39730c295e1a273414bee3381db27ce3eaa189d5
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-2013 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 @c man begin INCLUDE
10 @include gdb-cfg.texi
11 @c man end
12 @c
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
15 @c %**end of header
16
17 @iftex
18 @c @smallbook
19 @c @cropmarks
20 @end iftex
21
22 @finalout
23 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
27 @syncodeindex ky fn
28 @syncodeindex tp fn
29
30 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
32 @syncodeindex vr fn
33
34 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
36 @set EDITION Tenth
37
38 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
39 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
40
41 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
42
43 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44 @c manuals to an info tree.
45 @dircategory Software development
46 @direntry
47 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48 @end direntry
49
50 @copying
51 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
52 Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
53
54 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
55 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
56 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
57 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
58 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
59 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
60
61 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
62 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
63 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
64 @c man end
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) 1988-2013 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 * Man Pages:: Manual pages
187 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
188 how you can copy and share GDB
189 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
190 * Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
191 * Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
192 functions, and Python data types
193 @end menu
194
195 @end ifnottex
196
197 @contents
198
199 @node Summary
200 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
201
202 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
203 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
204 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
205
206 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
207 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
208
209 @itemize @bullet
210 @item
211 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
212
213 @item
214 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
215
216 @item
217 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
218
219 @item
220 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
221 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
222 @end itemize
223
224 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
225 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
226 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
227
228 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
229 @ref{D,,D}.
230
231 @cindex Modula-2
232 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
233 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
234
235 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
236 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
237
238 @cindex Pascal
239 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
240 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
241 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
242 syntax.
243
244 @cindex Fortran
245 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
246 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
247 underscore.
248
249 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
250 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
251
252 @menu
253 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
254 * Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
255 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
256 @end menu
257
258 @node Free Software
259 @unnumberedsec Free Software
260
261 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
262 General Public License
263 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
264 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
265 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
266 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
267 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
268 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
269
270 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
271 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
272 from anyone else.
273
274 @node Free Documentation
275 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
276
277 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
278 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
279 include with the free software. Many of our most important
280 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
281 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
282 when an important free software package does not come with a free
283 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
284 gaps today.
285
286 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
287 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
288 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
289 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
290 them from the free software world.
291
292 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
293 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
294 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
295 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
296 contract to make it non-free.
297
298 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
299 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
300 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
301 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
302 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
303 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
304 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
305
306 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
307 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
308 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
309 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
310
311 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
312 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
313 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
314 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
315 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
316 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
317 community.
318
319 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
320 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
321 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
322 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
323 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
324 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
325 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
326 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
327 of the manual.
328
329 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
330 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
331 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
332 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
333 manual to replace it.
334
335 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
336 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
337 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
338 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
339 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
340 the free software community.
341
342 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
343 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
344 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
345 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
346 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
347 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
348 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
349 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
350 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
351
352 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
353 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
354 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
355 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
356 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
357 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
358 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
359 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
360
361 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
362 published by other publishers, at
363 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
364
365 @node Contributors
366 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
367
368 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
369 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
370 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
371 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
372 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
373 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
374 blow-by-blow account.
375
376 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
377
378 @quotation
379 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
380 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
381 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
382 @end quotation
383
384 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
385 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
386 releases:
387 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
388 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
389 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
390 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
391 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
392 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
393 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
394 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
395 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
396
397 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
398 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
399
400 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
401 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
402 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
403 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
404 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
405
406 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
407 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
408 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
409
410 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
411 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
412
413 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
414
415 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
416 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
417 support.
418 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
419 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
420 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
421 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
422 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
423 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
424 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
425 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
426 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
427 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
428 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
429 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
430 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
431 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
432 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
433 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
434
435 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
436
437 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
438 libraries.
439
440 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
441 about several machine instruction sets.
442
443 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
444 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
445 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
446 and RDI targets, respectively.
447
448 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
449 command-line editing and command history.
450
451 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
452 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
453
454 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
455 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
456 symbols.
457
458 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
459 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
460
461 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
462
463 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
464 processors.
465
466 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
467
468 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
469
470 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
471
472 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
473 watchpoints.
474
475 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
476
477 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
478
479 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
480 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
481
482 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
483 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
484 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
485 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
486 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
487 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
488 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
489
490 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
491 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
492
493 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
494 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
495 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
496 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
497 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
498 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
499 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
500 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
501 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
502 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
503 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
504 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
505 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
506 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
507 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
508
509 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
510 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
511
512 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
513 Hat.
514
515 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
516 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
517 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
518 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
519 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
520 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
521
522 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
523 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
524 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
525 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
526 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
527 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
528 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
529 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
530 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
531 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
532 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
533 Weigand.
534
535 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
536 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
537 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
538 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
539
540 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
541 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
542
543 @node Sample Session
544 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
545
546 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
547 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
548 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
549
550 @iftex
551 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
552 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
553 @end iftex
554
555 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
556 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
557
558 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
559 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
560 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
561 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
562 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
563 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
564 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
565 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
566 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
567
568 @smallexample
569 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
570 $ @b{./m4}
571 @b{define(foo,0000)}
572
573 @b{foo}
574 0000
575 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
576
577 @b{bar}
578 0000
579 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
580
581 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
582 @b{baz}
583 @b{Ctrl-d}
584 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
585 @end smallexample
586
587 @noindent
588 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
589
590 @smallexample
591 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
592 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
593 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
594 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
595 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
596 the conditions.
597 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
598 for details.
599
600 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
601 (@value{GDBP})
602 @end smallexample
603
604 @noindent
605 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
606 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
607 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
608 that examples fit in this manual.
609
610 @smallexample
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
612 @end smallexample
613
614 @noindent
615 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
616 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
617 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
618 @code{break} command.
619
620 @smallexample
621 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
622 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
623 @end smallexample
624
625 @noindent
626 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
627 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
628 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
629
630 @smallexample
631 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
632 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
633 @b{define(foo,0000)}
634
635 @b{foo}
636 0000
637 @end smallexample
638
639 @noindent
640 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
641 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
642 context where it stops.
643
644 @smallexample
645 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
646
647 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
648 at builtin.c:879
649 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
650 @end smallexample
651
652 @noindent
653 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
654 the next line of the current function.
655
656 @smallexample
657 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
658 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
659 : nil,
660 @end smallexample
661
662 @noindent
663 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
664 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
665 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
666 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
667
668 @smallexample
669 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
670 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
671 at input.c:530
672 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
673 @end smallexample
674
675 @noindent
676 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
677 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
678 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
679 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
680 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
681 stack frame for each active subroutine.
682
683 @smallexample
684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
685 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
686 at input.c:530
687 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
688 at builtin.c:882
689 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
690 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
691 at macro.c:71
692 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
693 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
694 @end smallexample
695
696 @noindent
697 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
698 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
699 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
700
701 @smallexample
702 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
703 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
704 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
705 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
706 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
707 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
708 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
709 : xstrdup(rq);
710 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
711 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
712 @end smallexample
713
714 @noindent
715 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
716 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
717 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
718 (@code{print}) to see their values.
719
720 @smallexample
721 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
722 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
723 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
724 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
725 @end smallexample
726
727 @noindent
728 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
729 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
730 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
731
732 @smallexample
733 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
734 533 xfree(rquote);
735 534
736 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
737 : xstrdup (lq);
738 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
739 : xstrdup (rq);
740 537
741 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
742 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
743 540 @}
744 541
745 542 void
746 @end smallexample
747
748 @noindent
749 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
750 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
751
752 @smallexample
753 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
754 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
755 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
756 540 @}
757 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
758 $3 = 9
759 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
760 $4 = 7
761 @end smallexample
762
763 @noindent
764 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
765 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
766 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
767 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
768 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
769 assignments.
770
771 @smallexample
772 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
773 $5 = 7
774 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
775 $6 = 9
776 @end smallexample
777
778 @noindent
779 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
780 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
781 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
782 example that caused trouble initially:
783
784 @smallexample
785 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
786 Continuing.
787
788 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
789
790 baz
791 0000
792 @end smallexample
793
794 @noindent
795 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
796 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
797 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
798
799 @smallexample
800 @b{Ctrl-d}
801 Program exited normally.
802 @end smallexample
803
804 @noindent
805 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
806 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
807 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
808
809 @smallexample
810 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
811 @end smallexample
812
813 @node Invocation
814 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
815
816 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
817 The essentials are:
818 @itemize @bullet
819 @item
820 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
821 @item
822 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
823 @end itemize
824
825 @menu
826 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
827 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
828 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
829 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
830 @end menu
831
832 @node Invoking GDB
833 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
834
835 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
836 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
837
838 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
839 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
840
841 The command-line options described here are designed
842 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
843 options may effectively be unavailable.
844
845 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
846 specifying an executable program:
847
848 @smallexample
849 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
850 @end smallexample
851
852 @noindent
853 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
854 specified:
855
856 @smallexample
857 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
858 @end smallexample
859
860 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
861 to debug a running process:
862
863 @smallexample
864 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
865 @end smallexample
866
867 @noindent
868 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
869 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
870
871 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
872 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
873 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
874 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
875 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
876
877 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
878 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
879 option processing.
880 @smallexample
881 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
882 @end smallexample
883 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
884 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
885
886 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
887 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
888
889 @smallexample
890 @value{GDBP} -silent
891 @end smallexample
892
893 @noindent
894 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
895 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
896
897 @noindent
898 Type
899
900 @smallexample
901 @value{GDBP} -help
902 @end smallexample
903
904 @noindent
905 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
906 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
907
908 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
909 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
910 @samp{-x} option is used.
911
912
913 @menu
914 * File Options:: Choosing files
915 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
916 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
917 @end menu
918
919 @node File Options
920 @subsection Choosing Files
921
922 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
923 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
924 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
925 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
926 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
927 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
928 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
929 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
930 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
931 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
932 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
933 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
934 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
935
936 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
937 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
938 argument and ignore it.
939
940 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
941 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
942 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
943 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
944 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
945
946 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
947 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
948 @c it.
949
950 @table @code
951 @item -symbols @var{file}
952 @itemx -s @var{file}
953 @cindex @code{--symbols}
954 @cindex @code{-s}
955 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
956
957 @item -exec @var{file}
958 @itemx -e @var{file}
959 @cindex @code{--exec}
960 @cindex @code{-e}
961 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
962 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
963
964 @item -se @var{file}
965 @cindex @code{--se}
966 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
967 file.
968
969 @item -core @var{file}
970 @itemx -c @var{file}
971 @cindex @code{--core}
972 @cindex @code{-c}
973 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
974
975 @item -pid @var{number}
976 @itemx -p @var{number}
977 @cindex @code{--pid}
978 @cindex @code{-p}
979 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
980
981 @item -command @var{file}
982 @itemx -x @var{file}
983 @cindex @code{--command}
984 @cindex @code{-x}
985 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
986 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
987 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
988
989 @item -eval-command @var{command}
990 @itemx -ex @var{command}
991 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
992 @cindex @code{-ex}
993 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
994
995 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
996 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
997
998 @smallexample
999 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1000 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1001 @end smallexample
1002
1003 @item -init-command @var{file}
1004 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1005 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1006 @cindex @code{-ix}
1007 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1008 after loading gdbinit files).
1009 @xref{Startup}.
1010
1011 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1012 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1013 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1014 @cindex @code{-iex}
1015 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1016 after loading gdbinit files).
1017 @xref{Startup}.
1018
1019 @item -directory @var{directory}
1020 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1021 @cindex @code{--directory}
1022 @cindex @code{-d}
1023 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1024
1025 @item -r
1026 @itemx -readnow
1027 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1028 @cindex @code{-r}
1029 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1030 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1031 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1032
1033 @end table
1034
1035 @node Mode Options
1036 @subsection Choosing Modes
1037
1038 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1039 batch mode or quiet mode.
1040
1041 @table @code
1042 @anchor{-nx}
1043 @item -nx
1044 @itemx -n
1045 @cindex @code{--nx}
1046 @cindex @code{-n}
1047 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1048 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1049
1050 @table @code
1051 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1052 This is the system-wide init file.
1053 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1054 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1055 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1056 have been processed.
1057 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1058 This is the init file in your home directory.
1059 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1060 command options have been processed.
1061 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1062 This is the init file in the current directory.
1063 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1064 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1065 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1066 @end table
1067
1068 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1069 For documentation on how to write command files,
1070 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1071
1072 @anchor{-nh}
1073 @item -nh
1074 @cindex @code{--nh}
1075 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1076 in your home directory.
1077 @xref{Startup}.
1078
1079 @item -quiet
1080 @itemx -silent
1081 @itemx -q
1082 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1083 @cindex @code{--silent}
1084 @cindex @code{-q}
1085 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1086 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1087
1088 @item -batch
1089 @cindex @code{--batch}
1090 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1091 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1092 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1093 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1094 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1095 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1096 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1097
1098 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1099 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1100 make this more useful, the message
1101
1102 @smallexample
1103 Program exited normally.
1104 @end smallexample
1105
1106 @noindent
1107 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1108 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1109 mode.
1110
1111 @item -batch-silent
1112 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1113 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1114 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1115 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1116 for an interactive session.
1117
1118 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1119 messages, for example.
1120
1121 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1122 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1123
1124 @item -return-child-result
1125 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1126 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1127 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1128
1129 @itemize @bullet
1130 @item
1131 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1132 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1133 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1134 @item
1135 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1136 @item
1137 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1138 the exit code will be -1.
1139 @end itemize
1140
1141 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1142 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1143 interface.
1144
1145 @item -nowindows
1146 @itemx -nw
1147 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1148 @cindex @code{-nw}
1149 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1150 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1151 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1152
1153 @item -windows
1154 @itemx -w
1155 @cindex @code{--windows}
1156 @cindex @code{-w}
1157 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1158 used if possible.
1159
1160 @item -cd @var{directory}
1161 @cindex @code{--cd}
1162 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1163 instead of the current directory.
1164
1165 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1166 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1167 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1168 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1169 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1170
1171 @item -fullname
1172 @itemx -f
1173 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1174 @cindex @code{-f}
1175 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1176 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1177 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1178 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1179 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1180 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1181 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1182 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1183 frame.
1184
1185 @item -annotate @var{level}
1186 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1187 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1188 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1189 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1190 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1191 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1192 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1193 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1194 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1195
1196 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1197 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1198
1199 @item --args
1200 @cindex @code{--args}
1201 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1202 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1203 This option stops option processing.
1204
1205 @item -baud @var{bps}
1206 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1207 @cindex @code{--baud}
1208 @cindex @code{-b}
1209 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1210 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1211
1212 @item -l @var{timeout}
1213 @cindex @code{-l}
1214 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1215 for remote debugging.
1216
1217 @item -tty @var{device}
1218 @itemx -t @var{device}
1219 @cindex @code{--tty}
1220 @cindex @code{-t}
1221 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1222 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1223
1224 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1225 @item -tui
1226 @cindex @code{--tui}
1227 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1228 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1229 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1230 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1231 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1232 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1233
1234 @c @item -xdb
1235 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1236 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1237 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1238 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1239 @c systems.
1240
1241 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1242 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1243 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1244 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1245 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1246 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1247
1248 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1249 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1250 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1251 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1252 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1253 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1254
1255 @item -write
1256 @cindex @code{--write}
1257 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1258 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1259 (@pxref{Patching}).
1260
1261 @item -statistics
1262 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1263 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1264 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1265
1266 @item -version
1267 @cindex @code{--version}
1268 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1269 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1270
1271 @item -configuration
1272 @cindex @code{--configuration}
1273 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1274 configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1275 important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
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 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1370 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1371 and suggests to rename 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 several 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 @kindex show configuration
1882 @item show configuration
1883 Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1884 when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1885 @file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1886 automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1887 bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1888 your report.
