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
14878 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
14879 @value{GDBN},
14880 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
14881 and the GNU Ada compiler.
14882
14883 @itemize @bullet
14884 @item
14885 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
14886 storage are invisible to the debugger.
14887
14888 @item
14889 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
14890 argument lists are treated as positional).
14891
14892 @item
14893 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
14894
14895 @item
14896 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
14897 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
14898 the host machine.
14899
14900 @item
14901 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
14902 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
14903 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
14904 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
14905 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
14906 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
14907 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
14908 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
14909 you can usually resolve the confusion
14910 by qualifying the problematic names with package
14911 @code{Standard} explicitly.
14912 @end itemize
14913
14914 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
14915 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
14916 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
14917 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
14918 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
14919 enabled.
14920
14921 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14922 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14923 @table @code
14924
14925 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
14926 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
14927 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
14928 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
14929 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
14930 This is the default.
14931
14932 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
14933 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
14934 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
14935 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
14936 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
14937 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
14938 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
14939
14940 @end table
14941
14942 @node Unsupported Languages
14943 @section Unsupported Languages
14944
14945 @cindex unsupported languages
14946 @cindex minimal language
14947 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
14948 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
14949 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
14950 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
14951 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
14952 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
14953
14954 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
14955 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
14956 language.
14957
14958 @node Symbols
14959 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
14960
14961 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
14962 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
14963 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
14964 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
14965 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
14966 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
14967 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14968
14969 @cindex symbol names
14970 @cindex names of symbols
14971 @cindex quoting names
14972 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
14973 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
14974 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
14975 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
14976 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
14977 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
14978 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
14979 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
14980
14981 @smallexample
14982 p 'foo.c'::x
14983 @end smallexample
14984
14985 @noindent
14986 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
14987
14988 @table @code
14989 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
14990 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
14991 @kindex set case-sensitive
14992 @item set case-sensitive on
14993 @itemx set case-sensitive off
14994 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
14995 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
14996 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
14997 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
14998 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
14999 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15000 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15001 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15002 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15003 case-insensitive matches.
15004
15005 @kindex show case-sensitive
15006 @item show case-sensitive
15007 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15008 lookups.
15009
15010 @kindex info address
15011 @cindex address of a symbol
15012 @item info address @var{symbol}
15013 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15014 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15015 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15016 is always stored.
15017
15018 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15019 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15020 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15021
15022 @kindex info symbol
15023 @cindex symbol from address
15024 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15025 @item info symbol @var{addr}
15026 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15027 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15028 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15029
15030 @smallexample
15031 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15032 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15033 @end smallexample
15034
15035 @noindent
15036 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15037 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15038
15039 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15040 library containing the symbol is also printed:
15041
15042 @smallexample
15043 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15044 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15045 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15046 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15047 @end smallexample
15048
15049 @kindex whatis
15050 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
15051 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15052 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15053 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15054
15055 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15056 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15057 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15058
15059 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15060 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15061 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15062 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15063 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15064 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15065 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15066 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15067 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15068
15069 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15070 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15071 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15072 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15073 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15074 unroll it.
15075
15076 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15077 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15078 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15079
15080 @kindex ptype
15081 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
15082 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15083 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15084 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15085
15086 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15087 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15088 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15089 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15090 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15091 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15092 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15093 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15094
15095 For example, for this variable declaration:
15096
15097 @smallexample
15098 typedef double real_t;
15099 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15100 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15101 complex_t var;
15102 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15103 @end smallexample
15104
15105 @noindent
15106 the two commands give this output:
15107
15108 @smallexample
15109 @group
15110 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15111 type = complex_t
15112 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15113 type = struct complex @{
15114 real_t real;
15115 double imag;
15116 @}
15117 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15118 type = struct complex
15119 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15120 type = struct complex
15121 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15122 type = struct complex @{
15123 real_t real;
15124 double imag;
15125 @}
15126 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15127 type = real_t *
15128 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15129 type = double *
15130 @end group
15131 @end smallexample
15132
15133 @noindent
15134 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15135 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15136
15137 @cindex incomplete type
15138 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15139 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15140 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15141 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15142 given these declarations:
15143
15144 @smallexample
15145 struct foo;
15146 struct foo *fooptr;
15147 @end smallexample
15148
15149 @noindent
15150 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15151
15152 @smallexample
15153 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15154 $1 = <incomplete type>
15155 @end smallexample
15156
15157 @noindent
15158 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15159 completely specified.
15160
15161 @kindex info types
15162 @item info types @var{regexp}
15163 @itemx info types
15164 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15165 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15166 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15167 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15168 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15169 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15170 name is @code{value}.
15171
15172 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15173 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15174 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15175
15176 @kindex info scope
15177 @cindex local variables
15178 @item info scope @var{location}
15179 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15180 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15181 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15182 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15183 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15184
15185 @smallexample
15186 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15187 Scope for command_line_handler:
15188 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15189 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15190 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15191 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15192 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15193 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15194 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15195 @end smallexample
15196
15197 @noindent
15198 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15199 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15200 collect}.
15201
15202 @kindex info source
15203 @item info source
15204 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15205 the function containing the current point of execution:
15206 @itemize @bullet
15207 @item
15208 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15209 @item
15210 the directory it was compiled in,
15211 @item
15212 its length, in lines,
15213 @item
15214 which programming language it is written in,
15215 @item
15216 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15217 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15218 @item
15219 whether the debugging information includes information about
15220 preprocessor macros.
15221 @end itemize
15222
15223
15224 @kindex info sources
15225 @item info sources
15226 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15227 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15228 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15229
15230 @kindex info functions
15231 @item info functions
15232 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15233
15234 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15235 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15236 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15237 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15238 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15239 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15240 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15241 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15242
15243 @kindex info variables
15244 @item info variables
15245 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15246 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15247
15248 @item info variables @var{regexp}
15249 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15250 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15251 @var{regexp}.
15252
15253 @kindex info classes
15254 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15255 @item info classes
15256 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15257 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15258 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15259 expression.
15260
15261 @kindex info selectors
15262 @item info selectors
15263 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15264 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15265 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15266 expression.
15267
15268 @ignore
15269 This was never implemented.
15270 @kindex info methods
15271 @item info methods
15272 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
15273 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
15274 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
15275 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
15276 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
15277 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
15278 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
15279 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
15280 @end ignore
15281
15282 @cindex opaque data types
15283 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
15284 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
15285 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
15286 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
15287 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
15288 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
15289 another source file. The default is on.
15290
15291 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
15292 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
15293
15294 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
15295 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
15296 is printed as follows:
15297 @smallexample
15298 @{<no data fields>@}
15299 @end smallexample
15300
15301 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
15302 @item show opaque-type-resolution
15303 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
15304
15305 @kindex maint print symbols
15306 @cindex symbol dump
15307 @kindex maint print psymbols
15308 @cindex partial symbol dump
15309 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
15310 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
15311 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
15312 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
15313 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
15314 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
15315 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
15316 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
15317 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
15318 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
15319 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
15320 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
15321 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
15322 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
15323 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
15324 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
15325 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
15326
15327 @kindex maint info symtabs
15328 @kindex maint info psymtabs
15329 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
15330 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15331 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15332 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15333 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15334 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15335
15336 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
15337 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
15338 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
15339 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
15340 structure in more detail. For example:
15341
15342 @smallexample
15343 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
15344 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15345 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15346 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15347 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
15348 readin no
15349 fullname (null)
15350 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
15351 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
15352 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
15353 dependencies (none)
15354 @}
15355 @}
15356 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15357 (@value{GDBP})
15358 @end smallexample
15359 @noindent
15360 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
15361 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
15362 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
15363 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
15364 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
15365
15366 @smallexample
15367 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
15368 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
15369 line 1574.
15370 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15371 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15372 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15373 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15374 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
15375 dirname (null)
15376 fullname (null)
15377 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
15378 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
15379 debugformat DWARF 2
15380 @}
15381 @}
15382 (@value{GDBP})
15383 @end smallexample
15384 @end table
15385
15386
15387 @node Altering
15388 @chapter Altering Execution
15389
15390 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
15391 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
15392 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
15393 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
15394 program.
15395
15396 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
15397 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
15398 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
15399
15400 @menu
15401 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
15402 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
15403 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
15404 * Returning:: Returning from a function
15405 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
15406 * Patching:: Patching your program
15407 @end menu
15408
15409 @node Assignment
15410 @section Assignment to Variables
15411
15412 @cindex assignment
15413 @cindex setting variables
15414 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
15415 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
15416
15417 @smallexample
15418 print x=4
15419 @end smallexample
15420
15421 @noindent
15422 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
15423 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
15424 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
15425 information on operators in supported languages.
15426
15427 @kindex set variable
15428 @cindex variables, setting
15429 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
15430 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
15431 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
15432 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
15433 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
15434
15435 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
15436 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
15437 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
15438 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
15439 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
15440 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
15441 command @code{set width}:
15442
15443 @smallexample
15444 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
15445 type = double
15446 (@value{GDBP}) p width
15447 $4 = 13
15448 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
15449 Invalid syntax in expression.
15450 @end smallexample
15451
15452 @noindent
15453 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
15454 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
15455
15456 @smallexample
15457 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
15458 @end smallexample
15459
15460 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
15461 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
15462 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
15463 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
15464 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
15465 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
15466
15467 @smallexample
15468 @group
15469 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
15470 type = double
15471 (@value{GDBP}) p g
15472 $1 = 1
15473 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
15474 (@value{GDBP}) p g
15475 $2 = 1
15476 (@value{GDBP}) r
15477 The program being debugged has been started already.
15478 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
15479 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
15480 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
15481 Invalid bfd target.
15482 (@value{GDBP}) show g
15483 The current BFD target is "=4".
15484 @end group
15485 @end smallexample
15486
15487 @noindent
15488 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
15489 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
15490 @code{g}, use
15491
15492 @smallexample
15493 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
15494 @end smallexample
15495
15496 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
15497 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
15498 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
15499 same length or shorter.
15500 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
15501 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
15502
15503 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
15504 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
15505 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
15506 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
15507 and representation in memory), and
15508
15509 @smallexample
15510 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
15511 @end smallexample
15512
15513 @noindent
15514 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
15515
15516 @node Jumping
15517 @section Continuing at a Different Address
15518
15519 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
15520 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
15521 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
15522
15523 @table @code
15524 @kindex jump
15525 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
15526 @item jump @var{linespec}
15527 @itemx j @var{linespec}
15528 @itemx jump @var{location}
15529 @itemx j @var{location}
15530 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
15531 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
15532 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
15533 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
15534 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
15535 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
15536
15537 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
15538 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
15539 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
15540 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
15541 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
15542 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
15543 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
15544 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
15545 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
15546 @end table
15547
15548 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
15549 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
15550 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
15551 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
15552 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
15553 example,
15554
15555 @smallexample
15556 set $pc = 0x485
15557 @end smallexample
15558
15559 @noindent
15560 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
15561 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
15562 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
15563
15564 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
15565 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
15566 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
15567 detail.
15568
15569 @c @group
15570 @node Signaling
15571 @section Giving your Program a Signal
15572 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
15573
15574 @table @code
15575 @kindex signal
15576 @item signal @var{signal}
15577 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
15578 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
15579 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
15580 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
15581
15582 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
15583 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
15584 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
15585 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
15586 signal.
15587
15588 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
15589 after executing the command.
15590 @end table
15591 @c @end group
15592
15593 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
15594 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
15595 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
15596 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
15597 passes the signal directly to your program.
15598
15599
15600 @node Returning
15601 @section Returning from a Function
15602
15603 @table @code
15604 @cindex returning from a function
15605 @kindex return
15606 @item return
15607 @itemx return @var{expression}
15608 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
15609 command. If you give an
15610 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
15611 value.
15612 @end table
15613
15614 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15615 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15616 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15617 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15618
15619 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15620 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15621 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15622 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15623 of functions.
15624
15625 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15626 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15627 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15628 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15629 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15630
15631 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15632 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15633 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15634 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15635 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15636 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15637 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15638 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15639 assignment into the right register(s).
15640
15641 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15642 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15643 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15644 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15645 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15646 into a @code{long long int}:
15647
15648 @smallexample
15649 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15650 29 return 31;
15651 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15652 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15653 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15654 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15655 (@value{GDBP})
15656 @end smallexample
15657
15658 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
15659 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
15660 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
15661 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
15662 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
15663 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
15664 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
15665 an appropriate cast explicitly:
15666
15667 @smallexample
15668 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
15669 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15670 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
15671 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
15672 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
15673 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
15674 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
15675 (@value{GDBP})
15676 @end smallexample
15677
15678 @node Calling
15679 @section Calling Program Functions
15680
15681 @table @code
15682 @cindex calling functions
15683 @cindex inferior functions, calling
15684 @item print @var{expr}
15685 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
15686 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
15687 debugged.
15688
15689 @kindex call
15690 @item call @var{expr}
15691 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15692 returned values.
15693
15694 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15695 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15696 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15697 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15698 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15699 value history.
15700 @end table
15701
15702 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15703 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15704 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15705 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15706
15707 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15708 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15709 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15710 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15711 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15712 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
15713 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
15714 in that case is controlled by the
15715 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
15716
15717 @table @code
15718 @item set unwindonsignal
15719 @kindex set unwindonsignal
15720 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
15721 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
15722 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
15723 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
15724 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
15725 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
15726 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
15727 received.
15728
15729 @item show unwindonsignal
15730 @kindex show unwindonsignal
15731 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15732 @value{GDBN}.
15733
15734 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15735 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15736 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
15737 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
15738 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
15739 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
15740 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
15741 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
15742 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
15743 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
15744
15745 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15746 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15747 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15748 @value{GDBN}.
15749
15750 @end table
15751
15752 @cindex weak alias functions
15753 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
15754 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
15755 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
15756 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
15757 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
15758 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
15759 function instead.
15760
15761 @node Patching
15762 @section Patching Programs
15763
15764 @cindex patching binaries
15765 @cindex writing into executables
15766 @cindex writing into corefiles
15767
15768 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
15769 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
15770 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
15771 patching your program's binary.
15772
15773 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
15774 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
15775 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
15776 repairs.
15777
15778 @table @code
15779 @kindex set write
15780 @item set write on
15781 @itemx set write off
15782 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
15783 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
15784 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
15785
15786 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
15787 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
15788 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
15789
15790 @item show write
15791 @kindex show write
15792 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
15793 as well as reading.
15794 @end table
15795
15796 @node GDB Files
15797 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
15798
15799 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
15800 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
15801 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
15802 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
15803
15804 @menu
15805 * Files:: Commands to specify files
15806 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
15807 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
15808 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
15809 * Data Files:: GDB data files
15810 @end menu
15811
15812 @node Files
15813 @section Commands to Specify Files
15814
15815 @cindex symbol table
15816 @cindex core dump file
15817
15818 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
15819 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
15820 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
15821 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
15822
15823 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
15824 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
15825 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
15826 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
15827 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
15828 new files are useful.
15829
15830 @table @code
15831 @cindex executable file
15832 @kindex file
15833 @item file @var{filename}
15834 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
15835 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
15836 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
15837 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
15838 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
15839 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
15840 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
15841 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
15842
15843 @cindex unlinked object files
15844 @cindex patching object files
15845 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
15846 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
15847 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
15848 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
15849 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
15850 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
15851 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
15852 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
15853
15854 @item file
15855 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
15856 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
15857
15858 @kindex exec-file
15859 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15860 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
15861 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
15862 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
15863 discard information on the executable file.
15864
15865 @kindex symbol-file
15866 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15867 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
15868 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
15869 table and program to run from the same file.
15870
15871 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
15872 program's symbol table.
15873
15874 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
15875 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
15876 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
15877 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
15878 @value{GDBN}.
15879
15880 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
15881 executing it once.
15882
15883 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
15884 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
15885 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
15886 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
15887 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
15888 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
15889 optimized code.
15890
15891 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
15892 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
15893 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
15894 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
15895 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
15896
15897 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
15898 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
15899 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
15900 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
15901 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
15902 Warnings and Messages}.)
15903
15904 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
15905 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
15906 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
15907 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
15908 in stabs format.
15909
15910 @kindex readnow
15911 @cindex reading symbols immediately
15912 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
15913 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15914 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15915 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
15916 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
15917 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
15918 entire symbol table available.
15919
15920 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
15921 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
15922 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
15923 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
15924 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
15925 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
15926 @c files.
15927
15928 @kindex core-file
15929 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
15930 @itemx core
15931 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
15932 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
15933 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
15934 executable file itself for other parts.
15935
15936 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
15937 to be used.
15938
15939 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
15940 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
15941 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
15942 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
15943 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
15944
15945 @kindex add-symbol-file
15946 @cindex dynamic linking
15947 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
15948 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
15949 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
15950 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
15951 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
15952 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
15953 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
15954 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
15955 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
15956 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
15957 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
15958 @var{address} as an expression.
15959
15960 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
15961 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
15962 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
15963 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
15964 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
15965
15966 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
15967 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
15968 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
15969 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
15970 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
15971 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
15972 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
15973 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
15974 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
15975
15976 @itemize @bullet
15977 @item
15978 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
15979 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
15980 @item
15981 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
15982 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
15983 @item
15984 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
15985 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15986 @end itemize
15987
15988 @noindent
15989 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
15990 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
15991 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
15992 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
15993 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
15994 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
15995 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
15996 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
15997 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
15998 way.
15999
16000 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16001
16002 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16003 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16004 @cindex load symbols from memory
16005 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16006 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16007 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16008 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16009 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16010 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16011 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16012 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16013 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16014
16015 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16016 @kindex assf
16017 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16018 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
16019 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16020 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16021 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16022 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16023 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16024 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16025 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16026 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16027
16028 @kindex section
16029 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16030 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16031 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16032 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16033 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16034 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16035 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16036 their addresses.
16037
16038 @kindex info files
16039 @kindex info target
16040 @item info files
16041 @itemx info target
16042 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16043 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16044 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16045 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16046 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16047 current ones.
16048
16049 @kindex maint info sections
16050 @item maint info sections
16051 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16052 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16053 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16054 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16055 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16056 may be arbitrarily combined):
16057
16058 @table @code
16059 @item ALLOBJ
16060 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16061 @item @var{sections}
16062 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16063 @item @var{section-flags}
16064 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16065 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16066 @table @code
16067 @item ALLOC
16068 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16069 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16070 @item LOAD
16071 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16072 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16073 @item RELOC
16074 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16075 @item READONLY
16076 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16077 @item CODE
16078 Section contains executable code only.
16079 @item DATA
16080 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16081 @item ROM
16082 Section will reside in ROM.
16083 @item CONSTRUCTOR
16084 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16085 @item HAS_CONTENTS
16086 Section is not empty.
16087 @item NEVER_LOAD
16088 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16089 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16090 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16091 COFF shared library information.
16092 @item IS_COMMON
16093 Section contains common symbols.
16094 @end table
16095 @end table
16096 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16097 @cindex read-only sections
16098 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16099 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16100 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16101 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16102 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16103 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16104 enhancement to debugging performance.
16105
16106 The default is off.
16107
16108 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16109 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16110 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16111 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16112
16113 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16114 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16115 @end table
16116
16117 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16118 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16119 name and remembers it that way.
16120
16121 @cindex shared libraries
16122 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16123 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16124 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16125
16126 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16127 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16128
16129 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16130 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16131 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16132 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16133 debugging a core file).
16134
16135 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16136 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16137
16138 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16139 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16140 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16141
16142 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16143 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16144 particularly large or there are many of them.
16145
16146 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16147 commands:
16148
16149 @table @code
16150 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16151 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16152 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16153 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16154 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16155 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16156 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16157 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16158
16159 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16160 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16161 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16162 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16163 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16164 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16165 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16166 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16167 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16168
16169 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16170 @item show auto-solib-add
16171 Display the current autoloading mode.
16172 @end table
16173
16174 @cindex load shared library
16175 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16176 command:
16177
16178 @table @code
16179 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16180 @kindex info share
16181 @item info share @var{regex}
16182 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16183 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16184 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16185 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16186
16187 @kindex sharedlibrary
16188 @kindex share
16189 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16190 @itemx share @var{regex}
16191 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16192 Unix regular expression.
16193 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16194 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16195 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16196 loaded.
16197
16198 @item nosharedlibrary
16199 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16200 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16201 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16202 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16203 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16204 discarded.
16205 @end table
16206
16207 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16208 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16209 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16210 Catchpoints}).
16211
16212 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16213 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16214 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16215 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16216
16217 @table @code
16218 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16219 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16220 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16221 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16222 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16223 shared library.
16224
16225 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16226 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16227 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16228 library events happen.
16229 @end table
16230
16231 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16232 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16233 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16234 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16235 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16236 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16237 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16238 not.
16239
16240 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16241 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16242 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16243 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16244 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16245
16246 @table @code
16247 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
16248 @cindex system root, alternate
16249 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16250 @kindex set sysroot
16251 @item set sysroot @var{path}
16252 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16253 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16254 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16255 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16256 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16257 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16258 under @var{path}.
16259
16260 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16261 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16262 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16263 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16264 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16265 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16266 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16267 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16268 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16269
16270 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
16271 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
16272 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
16273 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
16274 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
16275
16276 @smallexample
16277 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
16278 @end smallexample
16279
16280 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
16281 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
16282 system:
16283
16284 @smallexample
16285 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
16286 @end smallexample
16287
16288 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
16289 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
16290 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
16291 colons:
16292
16293 @smallexample
16294 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
16295 @end smallexample
16296
16297 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
16298 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
16299 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
16300 @samp{z}):
16301
16302 @smallexample
16303 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
16304 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16305 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16306 @end smallexample
16307
16308 @noindent
16309 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
16310 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
16311 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
16312
16313 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
16314 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
16315
16316 @smallexample
16317 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
16318 @end smallexample
16319
16320 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
16321 if you don't want or need to.
16322
16323 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
16324 sysroot}.
16325
16326 @cindex default system root
16327 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
16328 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
16329 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
16330 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16331 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
16332 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16333 location.
16334
16335 @kindex show sysroot
16336 @item show sysroot
16337 Display the current shared library prefix.
16338
16339 @kindex set solib-search-path
16340 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
16341 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16342 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
16343 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
16344 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
16345 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
16346 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
16347 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
16348 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
16349 of shared library symbols.
16350
16351 @kindex show solib-search-path
16352 @item show solib-search-path
16353 Display the current shared library search path.
16354
16355 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
16356 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
16357 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
16358 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
16359 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
16360
16361 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
16362 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
16363 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
16364 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
16365 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
16366 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
16367 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
16368 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
16369 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
16370 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
16371 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
16372 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
16373 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
16374 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
16375 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
16376 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
16377 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
16378 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
16379 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
16380 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
16381 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
16382 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
16383
16384 @table @code
16385 @item unix
16386 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
16387 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
16388 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
16389 the forward slash.
16390
16391 @item dos-based
16392 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
16393 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
16394 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
16395 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
16396 considered directory separators.
16397
16398 @item auto
16399 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
16400 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
16401 This is the default.
16402 @end table
16403 @end table
16404
16405 @cindex file name canonicalization
16406 @cindex base name differences
16407 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
16408 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
16409 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
16410 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
16411 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
16412 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
16413 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
16414 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
16415 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
16416 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
16417 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
16418 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
16419 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
16420 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
16421 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
16422
16423 @table @code
16424 @item set basenames-may-differ
16425 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
16426 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16427
16428 @item show basenames-may-differ
16429 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
16430 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16431 @end table
16432
16433 @node Separate Debug Files
16434 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
16435 @cindex separate debugging information files
16436 @cindex debugging information in separate files
16437 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
16438 @cindex debugging information directory, global
16439 @cindex global debugging information directories
16440 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
16441 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
16442
16443 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
16444 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
16445 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
16446 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
16447 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
16448 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
16449 install only when they need to debug a problem.
16450
16451 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
16452 file:
16453
16454 @itemize @bullet
16455 @item
16456 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
16457 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
16458 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
16459 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
16460 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
16461 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
16462 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
16463 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
16464
16465 @item
16466 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
16467 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
16468 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
16469 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
16470 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
16471 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
16472 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
16473 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
16474 below.
16475 @end itemize
16476
16477 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
16478 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
16479
16480 @itemize @bullet
16481 @item
16482 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
16483 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
16484 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
16485 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
16486 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
16487
16488 @item
16489 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
16490 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
16491 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
16492 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
16493 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
16494 hex characters, not 10.)
16495 @end itemize
16496
16497 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
16498 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
16499 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
16500 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
16501 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
16502 debug information files, in the indicated order:
16503
16504 @itemize @minus
16505 @item
16506 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
16507 @item
16508 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
16509 @item
16510 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
16511 @item
16512 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
16513 @end itemize
16514
16515 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
16516 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
16517 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
16518 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
16519 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
16520
16521 @table @code
16522
16523 @kindex set debug-file-directory
16524 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
16525 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16526 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
16527 concatenating them by a path separator.
16528
16529 @kindex show debug-file-directory
16530 @item show debug-file-directory
16531 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16532 information files.
16533
16534 @end table
16535
16536 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
16537 @cindex debug link sections
16538 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
16539 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
16540
16541 @itemize
16542 @item
16543 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
16544 a zero byte,
16545 @item
16546 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
16547 boundary within the section, and
16548 @item
16549 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
16550 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
16551 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
16552 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
16553 @end itemize
16554
16555 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
16556 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
16557 described above.
16558
16559 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
16560 @cindex build ID sections
16561 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
16562 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
16563 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
16564 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
16565 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
16566 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
16567 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
16568 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
16569 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
16570
16571 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
16572 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
16573 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
16574 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
16575 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
16576 in an ordinary executable.
16577
16578 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
16579 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
16580 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
16581 following commands:
16582
16583 @smallexample
16584 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
16585 @kbd{strip -g foo}
16586 @end smallexample
16587
16588 @noindent
16589 These commands remove the debugging
16590 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
16591 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
16592 two files:
16593
16594 @itemize @bullet
16595 @item
16596 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
16597 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
16598
16599 @smallexample
16600 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
16601 @end smallexample
16602
16603 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
16604 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
16605 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
16606 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
16607
16608 @item
16609 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
16610 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
16611 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
16612 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
16613 @end itemize
16614
16615 @noindent
16616
16617 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
16618 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
16619 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
16620
16621 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16622 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16623 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16624 @c different ways!
16625 @ifhtml
16626 @display
16627 @html
16628 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
16629 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
16630 @end html
16631 @end display
16632 @end ifhtml
16633 @ifnothtml
16634 @display
16635 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16636 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16637 @end display
16638 @end ifnothtml
16639
16640 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16641 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16642 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16643 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16644 CRC.
16645
16646 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16647 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16648 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16649 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16650 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16651 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16652
16653 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16654 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16655 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
16656 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
16657 @code{0xffffffff}.
16658
16659 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
16660 @smallexample
16661 unsigned long
16662 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
16663 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
16664 @{
16665 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
16666 @{
16667 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
16668 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
16669 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
16670 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
16671 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
16672 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
16673 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
16674 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
16675 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
16676 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
16677 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
16678 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
16679 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
16680 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
16681 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
16682 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
16683 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
16684 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
16685 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
16686 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
16687 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
16688 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
16689 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
16690 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
16691 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
16692 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
16693 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
16694 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
16695 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
16696 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
16697 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
16698 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
16699 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16700 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16701 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16702 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16703 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16704 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16705 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16706 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16707 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16708 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16709 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16710 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16711 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
16712 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
16713 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
16714 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
16715 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
16716 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
16717 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
16718 0x2d02ef8d
16719 @};
16720 unsigned char *end;
16721
16722 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16723 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
16724 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
16725 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16726 @}
16727 @end smallexample
16728
16729 @noindent
16730 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
16731
16732
16733 @node Index Files
16734 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
16735 @cindex index files
16736 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
16737
16738 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
16739 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
16740 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
16741 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
16742 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
16743 startup.
16744
16745 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
16746 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
16747 using @command{objcopy}.
16748
16749 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
16750
16751 @table @code
16752 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
16753 @kindex save gdb-index
16754 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
16755 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
16756 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
16757 @var{directory}.
16758 @end table
16759
16760 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
16761 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
16762
16763 @smallexample
16764 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
16765 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
16766 @end smallexample
16767
16768 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
16769 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
16770 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
16771 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
16772 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
16773 The default is @code{off}.
16774 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
16775 @xref{Index Section Format}.
16776
16777 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
16778 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
16779
16780 @smallexample
16781 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
16782 @end smallexample
16783
16784 Instead you must do, for example,
16785
16786 @smallexample
16787 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
16788 @end smallexample
16789
16790 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
16791 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
16792 currently work for programs using Ada.
16793
16794 @node Symbol Errors
16795 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
16796
16797 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
16798 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
16799 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
16800 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
16801 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
16802 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
16803 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
16804 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
16805 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
16806 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16807 Messages}).
16808
16809 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
16810
16811 @table @code
16812 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
16813
16814 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
16815 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
16816 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
16817 in its outer scope blocks.
16818
16819 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
16820 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
16821 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
16822 function.
16823
16824 @item block at @var{address} out of order
16825
16826 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
16827 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
16828 do so.
16829
16830 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
16831 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
16832 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
16833 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16834 Messages}.)
16835
16836 @item bad block start address patched
16837
16838 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
16839 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
16840 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
16841
16842 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
16843 starting on the previous source line.
16844
16845 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
16846
16847 @cindex foo
16848 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
16849 larger than the size of the string table.
16850
16851 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
16852 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
16853 with this name.
16854
16855 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
16856
16857 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
16858 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
16859 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
16860
16861 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
16862 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
16863 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
16864 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
16865 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
16866 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
16867
16868 @item stub type has NULL name
16869
16870 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
16871
16872 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
16873 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
16874 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
16875 it.
16876
16877 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
16878
16879 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
16880
16881 @end table
16882
16883 @node Data Files
16884 @section GDB Data Files
16885
16886 @cindex prefix for data files
16887 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
16888 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
16889
16890 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
16891 is currently using.
16892
16893 @table @code
16894 @kindex set data-directory
16895 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
16896 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
16897 to @var{directory}.
16898
16899 @kindex show data-directory
16900 @item show data-directory
16901 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
16902 @end table
16903
16904 @cindex default data directory
16905 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
16906 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
16907 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
16908 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16909 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
16910 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16911 location.
16912
16913 The data directory may also be specified with the
16914 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
16915 @xref{Mode Options}.
16916
16917 @node Targets
16918 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
16919
16920 @cindex debugging target
16921 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
16922
16923 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
16924 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
16925 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
16926 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
16927 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
16928 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
16929 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
16930 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
16931
16932 @cindex target architecture
16933 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
16934 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
16935 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
16936 command.
16937
16938 @table @code
16939 @kindex set architecture
16940 @kindex show architecture
16941 @item set architecture @var{arch}
16942 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
16943 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
16944 supported architectures.
16945
16946 @item show architecture
16947 Show the current target architecture.
16948
16949 @item set processor
16950 @itemx processor
16951 @kindex set processor
16952 @kindex show processor
16953 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
16954 and @code{show architecture}.
16955 @end table
16956
16957 @menu
16958 * Active Targets:: Active targets
16959 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
16960 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
16961 @end menu
16962
16963 @node Active Targets
16964 @section Active Targets
16965
16966 @cindex stacking targets
16967 @cindex active targets
16968 @cindex multiple targets
16969
16970 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
16971 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
16972 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
16973 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
16974 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
16975 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
16976 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
16977 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
16978 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
16979
16980 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
16981 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
16982 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
16983 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
16984
16985 @node Target Commands
16986 @section Commands for Managing Targets
16987
16988 @table @code
16989 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
16990 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
16991 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
16992 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
16993 protocol of the target machine.
16994
16995 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
16996 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
16997 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
16998
16999 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17000 after executing the command.
17001
17002 @kindex help target
17003 @item help target
17004 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17005 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17006 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17007
17008 @item help target @var{name}
17009 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17010 select it.
17011
17012 @kindex set gnutarget
17013 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
17014 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17015 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17016 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17017 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17018 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17019
17020 @quotation
17021 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17022 you must know the actual BFD name.
17023 @end quotation
17024
17025 @noindent
17026 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17027
17028 @kindex show gnutarget
17029 @item show gnutarget
17030 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17031 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17032 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17033 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
17034 @end table
17035
17036 @cindex common targets
17037 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17038 configuration):
17039
17040 @table @code
17041 @kindex target
17042 @item target exec @var{program}
17043 @cindex executable file target
17044 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17045 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17046
17047 @item target core @var{filename}
17048 @cindex core dump file target
17049 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17050 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17051
17052 @item target remote @var{medium}
17053 @cindex remote target
17054 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17055 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17056 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17057
17058 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17059 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17060
17061 @smallexample
17062 target remote /dev/ttya
17063 @end smallexample
17064
17065 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17066 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17067 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17068 clobbered by the download.
17069
17070 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17071 @cindex built-in simulator target
17072 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17073 In general,
17074 @smallexample
17075 target sim
17076 load
17077 run
17078 @end smallexample
17079 @noindent
17080 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17081 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17082 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17083 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17084 Processors}.
17085
17086 @end table
17087
17088 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
17089
17090 @table @code
17091
17092 @item target nrom @var{dev}
17093 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
17094 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
17095
17096 @end table
17097
17098 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17099 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17100
17101 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17102 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17103 various aspects of this process.
17104
17105 @table @code
17106
17107 @item set hash
17108 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17109 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17110 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17111 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17112 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17113 monitor.
17114
17115 @item show hash
17116 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17117 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17118
17119 @item set debug monitor
17120 @kindex set debug monitor
17121 @cindex display remote monitor communications
17122 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17123 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17124
17125 @item show debug monitor
17126 @kindex show debug monitor
17127 Show the current status of displaying communications between
17128 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17129 @end table
17130
17131 @table @code
17132
17133 @kindex load @var{filename}
17134 @item load @var{filename}
17135 @anchor{load}
17136 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17137 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17138 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17139 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17140 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17141 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17142
17143 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17144 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17145 target is @dots{}}''
17146
17147 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17148 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17149 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17150 specifies a fixed address.
17151 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17152
17153 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17154 load programs into flash memory.
17155
17156 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17157 @end table
17158
17159 @node Byte Order
17160 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
17161
17162 @cindex choosing target byte order
17163 @cindex target byte order
17164
17165 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17166 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17167 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17168 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17169 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17170 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17171
17172 @table @code
17173 @kindex set endian
17174 @item set endian big
17175 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17176
17177 @item set endian little
17178 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17179
17180 @item set endian auto
17181 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17182 executable.
17183
17184 @item show endian
17185 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17186
17187 @end table
17188
17189 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17190 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17191 target system.
17192
17193
17194 @node Remote Debugging
17195 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17196 @cindex remote debugging
17197
17198 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17199 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17200 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17201 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17202 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17203
17204 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17205 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17206 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17207 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17208 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17209 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17210
17211 Other remote targets may be available in your
17212 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17213
17214 @menu
17215 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17216 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17217 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17218 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17219 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17220 @end menu
17221
17222 @node Connecting
17223 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
17224
17225 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
17226 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
17227 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
17228 program as the first argument.
17229
17230 @cindex @code{target remote}
17231 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
17232 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
17233 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
17234 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
17235 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
17236 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
17237
17238 @table @code
17239
17240 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
17241 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
17242 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
17243 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
17244
17245 @smallexample
17246 target remote /dev/ttyb
17247 @end smallexample
17248
17249 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
17250 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
17251 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
17252 @code{target} command.
17253
17254 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
17255 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17256 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
17257 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
17258 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
17259 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
17260 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
17261 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
17262 target.
17263
17264 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
17265 @code{manyfarms}:
17266
17267 @smallexample
17268 target remote manyfarms:2828
17269 @end smallexample
17270
17271 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
17272 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
17273 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
17274 port 1234 on your local machine:
17275
17276 @smallexample
17277 target remote :1234
17278 @end smallexample
17279 @noindent
17280
17281 Note that the colon is still required here.
17282
17283 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17284 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
17285 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
17286 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
17287
17288 @smallexample
17289 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
17290 @end smallexample
17291
17292 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
17293 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
17294 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
17295 cause havoc with your debugging session.
17296
17297 @item target remote | @var{command}
17298 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
17299 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
17300 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
17301 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
17302 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
17303 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
17304 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
17305 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
17306
17307 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
17308 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
17309 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
17310
17311 @end table
17312
17313 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
17314 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
17315 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
17316 need to use @kbd{run}.
17317
17318 @cindex interrupting remote programs
17319 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
17320 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
17321 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
17322 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
17323 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
17324 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
17325
17326 @smallexample
17327 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
17328 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
17329 @end smallexample
17330
17331 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
17332 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
17333 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
17334 goes back to waiting.
17335
17336 @table @code
17337 @kindex detach (remote)
17338 @item detach
17339 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
17340 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
17341 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
17342 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
17343 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
17344
17345 @kindex disconnect
17346 @item disconnect
17347 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
17348 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
17349 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
17350 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
17351 another target.
17352
17353 @cindex send command to remote monitor
17354 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
17355 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
17356 @kindex monitor
17357 @item monitor @var{cmd}
17358 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
17359 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
17360 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
17361 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
17362 and implement.
17363 @end table
17364
17365 @node File Transfer
17366 @section Sending files to a remote system
17367 @cindex remote target, file transfer
17368 @cindex file transfer
17369 @cindex sending files to remote systems
17370
17371 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
17372 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
17373 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
17374 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
17375 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
17376 the only way to upload or download files.
17377
17378 Not all remote targets support these commands.
17379
17380 @table @code
17381 @kindex remote put
17382 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
17383 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
17384 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
17385
17386 @kindex remote get
17387 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
17388 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
17389 on the host system.
17390
17391 @kindex remote delete
17392 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
17393 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
17394
17395 @end table
17396
17397 @node Server
17398 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
17399
17400 @kindex gdbserver
17401 @cindex remote connection without stubs
17402 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
17403 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
17404 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
17405
17406 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
17407 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
17408 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
17409 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
17410 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
17411 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
17412 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
17413 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
17414 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
17415 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
17416 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
17417 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
17418 choice for debugging.
17419
17420 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
17421 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
17422 protocol.
17423
17424 @quotation
17425 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
17426 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
17427 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
17428 target system with the same privileges as the user running
17429 @code{gdbserver}.
17430 @end quotation
17431
17432 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
17433 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
17434 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
17435
17436 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
17437 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
17438 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
17439 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
17440 system does all the symbol handling.
17441
17442 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
17443 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
17444 syntax is:
17445
17446 @smallexample
17447 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
17448 @end smallexample
17449
17450 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
17451 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
17452 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
17453 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
17454 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
17455 @file{/dev/com1}:
17456
17457 @smallexample
17458 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
17459 @end smallexample
17460
17461 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
17462 with it.
17463
17464 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
17465
17466 @smallexample
17467 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
17468 @end smallexample
17469
17470 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
17471 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
17472 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
17473 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
17474 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
17475 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
17476 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
17477 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
17478 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
17479 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
17480 @code{target remote} command.
17481
17482 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
17483 with ssh:
17484
17485 @smallexample
17486 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
17487 @end smallexample
17488
17489 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
17490 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
17491 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
17492 You could elide it if you want to.
17493
17494 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
17495 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
17496 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
17497 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
17498
17499 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
17500 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
17501 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
17502
17503 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
17504 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
17505
17506 @smallexample
17507 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
17508 @end smallexample
17509
17510 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
17511 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
17512
17513 @pindex pidof
17514 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
17515 @code{pidof} utility:
17516
17517 @smallexample
17518 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
17519 @end smallexample
17520
17521 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
17522 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
17523 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
17524
17525 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
17526 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
17527 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
17528
17529 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
17530 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
17531 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
17532 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
17533
17534 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
17535 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
17536 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
17537 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
17538 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
17539 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
17540 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
17541 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
17542 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
17543
17544 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
17545 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
17546 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
17547 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
17548 the program you want to debug.
17549
17550 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
17551 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
17552 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
17553 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
17554 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
17555 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
17556
17557 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
17558
17559 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
17560
17561 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
17562 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
17563 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
17564 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
17565 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
17566 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
17567 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
17568 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
17569
17570 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
17571 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
17572 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
17573
17574 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
17575 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
17576 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
17577 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
17578 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
17579 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
17580 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
17581 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
17582 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
17583 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
17584 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
17585 instance closes its port after the first connection.
17586
17587 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
17588
17589 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17590 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
17591 status information about the debugging process.
17592 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17593 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
17594 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
17595 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
17596
17597 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
17598 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
17599 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
17600 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
17601 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
17602
17603 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
17604 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
17605 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
17606 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
17607
17608 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
17609 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
17610 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
17611 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
17612
17613 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
17614 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
17615 environment:
17616
17617 @smallexample
17618 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
17619 @end smallexample
17620
17621 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
17622
17623 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
17624
17625 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
17626 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
17627 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
17628 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
17629
17630 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
17631 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
17632 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
17633 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
17634 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
17635 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
17636 programs.
17637
17638 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17639 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
17640 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
17641 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
17642 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
17643 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
17644 already on the target.
17645
17646 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
17647 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
17648 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
17649
17650 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
17651 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
17652 Here are the available commands.
17653
17654 @table @code
17655 @item monitor help
17656 List the available monitor commands.
17657
17658 @item monitor set debug 0
17659 @itemx monitor set debug 1
17660 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
17661
17662 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
17663 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
17664 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
17665 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
17666
17667 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
17668 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
17669 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17670 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
17671 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
17672 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
17673
17674 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
17675 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
17676
17677 @item monitor exit
17678 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
17679 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
17680 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
17681 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
17682 of a multi-process mode debug session.
17683
17684 @end table
17685
17686 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17687 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17688
17689 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
17690 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
17691
17692 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
17693 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
17694 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
17695 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
17696 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
17697 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
17698 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
17699 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
17700 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
17701 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
17702 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
17703 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
17704
17705 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
17706
17707 @table @code
17708 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
17709
17710 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
17711 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
17712 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
17713
17714 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
17715
17716 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
17717 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
17718 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
17719 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
17720 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
17721 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
17722
17723 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
17724
17725 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
17726 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
17727 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
17728 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
17729 command for that. For example:
17730
17731 @smallexample
17732 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
17733 @end smallexample
17734
17735 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
17736 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
17737 @end table
17738
17739 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
17740 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
17741 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
17742 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
17743 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
17744 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
17745 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
17746 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
17747 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
17748 @code{gdbserver} like so:
17749
17750 @smallexample
17751 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
17752 @end smallexample
17753
17754 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
17755
17756 @smallexample
17757 $ gdb myprogram
17758 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
17759 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
17760 (@value{GDBP}) b main
17761 (@value{GDBP}) continue
17762 @end smallexample
17763
17764 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
17765 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
17766 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
17767 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
17768 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
17769 tracing.
17770
17771 @node Remote Configuration
17772 @section Remote Configuration
17773
17774 @kindex set remote
17775 @kindex show remote
17776 This section documents the configuration options available when
17777 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
17778 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
17779 system-call-allowed}.
17780
17781 @table @code
17782 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
17783 @cindex address size for remote targets
17784 @cindex bits in remote address
17785 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
17786 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
17787 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
17788 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
17789
17790 @item show remoteaddresssize
17791 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
17792
17793 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
17794 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
17795 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
17796 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
17797 remote targets.
17798
17799 @item show remotebaud
17800 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
17801
17802 @item set remotebreak
17803 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17804 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
17805 @anchor{set remotebreak}
17806 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
17807 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
17808 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
17809 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
17810 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
17811
17812 @item show remotebreak
17813 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
17814 interrupt the remote program.
17815
17816 @item set remoteflow on
17817 @itemx set remoteflow off
17818 @kindex set remoteflow
17819 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
17820 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
17821
17822 @item show remoteflow
17823 @kindex show remoteflow
17824 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
17825
17826 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
17827 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
17828 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
17829 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
17830 @code{ascii}.
17831
17832 @item show remotelogbase
17833 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
17834 protocol.
17835
17836 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
17837 @cindex record serial communications on file
17838 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
17839 default is not to record at all.
17840
17841 @item show remotelogfile.
17842 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
17843 serial communications.
17844
17845 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
17846 @cindex timeout for serial communications
17847 @cindex remote timeout
17848 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
17849 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
17850
17851 @item show remotetimeout
17852 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
17853 responses.
17854
17855 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
17856 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
17857 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
17858 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
17859 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
17860 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
17861 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
17862 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
17863
17864 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
17865 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
17866 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
17867 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
17868 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
17869 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
17870 as unlimited.
17871
17872 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
17873 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
17874 a remote hardware watchpoint.
17875
17876 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
17877 @itemx show remote exec-file
17878 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
17879 @cindex executable file, for remote target
17880 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
17881 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
17882 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
17883 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
17884
17885 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
17886 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17887 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
17888 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
17889 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
17890 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
17891 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
17892 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
17893 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
17894 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
17895
17896 @item show interrupt-sequence
17897 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
17898 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
17899 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
17900 also known as Magic SysRq g.
17901
17902 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
17903 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
17904 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
17905 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
17906 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
17907 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
17908
17909 @item show interrupt-on-connect
17910 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
17911 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
17912
17913 @kindex set tcp
17914 @kindex show tcp
17915 @item set tcp auto-retry on
17916 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
17917 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
17918 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
17919 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
17920 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
17921 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
17922 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
17923 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
17924
17925 @item set tcp auto-retry off
17926 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
17927
17928 @item show tcp auto-retry
17929 Show the current auto-retry setting.
17930
17931 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
17932 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
17933 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
17934 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
17935 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
17936 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
17937 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
17938 value.
17939
17940 @item show tcp connect-timeout
17941 Show the current connection timeout setting.
17942 @end table
17943
17944 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
17945 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
17946 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
17947 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
17948 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
17949 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
17950 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
17951 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
17952 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
17953
17954 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
17955 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
17956 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
17957 @value{GDBN} developers.
17958
17959 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
17960 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
17961 are:
17962
17963 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
17964 @item Command Name
17965 @tab Remote Packet
17966 @tab Related Features
17967
17968 @item @code{fetch-register}
17969 @tab @code{p}
17970 @tab @code{info registers}
17971
17972 @item @code{set-register}
17973 @tab @code{P}
17974 @tab @code{set}
17975
17976 @item @code{binary-download}
17977 @tab @code{X}
17978 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
17979
17980 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
17981 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
17982 @tab @code{info auxv}
17983
17984 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
17985 @tab @code{qSymbol}
17986 @tab Detecting multiple threads
17987
17988 @item @code{attach}
17989 @tab @code{vAttach}
17990 @tab @code{attach}
17991
17992 @item @code{verbose-resume}
17993 @tab @code{vCont}
17994 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
17995
17996 @item @code{run}
17997 @tab @code{vRun}
17998 @tab @code{run}
17999
18000 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
18001 @tab @code{Z0}
18002 @tab @code{break}
18003
18004 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18005 @tab @code{Z1}
18006 @tab @code{hbreak}
18007
18008 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
18009 @tab @code{Z2}
18010 @tab @code{watch}
18011
18012 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
18013 @tab @code{Z3}
18014 @tab @code{rwatch}
18015
18016 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
18017 @tab @code{Z4}
18018 @tab @code{awatch}
18019
18020 @item @code{target-features}
18021 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18022 @tab @code{set architecture}
18023
18024 @item @code{library-info}
18025 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18026 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18027
18028 @item @code{memory-map}
18029 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18030 @tab @code{info mem}
18031
18032 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
18033 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18034 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
18035
18036 @item @code{read-spu-object}
18037 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18038 @tab @code{info spu}
18039
18040 @item @code{write-spu-object}
18041 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18042 @tab @code{info spu}
18043
18044 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18045 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18046 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18047
18048 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18049 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18050 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18051
18052 @item @code{threads}
18053 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18054 @tab @code{info threads}
18055
18056 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18057 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18058 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18059
18060 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18061 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18062 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18063
18064 @item @code{search-memory}
18065 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18066 @tab @code{find}
18067
18068 @item @code{supported-packets}
18069 @tab @code{qSupported}
18070 @tab Remote communications parameters
18071
18072 @item @code{pass-signals}
18073 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18074 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18075
18076 @item @code{program-signals}
18077 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18078 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18079
18080 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18081 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18082 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18083
18084 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18085 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18086 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18087
18088 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18089 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18090 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18091
18092 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18093 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18094 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18095
18096 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18097 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18098 @tab @code{remote delete}
18099
18100 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18101 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18102 @tab Host I/O
18103
18104 @item @code{noack-packet}
18105 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18106 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18107
18108 @item @code{osdata}
18109 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18110 @tab @code{info os}
18111
18112 @item @code{query-attached}
18113 @tab @code{qAttached}
18114 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
18115
18116 @item @code{traceframe-info}
18117 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18118 @tab Traceframe info
18119
18120 @item @code{install-in-trace}
18121 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18122 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18123
18124 @item @code{disable-randomization}
18125 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18126 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18127
18128 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18129 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18130 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18131 @end multitable
18132
18133 @node Remote Stub
18134 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
18135
18136 @cindex debugging stub, example
18137 @cindex remote stub, example
18138 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
18139 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18140 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18141 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18142 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18143 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18144 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18145 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18146
18147 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18148 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18149 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18150 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18151 program, you need:
18152
18153 @enumerate
18154 @item
18155 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18156 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18157 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18158
18159 @item
18160 A C subroutine library to support your program's
18161 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18162
18163 @item
18164 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18165 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18166 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18167 documentation.
18168 @end enumerate
18169
18170 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18171 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18172 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18173
18174 @table @emph
18175 @item On the host,
18176 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18177 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18178 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18179
18180 @item On the target,
18181 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18182 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18183 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18184
18185 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18186 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18187 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18188 @end table
18189
18190 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18191 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18192 @sc{sparc} boards.
18193
18194 @cindex remote serial stub list
18195 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18196
18197 @table @code
18198
18199 @item i386-stub.c
18200 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18201 @cindex Intel
18202 @cindex i386
18203 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18204
18205 @item m68k-stub.c
18206 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18207 @cindex Motorola 680x0
18208 @cindex m680x0
18209 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18210
18211 @item sh-stub.c
18212 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
18213 @cindex Renesas
18214 @cindex SH
18215 For Renesas SH architectures.
18216
18217 @item sparc-stub.c
18218 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
18219 @cindex Sparc
18220 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
18221
18222 @item sparcl-stub.c
18223 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
18224 @cindex Fujitsu
18225 @cindex SparcLite
18226 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
18227
18228 @end table
18229
18230 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
18231 recently added stubs.