1889
1890 @end table
1891
1892 @node Running
1893 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1894
1895 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1896 debugging information when you compile it.
1897
1898 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1899 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1900 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1901 kill a child process.
1902
1903 @menu
1904 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1905 * Starting:: Starting your program
1906 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1907 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1908
1909 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1910 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1911 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1912 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1913
1914 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1915 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1916 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1917 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1918 @end menu
1919
1920 @node Compilation
1921 @section Compiling for Debugging
1922
1923 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1924 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1925 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1926 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1927 and addresses in the executable code.
1928
1929 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1930 the compiler.
1931
1932 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1933 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1934 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1935 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1936 executables containing debugging information.
1937
1938 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1939 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1940 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1941 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1942 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1943
1944 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1945 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1946 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1947
1948 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1949 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1950 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1951 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1952 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1953 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1954
1955 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1956 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1957 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1958
1959 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1960 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1961 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1962 format in @value{GDBN}.
1963
1964 @need 2000
1965 @node Starting
1966 @section Starting your Program
1967 @cindex starting
1968 @cindex running
1969
1970 @table @code
1971 @kindex run
1972 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1973 @item run
1974 @itemx r
1975 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1976 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1977 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1978 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1979 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1980
1981 @end table
1982
1983 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1984 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1985 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1986 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1987 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1988 message like this one:
1989
1990 @smallexample
1991 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1992 Try "help target" or "continue".
1993 @end smallexample
1994
1995 @noindent
1996 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1997 first (@pxref{load}).
1998
1999 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2000 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2001 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2002 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2003 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2004 divided into four categories:
2005
2006 @table @asis
2007 @item The @emph{arguments.}
2008 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2009 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2010 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2011 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2012 the arguments.
2013 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2014 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
2015 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
2016
2017 @item The @emph{environment.}
2018 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2019 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2020 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2021 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2022
2023 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2024 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2025 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2026 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2027
2028 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2029 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2030 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2031 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2032 set a different device for your program.
2033 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2034
2035 @cindex pipes
2036 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2037 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2038 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2039 wrong program.
2040 @end table
2041
2042 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2043 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2044 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2045 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2046 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2047
2048 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2049 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2050 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2051 your current breakpoints.
2052
2053 @table @code
2054 @kindex start
2055 @item start
2056 @cindex run to main procedure
2057 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2058 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2059 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2060 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2061 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2062 procedure, depending on the language used.
2063
2064 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2065 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2066 the @samp{run} command.
2067
2068 @cindex elaboration phase
2069 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2070 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2071 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2072 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2073 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2074 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2075 will remain to halt execution.
2076
2077 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2078 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2079 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2080 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2081 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2082
2083 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2084 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2085 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2086 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2087 elaboration code before running your program.
2088
2089 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2090 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2091 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2092 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2093 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2094 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2095 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2096 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2097 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2098 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2099 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2100
2101 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2102 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2103 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2104 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2105
2106 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2107 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2108 environment:
2109
2110 @smallexample
2111 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2112 (@value{GDBP}) run
2113 @end smallexample
2114
2115 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2116 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2117
2118 @kindex set disable-randomization
2119 @item set disable-randomization
2120 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2121 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2122 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2123 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2124 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2125
2126 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2127 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2128
2129 @smallexample
2130 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2131 @end smallexample
2132
2133 @item set disable-randomization off
2134 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2135 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2136 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2137 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2138 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2139 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2140
2141 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2142 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2143 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2144 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2145 a code at its expected addresses.
2146
2147 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2148 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2149 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2150 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2151 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2152 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2153 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2154 a randomly chosen address.
2155
2156 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2157 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2158 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2159 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2160 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2161
2162 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2163 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2164
2165 @item show disable-randomization
2166 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2167 the virtual address space of the started program.
2168
2169 @end table
2170
2171 @node Arguments
2172 @section Your Program's Arguments
2173
2174 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2175 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2176 @code{run} command.
2177 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2178 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2179 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2180 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2181 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2182
2183 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2184 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2185 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2186 the program, not by the shell.
2187
2188 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2189 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2190
2191 @table @code
2192 @kindex set args
2193 @item set args
2194 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2195 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2196 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2197 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2198 it again without arguments.
2199
2200 @kindex show args
2201 @item show args
2202 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2203 @end table
2204
2205 @node Environment
2206 @section Your Program's Environment
2207
2208 @cindex environment (of your program)
2209 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2210 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2211 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2212 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2213 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2214 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2215 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2216
2217 @table @code
2218 @kindex path
2219 @item path @var{directory}
2220 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2221 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2222 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2223 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2224 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2225 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2226 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2227
2228 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2229 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2230 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2231 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2232 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2233 @var{directory} to the search path.
2234 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2235 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2236
2237 @kindex show paths
2238 @item show paths
2239 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2240 environment variable).
2241
2242 @kindex show environment
2243 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2244 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2245 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2246 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2247 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2248
2249 @kindex set environment
2250 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2251 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2252 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2253 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2254 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2255 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2256 null value.
2257 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2258 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2259
2260 For example, this command:
2261
2262 @smallexample
2263 set env USER = foo
2264 @end smallexample
2265
2266 @noindent
2267 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2268 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2269 are not actually required.)
2270
2271 @kindex unset environment
2272 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2273 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2274 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2275 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2276 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2277 @end table
2278
2279 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2280 the shell indicated
2281 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2282 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2283 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2284 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2285 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2286 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2287 @file{.profile}.
2288
2289 @node Working Directory
2290 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2291
2292 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2293 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2294 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2295 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2296 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2297 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2298
2299 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2300 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2301 Specify Files}.
2302
2303 @table @code
2304 @kindex cd
2305 @cindex change working directory
2306 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2307 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2308 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2309
2310 @kindex pwd
2311 @item pwd
2312 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2313 @end table
2314
2315 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2316 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2317 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2318 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2319 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2320 current working directory of the debuggee.
2321
2322 @node Input/Output
2323 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2324
2325 @cindex redirection
2326 @cindex i/o
2327 @cindex terminal
2328 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2329 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2330 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2331 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2332 running your program.
2333
2334 @table @code
2335 @kindex info terminal
2336 @item info terminal
2337 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2338 program is using.
2339 @end table
2340
2341 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2342 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2343
2344 @smallexample
2345 run > outfile
2346 @end smallexample
2347
2348 @noindent
2349 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2350
2351 @kindex tty
2352 @cindex controlling terminal
2353 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2354 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2355 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2356 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2357 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2358
2359 @smallexample
2360 tty /dev/ttyb
2361 @end smallexample
2362
2363 @noindent
2364 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2365 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2366 that as their controlling terminal.
2367
2368 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2369 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2370 terminal.
2371
2372 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2373 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2374 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2375 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2376
2377 @cindex inferior tty
2378 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2379 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2380 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2381 program.
2382
2383 @table @code
2384 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2385 @kindex set inferior-tty
2386 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2387
2388 @item show inferior-tty
2389 @kindex show inferior-tty
2390 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2391 @end table
2392
2393 @node Attach
2394 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2395 @kindex attach
2396 @cindex attach
2397
2398 @table @code
2399 @item attach @var{process-id}
2400 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2401 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2402 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2403 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2404 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2405
2406 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2407 executing the command.
2408 @end table
2409
2410 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2411 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2412 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2413 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2414
2415 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2416 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2417 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2418 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2419 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2420 Specify Files}.
2421
2422 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2423 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2424 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2425 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2426 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2427 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2428 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2429
2430 @table @code
2431 @kindex detach
2432 @item detach
2433 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2434 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2435 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2436 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2437 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2438 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2439 executing the command.
2440 @end table
2441
2442 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2443 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2444 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2445 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2446 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2447 Messages}).
2448
2449 @node Kill Process
2450 @section Killing the Child Process
2451
2452 @table @code
2453 @kindex kill
2454 @item kill
2455 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2456 @end table
2457
2458 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2459 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2460 is running.
2461
2462 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2463 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2464 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2465 outside the debugger.
2466
2467 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2468 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2469 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2470 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2471 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2472 breakpoint settings).
2473
2474 @node Inferiors and Programs
2475 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2476
2477 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2478 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2479 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2480 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2481 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2482 from multiple executables.
2483
2484 @cindex inferior
2485 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2486 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2487 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2488 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2489 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2490 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2491 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2492 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2493 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2494 threads running in it.
2495
2496 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2497 inferiors}}:
2498
2499 @table @code
2500 @kindex info inferiors
2501 @item info inferiors
2502 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2503
2504 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2505
2506 @enumerate
2507 @item
2508 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2509
2510 @item
2511 the target system's inferior identifier
2512
2513 @item
2514 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2515
2516 @end enumerate
2517
2518 @noindent
2519 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2520 indicates the current inferior.
2521
2522 For example,
2523 @end table
2524 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2525
2526 @smallexample
2527 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2528 Num Description Executable
2529 2 process 2307 hello
2530 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2531 @end smallexample
2532
2533 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2534
2535 @table @code
2536 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2537 @item inferior @var{infno}
2538 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2539 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2540 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2541 @end table
2542
2543
2544 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2545 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2546 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2547 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2548 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2549 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2550
2551 @table @code
2552 @kindex add-inferior
2553 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2554 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2555 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2556 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2557 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2558 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2559
2560 @kindex clone-inferior
2561 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2562 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2563 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2564 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2565 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2566
2567 @smallexample
2568 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2569 Num Description Executable
2570 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2571 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2572 Added inferior 2.
2573 1 inferiors added.
2574 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2575 Num Description Executable
2576 2 <null> helloworld
2577 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2578 @end smallexample
2579
2580 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2581
2582 @kindex remove-inferiors
2583 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2584 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2585 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2586 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2587
2588 @end table
2589
2590 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2591 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2592 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2593 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2594
2595 @table @code
2596 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2597 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2598 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2599 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2600 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2601 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2602
2603 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2604 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2605 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2606 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2607 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2608 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2609 @end table
2610
2611 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2612 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2613 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2614 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2615
2616
2617 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2618 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2619
2620 @table @code
2621 @kindex set print inferior-events
2622 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2623 @item set print inferior-events
2624 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2625 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2626 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2627 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2628 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2629 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2630
2631 @kindex show print inferior-events
2632 @item show print inferior-events
2633 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2634 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2635 @end table
2636
2637 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2638 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2639 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2640
2641
2642 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2643 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2644 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2645 info program-spaces}} command.
2646
2647 @table @code
2648 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2649 @item maint info program-spaces
2650 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2651 @value{GDBN}.
2652
2653 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2654
2655 @enumerate
2656 @item
2657 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2658
2659 @item
2660 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2661 the @code{file} command.
2662
2663 @end enumerate
2664
2665 @noindent
2666 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2667 indicates the current program space.
2668
2669 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2670 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2671 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2672
2673 @smallexample
2674 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2675 Id Executable
2676 2 goodbye
2677 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2678 * 1 hello
2679 @end smallexample
2680
2681 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2682 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2683 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2684 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2685 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2686
2687 @smallexample
2688 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2689 Id Executable
2690 * 1 vfork-test
2691 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2692 @end smallexample
2693
2694 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2695 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2696 @end table
2697
2698 @node Threads
2699 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2700
2701 @cindex threads of execution
2702 @cindex multiple threads
2703 @cindex switching threads
2704 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2705 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2706 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2707 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2708 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2709 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2710 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2711
2712 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2713 programs:
2714
2715 @itemize @bullet
2716 @item automatic notification of new threads
2717 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2718 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2719 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2720 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2721 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2722 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2723 messages on thread start and exit.
2724 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2725 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2726 isn't compatible with the program.
2727 @end itemize
2728
2729 @quotation
2730 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2731 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2732 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2733 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2734 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2735 like this:
2736
2737 @smallexample
2738 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2739 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2740 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2741 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2742 @end smallexample
2743 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2744 @c doesn't support threads"?
2745 @end quotation
2746
2747 @cindex focus of debugging
2748 @cindex current thread
2749 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2750 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2751 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2752 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2753 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2754
2755 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2756 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2757 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2758 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2759 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2760 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2761 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2762 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2763 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2764 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2765
2766 @smallexample
2767 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2768 @end smallexample
2769
2770 @noindent
2771 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2772 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2773 further qualifier.
2774
2775 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2776 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2777 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2778 @c program?
2779 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2780 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2781 @c threads ab initio?
2782
2783 @cindex thread number
2784 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2785 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2786 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2787
2788 @table @code
2789 @kindex info threads
2790 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2791 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2792 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2793 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2794 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2795
2796 @enumerate
2797 @item
2798 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2799
2800 @item
2801 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2802
2803 @item
2804 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2805 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2806 program itself.
2807
2808 @item
2809 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2810 @end enumerate
2811
2812 @noindent
2813 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2814 indicates the current thread.
2815
2816 For example,
2817 @end table
2818 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2819
2820 @smallexample
2821 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2822 Id Target Id Frame
2823 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2824 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2825 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2826 at threadtest.c:68
2827 @end smallexample
2828
2829 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2830 Solaris-specific command:
2831
2832 @table @code
2833 @item maint info sol-threads
2834 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2835 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2836 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2837 @end table
2838
2839 @table @code
2840 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2841 @item thread @var{threadno}
2842 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2843 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2844 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2845 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2846 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2847
2848 @smallexample
2849 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2850 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2851 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2852 8 printf ("hello\n");
2853 @end smallexample
2854
2855 @noindent
2856 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2857 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2858 threads.
2859
2860 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2861 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2862 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2863 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2864 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2865 information on convenience variables.
2866
2867 @kindex thread apply
2868 @cindex apply command to several threads
2869 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2870 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2871 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2872 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2873 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2874 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2875 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2876 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2877
2878 @kindex thread name
2879 @cindex name a thread
2880 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2881 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2882 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2883 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2884
2885 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2886 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2887 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2888 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2889 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2890
2891 @kindex thread find
2892 @cindex search for a thread
2893 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2894 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2895 matches the supplied regular expression.
2896
2897 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2898 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2899 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2900 is the LWP id.
2901
2902 @smallexample
2903 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2904 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2905 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2906 Id Target Id Frame
2907 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2908 @end smallexample
2909
2910 @kindex set print thread-events
2911 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2912 @item set print thread-events
2913 @itemx set print thread-events on
2914 @itemx set print thread-events off
2915 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2916 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2917 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2918 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2919 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2920
2921 @kindex show print thread-events
2922 @item show print thread-events
2923 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2924 have started and exited.
2925 @end table
2926
2927 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2928 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2929 programs with multiple threads.
2930
2931 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2932 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2933
2934 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2935 @table @code
2936 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2937 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2938 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2939 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2940 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2941 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2942 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2943 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2944 macro.
2945
2946 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2947 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2948 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2949 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2950 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2951 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2952
2953 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2954 refers to the default system directories that are
2955 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2956 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2957 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2958
2959 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2960 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2961 was loaded in the inferior process.
2962
2963 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2964 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2965 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2966 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2967 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2968 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2969 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2970
2971 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2972 only on some platforms.
2973
2974 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2975 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2976 Display current libthread_db search path.
2977
2978 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2979 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2980 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2981 @item set debug libthread-db
2982 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2983 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2984 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2985 @end table
2986
2987 @node Forks
2988 @section Debugging Forks
2989
2990 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2991 @cindex multiple processes
2992 @cindex processes, multiple
2993 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2994 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2995 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2996 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2997 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2998 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2999 will cause it to terminate.
3000
3001 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3002 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3003 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3004 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3005 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3006 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3007 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3008 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3009 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3010 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3011
3012 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3013 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3014 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3015 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3016
3017 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3018 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3019
3020 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3021 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3022
3023 @table @code
3024 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3025 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3026 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3027 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3028 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3029
3030 @table @code
3031 @item parent
3032 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3033 unimpeded. This is the default.
3034
3035 @item child
3036 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3037 unimpeded.
3038
3039 @end table
3040
3041 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3042 @item show follow-fork-mode
3043 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3044 @end table
3045
3046 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3047 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3048 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3049
3050 @table @code
3051 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3052 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3053 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3054 retain debugger control over them both.
3055
3056 @table @code
3057 @item on
3058 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3059 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3060 independently. This is the default.
3061
3062 @item off
3063 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3064 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3065 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3066 is held suspended.
3067
3068 @end table
3069
3070 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3071 @item show detach-on-fork
3072 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3073 @end table
3074
3075 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3076 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3077 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3078 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3079 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3080 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3081
3082 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3083 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3084 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3085 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3086 and Programs}.
3087
3088 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3089 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3090 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3091 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3092 the child process's @code{main}.
3093
3094 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3095 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3096
3097 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3098 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3099 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3100 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3101 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3102 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3103 command.
3104
3105 @table @code
3106 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3107 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3108
3109 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3110 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3111
3112 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3113
3114 @table @code
3115 @item new
3116 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3117 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3118 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3119 original inferior.
3120
3121 For example:
3122
3123 @smallexample
3124 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3125 (gdb) info inferior
3126 Id Description Executable
3127 * 1 <null> prog1
3128 (@value{GDBP}) run
3129 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3130 Program exited normally.
3131 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3132 Id Description Executable
3133 * 2 <null> prog2
3134 1 <null> prog1
3135 @end smallexample
3136
3137 @item same
3138 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3139 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3140 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3141 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3142 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3143
3144 For example:
3145
3146 @smallexample
3147 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3148 Id Description Executable
3149 * 1 <null> prog1
3150 (@value{GDBP}) run
3151 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3152 Program exited normally.
3153 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3154 Id Description Executable
3155 * 1 <null> prog2
3156 @end smallexample
3157
3158 @end table
3159 @end table
3160
3161 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3162 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3163 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3164
3165 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3166 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3167
3168 @cindex checkpoint
3169 @cindex restart
3170 @cindex bookmark
3171 @cindex snapshot of a process
3172 @cindex rewind program state
3173
3174 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3175 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3176 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3177 later.
3178
3179 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3180 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3181 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3182 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3183 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3184
3185 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3186 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3187 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3188 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3189 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3190 start again from there.
3191
3192 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3193 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3194
3195 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3196
3197 @table @code
3198 @kindex checkpoint
3199 @item checkpoint
3200 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3201 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3202 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3203
3204 @kindex info checkpoints
3205 @item info checkpoints
3206 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3207 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3208 listed:
3209
3210 @table @code
3211 @item Checkpoint ID
3212 @item Process ID
3213 @item Code Address
3214 @item Source line, or label
3215 @end table
3216
3217 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3218 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3219 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3220 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3221 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3222 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3223 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3224
3225 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3226 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3227 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3228 the debugger.
3229
3230 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3231 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3232 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3233
3234 @end table
3235
3236 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3237 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3238 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3239 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3240 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3241 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3242 previously read data can be read again.
3243
3244 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3245 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3246 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3247 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3248 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3249 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3250
3251 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3252 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3253 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3254 different execution path this time.
3255
3256 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3257 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3258 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3259 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3260 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3261 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3262 potentially pose a problem.
3263
3264 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3265
3266 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3267 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3268 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3269 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3270 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3271 next.
3272
3273 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3274 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3275 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3276 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3277 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3278
3279 @node Stopping
3280 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3281
3282 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3283 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3284 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3285
3286 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3287 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3288 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3289 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3290 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3291 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3292 explicitly request this information at any time.
3293
3294 @table @code
3295 @kindex info program
3296 @item info program
3297 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3298 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3299 @end table
3300
3301 @menu
3302 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3303 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3304 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3305 Skipping over functions and files
3306 * Signals:: Signals
3307 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3308 @end menu
3309
3310 @node Breakpoints
3311 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3312
3313 @cindex breakpoints
3314 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3315 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3316 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3317 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3318 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3319 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3320 program.
3321
3322 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3323 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3324 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3325 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3326 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3327 call).
3328
3329 @cindex watchpoints
3330 @cindex data breakpoints
3331 @cindex memory tracing
3332 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3333 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3334 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3335 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3336 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3337 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3338 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3339 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3340 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3341 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3342 same commands.
3343
3344 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3345 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3346 Automatic Display}.
3347
3348 @cindex catchpoints
3349 @cindex breakpoint on events
3350 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3351 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3352 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3353 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3354 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3355 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3356 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3357
3358 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3359 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3360 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3361 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3362 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3363 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3364 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3365 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3366 enable it again.
3367
3368 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3369 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3370 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3371 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3372 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3373 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3374 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3375
3376 @menu
3377 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3378 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3379 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3380 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3381 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3382 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3383 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3384 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3385 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3386 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3387 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3388 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3389 @end menu
3390
3391 @node Set Breaks
3392 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3393
3394 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3395 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3396 @c
3397 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3398
3399 @kindex break
3400 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3401 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3402 @cindex latest breakpoint
3403 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3404 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3405 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3406 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3407 convenience variables.
3408
3409 @table @code
3410 @item break @var{location}
3411 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3412 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3413 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3414 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3415 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3416
3417 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3418 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3419 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3420 that situation.
3421
3422 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3423 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3424 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3425
3426 @item break
3427 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3428 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3429 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3430 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3431 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3432 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3433 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3434 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3435 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3436 inside loops.
3437
3438 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3439 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3440 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3441 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3442 existed when your program stopped.
3443
3444 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3445 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3446 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3447 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3448 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3449 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3450 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3451
3452 @kindex tbreak
3453 @item tbreak @var{args}
3454 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3455 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3456 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3457 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3458
3459 @kindex hbreak
3460 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3461 @item hbreak @var{args}
3462 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3463 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3464 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3465 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3466 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3467 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3468 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3469 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3470 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3471 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3472 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3473 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3474 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3475 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3476 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3477 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3478 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3479 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3480
3481 @kindex thbreak
3482 @item thbreak @var{args}
3483 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3484 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3485 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3486 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3487 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3488 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3489 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3490 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3491
3492 @kindex rbreak
3493 @cindex regular expression
3494 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3495 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3496 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3497 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3498 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3499 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3500 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3501 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3502 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3503
3504 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3505 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3506 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3507 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3508 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3509 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3510
3511 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3512 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3513 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3514 classes.
3515
3516 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3517 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3518 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3519
3520 @smallexample
3521 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3522 @end smallexample
3523
3524 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3525 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3526 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3527 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3528 every function in a given file:
3529
3530 @smallexample
3531 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3532 @end smallexample
3533
3534 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3535 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3536
3537 @kindex info breakpoints
3538 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3539 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3540 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3541 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3542 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3543 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3544 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3545
3546 @table @emph
3547 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3548 @item Type
3549 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3550 @item Disposition
3551 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3552 @item Enabled or Disabled
3553 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3554 that are not enabled.
3555 @item Address
3556 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3557 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3558 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3559 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3560 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3561 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3562 @item What
3563 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3564 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3565 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3566 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3567 @end table
3568
3569 @noindent
3570 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3571 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3572 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3573 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3574 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3575 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3576
3577 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3578 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3579 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3580 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3581
3582 @noindent
3583 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3584 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3585 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3586 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3587 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3588
3589 @noindent
3590 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3591 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3592 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3593 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3594 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3595 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3596
3597 @noindent
3598 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3599 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3600
3601 @end table
3602
3603 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3604 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3605 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3606 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3607
3608 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3609 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3610 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3611 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3612
3613 @itemize @bullet
3614 @item
3615 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3616
3617 @item
3618 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3619 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3620
3621 @item
3622 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3623 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3624
3625 @item
3626 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3627 several places where that function is inlined.
3628 @end itemize
3629
3630 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3631 the relevant locations.
3632
3633 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3634 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3635 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3636 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3637 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3638 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3639 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3640
3641 For example:
3642
3643 @smallexample
3644 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3645 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3646 stop only if i==1
3647 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3648 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3649 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3650 @end smallexample
3651
3652 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3653 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3654 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3655 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3656 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3657 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3658 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3659 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3660 that belong to that breakpoint.
3661
3662 @cindex pending breakpoints
3663 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3664 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3665 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3666 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3667 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3668 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3669 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3670 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3671 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3672 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3673 is not yet resolved.
3674
3675 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3676 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3677 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3678 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3679 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3680 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3681
3682 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3683 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3684 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3685 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3686
3687 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3688 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3689 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3690
3691 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3692 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3693 address specification to an address:
3694
3695 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3696 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3697 @table @code
3698 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3699 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3700 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3701
3702 @item set breakpoint pending on
3703 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3704 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3705
3706 @item set breakpoint pending off
3707 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3708 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3709 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3710
3711 @item show breakpoint pending
3712 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3713 @end table
3714
3715 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3716 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3717 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3718
3719 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3720 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3721 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3722 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3723 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3724 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3725 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3726 breakpoints.
3727
3728 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3729
3730 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3731 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3732 @table @code
3733 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3734 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3735 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3736 breakpoint must be used.
3737
3738 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3739 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3740 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3741 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3742 @end table
3743
3744 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3745 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3746 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3747 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3748 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3749 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3750 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3751 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3752 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3753
3754 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3755 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3756 @table @code
3757 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3758 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3759 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3760 removed from the target when it stops.
3761
3762 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3763 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3764 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3765 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3766 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3767
3768 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3769 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3770 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3771 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3772 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3773 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3774 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3775 @end table
3776
3777 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3778 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3779 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3780
3781 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3782 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3783
3784 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3785
3786 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3787 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3788 @table @code
3789 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3790 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3791 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3792 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3793 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3794
3795 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3796 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3797 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3798 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3799 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3800 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3801 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3802 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3803 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3804 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3805 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3806 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3807 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3808
3809 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3810 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3811 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3812 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3813 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3814 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3815 @end table
3816
3817
3818 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3819 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3820 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3821 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3822 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3823 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3824 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3825 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3826
3827
3828 @node Set Watchpoints
3829 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3830
3831 @cindex setting watchpoints
3832 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3833 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3834 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3835 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3836 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3837
3838 @itemize @bullet
3839 @item
3840 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3841
3842 @item
3843 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3844 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3845 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3846
3847 @item
3848 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3849 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3850 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3851 @end itemize
3852
3853 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3854 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3855 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3856 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3857 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3858 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3859 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3860 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3861 the expression changes.
3862
3863 @cindex software watchpoints
3864 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3865 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3866 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3867 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3868 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3869 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3870 culprit.)
3871
3872 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3873 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3874 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3875
3876 @table @code
3877 @kindex watch
3878 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3879 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3880 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3881 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3882 to watch the value of a single variable:
3883
3884 @smallexample
3885 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3886 @end smallexample
3887
3888 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3889 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3890 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3891 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3892 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3893 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3894
3895 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3896 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3897 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3898 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3899 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3900 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3901 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3902 error.
3903
3904 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3905 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3906 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3907 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3908 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3909 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3910 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3911 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3912 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3913 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3914 Examples:
3915
3916 @smallexample
3917 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3918 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3919 @end smallexample
3920
3921 @kindex rwatch
3922 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3923 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3924 by the program.
3925
3926 @kindex awatch
3927 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3928 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3929 or written into by the program.
3930
3931 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3932 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3933 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3934 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3935 @end table
3936
3937 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3938 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3939 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3940 a never-changing value:
3941
3942 @smallexample
3943 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3944 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3945 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3946 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3947 @end smallexample
3948
3949 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3950 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3951 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3952 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3953 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3954 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3955
3956 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3957 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3958 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3959 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3960 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3961 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3962 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3963 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3964
3965 @table @code
3966 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3967 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3968 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3969
3970 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3971 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3972 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3973 @end table
3974
3975 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3976 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3977 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3978
3979 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3980
3981 @smallexample
3982 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3983 @end smallexample
3984
3985 @noindent
3986 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3987
3988 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3989 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3990 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3991 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3992 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3993 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3994 will print a message like this:
3995
3996 @smallexample
3997 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3998 @end smallexample
3999
4000 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4001 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4002 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4003 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4004 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4005 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4006 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4007 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4008
4009 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4010 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4011 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4012 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4013 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4014 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4015
4016 @smallexample
4017 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4018 @end smallexample
4019
4020 @noindent
4021 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4022
4023 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4024 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4025 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4026 expression with separately allocated resources.
4027
4028 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4029 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4030 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4031
4032 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4033 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4034 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4035 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4036 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4037 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4038 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4039 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4040 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4041
4042 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4043 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4044 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4045 watched expression from every thread.
4046
4047 @quotation
4048 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4049 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4050 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4051 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4052 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4053 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4054 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4055 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4056 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4057 @end quotation
4058
4059 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4060
4061 @node Set Catchpoints
4062 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4063 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4064 @cindex exception handlers
4065 @cindex event handling
4066
4067 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4068 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4069 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4070
4071 @table @code
4072 @kindex catch
4073 @item catch @var{event}
4074 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4075
4076 @table @code
4077 @item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4078 @itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4079 @itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4080 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4081 The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4082
4083 If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4084 regular expression will be caught.
4085
4086 @vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4087 The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4088 exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4089 exception being thrown.
4090
4091 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4092 @value{GDBN}:
4093
4094 @itemize @bullet
4095 @item
4096 The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4097 systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4098 supported.
4099
4100 @item
4101 The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4102 variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4103 If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4104 These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4105 or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4106 built.
4107
4108 @item
4109 The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4110 instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4111
4112 @item
4113 When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4114 location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4115 support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4116 (@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4117
4118 @item
4119 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4120 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4121 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4122 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4123 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4124 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4125 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4126 disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4127 controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4128
4129 @item
4130 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4131
4132 @item
4133 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4134 @end itemize
4135
4136 @item exception
4137 @cindex Ada exception catching
4138 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4139 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4140 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4141 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4142 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4143
4144 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4145 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4146 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4147 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4148 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4149 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4150 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4151 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4152
4153 @item exception unhandled
4154 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4155
4156 @item assert
4157 A failed Ada assertion.
4158
4159 @item exec
4160 @cindex break on fork/exec
4161 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4162 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4163
4164 @item syscall
4165 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4166 @cindex break on a system call.
4167 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4168 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4169 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4170 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4171 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4172 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4173 will be caught.
4174
4175 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4176 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4177 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4178 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4179
4180 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4181 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4182 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4183 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4184
4185 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4186 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4187 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4188 available choices.
4189
4190 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4191 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4192 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4193 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4194 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4195 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4196 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4197 behind the OS upgrades).
4198
4199 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4200 arguments to it:
4201
4202 @smallexample
4203 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4204 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4205 (@value{GDBP}) r
4206 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4207
4208 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4209 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4210 (@value{GDBP}) c
4211 Continuing.
4212
4213 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4214 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4215 (@value{GDBP})
4216 @end smallexample
4217
4218 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4219
4220 @smallexample
4221 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4222 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4223 (@value{GDBP}) r
4224 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4225
4226 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4227 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4228 (@value{GDBP}) c
4229 Continuing.
4230
4231 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4232 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4233 (@value{GDBP})
4234 @end smallexample
4235
4236 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4237 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4238 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4239
4240 @smallexample
4241 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4242 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4243 (@value{GDBP}) r
4244 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4245
4246 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4247 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4248 (@value{GDBP}) c
4249 Continuing.
4250
4251 Program exited normally.
4252 (@value{GDBP})
4253 @end smallexample
4254
4255 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4256 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4257 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4258 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4259
4260 @smallexample
4261 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4262 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4263 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4264 (@value{GDBP})
4265 @end smallexample
4266
4267 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4268 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4269 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4270 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4271 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4272 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4273
4274 @smallexample
4275 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4276 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4277 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4278 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4279 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4280 (@value{GDBP})
4281 @end smallexample
4282
4283 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4284
4285 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4286 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4287
4288 @smallexample
4289 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4290 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4291 @end smallexample
4292
4293 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4294
4295 @item fork
4296 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4297 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4298
4299 @item vfork
4300 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4301 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4302
4303 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4304 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4305 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4306 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4307 matches one of the affected libraries.