18232
18233 @menu
18234 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
18235 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
18236 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
18237 @end menu
18238
18239 @node Stub Contents
18240 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
18241
18242 @cindex remote serial stub
18243 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
18244 subroutines:
18245
18246 @table @code
18247 @item set_debug_traps
18248 @findex set_debug_traps
18249 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
18250 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
18251 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
18252 program's startup code.
18253
18254 @item handle_exception
18255 @findex handle_exception
18256 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
18257 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
18258 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
18259 run when a trap is triggered.
18260
18261 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
18262 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
18263 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
18264 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
18265 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
18266 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
18267 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
18268 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
18269 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
18270 machine.
18271
18272 @item breakpoint
18273 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
18274 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
18275 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
18276 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
18277 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
18278 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
18279 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
18280 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
18281 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
18282 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
18283 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
18284
18285 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
18286 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
18287 start of your debugging session.
18288 @end table
18289
18290 @node Bootstrapping
18291 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
18292
18293 @cindex remote stub, support routines
18294 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
18295 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
18296 debugging target machine.
18297
18298 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
18299 serial port.
18300
18301 @table @code
18302 @item int getDebugChar()
18303 @findex getDebugChar
18304 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
18305 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
18306 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18307
18308 @item void putDebugChar(int)
18309 @findex putDebugChar
18310 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
18311 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
18312 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18313 @end table
18314
18315 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
18316 @cindex interrupting remote targets
18317 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
18318 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
18319 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
18320 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
18321 remote system to stop.
18322
18323 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
18324 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
18325 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
18326 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
18327
18328 Other routines you need to supply are:
18329
18330 @table @code
18331 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
18332 @findex exceptionHandler
18333 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
18334 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
18335 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
18336 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
18337 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
18338 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
18339 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
18340 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
18341 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
18342 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
18343 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
18344 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
18345 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
18346
18347 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
18348 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
18349 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
18350 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
18351 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
18352
18353 @item void flush_i_cache()
18354 @findex flush_i_cache
18355 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
18356 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
18357 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
18358
18359 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
18360 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
18361 @end table
18362
18363 @noindent
18364 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
18365
18366 @table @code
18367 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
18368 @findex memset
18369 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
18370 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
18371 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
18372 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
18373 @end table
18374
18375 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
18376 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
18377 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
18378 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
18379
18380
18381 @node Debug Session
18382 @subsection Putting it All Together
18383
18384 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
18385 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
18386 steps.
18387
18388 @enumerate
18389 @item
18390 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
18391 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
18392 @display
18393 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
18394 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
18395 @end display
18396
18397 @item
18398 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
18399 procedure is called:
18400
18401 @smallexample
18402 set_debug_traps();
18403 breakpoint();
18404 @end smallexample
18405
18406 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
18407 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
18408 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
18409 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
18410 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
18411 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
18412 progress.
18413
18414 @item
18415 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
18416 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
18417
18418 @smallexample
18419 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
18420 @end smallexample
18421
18422 @noindent
18423 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
18424 function in your program, that function is called when
18425 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
18426 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
18427 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
18428
18429 @item
18430 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
18431 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
18432
18433 @item
18434 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
18435 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
18436
18437 @item
18438 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
18439 @c document that. FIXME.
18440 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
18441 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
18442
18443 @item
18444 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
18445 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18446
18447 @end enumerate
18448
18449 @node Configurations
18450 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
18451
18452 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
18453 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
18454 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
18455
18456 There are three major categories of configurations: native
18457 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
18458 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
18459 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
18460 are quite different from each other.
18461
18462 @menu
18463 * Native::
18464 * Embedded OS::
18465 * Embedded Processors::
18466 * Architectures::
18467 @end menu
18468
18469 @node Native
18470 @section Native
18471
18472 This section describes details specific to particular native
18473 configurations.
18474
18475 @menu
18476 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
18477 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
18478 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
18479 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
18480 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
18481 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
18482 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
18483 @end menu
18484
18485 @node HP-UX
18486 @subsection HP-UX
18487
18488 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
18489 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
18490 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
18491
18492
18493 @node BSD libkvm Interface
18494 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
18495
18496 @cindex libkvm
18497 @cindex kernel memory image
18498 @cindex kernel crash dump
18499
18500 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
18501 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
18502 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
18503 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
18504 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
18505 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
18506 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
18507 @code{kvm} target:
18508
18509 @smallexample
18510 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
18511 @end smallexample
18512
18513 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
18514 argument:
18515
18516 @smallexample
18517 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
18518 @end smallexample
18519
18520 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
18521 available:
18522
18523 @table @code
18524 @kindex kvm
18525 @item kvm pcb
18526 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
18527
18528 @item kvm proc
18529 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
18530 modern FreeBSD systems.
18531 @end table
18532
18533 @node SVR4 Process Information
18534 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
18535 @cindex /proc
18536 @cindex examine process image
18537 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
18538
18539 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
18540 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
18541 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
18542 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
18543 proc} is available to report information about the process running
18544 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
18545 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
18546 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
18547 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
18548
18549 @table @code
18550 @kindex info proc
18551 @cindex process ID
18552 @item info proc
18553 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
18554 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
18555 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
18556 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
18557 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
18558 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
18559 executable file's absolute file name.
18560
18561 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
18562 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
18563 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
18564 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
18565 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
18566 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
18567
18568 @item info proc mappings
18569 @cindex memory address space mappings
18570 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
18571 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
18572 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
18573 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
18574 memory access rights to that range.
18575
18576 @item info proc stat
18577 @itemx info proc status
18578 @cindex process detailed status information
18579 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
18580 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
18581 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
18582 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
18583 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
18584 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
18585 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
18586
18587 @item info proc all
18588 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
18589 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
18590
18591 @ignore
18592 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
18593 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
18594 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
18595 @kindex info proc times
18596 @item info proc times
18597 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
18598 its children.
18599
18600 @kindex info proc id
18601 @item info proc id
18602 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
18603 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
18604 @end ignore
18605
18606 @item set procfs-trace
18607 @kindex set procfs-trace
18608 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
18609 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
18610
18611 @item show procfs-trace
18612 @kindex show procfs-trace
18613 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
18614
18615 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
18616 @kindex set procfs-file
18617 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
18618 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
18619 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
18620 standard output.
18621
18622 @item show procfs-file
18623 @kindex show procfs-file
18624 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
18625
18626 @item proc-trace-entry
18627 @itemx proc-trace-exit
18628 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
18629 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
18630 @kindex proc-trace-entry
18631 @kindex proc-trace-exit
18632 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
18633 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
18634 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
18635 from the @code{syscall} interface.
18636
18637 @item info pidlist
18638 @kindex info pidlist
18639 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
18640 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
18641 processes and all the threads within each process.
18642
18643 @item info meminfo
18644 @kindex info meminfo
18645 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
18646 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
18647 @end table
18648
18649 @node DJGPP Native
18650 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
18651 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
18652 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
18653 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
18654
18655 @cindex DPMI
18656 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
18657 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
18658 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
18659 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
18660
18661 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
18662 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
18663 subsection describes those commands.
18664
18665 @table @code
18666 @kindex info dos
18667 @item info dos
18668 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
18669 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18670
18671 @kindex sysinfo
18672 @cindex MS-DOS system info
18673 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
18674 @item info dos sysinfo
18675 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
18676 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
18677 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
18678
18679 @cindex GDT
18680 @cindex LDT
18681 @cindex IDT
18682 @cindex segment descriptor tables
18683 @cindex descriptor tables display
18684 @item info dos gdt
18685 @itemx info dos ldt
18686 @itemx info dos idt
18687 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
18688 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
18689 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
18690 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
18691 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
18692 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
18693 rights.
18694
18695 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
18696 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
18697 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
18698 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
18699 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
18700
18701 @cindex garbled pointers
18702 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
18703 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
18704 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
18705 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
18706 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
18707 debugged program's data segment:
18708
18709 @smallexample
18710 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
18711 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
18712 @end smallexample
18713
18714 @noindent
18715 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
18716 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
18717
18718 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
18719 @item info dos pde
18720 @itemx info dos pte
18721 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
18722 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
18723 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
18724 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
18725 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
18726 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
18727 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
18728 that is currently in use.
18729
18730 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
18731 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
18732 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
18733 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
18734 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
18735 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
18736 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
18737
18738 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
18739 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
18740 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
18741 controller.
18742
18743 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
18744
18745 @cindex physical address from linear address
18746 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
18747 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
18748 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
18749 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
18750 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
18751 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
18752 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
18753
18754 @smallexample
18755 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
18756 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
18757 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
18758 @end smallexample
18759
18760 @noindent
18761 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
18762 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
18763 attributes of that page.
18764
18765 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
18766 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
18767 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
18768 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
18769 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
18770 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
18771
18772 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
18773 transfer buffer:
18774
18775 @smallexample
18776 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
18777 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
18778 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
18779 @end smallexample
18780
18781 @noindent
18782 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
18783 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
18784 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
18785 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
18786 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
18787
18788 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
18789 @end table
18790
18791 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
18792 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
18793 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
18794 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
18795
18796 @table @code
18797 @kindex set com1base
18798 @kindex set com1irq
18799 @kindex set com2base
18800 @kindex set com2irq
18801 @kindex set com3base
18802 @kindex set com3irq
18803 @kindex set com4base
18804 @kindex set com4irq
18805 @item set com1base @var{addr}
18806 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
18807 port.
18808
18809 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
18810 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
18811 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
18812
18813 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
18814 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
18815 other 3 COM ports.
18816
18817 @kindex show com1base
18818 @kindex show com1irq
18819 @kindex show com2base
18820 @kindex show com2irq
18821 @kindex show com3base
18822 @kindex show com3irq
18823 @kindex show com4base
18824 @kindex show com4irq
18825 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
18826 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
18827 lines used by the COM ports.
18828
18829 @item info serial
18830 @kindex info serial
18831 @cindex DOS serial port status
18832 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
18833 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
18834 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
18835 counts of various errors encountered so far.
18836 @end table
18837
18838
18839 @node Cygwin Native
18840 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
18841 @cindex MS Windows debugging
18842 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
18843 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
18844
18845 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
18846 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
18847
18848 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
18849 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
18850 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
18851 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
18852 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
18853 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
18854 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
18855 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
18856
18857 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
18858 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
18859 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
18860
18861 @table @code
18862 @kindex info w32
18863 @item info w32
18864 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
18865 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18866
18867 @item info w32 selector
18868 This command displays information returned by
18869 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
18870 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
18871 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
18872 Without argument, this command displays information
18873 about the six segment registers.
18874
18875 @item info w32 thread-information-block
18876 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
18877 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
18878 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
18879
18880 @kindex info dll
18881 @item info dll
18882 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
18883
18884 @kindex dll-symbols
18885 @item dll-symbols
18886 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
18887 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
18888
18889 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
18890 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
18891 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
18892 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
18893 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
18894 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
18895 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
18896 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
18897 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
18898 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
18899 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
18900
18901 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
18902 @item show cygwin-exceptions
18903 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
18904 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
18905
18906 @kindex set new-console
18907 @item set new-console @var{mode}
18908 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
18909 be started in a new console on next start.
18910 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
18911 be started in the same console as the debugger.
18912
18913 @kindex show new-console
18914 @item show new-console
18915 Displays whether a new console is used
18916 when the debuggee is started.
18917
18918 @kindex set new-group
18919 @item set new-group @var{mode}
18920 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
18921 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
18922 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
18923 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
18924
18925 @kindex show new-group
18926 @item show new-group
18927 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
18928
18929 @kindex set debugevents
18930 @item set debugevents
18931 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
18932 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
18933 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
18934 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
18935 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
18936
18937 @kindex set debugexec
18938 @item set debugexec
18939 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
18940 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
18941
18942 @kindex set debugexceptions
18943 @item set debugexceptions
18944 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
18945 debuggee seen by the debugger.
18946
18947 @kindex set debugmemory
18948 @item set debugmemory
18949 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
18950 and writes by the debugger.
18951
18952 @kindex set shell
18953 @item set shell
18954 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
18955 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
18956
18957 @kindex show shell
18958 @item show shell
18959 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
18960
18961 @end table
18962
18963 @menu
18964 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
18965 @end menu
18966
18967 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
18968 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
18969 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
18970 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
18971
18972 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
18973 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
18974 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
18975 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
18976 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
18977 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
18978 ``minimal symbols''.
18979
18980 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
18981 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
18982 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
18983 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
18984 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
18985 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
18986 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
18987 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
18988 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
18989 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
18990
18991 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
18992
18993 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
18994 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
18995 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
18996 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
18997 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
18998 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
18999 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19000 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19001 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19002
19003 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19004 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19005 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19006 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19007 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19008 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19009
19010 @smallexample
19011 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19012 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19013
19014 Non-debugging symbols:
19015 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
19016 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19017 @end smallexample
19018
19019 @smallexample
19020 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
19021 All functions matching regular expression "!":
19022
19023 Non-debugging symbols:
19024 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
19025 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
19026 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19027 [etc...]
19028 @end smallexample
19029
19030 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19031
19032 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19033 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19034 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19035 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19036 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19037 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19038 a function within a DLL without a running program.
19039
19040 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19041 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19042 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19043 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19044 problem:
19045
19046 @smallexample
19047 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19048 $1 = 268572168
19049 @end smallexample
19050
19051 @smallexample
19052 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
19053 0x10021610: "\230y\""
19054 @end smallexample
19055
19056 And two possible solutions:
19057
19058 @smallexample
19059 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
19060 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19061 @end smallexample
19062
19063 @smallexample
19064 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
19065 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
19066 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
19067 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19068 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
19069 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19070 @end smallexample
19071
19072 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19073 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19074 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19075 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19076 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19077
19078 @smallexample
19079 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19080 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19081 @end smallexample
19082
19083 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19084 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19085 safe.
19086
19087 @node Hurd Native
19088 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19089 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19090
19091 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19092 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19093
19094 @table @code
19095 @item set signals
19096 @itemx set sigs
19097 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19098 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19099 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19100 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19101 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19102 @code{signals}.
19103
19104 @item show signals
19105 @itemx show sigs
19106 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19107 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19108 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19109
19110 @item set signal-thread
19111 @itemx set sigthread
19112 @kindex set signal-thread
19113 @kindex set sigthread
19114 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19115 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19116 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19117 signal-thread}.
19118
19119 @item show signal-thread
19120 @itemx show sigthread
19121 @kindex show signal-thread
19122 @kindex show sigthread
19123 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19124 delivered a signal.
19125
19126 @item set stopped
19127 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19128 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19129 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19130 continued by delivering a signal to it.
19131
19132 @item show stopped
19133 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19134 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19135 stopped.
19136
19137 @item set exceptions
19138 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19139 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19140 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19141 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19142 trapping on.
19143
19144 @item show exceptions
19145 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19146 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19147
19148 @item set task pause
19149 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19150 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19151 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19152 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19153 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19154 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19155 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19156 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19157 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19158
19159 @item show task pause
19160 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19161 Show the current state of task suspension.
19162
19163 @item set task detach-suspend-count
19164 @cindex task suspend count
19165 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19166 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
19167 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
19168
19169 @item show task detach-suspend-count
19170 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
19171
19172 @item set task exception-port
19173 @itemx set task excp
19174 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19175 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19176 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19177 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19178
19179 @item set noninvasive
19180 @cindex noninvasive task options
19181 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19182 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19183 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19184 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19185
19186 @item info send-rights
19187 @itemx info receive-rights
19188 @itemx info port-rights
19189 @itemx info port-sets
19190 @itemx info dead-names
19191 @itemx info ports
19192 @itemx info psets
19193 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19194 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19195 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19196 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19197 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19198 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
19199 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
19200 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
19201 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
19202
19203 @item set thread pause
19204 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
19205 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19206 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19207 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
19208 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
19209 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
19210 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
19211 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
19212 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
19213 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
19214 only the current thread.
19215
19216 @item show thread pause
19217 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
19218 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
19219
19220 @item set thread run
19221 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19222
19223 @item show thread run
19224 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19225
19226 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
19227 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19228 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19229 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
19230 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
19231 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
19232 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
19233
19234 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
19235 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
19236 detaching.
19237
19238 @item set thread exception-port
19239 @itemx set thread excp
19240 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
19241 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
19242 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
19243
19244 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
19245 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
19246 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
19247 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
19248
19249 @item set thread default
19250 @itemx show thread default
19251 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19252 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
19253 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
19254 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
19255 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
19256 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
19257 the non-default commands.
19258 @end table
19259
19260 @node Darwin
19261 @subsection Darwin
19262 @cindex Darwin
19263
19264 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
19265
19266 @table @code
19267 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
19268 @kindex set debug darwin
19269 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
19270 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
19271
19272 @item show debug darwin
19273 @kindex show debug darwin
19274 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
19275
19276 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
19277 @kindex set debug mach-o
19278 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
19279 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
19280 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
19281 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
19282 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
19283 usage.
19284
19285 @item show debug mach-o
19286 @kindex show debug mach-o
19287 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
19288
19289 @item set mach-exceptions on
19290 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
19291 @kindex set mach-exceptions
19292 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
19293 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
19294 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
19295 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
19296
19297 @item show mach-exceptions
19298 @kindex show mach-exceptions
19299 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
19300 @end table
19301
19302
19303 @node Embedded OS
19304 @section Embedded Operating Systems
19305
19306 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
19307 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
19308 architectures.
19309
19310 @menu
19311 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19312 @end menu
19313
19314 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
19315 various real-time operating systems.
19316
19317 @node VxWorks
19318 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19319
19320 @cindex VxWorks
19321
19322 @table @code
19323
19324 @kindex target vxworks
19325 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
19326 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
19327 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
19328
19329 @end table
19330
19331 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
19332 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
19333
19334 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
19335 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
19336 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19337 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
19338 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
19339 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
19340 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
19341
19342 @table @code
19343 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
19344 @kindex vxworks-timeout
19345 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
19346 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19347 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
19348 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
19349 of a thin network line.
19350 @end table
19351
19352 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
19353 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
19354 procedures.
19355
19356 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
19357 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
19358 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
19359 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
19360 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
19361 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
19362 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
19363 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
19364 manual.
19365 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
19366
19367 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
19368 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19369 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
19370 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
19371
19372 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19373
19374 @smallexample
19375 (vxgdb)
19376 @end smallexample
19377
19378 @menu
19379 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
19380 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
19381 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
19382 @end menu
19383
19384 @node VxWorks Connection
19385 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
19386
19387 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
19388 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
19389
19390 @smallexample
19391 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
19392 @end smallexample
19393
19394 @need 750
19395 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19396
19397 @smallexample
19398 Attaching remote machine across net...
19399 Connected to tt.
19400 @end smallexample
19401
19402 @need 1000
19403 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
19404 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
19405 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
19406 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
19407 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
19408
19409 @smallexample
19410 prog.o: No such file or directory.
19411 @end smallexample
19412
19413 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
19414 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
19415 command again.
19416
19417 @node VxWorks Download
19418 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
19419
19420 @cindex download to VxWorks
19421 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
19422 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
19423 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
19424 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
19425 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
19426 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
19427 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
19428 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
19429 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
19430 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
19431 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
19432 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
19433 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
19434 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
19435 program, type this on VxWorks:
19436
19437 @smallexample
19438 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
19439 @end smallexample
19440
19441 @noindent
19442 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19443
19444 @smallexample
19445 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
19446 (vxgdb) load prog.o
19447 @end smallexample
19448
19449 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
19450
19451 @smallexample
19452 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
19453 @end smallexample
19454
19455 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
19456 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
19457 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
19458 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
19459 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
19460 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
19461 table.)
19462
19463 @node VxWorks Attach
19464 @subsubsection Running Tasks
19465
19466 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
19467 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
19468 follows:
19469
19470 @smallexample
19471 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
19472 @end smallexample
19473
19474 @noindent
19475 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
19476 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
19477 the time of attachment.
19478
19479 @node Embedded Processors
19480 @section Embedded Processors
19481
19482 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
19483 configurations.
19484
19485 @cindex send command to simulator
19486 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
19487 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
19488
19489 @table @code
19490 @item sim @var{command}
19491 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
19492 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
19493 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
19494 acceptable commands.
19495 @end table
19496
19497
19498 @menu
19499 * ARM:: ARM RDI
19500 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
19501 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
19502 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
19503 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
19504 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
19505 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
19506 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
19507 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
19508 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
19509 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
19510 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
19511 * CRIS:: CRIS
19512 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
19513 @end menu
19514
19515 @node ARM
19516 @subsection ARM
19517 @cindex ARM RDI
19518
19519 @table @code
19520 @kindex target rdi
19521 @item target rdi @var{dev}
19522 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
19523 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
19524 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
19525
19526 @kindex target rdp
19527 @item target rdp @var{dev}
19528 ARM Demon monitor.
19529
19530 @end table
19531
19532 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
19533
19534 @table @code
19535 @item set arm disassembler
19536 @kindex set arm
19537 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
19538 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
19539
19540 @item show arm disassembler
19541 @kindex show arm
19542 Show the current disassembly style.
19543
19544 @item set arm apcs32
19545 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
19546 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
19547
19548 @item show arm apcs32
19549 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
19550
19551 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
19552 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
19553 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
19554
19555 @table @code
19556 @item auto
19557 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
19558 @item softfpa
19559 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
19560 processors.
19561 @item fpa
19562 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
19563 @item softvfp
19564 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
19565 @item vfp
19566 VFP co-processor.
19567 @end table
19568
19569 @item show arm fpu
19570 Show the current type of the FPU.
19571
19572 @item set arm abi
19573 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
19574
19575 @item show arm abi
19576 Show the currently used ABI.
19577
19578 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19579 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
19580 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
19581 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
19582 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
19583 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
19584 register).
19585
19586 @item show arm fallback-mode
19587 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
19588
19589 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19590 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
19591 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
19592 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
19593 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
19594
19595 @item show arm force-mode
19596 Show the current forced instruction mode.
19597
19598 @item set debug arm
19599 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
19600 target support subsystem.
19601
19602 @item show debug arm
19603 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
19604 @end table
19605
19606 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
19607 using the RDI interface:
19608
19609 @table @code
19610 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19611 @kindex rdilogfile
19612 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
19613 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
19614 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
19615 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
19616 @file{rdi.log}.
19617
19618 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
19619 @kindex rdilogenable
19620 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
19621 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
19622 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
19623 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
19624 are logged to a file.
19625
19626 @item set rdiromatzero
19627 @kindex set rdiromatzero
19628 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
19629 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
19630 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
19631 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
19632 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
19633
19634 @item show rdiromatzero
19635 @kindex show rdiromatzero
19636 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
19637
19638 @item set rdiheartbeat
19639 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
19640 @cindex RDI heartbeat
19641 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
19642 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
19643 well as the Angel monitor.
19644
19645 @item show rdiheartbeat
19646 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
19647 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
19648 @end table
19649
19650 @table @code
19651 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19652 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
19653
19654 @table @code
19655 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
19656 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
19657 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
19658 The default value is @code{all}.
19659
19660 @table @code
19661 @item none
19662 @item demon
19663 @item angel
19664 @item redboot
19665 @item all
19666 @end table
19667 @end table
19668 @end table
19669
19670 @node M32R/D
19671 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
19672
19673 @table @code
19674 @kindex target m32r
19675 @item target m32r @var{dev}
19676 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
19677
19678 @kindex target m32rsdi
19679 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
19680 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
19681 @end table
19682
19683 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
19684
19685 @table @code
19686 @item set download-path @var{path}
19687 @kindex set download-path
19688 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
19689 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19690
19691 @item show download-path
19692 @kindex show download-path
19693 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19694
19695 @item set board-address @var{addr}
19696 @kindex set board-address
19697 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
19698 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
19699
19700 @item show board-address
19701 @kindex show board-address
19702 Show the current IP address of the target board.
19703
19704 @item set server-address @var{addr}
19705 @kindex set server-address
19706 @cindex download server address (M32R)
19707 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
19708 host machine.
19709
19710 @item show server-address
19711 @kindex show server-address
19712 Display the IP address of the download server.
19713
19714 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19715 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
19716 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
19717 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
19718 executable file is uploaded.
19719
19720 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19721 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
19722 Test the @code{upload} command.
19723 @end table
19724
19725 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
19726
19727 @table @code
19728 @item sdireset
19729 @kindex sdireset
19730 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
19731 This command resets the SDI connection.
19732
19733 @item sdistatus
19734 @kindex sdistatus
19735 This command shows the SDI connection status.
19736
19737 @item debug_chaos
19738 @kindex debug_chaos
19739 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
19740 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
19741
19742 @item use_debug_dma
19743 @kindex use_debug_dma
19744 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
19745
19746 @item use_mon_code
19747 @kindex use_mon_code
19748 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
19749
19750 @item use_ib_break
19751 @kindex use_ib_break
19752 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
19753
19754 @item use_dbt_break
19755 @kindex use_dbt_break
19756 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
19757 @end table
19758
19759 @node M68K
19760 @subsection M68k
19761
19762 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
19763 target command for the following ROM monitor.
19764
19765 @table @code
19766
19767 @kindex target dbug
19768 @item target dbug @var{dev}
19769 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
19770
19771 @end table
19772
19773 @node MicroBlaze
19774 @subsection MicroBlaze
19775 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
19776 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
19777
19778 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
19779 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
19780 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
19781 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
19782 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
19783 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
19784 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
19785 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
19786 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
19787 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
19788 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
19789
19790 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
19791
19792 @table @code
19793 @item target remote :1234
19794 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
19795 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
19796
19797 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
19798 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
19799 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
19800
19801 @item load
19802 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
19803
19804 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
19805 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
19806
19807 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
19808 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
19809 @end table
19810
19811 @node MIPS Embedded
19812 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
19813
19814 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
19815 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
19816 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
19817 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
19818
19819 @need 1000
19820 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
19821
19822 @table @code
19823 @item target mips @var{port}
19824 @kindex target mips @var{port}
19825 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
19826 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
19827 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
19828 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
19829 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
19830 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
19831
19832 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
19833 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
19834 debugger:
19835
19836 @smallexample
19837 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
19838 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
19839 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
19840 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
19841 (@value{GDBP}) run
19842 @end smallexample
19843
19844 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
19845 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
19846 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
19847 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
19848 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
19849
19850 @item target pmon @var{port}
19851 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
19852 PMON ROM monitor.
19853
19854 @item target ddb @var{port}
19855 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
19856 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
19857
19858 @item target lsi @var{port}
19859 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
19860 LSI variant of PMON.
19861
19862 @kindex target r3900
19863 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
19864 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
19865
19866 @kindex target array
19867 @item target array @var{dev}
19868 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
19869
19870 @end table
19871
19872
19873 @noindent
19874 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
19875
19876 @table @code
19877 @item set mipsfpu double
19878 @itemx set mipsfpu single
19879 @itemx set mipsfpu none
19880 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
19881 @itemx show mipsfpu
19882 @kindex set mipsfpu
19883 @kindex show mipsfpu
19884 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
19885 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
19886 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
19887 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
19888 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
19889 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
19890 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
19891 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
19892 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
19893 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
19894 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
19895 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
19896 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
19897
19898 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
19899 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
19900 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
19901
19902 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
19903 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
19904
19905 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
19906 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
19907 @itemx show timeout
19908 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
19909 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
19910 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
19911 @kindex set timeout
19912 @kindex show timeout
19913 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
19914 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
19915 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
19916 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
19917 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
19918 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
19919 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
19920 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
19921 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
19922 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
19923
19924 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
19925 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
19926 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
19927 to run before stopping.
19928
19929 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
19930 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19931 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
19932 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
19933 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
19934 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
19935
19936 @item show syn-garbage-limit
19937 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19938 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
19939 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
19940
19941 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
19942 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19943 @cindex remote monitor prompt
19944 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
19945 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
19946 @table @asis
19947 @item pmon target
19948 @samp{PMON}
19949 @item ddb target
19950 @samp{NEC010}
19951 @item lsi target
19952 @samp{PMON>}
19953 @end table
19954
19955 @item show monitor-prompt
19956 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19957 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
19958 remote monitor.
19959
19960 @item set monitor-warnings
19961 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19962 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
19963 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
19964 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
19965 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
19966
19967 @item show monitor-warnings
19968 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19969 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
19970
19971 @item pmon @var{command}
19972 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19973 @cindex send PMON command
19974 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
19975 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
19976 @end table
19977
19978 @node OpenRISC 1000
19979 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
19980 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
19981
19982 @cindex or1k boards
19983 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
19984 about platform and commands.
19985
19986 @table @code
19987
19988 @kindex target jtag
19989 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
19990
19991 Connects to remote JTAG server.
19992 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
19993 connected via parallel port to the board.
19994
19995 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
19996
19997 @kindex or1ksim
19998 @item or1ksim @var{command}
19999 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
20000 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
20001
20002 @kindex info or1k spr
20003 @item info or1k spr
20004 Displays spr groups.
20005
20006 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
20007 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
20008 Displays register names in selected group.
20009
20010 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
20011 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
20012 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
20013 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
20014 Shows information about specified spr register.
20015
20016 @kindex spr
20017 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
20018 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
20019 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
20020 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
20021 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
20022 @end table
20023
20024 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
20025 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
20026 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
20027 triggers can be set using:
20028 @table @code
20029 @item $LEA/$LDATA
20030 Load effective address/data
20031 @item $SEA/$SDATA
20032 Store effective address/data
20033 @item $AEA/$ADATA
20034 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
20035 @item $FETCH
20036 Fetch data
20037 @end table
20038
20039 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
20040 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
20041
20042 @code{htrace} commands:
20043 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
20044 @table @code
20045 @kindex hwatch
20046 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
20047 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
20048 or Data. For example:
20049
20050 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
20051
20052 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
20053
20054 @kindex htrace
20055 @item htrace info
20056 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
20057
20058 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
20059 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
20060
20061 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
20062 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
20063
20064 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
20065 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
20066
20067 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
20068 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
20069 triggered.
20070
20071 @item htrace enable
20072 @itemx htrace disable
20073 Enables/disables the HW trace.
20074
20075 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
20076 Clears currently recorded trace data.
20077
20078 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
20079 will be written there.
20080
20081 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
20082 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
20083
20084 @item htrace mode continuous
20085 Set continuous trace mode.
20086
20087 @item htrace mode suspend
20088 Set suspend trace mode.
20089
20090 @end table
20091
20092 @node PowerPC Embedded
20093 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20094
20095 @cindex DVC register
20096 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20097 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20098
20099 @smallexample
20100 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20101 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20102 @end smallexample
20103
20104 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20105 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20106 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20107 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20108 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20109 or newer.
20110
20111 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20112 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20113 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20114 watching variables of scalar types.
20115
20116 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20117 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20118
20119 @smallexample
20120 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20121 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20122 @end smallexample
20123
20124 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20125 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20126
20127 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20128 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20129 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20130 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20131 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20132 use the @code{break-range} command.
20133
20134 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20135
20136 @table @code
20137 @kindex break-range
20138 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20139 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20140 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20141 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20142 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20143 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20144 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20145 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20146 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20147
20148 @kindex set powerpc
20149 @item set powerpc soft-float
20150 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20151 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20152 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20153 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20154
20155 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20156 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20157 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20158 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20159 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20160 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20161 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20162 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20163
20164 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20165 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20166 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20167 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20168 address of its first byte.
20169
20170 @kindex target dink32
20171 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20172 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20173
20174 @kindex target ppcbug
20175 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20176 @kindex target ppcbug1
20177 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20178 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20179
20180 @kindex target sds
20181 @item target sds @var{dev}
20182 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20183 @end table
20184
20185 @cindex SDS protocol
20186 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20187 by @value{GDBN}:
20188
20189 @table @code
20190 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20191 @kindex set sdstimeout
20192 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20193 default is 2 seconds.
20194
20195 @item show sdstimeout
20196 @kindex show sdstimeout
20197 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20198
20199 @item sds @var{command}
20200 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20201 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20202 @end table
20203
20204
20205 @node PA
20206 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20207
20208 @table @code
20209
20210 @kindex target op50n
20211 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20212 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20213
20214 @kindex target w89k
20215 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20216 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20217
20218 @end table
20219
20220 @node Sparclet
20221 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20222
20223 @cindex Sparclet
20224
20225 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20226 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20227 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20228 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20229 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20230
20231 @table @code
20232 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20233 @kindex remotetimeout
20234 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20235 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20236 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20237 @end table
20238
20239 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20240 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20241 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20242 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20243 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20244
20245 @smallexample
20246 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20247 @end smallexample
20248
20249 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20250
20251 @smallexample
20252 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20253 @end smallexample
20254
20255 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20256 Once you have set
20257 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20258 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20259 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20260
20261 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20262
20263 @smallexample
20264 (gdbslet)
20265 @end smallexample
20266
20267 @menu
20268 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20269 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20270 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20271 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20272 @end menu
20273
20274 @node Sparclet File
20275 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20276
20277 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20278
20279 @smallexample
20280 (gdbslet) file prog
20281 @end smallexample
20282
20283 @need 1000
20284 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20285 @value{GDBN} locates
20286 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20287 path.
20288 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20289 files will be searched as well.
20290 @value{GDBN} locates
20291 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20292 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20293 If it fails
20294 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20295
20296 @smallexample
20297 prog: No such file or directory.
20298 @end smallexample
20299
20300 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20301 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20302 @code{target} command again.
20303
20304 @node Sparclet Connection
20305 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20306
20307 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
20308 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
20309
20310 @smallexample
20311 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
20312 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
20313 main () at ../prog.c:3
20314 @end smallexample
20315
20316 @need 750
20317 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20318
20319 @smallexample
20320 Connected to ttya.
20321 @end smallexample
20322
20323 @node Sparclet Download
20324 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
20325
20326 @cindex download to Sparclet
20327 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
20328 you can use the @value{GDBN}
20329 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
20330 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
20331 command.
20332 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
20333 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
20334 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
20335 of each of the file's sections.
20336 For instance, if the program
20337 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
20338 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20339
20340 @smallexample
20341 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
20342 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
20343 @end smallexample
20344
20345 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
20346 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
20347 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
20348
20349 @node Sparclet Execution
20350 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
20351
20352 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
20353 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
20354 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
20355 manual for the list of commands.
20356
20357 @smallexample
20358 (gdbslet) b main
20359 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
20360 (gdbslet) run
20361 Starting program: prog
20362 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
20363 3 char *symarg = 0;
20364 (gdbslet) step
20365 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
20366 (gdbslet)
20367 @end smallexample
20368
20369 @node Sparclite
20370 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
20371
20372 @table @code
20373
20374 @kindex target sparclite
20375 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
20376 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
20377 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
20378 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
20379 remote protocol.
20380
20381 @end table
20382
20383 @node Z8000
20384 @subsection Zilog Z8000
20385
20386 @cindex Z8000
20387 @cindex simulator, Z8000
20388 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
20389
20390 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
20391 a Z8000 simulator.
20392
20393 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
20394 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
20395 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
20396 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
20397
20398 @table @code
20399 @item target sim @var{args}
20400 @kindex sim
20401 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
20402 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
20403 options, specify them via @var{args}.
20404 @end table
20405
20406 @noindent
20407 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
20408 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
20409 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
20410 to run your program, and so on.
20411
20412 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
20413 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
20414 additional items of information as specially named registers:
20415
20416 @table @code
20417
20418 @item cycles
20419 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
20420
20421 @item insts
20422 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
20423
20424 @item time
20425 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
20426
20427 @end table
20428
20429 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
20430 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
20431 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
20432 simulated clock ticks.
20433
20434 @node AVR
20435 @subsection Atmel AVR
20436 @cindex AVR
20437
20438 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
20439 following AVR-specific commands:
20440
20441 @table @code
20442 @item info io_registers
20443 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
20444 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
20445 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
20446 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
20447 @end table
20448
20449 @node CRIS
20450 @subsection CRIS
20451 @cindex CRIS
20452
20453 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
20454 following CRIS-specific commands:
20455
20456 @table @code
20457 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
20458 @cindex CRIS version
20459 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
20460 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
20461 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
20462
20463 @item show cris-version
20464 Show the current CRIS version.
20465
20466 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
20467 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
20468 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
20469 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
20470 @code{R59}.
20471
20472 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
20473 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
20474
20475 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
20476 @cindex CRIS mode
20477 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
20478 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
20479 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
20480
20481 @item show cris-mode
20482 Show the current CRIS mode.
20483 @end table
20484
20485 @node Super-H
20486 @subsection Renesas Super-H
20487 @cindex Super-H
20488
20489 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
20490 commands:
20491
20492 @table @code
20493 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
20494 @kindex set sh calling-convention
20495 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
20496 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
20497 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
20498 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
20499 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
20500 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
20501 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
20502 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
20503 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
20504 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
20505
20506 @item show sh calling-convention
20507 @kindex show sh calling-convention
20508 Show the current calling convention setting.
20509
20510 @end table
20511
20512
20513 @node Architectures
20514 @section Architectures
20515
20516 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
20517 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
20518
20519 @menu
20520 * i386::
20521 * Alpha::
20522 * MIPS::
20523 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
20524 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20525 * PowerPC::
20526 @end menu
20527
20528 @node i386
20529 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
20530
20531 @table @code
20532 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
20533 @kindex set struct-convention
20534 @cindex struct return convention
20535 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
20536 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
20537 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
20538 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
20539 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
20540 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
20541 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
20542 be returned in a register.
20543
20544 @item show struct-convention
20545 @kindex show struct-convention
20546 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
20547 from functions.
20548 @end table
20549
20550 @node Alpha
20551 @subsection Alpha
20552
20553 See the following section.
20554
20555 @node MIPS
20556 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
20557
20558 @cindex stack on Alpha
20559 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
20560 @cindex Alpha stack
20561 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
20562 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
20563 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
20564 find the beginning of a function.
20565
20566 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
20567 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
20568 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
20569 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
20570 commands:
20571
20572 @table @code
20573 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
20574 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
20575 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
20576 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
20577 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
20578 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
20579 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
20580 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
20581
20582 @item show heuristic-fence-post
20583 Display the current limit.
20584 @end table
20585
20586 @noindent
20587 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
20588 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
20589
20590 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
20591 programs:
20592
20593 @table @code
20594 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
20595 @kindex set mips abi
20596 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
20597 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
20598 values of @var{arg} are:
20599
20600 @table @samp
20601 @item auto
20602 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
20603 default).
20604 @item o32
20605 @item o64
20606 @item n32
20607 @item n64
20608 @item eabi32
20609 @item eabi64
20610 @end table
20611
20612 @item show mips abi
20613 @kindex show mips abi
20614 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20615
20616 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
20617 @kindex set mips compression
20618 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
20619 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
20620 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
20621 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
20622 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
20623 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
20624 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
20625 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
20626 provided by the executable.
20627
20628 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
20629 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
20630 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
20631 identified as such.
20632
20633 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
20634 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
20635 implicitly from an executable.
20636
20637 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
20638 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
20639 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
20640 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
20641 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
20642
20643 @item show mips compression
20644 @kindex show mips compression
20645 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
20646 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20647
20648 @item set mipsfpu
20649 @itemx show mipsfpu
20650 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20651
20652 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20653 @kindex set mips mask-address
20654 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
20655 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20656 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20657 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20658 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20659
20660 @item show mips mask-address
20661 @kindex show mips mask-address
20662 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
20663 not.
20664
20665 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20666 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20667 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
20668 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
20669 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20670 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20671
20672 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20673 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20674 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
20675
20676 @item set debug mips
20677 @kindex set debug mips
20678 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
20679 target code in @value{GDBN}.
20680
20681 @item show debug mips
20682 @kindex show debug mips
20683 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
20684 @end table
20685
20686
20687 @node HPPA
20688 @subsection HPPA
20689 @cindex HPPA support
20690
20691 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
20692 following special commands:
20693
20694 @table @code
20695 @item set debug hppa
20696 @kindex set debug hppa
20697 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
20698 messages are to be displayed.
20699
20700 @item show debug hppa
20701 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
20702
20703 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
20704 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
20705 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
20706 given @var{address}.
20707
20708 @end table
20709
20710
20711 @node SPU
20712 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20713 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
20714 @cindex SPU
20715
20716 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
20717 it provides the following special commands:
20718
20719 @table @code
20720 @item info spu event
20721 @kindex info spu
20722 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
20723 and pending event status.
20724
20725 @item info spu signal
20726 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
20727 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
20728 notification channels.
20729
20730 @item info spu mailbox
20731 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
20732 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
20733 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
20734
20735 @item info spu dma
20736 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20737 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20738 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20739
20740 @item info spu proxydma
20741 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20742 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20743 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20744
20745 @end table
20746
20747 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
20748 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
20749 special commands:
20750
20751 @table @code
20752 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
20753 @kindex set spu
20754 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
20755 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
20756 function. The default is @code{off}.
20757
20758 @item show spu stop-on-load
20759 @kindex show spu
20760 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
20761
20762 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
20763 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
20764 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
20765 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
20766 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
20767 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
20768
20769 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
20770 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
20771
20772 @end table
20773
20774 @node PowerPC
20775 @subsection PowerPC
20776 @cindex PowerPC architecture
20777
20778 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
20779 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
20780 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
20781 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
20782 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
20783
20784 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
20785 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
20786 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
20787
20788 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
20789 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
20790
20791
20792 @node Controlling GDB
20793 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
20794
20795 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
20796 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
20797 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
20798 described here.
20799
20800 @menu
20801 * Prompt:: Prompt
20802 * Editing:: Command editing
20803 * Command History:: Command history
20804 * Screen Size:: Screen size
20805 * Numbers:: Numbers
20806 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
20807 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
20808 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
20809 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
20810 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
20811 @end menu
20812
20813 @node Prompt
20814 @section Prompt
20815
20816 @cindex prompt
20817
20818 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
20819 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
20820 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
20821 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
20822 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
20823 which one you are talking to.
20824
20825 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
20826 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
20827 or a prompt that does not.
20828
20829 @table @code
20830 @kindex set prompt
20831 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
20832 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
20833
20834 @kindex show prompt
20835 @item show prompt
20836 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
20837 @end table
20838
20839 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
20840 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
20841 are:
20842
20843 @table @code
20844 @kindex set extended-prompt
20845 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
20846 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
20847 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
20848 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
20849 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
20850 is displayed.
20851
20852 For example:
20853
20854 @smallexample
20855 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
20856 @end smallexample
20857
20858 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
20859 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
20860
20861 @kindex show extended-prompt
20862 @item show extended-prompt
20863 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
20864 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
20865 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
20866 @end table
20867
20868 @node Editing
20869 @section Command Editing
20870 @cindex readline
20871 @cindex command line editing
20872
20873 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
20874 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
20875 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
20876 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
20877 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
20878 debugging sessions.
20879
20880 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
20881 command @code{set}.
20882
20883 @table @code
20884 @kindex set editing
20885 @cindex editing
20886 @item set editing
20887 @itemx set editing on
20888 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
20889
20890 @item set editing off
20891 Disable command line editing.
20892
20893 @kindex show editing
20894 @item show editing
20895 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
20896 @end table
20897
20898 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20899 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
20900 @end ifset
20901 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20902 @xref{Command Line Editing},
20903 @end ifclear
20904 for more details about the Readline
20905 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
20906 encouraged to read that chapter.
20907
20908 @node Command History
20909 @section Command History
20910 @cindex command history
20911
20912 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
20913 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
20914 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
20915 history facility.
20916
20917 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
20918 package, to provide the history facility.
20919 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20920 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
20921 @end ifset
20922 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20923 @xref{Using History Interactively},
20924 @end ifclear
20925 for the detailed description of the History library.
20926
20927 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
20928 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
20929 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
20930 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
20931 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
20932 pressed on a line by itself.
20933
20934 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
20935 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
20936 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
20937 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
20938
20939 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
20940 history.
20941
20942 @table @code
20943 @cindex history substitution
20944 @cindex history file
20945 @kindex set history filename
20946 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
20947 @item set history filename @var{fname}
20948 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
20949 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
20950 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
20951 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
20952 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
20953 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
20954 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
20955 is not set.
20956
20957 @cindex save command history
20958 @kindex set history save
20959 @item set history save
20960 @itemx set history save on
20961 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
20962 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
20963
20964 @item set history save off
20965 Stop recording command history in a file.
20966
20967 @cindex history size
20968 @kindex set history size
20969 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
20970 @item set history size @var{size}
20971 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
20972 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
20973 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
20974 @end table
20975
20976 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
20977 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20978 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
20979 @end ifset
20980 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20981 @xref{Event Designators},
20982 @end ifclear
20983 for more details.
20984
20985 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
20986 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
20987 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
20988 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
20989 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
20990 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
20991 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
20992 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
20993
20994 The commands to control history expansion are:
20995
20996 @table @code
20997 @item set history expansion on
20998 @itemx set history expansion
20999 @kindex set history expansion
21000 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21001
21002 @item set history expansion off
21003 Disable history expansion.
21004
21005 @c @group
21006 @kindex show history
21007 @item show history
21008 @itemx show history filename
21009 @itemx show history save
21010 @itemx show history size
21011 @itemx show history expansion
21012 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21013 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21014 @c @end group
21015 @end table
21016
21017 @table @code
21018 @kindex show commands
21019 @cindex show last commands
21020 @cindex display command history
21021 @item show commands
21022 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21023
21024 @item show commands @var{n}
21025 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21026
21027 @item show commands +
21028 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21029 @end table
21030
21031 @node Screen Size
21032 @section Screen Size
21033 @cindex size of screen
21034 @cindex pauses in output
21035
21036 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21037 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21038 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21039 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21040 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21041 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21042 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21043 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21044
21045 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21046 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21047 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21048 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21049 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21050 width} commands:
21051
21052 @table @code
21053 @kindex set height
21054 @kindex set width
21055 @kindex show width
21056 @kindex show height
21057 @item set height @var{lpp}
21058 @itemx show height
21059 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21060 @itemx show width
21061 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21062 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21063 commands display the current settings.
21064
21065 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
21066 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
21067 file or to an editor buffer.
21068
21069 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
21070 from wrapping its output.
21071
21072 @item set pagination on
21073 @itemx set pagination off
21074 @kindex set pagination
21075 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21076 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
21077 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21078 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21079
21080 @item show pagination
21081 @kindex show pagination
21082 Show the current pagination mode.
21083 @end table
21084
21085 @node Numbers
21086 @section Numbers
21087 @cindex number representation
21088 @cindex entering numbers
21089
21090 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21091 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21092 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21093 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21094 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21095 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21096 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21097 both input and output with the commands described below.
21098
21099 @table @code
21100 @kindex set input-radix
21101 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21102 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21103 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21104 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21105 example, any of
21106
21107 @smallexample
21108 set input-radix 012
21109 set input-radix 10.
21110 set input-radix 0xa
21111 @end smallexample
21112
21113 @noindent
21114 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21115 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21116 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21117 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21118 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21119 change the radix.
21120
21121 @kindex set output-radix
21122 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21123 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21124 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21125 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21126
21127 @kindex show input-radix
21128 @item show input-radix
21129 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21130
21131 @kindex show output-radix
21132 @item show output-radix
21133 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21134
21135 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21136 @itemx show radix
21137 @kindex set radix
21138 @kindex show radix
21139 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21140 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21141 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21142 default value of 10.
21143
21144 @end table
21145
21146 @node ABI
21147 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21148
21149 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21150 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21151 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21152 current ABI.
21153
21154 @cindex OS ABI
21155 @kindex set osabi
21156 @kindex show osabi
21157
21158 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21159 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21160 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21161 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21162 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21163 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21164 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21165 platform provides.
21166
21167 @table @code
21168 @item show osabi
21169 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21170
21171 @item set osabi
21172 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21173
21174 @item set osabi @var{abi}
21175 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21176 @end table
21177
21178 @cindex float promotion
21179
21180 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21181 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21182 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21183 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21184 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21185 @code{double} and then passed.
21186
21187 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21188 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21189 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21190
21191 @table @code
21192 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21193 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21194 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21195 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21196 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21197
21198 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21199 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21200 functions.
21201
21202 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21203 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21204 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21205 @end table
21206
21207 @kindex set cp-abi
21208 @kindex show cp-abi
21209 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21210 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21211 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21212 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21213 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21214 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21215 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21216 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21217 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21218 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21219 ``auto''.
21220
21221 @table @code
21222 @item show cp-abi
21223 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21224
21225 @item set cp-abi
21226 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21227
21228 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21229 @itemx set cp-abi auto
21230 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21231 @end table
21232
21233 @node Auto-loading
21234 @section Automatically loading associated files
21235 @cindex auto-loading
21236
21237 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21238 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21239 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21240 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21241 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21242 sources).
21243
21244 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21245 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21246 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21247
21248 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21249 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21250
21251 @table @code
21252 @anchor{set auto-load off}
21253 @kindex set auto-load off
21254 @item set auto-load off
21255 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21256 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21257 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
21258 @smallexample
21259 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
21260 @end smallexample
21261
21262 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
21263 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
21264 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
21265 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
21266 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
21267 @code{set auto-load no}.
21268
21269 @anchor{show auto-load}
21270 @kindex show auto-load
21271 @item show auto-load
21272 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
21273 or disabled.
21274
21275 @smallexample
21276 (gdb) show auto-load
21277 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
21278 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
21279 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
21280 is on.
21281 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
21282 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21283 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21284 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
21285 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21286 @end smallexample
21287
21288 @anchor{info auto-load}
21289 @kindex info auto-load
21290 @item info auto-load
21291 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
21292 not.
21293
21294 @smallexample
21295 (gdb) info auto-load
21296 gdb-scripts:
21297 Loaded Script
21298 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
21299 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
21300 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
21301 loaded.