4308
4309 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4310 The delivery of a signal.
4311
4312 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4313 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4314 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4315
4316 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4317 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4318 signal names.
4319
4320 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4321 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4322 will be caught.
4323
4324 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4325 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4326 catchpoint.
4327
4328 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4329 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4330 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4331 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4332 commands.
4333
4334 @end table
4335
4336 @item tcatch @var{event}
4337 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4338 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4339
4340 @end table
4341
4342 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4343
4344
4345 @node Delete Breaks
4346 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4347
4348 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4349 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4350 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4351 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4352 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4353 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4354
4355 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4356 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4357 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4358 their breakpoint numbers.
4359
4360 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4361 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4362 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4363
4364 @table @code
4365 @kindex clear
4366 @item clear
4367 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4368 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4369 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4370 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4371
4372 @item clear @var{location}
4373 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4374 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4375 most useful ones are listed below:
4376
4377 @table @code
4378 @item clear @var{function}
4379 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4380 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4381
4382 @item clear @var{linenum}
4383 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4384 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4385 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4386 @end table
4387
4388 @cindex delete breakpoints
4389 @kindex delete
4390 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4391 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4392 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4393 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4394 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4395 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4396 @end table
4397
4398 @node Disabling
4399 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4400
4401 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4402 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4403 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4404 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4405 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4406
4407 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4408 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4409 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4410 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4411 do not know which numbers to use.
4412
4413 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4414 affects all of its locations.
4415
4416 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4417 different states of enablement:
4418
4419 @itemize @bullet
4420 @item
4421 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4422 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4423 @item
4424 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4425 @item
4426 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4427 disabled.
4428 @item
4429 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4430 N times, then becomes disabled.
4431 @item
4432 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4433 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4434 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4435 @end itemize
4436
4437 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4438 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4439
4440 @table @code
4441 @kindex disable
4442 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4443 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4444 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4445 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4446 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4447 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4448 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4449
4450 @kindex enable
4451 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4452 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4453 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4454
4455 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4456 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4457 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4458
4459 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4460 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4461 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4462 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4463 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4464 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4465 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4466
4467 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4468 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4469 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4470 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4471 @end table
4472
4473 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4474 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4475 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4476 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4477 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4478 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4479 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4480 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4481 Stepping}.)
4482
4483 @node Conditions
4484 @subsection Break Conditions
4485 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4486 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4487
4488 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4489 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4490 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4491 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4492 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4493 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4494 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4495 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4496
4497 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4498 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4499 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4500 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4501 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4502
4503 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4504 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4505 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4506 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4507 one.
4508
4509 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4510 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4511 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4512 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4513 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4514 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4515 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4516 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4517 conditions for the
4518 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4519 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4520
4521 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4522 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4523 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4524 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4525 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4526 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4527
4528 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4529 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4530 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4531 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4532 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4533
4534 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4535 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4536 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4537 with the @code{condition} command.
4538
4539 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4540 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4541 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4542 catchpoint.
4543
4544 @table @code
4545 @kindex condition
4546 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4547 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4548 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4549 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4550 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4551 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4552 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4553 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4554 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4555 prints an error message:
4556
4557 @smallexample
4558 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4559 @end smallexample
4560
4561 @noindent
4562 @value{GDBN} does
4563 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4564 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4565 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4566
4567 @item condition @var{bnum}
4568 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4569 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4570 @end table
4571
4572 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4573 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4574 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4575 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4576 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4577 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4578 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4579 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4580 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4581 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4582 your program reaches it.
4583
4584 @table @code
4585 @kindex ignore
4586 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4587 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4588 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4589 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4590 takes no action.
4591
4592 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4593 a count of zero.
4594
4595 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4596 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4597 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4598 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4599
4600 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4601 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4602 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4603
4604 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4605 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4606 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4607 Variables}.
4608 @end table
4609
4610 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4611
4612
4613 @node Break Commands
4614 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4615
4616 @cindex breakpoint commands
4617 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4618 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4619 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4620 enable other breakpoints.
4621
4622 @table @code
4623 @kindex commands
4624 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4625 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4626 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4627 @itemx end
4628 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4629 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4630 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4631
4632 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4633 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4634
4635 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4636 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4637 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4638 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4639 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4640 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4641 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4642 Expressions}).
4643 @end table
4644
4645 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4646 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4647
4648 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4649 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4650 that resumes execution.
4651
4652 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4653 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4654 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4655 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4656 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4657
4658 @kindex silent
4659 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4660 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4661 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4662 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4663 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4664 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4665
4666 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4667 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4668 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4669
4670 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4671 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4672
4673 @smallexample
4674 break foo if x>0
4675 commands
4676 silent
4677 printf "x is %d\n",x
4678 cont
4679 end
4680 @end smallexample
4681
4682 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4683 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4684 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4685 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4686 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4687 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4688 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4689
4690 @smallexample
4691 break 403
4692 commands
4693 silent
4694 set x = y + 4
4695 cont
4696 end
4697 @end smallexample
4698
4699 @node Dynamic Printf
4700 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4701
4702 @cindex dynamic printf
4703 @cindex dprintf
4704 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4705 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4706 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4707 having to recompile it.
4708
4709 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4710 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4711 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4712 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4713 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4714 redirects to files and so forth.
4715
4716 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4717 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4718 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4719 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4720 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4721 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4722 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4723
4724 @table @code
4725 @kindex dprintf
4726 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4727 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4728 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4729 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4730
4731 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4732 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4733 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4734 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4735 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4736 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4737
4738 @item gdb
4739 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4740 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4741
4742 @item call
4743 @kindex dprintf-style call
4744 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4745 @code{printf}).
4746
4747 @item agent
4748 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4749 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4750 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4751 support running commands on the target.
4752
4753 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4754 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4755 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4756 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4757 command.
4758
4759 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4760 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4761 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4762 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4763 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4764 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4765
4766 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4767 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4768 you could do the following:
4769
4770 @example
4771 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4772 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4773 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4774 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4775 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4776 (gdb) info break
4777 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4778 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4779 continue
4780 (gdb)
4781 @end example
4782
4783 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4784 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4785 the variable settings.
4786
4787 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
4788 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4789 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4790 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4791 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4792 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4793
4794 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
4795 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4796 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4797
4798 @end table
4799
4800 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4801 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4802 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4803 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4804 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4805 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4806
4807 @node Save Breakpoints
4808 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4809
4810 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4811 breakpoints}} command.
4812
4813 @table @code
4814 @kindex save breakpoints
4815 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4816 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4817 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4818 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4819 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4820 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4821 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4822 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4823 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4824 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4825 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4826 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4827 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4828 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4829 that can no longer be recreated.
4830 @end table
4831
4832 @node Static Probe Points
4833 @subsection Static Probe Points
4834
4835 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4836 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4837 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4838 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4839 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4840 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4841 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4842
4843 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4844 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4845 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4846 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4847 in your applications.
4848
4849 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4850 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4851 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4852 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4853 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4854 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4855 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4856 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4857
4858 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4859 probes}, with optional arguments:
4860
4861 @table @code
4862 @kindex info probes
4863 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4864 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4865 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4866 probes from all providers are listed.
4867
4868 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4869 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4870 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4871
4872 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4873 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4874 given, all object files are considered.
4875
4876 @item info probes all
4877 List the available static probes, from all types.
4878 @end table
4879
4880 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4881 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4882 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4883 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4884 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4885 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4886 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4887 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4888 at the current probe point.
4889
4890 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4891 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4892 an error message.
4893
4894
4895 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4896 @node Error in Breakpoints
4897 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4898
4899 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4900 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4901
4902 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4903 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4904 @smallexample
4905 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4906 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4907 @end smallexample
4908
4909 @noindent
4910 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4911 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4912 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4913
4914 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4915 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4916
4917 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4918 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4919 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4920
4921 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4922 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4923 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4924 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4925
4926 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4927 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4928 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4929 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4930 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4931 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4932 first in the bundle.
4933
4934 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4935 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4936 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4937 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4938 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4939 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4940 is hit.
4941
4942 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4943 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4944
4945 @smallexample
4946 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4947 @end smallexample
4948
4949 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4950 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4951 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4952 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4953 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4954 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4955 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4956 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4957
4958 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4959 adjusted breakpoints:
4960
4961 @smallexample
4962 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4963 to 0x00010410.
4964 @end smallexample
4965
4966 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4967 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4968 frequently than expected.
4969
4970 @node Continuing and Stepping
4971 @section Continuing and Stepping
4972
4973 @cindex stepping
4974 @cindex continuing
4975 @cindex resuming execution
4976 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4977 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4978 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4979 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4980 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4981 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4982 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4983 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4984
4985 @table @code
4986 @kindex continue
4987 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4988 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4989 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4990 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4991 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4992 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4993 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4994 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4995 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4996 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4997
4998 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4999 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5000 @code{continue} is ignored.
5001
5002 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5003 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5004 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5005 @code{continue}.
5006 @end table
5007
5008 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5009 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5010 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5011 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5012
5013 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5014 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5015 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5016 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5017 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5018 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5019
5020 @table @code
5021 @kindex step
5022 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5023 @item step
5024 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5025 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5026 abbreviated @code{s}.
5027
5028 @quotation
5029 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5030 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5031 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5032 @c distinction here.
5033 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5034 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5035 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5036 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5037 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5038 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5039 below.
5040 @end quotation
5041
5042 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5043 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5044 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5045 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5046 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5047 called within the line.
5048
5049 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5050 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5051 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5052 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5053 was any debugging information about the routine.
5054
5055 @item step @var{count}
5056 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5057 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5058 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5059
5060 @kindex next
5061 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5062 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5063 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5064 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5065 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5066 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5067 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5068 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5069
5070 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5071
5072
5073 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5074 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5075 @c
5076 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5077 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5078 @c function are executed without stopping.
5079
5080 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5081 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5082 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5083
5084 @kindex set step-mode
5085 @item set step-mode
5086 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5087 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5088 @itemx set step-mode on
5089 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5090 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5091 information rather than stepping over it.
5092
5093 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5094 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5095 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5096
5097 @item set step-mode off
5098 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5099 debug information. This is the default.
5100
5101 @item show step-mode
5102 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5103 source line debug information.
5104
5105 @kindex finish
5106 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5107 @item finish
5108 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5109 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5110 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5111
5112 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5113 ,Returning from a Function}).
5114
5115 @kindex until
5116 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5117 @cindex run until specified location
5118 @item until
5119 @itemx u
5120 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5121 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5122 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5123 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5124 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5125 than the address of the jump.
5126
5127 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5128 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5129 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5130 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5131 through the next iteration.
5132
5133 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5134 stack frame.
5135
5136 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5137 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5138 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5139 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5140 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5141
5142 @smallexample
5143 (@value{GDBP}) f
5144 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5145 206 expand_input();
5146 (@value{GDBP}) until
5147 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5148 @end smallexample
5149
5150 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5151 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5152 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5153 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5154 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5155 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5156 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5157
5158 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5159 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5160 argument.
5161
5162 @item until @var{location}
5163 @itemx u @var{location}
5164 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5165 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5166 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5167 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5168 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5169 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5170 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5171 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5172 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5173 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5174 invocations have returned.
5175
5176 @smallexample
5177 94 int factorial (int value)
5178 95 @{
5179 96 if (value > 1) @{
5180 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5181 98 @}
5182 99 return (value);
5183 100 @}
5184 @end smallexample
5185
5186
5187 @kindex advance @var{location}
5188 @item advance @var{location}
5189 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5190 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5191 @ref{Specify Location}.
5192 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5193 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5194 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5195 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5196
5197
5198 @kindex stepi
5199 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5200 @item stepi
5201 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5202 @itemx si
5203 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5204
5205 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5206 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5207 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5208 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5209
5210 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5211
5212 @need 750
5213 @kindex nexti
5214 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5215 @item nexti
5216 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5217 @itemx ni
5218 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5219 proceed until the function returns.
5220
5221 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5222 @end table
5223
5224 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5225 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5226 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5227
5228 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5229 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5230 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5231
5232 For example, consider the following C function:
5233
5234 @smallexample
5235 101 int func()
5236 102 @{
5237 103 foo(boring());
5238 104 bar(boring());
5239 105 @}
5240 @end smallexample
5241
5242 @noindent
5243 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5244 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5245 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5246 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5247
5248 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5249 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5250 is called from many places.
5251
5252 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5253 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5254 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5255 @code{foo}.
5256
5257 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5258 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5259
5260 @table @code
5261 @kindex skip function
5262 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5263 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5264 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5265 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5266 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5267
5268 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5269 will be skipped.
5270
5271 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5272 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5273
5274 @kindex skip file
5275 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5276 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5277 will be skipped over when stepping.
5278
5279 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5280 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5281 @end table
5282
5283 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5284 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5285
5286 @table @code
5287 @kindex info skip
5288 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5289 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5290 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5291 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5292
5293 @table @emph
5294 @item Identifier
5295 A number identifying this skip.
5296 @item Type
5297 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5298 @item Enabled or Disabled
5299 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5300 @item Address
5301 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5302 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5303 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5304 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5305 address here.
5306 @item What
5307 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5308 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5309 where it is defined.
5310 @end table
5311
5312 @kindex skip delete
5313 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5314 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5315 skips.
5316
5317 @kindex skip enable
5318 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5319 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5320 skips.
5321
5322 @kindex skip disable
5323 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5324 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5325 skips.
5326
5327 @end table
5328
5329 @node Signals
5330 @section Signals
5331 @cindex signals
5332
5333 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5334 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5335 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5336 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5337 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5338 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5339 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5340 requested an alarm).
5341
5342 @cindex fatal signals
5343 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5344 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5345 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5346 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5347 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5348 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5349
5350 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5351 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5352 signal.
5353
5354 @cindex handling signals
5355 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5356 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5357 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5358 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5359 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5360
5361 @table @code
5362 @kindex info signals
5363 @kindex info handle
5364 @item info signals
5365 @itemx info handle
5366 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5367 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5368 the defined types of signals.
5369
5370 @item info signals @var{sig}
5371 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5372
5373 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5374
5375 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5376 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5377 for details about this command.
5378
5379 @kindex handle
5380 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5381 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5382 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5383 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5384 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5385 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5386 say what change to make.
5387 @end table
5388
5389 @c @group
5390 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5391 Their full names are:
5392
5393 @table @code
5394 @item nostop
5395 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5396 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5397
5398 @item stop
5399 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5400 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5401
5402 @item print
5403 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5404
5405 @item noprint
5406 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5407 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5408
5409 @item pass
5410 @itemx noignore
5411 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5412 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5413 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5414
5415 @item nopass
5416 @itemx ignore
5417 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5418 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5419 @end table
5420 @c @end group
5421
5422 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5423 program until you
5424 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5425 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5426 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5427 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5428 program sees that signal when you continue.
5429
5430 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5431 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5432 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5433 erroneous signals.
5434
5435 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5436 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5437 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5438 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5439 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5440 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5441 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5442 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5443 Program a Signal}.
5444
5445 @cindex extra signal information
5446 @anchor{extra signal information}
5447
5448 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5449 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5450 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5451 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5452 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5453 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5454 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5455 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5456 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5457 system header.
5458
5459 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5460 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5461
5462 @smallexample
5463 @group
5464 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5465 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5466 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5467 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5468 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5469 type = struct @{
5470 int si_signo;
5471 int si_errno;
5472 int si_code;
5473 union @{
5474 int _pad[28];
5475 struct @{...@} _kill;
5476 struct @{...@} _timer;
5477 struct @{...@} _rt;
5478 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5479 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5480 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5481 @} _sifields;
5482 @}
5483 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5484 type = struct @{
5485 void *si_addr;
5486 @}
5487 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5488 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5489 @end group
5490 @end smallexample
5491
5492 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5493
5494 @node Thread Stops
5495 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5496
5497 @cindex stopped threads
5498 @cindex threads, stopped
5499
5500 @cindex continuing threads
5501 @cindex threads, continuing
5502
5503 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5504 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5505 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5506 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5507 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5508 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5509 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5510 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5511 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5512
5513 @menu
5514 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5515 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5516 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5517 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5518 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5519 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5520 @end menu
5521
5522 @node All-Stop Mode
5523 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5524
5525 @cindex all-stop mode
5526
5527 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5528 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5529 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5530 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5531 underfoot.
5532
5533 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5534 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5535 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5536
5537 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5538 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5539 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5540 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5541 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5542 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5543 stops.
5544
5545 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5546 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5547 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5548 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5549
5550 @cindex automatic thread selection
5551 @cindex switching threads automatically
5552 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5553 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5554 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5555 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5556 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5557 thread.
5558
5559 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5560 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5561
5562 @table @code
5563 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5564 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5565 @cindex lock scheduler
5566 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5567 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5568 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5569 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5570 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5571 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5572 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5573 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5574 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5575 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5576 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5577 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5578
5579 @item show scheduler-locking
5580 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5581 @end table
5582
5583 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5584 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5585 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5586 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5587 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5588 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5589 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5590 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5591 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5592 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5593 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5594 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5595 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5596 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5597
5598 @table @code
5599 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5600 @item set schedule-multiple
5601 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5602 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5603 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5604 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5605 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5606 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5607
5608 @item show schedule-multiple
5609 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5610 multiple processes.
5611 @end table
5612
5613 @node Non-Stop Mode
5614 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5615
5616 @cindex non-stop mode
5617
5618 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5619 @c with more details.
5620
5621 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5622 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5623 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5624 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5625 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5626 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5627
5628 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5629 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5630 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5631 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5632 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5633 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5634 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5635 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5636 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5637 independently and simultaneously.
5638
5639 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5640 or attach to your program:
5641
5642 @smallexample
5643 # Enable the async interface.
5644 set target-async 1
5645
5646 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5647 set pagination off
5648
5649 # Finally, turn it on!
5650 set non-stop on
5651 @end smallexample
5652
5653 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5654
5655 @table @code
5656 @kindex set non-stop
5657 @item set non-stop on
5658 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5659 @item set non-stop off
5660 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5661 @kindex show non-stop
5662 @item show non-stop
5663 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5664 @end table
5665
5666 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5667 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5668 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5669 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5670 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5671 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5672 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5673 default.
5674
5675 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5676 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5677 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5678
5679 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5680 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5681 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5682 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5683 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5684
5685 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5686 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5687 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5688 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5689 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5690
5691 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5692
5693 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5694 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5695 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5696 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5697 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5698 previously current thread.
5699
5700 @node Background Execution
5701 @subsection Background Execution
5702
5703 @cindex foreground execution
5704 @cindex background execution
5705 @cindex asynchronous execution
5706 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5707
5708 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5709 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5710 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5711 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5712 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5713 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5714
5715 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5716 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5717 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5718
5719 @table @code
5720 @kindex set target-async
5721 @item set target-async on
5722 Enable asynchronous mode.
5723 @item set target-async off
5724 Disable asynchronous mode.
5725 @kindex show target-async
5726 @item show target-async
5727 Show the current target-async setting.
5728 @end table
5729
5730 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5731 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5732
5733 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5734 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5735 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5736 are:
5737
5738 @table @code
5739 @kindex run&
5740 @item run
5741 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5742
5743 @item attach
5744 @kindex attach&
5745 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5746
5747 @item step
5748 @kindex step&
5749 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5750
5751 @item stepi
5752 @kindex stepi&
5753 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5754
5755 @item next
5756 @kindex next&
5757 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5758
5759 @item nexti
5760 @kindex nexti&
5761 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5762
5763 @item continue
5764 @kindex continue&
5765 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5766
5767 @item finish
5768 @kindex finish&
5769 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5770
5771 @item until
5772 @kindex until&
5773 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5774
5775 @end table
5776
5777 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5778 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5779 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5780 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5781 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5782 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5783
5784 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5785 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5786
5787 @table @code
5788 @kindex interrupt
5789 @item interrupt
5790 @itemx interrupt -a
5791
5792 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5793 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5794 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5795 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5796 @end table
5797
5798 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5799 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5800
5801 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5802 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5803 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5804
5805 @table @code
5806 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5807 @cindex thread breakpoints
5808 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5809 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5810 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5811 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5812 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5813 specify some source line.
5814
5815 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5816 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5817 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5818 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5819 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5820
5821 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5822 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5823 program.
5824
5825 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5826 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5827 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5828
5829 @smallexample
5830 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5831 @end smallexample
5832
5833 @end table
5834
5835 @node Interrupted System Calls
5836 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5837
5838 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5839 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5840 @cindex premature return from system calls
5841 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5842 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5843 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5844 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5845 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5846 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5847 stop execution.
5848
5849 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5850 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5851 style anyways.
5852
5853 For example, do not write code like this:
5854
5855 @smallexample
5856 sleep (10);
5857 @end smallexample
5858
5859 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5860 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5861
5862 Instead, write this:
5863
5864 @smallexample
5865 int unslept = 10;
5866 while (unslept > 0)
5867 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5868 @end smallexample
5869
5870 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5871 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5872 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5873 @value{GDBN}.
5874
5875 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5876 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5877 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5878 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5879
5880 @node Observer Mode
5881 @subsection Observer Mode
5882
5883 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5884 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5885 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5886 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5887 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5888
5889 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5890 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5891 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5892 mode.
5893
5894 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5895 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5896 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5897 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5898 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5899
5900 @table @code
5901
5902 @kindex observer
5903 @item set observer on
5904 @itemx set observer off
5905 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5906 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5907 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5908 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5909
5910 @item show observer
5911 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5912
5913 @kindex may-write-registers
5914 @item set may-write-registers on
5915 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5916 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5917 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5918 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5919
5920 @item show may-write-registers
5921 Show the current permission to write registers.
5922
5923 @kindex may-write-memory
5924 @item set may-write-memory on
5925 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5926 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5927 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5928 defaults to @code{on}.
5929
5930 @item show may-write-memory
5931 Show the current permission to write memory.
5932
5933 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5934 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5935 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5936 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5937 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5938 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5939
5940 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5941 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5942
5943 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5944 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5945 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5946 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5947 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5948 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5949 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5950
5951 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5952 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5953
5954 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5955 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5956 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5957 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5958 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5959 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5960 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5961
5962 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5963 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5964
5965 @kindex may-interrupt
5966 @item set may-interrupt on
5967 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5968 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5969 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5970 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5971 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5972
5973 @item show may-interrupt
5974 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5975
5976 @end table
5977
5978 @node Reverse Execution
5979 @chapter Running programs backward
5980 @cindex reverse execution
5981 @cindex running programs backward
5982
5983 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5984 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5985 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5986 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5987
5988 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5989 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5990 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5991 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5992 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5993 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5994
5995 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5996 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5997 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5998 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5999 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6000 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6001 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6002 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6003 prior values@footnote{
6004 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6005 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6006 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6007
6008 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6009 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6010 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6011 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6012 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6013 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6014 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6015 }.
6016
6017 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6018 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6019
6020 @table @code
6021 @kindex reverse-continue
6022 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6023 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6024 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6025 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6026 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6027 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6028 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6029
6030 @kindex reverse-step
6031 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6032 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6033 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6034 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6035
6036 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6037 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6038 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6039 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6040 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6041 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6042
6043 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6044 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6045
6046 @kindex reverse-stepi
6047 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6048 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6049 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6050 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6051 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6052 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6053 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6054
6055 @kindex reverse-next
6056 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6057 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6058 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6059 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6060 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6061 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6062 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6063 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6064 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6065 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6066
6067 @kindex reverse-nexti
6068 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6069 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6070 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6071 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6072 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6073 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6074 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6075 frame) is reached.
6076
6077 @kindex reverse-finish
6078 @item reverse-finish
6079 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6080 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6081 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6082 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6083
6084 @kindex set exec-direction
6085 @item set exec-direction
6086 Set the direction of target execution.
6087 @item set exec-direction reverse
6088 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6089 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6090 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6091 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6092 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6093 @item set exec-direction forward
6094 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6095 This is the default.
6096 @end table
6097
6098
6099 @node Process Record and Replay
6100 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6101 @cindex process record and replay
6102 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6103
6104 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6105 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6106 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6107
6108 @cindex replay mode
6109 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6110 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6111 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6112 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6113 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6114 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6115 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6116 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6117 execution log.
6118
6119 @cindex record mode
6120 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6121 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6122 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6123 for future replay.
6124
6125 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6126 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6127 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6128 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6129 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6130 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6131
6132 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6133 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6134 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6135 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6136
6137 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6138 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6139
6140 @table @code
6141 @kindex target record
6142 @kindex target record-full
6143 @kindex target record-btrace
6144 @kindex record
6145 @kindex record full
6146 @kindex record btrace
6147 @kindex rec
6148 @kindex rec full
6149 @kindex rec btrace
6150 @item record @var{method}
6151 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6152 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6153 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6154 recording methods are available:
6155
6156 @table @code
6157 @item full
6158 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6159 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6160 execution.
6161
6162 @item btrace
6163 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not allow
6164 replaying and reverse execution.
6165
6166 This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6167 @end table
6168
6169 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6170 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6171 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6172 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6173
6174 Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6175 aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6176
6177 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6178 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6179 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6180 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6181 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6182
6183 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6184 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6185 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6186 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6187 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6188 does not support these two modes.
6189
6190 @kindex record stop
6191 @kindex rec s
6192 @item record stop
6193 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6194 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6195 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6196
6197 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6198 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6199 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6200 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6201 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6202
6203 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6204 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6205 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6206 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6207 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6208
6209 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6210 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6211
6212 @kindex record save
6213 @item record save @var{filename}
6214 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6215 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6216 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6217
6218 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6219
6220 @kindex record restore
6221 @item record restore @var{filename}
6222 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6223 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6224
6225 @kindex set record full
6226 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6227 @itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6228 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6229 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6230
6231 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6232 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6233 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6234 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6235 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6236 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6237 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6238 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6239
6240 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6241 delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6242 recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6243
6244 @kindex show record full
6245 @item show record full insn-number-max
6246 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6247 recording method.
6248
6249 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6250 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6251 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6252 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6253 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6254 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6255 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6256 oldest one to be deleted.
6257
6258 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6259 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6260
6261 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6262 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6263
6264 @item set record full memory-query
6265 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6266 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6267 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6268 case.
6269
6270 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6271 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6272 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6273 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6274 results.
6275
6276 @item show record full memory-query
6277 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6278
6279 @kindex info record
6280 @item info record
6281 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6282 method:
6283
6284 @table @code
6285 @item full
6286 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6287 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6288
6289 @itemize @bullet
6290 @item
6291 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6292 @item
6293 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6294 @item
6295 Highest recorded instruction number.
6296 @item
6297 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6298 @item
6299 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6300 @item
6301 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6302 @end itemize
6303
6304 @item btrace
6305 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6306 instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6307 sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6308 @end table
6309
6310 @kindex record delete
6311 @kindex rec del
6312 @item record delete
6313 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6314 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6315 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6316 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6317
6318 @kindex record instruction-history
6319 @kindex rec instruction-history
6320 @item record instruction-history
6321 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6322 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6323 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6324 are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6325 what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6326
6327 @table @code
6328 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6329 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6330 @var{insn}.
6331
6332 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6333 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6334 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6335 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6336 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6337 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6338
6339 @item record instruction-history
6340 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6341
6342 @item record instruction-history -
6343 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6344
6345 @item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6346 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6347 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6348 number @var{end} is not included.
6349 @end table
6350
6351 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6352
6353 @kindex set record
6354 @item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6355 @itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6356 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6357 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6358 A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6359
6360 @kindex show record
6361 @item show record instruction-history-size
6362 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6363 instruction-history} command.
6364
6365 @kindex record function-call-history
6366 @kindex rec function-call-history
6367 @item record function-call-history
6368 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6369 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6370 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6371 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6372 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6373 the @code{/i} modifier is specified).
6374
6375 @smallexample
6376 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
6377 1 void foo (void)
6378 2 @{
6379 3 @}
6380 4
6381 5 void bar (void)
6382 6 @{
6383 7 ...
6384 8 foo ();
6385 9 ...
6386 10 @}
6387 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /l}
6388 1 foo.c:6-8 bar
6389 2 foo.c:2-3 foo
6390 3 foo.c:9-10 bar
6391 @end smallexample
6392
6393 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6394 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6395 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6396 to print:
6397
6398 @table @code
6399 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
6400 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6401
6402 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6403 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6404 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6405 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6406 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6407
6408 @item record function-call-history
6409 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6410
6411 @item record function-call-history -
6412 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6413
6414 @item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6415 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6416 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is not
6417 included.
6418 @end table
6419
6420 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6421
6422 @item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6423 @itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6424 Define how many lines to print in the
6425 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6426 A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6427
6428 @item show record function-call-history-size
6429 Show how many lines to print in the
6430 @code{record function-call-history} command.
6431 @end table
6432
6433
6434 @node Stack
6435 @chapter Examining the Stack
6436
6437 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6438 stopped and how it got there.
6439
6440 @cindex call stack
6441 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6442 is generated.
6443 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6444 the arguments of the call,
6445 and the local variables of the function being called.
6446 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6447 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6448 stack}.
6449
6450 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6451 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6452
6453 @cindex selected frame
6454 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6455 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6456 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6457 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6458 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6459 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6460
6461 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6462 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6463 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6464
6465 @menu
6466 * Frames:: Stack frames
6467 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6468 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6469 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6470
6471 @end menu
6472
6473 @node Frames
6474 @section Stack Frames
6475
6476 @cindex frame, definition
6477 @cindex stack frame
6478 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6479 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6480 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6481 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6482 which the function is executing.
6483
6484 @cindex initial frame
6485 @cindex outermost frame
6486 @cindex innermost frame
6487 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6488 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6489 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6490 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6491 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6492 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6493 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6494 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6495
6496 @cindex frame pointer
6497 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6498 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6499 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6500 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6501 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6502 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6503
6504 @cindex frame number
6505 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6506 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6507 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6508 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6509 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6510
6511 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6512 @c underflow problems.
6513 @cindex frameless execution
6514 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6515 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6516 @smallexample
6517 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6518 @end smallexample
6519 generates functions without a frame.)
6520 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6521 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6522 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6523 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6524 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6525 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6526 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6527
6528 @table @code
6529 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6530 @cindex current stack frame
6531 @item frame @var{args}
6532 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6533 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6534 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6535 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6536
6537 @kindex select-frame
6538 @cindex selecting frame silently
6539 @item select-frame
6540 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6541 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6542 @code{frame}.
6543 @end table
6544
6545 @node Backtrace
6546 @section Backtraces
6547
6548 @cindex traceback
6549 @cindex call stack traces
6550 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6551 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6552 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6553 stack.
6554
6555 @table @code
6556 @kindex backtrace
6557 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6558 @item backtrace
6559 @itemx bt
6560 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6561 frames in the stack.
6562
6563 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6564 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6565
6566 @item backtrace @var{n}
6567 @itemx bt @var{n}
6568 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6569
6570 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6571 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6572 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6573
6574 @item backtrace full
6575 @itemx bt full
6576 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6577 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6578 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6579 number of frames to print, as described above.