21302 python-scripts:
21303 Loaded Script
21304 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
21305 @end smallexample
21306 @end table
21307
21308 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
21309
21310 @itemize @bullet
21311 @item
21312 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21313 @item
21314 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21315 @item
21316 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
21317 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21318 @item
21319 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
21320 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21321 @item
21322 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21323 @end itemize
21324
21325 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
21326
21327 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
21328 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
21329 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
21330 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
21331 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
21332 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
21333 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
21334 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21335 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21336 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21337 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21338 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21339 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21340 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21341 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21342 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
21343 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21344 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
21345 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21346 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21347 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21348 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
21349 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21350 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21351 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
21352 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21353 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
21354 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21355 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
21356 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21357 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
21358 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
21359 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
21360 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
21361 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
21362 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
21363 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
21364 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
21365 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
21366 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
21367 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
21368 @end multitable
21369
21370 @menu
21371 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21372 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
21373 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
21374 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
21375 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
21376 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
21377 @end menu
21378
21379 @node Init File in the Current Directory
21380 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
21381 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
21382
21383 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
21384 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
21385 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
21386
21387 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
21388 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21389
21390 @table @code
21391 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
21392 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
21393 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
21394 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
21395 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
21396
21397 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
21398 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
21399 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
21400 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21401 current directory is enabled or disabled.
21402
21403 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21404 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
21405 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
21406 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21407 current directory have been auto-loaded.
21408 @end table
21409
21410 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
21411 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
21412 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
21413
21414 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
21415
21416 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
21417 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
21418
21419 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
21420 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
21421 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
21422 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
21423 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
21424 library.
21425
21426 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
21427 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21428
21429 @table @code
21430 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
21431 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
21432 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
21433 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
21434
21435 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
21436 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
21437 @item show auto-load libthread-db
21438 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
21439 enabled or disabled.
21440
21441 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
21442 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
21443 @item info auto-load libthread-db
21444 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
21445 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
21446 @end table
21447
21448 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
21449 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
21450 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
21451
21452 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
21453 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
21454 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
21455
21456 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
21457 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21458
21459 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
21460 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
21461
21462 @table @code
21463 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
21464 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
21465 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
21466 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
21467
21468 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
21469 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
21470 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
21471 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
21472 disabled.
21473
21474 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
21475 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
21476 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
21477 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
21478 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
21479 auto-loaded.
21480 @end table
21481
21482 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
21483 matching names are printed.
21484
21485 @node Auto-loading safe path
21486 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
21487 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
21488
21489 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
21490 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
21491 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
21492 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
21493 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
21494
21495 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
21496 get loaded:
21497
21498 @smallexample
21499 $ ./gdb -q ./gdb
21500 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
21501 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
21502 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
21503 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
21504 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
21505 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
21506 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
21507 @end smallexample
21508
21509 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
21510
21511 @table @code
21512 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
21513 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
21514 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
21515 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
21516 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
21517 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
21518 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
21519 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
21520 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
21521 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
21522
21523 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
21524 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
21525 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
21526
21527 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
21528 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
21529 @item show auto-load safe-path
21530 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
21531 scripts.
21532
21533 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
21534 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
21535 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
21536 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
21537 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
21538 host platform path separator in use.
21539 @end table
21540
21541 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
21542 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
21543 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21544 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
21545 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
21546
21547 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
21548 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
21549 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
21550 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
21551 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
21552 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
21553 init file in the current directory
21554 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
21555
21556 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
21557 example, you could use one of the following ways:
21558
21559 @table @asis
21560 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
21561 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
21562 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
21563 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
21564
21565 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
21566 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
21567 @value{GDBN} session.
21568
21569 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
21570 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21571 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
21572 from trusted sources.
21573
21574 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
21575 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
21576 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
21577 trusted sources.
21578 @end table
21579
21580 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
21581 also suppresses any such warning messages:
21582
21583 @table @asis
21584 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
21585 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21586
21587 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
21588 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
21589 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
21590 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
21591 @end table
21592
21593 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
21594 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
21595 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
21596 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
21597 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
21598 recommended to be entered.
21599
21600 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
21601 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
21602 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
21603
21604 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
21605 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
21606 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
21607 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
21608 be printed.
21609
21610 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21611 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
21612 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
21613
21614 @smallexample
21615 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
21616 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
21617 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
21618 for objfile "/tmp/true".
21619 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
21620 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
21621 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
21622 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
21623 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
21624 @end smallexample
21625
21626 @table @code
21627 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
21628 @kindex set debug auto-load
21629 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
21630 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
21631
21632 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
21633 @kindex show debug auto-load
21634 @item show debug auto-load
21635 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
21636 on or off.
21637 @end table
21638
21639 @node Messages/Warnings
21640 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
21641
21642 @cindex verbose operation
21643 @cindex optional warnings
21644 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
21645 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
21646 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
21647 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
21648
21649 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
21650 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
21651 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
21652
21653 @table @code
21654 @kindex set verbose
21655 @item set verbose on
21656 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21657
21658 @item set verbose off
21659 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21660
21661 @kindex show verbose
21662 @item show verbose
21663 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
21664 @end table
21665
21666 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
21667 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
21668 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
21669 Symbol Files}).
21670
21671 @table @code
21672
21673 @kindex set complaints
21674 @item set complaints @var{limit}
21675 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
21676 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
21677 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
21678 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
21679
21680 @kindex show complaints
21681 @item show complaints
21682 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
21683
21684 @end table
21685
21686 @anchor{confirmation requests}
21687 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
21688 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
21689 you try to run a program which is already running:
21690
21691 @smallexample
21692 (@value{GDBP}) run
21693 The program being debugged has been started already.
21694 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
21695 @end smallexample
21696
21697 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
21698 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
21699
21700 @table @code
21701
21702 @kindex set confirm
21703 @cindex flinching
21704 @cindex confirmation
21705 @cindex stupid questions
21706 @item set confirm off
21707 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
21708 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
21709 automatically disables confirmation requests.
21710
21711 @item set confirm on
21712 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
21713
21714 @kindex show confirm
21715 @item show confirm
21716 Displays state of confirmation requests.
21717
21718 @end table
21719
21720 @cindex command tracing
21721 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
21722 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
21723 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
21724 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
21725
21726 @table @code
21727 @kindex set trace-commands
21728 @cindex command scripts, debugging
21729 @item set trace-commands on
21730 Enable command tracing.
21731 @item set trace-commands off
21732 Disable command tracing.
21733 @item show trace-commands
21734 Display the current state of command tracing.
21735 @end table
21736
21737 @node Debugging Output
21738 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
21739 @cindex optional debugging messages
21740
21741 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
21742 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
21743 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
21744 section documents those commands.
21745
21746 @table @code
21747 @kindex set exec-done-display
21748 @item set exec-done-display
21749 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
21750 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
21751 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
21752 @kindex show exec-done-display
21753 @item show exec-done-display
21754 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
21755 notification.
21756 @kindex set debug
21757 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
21758 @cindex architecture debugging info
21759 @item set debug arch
21760 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
21761 @kindex show debug
21762 @item show debug arch
21763 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
21764 @item set debug aix-thread
21765 @cindex AIX threads
21766 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
21767 module.
21768 @item show debug aix-thread
21769 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
21770 @item set debug check-physname
21771 @cindex physname
21772 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
21773 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
21774 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
21775 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
21776 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
21777 both ways and display any discrepancies.
21778 @item show debug check-physname
21779 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
21780 @item set debug dwarf2-die
21781 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
21782 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
21783 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
21784 A value of zero turns off the display.
21785 @item show debug dwarf2-die
21786 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
21787 @item set debug dwarf2-read
21788 @cindex DWARF2 Reading
21789 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
21790 DWARF debug info. The default is off.
21791 @item show debug dwarf2-read
21792 Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
21793 @item set debug displaced
21794 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
21795 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
21796 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
21797 @item show debug displaced
21798 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
21799 related to displaced stepping.
21800 @item set debug event
21801 @cindex event debugging info
21802 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
21803 default is off.
21804 @item show debug event
21805 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
21806 info.
21807 @item set debug expression
21808 @cindex expression debugging info
21809 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
21810 expression parsing. The default is off.
21811 @item show debug expression
21812 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
21813 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
21814 @item set debug frame
21815 @cindex frame debugging info
21816 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
21817 default is off.
21818 @item show debug frame
21819 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
21820 info.
21821 @item set debug gnu-nat
21822 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
21823 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
21824 @item show debug gnu-nat
21825 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
21826 @item set debug infrun
21827 @cindex inferior debugging info
21828 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
21829 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
21830 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
21831 @item show debug infrun
21832 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
21833 @item set debug jit
21834 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
21835 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
21836 @item show debug jit
21837 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
21838 @item set debug lin-lwp
21839 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
21840 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
21841 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
21842 @item show debug lin-lwp
21843 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
21844 @item set debug observer
21845 @cindex observer debugging info
21846 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
21847 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
21848 @item show debug observer
21849 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
21850 @item set debug overload
21851 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
21852 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
21853 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
21854 is off.
21855 @item show debug overload
21856 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
21857 debugging info.
21858 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
21859 @cindex debug expression parser
21860 @item set debug parser
21861 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
21862 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
21863 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
21864 details. The default is off.
21865 @item show debug parser
21866 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
21867 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
21868 @cindex serial connections, debugging
21869 @cindex debug remote protocol
21870 @cindex remote protocol debugging
21871 @cindex display remote packets
21872 @item set debug remote
21873 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
21874 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
21875 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
21876 @item show debug remote
21877 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
21878 @item set debug serial
21879 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
21880 default is off.
21881 @item show debug serial
21882 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
21883 info.
21884 @item set debug solib-frv
21885 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
21886 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
21887 @item show debug solib-frv
21888 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
21889 messages.
21890 @item set debug symtab-create
21891 @cindex symbol table creation
21892 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
21893 The default is off.
21894 @item show debug symtab-create
21895 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
21896 @item set debug target
21897 @cindex target debugging info
21898 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
21899 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
21900 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
21901 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
21902 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
21903 @item show debug target
21904 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
21905 info.
21906 @item set debug timestamp
21907 @cindex timestampping debugging info
21908 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
21909 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
21910 message.
21911 @item show debug timestamp
21912 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
21913 debugging info.
21914 @item set debugvarobj
21915 @cindex variable object debugging info
21916 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
21917 info. The default is off.
21918 @item show debugvarobj
21919 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
21920 debugging info.
21921 @item set debug xml
21922 @cindex XML parser debugging
21923 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
21924 @item show debug xml
21925 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
21926 @end table
21927
21928 @node Other Misc Settings
21929 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
21930 @cindex miscellaneous settings
21931
21932 @table @code
21933 @kindex set interactive-mode
21934 @item set interactive-mode
21935 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
21936 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
21937 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
21938 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
21939 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
21940 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
21941 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
21942 is, non-interactively otherwise.
21943
21944 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
21945 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
21946 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
21947 inside a cygwin window.
21948
21949 @kindex show interactive-mode
21950 @item show interactive-mode
21951 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
21952 @end table
21953
21954 @node Extending GDB
21955 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
21956 @cindex extending GDB
21957
21958 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
21959 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
21960 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
21961 existing commands.
21962
21963 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
21964 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
21965 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
21966 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
21967 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21968 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
21969
21970 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
21971 setting:
21972
21973 @table @code
21974 @kindex set script-extension
21975 @kindex show script-extension
21976 @item set script-extension off
21977 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21978
21979 @item set script-extension soft
21980 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21981 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
21982 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
21983 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
21984
21985 @item set script-extension strict
21986 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21987 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
21988 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
21989
21990 @item show script-extension
21991 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
21992
21993 @end table
21994
21995 @menu
21996 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
21997 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21998 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
21999 @end menu
22000
22001 @node Sequences
22002 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
22003
22004 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22005 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22006 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22007 files.
22008
22009 @menu
22010 * Define:: How to define your own commands
22011 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22012 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22013 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
22014 @end menu
22015
22016 @node Define
22017 @subsection User-defined Commands
22018
22019 @cindex user-defined command
22020 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22021 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22022 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22023 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22024 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22025 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22026
22027 @smallexample
22028 define adder
22029 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22030 end
22031 @end smallexample
22032
22033 @noindent
22034 To execute the command use:
22035
22036 @smallexample
22037 adder 1 2 3
22038 @end smallexample
22039
22040 @noindent
22041 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
22042 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
22043 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
22044 functions calls.
22045
22046 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
22047 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
22048 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
22049 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
22050
22051 @smallexample
22052 define adder
22053 if $argc == 2
22054 print $arg0 + $arg1
22055 end
22056 if $argc == 3
22057 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22058 end
22059 end
22060 @end smallexample
22061
22062 @table @code
22063
22064 @kindex define
22065 @item define @var{commandname}
22066 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22067 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22068 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22069 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22070 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22071 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22072
22073 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22074 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22075 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22076
22077 @kindex document
22078 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22079 @item document @var{commandname}
22080 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22081 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22082 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22083 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22084 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22085 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22086
22087 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22088 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22089 does not change the documentation.
22090
22091 @kindex dont-repeat
22092 @cindex don't repeat command
22093 @item dont-repeat
22094 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22095 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22096 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22097
22098 @kindex help user-defined
22099 @item help user-defined
22100 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22101 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22102 included (if any).
22103
22104 @kindex show user
22105 @item show user
22106 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
22107 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22108 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22109 definitions for all user-defined commands.
22110 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22111
22112 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22113 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
22114 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
22115 @item show max-user-call-depth
22116 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
22117 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22118 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22119 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22120 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22121 @end table
22122
22123 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22124 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22125
22126 When user-defined commands are executed, the
22127 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22128 stops execution of the user-defined command.
22129
22130 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22131 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22132 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22133 messages when used in a user-defined command.
22134
22135 @node Hooks
22136 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22137 @cindex command hooks
22138 @cindex hooks, for commands
22139 @cindex hooks, pre-command
22140
22141 @kindex hook
22142 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22143 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22144 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22145 before that command.
22146
22147 @cindex hooks, post-command
22148 @kindex hookpost
22149 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22150 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22151 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22152 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22153 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22154
22155 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22156 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22157
22158 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22159 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22160
22161 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22162 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22163 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22164 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22165 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22166
22167 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22168 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22169 you could define:
22170
22171 @smallexample
22172 define hook-stop
22173 handle SIGALRM nopass
22174 end
22175
22176 define hook-run
22177 handle SIGALRM pass
22178 end
22179
22180 define hook-continue
22181 handle SIGALRM pass
22182 end
22183 @end smallexample
22184
22185 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
22186 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
22187 you could define:
22188
22189 @smallexample
22190 define hook-echo
22191 echo <<<---
22192 end
22193
22194 define hookpost-echo
22195 echo --->>>\n
22196 end
22197
22198 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22199 <<<---Hello World--->>>
22200 (@value{GDBP})
22201
22202 @end smallexample
22203
22204 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22205 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22206 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22207 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22208 @c or not?
22209 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22210 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
22211 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
22212
22213 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
22214 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
22215 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
22216
22217 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
22218 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
22219
22220 @node Command Files
22221 @subsection Command Files
22222
22223 @cindex command files
22224 @cindex scripting commands
22225 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
22226 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
22227 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
22228 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
22229 terminal.
22230
22231 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
22232 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
22233 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
22234 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
22235 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
22236
22237 @table @code
22238 @kindex source
22239 @cindex execute commands from a file
22240 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
22241 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
22242 @end table
22243
22244 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
22245 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
22246 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
22247 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
22248 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
22249
22250 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
22251 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
22252 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
22253 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
22254 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
22255 is not relevant to scripts.
22256
22257 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
22258 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
22259 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
22260 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
22261 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22262 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
22263 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
22264 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
22265 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22266 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
22267 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
22268 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
22269 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
22270 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
22271
22272 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
22273 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
22274 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
22275
22276 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
22277 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
22278 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
22279 when called from command files.
22280
22281 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
22282 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
22283 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
22284 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
22285 the next command.
22286
22287 @smallexample
22288 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
22289 @end smallexample
22290
22291 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
22292 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
22293 would be directed to @file{log}.
22294
22295 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
22296 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
22297 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
22298 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
22299 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
22300 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
22301 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
22302 conditionally, etc.
22303
22304 @table @code
22305 @kindex if
22306 @kindex else
22307 @item if
22308 @itemx else
22309 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
22310 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
22311 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
22312 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
22313 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
22314 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
22315 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22316
22317 @kindex while
22318 @item while
22319 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
22320 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
22321 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
22322 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
22323 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
22324 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
22325
22326 @kindex loop_break
22327 @item loop_break
22328 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
22329 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
22330 line.
22331
22332 @kindex loop_continue
22333 @item loop_continue
22334 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
22335 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
22336 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
22337 the controlling expression.
22338
22339 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
22340 @item end
22341 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
22342 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
22343 @end table
22344
22345
22346 @node Output
22347 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
22348
22349 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
22350 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
22351 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
22352 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
22353 want.
22354
22355 @table @code
22356 @kindex echo
22357 @item echo @var{text}
22358 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
22359 @c because it is not in ANSI.
22360 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
22361 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
22362 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
22363 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
22364 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
22365 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
22366 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
22367 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
22368 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
22369
22370 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
22371 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
22372
22373 @smallexample
22374 echo This is some text\n\
22375 which is continued\n\
22376 onto several lines.\n
22377 @end smallexample
22378
22379 produces the same output as
22380
22381 @smallexample
22382 echo This is some text\n
22383 echo which is continued\n
22384 echo onto several lines.\n
22385 @end smallexample
22386
22387 @kindex output
22388 @item output @var{expression}
22389 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
22390 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
22391 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
22392 on expressions.
22393
22394 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
22395 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
22396 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
22397 Formats}, for more information.
22398
22399 @kindex printf
22400 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22401 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22402 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
22403 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
22404 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
22405 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
22406 executing the code below:
22407
22408 @smallexample
22409 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
22410 @end smallexample
22411
22412 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
22413 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
22414 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
22415 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
22416 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
22417 printed.
22418
22419 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
22420
22421 @smallexample
22422 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
22423 @end smallexample
22424
22425 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
22426 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
22427 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
22428
22429 @itemize @bullet
22430 @item
22431 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
22432
22433 @item
22434 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
22435 width.
22436
22437 @item
22438 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
22439 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
22440
22441 @item
22442 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
22443 supported.
22444
22445 @item
22446 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
22447
22448 @item
22449 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
22450 @end itemize
22451
22452 @noindent
22453 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
22454 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
22455 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
22456 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
22457
22458 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
22459 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
22460 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
22461 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
22462 supported.
22463
22464 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
22465 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
22466 together with a floating point specifier.
22467 letters:
22468
22469 @itemize @bullet
22470 @item
22471 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
22472
22473 @item
22474 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
22475
22476 @item
22477 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
22478 @end itemize
22479
22480 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
22481 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
22482 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
22483
22484 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
22485 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
22486
22487 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
22488 @smallexample
22489 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
22490 @end smallexample
22491
22492 @kindex eval
22493 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22494 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22495 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
22496
22497 @end table
22498
22499 @node Python
22500 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22501 @cindex python scripting
22502 @cindex scripting with python
22503
22504 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
22505 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
22506 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
22507
22508 @cindex python directory
22509 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
22510 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
22511 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
22512 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
22513 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
22514 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
22515
22516 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
22517 are written in Python and are located in the
22518 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
22519 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
22520 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
22521
22522 @menu
22523 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
22524 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
22525 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
22526 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
22527 @end menu
22528
22529 @node Python Commands
22530 @subsection Python Commands
22531 @cindex python commands
22532 @cindex commands to access python
22533
22534 @value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
22535 and one related setting:
22536
22537 @table @code
22538 @kindex python-interactive
22539 @kindex pi
22540 @item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22541 @itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22542 Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
22543 to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
22544 type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
22545
22546 Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
22547 argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
22548 will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
22549
22550 @smallexample
22551 (@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
22552 5
22553 @end smallexample
22554
22555 @kindex python
22556 @kindex py
22557 @item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22558 @itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22559 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
22560
22561 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
22562 argument as a Python command. For example:
22563
22564 @smallexample
22565 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
22566 23
22567 @end smallexample
22568
22569 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
22570 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
22571 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
22572 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
22573 containing @code{end}. For example:
22574
22575 @smallexample
22576 (@value{GDBP}) python
22577 Type python script
22578 End with a line saying just "end".
22579 >print 23
22580 >end
22581 23
22582 @end smallexample
22583
22584 @kindex set python print-stack
22585 @item set python print-stack
22586 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
22587 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
22588 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
22589 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
22590 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
22591 the message component of the error is printed.
22592 @end table
22593
22594 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
22595 interpreter:
22596
22597 @table @code
22598 @item source @file{script-name}
22599 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
22600 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
22601 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
22602
22603 @item python execfile ("script-name")
22604 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
22605 and thus is always available.
22606 @end table
22607
22608 @node Python API
22609 @subsection Python API
22610 @cindex python api
22611 @cindex programming in python
22612
22613 @cindex python stdout
22614 @cindex python pagination
22615 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
22616 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
22617 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
22618 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
22619 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
22620
22621 @menu
22622 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
22623 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
22624 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
22625 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
22626 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
22627 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
22628 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
22629 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
22630 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
22631 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
22632 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
22633 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
22634 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
22635 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
22636 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
22637 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22638 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22639 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
22640 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
22641 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
22642 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
22643 using Python.
22644 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
22645 @end menu
22646
22647 @node Basic Python
22648 @subsubsection Basic Python
22649
22650 @cindex python functions
22651 @cindex python module
22652 @cindex gdb module
22653 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
22654 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
22655 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
22656 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
22657
22658 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
22659 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
22660 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
22661 @end defvar
22662
22663 @findex gdb.execute
22664 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
22665 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
22666 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
22667 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
22668
22669 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
22670 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
22671 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
22672
22673 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
22674 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
22675 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
22676 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
22677 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
22678 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
22679 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
22680 @end defun
22681
22682 @findex gdb.breakpoints
22683 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
22684 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
22685 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
22686 @end defun
22687
22688 @findex gdb.parameter
22689 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
22690 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
22691 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
22692 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
22693 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
22694
22695 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
22696 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
22697 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
22698 type, and returned.
22699 @end defun
22700
22701 @findex gdb.history
22702 @defun gdb.history (number)
22703 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
22704 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
22705 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
22706 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
22707 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
22708 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
22709 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
22710 raised.
22711
22712 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
22713 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
22714 @end defun
22715
22716 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
22717 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
22718 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
22719 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
22720 @var{expression} must be a string.
22721
22722 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
22723 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
22724 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
22725 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
22726 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
22727 @end defun
22728
22729 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
22730 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
22731 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
22732 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
22733 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
22734 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
22735 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
22736 @end defun
22737
22738 @findex gdb.post_event
22739 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
22740 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
22741 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
22742 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
22743 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
22744 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
22745 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
22746
22747 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
22748 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
22749 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
22750 this. For example:
22751
22752 @smallexample
22753 (@value{GDBP}) python
22754 >import threading
22755 >
22756 >class Writer():
22757 > def __init__(self, message):
22758 > self.message = message;
22759 > def __call__(self):
22760 > gdb.write(self.message)
22761 >
22762 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
22763 > def run (self):
22764 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
22765 >
22766 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
22767 > def run (self):
22768 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
22769 >
22770 >MyThread1().start()
22771 >MyThread2().start()
22772 >end
22773 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
22774 @end smallexample
22775 @end defun
22776
22777 @findex gdb.write
22778 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
22779 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
22780 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
22781 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
22782 values are:
22783
22784 @table @code
22785 @findex STDOUT
22786 @findex gdb.STDOUT
22787 @item gdb.STDOUT
22788 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
22789
22790 @findex STDERR
22791 @findex gdb.STDERR
22792 @item gdb.STDERR
22793 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
22794
22795 @findex STDLOG
22796 @findex gdb.STDLOG
22797 @item gdb.STDLOG
22798 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
22799 @end table
22800
22801 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
22802 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
22803 relevant stream.
22804 @end defun
22805
22806 @findex gdb.flush
22807 @defun gdb.flush ()
22808 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
22809 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
22810 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
22811 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
22812 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
22813 stream values are:
22814
22815 @table @code
22816 @findex STDOUT
22817 @findex gdb.STDOUT
22818 @item gdb.STDOUT
22819 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
22820
22821 @findex STDERR
22822 @findex gdb.STDERR
22823 @item gdb.STDERR
22824 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
22825
22826 @findex STDLOG
22827 @findex gdb.STDLOG
22828 @item gdb.STDLOG
22829 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
22830
22831 @end table
22832
22833 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
22834 call this function for the relevant stream.
22835 @end defun
22836
22837 @findex gdb.target_charset
22838 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
22839 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
22840 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
22841 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
22842 @end defun
22843
22844 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
22845 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
22846 Return the name of the current target wide character set
22847 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
22848 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
22849 never returned.
22850 @end defun
22851
22852 @findex gdb.solib_name
22853 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
22854 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
22855 as a string, or @code{None}.
22856 @end defun
22857
22858 @findex gdb.decode_line
22859 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
22860 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
22861 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
22862 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
22863 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
22864 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
22865 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
22866 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
22867 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
22868 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
22869 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
22870 @end defun
22871
22872 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
22873 @anchor{prompt_hook}
22874
22875 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
22876 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
22877 @value{GDBN}.
22878
22879 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
22880 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
22881 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
22882 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
22883 the current prompt.
22884
22885 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
22886 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
22887 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
22888 @end defun
22889
22890 @node Exception Handling
22891 @subsubsection Exception Handling
22892 @cindex python exceptions
22893 @cindex exceptions, python
22894
22895 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
22896 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
22897 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
22898 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
22899 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
22900 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
22901 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
22902
22903 @smallexample
22904 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
22905 Traceback (most recent call last):
22906 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
22907 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
22908 @end smallexample
22909
22910 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
22911 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
22912 Python exception depends on the error.
22913
22914 @ftable @code
22915 @item gdb.error
22916 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
22917 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
22918 versions of @value{GDBN}.
22919
22920 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
22921 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
22922
22923 @item gdb.MemoryError
22924 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
22925 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
22926
22927 @item KeyboardInterrupt
22928 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
22929 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
22930 @end ftable
22931
22932 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
22933 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
22934 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
22935 traceback.
22936
22937 @findex gdb.GdbError
22938 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
22939 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
22940 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
22941 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
22942 to handle this case. Example:
22943
22944 @smallexample
22945 (gdb) python
22946 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
22947 > """Greet the whole world."""
22948 > def __init__ (self):
22949 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
22950 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
22951 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
22952 > if len (argv) != 0:
22953 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
22954 > print "Hello, World!"
22955 >HelloWorld ()
22956 >end
22957 (gdb) hello-world 42
22958 hello-world takes no arguments
22959 @end smallexample
22960
22961 @node Values From Inferior
22962 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
22963 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
22964 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
22965
22966 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
22967 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
22968 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
22969 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
22970 fetching values when necessary.
22971
22972 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
22973 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
22974 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
22975
22976 @smallexample
22977 bar = some_val + 2
22978 @end smallexample
22979
22980 @noindent
22981 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
22982 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
22983
22984 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
22985 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
22986 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
22987 can access its @code{foo} element with:
22988
22989 @smallexample
22990 bar = some_val['foo']
22991 @end smallexample
22992
22993 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
22994
22995 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
22996 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
22997 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
22998 by that prototype.
22999
23000 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23001 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23002 execute this function, call it like so:
23003
23004 @smallexample
23005 result = some_val (10,20)
23006 @end smallexample
23007
23008 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
23009 @code{gdb.Value}.
23010
23011 The following attributes are provided:
23012
23013 @table @code
23014 @defvar Value.address
23015 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
23016 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
23017 this attribute holds @code{None}.
23018 @end defvar
23019
23020 @cindex optimized out value in Python
23021 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
23022 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
23023 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
23024 @end defvar
23025
23026 @defvar Value.type
23027 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
23028 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
23029 @end defvar
23030
23031 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
23032 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
23033 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
23034 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
23035 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
23036 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
23037 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
23038 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
23039 type.
23040
23041 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
23042 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
23043 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
23044 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
23045 @end defvar
23046
23047 @defvar Value.is_lazy
23048 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
23049 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
23050 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
23051 For example:
23052
23053 @smallexample
23054 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
23055 @end smallexample
23056
23057 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
23058 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
23059 method is invoked.
23060 @end defvar
23061 @end table
23062
23063 The following methods are provided:
23064
23065 @table @code
23066 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
23067 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
23068 this object initializer. Specifically:
23069
23070 @table @asis
23071 @item Python boolean
23072 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
23073 language.
23074
23075 @item Python integer
23076 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
23077 current architecture.
23078
23079 @item Python long
23080 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
23081 current architecture.
23082
23083 @item Python float
23084 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
23085 current architecture.
23086
23087 @item Python string
23088 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
23089 target encoding.
23090
23091 @item @code{gdb.Value}
23092 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
23093
23094 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
23095 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
23096 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
23097 its result is used.
23098 @end table
23099 @end defun
23100
23101 @defun Value.cast (type)
23102 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
23103 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
23104 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
23105 reason, this method throws an exception.
23106 @end defun
23107
23108 @defun Value.dereference ()
23109 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
23110 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
23111 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
23112
23113 @smallexample
23114 int *foo;
23115 @end smallexample
23116
23117 @noindent
23118 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23119 @code{foo} points to like this:
23120
23121 @smallexample
23122 bar = foo.dereference ()
23123 @end smallexample
23124
23125 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23126 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23127
23128 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23129 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23130 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23131 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23132 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23133 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23134 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23135 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23136 as
23137
23138 @smallexample
23139 typedef int *intptr;
23140 ...
23141 int val = 10;
23142 intptr ptr = &val;
23143 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23144 @end smallexample
23145
23146 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23147 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23148 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23149 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23150 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23151 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
23152
23153 @smallexample
23154 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
23155 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
23156 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
23157 @end smallexample
23158
23159 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23160 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
23161 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
23162 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
23163 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
23164 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
23165 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
23166 example). The results are however identical when applied on
23167 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
23168 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
23169 @end defun
23170
23171 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
23172 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
23173 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
23174 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
23175 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
23176 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
23177 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
23178 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
23179 in your C@t{++} program as
23180
23181 @smallexample
23182 int val = 10;
23183 int &ref = val;
23184 @end smallexample
23185
23186 @noindent
23187 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
23188 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
23189 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
23190 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
23191
23192 @smallexample
23193 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
23194 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
23195 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
23196 @end smallexample
23197
23198 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23199 corresponding to @code{val}.
23200 @end defun
23201
23202 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
23203 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
23204 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23205 @end defun
23206
23207 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
23208 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
23209 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23210 @end defun
23211
23212 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
23213 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23214 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
23215 throw an exception.
23216
23217 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
23218 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
23219 language.
23220
23221 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
23222 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
23223 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
23224 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
23225 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
23226
23227 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23228 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
23229 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
23230 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
23231 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
23232 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
23233 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
23234 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
23235 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
23236
23237 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
23238 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
23239
23240 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23241 fetched and converted to the given length.
23242 @end defun
23243
23244 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
23245 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23246 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
23247 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
23248
23249 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23250 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
23251 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
23252 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
23253 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
23254
23255 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
23256 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
23257 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
23258 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
23259 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
23260 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
23261
23262 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23263 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
23264 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
23265 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
23266 @end defun
23267
23268 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
23269 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
23270 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
23271 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
23272 will produce a Python exception.
23273
23274 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
23275 has no effect.
23276
23277 This method does not return a value.
23278 @end defun
23279
23280 @end table
23281
23282 @node Types In Python
23283 @subsubsection Types In Python
23284 @cindex types in Python
23285 @cindex Python, working with types
23286
23287 @tindex gdb.Type
23288 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
23289 @code{gdb.Type}.
23290
23291 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23292 module:
23293
23294 @findex gdb.lookup_type
23295 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
23296 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
23297 type to look up. It must be a string.
23298
23299 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23300 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23301
23302 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
23303 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
23304 @end defun
23305
23306 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
23307 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
23308 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
23309 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
23310
23311 @smallexample
23312 bar = some_type['foo']
23313 @end smallexample
23314
23315 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
23316 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
23317 @code{gdb.Field} class.
23318
23319 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
23320
23321 @table @code
23322 @defvar Type.code
23323 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
23324 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
23325 @end defvar
23326
23327 @defvar Type.sizeof
23328 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
23329 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
23330 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
23331 @end defvar
23332
23333 @defvar Type.tag
23334 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
23335 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
23336 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
23337 @code{None} is returned.
23338 @end defvar
23339 @end table
23340
23341 The following methods are provided:
23342
23343 @table @code
23344 @defun Type.fields ()
23345 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
23346 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
23347 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
23348 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
23349 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
23350 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
23351
23352 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
23353 @table @code
23354 @item bitpos
23355 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
23356 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
23357 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
23358 enumeration member's integer representation.
23359
23360 @item name
23361 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
23362
23363 @item artificial
23364 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
23365 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
23366 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
23367
23368 @item is_base_class
23369 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
23370 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
23371 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
23372 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
23373
23374 @item bitsize
23375 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
23376 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
23377 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
23378
23379 @item type
23380 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
23381 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
23382 @end table
23383 @end defun
23384
23385 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23386 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
23387 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23388 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23389 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
23390 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
23391 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23392 @end defun
23393
23394 @defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23395 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
23396 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23397 the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23398 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
23399 second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
23400 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23401
23402 The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
23403 arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
23404 to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
23405 @end defun
23406
23407 @defun Type.const ()
23408 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23409 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
23410 @end defun
23411
23412 @defun Type.volatile ()
23413 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23414 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
23415 @end defun
23416
23417 @defun Type.unqualified ()
23418 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
23419 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
23420 @code{volatile}.
23421 @end defun
23422
23423 @defun Type.range ()
23424 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
23425 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
23426 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
23427 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23428 @end defun
23429
23430 @defun Type.reference ()
23431 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
23432 type.
23433 @end defun
23434
23435 @defun Type.pointer ()
23436 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
23437 type.
23438 @end defun
23439
23440 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
23441 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
23442 after removing all layers of typedefs.
23443 @end defun
23444
23445 @defun Type.target ()
23446 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
23447 of this type.
23448
23449 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
23450 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
23451 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
23452 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
23453 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
23454 target type is the aliased type.
23455
23456 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
23457 exception.
23458 @end defun
23459
23460 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
23461 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
23462 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
23463 @var{n}th template argument.
23464
23465 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
23466 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
23467
23468 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23469 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23470 @end defun
23471 @end table
23472
23473
23474 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
23475 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
23476 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23477
23478 @table @code
23479 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
23480 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23481 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23482 The type is a pointer.
23483
23484 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23485 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23486 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23487 The type is an array.
23488
23489 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23490 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23491 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23492 The type is a structure.
23493
23494 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
23495 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23496 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23497 The type is a union.
23498
23499 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23500 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23501 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23502 The type is an enum.
23503
23504 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23505 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23506 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23507 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
23508
23509 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23510 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23511 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23512 The type is a function.
23513
23514 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
23515 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23516 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23517 The type is an integer type.
23518
23519 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
23520 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23521 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23522 A floating point type.
23523
23524 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
23525 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23526 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23527 The special type @code{void}.
23528
23529 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
23530 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23531 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23532 A Pascal set type.
23533
23534 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23535 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23536 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23537 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
23538
23539 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
23540 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23541 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23542 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
23543 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
23544
23545 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23546 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23547 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23548 A string of bits. It is deprecated.
23549
23550 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23551 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23552 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23553 An unknown or erroneous type.
23554
23555 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23556 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23557 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23558 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
23559
23560 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23561 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23562 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23563 A pointer-to-member-function.
23564
23565 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23566 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23567 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23568 A pointer-to-member.
23569
23570 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
23571 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23572 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23573 A reference type.
23574
23575 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23576 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23577 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23578 A character type.
23579
23580 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23581 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23582 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23583 A boolean type.
23584
23585 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23586 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23587 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23588 A complex float type.
23589
23590 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23591 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23592 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23593 A typedef to some other type.
23594
23595 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23596 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23597 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23598 A C@t{++} namespace.
23599
23600 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23601 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23602 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23603 A decimal floating point type.
23604
23605 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23606 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23607 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23608 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
23609 convenience functions.
23610 @end table
23611
23612 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
23613 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
23614
23615 @node Pretty Printing API
23616 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
23617
23618 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
23619
23620 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
23621 specific interface, defined here.
23622
23623 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
23624 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
23625 children of the pretty-printer's value.
23626
23627 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
23628 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
23629 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
23630 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
23631 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
23632
23633 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
23634 as though the value has no children.
23635 @end defun
23636
23637 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
23638 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
23639 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
23640 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
23641 printed.
23642
23643 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
23644 string.
23645
23646 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
23647
23648 @table @samp
23649 @item array
23650 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
23651 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
23652 @code{set print array}.
23653
23654 @item map
23655 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
23656 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
23657 values.
23658
23659 @item string
23660 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
23661 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
23662 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
23663 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
23664 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
23665 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
23666 @end table
23667 @end defun
23668
23669 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
23670 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
23671 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
23672
23673 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
23674 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
23675 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
23676 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
23677 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
23678 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
23679 the result of @code{children}.
23680
23681 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
23682
23683 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
23684 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
23685 another pretty-printer.
23686
23687 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
23688 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
23689 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
23690 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
23691 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
23692
23693 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
23694 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
23695
23696 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
23697 @end defun
23698
23699 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
23700 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
23701
23702 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
23703 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
23704 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
23705 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
23706 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
23707 @end defun
23708
23709 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
23710 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
23711
23712 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
23713 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
23714 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
23715 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
23716 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
23717 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
23718 attribute.
23719
23720 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
23721 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
23722 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
23723 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
23724 @code{None}.
23725
23726 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
23727 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
23728 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
23729 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
23730 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
23731 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
23732 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
23733 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
23734 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
23735 object is returned.
23736
23737 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
23738 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
23739 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
23740 object is returned.
23741
23742 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
23743 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
23744 the pretty-printer is out of date.
23745
23746 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
23747 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
23748 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
23749 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
23750 with a broken printer.
23751
23752 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
23753 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
23754 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
23755 the printer is enabled.
23756
23757 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
23758 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
23759 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
23760
23761 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
23762 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
23763
23764 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
23765 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
23766 must provide.
23767
23768 @smallexample
23769 class StdStringPrinter(object):
23770 "Print a std::string"
23771
23772 def __init__(self, val):
23773 self.val = val
23774
23775 def to_string(self):
23776 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
23777
23778 def display_hint(self):
23779 return 'string'
23780 @end smallexample
23781
23782 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
23783 example above might be written.
23784
23785 @smallexample
23786 def str_lookup_function(val):
23787 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
23788 if lookup_tag == None:
23789 return None
23790 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
23791 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
23792 return StdStringPrinter(val)
23793 return None
23794 @end smallexample
23795
23796 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
23797 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
23798 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
23799 returns @code{None}.
23800
23801 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
23802 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
23803 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
23804 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
23805 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
23806 different names.
23807
23808 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
23809 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
23810 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
23811 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
23812 the current objfile.
23813
23814 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
23815 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
23816 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
23817 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
23818 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
23819 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
23820 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
23821 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
23822 inferior.
23823
23824 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
23825 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
23826
23827 @smallexample
23828 def register_printers(objfile):
23829 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
23830 @end smallexample
23831
23832 @noindent
23833 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
23834
23835 @smallexample
23836 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
23837 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
23838 @end smallexample
23839
23840 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
23841 There are a few things that can be improved on.
23842 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
23843 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
23844 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
23845
23846 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
23847 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
23848 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
23849 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
23850 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
23851 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
23852
23853 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
23854 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
23855 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
23856
23857 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
23858
23859 @smallexample
23860 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
23861 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
23862 @end smallexample
23863
23864 Here are the printers:
23865
23866 @smallexample
23867 class fooPrinter:
23868 """Print a foo object."""
23869
23870 def __init__(self, val):
23871 self.val = val
23872
23873 def to_string(self):
23874 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
23875 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
23876
23877 class barPrinter:
23878 """Print a bar object."""
23879
23880 def __init__(self, val):
23881 self.val = val
23882
23883 def to_string(self):
23884 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
23885 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
23886 @end smallexample
23887
23888 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
23889 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
23890 the object that handles the lookup.
23891
23892 @smallexample
23893 import gdb.printing
23894
23895 def build_pretty_printer():
23896 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
23897 "my_library")
23898 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
23899 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
23900 return pp
23901 @end smallexample
23902
23903 And here is the autoload support:
23904
23905 @smallexample
23906 import gdb.printing
23907 import my_library
23908 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
23909 gdb.current_objfile(),
23910 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
23911 @end smallexample
23912
23913 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
23914 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
23915
23916 @smallexample
23917 (gdb) info pretty-printer
23918 my_library.so:
23919 my_library
23920 foo
23921 bar
23922 @end smallexample
23923
23924 @node Inferiors In Python
23925 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
23926 @cindex inferiors in Python
23927
23928 @findex gdb.Inferior
23929 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
23930 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
23931 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
23932 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
23933
23934 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23935 module:
23936
23937 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
23938 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
23939 @end defun
23940
23941 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
23942 Return an object representing the current inferior.
23943 @end defun
23944
23945 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
23946
23947 @table @code
23948 @defvar Inferior.num
23949 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
23950 @end defvar
23951
23952 @defvar Inferior.pid
23953 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
23954 system.
23955 @end defvar
23956
23957 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
23958 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
23959 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
23960 @end defvar
23961 @end table
23962
23963 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
23964
23965 @table @code
23966 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
23967 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
23968 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
23969 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
23970 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
23971 at the time the method is called.
23972 @end defun
23973
23974 @defun Inferior.threads ()
23975 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
23976 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
23977 return an empty tuple.
23978 @end defun
23979
23980 @findex Inferior.read_memory
23981 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
23982 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
23983 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
23984 or a string. It can be modified and given to the
23985 @code{Inferior.write_memory} function.
23986 @end defun
23987
23988 @findex Inferior.write_memory
23989 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
23990 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
23991 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
23992 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
23993 object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
23994 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
23995 @end defun
23996
23997 @findex gdb.search_memory
23998 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
23999 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
24000 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
24001 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
24002 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
24003 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
24004 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
24005 the pattern could not be found.
24006 @end defun
24007 @end table
24008
24009 @node Events In Python
24010 @subsubsection Events In Python
24011 @cindex inferior events in Python
24012
24013 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
24014 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
24015 the inferior.
24016
24017 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
24018 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
24019 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
24020
24021 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
24022 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
24023 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
24024 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
24025
24026 @table @code
24027 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
24028 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
24029 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
24030 @end defun
24031
24032 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
24033 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
24034 will no longer receive notifications of events.
24035 @end defun
24036 @end table
24037
24038 Here is an example:
24039
24040 @smallexample
24041 def exit_handler (event):
24042 print "event type: exit"
24043 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
24044
24045 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
24046 @end smallexample
24047
24048 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
24049 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
24050 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
24051 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
24052 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
24053 the inferior.
24054
24055 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
24056 details of the events they emit:
24057
24058 @table @code
24059
24060 @item events.cont
24061 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24062
24063 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
24064 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
24065 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
24066 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
24067 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
24068 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
24069
24070 @table @code
24071 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
24072 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
24073 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
24074 @end defvar
24075 @end table
24076
24077 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24078
24079 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
24080 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
24081
24082 @item events.exited
24083 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
24084 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
24085 @table @code
24086 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
24087 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
24088 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
24089 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
24090 the attribute does not exist.
24091 @end defvar
24092 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
24093 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
24094 @end defvar
24095 @end table
24096
24097 @item events.stop
24098 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24099
24100 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
24101 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
24102 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
24103 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
24104
24105 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
24106
24107 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
24108 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
24109
24110 @table @code
24111 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
24112 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
24113 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
24114 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
24115 @end defvar
24116 @end table
24117
24118 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
24119
24120 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
24121 been hit, and has the following attributes:
24122
24123 @table @code
24124 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
24125 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
24126 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
24127 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
24128 @end defvar
24129 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
24130 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
24131 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
24132 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
24133 @end defvar
24134 @end table
24135
24136 @item events.new_objfile
24137 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
24138 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
24139
24140 @table @code
24141 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
24142 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
24143 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
24144 @end defvar
24145 @end table
24146
24147 @end table
24148
24149 @node Threads In Python
24150 @subsubsection Threads In Python
24151 @cindex threads in python
24152
24153 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
24154 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
24155 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
24156
24157 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24158 module:
24159
24160 @findex gdb.selected_thread
24161 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
24162 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
24163 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
24164 @end defun
24165
24166 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
24167
24168 @table @code
24169 @defvar InferiorThread.name
24170 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
24171 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
24172 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
24173 returns @code{None}.
24174
24175 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
24176 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
24177 user-specified thread name.
24178 @end defvar
24179
24180 @defvar InferiorThread.num
24181 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
24182 @end defvar
24183
24184 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
24185 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
24186 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
24187 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
24188 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
24189 does not use that identifier.
24190 @end defvar
24191 @end table
24192
24193 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
24194
24195 @table @code
24196 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
24197 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
24198 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
24199 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
24200 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
24201 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24202 @end defun
24203
24204 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
24205 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
24206 by this object.
24207 @end defun
24208
24209 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
24210 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
24211 @end defun
24212
24213 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
24214 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
24215 @end defun
24216
24217 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
24218 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
24219 @end defun
24220 @end table
24221
24222 @node Commands In Python
24223 @subsubsection Commands In Python
24224
24225 @cindex commands in python
24226 @cindex python commands
24227 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
24228 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
24229 class, most commonly using a subclass.
24230
24231 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
24232 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
24233 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
24234 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24235
24236 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
24237 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24238 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
24239 an exception is raised.
24240
24241 There is no support for multi-line commands.
24242
24243 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24244 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
24245 new command in the help system.
24246
24247 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
24248 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
24249 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
24250 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
24251 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
24252 error will occur when completion is attempted.
24253
24254 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
24255 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
24256 registered.
24257
24258 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
24259 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
24260 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
24261 not documented.'' is used.
24262 @end defun
24263
24264 @cindex don't repeat Python command
24265 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
24266 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
24267 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
24268 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
24269 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
24270 @end defun
24271
24272 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
24273 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
24274
24275 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
24276 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
24277
24278 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
24279 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
24280 that the command came from elsewhere.
24281
24282 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
24283 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
24284
24285 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
24286 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
24287 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
24288 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
24289 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
24290 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
24291 Example:
24292
24293 @smallexample
24294 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
24295 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
24296 @end smallexample
24297
24298 @end defun
24299
24300 @cindex completion of Python commands
24301 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
24302 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
24303 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
24304 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
24305 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
24306 complete}).
24307
24308 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
24309 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
24310 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
24311 using a word-breaking heuristic.
24312
24313 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
24314 @itemize @bullet
24315 @item
24316 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
24317 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
24318 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
24319 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
24320 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
24321 sequence are ignored.
24322
24323 @item
24324 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
24325 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
24326 function is invoked, and its result is used.
24327
24328 @item
24329 All other results are treated as though there were no available
24330 completions.
24331 @end itemize
24332 @end defun
24333
24334 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
24335 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
24336 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
24337 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
24338 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
24339 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24340
24341 @table @code
24342 @findex COMMAND_NONE
24343 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24344 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24345 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
24346 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
24347
24348 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
24349 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24350 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24351 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
24352 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
24353 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24354 commands in this category.
24355
24356 @findex COMMAND_DATA
24357 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24358 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24359 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
24360 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
24361 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
24362 in this category.
24363
24364 @findex COMMAND_STACK
24365 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24366 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24367 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
24368 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
24369 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
24370 list of commands in this category.
24371
24372 @findex COMMAND_FILES
24373 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24374 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24375 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
24376 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
24377 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24378 commands in this category.
24379
24380 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
24381 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24382 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24383 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
24384 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
24385 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
24386 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
24387 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24388 commands in this category.
24389
24390 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
24391 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24392 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24393 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
24394 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
24395 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
24396 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
24397
24398 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24399 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24400 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24401 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
24402 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24403 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
24404 this category.
24405
24406 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24407 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24408 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24409 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
24410 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
24411 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24412 commands in this category.
24413
24414 @findex COMMAND_USER
24415 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
24416 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
24417 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
24418 does not fit in one of the other categories.
24419 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
24420 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
24421 (@pxref{Sequences}).
24422
24423 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
24424 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24425 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24426 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
24427 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
24428 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24429 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
24430 category.
24431
24432 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24433 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24434 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24435 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
24436 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
24437 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24438 commands in this category.
24439 @end table
24440
24441 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
24442 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
24443 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
24444 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24445
24446 @table @code
24447 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
24448 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24449 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24450 This constant means that no completion should be done.
24451
24452 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
24453 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24454 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24455 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
24456
24457 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
24458 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24459 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24460 This constant means that location completion should be done.
24461 @xref{Specify Location}.
24462
24463 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
24464 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24465 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24466 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
24467 command names.
24468
24469 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24470 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24471 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24472 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
24473 as the source.
24474 @end table
24475
24476 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
24477 implemented in Python:
24478
24479 @smallexample
24480 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
24481 """Greet the whole world."""
24482
24483 def __init__ (self):
24484 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
24485
24486 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
24487 print "Hello, World!"
24488
24489 HelloWorld ()
24490 @end smallexample
24491
24492 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24493 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24494 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24495 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24496
24497 @node Parameters In Python
24498 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
24499
24500 @cindex parameters in python
24501 @cindex python parameters
24502 @tindex gdb.Parameter
24503 @tindex Parameter
24504 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
24505 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
24506 class.
24507
24508 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
24509 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
24510
24511 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
24512 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
24513 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
24514 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
24515 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
24516
24517 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
24518 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
24519 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
24520 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24521
24522 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
24523 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24524 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
24525 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
24526 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
24527 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
24528 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
24529
24530 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
24531 can be found, an exception is raised.
24532
24533 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24534 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
24535 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
24536
24537 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
24538 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
24539 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
24540 completion.
24541
24542 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
24543 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
24544 represent the possible values for the parameter.
24545
24546 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
24547 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
24548
24549 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
24550 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
24551 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
24552 @end defun
24553
24554 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
24555 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24556 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
24557 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24558 have no effect.
24559 @end defvar
24560
24561 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
24562 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24563 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
24564 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24565 have no effect.
24566 @end defvar
24567
24568 @defvar Parameter.value
24569 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
24570 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
24571 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
24572 @end defvar
24573
24574 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
24575 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
24576
24577 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
24578 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
24579 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
24580 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
24581 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
24582 @end defun
24583
24584 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
24585 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
24586 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
24587 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
24588 current value. This method must return a string.