6580 @end table
6581
6582 @kindex where
6583 @kindex info stack
6584 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6585 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6586
6587 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6588 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6589 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6590 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6591 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6592 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6593 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6594 multi-threaded program.
6595
6596 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6597 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6598 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6599 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6600 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6601 line number.
6602
6603 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6604 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6605
6606 @smallexample
6607 @group
6608 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6609 at builtin.c:993
6610 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6611 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6612 at macro.c:71
6613 (More stack frames follow...)
6614 @end group
6615 @end smallexample
6616
6617 @noindent
6618 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6619 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6620 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6621
6622 @noindent
6623 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6624 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6625 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6626 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6627 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6628
6629 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6630 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6631 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6632 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6633 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6634 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6635 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6636 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6637 such a backtrace might look like:
6638
6639 @smallexample
6640 @group
6641 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6642 at builtin.c:993
6643 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6644 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6645 at macro.c:71
6646 (More stack frames follow...)
6647 @end group
6648 @end smallexample
6649
6650 @noindent
6651 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6652 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6653
6654 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6655 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6656 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6657
6658 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6659 @cindex program entry point
6660 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6661 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6662 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6663 @code{main}@footnote{
6664 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6665 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6666 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6667 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6668 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6669 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6670
6671 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6672 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6673
6674 @table @code
6675 @item set backtrace past-main
6676 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6677 @kindex set backtrace
6678 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6679
6680 @item set backtrace past-main off
6681 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6682 default.
6683
6684 @item show backtrace past-main
6685 @kindex show backtrace
6686 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6687
6688 @item set backtrace past-entry
6689 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6690 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6691 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6692 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6693
6694 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6695 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6696 application. This is the default.
6697
6698 @item show backtrace past-entry
6699 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6700
6701 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6702 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6703 @itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6704 @cindex backtrace limit
6705 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6706 or zero means unlimited levels.
6707
6708 @item show backtrace limit
6709 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6710 @end table
6711
6712 You can control how file names are displayed.
6713
6714 @table @code
6715 @item set filename-display
6716 @itemx set filename-display relative
6717 @cindex filename-display
6718 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6719
6720 @item set filename-display basename
6721 Display only basename of a filename.
6722
6723 @item set filename-display absolute
6724 Display an absolute filename.
6725
6726 @item show filename-display
6727 Show the current way to display filenames.
6728 @end table
6729
6730 @node Selection
6731 @section Selecting a Frame
6732
6733 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6734 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6735 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6736 of the stack frame just selected.
6737
6738 @table @code
6739 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6740 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6741 @item frame @var{n}
6742 @itemx f @var{n}
6743 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6744 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6745 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6746 @code{main}.
6747
6748 @item frame @var{addr}
6749 @itemx f @var{addr}
6750 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6751 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6752 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6753 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6754 switches between them.
6755
6756 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6757 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6758
6759 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6760 pointer and a program counter.
6761
6762 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6763 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6764
6765 @kindex up
6766 @item up @var{n}
6767 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6768 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6769 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6770
6771 @kindex down
6772 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6773 @item down @var{n}
6774 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6775 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6776 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6777 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6778 @end table
6779
6780 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6781 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6782 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6783 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6784
6785 @need 1000
6786 For example:
6787
6788 @smallexample
6789 @group
6790 (@value{GDBP}) up
6791 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6792 at env.c:10
6793 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6794 @end group
6795 @end smallexample
6796
6797 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6798 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6799 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6800 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6801 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6802 for details.
6803
6804 @table @code
6805 @kindex down-silently
6806 @kindex up-silently
6807 @item up-silently @var{n}
6808 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6809 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6810 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6811 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6812 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6813 distracting.
6814 @end table
6815
6816 @node Frame Info
6817 @section Information About a Frame
6818
6819 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6820 stack frame.
6821
6822 @table @code
6823 @item frame
6824 @itemx f
6825 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6826 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6827 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6828 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6829 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6830
6831 @kindex info frame
6832 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6833 @item info frame
6834 @itemx info f
6835 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6836 including:
6837
6838 @itemize @bullet
6839 @item
6840 the address of the frame
6841 @item
6842 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6843 @item
6844 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6845 @item
6846 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6847 @item
6848 the address of the frame's arguments
6849 @item
6850 the address of the frame's local variables
6851 @item
6852 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6853 @item
6854 which registers were saved in the frame
6855 @end itemize
6856
6857 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6858 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6859 the usual conventions.
6860
6861 @item info frame @var{addr}
6862 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6863 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6864 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6865 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6866 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6867 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6868
6869 @kindex info args
6870 @item info args
6871 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6872
6873 @item info locals
6874 @kindex info locals
6875 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6876 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6877 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6878
6879 @end table
6880
6881
6882 @node Source
6883 @chapter Examining Source Files
6884
6885 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6886 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6887 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6888 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6889 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6890 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6891 source files by explicit command.
6892
6893 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6894 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6895 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6896
6897 @menu
6898 * List:: Printing source lines
6899 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6900 * Edit:: Editing source files
6901 * Search:: Searching source files
6902 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6903 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6904 @end menu
6905
6906 @node List
6907 @section Printing Source Lines
6908
6909 @kindex list
6910 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6911 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6912 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6913 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6914 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6915
6916 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6917
6918 @table @code
6919 @item list @var{linenum}
6920 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6921 current source file.
6922
6923 @item list @var{function}
6924 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6925 @var{function}.
6926
6927 @item list
6928 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6929 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6930 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6931 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6932 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6933
6934 @item list -
6935 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6936 @end table
6937
6938 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6939 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6940 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6941
6942 @table @code
6943 @kindex set listsize
6944 @item set listsize @var{count}
6945 @itemx set listsize unlimited
6946 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6947 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6948 Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
6949
6950 @kindex show listsize
6951 @item show listsize
6952 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6953 @end table
6954
6955 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6956 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6957 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6958 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6959 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6960
6961 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6962 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6963 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6964 to specify some source line.
6965
6966 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6967
6968 @table @code
6969 @item list @var{linespec}
6970 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6971
6972 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6973 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6974 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6975 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6976 the same source file as the first linespec.
6977
6978 @item list ,@var{last}
6979 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6980
6981 @item list @var{first},
6982 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6983
6984 @item list +
6985 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6986
6987 @item list -
6988 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6989
6990 @item list
6991 As described in the preceding table.
6992 @end table
6993
6994 @node Specify Location
6995 @section Specifying a Location
6996 @cindex specifying location
6997 @cindex linespec
6998
6999 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7000 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7001 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7002 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7003
7004 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7005 @value{GDBN} understands:
7006
7007 @table @code
7008 @item @var{linenum}
7009 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7010
7011 @item -@var{offset}
7012 @itemx +@var{offset}
7013 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7014 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7015 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7016 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7017 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7018 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7019 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7020 linespec.
7021
7022 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7023 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7024 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7025 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7026 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7027 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7028 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7029
7030 @item @var{function}
7031 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7032 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7033
7034 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
7035 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7036
7037 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7038 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7039 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7040 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7041 functions in different source files.
7042
7043 @item @var{label}
7044 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7045 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7046 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7047 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7048 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7049
7050 @item *@var{address}
7051 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7052 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7053 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7054 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7055 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7056 source files.
7057
7058 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7059 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7060 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7061 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7062 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7063 of @var{address}:
7064
7065 @table @code
7066 @item @var{expression}
7067 Any expression valid in the current working language.
7068
7069 @item @var{funcaddr}
7070 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7071 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7072 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7073 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7074 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7075 (although the Pascal form also works).
7076
7077 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7078 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7079
7080 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7081 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7082 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7083 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7084 functions with identical names in different source files.
7085 @end table
7086
7087 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7088 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7089 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7090 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7091 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7092 specifies the location of such a static probe.
7093
7094 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7095 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7096 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7097 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7098 each one of those probes.
7099
7100 @end table
7101
7102
7103 @node Edit
7104 @section Editing Source Files
7105 @cindex editing source files
7106
7107 @kindex edit
7108 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7109 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7110 The editing program of your choice
7111 is invoked with the current line set to
7112 the active line in the program.
7113 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7114 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7115
7116 @table @code
7117 @item edit @var{location}
7118 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7119 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7120 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7121 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7122 command most commonly used:
7123
7124 @table @code
7125 @item edit @var{number}
7126 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7127
7128 @item edit @var{function}
7129 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7130 @end table
7131
7132 @end table
7133
7134 @subsection Choosing your Editor
7135 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7136 @footnote{
7137 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7138 following command-line syntax:
7139 @smallexample
7140 ex +@var{number} file
7141 @end smallexample
7142 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7143 the file where to start editing.}.
7144 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7145 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7146 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7147 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7148 @smallexample
7149 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
7150 export EDITOR
7151 gdb @dots{}
7152 @end smallexample
7153 or in the @code{csh} shell,
7154 @smallexample
7155 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7156 gdb @dots{}
7157 @end smallexample
7158
7159 @node Search
7160 @section Searching Source Files
7161 @cindex searching source files
7162
7163 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7164 regular expression.
7165
7166 @table @code
7167 @kindex search
7168 @kindex forward-search
7169 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7170 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
7171 @itemx search @var{regexp}
7172 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7173 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7174 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7175 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7176 @code{fo}.
7177
7178 @kindex reverse-search
7179 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7180 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7181 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7182 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7183 this command as @code{rev}.
7184 @end table
7185
7186 @node Source Path
7187 @section Specifying Source Directories
7188
7189 @cindex source path
7190 @cindex directories for source files
7191 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7192 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7193 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7194 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7195 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7196 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7197 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7198
7199 For example, suppose an executable references the file
7200 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7201 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7202 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7203 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7204 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7205 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7206 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7207 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7208 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7209 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7210
7211 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7212 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7213 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7214 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7215 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7216 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7217
7218 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7219 source files.
7220
7221 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7222 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7223 each line is in the file.
7224
7225 @kindex directory
7226 @kindex dir
7227 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7228 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7229 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7230
7231 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7232 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7233
7234 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7235 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7236 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7237 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7238 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7239 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7240 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7241 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7242 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7243 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7244 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7245 name to look up the sources.
7246
7247 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7248 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7249 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7250 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7251 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7252 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7253 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7254 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7255
7256 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7257 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7258 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7259 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7260 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7261 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7262 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7263
7264 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7265 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7266 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7267 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7268 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7269 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7270 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7271 command.
7272
7273 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7274 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7275 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7276 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7277 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7278 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7279 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7280
7281 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7282 @cindex default source path substitution
7283 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7284 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7285 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7286 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7287 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7288 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7289 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7290 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7291 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7292 together.
7293
7294 @table @code
7295 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7296 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7297 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7298 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7299 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7300 part of absolute file names) or
7301 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7302 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7303
7304 @kindex cdir
7305 @kindex cwd
7306 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7307 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7308 @cindex compilation directory
7309 @cindex current directory
7310 @cindex working directory
7311 @cindex directory, current
7312 @cindex directory, compilation
7313 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7314 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7315 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7316 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7317 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7318 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7319
7320 @item directory
7321 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7322
7323 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7324 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7325
7326 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7327 @kindex set directories
7328 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7329 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7330
7331 @item show directories
7332 @kindex show directories
7333 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7334
7335 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7336 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7337 @kindex set substitute-path
7338 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7339 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7340 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7341
7342 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7343 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7344
7345 @smallexample
7346 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7347 @end smallexample
7348
7349 @noindent
7350 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7351 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7352 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7353
7354 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7355 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7356 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7357 the substitution.
7358
7359 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7360
7361 @smallexample
7362 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7363 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7364 @end smallexample
7365
7366 @noindent
7367 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7368 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7369 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7370 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7371
7372
7373 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7374 @kindex unset substitute-path
7375 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7376 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7377 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7378
7379 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7380
7381 @item show substitute-path [path]
7382 @kindex show substitute-path
7383 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7384 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7385
7386 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7387 rules.
7388
7389 @end table
7390
7391 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7392 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7393 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7394
7395 @enumerate
7396 @item
7397 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7398
7399 @item
7400 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7401 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7402 directories in one command.
7403 @end enumerate
7404
7405 @node Machine Code
7406 @section Source and Machine Code
7407 @cindex source line and its code address
7408
7409 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7410 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7411 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7412 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7413 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7414 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7415 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7416 well as hex.
7417
7418 @table @code
7419 @kindex info line
7420 @item info line @var{linespec}
7421 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7422 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7423 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7424 @end table
7425
7426 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7427 the object code for the first line of function
7428 @code{m4_changequote}:
7429
7430 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7431 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7432 @smallexample
7433 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7434 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7435 @end smallexample
7436
7437 @noindent
7438 @cindex code address and its source line
7439 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7440 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7441 @smallexample
7442 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7443 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7444 @end smallexample
7445
7446 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7447 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7448 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7449 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7450 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7451 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7452 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7453 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7454 Variables}).
7455
7456 @table @code
7457 @kindex disassemble
7458 @cindex assembly instructions
7459 @cindex instructions, assembly
7460 @cindex machine instructions
7461 @cindex listing machine instructions
7462 @item disassemble
7463 @itemx disassemble /m
7464 @itemx disassemble /r
7465 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7466 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7467 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7468 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7469 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7470 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7471 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7472 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7473 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7474 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7475
7476 @table @code
7477 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7478 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7479 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7480 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7481 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7482 @end table
7483
7484 @noindent
7485 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7486 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7487
7488 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7489 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7490
7491 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7492 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7493 @end table
7494
7495 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7496 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7497
7498 @smallexample
7499 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7500 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7501 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7502 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7503 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7504 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7505 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7506 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7507 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7508 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7509 End of assembler dump.
7510 @end smallexample
7511
7512 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7513 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7514
7515 @smallexample
7516 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7517 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7518 5 @{
7519 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7520 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7521 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7522 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7523 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7524
7525 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7526 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7527 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7528
7529 7 return 0;
7530 8 @}
7531 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7532 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7533 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7534
7535 End of assembler dump.
7536 @end smallexample
7537
7538 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7539
7540 @smallexample
7541 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7542 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7543 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7544 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7545 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7546 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7547 End of assembler dump.
7548 @end smallexample
7549
7550 Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7551 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7552 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7553 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7554
7555 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7556 mnemonics or other syntax.
7557
7558 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7559 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7560 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7561 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7562 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7563
7564 @table @code
7565 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7566 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7567 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7568 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7569 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7570 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7571
7572 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7573 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7574 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7575 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7576
7577 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7578 @item show disassembly-flavor
7579 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7580 @end table
7581
7582 @table @code
7583 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7584 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7585 @item set disassemble-next-line
7586 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7587 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7588 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7589 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7590 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7591 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7592 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7593 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7594 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7595 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7596 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7597 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7598 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7599 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7600 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7601 instruction.
7602 @end table
7603
7604
7605 @node Data
7606 @chapter Examining Data
7607
7608 @cindex printing data
7609 @cindex examining data
7610 @kindex print
7611 @kindex inspect
7612 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7613 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7614 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7615 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7616 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7617 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7618
7619 @table @code
7620 @item print @var{expr}
7621 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7622 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7623 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7624 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7625 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7626 Formats}.
7627
7628 @item print
7629 @itemx print /@var{f}
7630 @cindex reprint the last value
7631 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7632 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7633 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7634 @end table
7635
7636 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7637 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7638 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7639
7640 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7641 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7642 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7643 Table}.
7644
7645 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7646 @kindex explore
7647 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7648 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7649 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7650 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7651 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7652 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7653 embedded in the higher level data types.