24589 @end defun
24590
24591 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
24592 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24593 module:
24594
24595 @table @code
24596 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
24597 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24598 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24599 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
24600 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
24601
24602 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24603 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24604 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24605 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
24606 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
24607 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
24608
24609 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
24610 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24611 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24612 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
24613 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
24614
24615 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
24616 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24617 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24618 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
24619 to mean ``unlimited''.
24620
24621 @findex PARAM_STRING
24622 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
24623 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
24624 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
24625 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
24626 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
24627 host charset.
24628
24629 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24630 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24631 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24632 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
24633 passed through untranslated.
24634
24635 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24636 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24637 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24638 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
24639
24640 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
24641 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24642 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24643 The value is a filename. This is just like
24644 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
24645
24646 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
24647 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24648 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24649 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
24650 is interpreted as itself.
24651
24652 @findex PARAM_ENUM
24653 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24654 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24655 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
24656 constants provided when the parameter is created.
24657 @end table
24658
24659 @node Functions In Python
24660 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
24661
24662 @cindex writing convenience functions
24663 @cindex convenience functions in python
24664 @cindex python convenience functions
24665 @tindex gdb.Function
24666 @tindex Function
24667 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
24668 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
24669 class @code{gdb.Function}.
24670
24671 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
24672 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
24673 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
24674 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
24675 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
24676 the given @var{name}.
24677
24678 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
24679 string for the new class.
24680 @end defun
24681
24682 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
24683 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
24684 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
24685 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
24686 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
24687 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
24688 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
24689 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
24690
24691 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
24692 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
24693 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
24694 @end defun
24695
24696 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
24697 be implemented in Python:
24698
24699 @smallexample
24700 class Greet (gdb.Function):
24701 """Return string to greet someone.
24702 Takes a name as argument."""
24703
24704 def __init__ (self):
24705 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
24706
24707 def invoke (self, name):
24708 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
24709
24710 Greet ()
24711 @end smallexample
24712
24713 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24714 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24715 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24716 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24717
24718 @node Progspaces In Python
24719 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
24720
24721 @cindex progspaces in python
24722 @tindex gdb.Progspace
24723 @tindex Progspace
24724 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
24725 of an address space.
24726 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
24727 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24728 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
24729 about program spaces.
24730
24731 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
24732 @code{gdb} module:
24733
24734 @findex gdb.current_progspace
24735 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
24736 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
24737 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
24738 @end defun
24739
24740 @findex gdb.progspaces
24741 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
24742 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
24743 @end defun
24744
24745 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
24746 class.
24747
24748 @defvar Progspace.filename
24749 The file name of the progspace as a string.
24750 @end defvar
24751
24752 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
24753 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
24754 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
24755 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
24756 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
24757 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
24758 information.
24759 @end defvar
24760
24761 @node Objfiles In Python
24762 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
24763
24764 @cindex objfiles in python
24765 @tindex gdb.Objfile
24766 @tindex Objfile
24767 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
24768 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
24769 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
24770 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
24771 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
24772
24773 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
24774 @code{gdb} module:
24775
24776 @findex gdb.current_objfile
24777 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
24778 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
24779 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
24780 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
24781 this function returns @code{None}.
24782 @end defun
24783
24784 @findex gdb.objfiles
24785 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
24786 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
24787 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24788 @end defun
24789
24790 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
24791 class.
24792
24793 @defvar Objfile.filename
24794 The file name of the objfile as a string.
24795 @end defvar
24796
24797 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
24798 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
24799 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
24800 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
24801 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
24802 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
24803 information.
24804 @end defvar
24805
24806 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
24807
24808 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
24809 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
24810 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
24811 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
24812 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
24813 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24814 @end defun
24815
24816 @node Frames In Python
24817 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
24818
24819 @cindex frames in python
24820 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
24821 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
24822 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
24823 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
24824 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
24825 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24826
24827 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
24828 operator, like:
24829
24830 @smallexample
24831 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
24832 True
24833 @end smallexample
24834
24835 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
24836
24837 @findex gdb.selected_frame
24838 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
24839 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
24840 @end defun
24841
24842 @findex gdb.newest_frame
24843 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
24844 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
24845 @end defun
24846
24847 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
24848 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
24849 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
24850 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
24851 @end defun
24852
24853 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
24854
24855 @table @code
24856 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
24857 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
24858 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
24859 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
24860 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24861 @end defun
24862
24863 @defun Frame.name ()
24864 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
24865 obtained.
24866 @end defun
24867
24868 @defun Frame.type ()
24869 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
24870 @table @code
24871 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
24872 An ordinary stack frame.
24873
24874 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
24875 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
24876 inferior function call.
24877
24878 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
24879 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
24880 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
24881
24882 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
24883 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
24884
24885 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
24886 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
24887 it calls into a signal handler.
24888
24889 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
24890 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
24891
24892 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
24893 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
24894 newest frame.
24895 @end table
24896 @end defun
24897
24898 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
24899 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
24900 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
24901 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
24902 function to a string. The value can be one of:
24903
24904 @table @code
24905 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
24906 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
24907
24908 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
24909 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
24910
24911 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
24912 This frame is the outermost.
24913
24914 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
24915 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
24916 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
24917
24918 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
24919 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
24920 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
24921 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
24922
24923 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
24924 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
24925 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
24926 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
24927 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
24928 stack corruption.
24929
24930 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
24931 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
24932 one to unwind further.
24933
24934 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
24935 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
24936 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
24937 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
24938 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
24939 versions. Using it, you could write:
24940 @smallexample
24941 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
24942 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
24943 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
24944 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
24945 @end smallexample
24946 @end table
24947
24948 @end defun
24949
24950 @defun Frame.pc ()
24951 Returns the frame's resume address.
24952 @end defun
24953
24954 @defun Frame.block ()
24955 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
24956 @end defun
24957
24958 @defun Frame.function ()
24959 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
24960 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
24961 @end defun
24962
24963 @defun Frame.older ()
24964 Return the frame that called this frame.
24965 @end defun
24966
24967 @defun Frame.newer ()
24968 Return the frame called by this frame.
24969 @end defun
24970
24971 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
24972 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
24973 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
24974 @end defun
24975
24976 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
24977 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
24978 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
24979 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
24980 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
24981 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
24982 @code{gdb.Block} object.
24983 @end defun
24984
24985 @defun Frame.select ()
24986 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
24987 Stack}.
24988 @end defun
24989 @end table
24990
24991 @node Blocks In Python
24992 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
24993
24994 @cindex blocks in python
24995 @tindex gdb.Block
24996
24997 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
24998 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
24999 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
25000 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
25001 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
25002 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
25003 stack.
25004
25005 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
25006 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
25007 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
25008 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
25009 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
25010 table.
25011
25012 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25013 module:
25014
25015 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
25016 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
25017 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
25018 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
25019 will return @code{None}.
25020 @end defun
25021
25022 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
25023
25024 @table @code
25025 @defun Block.is_valid ()
25026 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
25027 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
25028 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
25029 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
25030 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
25031 during iteration over symbols of the block.
25032 @end defun
25033 @end table
25034
25035 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
25036
25037 @table @code
25038 @defvar Block.start
25039 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
25040 @end defvar
25041
25042 @defvar Block.end
25043 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
25044 @end defvar
25045
25046 @defvar Block.function
25047 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
25048 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
25049 attribute is not writable.
25050 @end defvar
25051
25052 @defvar Block.superblock
25053 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
25054 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25055 @end defvar
25056
25057 @defvar Block.global_block
25058 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
25059 writable.
25060 @end defvar
25061
25062 @defvar Block.static_block
25063 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
25064 writable.
25065 @end defvar
25066
25067 @defvar Block.is_global
25068 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
25069 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
25070 writable.
25071 @end defvar
25072
25073 @defvar Block.is_static
25074 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
25075 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
25076 @end defvar
25077 @end table
25078
25079 @node Symbols In Python
25080 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
25081
25082 @cindex symbols in python
25083 @tindex gdb.Symbol
25084
25085 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
25086 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
25087 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
25088 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
25089
25090 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25091 module:
25092
25093 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
25094 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
25095 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
25096 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
25097 arguments.
25098
25099 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
25100 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
25101 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
25102 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
25103 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
25104 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
25105 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
25106 in this chapter.
25107
25108 The result is a tuple of two elements.
25109 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
25110 is not found.
25111 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
25112 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
25113 otherwise it is @code{False}.
25114 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
25115 @end defun
25116
25117 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
25118 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
25119 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
25120 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
25121
25122 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
25123 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
25124 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
25125 module and described later in this chapter.
25126
25127 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
25128 is not found.
25129 @end defun
25130
25131 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
25132
25133 @table @code
25134 @defvar Symbol.type
25135 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
25136 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
25137 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25138 @end defvar
25139
25140 @defvar Symbol.symtab
25141 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
25142 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
25143 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25144 @end defvar
25145
25146 @defvar Symbol.line
25147 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
25148 This is an integer.
25149 @end defvar
25150
25151 @defvar Symbol.name
25152 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
25153 @end defvar
25154
25155 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
25156 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
25157 This attribute is not writable.
25158 @end defvar
25159
25160 @defvar Symbol.print_name
25161 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
25162 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
25163 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
25164 @end defvar
25165
25166 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
25167 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
25168 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
25169 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
25170 @end defvar
25171
25172 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
25173 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
25174 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
25175 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
25176 @end defvar
25177
25178 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
25179 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
25180 @end defvar
25181
25182 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
25183 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
25184 @end defvar
25185
25186 @defvar Symbol.is_function
25187 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
25188 @end defvar
25189
25190 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
25191 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
25192 @end defvar
25193 @end table
25194
25195 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
25196
25197 @table @code
25198 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
25199 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
25200 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
25201 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
25202 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
25203 invalid at the time the method is called.
25204 @end defun
25205
25206 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
25207 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
25208 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
25209 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
25210 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
25211 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
25212 exception.
25213 @end defun
25214 @end table
25215
25216 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25217 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25218
25219 @table @code
25220 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25221 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25222 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25223 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
25224 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
25225 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25226 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25227 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25228 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25229 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
25230 type values.
25231 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25232 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25233 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25234 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
25235 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25236 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25237 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25238 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
25239 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25240 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25241 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25242 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
25243 contains everything minus functions and types.
25244 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25245 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25246 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
25247 This domain contains all functions.
25248 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25249 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25250 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25251 This domain contains all types.
25252 @end table
25253
25254 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25255 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25256
25257 @table @code
25258 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25259 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25260 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25261 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
25262 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25263 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25264 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25265 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25266 Value is constant int.
25267 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25268 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25269 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25270 Value is at a fixed address.
25271 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25272 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25273 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25274 Value is in a register.
25275 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25276 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25277 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25278 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
25279 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
25280 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25281 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25282 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25283 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
25284 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
25285 offset, not the value itself.
25286 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25287 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25288 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25289 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
25290 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
25291 itself.
25292 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25293 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25294 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25295 Value is a local variable.
25296 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25297 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25298 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25299 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
25300 have this class.
25301 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25302 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25303 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25304 Value is a block.
25305 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25306 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25307 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25308 Value is a byte-sequence.
25309 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25310 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25311 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25312 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
25313 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
25314 referenced.
25315 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25316 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25317 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25318 The value does not actually exist in the program.
25319 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25320 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25321 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25322 The value's address is a computed location.
25323 @end table
25324
25325 @node Symbol Tables In Python
25326 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
25327
25328 @cindex symbol tables in python
25329 @tindex gdb.Symtab
25330 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
25331
25332 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
25333 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
25334 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
25335 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
25336 @xref{Frames In Python}.
25337
25338 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
25339 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
25340
25341 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
25342
25343 @table @code
25344 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
25345 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
25346 This attribute is not writable.
25347 @end defvar
25348
25349 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
25350 Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
25351 current source line. This attribute is not writable.
25352 @end defvar
25353
25354 @defvar Symtab_and_line.last
25355 Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
25356 source line. This attribute is not writable.
25357 @end defvar
25358
25359 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
25360 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
25361 attribute is not writable.
25362 @end defvar
25363 @end table
25364
25365 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
25366
25367 @table @code
25368 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
25369 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
25370 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
25371 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
25372 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
25373 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
25374 invalid at the time the method is called.
25375 @end defun
25376 @end table
25377
25378 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
25379
25380 @table @code
25381 @defvar Symtab.filename
25382 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
25383 @end defvar
25384
25385 @defvar Symtab.objfile
25386 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25387 This attribute is not writable.
25388 @end defvar
25389 @end table
25390
25391 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
25392
25393 @table @code
25394 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
25395 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
25396 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
25397 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
25398 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
25399 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25400 @end defun
25401
25402 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
25403 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
25404 @end defun
25405
25406 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
25407 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
25408 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25409 @end defun
25410
25411 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
25412 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
25413 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25414 @end defun
25415 @end table
25416
25417 @node Breakpoints In Python
25418 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
25419
25420 @cindex breakpoints in python
25421 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
25422
25423 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
25424 class.
25425
25426 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
25427 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
25428 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
25429 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
25430 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
25431 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
25432 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
25433 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
25434 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
25435 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
25436 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
25437 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
25438 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
25439 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
25440 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
25441 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
25442 @end defun
25443
25444 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
25445 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
25446 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
25447 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
25448 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
25449 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
25450 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
25451 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
25452
25453 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
25454 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
25455 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
25456 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
25457 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
25458 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
25459
25460 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
25461 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
25462 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
25463 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
25464 at this time.
25465
25466 Example @code{stop} implementation:
25467
25468 @smallexample
25469 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
25470 def stop (self):
25471 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
25472 if inf_val == 3:
25473 return True
25474 return False
25475 @end smallexample
25476 @end defun
25477
25478 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
25479 @code{gdb} module:
25480
25481 @table @code
25482 @findex WP_READ
25483 @findex gdb.WP_READ
25484 @item gdb.WP_READ
25485 Read only watchpoint.
25486
25487 @findex WP_WRITE
25488 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
25489 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
25490 Write only watchpoint.
25491
25492 @findex WP_ACCESS
25493 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
25494 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
25495 Read/Write watchpoint.
25496 @end table
25497
25498 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
25499 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
25500 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
25501 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
25502 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
25503 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
25504 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
25505 @end defun
25506
25507 @defun Breakpoint.delete
25508 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
25509 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
25510 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
25511 @end defun
25512
25513 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
25514 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
25515 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25516 @end defvar
25517
25518 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
25519 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
25520 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25521
25522 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
25523 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
25524 @code{silent} attribute.
25525 @end defvar
25526
25527 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
25528 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
25529 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
25530 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25531 @end defvar
25532
25533 @defvar Breakpoint.task
25534 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
25535 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
25536 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
25537 is writable.
25538 @end defvar
25539
25540 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
25541 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25542 This attribute is writable.
25543 @end defvar
25544
25545 @defvar Breakpoint.number
25546 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
25547 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
25548 @end defvar
25549
25550 @defvar Breakpoint.type
25551 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
25552 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
25553 writable.
25554 @end defvar
25555
25556 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
25557 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
25558 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
25559 attribute is not writable.
25560 @end defvar
25561
25562 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
25563 module:
25564
25565 @table @code
25566 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
25567 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25568 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25569 Normal code breakpoint.
25570
25571 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
25572 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25573 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25574 Watchpoint breakpoint.
25575
25576 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25577 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25578 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25579 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
25580
25581 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25582 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25583 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25584 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
25585
25586 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25587 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25588 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25589 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
25590 @end table
25591
25592 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
25593 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25594 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
25595 @end defvar
25596
25597 @defvar Breakpoint.location
25598 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
25599 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
25600 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
25601 attribute is not writable.
25602 @end defvar
25603
25604 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
25605 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
25606 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
25607 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
25608 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25609 @end defvar
25610
25611 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
25612 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
25613 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
25614 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25615 @end defvar
25616
25617 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
25618 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
25619 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
25620 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
25621 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25622 @end defvar
25623
25624 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
25625 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
25626
25627 @cindex python finish breakpoints
25628 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
25629
25630 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
25631 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
25632 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
25633 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
25634 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
25635 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
25636 thread selected.
25637
25638 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
25639 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
25640 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
25641 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
25642 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
25643 details about this argument.
25644 @end defun
25645
25646 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
25647 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
25648 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
25649 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
25650 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
25651
25652 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
25653 method:
25654
25655 @smallexample
25656 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
25657 def stop (self):
25658 print "normal finish"
25659 return True
25660
25661 def out_of_scope ():
25662 print "abnormal finish"
25663 @end smallexample
25664 @end defun
25665
25666 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
25667 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
25668 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
25669 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
25670 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
25671 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
25672 is not writable.
25673 @end defvar
25674
25675 @node Lazy Strings In Python
25676 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
25677
25678 @cindex lazy strings in python
25679 @tindex gdb.LazyString
25680
25681 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
25682 encoded until it is needed.
25683
25684 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
25685 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
25686 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
25687 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
25688 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
25689 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
25690 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
25691 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
25692 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
25693
25694 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
25695
25696 @defun LazyString.value ()
25697 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
25698 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
25699 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
25700 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
25701 @end defun
25702
25703 @defvar LazyString.address
25704 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
25705 writable.
25706 @end defvar
25707
25708 @defvar LazyString.length
25709 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
25710 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
25711 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
25712 @end defvar
25713
25714 @defvar LazyString.encoding
25715 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
25716 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
25717 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
25718 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
25719 is not writable.
25720 @end defvar
25721
25722 @defvar LazyString.type
25723 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
25724 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
25725 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
25726 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
25727 writable.
25728 @end defvar
25729
25730 @node Python Auto-loading
25731 @subsection Python Auto-loading
25732 @cindex Python auto-loading
25733
25734 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
25735 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
25736 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
25737 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
25738 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25739 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
25740
25741 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
25742 debugging commands and scripts.
25743
25744 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
25745 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
25746
25747 @table @code
25748 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
25749 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
25750 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
25751 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
25752
25753 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
25754 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
25755 @item show auto-load python-scripts
25756 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
25757
25758 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
25759 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
25760 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
25761 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
25762 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
25763
25764 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
25765 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
25766 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
25767 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
25768 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
25769 an error message for each one is problematic.
25770
25771 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
25772
25773 Example:
25774
25775 @smallexample
25776 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
25777 Loaded Script
25778 Yes py-section-script.py
25779 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
25780 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
25781 @end smallexample
25782 @end table
25783
25784 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
25785 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
25786 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
25787 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
25788
25789 @menu
25790 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
25791 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25792 * Which flavor to choose?::
25793 @end menu
25794
25795 @node objfile-gdb.py file
25796 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
25797 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
25798
25799 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
25800 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
25801 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
25802 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
25803 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
25804 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
25805
25806 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
25807 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
25808
25809 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25810 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25811
25812 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
25813 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
25814 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
25815 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
25816 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
25817 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
25818
25819 @table @code
25820 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
25821 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
25822 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
25823 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
25824 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
25825 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
25826
25827 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
25828 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
25829
25830 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
25831 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
25832 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
25833 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
25834
25835 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
25836 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
25837 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
25838 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
25839 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
25840 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
25841 platform.
25842
25843 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
25844 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
25845 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
25846
25847 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
25848 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
25849 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
25850 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
25851 @end table
25852
25853 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
25854 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
25855 @var{objfile} is opened.
25856 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
25857 is evaluated more than once.
25858
25859 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
25860 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25861 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25862
25863 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
25864 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
25865 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
25866 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
25867
25868 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
25869 current directory and then along the source search path
25870 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
25871 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
25872 directory is not relevant to scripts.
25873
25874 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
25875 for example, this GCC macro:
25876
25877 @example
25878 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
25879 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
25880 asm("\
25881 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
25882 .byte 1\n\
25883 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
25884 .popsection \n\
25885 ");
25886 @end example
25887
25888 @noindent
25889 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
25890
25891 @example
25892 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
25893 @end example
25894
25895 The script name may include directories if desired.
25896
25897 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25898 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25899
25900 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
25901 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
25902
25903 @node Which flavor to choose?
25904 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
25905
25906 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
25907 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
25908
25909 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
25910
25911 @itemize @bullet
25912 @item
25913 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
25914
25915 @item
25916 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
25917
25918 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
25919 in the source search path.
25920 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
25921 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
25922
25923 @item
25924 Doesn't require source code additions.
25925 @end itemize
25926
25927 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
25928
25929 @itemize @bullet
25930 @item
25931 Works with static linking.
25932
25933 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
25934 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
25935 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
25936 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
25937
25938 @item
25939 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
25940
25941 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
25942 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
25943
25944 @item
25945 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
25946
25947 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
25948 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
25949 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
25950 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
25951 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
25952 top of the source tree to the source search path.
25953 @end itemize
25954
25955 @node Python modules
25956 @subsection Python modules
25957 @cindex python modules
25958
25959 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
25960
25961 @menu
25962 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
25963 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
25964 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
25965 @end menu
25966
25967 @node gdb.printing
25968 @subsubsection gdb.printing
25969 @cindex gdb.printing
25970
25971 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
25972 pretty-printers.
25973
25974 @table @code
25975 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
25976 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
25977 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
25978 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
25979
25980 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
25981 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
25982 corresponding API for the subprinters.
25983
25984 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
25985 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
25986 regular expressions.
25987 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
25988
25989 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
25990 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
25991 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
25992 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
25993 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
25994 the @code{enum} type to look up.
25995
25996 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
25997 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
25998 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
25999 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
26000 if a printer with the same name already exists.
26001 @end table
26002
26003 @node gdb.types
26004 @subsubsection gdb.types
26005 @cindex gdb.types
26006
26007 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
26008 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
26009
26010 @table @code
26011 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
26012 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
26013 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
26014
26015 C@t{++} example:
26016
26017 @smallexample
26018 typedef const int const_int;
26019 const_int foo (3);
26020 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
26021 int main () @{ return 0; @}
26022 @end smallexample
26023
26024 Then in gdb:
26025
26026 @smallexample
26027 (gdb) start
26028 (gdb) python import gdb.types
26029 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
26030 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
26031 int
26032 @end smallexample
26033
26034 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
26035 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
26036 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
26037
26038 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
26039 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
26040
26041 @item deep_items (@var{type})
26042 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
26043 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
26044 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
26045 union fields. For example:
26046
26047 @smallexample
26048 struct A
26049 @{
26050 int a;
26051 union @{
26052 int b0;
26053 int b1;
26054 @};
26055 @};
26056 @end smallexample
26057
26058 @noindent
26059 Then in @value{GDBN}:
26060 @smallexample
26061 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
26062 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
26063 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
26064 @{['a', '']@}
26065 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
26066 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
26067 @end smallexample
26068
26069 @end table
26070
26071 @node gdb.prompt
26072 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
26073 @cindex gdb.prompt
26074
26075 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
26076
26077 @table @code
26078 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
26079 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
26080 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
26081 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
26082
26083 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
26084
26085 @table @code
26086 @item \\
26087 Substitute a backslash.
26088 @item \e
26089 Substitute an ESC character.
26090 @item \f
26091 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
26092 @item \n
26093 Substitute a newline.
26094 @item \p
26095 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
26096 @item \r
26097 Substitute a carriage return.
26098 @item \t
26099 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
26100 @item \v
26101 Substitute the version of GDB.
26102 @item \w
26103 Substitute the current working directory.
26104 @item \[
26105 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
26106 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
26107 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
26108 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
26109 @item \]
26110 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
26111 @end table
26112
26113 For example:
26114
26115 @smallexample
26116 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
26117 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
26118 @end smallexample
26119
26120 @exdent will return the string:
26121
26122 @smallexample
26123 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
26124 @end smallexample
26125 @end table
26126
26127 @node Aliases
26128 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
26129 @cindex aliases for commands
26130
26131 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
26132 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
26133 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
26134 that involves less typing.
26135
26136 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
26137 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
26138 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
26139
26140 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
26141 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
26142 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
26143
26144 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
26145
26146 @table @code
26147
26148 @kindex alias
26149 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
26150
26151 @end table
26152
26153 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
26154 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
26155 underscores.
26156
26157 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
26158 that is being aliased.
26159
26160 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
26161 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
26162 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
26163
26164 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
26165 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
26166
26167 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
26168 of a command so that there is less to type.
26169 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
26170 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
26171 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
26172 The following will accomplish this.
26173
26174 @smallexample
26175 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
26176 @end smallexample
26177
26178 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
26179 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
26180 for it with the @samp{document} command.
26181 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
26182
26183 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
26184 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
26185 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
26186 of a command.
26187
26188 @smallexample
26189 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
26190 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
26191 (gdb) set p elms 20
26192 (gdb) show p elms
26193 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
26194 @end smallexample
26195
26196 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
26197 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
26198 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
26199
26200 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
26201 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
26202
26203 @smallexample
26204 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
26205 @end smallexample
26206
26207 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
26208 alias for a more complex command.
26209 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
26210
26211 @smallexample
26212 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
26213 (gdb) spe 20
26214 @end smallexample
26215
26216 @node Interpreters
26217 @chapter Command Interpreters
26218 @cindex command interpreters
26219
26220 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
26221 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
26222 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
26223
26224 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
26225 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
26226 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
26227 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
26228
26229 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
26230 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
26231 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
26232 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
26233
26234 @table @code
26235 @item console
26236 @cindex console interpreter
26237 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
26238 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
26239 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
26240
26241 @item mi
26242 @cindex mi interpreter
26243 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
26244 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
26245 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
26246 Interface}.
26247
26248 @item mi2
26249 @cindex mi2 interpreter
26250 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
26251
26252 @item mi1
26253 @cindex mi1 interpreter
26254 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
26255
26256 @end table
26257
26258 @cindex invoke another interpreter
26259 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
26260 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
26261 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
26262 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
26263 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
26264 the IDE inoperable!
26265
26266 @kindex interpreter-exec
26267 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
26268 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
26269 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
26270 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
26271
26272 @smallexample
26273 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
26274 @end smallexample
26275
26276 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
26277 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
26278
26279 @node TUI
26280 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
26281 @cindex TUI
26282 @cindex Text User Interface
26283
26284 @menu
26285 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
26286 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
26287 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
26288 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
26289 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
26290 @end menu
26291
26292 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
26293 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
26294 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
26295 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
26296 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
26297 is available.
26298
26299 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
26300 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
26301 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
26302 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
26303 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
26304
26305 @node TUI Overview
26306 @section TUI Overview
26307
26308 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
26309
26310 @table @emph
26311 @item command
26312 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
26313 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
26314 managed using readline.
26315
26316 @item source
26317 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
26318 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
26319
26320 @item assembly
26321 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
26322
26323 @item register
26324 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
26325 when their values change.
26326 @end table
26327
26328 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
26329 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
26330 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
26331 indicates the breakpoint type:
26332
26333 @table @code
26334 @item B
26335 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26336
26337 @item b
26338 Breakpoint which was never hit.
26339
26340 @item H
26341 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26342
26343 @item h
26344 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
26345 @end table
26346
26347 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
26348
26349 @table @code
26350 @item +
26351 Breakpoint is enabled.
26352
26353 @item -
26354 Breakpoint is disabled.
26355 @end table
26356
26357 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
26358 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
26359 changes.
26360
26361 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
26362 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
26363 layouts:
26364
26365 @itemize @bullet
26366 @item
26367 source only,
26368
26369 @item
26370 assembly only,
26371
26372 @item
26373 source and assembly,
26374
26375 @item
26376 source and registers, or
26377
26378 @item
26379 assembly and registers.
26380 @end itemize
26381
26382 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
26383
26384 @table @emph
26385 @item target
26386 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
26387 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
26388
26389 @item process
26390 Gives the current process or thread number.
26391 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
26392
26393 @item function
26394 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
26395 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
26396 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
26397 the string @code{??} is displayed.
26398
26399 @item line
26400 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
26401 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
26402
26403 @item pc
26404 Indicates the current program counter address.
26405 @end table
26406
26407 @node TUI Keys
26408 @section TUI Key Bindings
26409 @cindex TUI key bindings
26410
26411 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
26412 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
26413 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
26414 @end ifset
26415 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
26416 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
26417 @end ifclear
26418 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
26419 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
26420
26421 @table @kbd
26422 @kindex C-x C-a
26423 @item C-x C-a
26424 @kindex C-x a
26425 @itemx C-x a
26426 @kindex C-x A
26427 @itemx C-x A
26428 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
26429 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
26430 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
26431 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
26432 The screen is then refreshed.
26433
26434 @kindex C-x 1
26435 @item C-x 1
26436 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
26437 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
26438 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
26439
26440 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
26441
26442 @kindex C-x 2
26443 @item C-x 2
26444 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
26445 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
26446 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
26447 previous layout and the new one.
26448
26449 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
26450
26451 @kindex C-x o
26452 @item C-x o
26453 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
26454 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
26455 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
26456
26457 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
26458
26459 @kindex C-x s
26460 @item C-x s
26461 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
26462 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
26463 @end table
26464
26465 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
26466
26467 @table @asis
26468 @kindex PgUp
26469 @item @key{PgUp}
26470 Scroll the active window one page up.
26471
26472 @kindex PgDn
26473 @item @key{PgDn}
26474 Scroll the active window one page down.
26475
26476 @kindex Up
26477 @item @key{Up}
26478 Scroll the active window one line up.
26479
26480 @kindex Down
26481 @item @key{Down}
26482 Scroll the active window one line down.
26483
26484 @kindex Left
26485 @item @key{Left}
26486 Scroll the active window one column left.
26487
26488 @kindex Right
26489 @item @key{Right}
26490 Scroll the active window one column right.
26491
26492 @kindex C-L
26493 @item @kbd{C-L}
26494 Refresh the screen.
26495 @end table
26496
26497 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
26498 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
26499 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
26500 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
26501 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
26502
26503 @node TUI Single Key Mode
26504 @section TUI Single Key Mode
26505 @cindex TUI single key mode
26506
26507 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
26508 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
26509 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
26510
26511 @table @kbd
26512 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26513 @item c
26514 continue
26515
26516 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26517 @item d
26518 down
26519
26520 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26521 @item f
26522 finish
26523
26524 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26525 @item n
26526 next
26527
26528 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26529 @item q
26530 exit the SingleKey mode.
26531
26532 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26533 @item r
26534 run
26535
26536 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26537 @item s
26538 step
26539
26540 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26541 @item u
26542 up
26543
26544 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26545 @item v
26546 info locals
26547
26548 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26549 @item w
26550 where
26551 @end table
26552
26553 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
26554 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
26555 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
26556 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
26557 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
26558 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
26559
26560
26561 @node TUI Commands
26562 @section TUI-specific Commands
26563 @cindex TUI commands
26564
26565 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
26566 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
26567 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
26568 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
26569
26570 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
26571 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
26572 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
26573 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
26574 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
26575
26576 @table @code
26577 @item info win
26578 @kindex info win
26579 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
26580
26581 @item layout next
26582 @kindex layout
26583 Display the next layout.
26584
26585 @item layout prev
26586 Display the previous layout.
26587
26588 @item layout src
26589 Display the source window only.
26590
26591 @item layout asm
26592 Display the assembly window only.
26593
26594 @item layout split
26595 Display the source and assembly window.
26596
26597 @item layout regs
26598 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
26599
26600 @item focus next
26601 @kindex focus
26602 Make the next window active for scrolling.
26603
26604 @item focus prev
26605 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
26606
26607 @item focus src
26608 Make the source window active for scrolling.
26609
26610 @item focus asm
26611 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
26612
26613 @item focus regs
26614 Make the register window active for scrolling.
26615
26616 @item focus cmd
26617 Make the command window active for scrolling.
26618
26619 @item refresh
26620 @kindex refresh
26621 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
26622
26623 @item tui reg float
26624 @kindex tui reg
26625 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
26626
26627 @item tui reg general
26628 Show the general registers in the register window.
26629
26630 @item tui reg next
26631 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
26632 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
26633 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
26634 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
26635
26636 @item tui reg system
26637 Show the system registers in the register window.
26638
26639 @item update
26640 @kindex update
26641 Update the source window and the current execution point.
26642
26643 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
26644 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
26645 @kindex winheight
26646 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
26647 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
26648 decrease it.
26649
26650 @item tabset @var{nchars}
26651 @kindex tabset
26652 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
26653 @end table
26654
26655 @node TUI Configuration
26656 @section TUI Configuration Variables
26657 @cindex TUI configuration variables
26658
26659 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
26660
26661 @table @code
26662 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
26663 @kindex set tui border-kind
26664 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
26665 The possible values are the following:
26666 @table @code
26667 @item space
26668 Use a space character to draw the border.
26669
26670 @item ascii
26671 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
26672
26673 @item acs
26674 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
26675 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
26676 @end table
26677
26678 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
26679 @kindex set tui border-mode
26680 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
26681 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
26682 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
26683 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
26684 @table @code
26685 @item normal
26686 Use normal attributes to display the border.
26687
26688 @item standout
26689 Use standout mode.
26690
26691 @item reverse
26692 Use reverse video mode.
26693
26694 @item half
26695 Use half bright mode.
26696
26697 @item half-standout
26698 Use half bright and standout mode.
26699
26700 @item bold
26701 Use extra bright or bold mode.
26702
26703 @item bold-standout
26704 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
26705 @end table
26706 @end table
26707
26708 @node Emacs
26709 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
26710
26711 @cindex Emacs
26712 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
26713 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
26714 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
26715 @value{GDBN}.
26716
26717 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
26718 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
26719 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
26720 created Emacs buffer.
26721 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
26722
26723 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
26724 things:
26725
26726 @itemize @bullet
26727 @item
26728 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
26729 the GUD buffer.
26730
26731 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
26732 and output done by the program you are debugging.
26733
26734 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
26735 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
26736 in this way.
26737
26738 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
26739 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
26740 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
26741 stop.
26742
26743 @item
26744 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
26745
26746 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
26747 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
26748 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
26749 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
26750 and the source.
26751
26752 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
26753 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
26754 @end itemize
26755
26756 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
26757 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
26758 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
26759 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
26760
26761 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
26762 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
26763 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
26764 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
26765 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
26766 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
26767 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
26768 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
26769 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
26770
26771 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
26772 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
26773 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
26774 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
26775
26776 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
26777 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
26778 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
26779 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
26780 one you want.
26781
26782 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
26783 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
26784
26785 @table @kbd
26786 @item C-h m
26787 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
26788
26789 @item C-c C-s
26790 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
26791 update the display window to show the current file and location.
26792
26793 @item C-c C-n
26794 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
26795 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
26796 to show the current file and location.
26797
26798 @item C-c C-i
26799 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
26800 display window accordingly.
26801
26802 @item C-c C-f
26803 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
26804 @code{finish} command.
26805
26806 @item C-c C-r
26807 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
26808 command.
26809
26810 @item C-c <
26811 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
26812 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
26813 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
26814
26815 @item C-c >
26816 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
26817 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
26818 @end table
26819
26820 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
26821 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
26822
26823 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
26824 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
26825 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
26826 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
26827 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
26828 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
26829 speedbar displays watch expressions.
26830
26831 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
26832 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
26833 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
26834 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
26835 frame.
26836
26837 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
26838 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
26839 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
26840 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
26841 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
26842 to correspond properly with the code.
26843
26844 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
26845 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
26846 Emacs Manual}).
26847
26848 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
26849 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
26850 @ignore
26851 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
26852 @kindex Epoch
26853 @kindex inspect
26854
26855 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
26856 called the @code{epoch}
26857 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
26858 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
26859 each value is printed in its own window.
26860 @end ignore
26861
26862
26863 @node GDB/MI
26864 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
26865
26866 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
26867
26868 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
26869 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
26870 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
26871 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
26872 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
26873 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
26874
26875 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
26876 in the form of a reference manual.
26877
26878 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
26879 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
26880 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
26881
26882 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
26883
26884 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
26885 This chapter uses the following notation:
26886
26887 @itemize @bullet
26888 @item
26889 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
26890
26891 @item
26892 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
26893 it may or may not be given.
26894
26895 @item
26896 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26897 may repeat zero or more times.
26898
26899 @item
26900 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26901 may repeat one or more times.
26902
26903 @item
26904 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
26905 @end itemize
26906
26907 @ignore
26908 @heading Dependencies
26909 @end ignore
26910
26911 @menu
26912 * GDB/MI General Design::
26913 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
26914 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
26915 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
26916 * GDB/MI Output Records::
26917 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
26918 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
26919 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
26920 * GDB/MI Program Context::
26921 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
26922 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
26923 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
26924 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
26925 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
26926 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
26927 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
26928 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
26929 * GDB/MI File Commands::
26930 @ignore
26931 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
26932 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
26933 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
26934 @end ignore
26935 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
26936 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
26937 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
26938 @end menu
26939
26940 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26941 @node GDB/MI General Design
26942 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
26943 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
26944
26945 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
26946 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
26947 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
26948 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
26949 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
26950 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
26951 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
26952 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
26953 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
26954 a command and reported as part of that command response.
26955
26956 The important examples of notifications are:
26957 @itemize @bullet
26958
26959 @item
26960 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
26961 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
26962 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
26963 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
26964 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
26965 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
26966 command itself was successfully executed.
26967
26968 @item
26969 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
26970 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
26971 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
26972 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
26973 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
26974 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
26975
26976 @item
26977 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
26978 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
26979 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
26980 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
26981 orthogonal frontend design.
26982
26983 @end itemize
26984
26985 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
26986 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
26987 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
26988 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
26989 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
26990 the user interface.
26991
26992
26993 @menu
26994 * Context management::
26995 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
26996 * Thread groups::
26997 @end menu
26998
26999 @node Context management
27000 @subsection Context management
27001
27002 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
27003 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
27004 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
27005 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
27006 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
27007 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
27008 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
27009 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
27010 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
27011
27012 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
27013 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
27014 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
27015 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
27016 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
27017 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
27018 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
27019 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
27020 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
27021 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
27022 for thread and frame to operate on.
27023
27024 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
27025 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
27026 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
27027 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
27028 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
27029 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
27030 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
27031 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
27032 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
27033 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
27034
27035 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
27036 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
27037 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
27038 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
27039 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
27040 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
27041 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
27042 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
27043 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
27044 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
27045 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
27046 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
27047 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
27048 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
27049 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
27050 @samp{--frame} options.
27051
27052 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
27053 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
27054
27055 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
27056 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
27057 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
27058 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
27059 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
27060 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
27061 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
27062 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
27063 @code{-list-target-features} command.
27064
27065 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
27066 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
27067 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
27068 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
27069 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
27070 are running.
27071
27072 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
27073 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
27074 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
27075 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
27076 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
27077 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
27078 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
27079 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
27080 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
27081 @samp{--thread} option).
27082
27083 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
27084 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
27085 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
27086 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
27087
27088 @node Thread groups
27089 @subsection Thread groups
27090 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
27091 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
27092 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
27093 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
27094 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
27095
27096 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
27097 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
27098 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
27099 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
27100 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
27101 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
27102 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
27103 into processes.
27104
27105 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
27106 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
27107 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
27108 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
27109 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
27110 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
27111 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
27112 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
27113 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
27114 the members of specific thread group.
27115
27116 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
27117 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
27118 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
27119 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
27120 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
27121 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
27122 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
27123 after attaching to that thread group.
27124
27125 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
27126 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
27127 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
27128 such thread groups.
27129
27130 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27131 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
27132 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
27133
27134 @menu
27135 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
27136 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
27137 @end menu
27138
27139 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
27140 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
27141
27142 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
27143 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
27144 @table @code
27145 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
27146 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
27147
27148 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
27149 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
27150 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
27151
27152 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
27153 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
27154 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
27155
27156 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27157 "any sequence of digits"
27158
27159 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
27160 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
27161
27162 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
27163 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
27164
27165 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
27166 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
27167
27168 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
27169 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
27170 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
27171
27172 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
27173 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
27174
27175 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27176 @code{CR | CR-LF}
27177 @end table
27178
27179 @noindent
27180 Notes:
27181
27182 @itemize @bullet
27183 @item
27184 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
27185 output is described below.
27186
27187 @item
27188 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
27189 finishes.
27190
27191 @item
27192 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
27193 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
27194 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
27195 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
27196 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
27197 @end itemize
27198
27199 Pragmatics:
27200
27201 @itemize @bullet
27202 @item
27203 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
27204
27205 @item
27206 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
27207 @end itemize
27208
27209 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
27210 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
27211
27212 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
27213 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
27214 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
27215 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
27216 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
27217 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
27218
27219 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
27220 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
27221 @var{token}.
27222
27223 @table @code
27224 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
27225 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
27226
27227 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
27228 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27229
27230 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
27231 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
27232
27233 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
27234 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
27235
27236 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
27237 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
27238
27239 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
27240 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
27241
27242 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
27243 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
27244
27245 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
27246 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27247
27248 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
27249 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
27250
27251 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
27252 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
27253 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
27254
27255 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
27256 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
27257
27258 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
27259 @code{ @var{string} }
27260
27261 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
27262 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
27263
27264 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
27265 @code{@var{c-string}}
27266
27267 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
27268 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
27269
27270 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
27271 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
27272 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
27273
27274 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
27275 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
27276
27277 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
27278 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
27279
27280 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
27281 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
27282
27283 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
27284 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
27285
27286 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27287 @code{CR | CR-LF}
27288
27289 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27290 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
27291 @end table
27292
27293 @noindent
27294 Notes:
27295
27296 @itemize @bullet
27297 @item
27298 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
27299
27300 @item
27301 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
27302 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
27303 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
27304 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
27305 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
27306 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
27307 prior command.
27308
27309 @item
27310 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27311 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
27312 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
27313 prefixed by @samp{+}.
27314
27315 @item
27316 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27317 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
27318 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
27319 @samp{*}.
27320
27321 @item
27322 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27323 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
27324 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
27325 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
27326
27327 @item
27328 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27329 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
27330 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
27331 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
27332
27333 @item
27334 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27335 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
27336 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
27337
27338 @item
27339 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27340 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
27341 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
27342 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
27343
27344 @item
27345 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27346 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
27347 @var{values}.
27348
27349
27350 @end itemize
27351
27352 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
27353 details about the various output records.
27354
27355 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27356 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
27357 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
27358
27359 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
27360 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
27361
27362 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
27363 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
27364 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
27365 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
27366 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
27367 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
27368
27369 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
27370 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
27371 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
27372
27373 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27374 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
27375 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
27376 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
27377
27378 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
27379 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
27380
27381 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
27382 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
27383 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
27384 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
27385 might change.
27386
27387 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
27388 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
27389 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
27390 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
27391
27392 @itemize @bullet
27393 @item
27394 New MI commands may be added.
27395
27396 @item
27397 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
27398
27399 @item
27400 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
27401 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
27402
27403 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
27404 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
27405
27406 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
27407 @c resolve inconsistencies.
27408 @end itemize
27409
27410 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
27411 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
27412 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
27413 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
27414 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
27415
27416 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
27417 @c version?
27418
27419 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
27420 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
27421 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
27422 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
27423 @cindex mailing lists
27424
27425 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27426 @node GDB/MI Output Records
27427 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
27428
27429 @menu
27430 * GDB/MI Result Records::
27431 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
27432 * GDB/MI Async Records::
27433 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
27434 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
27435 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
27436 @end menu
27437
27438 @node GDB/MI Result Records
27439 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
27440
27441 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27442 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
27443 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
27444 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
27445
27446 @table @code
27447 @findex ^done
27448 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
27449 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
27450 values.
27451
27452 @item "^running"
27453 @findex ^running
27454 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
27455 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
27456 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
27457 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
27458 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
27459 which threads are resumed.
27460
27461 @item "^connected"
27462 @findex ^connected
27463 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
27464
27465 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
27466 @findex ^error
27467 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
27468 error message.
27469
27470 @item "^exit"
27471 @findex ^exit
27472 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
27473
27474 @end table
27475
27476 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
27477 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
27478
27479 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
27480 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27481 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
27482 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
27483 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
27484
27485 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
27486 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
27487 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
27488 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
27489 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
27490
27491 @table @code
27492 @item "~" @var{string-output}
27493 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
27494 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
27495
27496 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
27497 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
27498 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
27499 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
27500
27501 @item "&" @var{string-output}
27502 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
27503 internals.
27504 @end table
27505
27506 @node GDB/MI Async Records
27507 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
27508
27509 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27510 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
27511 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
27512 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
27513 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
27514 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
27515
27516 The following is the list of possible async records:
27517
27518 @table @code
27519
27520 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
27521 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
27522 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
27523 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
27524 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
27525 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
27526 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
27527 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
27528 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
27529 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
27530
27531 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
27532 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
27533 following values:
27534
27535 @table @code
27536 @item breakpoint-hit
27537 A breakpoint was reached.
27538 @item watchpoint-trigger
27539 A watchpoint was triggered.
27540 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
27541 A read watchpoint was triggered.
27542 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
27543 An access watchpoint was triggered.
27544 @item function-finished
27545 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27546 @item location-reached
27547 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27548 @item watchpoint-scope
27549 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
27550 @item end-stepping-range
27551 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
27552 similar CLI command was accomplished.
27553 @item exited-signalled
27554 The inferior exited because of a signal.
27555 @item exited
27556 The inferior exited.
27557 @item exited-normally
27558 The inferior exited normally.
27559 @item signal-received
27560 A signal was received by the inferior.
27561 @item solib-event
27562 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
27563 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
27564 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
27565 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
27566 @item fork
27567 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
27568 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27569 @item vfork
27570 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
27571 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27572 @item syscall-entry
27573 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
27574 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27575 @item syscall-entry
27576 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
27577 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27578 @item exec
27579 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
27580 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27581 @end table
27582
27583 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
27584 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
27585 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
27586 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
27587 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
27588 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
27589 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
27590 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
27591 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
27592 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
27593 if such information is not available.
27594
27595 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
27596 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
27597 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
27598 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
27599 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
27600 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
27601 cannot be used in any way.
27602
27603 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
27604 A thread group became associated with a running program,
27605 either because the program was just started or the thread group
27606 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
27607 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
27608 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
27609
27610 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
27611 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
27612 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
27613 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
27614 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
27615 only when the inferior exited with some code.
27616
27617 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27618 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27619 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
27620 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
27621 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
27622
27623 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
27624 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
27625 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
27626 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
27627 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
27628 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
27629 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
27630
27631 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
27632 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
27633 that thread.
27634
27635 @item =library-loaded,...
27636 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
27637 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
27638 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
27639 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
27640 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
27641 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
27642 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
27643 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
27644 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
27645 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
27646 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
27647 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
27648 thread groups.
27649
27650 @item =library-unloaded,...
27651 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
27652 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
27653 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
27654 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
27655 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
27656 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
27657 thread groups.
27658
27659 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
27660 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
27661 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
27662 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
27663 frame is @var{tpnum}.
27664
27665 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},value=@var{value}
27666 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
27667 value @var{value}.
27668
27669 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
27670 @itemx =tsv-deleted
27671 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
27672 trace state variables are deleted.
27673
27674 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
27675 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
27676 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
27677 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
27678 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
27679 user.
27680
27681 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
27682 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
27683 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
27684
27685 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
27686 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
27687
27688 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
27689 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
27690 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
27691 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
27692 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
27693
27694 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
27695 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
27696 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
27697 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
27698 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
27699 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
27700
27701 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
27702 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
27703 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
27704 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
27705 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
27706 executable code.
27707 @end table
27708
27709 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
27710 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
27711
27712 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
27713 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
27714 fields:
27715
27716 @table @code
27717 @item level
27718 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
27719 zero. This field is always present.
27720
27721 @item func
27722 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
27723 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
27724
27725 @item addr
27726 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
27727
27728 @item file
27729 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
27730 address. This field may be absent.
27731
27732 @item line
27733 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
27734 may be absent.
27735
27736 @item from
27737 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
27738 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
27739
27740 @end table
27741
27742 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
27743 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
27744
27745 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
27746 uses a tuple with the following fields:
27747
27748 @table @code
27749 @item id
27750 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
27751 always present.
27752
27753 @item target-id
27754 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
27755
27756 @item details
27757 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
27758 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
27759 frontend. This field is optional.
27760
27761 @item state
27762 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
27763 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
27764
27765 @item core
27766 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
27767 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
27768 @end table
27769
27770 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
27771 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
27772
27773 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
27774 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
27775 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
27776 the @code{exception-name} field.
27777
27778 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27779 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
27780 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
27781 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
27782
27783 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
27784 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
27785 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
27786 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
27787
27788 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
27789 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
27790
27791 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
27792
27793 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
27794 information of the breakpoint.
27795
27796 @smallexample
27797 -> -break-insert main
27798 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27799 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
27800 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
27801 <- (gdb)
27802 @end smallexample
27803
27804 @subheading Program Execution
27805
27806 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
27807 reason that execution stopped.
27808
27809 @smallexample
27810 -> -exec-run
27811 <- ^running
27812 <- (gdb)
27813 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
27814 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
27815 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
27816 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
27817 <- (gdb)
27818 -> -exec-continue
27819 <- ^running
27820 <- (gdb)
27821 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
27822 <- (gdb)
27823 @end smallexample
27824
27825 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
27826
27827 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
27828
27829 @smallexample
27830 -> (gdb)
27831 <- -gdb-exit
27832 <- ^exit
27833 @end smallexample
27834
27835 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
27836 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
27837 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
27838 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
27839 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
27840 fails to exit in reasonable time.
27841
27842 @subheading A Bad Command
27843
27844 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
27845
27846 @smallexample
27847 -> -rubbish
27848 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
27849 <- (gdb)
27850 @end smallexample
27851
27852
27853 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27854 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
27855 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
27856
27857 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
27858 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
27859
27860 @subheading Motivation
27861
27862 The motivation for this collection of commands.
27863
27864 @subheading Introduction
27865
27866 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
27867
27868 @subheading Commands
27869
27870 For each command in the block, the following is described:
27871
27872 @subsubheading Synopsis
27873
27874 @smallexample
27875 -command @var{args}@dots{}
27876 @end smallexample
27877
27878 @subsubheading Result
27879
27880 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27881
27882 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
27883
27884 @subsubheading Example
27885
27886 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
27887 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
27888
27889
27890 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27891 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
27892 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
27893
27894 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
27895 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
27896 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
27897 breakpoints.
27898
27899 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
27900 @findex -break-after
27901
27902 @subsubheading Synopsis
27903
27904 @smallexample
27905 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
27906 @end smallexample
27907
27908 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
27909 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
27910 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
27911 @samp{-break-list} command below.