7654
7655 @table @code
7656 @item explore @var{arg}
7657 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7658 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7659 @end table
7660
7661 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7662 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7663 C program as
7664
7665 @smallexample
7666 struct SimpleStruct
7667 @{
7668 int i;
7669 double d;
7670 @};
7671
7672 struct ComplexStruct
7673 @{
7674 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7675 int arr[10];
7676 @};
7677 @end smallexample
7678
7679 @noindent
7680 followed by variable declarations as
7681
7682 @smallexample
7683 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7684 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7685 @end smallexample
7686
7687 @noindent
7688 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7689 @code{explore} command as follows.
7690
7691 @smallexample
7692 (gdb) explore cs
7693 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7694 the following fields:
7695
7696 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7697 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7698
7699 Enter the field number of choice:
7700 @end smallexample
7701
7702 @noindent
7703 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7704 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7705 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7706 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7707 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7708 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7709 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7710 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7711
7712 @smallexample
7713 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7714 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7715 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7716 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7717
7718 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7719 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7720
7721 Press enter to return to parent value:
7722 @end smallexample
7723
7724 @noindent
7725 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7726 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7727 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7728 to explore.
7729
7730 @smallexample
7731 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7732 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7733
7734 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7735
7736 (cs.arr)[5] = 4
7737
7738 Press enter to return to parent value:
7739 @end smallexample
7740
7741 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7742 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7743 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7744 level data structure).
7745
7746 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7747 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7748 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7749 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7750 same example as above, your can explore the type
7751 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7752 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7753
7754 @smallexample
7755 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7756 @end smallexample
7757
7758 @noindent
7759 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7760 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7761 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7762 example.
7763
7764 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7765 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7766 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7767 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7768 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7769
7770 @table @code
7771 @item explore value @var{expr}
7772 @cindex explore value
7773 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7774 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
7775 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
7776 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
7777 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
7778
7779 @item explore type @var{arg}
7780 @cindex explore type
7781 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
7782 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
7783 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
7784 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
7785 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
7786 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
7787 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
7788 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
7789 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
7790 @end table
7791
7792 @menu
7793 * Expressions:: Expressions
7794 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7795 * Variables:: Program variables
7796 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7797 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7798 * Memory:: Examining memory
7799 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7800 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7801 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7802 * Value History:: Value history
7803 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7804 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
7805 * Registers:: Registers
7806 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7807 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7808 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7809 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7810 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7811 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7812 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7813 character set than GDB does
7814 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7815 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7816 @end menu
7817
7818 @node Expressions
7819 @section Expressions
7820
7821 @cindex expressions
7822 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7823 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7824 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7825 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7826 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7827 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7828 @ref{Compilation}.
7829
7830 @cindex arrays in expressions
7831 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7832 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7833 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7834 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7835 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7836 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7837
7838 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7839 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7840 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7841 languages.
7842
7843 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7844 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7845
7846 @cindex casts, in expressions
7847 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7848 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7849 at that address in memory.
7850 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7851
7852 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7853 to programming languages:
7854
7855 @table @code
7856 @item @@
7857 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7858 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7859
7860 @item ::
7861 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7862 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7863
7864 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7865 @cindex type casting memory
7866 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7867 @cindex casts, to view memory
7868 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7869 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7870 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7871 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7872 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7873 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7874 @end table
7875
7876 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7877 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7878 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7879
7880 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7881 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7882 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7883 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7884 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7885 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7886 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7887
7888 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7889 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7890 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7891 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7892 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7893 as well.
7894
7895 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7896 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7897 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7898 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7899 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7900 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7901 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7902 choices.
7903
7904 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7905 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7906 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7907
7908 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7909 @smallexample
7910 @group
7911 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7912 [0] cancel
7913 [1] all
7914 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7915 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7916 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7917 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7918 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7919 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7920 > 2 4 6
7921 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7922 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7923 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7924 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7925 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7926 breakpoints.
7927 (@value{GDBP})
7928 @end group
7929 @end smallexample
7930
7931 @table @code
7932 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7933 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7934 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7935
7936 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7937 is ambiguous.
7938
7939 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7940 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7941 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7942 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7943 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7944 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7945 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7946 in the use of the menu.
7947
7948 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7949 when an ambiguity is detected.
7950
7951 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7952 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7953
7954 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7955 @item show multiple-symbols
7956 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7957 @end table
7958
7959 @node Variables
7960 @section Program Variables
7961
7962 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7963 in your program.
7964
7965 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7966 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7967
7968 @itemize @bullet
7969 @item
7970 global (or file-static)
7971 @end itemize
7972
7973 @noindent or
7974
7975 @itemize @bullet
7976 @item
7977 visible according to the scope rules of the
7978 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7979 @end itemize
7980
7981 @noindent This means that in the function
7982
7983 @smallexample
7984 foo (a)
7985 int a;
7986 @{
7987 bar (a);
7988 @{
7989 int b = test ();
7990 bar (b);
7991 @}
7992 @}
7993 @end smallexample
7994
7995 @noindent
7996 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7997 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7998 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7999 the block where @code{b} is declared.
8000
8001 @cindex variable name conflict
8002 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8003 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8004 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8005 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8006 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8007 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8008 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8009
8010 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8011 @ifnotinfo
8012 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8013 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8014 @end ifnotinfo
8015 @smallexample
8016 @var{file}::@var{variable}
8017 @var{function}::@var{variable}
8018 @end smallexample
8019
8020 @noindent
8021 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8022 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8023 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8024 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8025
8026 @smallexample
8027 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8028 @end smallexample
8029
8030 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8031 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8032 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8033 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8034 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8035
8036 @smallexample
8037 void
8038 foo (int a)
8039 @{
8040 if (a < 10)
8041 bar (a);
8042 else
8043 process (a); /* Stop here */
8044 @}
8045
8046 int
8047 bar (int a)
8048 @{
8049 foo (a + 5);
8050 @}
8051 @end smallexample
8052
8053 @noindent
8054 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8055 here is what you might see
8056 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8057
8058 @smallexample
8059 (@value{GDBP}) p a
8060 $1 = 10
8061 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8062 $2 = 5
8063 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
8064 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8065 (@value{GDBP}) p a
8066 $3 = 5
8067 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8068 $4 = 0
8069 @end smallexample
8070
8071 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8072 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
8073 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
8074 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
8075 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
8076 @c conflict?? --mew
8077
8078 @cindex wrong values
8079 @cindex variable values, wrong
8080 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8081 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8082 @quotation
8083 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8084 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8085 scope, and just before exit.
8086 @end quotation
8087 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8088 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8089 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8090 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8091 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8092 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8093 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8094 variable definitions may be gone.
8095
8096 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8097 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8098 when compiling.
8099
8100 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8101 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8102 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8103 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8104 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8105 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8106 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8107
8108 @smallexample
8109 No symbol "foo" in current context.
8110 @end smallexample
8111
8112 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8113 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8114 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8115 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8116 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8117
8118 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8119 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8120 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8121 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8122
8123 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8124 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8125 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8126 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8127 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8128
8129 @smallexample
8130 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
8131 29 i++;
8132 (gdb) next
8133 30 e (i);
8134 (gdb) print i
8135 $1 = 31
8136 (gdb) print i@@entry
8137 $2 = 30
8138 @end smallexample
8139
8140 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8141 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8142 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8143 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8144 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8145 For program code
8146
8147 @smallexample
8148 char var0[] = "A";
8149 signed char var1[] = "A";
8150 @end smallexample
8151
8152 You get during debugging
8153 @smallexample
8154 (gdb) print var0
8155 $1 = "A"
8156 (gdb) print var1
8157 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8158 @end smallexample
8159
8160 @node Arrays
8161 @section Artificial Arrays
8162
8163 @cindex artificial array
8164 @cindex arrays
8165 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8166 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8167 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8168 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8169 program.
8170
8171 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8172 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8173 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8174 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8175 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8176 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8177 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8178 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8179 example. If a program says
8180
8181 @smallexample
8182 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8183 @end smallexample
8184
8185 @noindent
8186 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8187
8188 @smallexample
8189 p *array@@len
8190 @end smallexample
8191
8192 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8193 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8194 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8195 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8196 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8197
8198 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8199 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8200 The value need not be in memory:
8201 @smallexample
8202 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8203 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8204 @end smallexample
8205
8206 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8207 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8208 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8209 @smallexample
8210 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8211 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8212 @end smallexample
8213
8214 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8215 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8216 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8217 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8218 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8219 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8220 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8221 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8222 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8223 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8224
8225 @smallexample
8226 set $i = 0
8227 p dtab[$i++]->fv
8228 @key{RET}
8229 @key{RET}
8230 @dots{}
8231 @end smallexample
8232
8233 @node Output Formats
8234 @section Output Formats
8235
8236 @cindex formatted output
8237 @cindex output formats
8238 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8239 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8240 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8241 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8242 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8243
8244 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8245 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8246 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8247 letters supported are:
8248
8249 @table @code
8250 @item x
8251 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8252 hexadecimal.
8253
8254 @item d
8255 Print as integer in signed decimal.
8256
8257 @item u
8258 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8259
8260 @item o
8261 Print as integer in octal.
8262
8263 @item t
8264 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8265 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8266 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8267 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8268
8269 @item a
8270 @cindex unknown address, locating
8271 @cindex locate address
8272 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8273 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8274 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8275
8276 @smallexample
8277 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8278 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8279 @end smallexample
8280
8281 @noindent
8282 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8283 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8284
8285 @item c
8286 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8287 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8288 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8289 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8290
8291 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8292 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8293 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8294 data.
8295
8296 @item f
8297 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8298 using typical floating point syntax.
8299
8300 @item s
8301 @cindex printing strings
8302 @cindex printing byte arrays
8303 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8304 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8305 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8306 natural types.
8307
8308 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8309 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8310 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8311 array.
8312
8313 @item r
8314 @cindex raw printing
8315 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8316 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8317 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8318 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8319 pretty-printer which might exist.
8320 @end table
8321
8322 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8323
8324 @smallexample
8325 p/x $pc
8326 @end smallexample
8327
8328 @noindent
8329 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8330 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8331
8332 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8333 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8334 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8335
8336 @node Memory
8337 @section Examining Memory
8338
8339 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8340 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8341
8342 @cindex examining memory
8343 @table @code
8344 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8345 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8346 @itemx x @var{addr}
8347 @itemx x
8348 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8349 @end table
8350
8351 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8352 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8353 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8354 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8355 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8356
8357 @table @r
8358 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8359 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8360 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8361 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8362 @c 4.1.2.
8363
8364 @item @var{f}, the display format
8365 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8366 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8367 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8368 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8369 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8370
8371 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8372 The unit size is any of
8373
8374 @table @code
8375 @item b
8376 Bytes.
8377 @item h
8378 Halfwords (two bytes).
8379 @item w
8380 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8381 @item g
8382 Giant words (eight bytes).
8383 @end table
8384
8385 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8386 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8387 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8388 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8389 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8390 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8391 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8392 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8393 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8394 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8395 be altered.
8396
8397 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8398 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8399 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8400 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8401 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8402 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8403 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8404 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8405 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8406 a value from memory).
8407 @end table
8408
8409 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8410 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8411 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8412 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8413 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8414
8415 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8416 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8417 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8418 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8419 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8420
8421 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8422 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8423 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8424 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8425 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8426 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8427 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8428 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8429 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8430
8431 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8432 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8433 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8434 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8435 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8436 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8437 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8438
8439 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8440 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8441
8442 @smallexample
8443 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8444 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8445 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8446 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8447 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8448 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8449 @end smallexample
8450
8451 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8452 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8453 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8454 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8455 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8456 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8457 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8458 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8459 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8460
8461 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8462 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8463 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8464
8465 @cindex remote memory comparison
8466 @cindex verify remote memory image
8467 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8468 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8469 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8470 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8471 situations.
8472
8473 @table @code
8474 @kindex compare-sections
8475 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8476 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8477 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8478 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8479 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8480 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8481 remote request.
8482 @end table
8483
8484 @node Auto Display
8485 @section Automatic Display
8486 @cindex automatic display
8487 @cindex display of expressions
8488
8489 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8490 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8491 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8492 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8493 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8494 The automatic display looks like this:
8495
8496 @smallexample
8497 2: foo = 38
8498 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8499 @end smallexample
8500
8501 @noindent
8502 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8503 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8504 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8505 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8506 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8507 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8508
8509 @table @code
8510 @kindex display
8511 @item display @var{expr}
8512 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8513 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8514
8515 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8516
8517 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8518 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8519 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8520 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8521 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8522
8523 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8524 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8525 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8526 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8527 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8528 @end table
8529
8530 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8531 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8532 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8533
8534 @table @code
8535 @kindex delete display
8536 @kindex undisplay
8537 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8538 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8539 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8540 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8541 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8542 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8543 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8544
8545 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8546 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8547
8548 @kindex disable display
8549 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8550 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8551 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8552 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8553 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8554 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8555 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8556 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8557
8558 @kindex enable display
8559 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8560 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8561 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8562 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8563 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8564 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8565 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8566
8567 @item display
8568 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8569 done when your program stops.
8570
8571 @kindex info display
8572 @item info display
8573 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8574 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8575 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8576 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8577 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8578 @end table
8579
8580 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8581 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8582 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8583 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8584 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8585 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8586 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8587 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8588 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8589 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8590 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8591
8592 @node Print Settings
8593 @section Print Settings
8594
8595 @cindex format options
8596 @cindex print settings
8597 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8598 and symbols are printed.
8599
8600 @noindent
8601 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8602
8603 @table @code
8604 @kindex set print
8605 @item set print address
8606 @itemx set print address on
8607 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8608 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8609 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8610 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8611 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8612 @code{set print address on}:
8613
8614 @smallexample
8615 @group
8616 (@value{GDBP}) f
8617 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8618 at input.c:530
8619 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8620 @end group
8621 @end smallexample
8622
8623 @item set print address off
8624 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8625 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8626
8627 @smallexample
8628 @group
8629 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8630 (@value{GDBP}) f
8631 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8632 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8633 @end group
8634 @end smallexample
8635
8636 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8637 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8638 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8639 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8640
8641 @kindex show print
8642 @item show print address
8643 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8644 @end table
8645
8646 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8647 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8648 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8649 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8650 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8651 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8652 it prints a symbolic address:
8653
8654 @table @code
8655 @item set print symbol-filename on
8656 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8657 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8658 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8659 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8660
8661 @item set print symbol-filename off
8662 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8663 default.
8664
8665 @item show print symbol-filename
8666 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8667 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8668 @end table
8669
8670 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8671 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8672 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8673
8674 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8675 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8676
8677 @table @code
8678 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8679 @itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
8680 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8681 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8682 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8683 @var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
8684 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
8685 it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
8686
8687 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8688 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8689 symbolic address.
8690 @end table
8691
8692 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8693 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8694 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8695 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8696 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8697 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8698 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8699 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8700
8701 @smallexample
8702 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8703 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8704 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8705 @end smallexample
8706
8707 @quotation
8708 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8709 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8710 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8711 @end quotation
8712
8713 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8714 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8715
8716 @table @code
8717 @item set print symbol on
8718 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8719 one exists.
8720
8721 @item set print symbol off
8722 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8723 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8724 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8725
8726 @item show print symbol
8727 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8728 address.
8729 @end table
8730
8731 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8732
8733 @table @code
8734 @item set print array
8735 @itemx set print array on
8736 @cindex pretty print arrays
8737 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8738 but uses more space. The default is off.
8739
8740 @item set print array off
8741 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8742
8743 @item show print array
8744 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8745 arrays.
8746
8747 @cindex print array indexes
8748 @item set print array-indexes
8749 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8750 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8751 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8752 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8753
8754 @item set print array-indexes off
8755 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8756
8757 @item show print array-indexes
8758 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8759 arrays.