27912
27913 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27914
27915 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
27916
27917 @subsubheading Example
27918
27919 @smallexample
27920 (gdb)
27921 -break-insert main
27922 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27923 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27924 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
27925 (gdb)
27926 -break-after 1 3
27927 ~
27928 ^done
27929 (gdb)
27930 -break-list
27931 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27932 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27933 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27934 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27935 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27936 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27937 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27938 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27939 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27940 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27941 (gdb)
27942 @end smallexample
27943
27944 @ignore
27945 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
27946 @findex -break-catch
27947 @end ignore
27948
27949 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
27950 @findex -break-commands
27951
27952 @subsubheading Synopsis
27953
27954 @smallexample
27955 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
27956 @end smallexample
27957
27958 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
27959 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
27960 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
27961 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
27962 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
27963 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
27964
27965 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27966
27967 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
27968
27969 @subsubheading Example
27970
27971 @smallexample
27972 (gdb)
27973 -break-insert main
27974 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27975 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27976 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
27977 (gdb)
27978 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
27979 ^done
27980 (gdb)
27981 @end smallexample
27982
27983 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
27984 @findex -break-condition
27985
27986 @subsubheading Synopsis
27987
27988 @smallexample
27989 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
27990 @end smallexample
27991
27992 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
27993 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
27994 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
27995 command below).
27996
27997 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27998
27999 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
28000
28001 @subsubheading Example
28002
28003 @smallexample
28004 (gdb)
28005 -break-condition 1 1
28006 ^done
28007 (gdb)
28008 -break-list
28009 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28010 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28011 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28012 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28013 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28014 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28015 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28016 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28017 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28018 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
28019 (gdb)
28020 @end smallexample
28021
28022 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
28023 @findex -break-delete
28024
28025 @subsubheading Synopsis
28026
28027 @smallexample
28028 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28029 @end smallexample
28030
28031 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
28032 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
28033
28034 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28035
28036 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
28037
28038 @subsubheading Example
28039
28040 @smallexample
28041 (gdb)
28042 -break-delete 1
28043 ^done
28044 (gdb)
28045 -break-list
28046 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28047 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28048 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28049 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28050 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28051 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28052 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28053 body=[]@}
28054 (gdb)
28055 @end smallexample
28056
28057 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
28058 @findex -break-disable
28059
28060 @subsubheading Synopsis
28061
28062 @smallexample
28063 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28064 @end smallexample
28065
28066 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
28067 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
28068
28069 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28070
28071 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
28072
28073 @subsubheading Example
28074
28075 @smallexample
28076 (gdb)
28077 -break-disable 2
28078 ^done
28079 (gdb)
28080 -break-list
28081 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28082 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28083 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28084 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28085 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28086 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28087 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28088 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
28089 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28090 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
28091 (gdb)
28092 @end smallexample
28093
28094 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
28095 @findex -break-enable
28096
28097 @subsubheading Synopsis
28098
28099 @smallexample
28100 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28101 @end smallexample
28102
28103 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
28104
28105 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28106
28107 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
28108
28109 @subsubheading Example
28110
28111 @smallexample
28112 (gdb)
28113 -break-enable 2
28114 ^done
28115 (gdb)
28116 -break-list
28117 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28118 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28119 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28120 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28121 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28122 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28123 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28124 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28125 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28126 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
28127 (gdb)
28128 @end smallexample
28129
28130 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
28131 @findex -break-info
28132
28133 @subsubheading Synopsis
28134
28135 @smallexample
28136 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
28137 @end smallexample
28138
28139 @c REDUNDANT???
28140 Get information about a single breakpoint.
28141
28142 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28143
28144 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
28145
28146 @subsubheading Example
28147 N.A.
28148
28149 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
28150 @findex -break-insert
28151
28152 @subsubheading Synopsis
28153
28154 @smallexample
28155 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
28156 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
28157 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
28158 @end smallexample
28159
28160 @noindent
28161 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
28162
28163 @itemize @bullet
28164 @item function
28165 @c @item +offset
28166 @c @item -offset
28167 @c @item linenum
28168 @item filename:linenum
28169 @item filename:function
28170 @item *address
28171 @end itemize
28172
28173 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
28174
28175 @table @samp
28176 @item -t
28177 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
28178 @item -h
28179 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
28180 @item -f
28181 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
28182 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
28183 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
28184 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
28185 cannot be parsed.
28186 @item -d
28187 Create a disabled breakpoint.
28188 @item -a
28189 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
28190 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
28191 @item -c @var{condition}
28192 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28193 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
28194 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
28195 @item -p @var{thread-id}
28196 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
28197 @end table
28198
28199 @subsubheading Result
28200
28201 The result is in the form:
28202
28203 @smallexample
28204 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
28205 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
28206 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
28207 times="@var{times}"@}
28208 @end smallexample
28209
28210 @noindent
28211 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
28212 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
28213 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
28214 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
28215 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
28216 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
28217 which use the same output).
28218
28219 Note: this format is open to change.
28220 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
28221
28222 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28223
28224 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
28225 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
28226
28227 @subsubheading Example
28228
28229 @smallexample
28230 (gdb)
28231 -break-insert main
28232 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
28233 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
28234 (gdb)
28235 -break-insert -t foo
28236 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
28237 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
28238 (gdb)
28239 -break-list
28240 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28241 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28242 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28243 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28244 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28245 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28246 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28247 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28248 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
28249 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
28250 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
28251 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
28252 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
28253 (gdb)
28254 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
28255 @c ~int foo(int, int);
28256 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
28257 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
28258 @c (gdb)
28259 @end smallexample
28260
28261 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
28262 @findex -break-list
28263
28264 @subsubheading Synopsis
28265
28266 @smallexample
28267 -break-list
28268 @end smallexample
28269
28270 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
28271
28272 @table @samp
28273 @item Number
28274 number of the breakpoint
28275 @item Type
28276 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
28277 @item Disposition
28278 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
28279 or @samp{nokeep}
28280 @item Enabled
28281 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
28282 @item Address
28283 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
28284 @item What
28285 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
28286 name, line number
28287 @item Times
28288 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
28289 @end table
28290
28291 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
28292 @code{body} field is an empty list.
28293
28294 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28295
28296 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
28297
28298 @subsubheading Example
28299
28300 @smallexample
28301 (gdb)
28302 -break-list
28303 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28304 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28305 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28306 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28307 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28308 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28309 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28310 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28311 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
28312 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28313 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28314 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
28315 (gdb)
28316 @end smallexample
28317
28318 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
28319
28320 @smallexample
28321 (gdb)
28322 -break-list
28323 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28324 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28325 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28326 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28327 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28328 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28329 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28330 body=[]@}
28331 (gdb)
28332 @end smallexample
28333
28334 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
28335 @findex -break-passcount
28336
28337 @subsubheading Synopsis
28338
28339 @smallexample
28340 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
28341 @end smallexample
28342
28343 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
28344 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
28345 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
28346 command @samp{passcount}.
28347
28348 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
28349 @findex -break-watch
28350
28351 @subsubheading Synopsis
28352
28353 @smallexample
28354 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
28355 @end smallexample
28356
28357 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
28358 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
28359 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
28360 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
28361 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
28362 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
28363 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
28364 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
28365
28366 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
28367 breakpoints inserted.
28368
28369 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28370
28371 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
28372 @samp{rwatch}.
28373
28374 @subsubheading Example
28375
28376 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
28377
28378 @smallexample
28379 (gdb)
28380 -break-watch x
28381 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
28382 (gdb)
28383 -exec-continue
28384 ^running
28385 (gdb)
28386 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
28387 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
28388 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28389 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
28390 (gdb)
28391 @end smallexample
28392
28393 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
28394 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
28395 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
28396
28397 @smallexample
28398 (gdb)
28399 -break-watch C
28400 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
28401 (gdb)
28402 -exec-continue
28403 ^running
28404 (gdb)
28405 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
28406 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28407 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28408 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28409 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28410 (gdb)
28411 -exec-continue
28412 ^running
28413 (gdb)
28414 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
28415 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28416 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28417 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28418 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28419 (gdb)
28420 @end smallexample
28421
28422 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
28423 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
28424 deleted.
28425
28426 @smallexample
28427 (gdb)
28428 -break-watch C
28429 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
28430 (gdb)
28431 -break-list
28432 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28433 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28434 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28435 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28436 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28437 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28438 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28439 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28440 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28441 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28442 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
28443 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28444 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
28445 (gdb)
28446 -exec-continue
28447 ^running
28448 (gdb)
28449 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
28450 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28451 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28452 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28453 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28454 (gdb)
28455 -break-list
28456 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28457 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28458 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28459 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28460 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28461 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28462 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28463 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28464 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28465 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28466 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
28467 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28468 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
28469 (gdb)
28470 -exec-continue
28471 ^running
28472 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
28473 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28474 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28475 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28476 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28477 (gdb)
28478 -break-list
28479 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28480 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28481 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28482 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28483 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28484 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28485 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28486 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28487 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28488 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28489 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
28490 times="1"@}]@}
28491 (gdb)
28492 @end smallexample
28493
28494 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28495 @node GDB/MI Program Context
28496 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
28497
28498 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
28499 @findex -exec-arguments
28500
28501
28502 @subsubheading Synopsis
28503
28504 @smallexample
28505 -exec-arguments @var{args}
28506 @end smallexample
28507
28508 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
28509 @samp{-exec-run}.
28510
28511 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28512
28513 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
28514
28515 @subsubheading Example
28516
28517 @smallexample
28518 (gdb)
28519 -exec-arguments -v word
28520 ^done
28521 (gdb)
28522 @end smallexample
28523
28524
28525 @ignore
28526 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
28527 @findex -exec-show-arguments
28528
28529 @subsubheading Synopsis
28530
28531 @smallexample
28532 -exec-show-arguments
28533 @end smallexample
28534
28535 Print the arguments of the program.
28536
28537 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28538
28539 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
28540
28541 @subsubheading Example
28542 N.A.
28543 @end ignore
28544
28545
28546 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
28547 @findex -environment-cd
28548
28549 @subsubheading Synopsis
28550
28551 @smallexample
28552 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
28553 @end smallexample
28554
28555 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
28556
28557 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28558
28559 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
28560
28561 @subsubheading Example
28562
28563 @smallexample
28564 (gdb)
28565 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28566 ^done
28567 (gdb)
28568 @end smallexample
28569
28570
28571 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
28572 @findex -environment-directory
28573
28574 @subsubheading Synopsis
28575
28576 @smallexample
28577 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28578 @end smallexample
28579
28580 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
28581 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
28582 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
28583 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28584 occurs as normal.
28585 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28586 multiple directories in a single command
28587 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28588 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28589 If blanks are needed as
28590 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28591 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28592 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28593 character must not be used
28594 in any directory name.
28595 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
28596
28597 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28598
28599 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
28600
28601 @subsubheading Example
28602
28603 @smallexample
28604 (gdb)
28605 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28606 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28607 (gdb)
28608 -environment-directory ""
28609 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28610 (gdb)
28611 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
28612 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
28613 (gdb)
28614 -environment-directory -r
28615 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
28616 (gdb)
28617 @end smallexample
28618
28619
28620 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
28621 @findex -environment-path
28622
28623 @subsubheading Synopsis
28624
28625 @smallexample
28626 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28627 @end smallexample
28628
28629 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
28630 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
28631 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
28632 supplied in addition to the
28633 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28634 occurs as normal.
28635 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28636 multiple directories in a single command
28637 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28638 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28639 If blanks are needed as
28640 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28641 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28642 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28643 character must not be used
28644 in any directory name.
28645 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
28646
28647
28648 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28649
28650 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
28651
28652 @subsubheading Example
28653
28654 @smallexample
28655 (gdb)
28656 -environment-path
28657 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
28658 (gdb)
28659 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
28660 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
28661 (gdb)
28662 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
28663 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
28664 (gdb)
28665 @end smallexample
28666
28667
28668 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
28669 @findex -environment-pwd
28670
28671 @subsubheading Synopsis
28672
28673 @smallexample
28674 -environment-pwd
28675 @end smallexample
28676
28677 Show the current working directory.
28678
28679 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28680
28681 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
28682
28683 @subsubheading Example
28684
28685 @smallexample
28686 (gdb)
28687 -environment-pwd
28688 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
28689 (gdb)
28690 @end smallexample
28691
28692 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28693 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
28694 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
28695
28696
28697 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
28698 @findex -thread-info
28699
28700 @subsubheading Synopsis
28701
28702 @smallexample
28703 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
28704 @end smallexample
28705
28706 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
28707 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
28708 threads. When printing information about all threads,
28709 also reports the current thread.
28710
28711 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28712
28713 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
28714 about all threads.
28715
28716 @subsubheading Result
28717
28718 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
28719 defined for a given thread:
28720
28721 @table @samp
28722 @item current
28723 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
28724
28725 @item id
28726 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
28727
28728 @item target-id
28729 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
28730
28731 @item details
28732 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
28733 field is optional.
28734
28735 @item name
28736 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
28737 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
28738 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
28739 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
28740 field is omitted.
28741
28742 @item frame
28743 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
28744
28745 @item state
28746 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
28747 values:
28748
28749 @table @code
28750 @item stopped
28751 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
28752 threads.
28753
28754 @item running
28755 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
28756 threads.
28757
28758 @end table
28759
28760 @item core
28761 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
28762 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
28763
28764 @end table
28765
28766 @subsubheading Example
28767
28768 @smallexample
28769 -thread-info
28770 ^done,threads=[
28771 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28772 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
28773 args=[]@},state="running"@},
28774 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28775 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
28776 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28777 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
28778 state="running"@}],
28779 current-thread-id="1"
28780 (gdb)
28781 @end smallexample
28782
28783 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
28784 @findex -thread-list-ids
28785
28786 @subsubheading Synopsis
28787
28788 @smallexample
28789 -thread-list-ids
28790 @end smallexample
28791
28792 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
28793 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
28794
28795 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
28796 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
28797
28798 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28799
28800 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
28801
28802 @subsubheading Example
28803
28804 @smallexample
28805 (gdb)
28806 -thread-list-ids
28807 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28808 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
28809 (gdb)
28810 @end smallexample
28811
28812
28813 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
28814 @findex -thread-select
28815
28816 @subsubheading Synopsis
28817
28818 @smallexample
28819 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
28820 @end smallexample
28821
28822 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
28823 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
28824
28825 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
28826 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
28827
28828 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28829
28830 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
28831
28832 @subsubheading Example
28833
28834 @smallexample
28835 (gdb)
28836 -exec-next
28837 ^running
28838 (gdb)
28839 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
28840 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
28841 (gdb)
28842 -thread-list-ids
28843 ^done,
28844 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28845 number-of-threads="3"
28846 (gdb)
28847 -thread-select 3
28848 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
28849 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
28850 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
28851 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
28852 (gdb)
28853 @end smallexample
28854
28855 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28856 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
28857 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
28858
28859 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
28860 @findex -ada-task-info
28861
28862 @subsubheading Synopsis
28863
28864 @smallexample
28865 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
28866 @end smallexample
28867
28868 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
28869 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
28870
28871 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28872
28873 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
28874 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
28875
28876 @subsubheading Result
28877
28878 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
28879 defined for each Ada task:
28880
28881 @table @samp
28882 @item current
28883 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
28884
28885 @item id
28886 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
28887
28888 @item task-id
28889 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
28890
28891 @item thread-id
28892 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
28893
28894 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
28895 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
28896 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
28897
28898 @item parent-id
28899 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
28900 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
28901
28902 @item priority
28903 The base priority of the task.
28904
28905 @item state
28906 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
28907 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
28908
28909 @item name
28910 The name of the task.
28911
28912 @end table
28913
28914 @subsubheading Example
28915
28916 @smallexample
28917 -ada-task-info
28918 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
28919 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
28920 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
28921 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
28922 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
28923 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
28924 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
28925 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
28926 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
28927 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
28928 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
28929 (gdb)
28930 @end smallexample
28931
28932 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28933 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
28934 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
28935
28936 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
28937 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
28938 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
28939 other cases.
28940
28941 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
28942 @findex -exec-continue
28943
28944 @subsubheading Synopsis
28945
28946 @smallexample
28947 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
28948 @end smallexample
28949
28950 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
28951 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
28952 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
28953 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
28954 @itemize @bullet
28955 @item
28956 breakpoints or watchpoints
28957 @item
28958 signals or exceptions
28959 @item
28960 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
28961 @item
28962 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
28963 @end itemize
28964 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
28965 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
28966 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
28967 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
28968 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
28969 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
28970
28971 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28972
28973 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
28974
28975 @subsubheading Example
28976
28977 @smallexample
28978 -exec-continue
28979 ^running
28980 (gdb)
28981 @@Hello world
28982 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
28983 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
28984 line="13"@}
28985 (gdb)
28986 @end smallexample
28987
28988
28989 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
28990 @findex -exec-finish
28991
28992 @subsubheading Synopsis
28993
28994 @smallexample
28995 -exec-finish [--reverse]
28996 @end smallexample
28997
28998 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
28999 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
29000 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
29001 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
29002 function was called.
29003
29004 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29005
29006 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
29007
29008 @subsubheading Example
29009
29010 Function returning @code{void}.
29011
29012 @smallexample
29013 -exec-finish
29014 ^running
29015 (gdb)
29016 @@hello from foo
29017 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29018 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
29019 (gdb)
29020 @end smallexample
29021
29022 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
29023 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
29024 value itself.
29025
29026 @smallexample
29027 -exec-finish
29028 ^running
29029 (gdb)
29030 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
29031 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
29032 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29033 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
29034 (gdb)
29035 @end smallexample
29036
29037
29038 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
29039 @findex -exec-interrupt
29040
29041 @subsubheading Synopsis
29042
29043 @smallexample
29044 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
29045 @end smallexample
29046
29047 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
29048 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
29049 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
29050 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
29051 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
29052
29053 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
29054 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
29055 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
29056 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
29057
29058 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
29059 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
29060 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
29061 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
29062
29063 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29064
29065 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
29066
29067 @subsubheading Example
29068
29069 @smallexample
29070 (gdb)
29071 111-exec-continue
29072 111^running
29073
29074 (gdb)
29075 222-exec-interrupt
29076 222^done
29077 (gdb)
29078 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
29079 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29080 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
29081 (gdb)
29082
29083 (gdb)
29084 -exec-interrupt
29085 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
29086 (gdb)
29087 @end smallexample
29088
29089 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
29090 @findex -exec-jump
29091
29092 @subsubheading Synopsis
29093
29094 @smallexample
29095 -exec-jump @var{location}
29096 @end smallexample
29097
29098 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
29099 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
29100 different forms of @var{location}.
29101
29102 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29103
29104 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
29105
29106 @subsubheading Example
29107
29108 @smallexample
29109 -exec-jump foo.c:10
29110 *running,thread-id="all"
29111 ^running
29112 @end smallexample
29113
29114
29115 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
29116 @findex -exec-next
29117
29118 @subsubheading Synopsis
29119
29120 @smallexample
29121 -exec-next [--reverse]
29122 @end smallexample
29123
29124 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29125 of the next source line is reached.
29126
29127 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29128 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
29129 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
29130 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
29131 source line where the function was called.
29132
29133
29134 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29135
29136 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
29137
29138 @subsubheading Example
29139
29140 @smallexample
29141 -exec-next
29142 ^running
29143 (gdb)
29144 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
29145 (gdb)
29146 @end smallexample
29147
29148
29149 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
29150 @findex -exec-next-instruction
29151
29152 @subsubheading Synopsis
29153
29154 @smallexample
29155 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
29156 @end smallexample
29157
29158 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
29159 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
29160 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
29161 printed as well.
29162
29163 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29164 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
29165 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
29166 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
29167 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
29168
29169 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29170
29171 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
29172
29173 @subsubheading Example
29174
29175 @smallexample
29176 (gdb)
29177 -exec-next-instruction
29178 ^running
29179
29180 (gdb)
29181 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29182 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
29183 (gdb)
29184 @end smallexample
29185
29186
29187 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
29188 @findex -exec-return
29189
29190 @subsubheading Synopsis
29191
29192 @smallexample
29193 -exec-return
29194 @end smallexample
29195
29196 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
29197 Displays the new current frame.
29198
29199 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29200
29201 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
29202
29203 @subsubheading Example
29204
29205 @smallexample
29206 (gdb)
29207 200-break-insert callee4
29208 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
29209 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29210 (gdb)
29211 000-exec-run
29212 000^running
29213 (gdb)
29214 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29215 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
29216 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29217 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29218 (gdb)
29219 205-break-delete
29220 205^done
29221 (gdb)
29222 111-exec-return
29223 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
29224 args=[@{name="strarg",
29225 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
29226 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29227 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
29228 (gdb)
29229 @end smallexample
29230
29231
29232 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
29233 @findex -exec-run
29234
29235 @subsubheading Synopsis
29236
29237 @smallexample
29238 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
29239 @end smallexample
29240
29241 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
29242 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
29243 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
29244 the program has exited exceptionally.
29245
29246 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
29247 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
29248 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
29249 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
29250
29251 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29252
29253 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
29254
29255 @subsubheading Examples
29256
29257 @smallexample
29258 (gdb)
29259 -break-insert main
29260 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29261 (gdb)
29262 -exec-run
29263 ^running
29264 (gdb)
29265 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29266 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
29267 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29268 (gdb)
29269 @end smallexample
29270
29271 @noindent
29272 Program exited normally:
29273
29274 @smallexample
29275 (gdb)
29276 -exec-run
29277 ^running
29278 (gdb)
29279 x = 55
29280 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29281 (gdb)
29282 @end smallexample
29283
29284 @noindent
29285 Program exited exceptionally:
29286
29287 @smallexample
29288 (gdb)
29289 -exec-run
29290 ^running
29291 (gdb)
29292 x = 55
29293 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
29294 (gdb)
29295 @end smallexample
29296
29297 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
29298 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
29299
29300 @smallexample
29301 (gdb)
29302 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
29303 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
29304 @end smallexample
29305
29306
29307 @c @subheading -exec-signal
29308
29309
29310 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
29311 @findex -exec-step
29312
29313 @subsubheading Synopsis
29314
29315 @smallexample
29316 -exec-step [--reverse]
29317 @end smallexample
29318
29319 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29320 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
29321 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
29322 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
29323 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
29324 previously executed source line.
29325
29326 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29327
29328 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
29329
29330 @subsubheading Example
29331
29332 Stepping into a function:
29333
29334 @smallexample
29335 -exec-step
29336 ^running
29337 (gdb)
29338 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29339 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
29340 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
29341 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
29342 (gdb)
29343 @end smallexample
29344
29345 Regular stepping:
29346
29347 @smallexample
29348 -exec-step
29349 ^running
29350 (gdb)
29351 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
29352 (gdb)
29353 @end smallexample
29354
29355
29356 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
29357 @findex -exec-step-instruction
29358
29359 @subsubheading Synopsis
29360
29361 @smallexample
29362 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
29363 @end smallexample
29364
29365 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
29366 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
29367 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
29368 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
29369 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
29370 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
29371 as well.
29372
29373 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29374
29375 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
29376
29377 @subsubheading Example
29378
29379 @smallexample
29380 (gdb)
29381 -exec-step-instruction
29382 ^running
29383
29384 (gdb)
29385 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29386 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29387 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29388 (gdb)
29389 -exec-step-instruction
29390 ^running
29391
29392 (gdb)
29393 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29394 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29395 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29396 (gdb)
29397 @end smallexample
29398
29399
29400 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
29401 @findex -exec-until
29402
29403 @subsubheading Synopsis
29404
29405 @smallexample
29406 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
29407 @end smallexample
29408
29409 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
29410 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
29411 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
29412 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
29413
29414 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29415
29416 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
29417
29418 @subsubheading Example
29419
29420 @smallexample
29421 (gdb)
29422 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
29423 ^running
29424 (gdb)
29425 x = 55
29426 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29427 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
29428 (gdb)
29429 @end smallexample
29430
29431 @ignore
29432 @subheading -file-clear
29433 Is this going away????
29434 @end ignore
29435
29436 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29437 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
29438 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
29439
29440
29441 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
29442 @findex -stack-info-frame
29443
29444 @subsubheading Synopsis
29445
29446 @smallexample
29447 -stack-info-frame
29448 @end smallexample
29449
29450 Get info on the selected frame.
29451
29452 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29453
29454 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
29455 (without arguments).
29456
29457 @subsubheading Example
29458
29459 @smallexample
29460 (gdb)
29461 -stack-info-frame
29462 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29463 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29464 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
29465 (gdb)
29466 @end smallexample
29467
29468 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
29469 @findex -stack-info-depth
29470
29471 @subsubheading Synopsis
29472
29473 @smallexample
29474 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
29475 @end smallexample
29476
29477 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
29478 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
29479
29480 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29481
29482 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
29483
29484 @subsubheading Example
29485
29486 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
29487
29488 @smallexample
29489 (gdb)
29490 -stack-info-depth
29491 ^done,depth="12"
29492 (gdb)
29493 -stack-info-depth 4
29494 ^done,depth="4"
29495 (gdb)
29496 -stack-info-depth 12
29497 ^done,depth="12"
29498 (gdb)
29499 -stack-info-depth 11
29500 ^done,depth="11"
29501 (gdb)
29502 -stack-info-depth 13
29503 ^done,depth="12"
29504 (gdb)
29505 @end smallexample
29506
29507 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
29508 @findex -stack-list-arguments
29509
29510 @subsubheading Synopsis
29511
29512 @smallexample
29513 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
29514 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29515 @end smallexample
29516
29517 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
29518 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
29519 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
29520 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
29521 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
29522 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
29523 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
29524 which case only existing frames will be returned.
29525
29526 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29527 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29528 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29529 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29530 structures and unions.
29531
29532 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
29533 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29534
29535 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29536
29537 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
29538 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
29539 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
29540
29541 @subsubheading Example
29542
29543 @smallexample
29544 (gdb)
29545 -stack-list-frames
29546 ^done,
29547 stack=[
29548 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29549 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29550 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
29551 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29552 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29553 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
29554 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
29555 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29556 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
29557 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
29558 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29559 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
29560 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
29561 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29562 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
29563 (gdb)
29564 -stack-list-arguments 0
29565 ^done,
29566 stack-args=[
29567 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29568 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
29569 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
29570 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
29571 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29572 (gdb)
29573 -stack-list-arguments 1
29574 ^done,
29575 stack-args=[
29576 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29577 frame=@{level="1",
29578 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29579 frame=@{level="2",args=[
29580 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29581 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29582 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
29583 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29584 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
29585 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
29586 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29587 (gdb)
29588 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
29589 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
29590 (gdb)
29591 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
29592 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
29593 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29594 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
29595 (gdb)
29596 @end smallexample
29597
29598 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
29599
29600
29601 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
29602 @findex -stack-list-frames
29603
29604 @subsubheading Synopsis
29605
29606 @smallexample
29607 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29608 @end smallexample
29609
29610 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
29611 following info:
29612
29613 @table @samp
29614 @item @var{level}
29615 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
29616 @item @var{addr}
29617 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
29618 @item @var{func}
29619 Function name.
29620 @item @var{file}
29621 File name of the source file where the function lives.
29622 @item @var{fullname}
29623 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
29624 @item @var{line}
29625 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
29626 @item @var{from}
29627 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
29628 if the frame's function is not known.
29629 @end table
29630
29631 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
29632 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
29633 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
29634 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
29635 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
29636 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
29637 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
29638
29639 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29640
29641 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
29642
29643 @subsubheading Example
29644
29645 Full stack backtrace:
29646
29647 @smallexample
29648 (gdb)
29649 -stack-list-frames
29650 ^done,stack=
29651 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
29652 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
29653 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29654 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29655 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29656 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29657 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29658 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29659 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29660 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29661 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29662 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29663 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29664 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29665 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29666 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29667 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29668 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29669 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29670 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29671 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29672 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29673 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
29674 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
29675 (gdb)
29676 @end smallexample
29677
29678 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
29679
29680 @smallexample
29681 (gdb)
29682 -stack-list-frames 3 5
29683 ^done,stack=
29684 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29685 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29686 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29687 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29688 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29689 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29690 (gdb)
29691 @end smallexample
29692
29693 Show a single frame:
29694
29695 @smallexample
29696 (gdb)
29697 -stack-list-frames 3 3
29698 ^done,stack=
29699 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29700 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29701 (gdb)
29702 @end smallexample
29703
29704
29705 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
29706 @findex -stack-list-locals
29707
29708 @subsubheading Synopsis
29709
29710 @smallexample
29711 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
29712 @end smallexample
29713
29714 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
29715 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29716 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29717 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29718 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29719 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
29720 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
29721 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
29722 more detail.
29723
29724 This command is deprecated in favor of the
29725 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29726
29727 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29728
29729 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
29730
29731 @subsubheading Example
29732
29733 @smallexample
29734 (gdb)
29735 -stack-list-locals 0
29736 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
29737 (gdb)
29738 -stack-list-locals --all-values
29739 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
29740 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
29741 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
29742 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
29743 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
29744 (gdb)
29745 @end smallexample
29746
29747 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
29748 @findex -stack-list-variables
29749
29750 @subsubheading Synopsis
29751
29752 @smallexample
29753 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
29754 @end smallexample
29755
29756 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
29757 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29758 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29759 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29760 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29761 structures and unions.
29762
29763 @subsubheading Example
29764
29765 @smallexample
29766 (gdb)
29767 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
29768 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
29769 (gdb)
29770 @end smallexample
29771
29772
29773 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
29774 @findex -stack-select-frame
29775
29776 @subsubheading Synopsis
29777
29778 @smallexample
29779 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
29780 @end smallexample
29781
29782 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
29783 the stack.
29784
29785 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
29786 option to every command.
29787
29788 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29789
29790 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
29791 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
29792
29793 @subsubheading Example
29794
29795 @smallexample
29796 (gdb)
29797 -stack-select-frame 2
29798 ^done
29799 (gdb)
29800 @end smallexample
29801
29802 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29803 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
29804 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
29805
29806 @ignore
29807
29808 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
29809
29810 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
29811 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
29812 used by @code{Insight}.
29813
29814 The two main reasons for that are:
29815
29816 @enumerate 1
29817 @item
29818 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
29819
29820 @item
29821 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
29822 now).
29823 @end enumerate
29824
29825 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
29826 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
29827 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
29828 hints about their use.
29829
29830 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
29831 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
29832 least, the following operations:
29833
29834 @itemize @bullet
29835 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
29836 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
29837 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
29838 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
29839 @end itemize
29840
29841 @end ignore
29842
29843 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
29844
29845 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
29846
29847 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
29848 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
29849 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
29850 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
29851 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
29852 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
29853 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
29854 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
29855 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
29856 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
29857 object, or to change display format.
29858
29859 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
29860 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
29861 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
29862 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
29863 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
29864 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
29865 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
29866 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
29867 child will be created.
29868
29869 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
29870 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
29871 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
29872 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
29873 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
29874
29875 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
29876 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
29877 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
29878 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
29879 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
29880 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
29881 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
29882 variables that frontend has created.
29883
29884 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
29885 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
29886 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
29887 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
29888 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
29889 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
29890 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
29891 implicitly updated.
29892
29893 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
29894 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
29895 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
29896 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
29897 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
29898 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
29899 frame. Consider this example:
29900
29901 @smallexample
29902 void do_work(...)
29903 @{
29904 struct work_state state;
29905
29906 if (...)
29907 do_work(...);
29908 @}
29909 @end smallexample
29910
29911 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
29912 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
29913 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
29914 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
29915 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
29916
29917 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
29918 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
29919 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
29920 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
29921 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
29922 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
29923
29924 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
29925 access this functionality:
29926
29927 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
29928 @item @strong{Operation}
29929 @tab @strong{Description}
29930
29931 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
29932 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
29933 @item @code{-var-create}
29934 @tab create a variable object
29935 @item @code{-var-delete}
29936 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
29937 @item @code{-var-set-format}
29938 @tab set the display format of this variable
29939 @item @code{-var-show-format}
29940 @tab show the display format of this variable
29941 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
29942 @tab tells how many children this object has
29943 @item @code{-var-list-children}
29944 @tab return a list of the object's children
29945 @item @code{-var-info-type}
29946 @tab show the type of this variable object
29947 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
29948 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
29949 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
29950 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
29951 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
29952 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
29953 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
29954 @tab get the value of this variable
29955 @item @code{-var-assign}
29956 @tab set the value of this variable
29957 @item @code{-var-update}
29958 @tab update the variable and its children
29959 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
29960 @tab set frozeness attribute
29961 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
29962 @tab set range of children to display on update
29963 @end multitable
29964
29965 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
29966 how it can be used.
29967
29968 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
29969
29970 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
29971 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
29972
29973 @smallexample
29974 -enable-pretty-printing
29975 @end smallexample
29976
29977 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
29978 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
29979 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
29980 request that this functionality be enabled.
29981
29982 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
29983
29984 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
29985 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
29986
29987 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
29988 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
29989
29990 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
29991 @findex -var-create
29992
29993 @subsubheading Synopsis
29994
29995 @smallexample
29996 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
29997 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
29998 @end smallexample
29999
30000 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
30001 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
30002 register.
30003
30004 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
30005 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
30006 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
30007 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
30008 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
30009
30010 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
30011 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
30012 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
30013 object must be created.
30014
30015 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
30016 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
30017
30018 @itemize @bullet
30019 @item
30020 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
30021
30022 @item
30023 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
30024
30025 @item
30026 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
30027 @end itemize
30028
30029 @cindex dynamic varobj
30030 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
30031 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
30032 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
30033 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
30034 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
30035 compatibility for existing clients.
30036
30037 @subsubheading Result
30038
30039 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
30040 are:
30041
30042 @table @samp
30043 @item name
30044 The name of the varobj.
30045
30046 @item numchild
30047 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
30048 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
30049 @samp{has_more} attribute.
30050
30051 @item value
30052 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
30053 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
30054 will not be interesting.
30055
30056 @item type
30057 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
30058 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
30059 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30060 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30061 @emph{declared} one.
30062
30063 @item thread-id
30064 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
30065 thread's identifier.
30066
30067 @item has_more
30068 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
30069 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
30070
30071 @item dynamic
30072 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30073 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30074 then this attribute will not be present.
30075
30076 @item displayhint
30077 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30078 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30079 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30080 @end table
30081
30082 Typical output will look like this:
30083
30084 @smallexample
30085 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
30086 has_more="@var{has_more}"
30087 @end smallexample
30088
30089
30090 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
30091 @findex -var-delete
30092
30093 @subsubheading Synopsis
30094
30095 @smallexample
30096 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
30097 @end smallexample
30098
30099 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
30100 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
30101
30102 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
30103
30104
30105 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
30106 @findex -var-set-format
30107
30108 @subsubheading Synopsis
30109
30110 @smallexample
30111 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
30112 @end smallexample
30113
30114 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
30115 @var{format-spec}.
30116
30117 @anchor{-var-set-format}
30118 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
30119
30120 @smallexample
30121 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
30122 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
30123 @end smallexample
30124
30125 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
30126 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
30127 for pointers, etc.).
30128
30129 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
30130 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
30131
30132 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
30133 @findex -var-show-format
30134
30135 @subsubheading Synopsis
30136
30137 @smallexample
30138 -var-show-format @var{name}
30139 @end smallexample
30140
30141 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
30142
30143 @smallexample
30144 @var{format} @expansion{}
30145 @var{format-spec}
30146 @end smallexample
30147
30148
30149 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
30150 @findex -var-info-num-children
30151
30152 @subsubheading Synopsis
30153
30154 @smallexample
30155 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
30156 @end smallexample
30157
30158 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
30159
30160 @smallexample
30161 numchild=@var{n}
30162 @end smallexample
30163
30164 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
30165 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
30166 be available.
30167
30168
30169 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
30170 @findex -var-list-children
30171
30172 @subsubheading Synopsis
30173
30174 @smallexample
30175 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
30176 @end smallexample
30177 @anchor{-var-list-children}
30178
30179 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
30180 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
30181 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
30182 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
30183 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
30184 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
30185 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
30186 and unions.
30187
30188 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
30189 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
30190 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
30191 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
30192 reported.
30193
30194 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
30195 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
30196 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
30197 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
30198 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
30199 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
30200 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
30201 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
30202 the visible items.
30203
30204 For each child the following results are returned:
30205
30206 @table @var
30207
30208 @item name
30209 Name of the variable object created for this child.
30210
30211 @item exp
30212 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
30213 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
30214
30215 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
30216 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
30217
30218 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
30219 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
30220 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
30221 type and value are not present.
30222
30223 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
30224 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
30225 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
30226
30227 @item numchild
30228 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
30229 0.
30230
30231 @item type
30232 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
30233 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30234 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30235 @emph{declared} one.
30236
30237 @item value
30238 If values were requested, this is the value.
30239
30240 @item thread-id
30241 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
30242 Otherwise this result is not present.
30243
30244 @item frozen
30245 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
30246 @end table
30247
30248 The result may have its own attributes:
30249
30250 @table @samp
30251 @item displayhint
30252 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30253 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30254 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30255
30256 @item has_more
30257 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
30258 remaining after the end of the selected range.
30259 @end table
30260
30261 @subsubheading Example
30262
30263 @smallexample
30264 (gdb)
30265 -var-list-children n
30266 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30267 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30268 (gdb)
30269 -var-list-children --all-values n
30270 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30271 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30272 @end smallexample
30273
30274
30275 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
30276 @findex -var-info-type
30277
30278 @subsubheading Synopsis
30279
30280 @smallexample
30281 -var-info-type @var{name}
30282 @end smallexample
30283
30284 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
30285 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
30286 @value{GDBN} CLI:
30287
30288 @smallexample
30289 type=@var{typename}
30290 @end smallexample
30291
30292
30293 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
30294 @findex -var-info-expression
30295
30296 @subsubheading Synopsis
30297
30298 @smallexample
30299 -var-info-expression @var{name}
30300 @end smallexample
30301
30302 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
30303 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
30304 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
30305
30306 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
30307 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
30308
30309 @smallexample
30310 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
30311 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
30312 @end smallexample
30313
30314 @noindent
30315 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
30316
30317 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
30318 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
30319 is of limited use.
30320
30321 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
30322 @findex -var-info-path-expression
30323
30324 @subsubheading Synopsis
30325
30326 @smallexample
30327 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
30328 @end smallexample
30329
30330 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
30331 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
30332 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
30333 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
30334 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
30335 watchpoint from a variable object.
30336
30337 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
30338 and will give an error when invoked on one.
30339
30340 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
30341 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
30342 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
30343 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
30344 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
30345 @smallexample
30346 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
30347 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
30348 @end smallexample
30349
30350 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
30351 @findex -var-show-attributes
30352
30353 @subsubheading Synopsis
30354
30355 @smallexample
30356 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
30357 @end smallexample
30358
30359 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
30360
30361 @smallexample
30362 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
30363 @end smallexample
30364
30365 @noindent
30366 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
30367
30368 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
30369 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
30370
30371 @subsubheading Synopsis
30372
30373 @smallexample
30374 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
30375 @end smallexample
30376
30377 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
30378 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
30379 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
30380 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
30381 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
30382 the current display format will be used. The current display format
30383 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
30384
30385 @smallexample
30386 value=@var{value}
30387 @end smallexample
30388
30389 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
30390 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
30391
30392 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
30393 @findex -var-assign
30394
30395 @subsubheading Synopsis
30396
30397 @smallexample
30398 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
30399 @end smallexample
30400
30401 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
30402 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
30403 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
30404 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
30405
30406 @subsubheading Example
30407
30408 @smallexample
30409 (gdb)
30410 -var-assign var1 3
30411 ^done,value="3"
30412 (gdb)
30413 -var-update *
30414 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
30415 (gdb)
30416 @end smallexample
30417
30418 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
30419 @findex -var-update
30420
30421 @subsubheading Synopsis
30422
30423 @smallexample
30424 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
30425 @end smallexample
30426
30427 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
30428 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
30429 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
30430 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
30431 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
30432 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
30433 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
30434 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
30435 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
30436 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
30437 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
30438 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
30439 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
30440
30441 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
30442 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
30443 diagnostic.
30444
30445 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
30446 only the selected range of children will be reported.
30447
30448 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
30449 @samp{changelist}.
30450
30451 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
30452
30453 @table @samp
30454 @item name
30455 The name of the varobj.
30456
30457 @item value
30458 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
30459 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
30460
30461 @item in_scope
30462 @anchor{-var-update}
30463 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
30464
30465 @table @code
30466 @item "true"
30467 The variable object's current value is valid.
30468
30469 @item "false"
30470 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
30471 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
30472 scope.
30473
30474 @item "invalid"
30475 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
30476 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
30477 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
30478 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
30479 objects.
30480 @end table
30481
30482 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
30483 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
30484
30485 @item type_changed
30486 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
30487 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
30488 be @samp{false}.
30489
30490 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
30491 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
30492 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
30493 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
30494 unset.
30495
30496 @item new_type
30497 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
30498 hold the new type.
30499
30500 @item new_num_children
30501 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
30502 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
30503
30504 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
30505 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
30506 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
30507 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
30508 children which may be available.
30509
30510 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
30511 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
30512 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
30513 only happen at the end of the update range).
30514
30515 @item displayhint
30516 The display hint, if any.
30517
30518 @item has_more
30519 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
30520 available outside the varobj's update range.
30521
30522 @item dynamic
30523 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30524 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30525 then this attribute will not be present.
30526
30527 @item new_children
30528 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
30529 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
30530 be listed in this attribute.
30531 @end table
30532
30533 @subsubheading Example
30534
30535 @smallexample
30536 (gdb)
30537 -var-assign var1 3
30538 ^done,value="3"
30539 (gdb)
30540 -var-update --all-values var1
30541 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
30542 type_changed="false"@}]
30543 (gdb)
30544 @end smallexample
30545
30546 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
30547 @findex -var-set-frozen
30548 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
30549
30550 @subsubheading Synopsis
30551
30552 @smallexample
30553 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
30554 @end smallexample
30555
30556 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
30557 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
30558 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
30559 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
30560 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
30561 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
30562 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
30563 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
30564 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
30565 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
30566 @code{-var-update} does.
30567
30568 @subsubheading Example
30569
30570 @smallexample
30571 (gdb)
30572 -var-set-frozen V 1
30573 ^done
30574 (gdb)
30575 @end smallexample
30576
30577 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
30578 @findex -var-set-update-range
30579 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
30580
30581 @subsubheading Synopsis
30582
30583 @smallexample
30584 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
30585 @end smallexample
30586
30587 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
30588 @code{-var-update}.
30589
30590 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
30591 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
30592 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
30593 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
30594
30595 @subsubheading Example
30596
30597 @smallexample
30598 (gdb)
30599 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
30600 ^done
30601 @end smallexample
30602
30603 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
30604 @findex -var-set-visualizer
30605 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
30606
30607 @subsubheading Synopsis
30608
30609 @smallexample
30610 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
30611 @end smallexample
30612
30613 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
30614
30615 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
30616 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
30617
30618 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
30619 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
30620 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
30621 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
30622 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
30623 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
30624 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
30625
30626 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
30627 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
30628 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
30629 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
30630
30631 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
30632 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
30633 can be used to check this.
30634
30635 @subsubheading Example
30636
30637 Resetting the visualizer:
30638
30639 @smallexample
30640 (gdb)
30641 -var-set-visualizer V None
30642 ^done
30643 @end smallexample
30644
30645 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
30646
30647 @smallexample
30648 (gdb)
30649 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
30650 ^done
30651 @end smallexample
30652
30653 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
30654 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
30655
30656 @smallexample
30657 (gdb)
30658 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
30659 ^done
30660 @end smallexample
30661
30662 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30663 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
30664 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
30665
30666 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
30667 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
30668 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
30669 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
30670
30671 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
30672 @c @subheading -data-assign
30673 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
30674 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
30675 @c set variable
30676 @c @subsubheading Example
30677 @c N.A.
30678
30679 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
30680 @findex -data-disassemble
30681
30682 @subsubheading Synopsis
30683
30684 @smallexample
30685 -data-disassemble
30686 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
30687 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
30688 -- @var{mode}
30689 @end smallexample
30690
30691 @noindent
30692 Where:
30693
30694 @table @samp
30695 @item @var{start-addr}
30696 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
30697 @item @var{end-addr}
30698 is the end address
30699 @item @var{filename}
30700 is the name of the file to disassemble
30701 @item @var{linenum}
30702 is the line number to disassemble around
30703 @item @var{lines}
30704 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
30705 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
30706 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
30707 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
30708 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
30709 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
30710 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
30711 are displayed.
30712 @item @var{mode}
30713 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
30714 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
30715 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
30716 @end table
30717
30718 @subsubheading Result
30719
30720 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
30721
30722 @itemize @bullet
30723 @item Address
30724 @item Func-name
30725 @item Offset
30726 @item Instruction
30727 @end itemize
30728
30729 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
30730 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
30731
30732 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30733
30734 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
30735
30736 @subsubheading Example
30737
30738 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
30739
30740 @smallexample
30741 (gdb)
30742 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
30743 ^done,
30744 asm_insns=[
30745 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30746 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30747 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30748 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30749 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
30750 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
30751 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
30752 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30753 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
30754 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
30755 (gdb)
30756 @end smallexample
30757
30758 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
30759 @code{main}.
30760
30761 @smallexample
30762 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
30763 ^done,asm_insns=[
30764 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30765 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
30766 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30767 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30768 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30769 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30770 [@dots{}]
30771 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
30772 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
30773 (gdb)
30774 @end smallexample
30775
30776 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
30777
30778 @smallexample
30779 (gdb)
30780 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
30781 ^done,asm_insns=[
30782 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30783 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
30784 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30785 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30786 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30787 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
30788 (gdb)
30789 @end smallexample
30790
30791 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
30792
30793 @smallexample
30794 (gdb)
30795 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
30796 ^done,asm_insns=[
30797 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
30798 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
30799 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
30800 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30801 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
30802 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
30803 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
30804 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
30805 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30806 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30807 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30808 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
30809 (gdb)
30810 @end smallexample
30811
30812
30813 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
30814 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
30815
30816 @subsubheading Synopsis
30817
30818 @smallexample
30819 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
30820 @end smallexample
30821
30822 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
30823 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
30824 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
30825
30826 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30827
30828 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
30829 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
30830 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
30831
30832 @subsubheading Example
30833
30834 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
30835 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
30836 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
30837 output.
30838
30839 @smallexample
30840 211-data-evaluate-expression A
30841 211^done,value="1"
30842 (gdb)
30843 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
30844 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
30845 (gdb)
30846 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
30847 411^done,value="4"
30848 (gdb)
30849 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
30850 511^done,value="4"
30851 (gdb)
30852 @end smallexample
30853
30854
30855 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
30856 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
30857
30858 @subsubheading Synopsis
30859
30860 @smallexample
30861 -data-list-changed-registers
30862 @end smallexample
30863
30864 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
30865
30866 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30867
30868 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
30869 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
30870
30871 @subsubheading Example
30872
30873 On a PPC MBX board:
30874
30875 @smallexample
30876 (gdb)
30877 -exec-continue
30878 ^running
30879
30880 (gdb)
30881 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
30882 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
30883 line="5"@}
30884 (gdb)
30885 -data-list-changed-registers
30886 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
30887 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
30888 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
30889 (gdb)
30890 @end smallexample
30891
30892
30893 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
30894 @findex -data-list-register-names
30895
30896 @subsubheading Synopsis
30897
30898 @smallexample
30899 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
30900 @end smallexample
30901
30902 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
30903 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
30904 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
30905 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
30906 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
30907 include empty register names.
30908
30909 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30910
30911 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
30912 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
30913 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
30914
30915 @subsubheading Example
30916
30917 For the PPC MBX board:
30918 @smallexample
30919 (gdb)
30920 -data-list-register-names
30921 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
30922 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
30923 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
30924 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
30925 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
30926 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
30927 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
30928 (gdb)
30929 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
30930 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
30931 (gdb)
30932 @end smallexample
30933
30934 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
30935 @findex -data-list-register-values
30936
30937 @subsubheading Synopsis
30938
30939 @smallexample
30940 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
30941 @end smallexample
30942
30943 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
30944 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
30945 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
30946 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
30947
30948 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
30949
30950 @table @code
30951 @item x
30952 Hexadecimal
30953 @item o
30954 Octal
30955 @item t
30956 Binary
30957 @item d
30958 Decimal
30959 @item r
30960 Raw
30961 @item N
30962 Natural
30963 @end table
30964
30965 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30966
30967 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
30968 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
30969
30970 @subsubheading Example
30971
30972 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
30973 don't appear in the actual output):
30974
30975 @smallexample
30976 (gdb)
30977 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
30978 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30979 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
30980 (gdb)
30981 -data-list-register-values x
30982 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
30983 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30984 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
30985 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
30986 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
30987 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
30988 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
30989 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
30990 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
30991 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30992 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
30993 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
30994 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
30995 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
30996 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
30997 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
30998 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
30999 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
31000 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
31001 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
31002 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
31003 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
31004 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
31005 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
31006 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
31007 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
31008 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
31009 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
31010 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
31011 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
31012 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
31013 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
31014 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
31015 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
31016 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
31017 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
31018 (gdb)
31019 @end smallexample
31020
31021
31022 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
31023 @findex -data-read-memory
31024
31025 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
31026
31027 @subsubheading Synopsis
31028
31029 @smallexample
31030 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
31031 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
31032 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
31033 @end smallexample
31034
31035 @noindent
31036 where:
31037
31038 @table @samp
31039 @item @var{address}
31040 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31041 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31042 quoted using the C convention.
31043
31044 @item @var{word-format}
31045 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
31046 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
31047 ,Output Formats}).
31048
31049 @item @var{word-size}
31050 The size of each memory word in bytes.
31051
31052 @item @var{nr-rows}
31053 The number of rows in the output table.
31054
31055 @item @var{nr-cols}
31056 The number of columns in the output table.
31057
31058 @item @var{aschar}
31059 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
31060 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
31061 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
31062 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
31063
31064 @item @var{byte-offset}
31065 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
31066 @end table
31067
31068 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
31069 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
31070 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
31071 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
31072 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
31073 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
31074 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
31075 @samp{addr}.
31076
31077 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
31078 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
31079 @samp{prev-page}.
31080
31081 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31082
31083 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
31084 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
31085
31086 @subsubheading Example
31087
31088 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
31089 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
31090 word. Display each word in hex.
31091
31092 @smallexample
31093 (gdb)
31094 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
31095 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
31096 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
31097 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
31098 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
31099 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
31100 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
31101 (gdb)
31102 @end smallexample
31103
31104 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
31105 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
31106
31107 @smallexample
31108 (gdb)
31109 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
31110 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
31111 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
31112 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
31113 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
31114 (gdb)
31115 @end smallexample
31116
31117 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
31118 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
31119 used as the non-printable character.
31120
31121 @smallexample
31122 (gdb)
31123 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
31124 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
31125 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
31126 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
31127 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31128 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31129 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31130 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31131 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
31132 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
31133 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
31134 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
31135 (gdb)
31136 @end smallexample
31137
31138 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
31139 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
31140
31141 @subsubheading Synopsis
31142
31143 @smallexample
31144 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
31145 @var{address} @var{count}
31146 @end smallexample
31147
31148 @noindent
31149 where:
31150
31151 @table @samp
31152 @item @var{address}
31153 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31154 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31155 quoted using the C convention.
31156
31157 @item @var{count}
31158 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
31159
31160 @item @var{byte-offset}
31161 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
31162 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
31163 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
31164 perform address arithmetics itself.
31165
31166 @end table
31167
31168 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
31169 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
31170 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
31171 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
31172 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
31173 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
31174
31175 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
31176 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
31177 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
31178 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
31179 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
31180 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
31181 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
31182 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
31183
31184 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
31185 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
31186 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
31187 and has the following fields:
31188
31189 @table @code
31190 @item begin
31191 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31192
31193 @item end
31194 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31195
31196 @item offset
31197 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
31198 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
31199
31200 @item contents
31201 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
31202
31203 @end table
31204
31205
31206
31207 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31208
31209 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
31210
31211 @subsubheading Example
31212
31213 @smallexample
31214 (gdb)
31215 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
31216 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
31217 end="0xbffff15e",
31218 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
31219 (gdb)
31220 @end smallexample
31221
31222
31223 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
31224 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
31225
31226 @subsubheading Synopsis
31227
31228 @smallexample
31229 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
31230 @end smallexample
31231
31232 @noindent
31233 where:
31234
31235 @table @samp
31236 @item @var{address}
31237 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31238 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31239 quoted using the C convention.
31240
31241 @item @var{contents}
31242 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
31243
31244 @end table
31245
31246 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31247
31248 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31249
31250 @subsubheading Example
31251
31252 @smallexample
31253 (gdb)
31254 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
31255 ^done
31256 (gdb)
31257 @end smallexample
31258
31259
31260 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31261 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
31262 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
31263
31264 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
31265 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
31266
31267 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
31268 @findex -trace-find
31269
31270 @subsubheading Synopsis
31271
31272 @smallexample
31273 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
31274 @end smallexample
31275
31276 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
31277 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
31278 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
31279
31280 @table @samp
31281
31282 @item none
31283 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
31284
31285 @item frame-number
31286 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
31287 that index.
31288
31289 @item tracepoint-number
31290 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
31291 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
31292
31293 @item pc
31294 An address is required as parameter. Finds
31295 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
31296 address.
31297
31298 @item pc-inside-range
31299 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
31300 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
31301 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31302
31303 @item pc-outside-range
31304 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
31305 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
31306 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31307
31308 @item line
31309 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
31310 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
31311 the specified location.
31312
31313 @end table
31314
31315 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
31316 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
31317
31318 @table @samp
31319 @item found
31320 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
31321 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
31322
31323 @item traceframe
31324 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
31325 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31326
31327 @item tracepoint
31328 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
31329 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31330
31331 @item frame
31332 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
31333 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
31334 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
31335
31336 @end table
31337
31338 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31339
31340 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
31341
31342 @subheading -trace-define-variable
31343 @findex -trace-define-variable
31344
31345 @subsubheading Synopsis
31346
31347 @smallexample
31348 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
31349 @end smallexample
31350
31351 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
31352 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
31353 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
31354 with the @samp{$} character.
31355
31356 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31357
31358 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
31359
31360 @subheading -trace-list-variables
31361 @findex -trace-list-variables
31362
31363 @subsubheading Synopsis
31364
31365 @smallexample
31366 -trace-list-variables
31367 @end smallexample
31368
31369 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
31370 table has the following fields:
31371
31372 @table @samp
31373 @item name
31374 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
31375
31376 @item initial
31377 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
31378 field is always present.
31379
31380 @item current
31381 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
31382 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
31383 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
31384 presently running.
31385
31386 @end table
31387
31388 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31389
31390 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
31391
31392 @subsubheading Example
31393
31394 @smallexample
31395 (gdb)
31396 -trace-list-variables
31397 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
31398 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
31399 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
31400 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
31401 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
31402 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
31403 (gdb)
31404 @end smallexample
31405
31406 @subheading -trace-save
31407 @findex -trace-save
31408
31409 @subsubheading Synopsis
31410
31411 @smallexample
31412 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
31413 @end smallexample
31414
31415 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
31416 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
31417 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
31418 to perform the save.
31419
31420 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31421
31422 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
31423
31424
31425 @subheading -trace-start
31426 @findex -trace-start
31427
31428 @subsubheading Synopsis
31429
31430 @smallexample
31431 -trace-start
31432 @end smallexample
31433
31434 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
31435 have any fields.
31436
31437 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31438
31439 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
31440
31441 @subheading -trace-status
31442 @findex -trace-status
31443
31444 @subsubheading Synopsis
31445
31446 @smallexample
31447 -trace-status
31448 @end smallexample
31449
31450 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
31451 the following fields:
31452
31453 @table @samp
31454
31455 @item supported
31456 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
31457 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
31458 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
31459 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
31460 started. This field is always present.
31461
31462 @item running
31463 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
31464 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
31465 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31466
31467 @item stop-reason
31468 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
31469 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
31470 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
31471 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
31472 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
31473 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
31474 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
31475 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
31476 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31477
31478 @item stopping-tracepoint
31479 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
31480 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
31481 @samp{passcount}.
31482
31483 @item frames
31484 @itemx frames-created
31485 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
31486 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
31487 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
31488 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
31489
31490 @item buffer-size
31491 @itemx buffer-free
31492 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
31493 remaining space. These fields are optional.
31494
31495 @item circular
31496 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
31497 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
31498 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
31499 and may fill up.
31500
31501 @item disconnected
31502 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
31503 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
31504 that the trace run will stop.
31505
31506 @end table
31507
31508 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31509
31510 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
31511
31512 @subheading -trace-stop
31513 @findex -trace-stop
31514
31515 @subsubheading Synopsis
31516
31517 @smallexample
31518 -trace-stop
31519 @end smallexample
31520
31521 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
31522 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
31523 @samp{running} fields are not output.
31524
31525 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31526
31527 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
31528
31529
31530 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31531 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
31532 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
31533
31534
31535 @ignore
31536 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
31537 @findex -symbol-info-address
31538
31539 @subsubheading Synopsis
31540
31541 @smallexample
31542 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
31543 @end smallexample
31544
31545 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
31546
31547 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31548
31549 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
31550
31551 @subsubheading Example
31552 N.A.
31553
31554
31555 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
31556 @findex -symbol-info-file
31557
31558 @subsubheading Synopsis
31559
31560 @smallexample
31561 -symbol-info-file
31562 @end smallexample
31563
31564 Show the file for the symbol.
31565
31566 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31567
31568 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
31569 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
31570
31571 @subsubheading Example
31572 N.A.
31573
31574
31575 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
31576 @findex -symbol-info-function
31577
31578 @subsubheading Synopsis
31579
31580 @smallexample
31581 -symbol-info-function
31582 @end smallexample
31583
31584 Show which function the symbol lives in.
31585
31586 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31587
31588 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
31589
31590 @subsubheading Example
31591 N.A.
31592
31593
31594 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
31595 @findex -symbol-info-line
31596
31597 @subsubheading Synopsis
31598
31599 @smallexample
31600 -symbol-info-line
31601 @end smallexample
31602
31603 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
31604
31605 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31606
31607 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
31608 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
31609
31610 @subsubheading Example
31611 N.A.
31612
31613
31614 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
31615 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
31616
31617 @subsubheading Synopsis
31618
31619 @smallexample
31620 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
31621 @end smallexample
31622
31623 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
31624
31625 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31626
31627 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
31628
31629 @subsubheading Example
31630 N.A.
31631
31632
31633 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
31634 @findex -symbol-list-functions
31635
31636 @subsubheading Synopsis
31637
31638 @smallexample
31639 -symbol-list-functions
31640 @end smallexample
31641
31642 List the functions in the executable.
31643
31644 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31645
31646 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
31647 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31648
31649 @subsubheading Example
31650 N.A.
31651 @end ignore
31652
31653
31654 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
31655 @findex -symbol-list-lines
31656
31657 @subsubheading Synopsis
31658
31659 @smallexample
31660 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
31661 @end smallexample
31662
31663 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
31664 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
31665 ascending PC order.
31666
31667 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31668
31669 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31670
31671 @subsubheading Example
31672 @smallexample
31673 (gdb)
31674 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
31675 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
31676 (gdb)
31677 @end smallexample
31678
31679
31680 @ignore
31681 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
31682 @findex -symbol-list-types
31683
31684 @subsubheading Synopsis
31685
31686 @smallexample
31687 -symbol-list-types
31688 @end smallexample
31689
31690 List all the type names.
31691
31692 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31693
31694 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
31695 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31696
31697 @subsubheading Example
31698 N.A.
31699
31700
31701 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
31702 @findex -symbol-list-variables
31703
31704 @subsubheading Synopsis
31705
31706 @smallexample
31707 -symbol-list-variables
31708 @end smallexample
31709
31710 List all the global and static variable names.
31711
31712 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31713
31714 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31715
31716 @subsubheading Example
31717 N.A.
31718
31719
31720 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
31721 @findex -symbol-locate
31722
31723 @subsubheading Synopsis
31724
31725 @smallexample
31726 -symbol-locate
31727 @end smallexample
31728
31729 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31730
31731 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
31732
31733 @subsubheading Example
31734 N.A.
31735
31736
31737 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
31738 @findex -symbol-type
31739
31740 @subsubheading Synopsis
31741
31742 @smallexample
31743 -symbol-type @var{variable}
31744 @end smallexample
31745
31746 Show type of @var{variable}.
31747
31748 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31749
31750 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
31751 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
31752
31753 @subsubheading Example
31754 N.A.
31755 @end ignore
31756
31757
31758 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31759 @node GDB/MI File Commands
31760 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
31761
31762 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
31763 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
31764
31765 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
31766 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
31767
31768 @subsubheading Synopsis
31769
31770 @smallexample
31771 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
31772 @end smallexample
31773
31774 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
31775 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
31776 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
31777 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
31778 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
31779 notification.
31780
31781 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31782
31783 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
31784
31785 @subsubheading Example
31786
31787 @smallexample
31788 (gdb)
31789 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31790 ^done
31791 (gdb)
31792 @end smallexample
31793
31794
31795 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
31796 @findex -file-exec-file
31797
31798 @subsubheading Synopsis
31799
31800 @smallexample
31801 -file-exec-file @var{file}
31802 @end smallexample
31803
31804 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
31805 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
31806 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
31807 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
31808 notification.
31809
31810 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31811
31812 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
31813
31814 @subsubheading Example
31815
31816 @smallexample
31817 (gdb)
31818 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31819 ^done
31820 (gdb)
31821 @end smallexample
31822
31823
31824 @ignore
31825 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
31826 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
31827
31828 @subsubheading Synopsis
31829
31830 @smallexample
31831 -file-list-exec-sections
31832 @end smallexample
31833
31834 List the sections of the current executable file.
31835
31836 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31837
31838 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
31839 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
31840 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
31841
31842 @subsubheading Example
31843 N.A.
31844 @end ignore
31845
31846
31847 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
31848 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
31849
31850 @subsubheading Synopsis
31851
31852 @smallexample
31853 -file-list-exec-source-file
31854 @end smallexample
31855
31856 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
31857 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
31858 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
31859 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
31860
31861 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31862
31863 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
31864
31865 @subsubheading Example
31866
31867 @smallexample
31868 (gdb)
31869 123-file-list-exec-source-file
31870 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
31871 (gdb)
31872 @end smallexample
31873
31874
31875 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
31876 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
31877
31878 @subsubheading Synopsis
31879
31880 @smallexample
31881 -file-list-exec-source-files
31882 @end smallexample
31883
31884 List the source files for the current executable.
31885
31886 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
31887 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
31888
31889 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31890
31891 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
31892 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
31893
31894 @subsubheading Example
31895 @smallexample
31896 (gdb)
31897 -file-list-exec-source-files
31898 ^done,files=[
31899 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
31900 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
31901 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
31902 (gdb)
31903 @end smallexample
31904
31905 @ignore
31906 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
31907 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
31908
31909 @subsubheading Synopsis
31910
31911 @smallexample
31912 -file-list-shared-libraries
31913 @end smallexample
31914
31915 List the shared libraries in the program.
31916
31917 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31918
31919 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
31920
31921 @subsubheading Example
31922 N.A.
31923
31924
31925 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
31926 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
31927
31928 @subsubheading Synopsis
31929
31930 @smallexample
31931 -file-list-symbol-files
31932 @end smallexample
31933
31934 List symbol files.
31935
31936 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31937
31938 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
31939
31940 @subsubheading Example
31941 N.A.
31942 @end ignore
31943
31944
31945 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
31946 @findex -file-symbol-file
31947
31948 @subsubheading Synopsis
31949
31950 @smallexample
31951 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
31952 @end smallexample
31953
31954 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
31955 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
31956 produced, except for a completion notification.
31957
31958 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31959
31960 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
31961
31962 @subsubheading Example
31963
31964 @smallexample
31965 (gdb)
31966 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31967 ^done
31968 (gdb)
31969 @end smallexample
31970
31971 @ignore
31972 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31973 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
31974 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
31975
31976 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
31977
31978 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
31979
31980 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
31981
31982 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
31983
31984 @c @subheading -overlay-map
31985
31986 @c @subheading -overlay-off
31987
31988 @c @subheading -overlay-on
31989
31990 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
31991
31992 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31993 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
31994 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
31995
31996 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
31997
31998 @c @subheading -signal-handle
31999
32000 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
32001
32002 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
32003 @end ignore
32004
32005
32006 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32007 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
32008 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
32009
32010
32011 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
32012 @findex -target-attach
32013
32014 @subsubheading Synopsis
32015
32016 @smallexample
32017 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
32018 @end smallexample
32019
32020 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
32021 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
32022 group, the id previously returned by
32023 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
32024
32025 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32026
32027 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
32028
32029 @subsubheading Example
32030 @smallexample
32031 (gdb)
32032 -target-attach 34
32033 =thread-created,id="1"
32034 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
32035 ^done
32036 (gdb)
32037 @end smallexample
32038
32039 @ignore
32040 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
32041 @findex -target-compare-sections
32042
32043 @subsubheading Synopsis
32044
32045 @smallexample
32046 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
32047 @end smallexample
32048
32049 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
32050 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
32051
32052 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32053
32054 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
32055
32056 @subsubheading Example
32057 N.A.
32058 @end ignore
32059
32060
32061 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
32062 @findex -target-detach
32063
32064 @subsubheading Synopsis
32065
32066 @smallexample
32067 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
32068 @end smallexample
32069
32070 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
32071 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
32072 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
32073
32074 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32075
32076 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
32077
32078 @subsubheading Example
32079
32080 @smallexample
32081 (gdb)
32082 -target-detach
32083 ^done
32084 (gdb)
32085 @end smallexample
32086
32087
32088 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
32089 @findex -target-disconnect
32090
32091 @subsubheading Synopsis
32092
32093 @smallexample
32094 -target-disconnect
32095 @end smallexample
32096
32097 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
32098 generally not resumed.
32099
32100 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32101
32102 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
32103
32104 @subsubheading Example
32105
32106 @smallexample
32107 (gdb)
32108 -target-disconnect
32109 ^done
32110 (gdb)
32111 @end smallexample
32112
32113
32114 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
32115 @findex -target-download
32116
32117 @subsubheading Synopsis
32118
32119 @smallexample
32120 -target-download
32121 @end smallexample
32122
32123 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
32124 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
32125
32126 @table @samp
32127 @item section
32128 The name of the section.
32129 @item section-sent
32130 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
32131 @item section-size
32132 The size of the section.
32133 @item total-sent
32134 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
32135 @item total-size
32136 The size of the overall executable to download.
32137 @end table
32138
32139 @noindent
32140 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
32141 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
32142
32143 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
32144 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
32145
32146 @table @samp
32147 @item section
32148 The name of the section.
32149 @item section-size
32150 The size of the section.
32151 @item total-size
32152 The size of the overall executable to download.
32153 @end table
32154
32155 @noindent
32156 At the end, a summary is printed.
32157
32158 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32159
32160 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
32161
32162 @subsubheading Example
32163
32164 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
32165 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
32166
32167 @smallexample
32168 (gdb)
32169 -target-download
32170 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
32171 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
32172 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
32173 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
32174 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
32175 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
32176 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
32177 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
32178 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
32179 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
32180 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
32181 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
32182 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
32183 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
32184 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
32185 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
32186 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
32187 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
32188 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
32189 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
32190 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
32191 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
32192 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
32193 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
32194 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
32195 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
32196 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
32197 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32198 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32199 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
32200 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
32201 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
32202 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
32203 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
32204 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
32205 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
32206 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
32207 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
32208 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
32209 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
32210 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
32211 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
32212 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
32213 write-rate="429"
32214 (gdb)
32215 @end smallexample
32216
32217
32218 @ignore
32219 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
32220 @findex -target-exec-status
32221
32222 @subsubheading Synopsis
32223
32224 @smallexample
32225 -target-exec-status
32226 @end smallexample
32227
32228 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
32229 not, for instance).
32230
32231 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32232
32233 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
32234
32235 @subsubheading Example
32236 N.A.
32237
32238
32239 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
32240 @findex -target-list-available-targets
32241
32242 @subsubheading Synopsis
32243
32244 @smallexample
32245 -target-list-available-targets
32246 @end smallexample
32247
32248 List the possible targets to connect to.
32249
32250 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32251
32252 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
32253
32254 @subsubheading Example
32255 N.A.
32256
32257
32258 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
32259 @findex -target-list-current-targets
32260
32261 @subsubheading Synopsis
32262
32263 @smallexample
32264 -target-list-current-targets
32265 @end smallexample
32266
32267 Describe the current target.
32268
32269 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32270
32271 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
32272 other things).
32273
32274 @subsubheading Example
32275 N.A.
32276
32277
32278 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
32279 @findex -target-list-parameters
32280
32281 @subsubheading Synopsis
32282
32283 @smallexample
32284 -target-list-parameters
32285 @end smallexample
32286
32287 @c ????
32288 @end ignore
32289
32290 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32291
32292 No equivalent.
32293
32294 @subsubheading Example
32295 N.A.
32296
32297
32298 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
32299 @findex -target-select
32300
32301 @subsubheading Synopsis
32302
32303 @smallexample
32304 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
32305 @end smallexample
32306
32307 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
32308
32309 @table @samp
32310 @item @var{type}
32311 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
32312 @item @var{parameters}
32313 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
32314 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
32315 @end table
32316
32317 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
32318 which the target program is, in the following form:
32319
32320 @smallexample
32321 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
32322 args=[@var{arg list}]
32323 @end smallexample
32324
32325 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32326
32327 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
32328
32329 @subsubheading Example
32330
32331 @smallexample
32332 (gdb)
32333 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
32334 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
32335 (gdb)
32336 @end smallexample
32337
32338 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32339 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
32340 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
32341
32342
32343 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
32344 @findex -target-file-put
32345
32346 @subsubheading Synopsis
32347
32348 @smallexample
32349 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
32350 @end smallexample
32351
32352 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
32353 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
32354
32355 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32356
32357 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
32358
32359 @subsubheading Example
32360
32361 @smallexample
32362 (gdb)
32363 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
32364 ^done
32365 (gdb)
32366 @end smallexample
32367
32368
32369 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
32370 @findex -target-file-get
32371
32372 @subsubheading Synopsis
32373
32374 @smallexample
32375 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
32376 @end smallexample
32377
32378 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
32379 on the host system.
32380
32381 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32382
32383 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
32384
32385 @subsubheading Example
32386
32387 @smallexample
32388 (gdb)
32389 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
32390 ^done
32391 (gdb)
32392 @end smallexample
32393
32394
32395 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
32396 @findex -target-file-delete
32397
32398 @subsubheading Synopsis
32399
32400 @smallexample
32401 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
32402 @end smallexample
32403
32404 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
32405
32406 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32407
32408 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
32409
32410 @subsubheading Example
32411
32412 @smallexample
32413 (gdb)
32414 -target-file-delete remotefile
32415 ^done
32416 (gdb)
32417 @end smallexample
32418
32419
32420 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32421 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
32422 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
32423
32424 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
32425
32426 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
32427 @findex -gdb-exit
32428
32429 @subsubheading Synopsis
32430
32431 @smallexample
32432 -gdb-exit
32433 @end smallexample
32434
32435 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
32436
32437 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32438
32439 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
32440
32441 @subsubheading Example
32442
32443 @smallexample
32444 (gdb)
32445 -gdb-exit
32446 ^exit
32447 @end smallexample
32448
32449
32450 @ignore
32451 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
32452 @findex -exec-abort
32453
32454 @subsubheading Synopsis
32455
32456 @smallexample
32457 -exec-abort
32458 @end smallexample
32459
32460 Kill the inferior running program.
32461
32462 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32463
32464 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
32465
32466 @subsubheading Example
32467 N.A.
32468 @end ignore
32469
32470
32471 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
32472 @findex -gdb-set
32473
32474 @subsubheading Synopsis
32475
32476 @smallexample
32477 -gdb-set
32478 @end smallexample
32479
32480 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
32481 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
32482
32483 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32484
32485 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
32486
32487 @subsubheading Example
32488
32489 @smallexample
32490 (gdb)
32491 -gdb-set $foo=3
32492 ^done
32493 (gdb)
32494 @end smallexample
32495
32496
32497 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
32498 @findex -gdb-show
32499
32500 @subsubheading Synopsis
32501
32502 @smallexample
32503 -gdb-show
32504 @end smallexample
32505
32506 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
32507
32508 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32509
32510 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
32511
32512 @subsubheading Example
32513
32514 @smallexample
32515 (gdb)
32516 -gdb-show annotate
32517 ^done,value="0"
32518 (gdb)
32519 @end smallexample
32520
32521 @c @subheading -gdb-source
32522
32523
32524 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
32525 @findex -gdb-version
32526
32527 @subsubheading Synopsis
32528
32529 @smallexample
32530 -gdb-version
32531 @end smallexample
32532
32533 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
32534
32535 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32536
32537 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
32538 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
32539
32540 @subsubheading Example
32541
32542 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
32543 @c box in TeX.
32544 @smallexample
32545 (gdb)
32546 -gdb-version
32547 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
32548 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32549 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
32550 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
32551 ~ certain conditions.
32552 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32553 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
32554 ~ details.
32555 ~This GDB was configured as
32556 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
32557 ^done
32558 (gdb)
32559 @end smallexample
32560
32561 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
32562 @findex -list-features
32563
32564 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
32565 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
32566 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
32567 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
32568 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
32569 startup.
32570
32571 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
32572 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
32573 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
32574 is given below.
32575
32576 Example output:
32577
32578 @smallexample
32579 (gdb) -list-features
32580 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
32581 @end smallexample
32582
32583 The current list of features is:
32584
32585 @table @samp
32586 @item frozen-varobjs
32587 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
32588 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
32589 of @code{-varobj-create}.
32590 @item pending-breakpoints
32591 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
32592 command.
32593 @item python
32594 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
32595 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
32596 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
32597 @item thread-info
32598 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
32599 @item data-read-memory-bytes
32600 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
32601 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
32602 @item breakpoint-notifications
32603 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
32604 CLI will be announced via async records.
32605 @item ada-task-info
32606 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
32607 @end table
32608
32609 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
32610 @findex -list-target-features
32611
32612 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
32613 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
32614 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
32615 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
32616 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
32617 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
32618 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
32619 Example output:
32620
32621 @smallexample
32622 (gdb) -list-features
32623 ^done,result=["async"]
32624 @end smallexample
32625
32626 The current list of features is:
32627
32628 @table @samp
32629 @item async
32630 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
32631 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
32632 while the target is running.
32633
32634 @item reverse
32635 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
32636 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
32637
32638 @end table
32639
32640 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
32641 @findex -list-thread-groups
32642
32643 @subheading Synopsis
32644
32645 @smallexample
32646 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
32647 @end smallexample
32648
32649 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
32650 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
32651 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
32652 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
32653 top-level thread groups.
32654
32655 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
32656 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
32657 available on the target.
32658
32659 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
32660 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
32661 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
32662 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
32663 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
32664 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
32665 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
32666 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
32667
32668 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
32669 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
32670 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
32671 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
32672 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
32673 @samp{threads} field.
32674
32675 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
32676 the following caveats:
32677
32678 @itemize @bullet
32679 @item
32680 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
32681 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
32682 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
32683
32684 @item
32685 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
32686 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
32687 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
32688 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
32689 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
32690 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
32691
32692 @end itemize
32693
32694 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
32695 have the following fields:
32696
32697 @table @code
32698 @item id
32699 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
32700 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
32701 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
32702
32703 @item type
32704 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
32705 valid type.
32706
32707 @item pid
32708 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
32709 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
32710
32711 @item num_children
32712 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
32713 absent for an available thread group.
32714
32715 @item threads
32716 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
32717 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
32718 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
32719
32720 @item cores
32721 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
32722 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
32723 such information is not available.
32724
32725 @item executable
32726 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
32727 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
32728 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
32729
32730 @end table
32731
32732 @subheading Example
32733
32734 @smallexample
32735 @value{GDBP}
32736 -list-thread-groups
32737 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
32738 -list-thread-groups 17
32739 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
32740 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
32741 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
32742 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
32743 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
32744 -list-thread-groups --available
32745 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
32746 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
32747 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32748 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32749 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
32750 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
32751 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32752 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32753 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
32754 @end smallexample
32755
32756 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
32757 @findex -info-os
32758
32759 @subsubheading Synopsis
32760
32761 @smallexample
32762 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
32763 @end smallexample
32764
32765 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
32766 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
32767 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
32768 of data of that type.
32769
32770 The types of information available depend on the target operating
32771 system.
32772
32773 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32774
32775 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
32776
32777 @subsubheading Example
32778
32779 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
32780 like this:
32781
32782 @smallexample
32783 @value{GDBP}
32784 -info-os
32785 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
32786 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
32787 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
32788 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
32789 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
32790 col2="Processes"@},
32791 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
32792 col2="Process groups"@},
32793 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
32794 col2="Threads"@},
32795 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
32796 col2="File descriptors"@},
32797 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
32798 col2="Sockets"@},
32799 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
32800 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
32801 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
32802 col2="Semaphores"@},
32803 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
32804 col2="Message queues"@},
32805 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
32806 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
32807 @value{GDBP}
32808 -info-os processes
32809 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
32810 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
32811 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
32812 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
32813 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
32814 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
32815 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
32816 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
32817 ...
32818 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
32819 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
32820 (gdb)
32821 @end smallexample
32822
32823 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
32824 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
32825 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
32826 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
32827 @code{info os} omits it.)
32828
32829 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
32830 @findex -add-inferior
32831
32832 @subheading Synopsis
32833
32834 @smallexample
32835 -add-inferior
32836 @end smallexample
32837
32838 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
32839 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
32840 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
32841 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
32842 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
32843 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
32844
32845 @subheading Example
32846
32847 @smallexample
32848 @value{GDBP}
32849 -add-inferior
32850 ^done,thread-group="i3"
32851 @end smallexample
32852
32853 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
32854 @findex -interpreter-exec
32855
32856 @subheading Synopsis
32857
32858 @smallexample
32859 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
32860 @end smallexample
32861 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
32862
32863 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
32864
32865 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32866
32867 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
32868
32869 @subheading Example
32870
32871 @smallexample
32872 (gdb)
32873 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
32874 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
32875 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
32876 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
32877 ^done
32878 (gdb)
32879 @end smallexample
32880
32881 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
32882 @findex -inferior-tty-set
32883
32884 @subheading Synopsis
32885
32886 @smallexample
32887 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32888 @end smallexample
32889
32890 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
32891
32892 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32893
32894 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
32895
32896 @subheading Example
32897
32898 @smallexample
32899 (gdb)
32900 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32901 ^done
32902 (gdb)
32903 @end smallexample
32904
32905 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
32906 @findex -inferior-tty-show
32907
32908 @subheading Synopsis
32909
32910 @smallexample
32911 -inferior-tty-show
32912 @end smallexample
32913
32914 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
32915
32916 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32917
32918 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
32919
32920 @subheading Example
32921
32922 @smallexample
32923 (gdb)
32924 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32925 ^done
32926 (gdb)
32927 -inferior-tty-show
32928 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
32929 (gdb)
32930 @end smallexample
32931
32932 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
32933 @findex -enable-timings
32934
32935 @subheading Synopsis
32936
32937 @smallexample
32938 -enable-timings [yes | no]
32939 @end smallexample
32940
32941 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
32942 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
32943 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
32944 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
32945
32946 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32947
32948 No equivalent.
32949
32950 @subheading Example
32951
32952 @smallexample
32953 (gdb)
32954 -enable-timings
32955 ^done
32956 (gdb)
32957 -break-insert main
32958 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
32959 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
32960 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
32961 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
32962 (gdb)
32963 -enable-timings no
32964 ^done
32965 (gdb)
32966 -exec-run
32967 ^running
32968 (gdb)
32969 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
32970 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
32971 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
32972 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
32973 (gdb)
32974 @end smallexample
32975
32976 @node Annotations
32977 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
32978
32979 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
32980 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
32981 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
32982 relatively high level.
32983
32984 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
32985 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
32986
32987 @ignore
32988 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
32989 @end ignore
32990
32991 @menu
32992 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
32993 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
32994 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
32995 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
32996 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
32997 * Annotations for Running::
32998 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
32999 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
33000 @end menu
33001
33002 @node Annotations Overview
33003 @section What is an Annotation?
33004 @cindex annotations
33005
33006 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
33007 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
33008 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
33009 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
33010 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
33011 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
33012 cannot contain newline characters.
33013
33014 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
33015 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
33016 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
33017 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
33018 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
33019 means those three characters as output.
33020
33021 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
33022 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
33023 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
33024 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
33025 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
33026 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
33027 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
33028 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
33029 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
33030
33031 @table @code
33032 @kindex set annotate
33033 @item set annotate @var{level}
33034 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
33035 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
33036
33037 @item show annotate
33038 @kindex show annotate
33039 Show the current annotation level.
33040 @end table
33041
33042 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
33043
33044 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
33045
33046 @smallexample
33047 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
33048 GNU gdb 6.0
33049 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
33050 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
33051 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
33052 under certain conditions.
33053 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
33054 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
33055 for details.
33056 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
33057
33058 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
33059 (@value{GDBP})
33060 ^Z^Zprompt
33061 @kbd{quit}
33062
33063 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
33064 $
33065 @end smallexample
33066
33067 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
33068 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
33069 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
33070 output from @value{GDBN}.
33071
33072 @node Server Prefix
33073 @section The Server Prefix
33074 @cindex server prefix
33075
33076 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
33077 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
33078 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
33079 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
33080 a transparent manner.
33081
33082 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
33083 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
33084 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
33085 @code{print} command.
33086
33087 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
33088 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
33089
33090 @node Prompting
33091 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
33092
33093 @cindex annotations for prompts
33094 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
33095 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
33096 over, etc.
33097
33098 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
33099 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
33100 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
33101 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
33102 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
33103 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
33104 features the following annotations:
33105
33106 @smallexample
33107 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
33108 ^Z^Zprompt
33109 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
33110 @end smallexample
33111
33112 The input types are
33113
33114 @table @code
33115 @findex pre-prompt annotation
33116 @findex prompt annotation
33117 @findex post-prompt annotation
33118 @item prompt
33119 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
33120
33121 @findex pre-commands annotation
33122 @findex commands annotation
33123 @findex post-commands annotation
33124 @item commands
33125 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
33126 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
33127
33128 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
33129 @findex overload-choice annotation
33130 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
33131 @item overload-choice
33132 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
33133
33134 @findex pre-query annotation
33135 @findex query annotation
33136 @findex post-query annotation
33137 @item query
33138 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
33139
33140 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
33141 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
33142 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
33143 @item prompt-for-continue
33144 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
33145 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
33146 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
33147 presence of annotations.
33148 @end table
33149
33150 @node Errors
33151 @section Errors
33152 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
33153
33154 @findex quit annotation
33155 @smallexample
33156 ^Z^Zquit
33157 @end smallexample
33158
33159 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
33160
33161 @findex error annotation
33162 @smallexample
33163 ^Z^Zerror
33164 @end smallexample
33165
33166 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
33167
33168 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
33169 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
33170 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
33171 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
33172 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
33173 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
33174 to the top level.
33175
33176 @findex error-begin annotation
33177 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
33178
33179 @smallexample
33180 ^Z^Zerror-begin
33181 @end smallexample
33182
33183 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
33184 message.
33185
33186 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
33187 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
33188 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
33189
33190 @node Invalidation
33191 @section Invalidation Notices
33192
33193 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
33194 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
33195 changed.
33196
33197 @table @code
33198 @findex frames-invalid annotation
33199 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
33200
33201 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
33202 have changed.
33203
33204 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
33205 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
33206
33207 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
33208 deleted a breakpoint.
33209 @end table
33210
33211 @node Annotations for Running
33212 @section Running the Program
33213 @cindex annotations for running programs
33214
33215 @findex starting annotation
33216 @findex stopping annotation
33217 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
33218 @code{step} or @code{continue},
33219
33220 @smallexample
33221 ^Z^Zstarting
33222 @end smallexample
33223
33224 is output. When the program stops,
33225
33226 @smallexample
33227 ^Z^Zstopped
33228 @end smallexample
33229
33230 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
33231 annotations describe how the program stopped.
33232
33233 @table @code
33234 @findex exited annotation
33235 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
33236 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
33237 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
33238
33239 @findex signalled annotation
33240 @findex signal-name annotation
33241 @findex signal-name-end annotation
33242 @findex signal-string annotation
33243 @findex signal-string-end annotation
33244 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
33245 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
33246 annotation continues:
33247
33248 @smallexample
33249 @var{intro-text}
33250 ^Z^Zsignal-name
33251 @var{name}
33252 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
33253 @var{middle-text}
33254 ^Z^Zsignal-string
33255 @var{string}
33256 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
33257 @var{end-text}
33258 @end smallexample
33259
33260 @noindent
33261 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
33262 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
33263 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
33264 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
33265 user's benefit and have no particular format.
33266
33267 @findex signal annotation
33268 @item ^Z^Zsignal
33269 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
33270 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
33271 terminated with it.
33272
33273 @findex breakpoint annotation
33274 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
33275 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
33276
33277 @findex watchpoint annotation
33278 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
33279 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
33280 @end table
33281
33282 @node Source Annotations
33283 @section Displaying Source
33284 @cindex annotations for source display
33285
33286 @findex source annotation
33287 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
33288
33289 @smallexample
33290 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
33291 @end smallexample
33292
33293 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
33294 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
33295 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
33296 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
33297 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
33298 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
33299 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
33300 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
33301 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
33302 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
33303 depend on the language).
33304
33305 @node JIT Interface
33306 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
33307 @cindex just-in-time compilation
33308 @cindex JIT compilation interface
33309
33310 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
33311 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
33312 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
33313 performance while maintaining platform independence.
33314
33315 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
33316 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
33317 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
33318 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
33319 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
33320 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
33321
33322 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
33323 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
33324 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
33325 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
33326 LLVM JIT.
33327
33328 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
33329 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
33330 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
33331 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
33332 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
33333 out about additional code.
33334
33335 @menu
33336 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
33337 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
33338 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
33339 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
33340 @end menu
33341
33342 @node Declarations
33343 @section JIT Declarations
33344
33345 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
33346 implement the interface:
33347
33348 @smallexample
33349 typedef enum
33350 @{
33351 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
33352 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
33353 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
33354 @} jit_actions_t;
33355
33356 struct jit_code_entry
33357 @{
33358 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
33359 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
33360 const char *symfile_addr;
33361 uint64_t symfile_size;
33362 @};
33363
33364 struct jit_descriptor
33365 @{
33366 uint32_t version;
33367 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
33368 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
33369 uint32_t action_flag;
33370 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
33371 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
33372 @};
33373
33374 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
33375 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
33376
33377 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
33378 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
33379 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
33380 @end smallexample
33381
33382 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
33383 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
33384 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
33385
33386 @node Registering Code
33387 @section Registering Code
33388
33389 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
33390
33391 @itemize @bullet
33392 @item
33393 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
33394 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
33395
33396 @item
33397 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
33398 file.
33399
33400 @item
33401 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
33402
33403 @item
33404 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
33405
33406 @item
33407 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
33408 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
33409 @end itemize
33410
33411 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
33412 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
33413 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
33414 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
33415
33416 @node Unregistering Code
33417 @section Unregistering Code
33418
33419 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
33420
33421 @itemize @bullet
33422 @item
33423 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
33424
33425 @item
33426 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
33427
33428 @item
33429 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
33430 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
33431 @end itemize
33432
33433 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
33434 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
33435
33436 @node Custom Debug Info
33437 @section Custom Debug Info
33438 @cindex custom JIT debug info
33439 @cindex JIT debug info reader
33440
33441 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
33442 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
33443 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
33444 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
33445 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
33446 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
33447 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
33448 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
33449 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
33450
33451 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
33452 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
33453 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
33454 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
33455 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
33456 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
33457 compiler.
33458
33459 @menu
33460 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
33461 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
33462 @end menu
33463
33464 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
33465 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
33466 @kindex jit-reader-load
33467 @kindex jit-reader-unload
33468
33469 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
33470 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
33471
33472 @table @code
33473 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader-name}
33474 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader-name}. On a UNIX system, this
33475 will usually load @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/@var{reader-name}}, where
33476 @var{libdir} is the system library directory, usually
33477 @file{/usr/local/lib}. Only one reader can be active at a time;
33478 trying to load a second reader when one is already loaded will result
33479 in @value{GDBN} reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by
33480 first unloading the current one using @code{jit-reader-load} and then
33481 invoking @code{jit-reader-load}.
33482
33483 @item jit-reader-unload
33484 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
33485
33486 @end table
33487
33488 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
33489 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
33490 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
33491
33492 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
33493 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
33494
33495 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
33496 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
33497 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
33498 the system include directory.
33499
33500 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
33501 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
33502 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
33503
33504 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
33505 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
33506
33507 @findex gdb_init_reader
33508 @smallexample
33509 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
33510 @end smallexample
33511
33512 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
33513
33514 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
33515 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
33516 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
33517 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
33518 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
33519 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
33520
33521 @smallexample
33522 struct gdb_reader_funcs
33523 @{
33524 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
33525 int reader_version;
33526
33527 /* For use by the reader. */
33528 void *priv_data;
33529
33530 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
33531 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
33532 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
33533 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
33534 @};
33535 @end smallexample
33536
33537 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
33538 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
33539
33540 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
33541 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
33542 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
33543 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
33544 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
33545 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
33546 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
33547 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
33548 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
33549 target's address space.
33550
33551 @node In-Process Agent
33552 @chapter In-Process Agent
33553 @cindex debugging agent
33554 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
33555 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
33556 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
33557 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
33558 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
33559 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
33560 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
33561 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
33562 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
33563 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
33564 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
33565 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
33566 behavior without interrupting it.
33567
33568 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
33569 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
33570 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
33571 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
33572 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
33573 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
33574 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
33575 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
33576 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
33577
33578 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
33579 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
33580 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
33581 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
33582
33583 @anchor{Control Agent}
33584 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
33585 debugging with the following commands:
33586
33587 @table @code
33588 @kindex set agent on
33589 @item set agent on
33590 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
33591 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
33592 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
33593 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
33594 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
33595 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
33596
33597 @kindex set agent off
33598 @item set agent off
33599 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
33600 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
33601
33602 @kindex show agent
33603 @item show agent
33604 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
33605 the in-process agent.
33606 @end table
33607
33608 @menu
33609 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
33610 @end menu
33611
33612 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
33613 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
33614 @cindex in-process agent protocol
33615
33616 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
33617 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
33618 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
33619 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
33620 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
33621 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
33622 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
33623 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
33624 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
33625
33626 @menu
33627 * IPA Protocol Objects::
33628 * IPA Protocol Commands::
33629 @end menu
33630
33631 @node IPA Protocol Objects
33632 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
33633 @cindex ipa protocol objects
33634
33635 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
33636 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
33637
33638 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
33639 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
33640 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
33641 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
33642
33643 @enumerate
33644 @item
33645 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
33646 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
33647 @item
33648 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
33649 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
33650 the other one.
33651 @end enumerate
33652
33653 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
33654
33655 @enumerate
33656 @item
33657 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
33658 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
33659 @anchor{agent expression object}
33660 @item
33661 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
33662 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
33663 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
33664 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
33665 @item
33666 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
33667 @anchor{tracepoint object}
33668
33669 @end enumerate
33670
33671 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
33672 object:
33673
33674 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
33675 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
33676 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
33677 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
33678 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
33679 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
33680 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33681 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
33682 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
33683 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
33684 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
33685 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
33686 memory address for collecting.
33687 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
33688 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33689 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
33690 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33691 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
33692 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33693 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
33694 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
33695 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
33696 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
33697 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
33698 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
33699 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
33700 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
33701 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
33702 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
33703 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
33704 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
33705 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
33706 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
33707 @ref{agent expression object}
33708 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
33709 @ref{agent expression object}
33710 @item actions @tab variable
33711 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
33712 @end multitable
33713
33714 @node IPA Protocol Commands
33715 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
33716 @cindex ipa protocol commands
33717
33718 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
33719 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
33720
33721 @table @samp
33722
33723 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
33724 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
33725 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
33726 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
33727 in IPA finally.
33728
33729 Replies:
33730 @table @samp
33731 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
33732 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
33733 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
33734 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
33735 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
33736 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
33737 @item E @var{NN}
33738 for an error
33739
33740 @end table
33741
33742 @item close
33743 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
33744 is about to kill inferiors.
33745
33746 @item qTfSTM
33747 @xref{qTfSTM}.
33748 @item qTsSTM
33749 @xref{qTsSTM}.
33750 @item qTSTMat
33751 @xref{qTSTMat}.
33752 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
33753 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
33754
33755 Replies:
33756 @table @samp
33757 @item E @var{NN}
33758 for an error
33759 @end table
33760 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
33761 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
33762 @end table
33763
33764 @node GDB Bugs
33765 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
33766 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
33767 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
33768
33769 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
33770
33771 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
33772 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
33773 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
33774 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
33775
33776 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
33777 information that enables us to fix the bug.
33778
33779 @menu
33780 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
33781 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
33782 @end menu
33783
33784 @node Bug Criteria
33785 @section Have You Found a Bug?
33786 @cindex bug criteria
33787
33788 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
33789
33790 @itemize @bullet
33791 @cindex fatal signal
33792 @cindex debugger crash
33793 @cindex crash of debugger
33794 @item
33795 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
33796 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
33797
33798 @cindex error on valid input
33799 @item
33800 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
33801 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
33802 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
33803
33804 @cindex invalid input
33805 @item
33806 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
33807 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
33808 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
33809 for traditional practice''.
33810
33811 @item
33812 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
33813 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
33814 @end itemize
33815
33816 @node Bug Reporting
33817 @section How to Report Bugs
33818 @cindex bug reports
33819 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
33820
33821 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
33822 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
33823 contact that organization first.
33824
33825 You can find contact information for many support companies and
33826 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
33827 distribution.
33828 @c should add a web page ref...
33829
33830 @ifset BUGURL
33831 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
33832 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33833 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
33834 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
33835 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
33836 be used.
33837
33838 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
33839 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
33840 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
33841 @samp{bug-gdb}.
33842
33843 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
33844 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
33845 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
33846 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
33847 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
33848 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
33849 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
33850 bug reports to the mailing list.
33851 @end ifset
33852 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
33853 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33854 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
33855 @end ifclear
33856 @end ifset
33857
33858 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
33859 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
33860 fact or leave it out, state it!
33861
33862 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
33863 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
33864 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
33865 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
33866 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
33867 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
33868 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
33869 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
33870 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
33871
33872 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
33873 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
33874 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
33875 self-contained.
33876
33877 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
33878 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
33879 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
33880 bugs properly.
33881
33882 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
33883
33884 @itemize @bullet
33885 @item
33886 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
33887 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
33888 version}.
33889
33890 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
33891 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
33892
33893 @item
33894 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
33895 version number.
33896
33897 @item
33898 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
33899 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
33900
33901 @item
33902 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
33903 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
33904 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
33905 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
33906 those compilers.
33907
33908 @item
33909 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
33910 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
33911 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
33912 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
33913
33914 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
33915 and then we might not encounter the bug.
33916
33917 @item
33918 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
33919 reproduce the bug.
33920
33921 @item
33922 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
33923 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
33924
33925 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
33926 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
33927 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
33928 a chance to make a mistake.
33929
33930 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
33931 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
33932 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
33933 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
33934 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
33935 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
33936 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
33937 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
33938
33939 @pindex script
33940 @cindex recording a session script
33941 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
33942 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
33943 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
33944 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
33945
33946 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
33947 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
33948
33949 @item
33950 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
33951 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
33952 it by context, not by line number.
33953
33954 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
33955 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
33956
33957 @end itemize
33958
33959 Here are some things that are not necessary:
33960
33961 @itemize @bullet
33962 @item
33963 A description of the envelope of the bug.
33964
33965 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
33966 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
33967 changes will not affect it.
33968
33969 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
33970 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
33971 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
33972 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
33973
33974 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
33975 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
33976 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
33977 less time, and so on.
33978
33979 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
33980 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
33981
33982 @item
33983 A patch for the bug.
33984
33985 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
33986 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
33987 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
33988 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
33989
33990 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
33991 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
33992 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
33993 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
33994
33995 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
33996 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
33997 help us to understand.
33998
33999 @item
34000 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
34001
34002 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
34003 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
34004 @end itemize
34005
34006 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
34007 @c and consists of the two following files:
34008 @c rluser.texi
34009 @c hsuser.texi
34010 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
34011 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
34012 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
34013 @include rluser.texi
34014 @include hsuser.texi
34015 @end ifclear
34016
34017 @node In Memoriam
34018 @appendix In Memoriam
34019
34020 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
34021 contributors:
34022
34023 @table @code
34024 @item Fred Fish
34025 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
34026 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
34027 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
34028
34029 @item Michael Snyder
34030 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
34031 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
34032 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
34033 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
34034 @end table
34035
34036 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
34037 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
34038
34039 @node Formatting Documentation
34040 @appendix Formatting Documentation
34041
34042 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
34043 @cindex reference card
34044 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
34045 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
34046 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
34047 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
34048 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
34049 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
34050
34051 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
34052 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
34053
34054 @smallexample
34055 make refcard.dvi
34056 @end smallexample
34057
34058 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
34059 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
34060 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
34061 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
34062 your @sc{dvi} output program.
34063
34064 @cindex documentation
34065
34066 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
34067 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
34068 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
34069 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
34070 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
34071 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
34072
34073 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
34074 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
34075 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
34076 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
34077 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
34078 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
34079 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
34080 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
34081
34082 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
34083 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
34084 @code{makeinfo}.
34085
34086 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
34087 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
34088 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
34089
34090 @smallexample
34091 cd gdb
34092 make gdb.info
34093 @end smallexample
34094
34095 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
34096 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
34097 Texinfo definitions file.
34098
34099 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
34100 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
34101 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
34102 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
34103 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
34104 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
34105 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
34106
34107 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
34108 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
34109 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
34110 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
34111 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
34112 directory.
34113
34114 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
34115 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
34116 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
34117 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
34118
34119 @smallexample
34120 make gdb.dvi
34121 @end smallexample
34122
34123 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
34124
34125 @node Installing GDB
34126 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
34127 @cindex installation
34128
34129 @menu
34130 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
34131 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
34132 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
34133 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
34134 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
34135 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
34136 @end menu
34137
34138 @node Requirements
34139 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
34140 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
34141
34142 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
34143 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
34144
34145 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
34146 @table @asis
34147 @item ISO C90 compiler
34148 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
34149 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
34150
34151 @end table
34152
34153 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
34154 @table @asis
34155 @item Expat
34156 @anchor{Expat}
34157 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
34158 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
34159 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
34160 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
34161 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
34162 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
34163
34164 Expat is used for:
34165
34166 @itemize @bullet
34167 @item
34168 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
34169 @item
34170 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
34171 @item
34172 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
34173 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
34174 @item
34175 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
34176 @item
34177 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
34178 @end itemize
34179
34180 @item zlib
34181 @cindex compressed debug sections
34182 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
34183 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
34184 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
34185 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
34186 information in such binaries.
34187
34188 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
34189 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
34190 @url{http://zlib.net}.
34191
34192 @item iconv
34193 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
34194 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
34195 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
34196 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
34197
34198 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
34199 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
34200 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
34201 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
34202
34203 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
34204 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
34205 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
34206
34207 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
34208 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
34209 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
34210 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
34211 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
34212 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
34213 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
34214 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
34215 @end table
34216
34217 @node Running Configure
34218 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
34219 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
34220 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
34221 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
34222 build the @code{gdb} program.
34223 @iftex
34224 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
34225 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
34226 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
34227 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
34228 @end iftex
34229
34230 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
34231 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
34232 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
34233
34234 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
34235 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
34236
34237 @table @code
34238 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
34239 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
34240
34241 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
34242 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
34243
34244 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
34245 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
34246
34247 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
34248 @sc{gnu} include files
34249
34250 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
34251 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
34252
34253 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
34254 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
34255
34256 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
34257 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
34258
34259 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
34260 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
34261
34262 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
34263 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
34264 @end table
34265
34266 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
34267 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
34268 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
34269
34270 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
34271 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
34272 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
34273 argument.
34274
34275 For example:
34276
34277 @smallexample
34278 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
34279 ./configure @var{host}
34280 make
34281 @end smallexample
34282
34283 @noindent
34284 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
34285 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
34286 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
34287 correct value by examining your system.)
34288
34289 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
34290 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
34291 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
34292 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
34293
34294 @need 750
34295 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
34296 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
34297 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
34298
34299 @smallexample
34300 sh configure @var{host}
34301 @end smallexample
34302
34303 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
34304 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
34305 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
34306 @file{configure}
34307 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
34308 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
34309
34310 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
34311 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
34312 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
34313 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
34314 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
34315 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
34316 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
34317 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
34318 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
34319
34320 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
34321 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
34322 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
34323 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
34324 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
34325
34326 @node Separate Objdir
34327 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
34328
34329 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
34330 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
34331 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
34332 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
34333 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
34334 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
34335 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
34336 program specified there.
34337
34338 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
34339 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
34340 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
34341 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
34342 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
34343 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
34344
34345 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
34346 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
34347
34348 @smallexample
34349 @group
34350 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
34351 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
34352 cd ../gdb-sun4
34353 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
34354 make
34355 @end group
34356 @end smallexample
34357
34358 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
34359 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
34360 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
34361 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
34362 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
34363 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
34364
34365 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
34366 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
34367 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
34368 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
34369 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
34370
34371 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
34372 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
34373 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
34374 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
34375 You specify a cross-debugging target by
34376 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
34377
34378 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
34379 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
34380 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
34381
34382 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
34383 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
34384 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
34385 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
34386 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
34387
34388 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
34389 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
34390 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
34391 with each other.
34392
34393 @node Config Names
34394 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
34395
34396 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
34397 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
34398 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
34399 of information in the following pattern:
34400
34401 @smallexample
34402 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
34403 @end smallexample
34404
34405 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
34406 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
34407 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
34408
34409 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
34410 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
34411 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
34412 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
34413 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
34414 abbreviations---for example:
34415
34416 @smallexample
34417 % sh config.sub i386-linux
34418 i386-pc-linux-gnu
34419 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
34420 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
34421 % sh config.sub hp9k700
34422 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
34423 % sh config.sub sun4
34424 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
34425 % sh config.sub sun3
34426 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
34427 % sh config.sub i986v
34428 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
34429 @end smallexample
34430
34431 @noindent
34432 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
34433 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
34434
34435 @node Configure Options
34436 @section @file{configure} Options
34437
34438 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
34439 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
34440 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
34441 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
34442
34443 @smallexample
34444 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
34445 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
34446 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
34447 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
34448 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
34449 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
34450 @var{host}
34451 @end smallexample
34452
34453 @noindent
34454 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
34455 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
34456 @samp{--}.
34457
34458 @table @code
34459 @item --help
34460 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
34461
34462 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
34463 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
34464 @file{@var{dir}}.
34465
34466 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
34467 Configure the source to install programs under directory
34468 @file{@var{dir}}.
34469
34470 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
34471 @need 2000
34472 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
34473 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
34474 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
34475 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
34476 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
34477 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
34478 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
34479 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
34480 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
34481 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
34482 @var{dirname}.
34483
34484 @item --norecursion
34485 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
34486 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
34487
34488 @item --target=@var{target}
34489 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
34490 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
34491 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
34492
34493 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
34494
34495 @item @var{host} @dots{}
34496 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
34497
34498 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
34499 @end table
34500
34501 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
34502 needed for special purposes only.
34503
34504 @node System-wide configuration
34505 @section System-wide configuration and settings
34506 @cindex system-wide init file
34507
34508 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
34509 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
34510 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
34511
34512 Here is the corresponding configure option:
34513
34514 @table @code
34515 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
34516 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
34517 @var{file}.
34518 @end table
34519
34520 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
34521 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
34522
34523 @itemize @bullet
34524 @item
34525 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
34526 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
34527 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
34528 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
34529 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
34530 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
34531
34532 @item
34533 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
34534 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
34535 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34536 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34537 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
34538 @end itemize
34539
34540 @node Maintenance Commands
34541 @appendix Maintenance Commands
34542 @cindex maintenance commands
34543 @cindex internal commands
34544
34545 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
34546 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
34547 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
34548 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
34549 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
34550
34551 @table @code
34552 @kindex maint agent
34553 @kindex maint agent-eval
34554 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
34555 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
34556 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
34557 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
34558 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
34559 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
34560 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
34561 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
34562 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
34563 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
34564 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
34565 addition and return the sum.
34566 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
34567 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
34568
34569 @kindex maint agent-printf
34570 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
34571 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
34572 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
34573 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
34574 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}.
34575
34576 @kindex maint info breakpoints
34577 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
34578 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
34579 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
34580 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
34581 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
34582 is shown:
34583
34584 @table @code
34585 @item breakpoint
34586 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
34587
34588 @item watchpoint
34589 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
34590
34591 @item longjmp
34592 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
34593 @code{longjmp} calls.
34594
34595 @item longjmp resume
34596 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
34597
34598 @item until
34599 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
34600
34601 @item finish
34602 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
34603
34604 @item shlib events
34605 Shared library events.
34606
34607 @end table
34608
34609 @kindex maint info bfds
34610 @item maint info bfds
34611 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
34612 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
34613
34614 @kindex set displaced-stepping
34615 @kindex show displaced-stepping
34616 @cindex displaced stepping support
34617 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
34618 @item set displaced-stepping
34619 @itemx show displaced-stepping
34620 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
34621 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
34622 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
34623 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
34624 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
34625
34626 @table @code
34627 @item set displaced-stepping on
34628 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
34629 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
34630
34631 @item set displaced-stepping off
34632 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
34633 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
34634
34635 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
34636 @item set displaced-stepping auto
34637 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
34638 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
34639 architecture supports displaced stepping.
34640 @end table
34641
34642 @kindex maint check-symtabs
34643 @item maint check-symtabs
34644 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
34645
34646 @kindex maint cplus first_component
34647 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
34648 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
34649
34650 @kindex maint cplus namespace
34651 @item maint cplus namespace
34652 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
34653
34654 @kindex maint demangle
34655 @item maint demangle @var{name}
34656 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
34657
34658 @kindex maint deprecate
34659 @kindex maint undeprecate
34660 @cindex deprecated commands
34661 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
34662 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
34663 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
34664 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
34665 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
34666 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
34667 the replacement as part of the warning.
34668
34669 @kindex maint dump-me
34670 @item maint dump-me
34671 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
34672 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
34673 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
34674 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
34675
34676 @kindex maint internal-error
34677 @kindex maint internal-warning
34678 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34679 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34680 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
34681 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
34682 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
34683 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
34684 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
34685 @value{GDBN} session.
34686
34687 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
34688 used as the text of the error or warning message.
34689
34690 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
34691
34692 @smallexample
34693 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
34694 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
34695 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
34696 debugging may prove unreliable.
34697 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34698 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34699 (@value{GDBP})
34700 @end smallexample
34701
34702 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
34703 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
34704
34705 @kindex maint set internal-error
34706 @kindex maint show internal-error
34707 @kindex maint set internal-warning
34708 @kindex maint show internal-warning
34709 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34710 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
34711 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34712 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
34713 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
34714 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
34715 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
34716 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
34717 described in the table below.
34718
34719 @table @samp
34720 @item quit
34721 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34722 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34723
34724 @item corefile
34725 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34726 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34727 @end table
34728
34729 @kindex maint packet
34730 @item maint packet @var{text}
34731 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
34732 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
34733 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
34734 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
34735 checksum.
34736
34737 @kindex maint print architecture
34738 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34739 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
34740 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
34741
34742 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
34743 @item maint print c-tdesc
34744 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
34745 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
34746 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
34747
34748 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
34749 @item maint print dummy-frames
34750 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
34751
34752 @smallexample
34753 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
34754 @dots{}
34755 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
34756 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
34757 58 return (a + b);
34758 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
34759 @dots{}
34760 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
34761 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
34762 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
34763 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
34764 (@value{GDBP})
34765 @end smallexample
34766
34767 Takes an optional file parameter.
34768
34769 @kindex maint print registers
34770 @kindex maint print raw-registers
34771 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
34772 @kindex maint print register-groups
34773 @kindex maint print remote-registers
34774 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34775 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34776 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34777 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34778 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34779 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
34780
34781 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
34782 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
34783 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
34784 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
34785 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
34786 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
34787 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
34788 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
34789 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
34790
34791 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
34792 write the information.
34793
34794 @kindex maint print reggroups
34795 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34796 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
34797 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
34798 information.
34799
34800 The register groups info looks like this:
34801
34802 @smallexample
34803 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
34804 Group Type
34805 general user
34806 float user
34807 all user
34808 vector user
34809 system user
34810 save internal
34811 restore internal
34812 @end smallexample
34813
34814 @kindex flushregs
34815 @item flushregs
34816 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
34817
34818 @kindex maint print objfiles
34819 @cindex info for known object files
34820 @item maint print objfiles
34821 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
34822 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
34823 and symtabs.
34824
34825 @kindex maint print section-scripts
34826 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
34827 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
34828 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
34829 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
34830 matching @var{regexp}.
34831 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
34832 and the full path if known.
34833 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
34834
34835 @kindex maint print statistics
34836 @cindex bcache statistics
34837 @item maint print statistics
34838 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
34839 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
34840 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
34841 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
34842 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
34843 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
34844 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
34845 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
34846 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
34847 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
34848 lengths.
34849
34850 @kindex maint print target-stack
34851 @cindex target stack description
34852 @item maint print target-stack
34853 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
34854 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
34855 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
34856 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
34857 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
34858 address.
34859
34860 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
34861 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
34862
34863 @kindex maint print type
34864 @cindex type chain of a data type
34865 @item maint print type @var{expr}
34866 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
34867 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
34868 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
34869 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
34870 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
34871
34872 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
34873 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
34874 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
34875 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
34876 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
34877 information.
34878
34879 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
34880 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
34881 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
34882 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
34883 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
34884 always see the disassembly form.
34885
34886 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
34887
34888 @smallexample
34889 (gdb) info addr argc
34890 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
34891 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
34892 @end smallexample
34893
34894 For more information on these expressions, see
34895 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
34896
34897 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
34898 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
34899 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
34900 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
34901 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
34902
34903 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
34904 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
34905 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
34906 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
34907 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
34908 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
34909 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
34910 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
34911 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
34912
34913 @kindex maint set profile
34914 @kindex maint show profile
34915 @cindex profiling GDB
34916 @item maint set profile
34917 @itemx maint show profile
34918 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
34919
34920 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
34921 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
34922 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
34923 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
34924 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
34925 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
34926 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
34927
34928 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
34929 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
34930
34931 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
34932 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
34933 @cindex hardware debug registers
34934 @item maint set show-debug-regs
34935 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
34936 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
34937 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
34938 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
34939 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
34940 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
34941
34942 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
34943 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
34944 @item maint set show-all-tib
34945 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
34946 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
34947 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
34948 command.
34949
34950 @kindex maint space
34951 @cindex memory used by commands
34952 @item maint space
34953 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
34954 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
34955 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
34956 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
34957 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34958
34959 @kindex maint time
34960 @cindex time of command execution
34961 @item maint time
34962 Control whether to display the execution time of @value{GDBN} for each command.
34963 If set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
34964 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
34965 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
34966 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
34967 CPU or, e.g., disk/network, latency.
34968 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
34969 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
34970 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
34971 spent by the program been debugged.
34972 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
34973 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34974
34975 @kindex maint translate-address
34976 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
34977 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
34978 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
34979 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
34980 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
34981 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
34982 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
34983
34984 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
34985 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
34986 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
34987
34988 @end table
34989
34990 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
34991 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
34992
34993 @table @code
34994 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
34995 @kindex set watchdog
34996 @cindex watchdog timer
34997 @cindex timeout for commands
34998 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
34999 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
35000 reports and error and the command is aborted.
35001
35002 @item show watchdog
35003 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
35004 @end table
35005
35006 @node Remote Protocol
35007 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
35008
35009 @menu
35010 * Overview::
35011 * Packets::
35012 * Stop Reply Packets::
35013 * General Query Packets::
35014 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
35015 * Tracepoint Packets::
35016 * Host I/O Packets::
35017 * Interrupts::
35018 * Notification Packets::
35019 * Remote Non-Stop::
35020 * Packet Acknowledgment::
35021 * Examples::
35022 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
35023 * Library List Format::
35024 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
35025 * Memory Map Format::
35026 * Thread List Format::
35027 * Traceframe Info Format::
35028 @end menu
35029
35030 @node Overview
35031 @section Overview
35032
35033 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
35034 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
35035 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
35036 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
35037
35038 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
35039 transmitted and received data, respectively.
35040
35041 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
35042 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
35043 @cindex remote serial protocol
35044 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
35045 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
35046 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
35047 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
35048 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
35049
35050 @smallexample
35051 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35052 @end smallexample
35053 @noindent
35054
35055 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
35056 @noindent
35057 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
35058 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
35059 eight bit unsigned checksum).
35060
35061 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
35062 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
35063
35064 @smallexample
35065 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35066 @end smallexample
35067
35068 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
35069 @noindent
35070 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
35071 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
35072 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
35073
35074 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
35075 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
35076 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
35077 retransmission):
35078
35079 @smallexample
35080 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35081 <- @code{+}
35082 @end smallexample
35083 @noindent
35084
35085 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
35086 once a connection is established.
35087 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
35088
35089 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
35090 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
35091 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
35092 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
35093 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
35094 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
35095 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
35096
35097 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
35098 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
35099 exceptions).
35100
35101 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
35102 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
35103 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
35104 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
35105
35106 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
35107 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
35108 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
35109
35110 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
35111 @anchor{Binary Data}
35112 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
35113 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
35114 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
35115 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
35116 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
35117 binary data.
35118
35119 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
35120 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
35121 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
35122 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
35123 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
35124 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
35125 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
35126 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
35127 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
35128 (described next).
35129
35130 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
35131 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
35132 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
35133 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
35134 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
35135 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
35136 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
35137 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
35138 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
35139 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
35140 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
35141 3}} more times.
35142
35143 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
35144 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
35145 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
35146 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
35147 @samp{0*"00}.
35148
35149 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
35150 error number. That number is not well defined.
35151
35152 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
35153 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
35154 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
35155 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
35156 on that response.
35157
35158 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
35159 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
35160 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
35161 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
35162 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
35163 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
35164
35165 @node Packets
35166 @section Packets
35167
35168 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
35169 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
35170 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
35171 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
35172
35173 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
35174 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
35175 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
35176 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
35177 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
35178 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
35179 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
35180 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
35181 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
35182 @var{baz}.
35183
35184 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
35185 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
35186 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
35187 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
35188 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
35189 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
35190 pick any thread.
35191
35192 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
35193 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
35194 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
35195 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
35196 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
35197 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
35198 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
35199 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
35200 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
35201 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
35202 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
35203 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
35204 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
35205
35206 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
35207 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
35208 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
35209 more information.
35210
35211 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
35212 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
35213
35214 Here are the packet descriptions.
35215
35216 @table @samp
35217
35218 @item !
35219 @cindex @samp{!} packet
35220 @anchor{extended mode}
35221 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
35222 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
35223 debugged.
35224
35225 Reply:
35226 @table @samp
35227 @item OK
35228 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
35229 @end table
35230
35231 @item ?
35232 @cindex @samp{?} packet
35233 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
35234 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
35235 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
35236
35237 Reply:
35238 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35239
35240 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
35241 @cindex @samp{A} packet
35242 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
35243 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
35244 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
35245
35246 Reply:
35247 @table @samp
35248 @item OK
35249 The arguments were set.
35250 @item E @var{NN}
35251 An error occurred.
35252 @end table
35253
35254 @item b @var{baud}
35255 @cindex @samp{b} packet
35256 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
35257 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
35258
35259 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
35260 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
35261 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
35262
35263 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
35264 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
35265 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
35266 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
35267 of view, nothing actually happened.}
35268
35269 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
35270 @cindex @samp{B} packet
35271 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
35272 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
35273
35274 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
35275 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
35276
35277 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
35278 @anchor{bc}
35279 @item bc
35280 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
35281 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
35282
35283 Reply:
35284 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35285
35286 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
35287 @anchor{bs}
35288 @item bs
35289 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
35290 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
35291
35292 Reply:
35293 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35294
35295 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
35296 @cindex @samp{c} packet
35297 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
35298 resume at current address.
35299
35300 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35301 packet}.
35302
35303 Reply:
35304 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35305
35306 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
35307 @cindex @samp{C} packet
35308 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
35309 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
35310
35311 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35312 packet}.
35313
35314 Reply:
35315 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35316
35317 @item d
35318 @cindex @samp{d} packet
35319 Toggle debug flag.
35320
35321 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
35322 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
35323
35324 @item D
35325 @itemx D;@var{pid}
35326 @cindex @samp{D} packet
35327 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
35328 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
35329 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
35330
35331 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
35332 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
35333 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
35334 big-endian hex string.
35335
35336 Reply:
35337 @table @samp
35338 @item OK
35339 for success
35340 @item E @var{NN}
35341 for an error
35342 @end table
35343
35344 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
35345 @cindex @samp{F} packet
35346 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
35347 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
35348 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
35349
35350 @item g
35351 @anchor{read registers packet}
35352 @cindex @samp{g} packet
35353 Read general registers.
35354
35355 Reply:
35356 @table @samp
35357 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35358 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
35359 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
35360 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
35361 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
35362 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
35363 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
35364
35365 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
35366 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
35367 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
35368 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
35369 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
35370 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
35371 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
35372 have been collected, and both have zero value:
35373
35374 @smallexample
35375 -> @code{g}
35376 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
35377 @end smallexample
35378
35379 @item E @var{NN}
35380 for an error.
35381 @end table
35382
35383 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
35384 @cindex @samp{G} packet
35385 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
35386 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
35387
35388 Reply:
35389 @table @samp
35390 @item OK
35391 for success
35392 @item E @var{NN}
35393 for an error
35394 @end table
35395
35396 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
35397 @cindex @samp{H} packet
35398 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
35399 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
35400 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
35401 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
35402 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
35403 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
35404 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35405
35406 Reply:
35407 @table @samp
35408 @item OK
35409 for success
35410 @item E @var{NN}
35411 for an error
35412 @end table
35413
35414 @c FIXME: JTC:
35415 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
35416 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
35417 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
35418 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
35419 @c described. For example:
35420 @c
35421 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35422 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
35423 @c otherwise returns current registers.
35424 @c
35425 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35426 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
35427 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
35428
35429 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
35430 @anchor{cycle step packet}
35431 @cindex @samp{i} packet
35432 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
35433 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
35434 step starting at that address.
35435
35436 @item I
35437 @cindex @samp{I} packet
35438 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
35439 step packet}.
35440
35441 @item k
35442 @cindex @samp{k} packet
35443 Kill request.
35444
35445 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
35446 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
35447 thread?)}.
35448
35449 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
35450 @cindex @samp{m} packet
35451 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
35452 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
35453
35454 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
35455 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
35456 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
35457 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
35458 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
35459 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
35460 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
35461 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
35462
35463 Reply:
35464 @table @samp
35465 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35466 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
35467 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
35468 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
35469 @item E @var{NN}
35470 @var{NN} is errno
35471 @end table
35472
35473 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35474 @cindex @samp{M} packet
35475 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
35476 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
35477 hexadecimal number.
35478
35479 Reply:
35480 @table @samp
35481 @item OK
35482 for success
35483 @item E @var{NN}
35484 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
35485 written).
35486 @end table
35487
35488 @item p @var{n}
35489 @cindex @samp{p} packet
35490 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
35491 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
35492 register value is encoded.
35493
35494 Reply:
35495 @table @samp
35496 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35497 the register's value
35498 @item E @var{NN}
35499 for an error
35500 @item
35501 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
35502 @end table
35503
35504 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
35505 @anchor{write register packet}
35506 @cindex @samp{P} packet
35507 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
35508 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
35509 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
35510
35511 Reply:
35512 @table @samp
35513 @item OK
35514 for success
35515 @item E @var{NN}
35516 for an error
35517 @end table
35518
35519 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35520 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35521 @cindex @samp{q} packet
35522 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
35523 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
35524 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
35525
35526 @item r
35527 @cindex @samp{r} packet
35528 Reset the entire system.
35529
35530 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
35531
35532 @item R @var{XX}
35533 @cindex @samp{R} packet
35534 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
35535 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35536
35537 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
35538
35539 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
35540 @cindex @samp{s} packet
35541 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
35542 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
35543
35544 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35545 packet}.
35546
35547 Reply:
35548 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35549
35550 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
35551 @anchor{step with signal packet}
35552 @cindex @samp{S} packet
35553 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
35554 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
35555
35556 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35557 packet}.
35558
35559 Reply:
35560 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35561
35562 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
35563 @cindex @samp{t} packet
35564 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
35565 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
35566 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
35567
35568 @item T @var{thread-id}
35569 @cindex @samp{T} packet
35570 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35571
35572 Reply:
35573 @table @samp
35574 @item OK
35575 thread is still alive
35576 @item E @var{NN}
35577 thread is dead
35578 @end table
35579
35580 @item v
35581 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
35582 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
35583
35584 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
35585 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
35586 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
35587 The process ID is a
35588 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
35589 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
35590 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
35591
35592 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
35593 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
35594 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
35595 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
35596 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
35597 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
35598 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
35599 @c stopping or restarting threads.
35600
35601 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35602
35603 Reply:
35604 @table @samp
35605 @item E @var{nn}
35606 for an error
35607 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35608 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35609 @item OK
35610 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
35611 @end table
35612
35613 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
35614 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
35615 @anchor{vCont packet}
35616 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
35617 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
35618 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
35619 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
35620 in their current state in non-stop mode.
35621 Specifying multiple
35622 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
35623 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35624
35625 Currently supported actions are:
35626
35627 @table @samp
35628 @item c
35629 Continue.
35630 @item C @var{sig}
35631 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35632 @item s
35633 Step.
35634 @item S @var{sig}
35635 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35636 @item t
35637 Stop.
35638 @end table
35639
35640 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
35641 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
35642 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
35643
35644 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
35645 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
35646 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
35647 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
35648 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
35649 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
35650 as an implementation detail.
35651
35652 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
35653 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
35654 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
35655 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
35656 @var{thread-id}.
35657
35658 Reply:
35659 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35660
35661 @item vCont?
35662 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
35663 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
35664
35665 Reply:
35666 @table @samp
35667 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
35668 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
35669 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
35670 @item
35671 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
35672 @end table
35673
35674 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
35675 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
35676 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
35677 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
35678
35679 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
35680 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
35681 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
35682 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
35683 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
35684 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
35685 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
35686 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
35687 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35688 packet is received.
35689
35690 Reply:
35691 @table @samp
35692 @item OK
35693 for success
35694 @item E @var{NN}
35695 for an error
35696 @end table
35697
35698 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35699 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
35700 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
35701 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
35702 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
35703 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
35704 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
35705 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
35706 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
35707 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
35708 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
35709 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
35710
35711
35712 Reply:
35713 @table @samp
35714 @item OK
35715 for success
35716 @item E.memtype
35717 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
35718 @item E @var{NN}
35719 for an error
35720 @end table
35721
35722 @item vFlashDone
35723 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
35724 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
35725 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
35726 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
35727 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
35728 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35729 request is completed.
35730
35731 @item vKill;@var{pid}
35732 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
35733 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
35734 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
35735 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
35736 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35737
35738 Reply:
35739 @table @samp
35740 @item E @var{nn}
35741 for an error
35742 @item OK
35743 for success
35744 @end table
35745
35746 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
35747 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
35748 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
35749 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
35750 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
35751 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
35752 state.
35753
35754 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
35755
35756 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35757
35758 Reply:
35759 @table @samp
35760 @item E @var{nn}
35761 for an error
35762 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35763 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35764 @end table
35765
35766 @item vStopped
35767 @anchor{vStopped packet}
35768 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
35769
35770 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
35771 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
35772
35773 Reply:
35774 @table @samp
35775 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35776 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35777 @item OK
35778 if there are no unreported stop events
35779 @end table
35780
35781 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35782 @anchor{X packet}
35783 @cindex @samp{X} packet
35784 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
35785 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
35786 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
35787
35788 Reply:
35789 @table @samp
35790 @item OK
35791 for success
35792 @item E @var{NN}
35793 for an error
35794 @end table
35795
35796 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35797 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35798 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
35799 @cindex @samp{z} packet
35800 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
35801 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
35802 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
35803
35804 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
35805 separately.
35806
35807 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
35808 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
35809 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
35810 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
35811 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
35812 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
35813
35814 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35815 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35816 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
35817 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
35818 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
35819 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
35820
35821 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
35822 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
35823 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
35824 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
35825 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
35826 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
35827 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
35828 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
35829 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
35830 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
35831
35832 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
35833 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
35834
35835 @table @samp
35836
35837 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35838 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35839 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35840
35841 @end table
35842
35843 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
35844 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
35845 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
35846 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
35847 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
35848 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
35849 separators. Each expression has the following form:
35850
35851 @table @samp
35852
35853 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35854 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35855 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35856
35857 @end table
35858
35859 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
35860
35861 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
35862 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
35863 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
35864 target, is not defined.}
35865
35866 Reply:
35867 @table @samp
35868 @item OK
35869 success
35870 @item
35871 not supported
35872 @item E @var{NN}
35873 for an error
35874 @end table
35875
35876 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35877 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35878 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
35879 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
35880 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
35881 address @var{addr}.
35882
35883 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
35884 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
35885 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
35886
35887 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
35888 movement.}
35889
35890 Reply:
35891 @table @samp
35892 @item OK
35893 success
35894 @item
35895 not supported
35896 @item E @var{NN}
35897 for an error
35898 @end table
35899
35900 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35901 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35902 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
35903 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
35904 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35905 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35906
35907 Reply:
35908 @table @samp
35909 @item OK
35910 success
35911 @item
35912 not supported
35913 @item E @var{NN}
35914 for an error
35915 @end table
35916
35917 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35918 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35919 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
35920 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
35921 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35922 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35923
35924 Reply:
35925 @table @samp
35926 @item OK
35927 success
35928 @item
35929 not supported
35930 @item E @var{NN}
35931 for an error
35932 @end table
35933
35934 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35935 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35936 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
35937 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
35938 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35939 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35940
35941 Reply:
35942 @table @samp
35943 @item OK
35944 success
35945 @item
35946 not supported
35947 @item E @var{NN}
35948 for an error
35949 @end table
35950
35951 @end table
35952
35953 @node Stop Reply Packets
35954 @section Stop Reply Packets
35955 @cindex stop reply packets
35956
35957 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
35958 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
35959 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
35960 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
35961 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
35962 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
35963 @value{GDBN} source code.
35964
35965 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
35966 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
35967 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
35968 components.
35969
35970 @table @samp
35971
35972 @item S @var{AA}
35973 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35974 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
35975 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
35976
35977 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
35978 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
35979 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35980 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
35981 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
35982 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
35983 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
35984 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
35985
35986 @itemize @bullet
35987 @item
35988 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
35989 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
35990 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
35991 two-digit hex number.
35992
35993 @item
35994 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
35995 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35996
35997 @item
35998 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
35999 the core on which the stop event was detected.
36000
36001 @item
36002 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
36003 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
36004 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
36005 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
36006
36007 @item
36008 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
36009 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
36010 future.
36011 @end itemize
36012
36013 The currently defined stop reasons are:
36014
36015 @table @samp
36016 @item watch
36017 @itemx rwatch
36018 @itemx awatch
36019 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
36020 hex.
36021
36022 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
36023 @item library
36024 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
36025 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
36026 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
36027
36028 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
36029 @item replaylog
36030 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
36031 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
36032 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
36033 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
36034 for more information.
36035 @end table
36036
36037 @item W @var{AA}
36038 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
36039 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
36040 applicable to certain targets.
36041
36042 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
36043 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
36044 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
36045 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
36046
36047 @item X @var{AA}
36048 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
36049 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
36050
36051 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
36052 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
36053 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
36054 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
36055
36056 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
36057 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
36058 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
36059 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
36060 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
36061
36062 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
36063 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
36064 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
36065 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
36066 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
36067 system calls.
36068
36069 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
36070 this very system call.
36071
36072 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
36073 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
36074 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
36075 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
36076 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
36077 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
36078
36079 @end table
36080
36081 @node General Query Packets
36082 @section General Query Packets
36083 @cindex remote query requests
36084
36085 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
36086 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
36087 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
36088 sending information to and from the stub.
36089
36090 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
36091 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
36092 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
36093 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
36094 conventions:
36095
36096 @itemize @bullet
36097 @item
36098 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
36099 @item
36100 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
36101 letter.
36102 @item
36103 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
36104 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
36105 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
36106 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
36107 @end itemize
36108
36109 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
36110 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
36111 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
36112 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
36113 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
36114 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
36115 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
36116 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
36117 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
36118 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
36119 packet.}.
36120
36121 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
36122 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
36123 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
36124 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
36125 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
36126
36127 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
36128
36129 @table @samp
36130
36131 @item QAgent:1
36132 @itemx QAgent:0
36133 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
36134 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
36135
36136 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
36137 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
36138 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
36139 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
36140 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
36141 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
36142 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
36143 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
36144 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
36145 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
36146 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
36147
36148 @item qC
36149 @cindex current thread, remote request
36150 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
36151 Return the current thread ID.
36152
36153 Reply:
36154 @table @samp
36155 @item QC @var{thread-id}
36156 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
36157 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36158 @item @r{(anything else)}
36159 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
36160 @end table
36161
36162 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
36163 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
36164 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
36165 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
36166 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
36167 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
36168 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
36169
36170 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
36171 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
36172 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
36173 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
36174 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
36175 detect trailing zeros.
36176
36177 Reply:
36178 @table @samp
36179 @item E @var{NN}
36180 An error (such as memory fault)
36181 @item C @var{crc32}
36182 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
36183 @end table
36184
36185 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
36186 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
36187 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
36188 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
36189 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
36190 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
36191 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
36192 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
36193 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
36194 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
36195 randomization.
36196
36197 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36198
36199 Reply:
36200 @table @samp
36201 @item OK
36202 The request succeeded.
36203
36204 @item E @var{nn}
36205 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36206
36207 @item
36208 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
36209 by the stub.
36210 @end table
36211
36212 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36213 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36214 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
36215 address space randomization.
36216
36217 @item qfThreadInfo
36218 @itemx qsThreadInfo
36219 @cindex list active threads, remote request
36220 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
36221 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
36222 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
36223 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
36224 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
36225 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
36226 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
36227 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
36228
36229 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
36230
36231 Reply:
36232 @table @samp
36233 @item m @var{thread-id}
36234 A single thread ID
36235 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
36236 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
36237 @item l
36238 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
36239 @end table
36240
36241 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
36242 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
36243 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
36244 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
36245 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
36246 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
36247 fields.
36248
36249 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
36250 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
36251 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
36252 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
36253 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
36254
36255 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
36256 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
36257
36258 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
36259 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
36260 information associated with the variable.)
36261
36262 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
36263 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
36264 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
36265 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
36266 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
36267 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
36268
36269 Reply:
36270 @table @samp
36271 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36272 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
36273 local storage requested.
36274
36275 @item E @var{nn}
36276 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36277
36278 @item
36279 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
36280 @end table
36281
36282 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
36283 @cindex get thread information block address
36284 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
36285 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
36286
36287 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
36288
36289 Reply:
36290 @table @samp
36291 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36292 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
36293 thread information block.
36294
36295 @item E @var{nn}
36296 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
36297 address could not be retrieved.
36298
36299 @item
36300 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
36301 @end table
36302
36303 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
36304 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
36305 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
36306 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
36307 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
36308 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
36309 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
36310
36311 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
36312
36313 Reply:
36314 @table @samp
36315 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
36316 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
36317 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
36318 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
36319 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
36320 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
36321 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
36322 @end table
36323
36324 @item qOffsets
36325 @cindex section offsets, remote request
36326 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
36327 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
36328 image.
36329
36330 Reply:
36331 @table @samp
36332 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
36333 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
36334 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
36335 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
36336 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
36337 segments by the supplied offsets.
36338
36339 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
36340 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
36341 to the @code{Bss} section.}
36342
36343 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
36344 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
36345 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
36346 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
36347 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
36348 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
36349 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
36350 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
36351 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
36352 @end table
36353
36354 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
36355 @cindex thread information, remote request
36356 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
36357 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
36358 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
36359 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
36360
36361 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
36362 (see below).
36363
36364 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
36365
36366 @item QNonStop:1
36367 @itemx QNonStop:0
36368 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
36369 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
36370 @anchor{QNonStop}
36371 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
36372 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
36373
36374 Reply:
36375 @table @samp
36376 @item OK
36377 The request succeeded.
36378
36379 @item E @var{nn}
36380 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36381
36382 @item
36383 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
36384 the stub.
36385 @end table
36386
36387 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36388 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36389 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
36390 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
36391
36392 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
36393 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
36394 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36395 @anchor{QPassSignals}
36396 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
36397 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36398 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36399 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
36400 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
36401 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
36402 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
36403 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
36404 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
36405
36406 Reply:
36407 @table @samp
36408 @item OK
36409 The request succeeded.
36410
36411 @item E @var{nn}
36412 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36413
36414 @item
36415 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
36416 the stub.
36417 @end table
36418
36419 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
36420 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
36421 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36422 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36423
36424 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
36425 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
36426 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
36427 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
36428 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
36429 Others should be silently discarded.
36430
36431 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
36432 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
36433 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
36434 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
36435 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
36436 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
36437 signals.
36438
36439 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
36440 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
36441
36442 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36443 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36444 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
36445 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
36446 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
36447
36448 Reply:
36449 @table @samp
36450 @item OK
36451 The request succeeded.
36452
36453 @item E @var{nn}
36454 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36455
36456 @item
36457 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
36458 by the stub.
36459 @end table
36460
36461 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
36462 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
36463 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36464 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36465
36466 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
36467 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
36468 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
36469 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
36470 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
36471 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
36472 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
36473 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
36474 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
36475
36476 Reply:
36477 @table @samp
36478 @item OK
36479 A command response with no output.
36480 @item @var{OUTPUT}
36481 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
36482 @item E @var{NN}
36483 Indicate a badly formed request.
36484 @item
36485 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
36486 @end table
36487
36488 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
36489 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36490 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36491 packets.)
36492
36493 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
36494 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
36495 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
36496 @anchor{qSearch memory}
36497 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
36498 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
36499 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
36500
36501 Reply:
36502 @table @samp
36503 @item 0
36504 The pattern was not found.
36505 @item 1,address
36506 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
36507 @item E @var{NN}
36508 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
36509 @item
36510 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
36511 @end table
36512
36513 @item QStartNoAckMode
36514 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
36515 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
36516 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
36517 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
36518
36519 Reply:
36520 @table @samp
36521 @item OK
36522 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
36523 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
36524 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
36525 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
36526 @item
36527 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
36528 @end table
36529
36530 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
36531 @cindex supported packets, remote query
36532 @cindex features of the remote protocol
36533 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
36534 @anchor{qSupported}
36535 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
36536 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
36537 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
36538 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
36539 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
36540 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
36541 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
36542 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
36543 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
36544 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
36545 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
36546 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
36547 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
36548 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
36549
36550 Reply:
36551 @table @samp
36552 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
36553 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
36554 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
36555 possible forms).
36556 @item
36557 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
36558 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
36559 @end table
36560
36561 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
36562 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
36563 are:
36564
36565 @table @samp
36566 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
36567 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
36568 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
36569 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
36570 @item @var{name}+
36571 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
36572 need an associated value.
36573 @item @var{name}-
36574 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
36575 @item @var{name}?
36576 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
36577 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
36578 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
36579 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
36580 @end table
36581
36582 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
36583 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
36584 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
36585 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
36586 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
36587
36588 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
36589 are defined:
36590
36591 @table @samp
36592 @item multiprocess
36593 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
36594 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36595 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36596 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36597 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
36598
36599 @item xmlRegisters
36600 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
36601 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
36602 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
36603 description.
36604
36605 @item qRelocInsn
36606 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
36607 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
36608 instruction reply packet}).
36609 @end table
36610
36611 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
36612 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
36613 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
36614 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
36615 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
36616 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
36617 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
36618 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
36619 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
36620 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
36621 all the features it supports.
36622
36623 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
36624 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
36625
36626 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
36627 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
36628 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
36629 form response.
36630
36631 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
36632 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
36633 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
36634 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
36635
36636 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
36637 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
36638 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
36639 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
36640 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
36641
36642 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
36643
36644 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
36645 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
36646 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
36647 @item Feature Name
36648 @tab Value Required
36649 @tab Default
36650 @tab Probe Allowed
36651
36652 @item @samp{PacketSize}
36653 @tab Yes
36654 @tab @samp{-}
36655 @tab No
36656
36657 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
36658 @tab No
36659 @tab @samp{-}
36660 @tab Yes
36661
36662 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
36663 @tab No
36664 @tab @samp{-}
36665 @tab Yes
36666
36667 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
36668 @tab No
36669 @tab @samp{-}
36670 @tab Yes
36671
36672 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
36673 @tab No
36674 @tab @samp{-}
36675 @tab Yes
36676
36677 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
36678 @tab No
36679 @tab @samp{-}
36680 @tab Yes
36681
36682 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
36683 @tab No
36684 @tab @samp{-}
36685 @tab Yes
36686
36687 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
36688 @tab No
36689 @tab @samp{-}
36690 @tab Yes
36691
36692 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
36693 @tab No
36694 @tab @samp{-}
36695 @tab Yes
36696
36697 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
36698 @tab No
36699 @tab @samp{-}
36700 @tab Yes
36701
36702 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
36703 @tab No
36704 @tab @samp{-}
36705 @tab Yes
36706
36707 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36708 @tab No
36709 @tab @samp{-}
36710 @tab Yes
36711
36712 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36713 @tab No
36714 @tab @samp{-}
36715 @tab Yes
36716
36717 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36718 @tab No
36719 @tab @samp{-}
36720 @tab Yes
36721
36722 @item @samp{QNonStop}
36723 @tab No
36724 @tab @samp{-}
36725 @tab Yes
36726
36727 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
36728 @tab No
36729 @tab @samp{-}
36730 @tab Yes
36731
36732 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
36733 @tab No
36734 @tab @samp{-}
36735 @tab Yes
36736
36737 @item @samp{multiprocess}
36738 @tab No
36739 @tab @samp{-}
36740 @tab No
36741
36742 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
36743 @tab No
36744 @tab @samp{-}
36745 @tab No
36746
36747 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
36748 @tab No
36749 @tab @samp{-}
36750 @tab No
36751
36752 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
36753 @tab No
36754 @tab @samp{-}
36755 @tab No
36756
36757 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
36758 @tab No
36759 @tab @samp{-}
36760 @tab No
36761
36762 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
36763 @tab No
36764 @tab @samp{-}
36765 @tab No
36766
36767 @item @samp{QAgent}
36768 @tab No
36769 @tab @samp{-}
36770 @tab No
36771
36772 @item @samp{QAllow}
36773 @tab No
36774 @tab @samp{-}
36775 @tab No
36776
36777 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
36778 @tab No
36779 @tab @samp{-}
36780 @tab No
36781
36782 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
36783 @tab No
36784 @tab @samp{-}
36785 @tab No
36786
36787 @item @samp{tracenz}
36788 @tab No
36789 @tab @samp{-}
36790 @tab No
36791
36792 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
36793 @tab No
36794 @tab @samp{-}
36795 @tab No
36796
36797 @end multitable
36798
36799 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
36800
36801 @table @samp
36802 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
36803 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
36804 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
36805 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
36806 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
36807 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
36808 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
36809 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
36810 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
36811 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
36812
36813 @item qXfer:auxv:read
36814 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
36815 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
36816
36817 @item qXfer:features:read
36818 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
36819 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
36820
36821 @item qXfer:libraries:read
36822 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
36823 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
36824
36825 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
36826 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
36827 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
36828
36829 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
36830 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
36831 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
36832
36833 @item qXfer:sdata:read
36834 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
36835 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
36836
36837 @item qXfer:spu:read
36838 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
36839 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
36840
36841 @item qXfer:spu:write
36842 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
36843 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
36844
36845 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
36846 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
36847 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
36848
36849 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
36850 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
36851 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
36852
36853 @item qXfer:threads:read
36854 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
36855 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
36856
36857 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
36858 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36859 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
36860
36861 @item qXfer:uib:read
36862 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36863 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
36864
36865 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
36866 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36867 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
36868
36869 @item QNonStop
36870 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
36871 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
36872
36873 @item QPassSignals
36874 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36875 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
36876
36877 @item QStartNoAckMode
36878 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
36879 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
36880
36881 @item multiprocess
36882 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
36883 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
36884 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
36885 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
36886 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
36887 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
36888 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
36889 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
36890 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
36891 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
36892 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
36893
36894 @item qXfer:osdata:read
36895 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
36896 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
36897
36898 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
36899 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
36900 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
36901 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
36902
36903 @item ConditionalTracepoints
36904 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
36905 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
36906
36907 @item ReverseContinue
36908 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
36909 (@pxref{bc}).
36910
36911 @item ReverseStep
36912 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
36913 (@pxref{bs}).
36914
36915 @item TracepointSource
36916 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
36917 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
36918
36919 @item QAgent
36920 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
36921
36922 @item QAllow
36923 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
36924
36925 @item QDisableRandomization
36926 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
36927
36928 @item StaticTracepoint
36929 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
36930 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
36931
36932 @item InstallInTrace
36933 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
36934 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
36935
36936 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
36937 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
36938 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
36939 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
36940
36941 @item tracenz
36942 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
36943 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
36944 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
36945
36946 @item BreakpointCommands
36947 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
36948 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
36949 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
36950
36951 @end table
36952
36953 @item qSymbol::
36954 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
36955 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
36956 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
36957 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
36958
36959 Reply:
36960 @table @samp
36961 @item OK
36962 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36963 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36964 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
36965 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
36966 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
36967 below.
36968 @end table
36969
36970 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
36971 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
36972
36973 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
36974 target has previously requested.
36975
36976 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
36977 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
36978 will be empty.
36979
36980 Reply:
36981 @table @samp
36982 @item OK
36983 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36984 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36985 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
36986 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
36987 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
36988 @end table
36989
36990 @item qTBuffer
36991 @itemx QTBuffer
36992 @itemx QTDisconnected
36993 @itemx QTDP
36994 @itemx QTDPsrc
36995 @itemx QTDV
36996 @itemx qTfP
36997 @itemx qTfV
36998 @itemx QTFrame
36999 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
37000
37001 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37002
37003 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
37004 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
37005 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
37006 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
37007 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
37008 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
37009 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
37010 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
37011 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
37012 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
37013 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
37014
37015 Reply:
37016 @table @samp
37017 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37018 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
37019 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
37020 the thread's attributes.
37021 @end table
37022
37023 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
37024 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
37025 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
37026 packets.)
37027
37028 @item QTNotes
37029 @itemx qTP
37030 @itemx QTSave
37031 @itemx qTsP
37032 @itemx qTsV
37033 @itemx QTStart
37034 @itemx QTStop
37035 @itemx QTEnable
37036 @itemx QTDisable
37037 @itemx QTinit
37038 @itemx QTro
37039 @itemx qTStatus
37040 @itemx qTV
37041 @itemx qTfSTM
37042 @itemx qTsSTM
37043 @itemx qTSTMat
37044 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37045
37046 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37047 @cindex read special object, remote request
37048 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
37049 @anchor{qXfer read}
37050 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
37051 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
37052 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
37053 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
37054 additional details about what data to access.
37055
37056 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37057 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37058 formats, listed below.
37059
37060 @table @samp
37061 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37062 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
37063 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
37064 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
37065
37066 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37067 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37068
37069 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37070 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
37071 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
37072 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
37073 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
37074
37075 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37076 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37077
37078 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37079 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
37080 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
37081 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37082 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37083
37084 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
37085 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
37086 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
37087
37088 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37089 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37090
37091 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37092 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
37093 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
37094 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
37095 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37096
37097 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
37098 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
37099
37100 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37101 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37102
37103 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37104 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
37105 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
37106 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37107 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37108
37109 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37110 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37111
37112 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37113 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
37114
37115 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
37116 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
37117 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
37118 Action Lists}.
37119
37120 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37121 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37122 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37123
37124 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37125 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
37126 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
37127 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
37128 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37129
37130 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37131 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37132 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37133
37134 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37135 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
37136 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
37137 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
37138 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
37139 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
37140 in that context to be accessed.
37141
37142 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37143 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37144 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37145
37146 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37147 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
37148 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
37149 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37150 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37151
37152 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37153 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37154
37155 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37156 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
37157
37158 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
37159 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
37160 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37161
37162 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37163 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37164
37165 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37166 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
37167
37168 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
37169 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
37170
37171 This packet is not probed by default.
37172
37173 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37174 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
37175 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
37176 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
37177 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
37178
37179 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37180 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37181
37182 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37183 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
37184 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
37185 @xref{Operating System Information}.
37186
37187 @end table
37188
37189 Reply:
37190 @table @samp
37191 @item m @var{data}
37192 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
37193 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
37194 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
37195 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
37196 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
37197 request.
37198
37199 @item l @var{data}
37200 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
37201 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
37202 than the @var{length} in the request.
37203
37204 @item l
37205 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
37206 There is no more data to be read.
37207
37208 @item E00
37209 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37210
37211 @item E @var{nn}
37212 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
37213 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37214
37215 @item
37216 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
37217 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
37218 @end table
37219
37220 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37221 @cindex write data into object, remote request
37222 @anchor{qXfer write}
37223 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
37224 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
37225 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
37226 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
37227 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
37228 to access.
37229
37230 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37231 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37232 formats, listed below.
37233
37234 @table @samp
37235 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37236 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
37237 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
37238 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
37239 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
37240
37241 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37242 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37243 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37244
37245 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37246 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
37247 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
37248 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
37249 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
37250 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
37251 in that context to be accessed.
37252
37253 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37254 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37255 @end table
37256
37257 Reply:
37258 @table @samp
37259 @item @var{nn}
37260 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
37261 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
37262
37263 @item E00
37264 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37265
37266 @item E @var{nn}
37267 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
37268 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37269
37270 @item
37271 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
37272 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
37273 @end table
37274
37275 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
37276 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
37277 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
37278 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
37279 must respond with an empty packet.
37280
37281 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
37282 @cindex query attached, remote request
37283 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
37284 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
37285 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
37286 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
37287 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
37288 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
37289 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
37290
37291 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
37292 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
37293 the @code{quit} command.
37294
37295 Reply:
37296 @table @samp
37297 @item 1
37298 The remote server attached to an existing process.
37299 @item 0
37300 The remote server created a new process.
37301 @item E @var{NN}
37302 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37303 @end table
37304
37305 @end table
37306
37307 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
37308 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
37309
37310 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
37311 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
37312 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
37313
37314 @menu
37315 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
37316 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
37317 @end menu
37318
37319 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
37320 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
37321
37322 @menu
37323 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
37324 @end menu
37325
37326 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
37327 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
37328 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
37329
37330 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
37331
37332 @table @r
37333
37334 @item 2
37335 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
37336
37337 @item 3
37338 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
37339
37340 @item 4
37341 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
37342
37343 @end table
37344
37345 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
37346 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
37347
37348 @menu
37349 * MIPS Register packet Format::
37350 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
37351 @end menu
37352
37353 @node MIPS Register packet Format
37354 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
37355 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
37356
37357 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
37358 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
37359 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
37360 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
37361 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
37362 most-significant -- least-significant.
37363
37364 @table @r
37365
37366 @item MIPS32
37367 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
37368 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
37369 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
37370
37371 @item MIPS64
37372 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
37373 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
37374 as @code{MIPS32}.
37375
37376 @end table
37377
37378 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
37379 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
37380 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
37381
37382 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
37383
37384 @table @r
37385
37386 @item 2
37387 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
37388
37389 @item 3
37390 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
37391
37392 @item 4
37393 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
37394
37395 @item 5
37396 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
37397
37398 @end table
37399
37400 @node Tracepoint Packets
37401 @section Tracepoint Packets
37402 @cindex tracepoint packets
37403 @cindex packets, tracepoint
37404
37405 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
37406 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
37407
37408 @table @samp
37409
37410 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
37411 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
37412 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
37413 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
37414 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
37415 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
37416 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
37417 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
37418 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
37419 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
37420 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
37421 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
37422 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
37423 actions.
37424
37425 Replies:
37426 @table @samp
37427 @item OK
37428 The packet was understood and carried out.
37429 @item qRelocInsn
37430 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37431 @item
37432 The packet was not recognized.
37433 @end table
37434
37435 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
37436 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
37437 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
37438 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
37439 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
37440 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
37441 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
37442
37443 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
37444 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
37445 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
37446 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
37447 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
37448 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
37449 tracepoint actions.
37450
37451 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
37452 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
37453 following forms:
37454
37455 @table @samp
37456
37457 @item R @var{mask}
37458 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
37459 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
37460 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
37461 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
37462 not fit in a 32-bit word.
37463
37464 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
37465 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
37466 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
37467 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
37468 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
37469 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
37470 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
37471
37472 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
37473 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
37474 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
37475 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
37476 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
37477 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
37478 packet).
37479
37480 @end table
37481
37482 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
37483 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
37484 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
37485 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
37486 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
37487 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
37488 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
37489 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
37490
37491 Replies:
37492 @table @samp
37493 @item OK
37494 The packet was understood and carried out.
37495 @item qRelocInsn
37496 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37497 @item
37498 The packet was not recognized.
37499 @end table
37500
37501 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
37502 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
37503 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
37504 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
37505 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
37506 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
37507 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
37508 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
37509
37510 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
37511 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
37512 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
37513 fit in a single packet.
37514 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
37515 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
37516
37517 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
37518 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
37519 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
37520 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
37521
37522 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
37523 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
37524 query packets.
37525
37526 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
37527 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
37528 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
37529 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
37530 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
37531 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
37532 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
37533 be found.
37534
37535 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
37536 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
37537 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
37538 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
37539 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
37540 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
37541 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
37542 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
37543 mentioned in expressions.
37544
37545 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
37546 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
37547 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
37548 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
37549 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
37550
37551 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
37552 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
37553 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
37554 one of the following forms:
37555
37556 @table @samp
37557 @item F @var{f}
37558 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
37559 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
37560 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
37561
37562 @item T @var{t}
37563 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
37564 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
37565
37566 @end table
37567
37568 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
37569 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37570 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
37571 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
37572
37573 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
37574 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37575 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
37576 is a hexadecimal number.
37577
37578 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
37579 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37580 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
37581 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
37582 numbers.
37583
37584 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
37585 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
37586 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
37587
37588 @item qTMinFTPILen
37589 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
37590 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
37591 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
37592 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
37593 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
37594 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
37595 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
37596 arrange for that.
37597
37598 Replies:
37599
37600 @table @samp
37601 @item 0
37602 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
37603 @item @var{length}
37604 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
37605 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
37606 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
37607 @item E
37608 An error has occurred.
37609 @item
37610 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
37611 @end table
37612
37613 @item QTStart
37614 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
37615 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
37616 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
37617 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37618 instruction reply packet}).
37619
37620 @item QTStop
37621 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
37622 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
37623
37624 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37625 @anchor{QTEnable}
37626 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
37627 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37628 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
37629 of data from it will resume.
37630
37631 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37632 @anchor{QTDisable}
37633 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
37634 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37635 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
37636 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
37637
37638 @item QTinit
37639 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
37640 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
37641
37642 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
37643 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
37644 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
37645 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
37646 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
37647
37648 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
37649 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
37650 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
37651 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
37652
37653 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
37654 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
37655 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
37656 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
37657 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
37658 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
37659
37660 @item qTStatus
37661 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
37662 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
37663
37664 The reply has the form:
37665
37666 @table @samp
37667
37668 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
37669 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
37670 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
37671 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
37672
37673 @end table
37674
37675 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
37676 explanations as one of the optional fields:
37677
37678 @table @samp
37679
37680 @item tnotrun:0
37681 No trace has been run yet.
37682
37683 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
37684 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
37685 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
37686 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
37687 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
37688
37689 @item tfull:0
37690 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
37691
37692 @item tdisconnected:0
37693 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
37694
37695 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
37696 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
37697
37698 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
37699 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
37700 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
37701 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
37702 @var{text} is hex encoded.
37703
37704 @item tunknown:0
37705 The trace stopped for some other reason.
37706
37707 @end table
37708
37709 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
37710 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
37711 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
37712 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
37713 trace.
37714
37715 @table @samp
37716
37717 @item tframes:@var{n}
37718 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
37719
37720 @item tcreated:@var{n}
37721 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
37722 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
37723
37724 @item tsize:@var{n}
37725 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
37726
37727 @item tfree:@var{n}
37728 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
37729
37730 @item circular:@var{n}
37731 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
37732 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
37733 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
37734 and may fill up.
37735
37736 @item disconn:@var{n}
37737 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
37738 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
37739 that the trace run will stop.
37740
37741 @end table
37742
37743 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
37744 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
37745 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
37746 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
37747 address @var{addr}.
37748
37749 Replies:
37750 @table @samp
37751 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
37752 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
37753 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
37754 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
37755 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
37756
37757 @end table
37758
37759 @item qTV:@var{var}
37760 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
37761 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
37762 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
37763
37764 Replies:
37765 @table @samp
37766 @item V@var{value}
37767 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
37768 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
37769 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
37770 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
37771 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
37772 program is running.
37773
37774 @item U
37775 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
37776 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
37777 was not collected.
37778 @end table
37779
37780 @item qTfP
37781 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
37782 @itemx qTsP
37783 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
37784 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
37785 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
37786 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
37787 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
37788 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
37789
37790 @item qTfV
37791 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
37792 @itemx qTsV
37793 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
37794 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
37795 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
37796 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
37797 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
37798 trace state variables.
37799
37800 @item qTfSTM
37801 @itemx qTsSTM
37802 @anchor{qTfSTM}
37803 @anchor{qTsSTM}
37804 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
37805 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
37806 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
37807 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
37808 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
37809 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
37810
37811 Reply:
37812 @table @samp
37813 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
37814 A single marker
37815 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
37816 a comma-separated list of markers
37817 @item l
37818 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
37819 @item E @var{nn}
37820 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37821 @item
37822 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
37823 stub.
37824 @end table
37825
37826 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
37827 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
37828
37829 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
37830 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
37831 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
37832 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
37833 @dfn{last}).
37834
37835 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
37836 @anchor{qTSTMat}
37837 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
37838 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
37839 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
37840 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
37841 tracepoint markers.
37842
37843 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
37844 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
37845 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
37846 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
37847 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
37848 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
37849
37850 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
37851 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
37852 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
37853 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
37854 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
37855 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
37856 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
37857 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
37858 available.
37859
37860 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
37861 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
37862 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
37863
37864 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
37865 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
37866 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
37867 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
37868 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
37869
37870 @end table
37871
37872 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
37873 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
37874 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
37875 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
37876 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
37877 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
37878 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
37879 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
37880 it had executed in the original location.
37881
37882 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
37883 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
37884 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
37885 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
37886 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
37887 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
37888 format of the request is:
37889
37890 @table @samp
37891 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
37892
37893 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
37894 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
37895 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
37896 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
37897 memory starting at @var{to}.
37898 @end table
37899
37900 Replies:
37901 @table @samp
37902 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
37903 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
37904 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
37905 @item E @var{NN}
37906 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
37907 relocating the instruction.
37908 @end table
37909
37910 @node Host I/O Packets
37911 @section Host I/O Packets
37912 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
37913 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
37914
37915 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
37916 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
37917 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
37918 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
37919 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
37920 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
37921 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
37922 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
37923 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
37924 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
37925
37926 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
37927 its arguments. They have this format:
37928
37929 @table @samp
37930
37931 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
37932 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
37933 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
37934 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
37935 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
37936 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
37937 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
37938 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
37939 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
37940
37941 @end table
37942
37943 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
37944
37945 @table @samp
37946
37947 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
37948 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
37949 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
37950 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
37951 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
37952 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
37953 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
37954 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
37955 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
37956 @var{attachment}.
37957
37958 @item
37959 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
37960
37961 @end table
37962
37963 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
37964
37965 @table @samp
37966 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
37967 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
37968 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
37969 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
37970 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
37971 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
37972 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
37973
37974 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
37975 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
37976 -1 if an error occurs.
37977
37978 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
37979 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
37980 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
37981 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
37982 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
37983 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
37984 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
37985 @var{count} was zero.
37986
37987 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37988 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37989 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37990 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37991 some characters were escaped.
37992
37993 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
37994 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
37995 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
37996 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
37997 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
37998 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
37999 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
38000 error occurred.
38001
38002 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
38003 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
38004 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
38005
38006 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
38007 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
38008 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
38009
38010 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38011 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38012 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38013 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38014 some characters were escaped.
38015
38016 @end table
38017
38018 @node Interrupts
38019 @section Interrupts
38020 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
38021
38022 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
38023 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
38024 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
38025 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
38026
38027 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
38028 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
38029 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
38030 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
38031 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
38032
38033 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
38034 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
38035 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
38036 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
38037 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
38038 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
38039 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
38040 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
38041
38042 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
38043 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
38044 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
38045
38046 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
38047 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
38048 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
38049 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
38050 currently-executing threads and processes.
38051 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
38052 running program, it should send one of the stop
38053 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
38054 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
38055 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
38056 Interrupts received while the
38057 program is stopped are discarded.
38058
38059 @node Notification Packets
38060 @section Notification Packets
38061 @cindex notification packets
38062 @cindex packets, notification
38063
38064 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
38065 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
38066 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
38067 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
38068 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
38069 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
38070 is not a problem.
38071
38072 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
38073 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
38074 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
38075 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
38076 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
38077 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
38078 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
38079
38080 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
38081 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
38082
38083 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
38084 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
38085 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
38086 not they understand it.
38087
38088 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
38089 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
38090 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
38091 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
38092 recipients.
38093
38094 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
38095 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
38096 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
38097 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
38098 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
38099
38100 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
38101 defined:
38102
38103 @table @samp
38104 @item Stop: @var{reply}
38105 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
38106 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
38107 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
38108 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
38109 @value{GDBN}.
38110 @end table
38111
38112 @node Remote Non-Stop
38113 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
38114
38115 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
38116 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
38117 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
38118 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38119
38120 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
38121 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
38122 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
38123 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
38124 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
38125 probe the target state after a mode change.
38126
38127 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
38128 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
38129 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
38130 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
38131 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
38132 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
38133 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
38134 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
38135 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
38136 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
38137 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
38138
38139 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
38140 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
38141 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
38142 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
38143 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
38144 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
38145 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
38146 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
38147 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
38148 sending any queued stop events.
38149
38150 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
38151 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
38152 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
38153 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
38154 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
38155 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
38156 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
38157
38158 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
38159 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
38160 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
38161 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
38162 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
38163 process normally.
38164
38165 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
38166 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
38167 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
38168 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
38169 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
38170 should process normally.
38171
38172 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
38173 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
38174 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
38175 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
38176 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
38177
38178 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
38179 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
38180 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
38181 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
38182 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
38183 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
38184 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
38185 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
38186 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
38187 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
38188 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
38189 @samp{OK}.
38190
38191 @node Packet Acknowledgment
38192 @section Packet Acknowledgment
38193
38194 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
38195 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
38196 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
38197 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
38198 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
38199 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
38200 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
38201
38202 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
38203 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
38204 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
38205 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
38206 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
38207
38208 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
38209 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
38210 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
38211 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
38212
38213 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
38214 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
38215 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
38216 @pxref{qSupported}.
38217 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
38218 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
38219 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
38220 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
38221 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
38222 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
38223 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
38224
38225 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
38226 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
38227 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
38228 connection.
38229 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
38230 new connection is established,
38231 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
38232 for the current connection, once disabled.
38233
38234 @node Examples
38235 @section Examples
38236
38237 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
38238 does not get any direct output:
38239
38240 @smallexample
38241 -> @code{R00}
38242 <- @code{+}
38243 @emph{target restarts}
38244 -> @code{?}
38245 <- @code{+}
38246 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
38247 -> @code{+}
38248 @end smallexample
38249
38250 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
38251
38252 @smallexample
38253 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
38254 <- @code{+}
38255 -> @code{s}
38256 <- @code{+}
38257 @emph{time passes}
38258 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
38259 -> @code{+}
38260 -> @code{g}
38261 <- @code{+}
38262 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
38263 -> @code{+}
38264 @end smallexample
38265
38266 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
38267 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
38268 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
38269
38270 @menu
38271 * File-I/O Overview::
38272 * Protocol Basics::
38273 * The F Request Packet::
38274 * The F Reply Packet::
38275 * The Ctrl-C Message::
38276 * Console I/O::
38277 * List of Supported Calls::
38278 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
38279 * Constants::
38280 * File-I/O Examples::
38281 @end menu
38282
38283 @node File-I/O Overview
38284 @subsection File-I/O Overview
38285 @cindex file-i/o overview
38286
38287 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
38288 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
38289 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
38290 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
38291 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
38292 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
38293
38294 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
38295 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
38296 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
38297 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
38298 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
38299
38300 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
38301 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38302 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
38303 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
38304 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
38305 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
38306 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
38307
38308 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
38309 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
38310 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
38311 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
38312 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
38313
38314 @smallexample
38315 (@value{GDBP}) continue
38316 <- target requests 'system call X'
38317 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
38318 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
38319 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
38320 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
38321 @end smallexample
38322
38323 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
38324 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
38325 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
38326 system are not supported by this protocol.
38327
38328 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
38329
38330 @node Protocol Basics
38331 @subsection Protocol Basics
38332 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
38333
38334 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
38335 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
38336 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
38337 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
38338 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
38339 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
38340 to call the appropriate host system call:
38341
38342 @itemize @bullet
38343 @item
38344 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
38345
38346 @item
38347 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
38348 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
38349 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
38350 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
38351
38352 @end itemize
38353
38354 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
38355
38356 @itemize @bullet
38357 @item
38358 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
38359 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
38360 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
38361 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
38362 packet.
38363
38364 @item
38365 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
38366 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
38367
38368 @item
38369 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
38370
38371 @item
38372 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
38373
38374 @item
38375 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
38376 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
38377 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
38378 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
38379 packet.
38380
38381 @end itemize
38382
38383 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
38384 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
38385
38386 @itemize @bullet
38387 @item
38388 Return value.
38389
38390 @item
38391 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
38392
38393 @item
38394 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
38395
38396 @end itemize
38397
38398 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
38399 the latest continue or step action.
38400
38401 @node The F Request Packet
38402 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
38403 @cindex file-i/o request packet
38404 @cindex @code{F} request packet
38405
38406 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
38407
38408 @table @samp
38409 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
38410
38411 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
38412 This is just the name of the function.
38413
38414 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
38415 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
38416 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
38417 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
38418 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
38419 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
38420 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
38421
38422 @end table
38423
38424
38425
38426 @node The F Reply Packet
38427 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
38428 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
38429 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
38430
38431 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
38432
38433 @table @samp
38434
38435 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
38436
38437 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
38438
38439 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
38440 representation.
38441 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
38442
38443 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
38444 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
38445 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
38446
38447 @smallexample
38448 F0,0,C
38449 @end smallexample
38450
38451 @noindent
38452 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
38453
38454 @smallexample
38455 F-1,4,C
38456 @end smallexample
38457
38458 @noindent
38459 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
38460
38461 @end table
38462
38463
38464 @node The Ctrl-C Message
38465 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
38466 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
38467
38468 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
38469 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
38470 the target should behave as if it had
38471 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
38472 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
38473 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
38474 packet.
38475
38476 It's important for the target to know in which
38477 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
38478
38479 @itemize @bullet
38480 @item
38481 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
38482
38483 @item
38484 The system call on the host has been finished.
38485
38486 @end itemize
38487
38488 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
38489 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
38490 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
38491 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
38492 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
38493 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
38494
38495 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
38496 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
38497 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
38498 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
38499 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
38500 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
38501 or the full action has been completed.
38502
38503 @node Console I/O
38504 @subsection Console I/O
38505 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
38506
38507 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
38508 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
38509 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
38510 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
38511 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
38512 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
38513 conditions is met:
38514
38515 @itemize @bullet
38516 @item
38517 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
38518 @code{read}
38519 system call is treated as finished.
38520
38521 @item
38522 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
38523 newline.
38524
38525 @item
38526 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
38527 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
38528
38529 @end itemize
38530
38531 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
38532 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
38533 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
38534 is stopped at the user's request.
38535
38536
38537 @node List of Supported Calls
38538 @subsection List of Supported Calls
38539 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
38540
38541 @menu
38542 * open::
38543 * close::
38544 * read::
38545 * write::
38546 * lseek::
38547 * rename::
38548 * unlink::
38549 * stat/fstat::
38550 * gettimeofday::
38551 * isatty::
38552 * system::
38553 @end menu
38554
38555 @node open
38556 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
38557 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
38558
38559 @table @asis
38560 @item Synopsis:
38561 @smallexample
38562 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
38563 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
38564 @end smallexample
38565
38566 @item Request:
38567 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
38568
38569 @noindent
38570 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38571
38572 @table @code
38573 @item O_CREAT
38574 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
38575 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
38576 are concerned.
38577
38578 @item O_EXCL
38579 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
38580 an error and open() fails.
38581
38582 @item O_TRUNC
38583 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
38584 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
38585 truncated to zero length.
38586
38587 @item O_APPEND
38588 The file is opened in append mode.
38589
38590 @item O_RDONLY
38591 The file is opened for reading only.
38592
38593 @item O_WRONLY
38594 The file is opened for writing only.
38595
38596 @item O_RDWR
38597 The file is opened for reading and writing.
38598 @end table
38599
38600 @noindent
38601 Other bits are silently ignored.
38602
38603
38604 @noindent
38605 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38606
38607 @table @code
38608 @item S_IRUSR
38609 User has read permission.
38610
38611 @item S_IWUSR
38612 User has write permission.
38613
38614 @item S_IRGRP
38615 Group has read permission.
38616
38617 @item S_IWGRP
38618 Group has write permission.
38619
38620 @item S_IROTH
38621 Others have read permission.
38622
38623 @item S_IWOTH
38624 Others have write permission.
38625 @end table
38626
38627 @noindent
38628 Other bits are silently ignored.
38629
38630
38631 @item Return value:
38632 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
38633 occurred.
38634
38635 @item Errors:
38636
38637 @table @code
38638 @item EEXIST
38639 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
38640
38641 @item EISDIR
38642 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
38643
38644 @item EACCES
38645 The requested access is not allowed.
38646
38647 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38648 @var{pathname} was too long.
38649
38650 @item ENOENT
38651 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38652
38653 @item ENODEV
38654 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
38655
38656 @item EROFS
38657 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
38658 write access was requested.
38659
38660 @item EFAULT
38661 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
38662
38663 @item ENOSPC
38664 No space on device to create the file.
38665
38666 @item EMFILE
38667 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
38668
38669 @item ENFILE
38670 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
38671 has been reached.
38672
38673 @item EINTR
38674 The call was interrupted by the user.
38675 @end table
38676
38677 @end table
38678
38679 @node close
38680 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
38681 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
38682
38683 @table @asis
38684 @item Synopsis:
38685 @smallexample
38686 int close(int fd);
38687 @end smallexample
38688
38689 @item Request:
38690 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
38691
38692 @item Return value:
38693 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
38694
38695 @item Errors:
38696
38697 @table @code
38698 @item EBADF
38699 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
38700
38701 @item EINTR
38702 The call was interrupted by the user.
38703 @end table
38704
38705 @end table
38706
38707 @node read
38708 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
38709 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
38710
38711 @table @asis
38712 @item Synopsis:
38713 @smallexample
38714 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
38715 @end smallexample
38716
38717 @item Request:
38718 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
38719
38720 @item Return value:
38721 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
38722 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
38723 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
38724
38725 @item Errors:
38726
38727 @table @code
38728 @item EBADF
38729 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
38730 reading.
38731
38732 @item EFAULT
38733 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38734
38735 @item EINTR
38736 The call was interrupted by the user.
38737 @end table
38738
38739 @end table
38740
38741 @node write
38742 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
38743 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
38744
38745 @table @asis
38746 @item Synopsis:
38747 @smallexample
38748 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
38749 @end smallexample
38750
38751 @item Request:
38752 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
38753
38754 @item Return value:
38755 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
38756 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
38757 is returned.
38758
38759 @item Errors:
38760
38761 @table @code
38762 @item EBADF
38763 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
38764 writing.
38765
38766 @item EFAULT
38767 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38768
38769 @item EFBIG
38770 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
38771 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
38772
38773 @item ENOSPC
38774 No space on device to write the data.
38775
38776 @item EINTR
38777 The call was interrupted by the user.
38778 @end table
38779
38780 @end table
38781
38782 @node lseek
38783 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
38784 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
38785
38786 @table @asis
38787 @item Synopsis:
38788 @smallexample
38789 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
38790 @end smallexample
38791
38792 @item Request:
38793 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
38794
38795 @var{flag} is one of:
38796
38797 @table @code
38798 @item SEEK_SET
38799 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
38800
38801 @item SEEK_CUR
38802 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
38803 bytes.
38804
38805 @item SEEK_END
38806 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
38807 bytes.
38808 @end table
38809
38810 @item Return value:
38811 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
38812 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
38813 value of -1 is returned.
38814
38815 @item Errors:
38816
38817 @table @code
38818 @item EBADF
38819 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
38820
38821 @item ESPIPE
38822 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
38823
38824 @item EINVAL
38825 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
38826
38827 @item EINTR
38828 The call was interrupted by the user.
38829 @end table
38830
38831 @end table
38832
38833 @node rename
38834 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
38835 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
38836
38837 @table @asis
38838 @item Synopsis:
38839 @smallexample
38840 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
38841 @end smallexample
38842
38843 @item Request:
38844 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
38845
38846 @item Return value:
38847 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38848
38849 @item Errors:
38850
38851 @table @code
38852 @item EISDIR
38853 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
38854 directory.
38855
38856 @item EEXIST
38857 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
38858
38859 @item EBUSY
38860 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
38861 process.
38862
38863 @item EINVAL
38864 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
38865 of itself.
38866
38867 @item ENOTDIR
38868 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
38869 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
38870 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
38871
38872 @item EFAULT
38873 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
38874
38875 @item EACCES
38876 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38877
38878 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38879
38880 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
38881
38882 @item ENOENT
38883 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
38884
38885 @item EROFS
38886 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38887
38888 @item ENOSPC
38889 The device containing the file has no room for the new
38890 directory entry.
38891
38892 @item EINTR
38893 The call was interrupted by the user.
38894 @end table
38895
38896 @end table
38897
38898 @node unlink
38899 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
38900 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
38901
38902 @table @asis
38903 @item Synopsis:
38904 @smallexample
38905 int unlink(const char *pathname);
38906 @end smallexample
38907
38908 @item Request:
38909 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
38910
38911 @item Return value:
38912 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38913
38914 @item Errors:
38915
38916 @table @code
38917 @item EACCES
38918 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38919
38920 @item EPERM
38921 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
38922
38923 @item EBUSY
38924 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
38925 being used by another process.
38926
38927 @item EFAULT
38928 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38929
38930 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38931 @var{pathname} was too long.
38932
38933 @item ENOENT
38934 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38935
38936 @item ENOTDIR
38937 A component of the path is not a directory.
38938
38939 @item EROFS
38940 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38941
38942 @item EINTR
38943 The call was interrupted by the user.
38944 @end table
38945
38946 @end table
38947
38948 @node stat/fstat
38949 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
38950 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
38951 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
38952
38953 @table @asis
38954 @item Synopsis:
38955 @smallexample
38956 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
38957 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
38958 @end smallexample
38959
38960 @item Request:
38961 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
38962 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
38963
38964 @item Return value:
38965 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38966
38967 @item Errors:
38968
38969 @table @code
38970 @item EBADF
38971 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
38972
38973 @item ENOENT
38974 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
38975 path is an empty string.
38976
38977 @item ENOTDIR
38978 A component of the path is not a directory.
38979
38980 @item EFAULT
38981 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38982
38983 @item EACCES
38984 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38985
38986 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38987 @var{pathname} was too long.
38988
38989 @item EINTR
38990 The call was interrupted by the user.
38991 @end table
38992
38993 @end table
38994
38995 @node gettimeofday
38996 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
38997 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
38998
38999 @table @asis
39000 @item Synopsis:
39001 @smallexample
39002 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
39003 @end smallexample
39004
39005 @item Request:
39006 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
39007
39008 @item Return value:
39009 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
39010
39011 @item Errors:
39012
39013 @table @code
39014 @item EINVAL
39015 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
39016
39017 @item EFAULT
39018 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39019 @end table
39020
39021 @end table
39022
39023 @node isatty
39024 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
39025 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
39026
39027 @table @asis
39028 @item Synopsis:
39029 @smallexample
39030 int isatty(int fd);
39031 @end smallexample
39032
39033 @item Request:
39034 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
39035
39036 @item Return value:
39037 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
39038
39039 @item Errors:
39040
39041 @table @code
39042 @item EINTR
39043 The call was interrupted by the user.
39044 @end table
39045
39046 @end table
39047
39048 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
39049 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
39050 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
39051 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
39052 needed.
39053
39054
39055 @node system
39056 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
39057 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
39058
39059 @table @asis
39060 @item Synopsis:
39061 @smallexample
39062 int system(const char *command);
39063 @end smallexample
39064
39065 @item Request:
39066 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
39067
39068 @item Return value:
39069 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
39070 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
39071 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
39072 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
39073 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
39074 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
39075 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
39076
39077 @item Errors:
39078
39079 @table @code
39080 @item EINTR
39081 The call was interrupted by the user.
39082 @end table
39083
39084 @end table
39085
39086 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
39087 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
39088 the host is simplified before it's returned
39089 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
39090 is discarded, and the return value consists
39091 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
39092
39093 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
39094 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
39095 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
39096
39097 @table @code
39098 @item set remote system-call-allowed
39099 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
39100 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
39101 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
39102
39103 @item show remote system-call-allowed
39104 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
39105 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
39106 protocol.
39107 @end table
39108
39109 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
39110 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
39111 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
39112
39113 @menu
39114 * Integral Datatypes::
39115 * Pointer Values::
39116 * Memory Transfer::
39117 * struct stat::
39118 * struct timeval::
39119 @end menu
39120
39121 @node Integral Datatypes
39122 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
39123 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
39124
39125 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
39126 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
39127 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
39128
39129 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
39130 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
39131
39132 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
39133
39134 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
39135 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
39136
39137 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
39138
39139 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
39140 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
39141 byte order.
39142
39143 @node Pointer Values
39144 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
39145 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
39146
39147 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
39148 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
39149 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
39150 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
39151
39152 @smallexample
39153 @code{1aaf/12}
39154 @end smallexample
39155
39156 @noindent
39157 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
39158 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
39159 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
39160 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
39161
39162 @smallexample
39163 @code{123456/d}
39164 @end smallexample
39165
39166 @node Memory Transfer
39167 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
39168 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
39169
39170 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
39171 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
39172 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
39173 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
39174 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
39175 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
39176 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
39177
39178
39179 @node struct stat
39180 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
39181 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
39182
39183 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
39184 is defined as follows:
39185
39186 @smallexample
39187 struct stat @{
39188 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
39189 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
39190 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
39191 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
39192 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
39193 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
39194 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
39195 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
39196 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
39197 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
39198 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
39199 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
39200 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
39201 @};
39202 @end smallexample
39203
39204 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
39205 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
39206 structure is of size 64 bytes.
39207
39208 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
39209 range of values.
39210
39211 @table @code
39212
39213 @item st_dev
39214 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
39215
39216 @item st_ino
39217 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
39218
39219 @item st_mode
39220 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
39221 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
39222
39223 @item st_uid
39224 @itemx st_gid
39225 @itemx st_rdev
39226 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
39227
39228 @item st_atime
39229 @itemx st_mtime
39230 @itemx st_ctime
39231 These values have a host and file system dependent
39232 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
39233 support exact timing values.
39234 @end table
39235
39236 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
39237 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
39238 continuing.
39239
39240 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
39241 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
39242 get truncated on the target.
39243
39244 @node struct timeval
39245 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
39246 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
39247
39248 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
39249 is defined as follows:
39250
39251 @smallexample
39252 struct timeval @{
39253 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
39254 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
39255 @};
39256 @end smallexample
39257
39258 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
39259 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
39260 structure is of size 8 bytes.
39261
39262 @node Constants
39263 @subsection Constants
39264 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
39265
39266 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
39267 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
39268 values before and after the call as needed.
39269
39270 @menu
39271 * Open Flags::
39272 * mode_t Values::
39273 * Errno Values::
39274 * Lseek Flags::
39275 * Limits::
39276 @end menu
39277
39278 @node Open Flags
39279 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
39280 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
39281
39282 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
39283
39284 @smallexample
39285 O_RDONLY 0x0
39286 O_WRONLY 0x1
39287 O_RDWR 0x2
39288 O_APPEND 0x8
39289 O_CREAT 0x200
39290 O_TRUNC 0x400
39291 O_EXCL 0x800
39292 @end smallexample
39293
39294 @node mode_t Values
39295 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
39296 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
39297
39298 All values are given in octal representation.
39299
39300 @smallexample
39301 S_IFREG 0100000
39302 S_IFDIR 040000
39303 S_IRUSR 0400
39304 S_IWUSR 0200
39305 S_IXUSR 0100
39306 S_IRGRP 040
39307 S_IWGRP 020
39308 S_IXGRP 010
39309 S_IROTH 04
39310 S_IWOTH 02
39311 S_IXOTH 01
39312 @end smallexample
39313
39314 @node Errno Values
39315 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
39316 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
39317
39318 All values are given in decimal representation.
39319
39320 @smallexample
39321 EPERM 1
39322 ENOENT 2
39323 EINTR 4
39324 EBADF 9
39325 EACCES 13
39326 EFAULT 14
39327 EBUSY 16
39328 EEXIST 17
39329 ENODEV 19
39330 ENOTDIR 20
39331 EISDIR 21
39332 EINVAL 22
39333 ENFILE 23
39334 EMFILE 24
39335 EFBIG 27
39336 ENOSPC 28
39337 ESPIPE 29
39338 EROFS 30
39339 ENAMETOOLONG 91
39340 EUNKNOWN 9999
39341 @end smallexample
39342
39343 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
39344 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
39345
39346 @node Lseek Flags
39347 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
39348 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
39349
39350 @smallexample
39351 SEEK_SET 0
39352 SEEK_CUR 1
39353 SEEK_END 2
39354 @end smallexample
39355
39356 @node Limits
39357 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
39358 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
39359
39360 All values are given in decimal representation.
39361
39362 @smallexample
39363 INT_MIN -2147483648
39364 INT_MAX 2147483647
39365 UINT_MAX 4294967295
39366 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
39367 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
39368 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
39369 @end smallexample
39370
39371 @node File-I/O Examples
39372 @subsection File-I/O Examples
39373 @cindex file-i/o examples
39374
39375 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
39376 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
39377
39378 @smallexample
39379 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
39380 @emph{request memory read from target}
39381 -> @code{m1234,6}
39382 <- XXXXXX
39383 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
39384 -> @code{F6}
39385 @end smallexample
39386
39387 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
39388 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
39389
39390 @smallexample
39391 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39392 @emph{request memory write to target}
39393 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
39394 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
39395 -> @code{F6}
39396 @end smallexample
39397
39398 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
39399 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
39400
39401 @smallexample
39402 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39403 -> @code{F-1,9}
39404 @end smallexample
39405
39406 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
39407 host is called:
39408
39409 @smallexample
39410 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39411 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
39412 <- @code{T02}
39413 @end smallexample
39414
39415 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
39416 host is called:
39417
39418 @smallexample
39419 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39420 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
39421 <- @code{T02}
39422 @end smallexample
39423
39424 @node Library List Format
39425 @section Library List Format
39426 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
39427
39428 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
39429 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
39430 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
39431 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
39432 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
39433 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
39434 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
39435 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
39436 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
39437 are loaded.
39438
39439 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
39440 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
39441 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
39442 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
39443
39444 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
39445 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
39446 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
39447 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
39448 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
39449 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
39450
39451 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39452 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39453
39454 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
39455 offset, looks like this:
39456
39457 @smallexample
39458 <library-list>
39459 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
39460 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
39461 </library>
39462 </library-list>
39463 @end smallexample
39464
39465 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
39466 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
39467
39468 @smallexample
39469 <library-list>
39470 <library name="sharedlib.o">
39471 <section address="0x10000000"/>
39472 <section address="0x20000000"/>
39473 <section address="0x30000000"/>
39474 </library>
39475 </library-list>
39476 @end smallexample
39477
39478 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
39479
39480 @smallexample
39481 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
39482 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
39483 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39484 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
39485 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39486 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
39487 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
39488 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
39489 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
39490 @end smallexample
39491
39492 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
39493 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
39494 section for each library.
39495
39496 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
39497 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
39498 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
39499
39500 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
39501 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
39502 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
39503 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
39504
39505 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
39506 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
39507 target, the following parameters are reported:
39508
39509 @itemize @minus
39510 @item
39511 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
39512 @code{struct link_map}.
39513 @item
39514 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
39515 (Thread Local Storage) access.
39516 @item
39517 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
39518 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
39519 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
39520 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
39521 @item
39522 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
39523 @end itemize
39524
39525 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
39526 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
39527 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
39528
39529 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39530 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39531
39532 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
39533 looks like this:
39534
39535 @smallexample
39536 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
39537 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
39538 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
39539 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
39540 l_ld="0x152350"/>
39541 </library-list-svr>
39542 @end smallexample
39543
39544 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
39545
39546 @smallexample
39547 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
39548 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
39549 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39550 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
39551 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
39552 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39553 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
39554 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
39555 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
39556 @end smallexample
39557
39558 @node Memory Map Format
39559 @section Memory Map Format
39560 @cindex memory map format
39561
39562 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
39563 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
39564 memory map.
39565
39566 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39567 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
39568 lists memory regions.
39569
39570 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39571 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
39572
39573 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39574
39575 @smallexample
39576 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39577 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
39578 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39579 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
39580 <memory-map>
39581 region...
39582 </memory-map>
39583 @end smallexample
39584
39585 Each region can be either:
39586
39587 @itemize
39588
39589 @item
39590 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
39591 bytes from there:
39592
39593 @smallexample
39594 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39595 @end smallexample
39596
39597
39598 @item
39599 A region of read-only memory:
39600
39601 @smallexample
39602 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39603 @end smallexample
39604
39605
39606 @item
39607 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
39608 bytes in length:
39609
39610 @smallexample
39611 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
39612 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
39613 </memory>
39614 @end smallexample
39615
39616 @end itemize
39617
39618 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
39619 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
39620 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
39621
39622 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
39623
39624 @smallexample
39625 <!-- ................................................... -->
39626 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
39627 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
39628 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
39629 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
39630 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
39631 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
39632 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
39633 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
39634 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
39635 and its type, or device. -->
39636 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
39637 start CDATA #REQUIRED
39638 length CDATA #REQUIRED
39639 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
39640 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
39641 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
39642 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39643 @end smallexample
39644
39645 @node Thread List Format
39646 @section Thread List Format
39647 @cindex thread list format
39648
39649 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
39650 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39651 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
39652 the following structure:
39653
39654 @smallexample
39655 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39656 <threads>
39657 <thread id="id" core="0">
39658 ... description ...
39659 </thread>
39660 </threads>
39661 @end smallexample
39662
39663 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
39664 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
39665 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
39666 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
39667 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
39668
39669 @node Traceframe Info Format
39670 @section Traceframe Info Format
39671 @cindex traceframe info format
39672
39673 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
39674 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
39675 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
39676 collected in a traceframe.
39677
39678 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39679 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
39680
39681 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39682 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
39683
39684 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39685
39686 @smallexample
39687 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39688 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
39689 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39690 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
39691 <traceframe-info>
39692 block...
39693 </traceframe-info>
39694 @end smallexample
39695
39696 Each traceframe block can be either:
39697
39698 @itemize
39699
39700 @item
39701 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
39702 @var{length} bytes from there:
39703
39704 @smallexample
39705 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39706 @end smallexample
39707
39708 @end itemize
39709
39710 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
39711
39712 @smallexample
39713 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
39714 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39715
39716 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
39717 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
39718 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
39719 @end smallexample
39720
39721 @include agentexpr.texi
39722
39723 @node Target Descriptions
39724 @appendix Target Descriptions
39725 @cindex target descriptions
39726
39727 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
39728 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
39729 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
39730 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
39731 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
39732 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
39733 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
39734
39735 @itemize @bullet
39736 @item
39737 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
39738 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
39739 @item
39740 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
39741 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
39742 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
39743 @item
39744 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
39745 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
39746 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
39747 @end itemize
39748
39749 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
39750 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
39751 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
39752 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
39753 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
39754
39755 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39756 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
39757
39758 @menu
39759 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
39760 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
39761 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
39762 descriptions.
39763 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
39764 @end menu
39765
39766 @node Retrieving Descriptions
39767 @section Retrieving Descriptions
39768
39769 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
39770 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
39771 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
39772 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
39773 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
39774 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
39775 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
39776 Format}.
39777
39778 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
39779 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
39780 specify a file are:
39781
39782 @table @code
39783 @cindex set tdesc filename
39784 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
39785 Read the target description from @var{path}.
39786
39787 @cindex unset tdesc filename
39788 @item unset tdesc filename
39789 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
39790 will use the description supplied by the current target.
39791
39792 @cindex show tdesc filename
39793 @item show tdesc filename
39794 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
39795 @end table
39796
39797
39798 @node Target Description Format
39799 @section Target Description Format
39800 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
39801
39802 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
39803 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
39804 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
39805 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
39806 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
39807 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
39808 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
39809
39810 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
39811 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
39812 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
39813 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
39814 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
39815
39816 Here is a simple target description:
39817
39818 @smallexample
39819 <target version="1.0">
39820 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
39821 </target>
39822 @end smallexample
39823
39824 @noindent
39825 This minimal description only says that the target uses
39826 the x86-64 architecture.
39827
39828 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
39829 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
39830 are explained further below.
39831
39832 @smallexample
39833 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39834 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
39835 <target version="1.0">
39836 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
39837 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
39838 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
39839 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
39840 </target>
39841 @end smallexample
39842
39843 @noindent
39844 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
39845 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
39846 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
39847 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
39848 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
39849 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
39850 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
39851 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
39852 the version mismatch.
39853
39854 @subsection Inclusion
39855 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
39856 @cindex XInclude
39857 @ifnotinfo
39858 @cindex <xi:include>
39859 @end ifnotinfo
39860
39861 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
39862 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
39863 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
39864 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
39865 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
39866
39867 @smallexample
39868 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
39869 @end smallexample
39870
39871 @noindent
39872 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
39873 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
39874 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
39875 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
39876 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
39877 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
39878 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
39879 original description.
39880
39881 @subsection Architecture
39882 @cindex <architecture>
39883
39884 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
39885
39886 @smallexample
39887 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
39888 @end smallexample
39889
39890 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39891 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39892
39893 @subsection OS ABI
39894 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
39895
39896 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39897 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39898
39899 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
39900
39901 @smallexample
39902 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
39903 @end smallexample
39904
39905 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
39906 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
39907
39908 @subsection Compatible Architecture
39909 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
39910
39911 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39912 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39913
39914 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
39915
39916 @smallexample
39917 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
39918 @end smallexample
39919
39920 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39921 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39922
39923 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
39924 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
39925 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
39926 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
39927 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
39928 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
39929 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
39930
39931 @smallexample
39932 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
39933 <compatible>spu</compatible>
39934 @end smallexample
39935
39936 @subsection Features
39937 @cindex <feature>
39938
39939 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
39940 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
39941 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
39942 has this form:
39943
39944 @smallexample
39945 <feature name="@var{name}">
39946 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
39947 @var{reg}@dots{}
39948 </feature>
39949 @end smallexample
39950
39951 @noindent
39952 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
39953 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
39954 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
39955 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
39956
39957 @subsection Types
39958
39959 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
39960 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
39961 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
39962 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
39963 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
39964
39965 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
39966 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
39967 Types must be defined before they are used.
39968
39969 @cindex <vector>
39970 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
39971 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
39972 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
39973 @var{count}:
39974
39975 @smallexample
39976 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
39977 @end smallexample
39978
39979 @cindex <union>
39980 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
39981 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
39982 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
39983 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
39984
39985 @smallexample
39986 <union id="@var{id}">
39987 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39988 @dots{}
39989 </union>
39990 @end smallexample
39991
39992 @cindex <struct>
39993 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
39994 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
39995 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
39996 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
39997 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
39998 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
39999 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
40000 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
40001
40002 @smallexample
40003 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40004 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
40005 @dots{}
40006 </struct>
40007 @end smallexample
40008
40009 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
40010 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
40011
40012 @smallexample
40013 <struct id="@var{id}">
40014 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
40015 @dots{}
40016 </struct>
40017 @end smallexample
40018
40019 @cindex <flags>
40020 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
40021 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
40022 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
40023 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
40024 are supported.
40025
40026 @smallexample
40027 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40028 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
40029 @dots{}
40030 </flags>
40031 @end smallexample
40032
40033 @subsection Registers
40034 @cindex <reg>
40035
40036 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
40037
40038 @smallexample
40039 <reg name="@var{name}"
40040 bitsize="@var{size}"
40041 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
40042 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
40043 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
40044 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
40045 @end smallexample
40046
40047 @noindent
40048 The components are as follows:
40049
40050 @table @var
40051
40052 @item name
40053 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
40054
40055 @item bitsize
40056 The register's size, in bits.
40057
40058 @item regnum
40059 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
40060 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
40061 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
40062 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
40063 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
40064 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
40065 in order of increasing register number.
40066
40067 @item save-restore
40068 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
40069 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
40070 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
40071 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
40072 ABI.
40073
40074 @item type
40075 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
40076 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
40077 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
40078 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
40079 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
40080 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
40081
40082 @item group
40083 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
40084 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
40085 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
40086 in @code{info registers}.
40087
40088 @end table
40089
40090 @node Predefined Target Types
40091 @section Predefined Target Types
40092 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
40093
40094 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
40095 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
40096 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
40097 types. The currently supported types are:
40098
40099 @table @code
40100
40101 @item int8
40102 @itemx int16
40103 @itemx int32
40104 @itemx int64
40105 @itemx int128
40106 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
40107
40108 @item uint8
40109 @itemx uint16
40110 @itemx uint32
40111 @itemx uint64
40112 @itemx uint128
40113 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
40114
40115 @item code_ptr
40116 @itemx data_ptr
40117 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
40118 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
40119 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
40120 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
40121 may be marked as data pointers.
40122
40123 @item ieee_single
40124 Single precision IEEE floating point.
40125
40126 @item ieee_double
40127 Double precision IEEE floating point.
40128
40129 @item arm_fpa_ext
40130 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
40131
40132 @item i387_ext
40133 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
40134
40135 @item i386_eflags
40136 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
40137
40138 @item i386_mxcsr
40139 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
40140
40141 @end table
40142
40143 @node Standard Target Features
40144 @section Standard Target Features
40145 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
40146
40147 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
40148 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
40149 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
40150 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
40151 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
40152 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
40153 can recognize them.
40154
40155 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
40156 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
40157 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
40158 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
40159 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
40160 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
40161 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
40162 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
40163
40164 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
40165 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
40166 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
40167
40168 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
40169 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
40170 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
40171 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
40172
40173 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
40174 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
40175 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
40176
40177 @menu
40178 * ARM Features::
40179 * i386 Features::
40180 * MIPS Features::
40181 * M68K Features::
40182 * PowerPC Features::
40183 * TIC6x Features::
40184 @end menu
40185
40186
40187 @node ARM Features
40188 @subsection ARM Features
40189 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
40190
40191 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
40192 ARM targets.
40193 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
40194 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
40195
40196 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
40197 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
40198 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
40199 and @samp{xpsr}.
40200
40201 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
40202 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
40203
40204 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
40205 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
40206 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
40207 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
40208
40209 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
40210 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
40211 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
40212 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
40213 halves of the double-precision registers.
40214
40215 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
40216 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
40217 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
40218 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
40219 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
40220 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
40221
40222 @node i386 Features
40223 @subsection i386 Features
40224 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
40225
40226 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
40227 targets. It should describe the following registers:
40228
40229 @itemize @minus
40230 @item
40231 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
40232 @item
40233 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
40234 @item
40235 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
40236 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
40237 @item
40238 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
40239 @item
40240 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
40241 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
40242 @end itemize
40243
40244 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
40245
40246 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
40247 describe registers:
40248
40249 @itemize @minus
40250 @item
40251 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
40252 @item
40253 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
40254 @item
40255 @samp{mxcsr}
40256 @end itemize
40257
40258 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
40259 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
40260 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
40261
40262 @itemize @minus
40263 @item
40264 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
40265 @item
40266 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
40267 @end itemize
40268
40269 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
40270 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
40271
40272 @node MIPS Features
40273 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
40274 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
40275
40276 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
40277 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
40278 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
40279 on the target.
40280
40281 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
40282 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
40283 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40284
40285 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
40286 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
40287 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
40288 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40289
40290 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
40291 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
40292 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
40293 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40294
40295 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
40296 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
40297 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
40298
40299 @node M68K Features
40300 @subsection M68K Features
40301 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
40302
40303 @table @code
40304 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
40305 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
40306 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
40307 One of those features must be always present.
40308 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
40309 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
40310 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
40311 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
40312
40313 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
40314 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
40315 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
40316 @samp{fpiaddr}.
40317 @end table
40318
40319 @node PowerPC Features
40320 @subsection PowerPC Features
40321 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
40322
40323 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
40324 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
40325 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
40326 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40327
40328 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
40329 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
40330
40331 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
40332 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
40333 and @samp{vrsave}.
40334
40335 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
40336 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
40337 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
40338 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
40339 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
40340 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
40341
40342 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
40343 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
40344 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
40345 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
40346 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
40347 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
40348 user.
40349
40350 @node TIC6x Features
40351 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
40352 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
40353 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
40354 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
40355 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
40356 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
40357
40358 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
40359 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
40360 through @samp{B31}.
40361
40362 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
40363 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
40364
40365 @node Operating System Information
40366 @appendix Operating System Information
40367 @cindex operating system information
40368
40369 @menu
40370 * Process list::
40371 @end menu
40372
40373 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
40374 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
40375 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
40376 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
40377 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
40378 on a different aspect of target.
40379
40380 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
40381 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
40382 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
40383 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
40384
40385 @node Process list
40386 @appendixsection Process list
40387 @cindex operating system information, process list
40388
40389 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
40390 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
40391 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
40392 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
40393
40394 An example document is:
40395
40396 @smallexample
40397 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40398 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
40399 <osdata type="processes">
40400 <item>
40401 <column name="pid">1</column>
40402 <column name="user">root</column>
40403 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
40404 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
40405 </item>
40406 </osdata>
40407 @end smallexample
40408
40409 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
40410 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
40411 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
40412 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
40413 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
40414 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
40415 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
40416
40417 @node Trace File Format
40418 @appendix Trace File Format
40419 @cindex trace file format
40420
40421 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
40422 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
40423
40424 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
40425 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
40426 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
40427 in the future.
40428
40429 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
40430 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
40431 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
40432 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
40433 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
40434 of this section.
40435
40436 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
40437
40438 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
40439 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
40440 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
40441 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
40442 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
40443 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
40444 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
40445 endianness.
40446
40447 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
40448
40449 @table @code
40450 @item R @var{bytes}
40451 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
40452 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
40453 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
40454 hexadecimal encoding.
40455
40456 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
40457 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
40458 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
40459 @var{length} bytes.
40460
40461 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
40462 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
40463 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
40464
40465 @end table
40466
40467 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
40468 of blocks.
40469
40470 @node Index Section Format
40471 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
40472 @cindex .gdb_index section format
40473 @cindex index section format
40474
40475 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
40476 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
40477 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
40478 description.
40479
40480 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
40481 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
40482 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
40483 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
40484 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
40485 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
40486
40487 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
40488
40489 @enumerate
40490 @item
40491 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
40492 unless otherwise noted:
40493
40494 @enumerate
40495 @item
40496 The version number, currently 7. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
40497 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
40498 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
40499 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
40500 symbol table. @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
40501 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
40502
40503 @item
40504 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
40505
40506 @item
40507 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
40508 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
40509 to the next offset.
40510
40511 @item
40512 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
40513
40514 @item
40515 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
40516
40517 @item
40518 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
40519 @end enumerate
40520
40521 @item
40522 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
40523 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
40524 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
40525 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
40526 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
40527 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
40528 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
40529 CU indices.
40530
40531 @item
40532 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
40533 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
40534 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
40535 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
40536
40537 @item
40538 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
40539 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
40540
40541 @enumerate
40542 @item
40543 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
40544
40545 @item
40546 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
40547 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
40548
40549 @item
40550 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
40551 @end enumerate
40552
40553 @item
40554 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
40555 the hash table is always a power of 2.
40556
40557 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
40558 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
40559 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
40560 constant pool.
40561
40562 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
40563 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
40564 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
40565
40566 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
40567 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
40568 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
40569 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
40570 index version:
40571
40572 @table @asis
40573 @item Version 4
40574 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
40575
40576 @item Versions 5 to 7
40577 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
40578 @end table
40579
40580 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
40581
40582 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
40583 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
40584 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
40585 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
40586 collision.
40587
40588 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
40589 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
40590 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
40591 the code.
40592
40593 @item
40594 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
40595 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
40596 strings.
40597
40598 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
40599 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
40600 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
40601 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
40602 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
40603 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
40604
40605 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
40606 @end enumerate
40607
40608 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
40609 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
40610 CU index+attributes value for each use.
40611
40612 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
40613 (bit 0 = LSB):
40614
40615 @table @asis
40616
40617 @item Bits 0-23
40618 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
40619 @item Bits 24-27
40620 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
40621 @item Bits 28-30
40622 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
40623
40624 @table @asis
40625 @item 0
40626 This value is reserved and should not be used.
40627 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
40628 with previous versions of the index.
40629 @item 1
40630 The symbol is a type.
40631 @item 2
40632 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
40633 @item 3
40634 The symbol is a function.
40635 @item 4
40636 Any other kind of symbol.
40637 @item 5,6,7
40638 These values are reserved.
40639 @end table
40640
40641 @item Bit 31
40642 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
40643
40644 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
40645 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
40646 @value{GDBN} sources.
40647
40648 @end table
40649
40650 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
40651 global/static attributes in the index.
40652
40653 @smallexample
40654 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
40655 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
40656 switch (die->tag)
40657 @{
40658 case DW_TAG_typedef:
40659 case DW_TAG_base_type:
40660 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
40661 kind = TYPE;
40662 is_static = 1;
40663 break;
40664 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
40665 kind = VARIABLE;
40666 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
40667 break;
40668 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
40669 kind = FUNCTION;
40670 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
40671 break;
40672 case DW_TAG_constant:
40673 kind = VARIABLE;
40674 is_static = ! is_external;
40675 break;
40676 case DW_TAG_variable:
40677 kind = VARIABLE;
40678 is_static = ! is_external;
40679 break;
40680 case DW_TAG_namespace:
40681 kind = TYPE;
40682 is_static = 0;
40683 break;
40684 case DW_TAG_class_type:
40685 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
40686 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
40687 case DW_TAG_union_type:
40688 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
40689 kind = TYPE;
40690 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
40691 break;
40692 default:
40693 assert (0);
40694 @}
40695 @end smallexample
40696
40697 @include gpl.texi
40698
40699 @node GNU Free Documentation License
40700 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
40701 @include fdl.texi
40702
40703 @node Concept Index
40704 @unnumbered Concept Index
40705
40706 @printindex cp
40707
40708 @node Command and Variable Index
40709 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
40710
40711 @printindex fn
40712
40713 @tex
40714 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
40715 % meantime:
40716 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
40717 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
40718 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
40719 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
40720 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
40721 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
40722 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
40723 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
40724 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
40725 \page\colophon
40726 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
40727 @end tex
40728
40729 @bye
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