8760
8761 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8762 @itemx set print elements unlimited
8763 @cindex number of array elements to print
8764 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8765 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8766 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8767 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8768 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8769 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8770 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
8771 that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
8772
8773 @item show print elements
8774 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8775 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8776
8777 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8778 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8779 @cindex printing frame argument values
8780 @cindex print all frame argument values
8781 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8782 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8783 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8784 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8785 values are:
8786
8787 @table @code
8788 @item all
8789 The values of all arguments are printed.
8790
8791 @item scalars
8792 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8793 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8794 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8795 only scalar arguments are shown:
8796
8797 @smallexample
8798 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8799 at frame-args.c:23
8800 @end smallexample
8801
8802 @item none
8803 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8804 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8805
8806 @smallexample
8807 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8808 at frame-args.c:23
8809 @end smallexample
8810 @end table
8811
8812 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8813 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8814 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8815 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8816 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8817 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8818 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8819 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8820 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8821 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8822
8823 @item show print frame-arguments
8824 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8825
8826 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8827 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8828 @kindex set print entry-values
8829 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8830 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8831 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8832 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8833 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8834
8835 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8836 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8837 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8838 @code{no} setting.
8839
8840 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8841 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8842 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8843 this information.
8844
8845 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8846
8847 @table @code
8848 @item no
8849 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8850 point.
8851 @smallexample
8852 #0 equal (val=5)
8853 #0 different (val=6)
8854 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8855 #0 born (val=10)
8856 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8857 @end smallexample
8858
8859 @item only
8860 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8861 values are never printed.
8862 @smallexample
8863 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8864 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8865 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8866 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8867 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8868 @end smallexample
8869
8870 @item preferred
8871 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8872 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8873 value for such parameter.
8874 @smallexample
8875 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8876 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8877 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8878 #0 born (val=10)
8879 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8880 @end smallexample
8881
8882 @item if-needed
8883 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8884 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8885 parameter.
8886 @smallexample
8887 #0 equal (val=5)
8888 #0 different (val=6)
8889 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8890 #0 born (val=10)
8891 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8892 @end smallexample
8893
8894 @item both
8895 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8896 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8897 optimizations.
8898 @smallexample
8899 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8900 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8901 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8902 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8903 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8904 @end smallexample
8905
8906 @item compact
8907 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8908 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8909 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8910 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8911 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8912 @smallexample
8913 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8914 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8915 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8916 #0 born (val=10)
8917 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8918 @end smallexample
8919
8920 @item default
8921 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8922 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8923 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8924 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8925 @smallexample
8926 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8927 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8928 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8929 #0 born (val=10)
8930 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8931 @end smallexample
8932 @end table
8933
8934 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8935 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8936
8937 @item show print entry-values
8938 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8939 entry.
8940
8941 @item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
8942 @itemx set print repeats unlimited
8943 @cindex repeated array elements
8944 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8945 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8946 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8947 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8948 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8949 themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
8950 cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
8951 is 10.
8952
8953 @item show print repeats
8954 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8955 elements.
8956
8957 @item set print null-stop
8958 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8959 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8960 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8961 contain only short strings.
8962 The default is off.
8963
8964 @item show print null-stop
8965 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8966 @sc{null} character.
8967
8968 @item set print pretty on
8969 @cindex print structures in indented form
8970 @cindex indentation in structure display
8971 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8972 per line, like this:
8973
8974 @smallexample
8975 @group
8976 $1 = @{
8977 next = 0x0,
8978 flags = @{
8979 sweet = 1,
8980 sour = 1
8981 @},
8982 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
8983 @}
8984 @end group
8985 @end smallexample
8986
8987 @item set print pretty off
8988 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8989
8990 @smallexample
8991 @group
8992 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8993 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8994 @end group
8995 @end smallexample
8996
8997 @noindent
8998 This is the default format.
8999
9000 @item show print pretty
9001 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9002
9003 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
9004 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9005 @cindex octal escapes in strings
9006 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9007 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9008 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9009 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9010 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9011
9012 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
9013 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9014 international character sets, and is the default.
9015
9016 @item show print sevenbit-strings
9017 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9018
9019 @item set print union on
9020 @cindex unions in structures, printing
9021 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9022 and other unions. This is the default setting.
9023
9024 @item set print union off
9025 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9026 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9027 instead.
9028
9029 @item show print union
9030 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9031 structures and other unions.
9032
9033 For example, given the declarations
9034
9035 @smallexample
9036 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9037 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9038 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9039 Bug_forms;
9040
9041 struct thing @{
9042 Species it;
9043 union @{
9044 Tree_forms tree;
9045 Bug_forms bug;
9046 @} form;
9047 @};
9048
9049 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9050 @end smallexample
9051
9052 @noindent
9053 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9054
9055 @smallexample
9056 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9057 @end smallexample
9058
9059 @noindent
9060 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9061
9062 @smallexample
9063 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9064 @end smallexample
9065
9066 @noindent
9067 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9068 and in Pascal.
9069 @end table
9070
9071 @need 1000
9072 @noindent
9073 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9074
9075 @table @code
9076 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9077 @item set print demangle
9078 @itemx set print demangle on
9079 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9080 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9081 linkage. The default is on.
9082
9083 @item show print demangle
9084 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9085
9086 @item set print asm-demangle
9087 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
9088 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9089 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9090 The default is off.
9091
9092 @item show print asm-demangle
9093 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9094 or demangled form.
9095
9096 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9097 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9098 @kindex set demangle-style
9099 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
9100 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9101 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9102
9103 @table @code
9104 @item auto
9105 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9106 This is the default.
9107
9108 @item gnu
9109 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9110
9111 @item hp
9112 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9113
9114 @item lucid
9115 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9116
9117 @item arm
9118 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9119 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9120 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9121 require further enhancement to permit that.
9122
9123 @end table
9124 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9125
9126 @item show demangle-style
9127 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9128
9129 @item set print object
9130 @itemx set print object on
9131 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
9132 @cindex display derived types
9133 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9134 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9135 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9136 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9137 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9138 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9139 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9140
9141 @item set print object off
9142 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9143 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9144
9145 @item show print object
9146 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9147
9148 @item set print static-members
9149 @itemx set print static-members on
9150 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9151 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9152
9153 @item set print static-members off
9154 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9155
9156 @item show print static-members
9157 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9158
9159 @item set print pascal_static-members
9160 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9161 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
9162 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9163 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9164
9165 @item set print pascal_static-members off
9166 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9167
9168 @item show print pascal_static-members
9169 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9170
9171 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9172 @item set print vtbl
9173 @itemx set print vtbl on
9174 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9175 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9176 @cindex VTBL display
9177 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9178 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9179 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9180
9181 @item set print vtbl off
9182 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9183
9184 @item show print vtbl
9185 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9186 @end table
9187
9188 @node Pretty Printing
9189 @section Pretty Printing
9190
9191 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9192 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9193 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9194
9195 @menu
9196 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9197 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9198 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9199 @end menu
9200
9201 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9202 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9203
9204 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9205 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9206 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9207
9208 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9209 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9210 pretty-printers with their names.
9211 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9212 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9213 Each such subprinter has its own name.
9214 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9215
9216 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9217 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9218 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9219 do anything special.
9220
9221 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9222
9223 @itemize @bullet
9224 @item
9225 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9226 all inferiors.
9227
9228 @item
9229 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9230 when debugging that program.
9231 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9232
9233 @item
9234 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9235 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9236 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9237 @end itemize
9238
9239 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9240 pretty-printers are selected,
9241
9242 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9243 for new types.
9244
9245 @node Pretty-Printer Example
9246 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9247
9248 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9249
9250 @smallexample
9251 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9252 $1 = @{
9253 static npos = 4294967295,
9254 _M_dataplus = @{
9255 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9256 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9257 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9258 @},
9259 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9260 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9261 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9262 @}
9263 @}
9264 @end smallexample
9265
9266 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9267
9268 @smallexample
9269 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9270 $2 = "abcd"
9271 @end smallexample
9272
9273 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
9274 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9275 @cindex pretty-printer commands
9276
9277 @table @code
9278 @kindex info pretty-printer
9279 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9280 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9281 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9282
9283 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9284 whose pretty-printers to list.
9285 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9286 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9287 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9288 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9289 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9290
9291 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9292 to list.
9293
9294 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9295 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9296 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9297 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9298
9299 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9300 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9301 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9302 @end table
9303
9304 Example:
9305
9306 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9307 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9308 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9309 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9310
9311 @smallexample
9312 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9313 library1.so:
9314 foo
9315 library2.so:
9316 bar
9317 bar1
9318 bar2
9319 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9320 library2.so:
9321 bar
9322 bar1
9323 bar2
9324 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9325 1 printer disabled
9326 2 of 3 printers enabled
9327 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9328 library1.so:
9329 foo [disabled]
9330 library2.so:
9331 bar
9332 bar1
9333 bar2
9334 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9335 1 printer disabled
9336 1 of 3 printers enabled
9337 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9338 library1.so:
9339 foo [disabled]
9340 library2.so:
9341 bar
9342 bar1 [disabled]
9343 bar2
9344 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9345 1 printer disabled
9346 0 of 3 printers enabled
9347 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9348 library1.so:
9349 foo [disabled]
9350 library2.so:
9351 bar [disabled]
9352 bar1 [disabled]
9353 bar2
9354 @end smallexample
9355
9356 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9357 as can each individual subprinter.
9358
9359 @node Value History
9360 @section Value History
9361
9362 @cindex value history
9363 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9364 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9365 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9366 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9367 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9368 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9369 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9370 symbol table.
9371
9372 @cindex @code{$}
9373 @cindex @code{$$}
9374 @cindex history number
9375 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9376 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9377 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9378 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9379 history number.
9380
9381 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9382 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9383 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9384 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9385 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9386 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9387 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9388
9389 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9390 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9391
9392 @smallexample
9393 p *$
9394 @end smallexample
9395
9396 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9397 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9398
9399 @smallexample
9400 p *$.next
9401 @end smallexample
9402
9403 @noindent
9404 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9405 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9406
9407 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9408 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9409
9410 @smallexample
9411 print x
9412 set x=5
9413 @end smallexample
9414
9415 @noindent
9416 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9417 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9418
9419 @table @code
9420 @kindex show values
9421 @item show values
9422 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9423 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9424 values} does not change the history.
9425
9426 @item show values @var{n}
9427 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9428
9429 @item show values +
9430 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9431 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9432 @end table
9433
9434 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9435 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9436
9437 @node Convenience Vars
9438 @section Convenience Variables
9439
9440 @cindex convenience variables
9441 @cindex user-defined variables
9442 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9443 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9444 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9445 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9446 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9447
9448 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9449 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9450 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9451 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9452 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9453
9454 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9455 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9456 For example:
9457
9458 @smallexample
9459 set $foo = *object_ptr
9460 @end smallexample
9461
9462 @noindent
9463 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9464 @code{object_ptr}.
9465
9466 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9467 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9468 value with another assignment at any time.
9469
9470 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9471 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9472 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9473 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9474
9475 @table @code
9476 @kindex show convenience
9477 @cindex show all user variables and functions
9478 @item show convenience
9479 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9480 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9481 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9482
9483 @kindex init-if-undefined
9484 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9485 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9486 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9487 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9488 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9489 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9490 override default values used in a command script.
9491
9492 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9493 any side-effects do not occur.
9494 @end table
9495
9496 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9497 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9498 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9499
9500 @smallexample
9501 set $i = 0
9502 print bar[$i++]->contents
9503 @end smallexample
9504
9505 @noindent
9506 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9507
9508 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9509 values likely to be useful.
9510
9511 @table @code
9512 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9513 @item $_
9514 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9515 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9516 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9517 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9518 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9519 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9520 to the type of @code{$__}.
9521
9522 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9523 @item $__
9524 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9525 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9526 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9527
9528 @item $_exitcode
9529 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9530 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
9531 the program being debugged terminates.
9532
9533 @item $_exception
9534 The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
9535 thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
9536
9537 @item $_probe_argc
9538 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9539 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9540
9541 @item $_sdata
9542 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9543 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9544 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9545 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9546 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9547
9548 @item $_siginfo
9549 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9550 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9551 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9552 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9553 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9554
9555 @item $_tlb
9556 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9557 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9558 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9559 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9560 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9561 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9562
9563 @end table
9564
9565 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9566 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9567 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9568
9569 @node Convenience Funs
9570 @section Convenience Functions
9571
9572 @cindex convenience functions
9573 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9574 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9575 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9576 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9577 @value{GDBN}.
9578
9579 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9580 @code{Python} support.
9581
9582 @table @code
9583
9584 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
9585 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
9586 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
9587 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
9588 Otherwise it returns zero.
9589
9590 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
9591 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
9592 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
9593 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
9594 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
9595 regular expression support.
9596
9597 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
9598 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
9599 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
9600 Otherwise it returns zero.
9601
9602 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
9603 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
9604 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
9605
9606 @end table
9607
9608 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
9609 convenience functions.
9610
9611 @table @code
9612 @item help function
9613 @kindex help function
9614 @cindex show all convenience functions
9615 Print a list of all convenience functions.
9616 @end table
9617
9618 @node Registers
9619 @section Registers
9620
9621 @cindex registers
9622 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9623 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9624 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9625 your machine.
9626
9627 @table @code
9628 @kindex info registers
9629 @item info registers
9630 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9631 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9632
9633 @kindex info all-registers
9634 @cindex floating point registers
9635 @item info all-registers
9636 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9637 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9638
9639 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
9640 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
9641 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
9642 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
9643 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
9644 @end table
9645
9646 @cindex stack pointer register
9647 @cindex program counter register
9648 @cindex process status register
9649 @cindex frame pointer register
9650 @cindex standard registers
9651 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
9652 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
9653 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
9654 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
9655 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
9656 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
9657 register that contains the processor status. For example,
9658 you could print the program counter in hex with
9659
9660 @smallexample
9661 p/x $pc
9662 @end smallexample
9663
9664 @noindent
9665 or print the instruction to be executed next with
9666
9667 @smallexample
9668 x/i $pc
9669 @end smallexample
9670
9671 @noindent
9672 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
9673 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
9674 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
9675 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
9676 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
9677 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
9678 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
9679
9680 @smallexample
9681 set $sp += 4
9682 @end smallexample
9683
9684 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
9685 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
9686 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
9687 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
9688 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
9689 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
9690 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9691
9692 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9693 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9694 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9695 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9696 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9697 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9698 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9699
9700 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9701 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9702 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9703 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9704 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9705 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9706 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9707 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9708 prints the data in both formats.
9709
9710 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
9711 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
9712 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9713 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9714 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9715 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9716 registers in @code{struct} notation:
9717
9718 @smallexample
9719 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9720 $1 = @{
9721 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9722 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9723 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9724 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9725 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9726 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9727 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9728 @}
9729 @end smallexample
9730
9731 @noindent
9732 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9733 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9734 value to a @code{struct} member:
9735
9736 @smallexample
9737 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9738 @end smallexample
9739
9740 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9741 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9742 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9743 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9744 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9745 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9746
9747 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9748 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9749 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9750 frame makes no difference.
9751
9752 @node Floating Point Hardware
9753 @section Floating Point Hardware
9754 @cindex floating point
9755
9756 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9757 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9758
9759 @table @code
9760 @kindex info float
9761 @item info float
9762 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9763 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9764 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9765 the ARM and x86 machines.
9766 @end table
9767
9768 @node Vector Unit
9769 @section Vector Unit
9770 @cindex vector unit
9771
9772 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9773 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9774
9775 @table @code
9776 @kindex info vector
9777 @item info vector
9778 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9779 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9780 @end table
9781
9782 @node OS Information
9783 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9784 @cindex OS information
9785
9786 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9787 you debug your program.
9788
9789 @cindex auxiliary vector
9790 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9791 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9792 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9793 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9794 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9795 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9796 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9797 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9798 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9799 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9800 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9801 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9802
9803 @table @code
9804 @kindex info auxv
9805 @item info auxv
9806 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9807 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9808 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9809 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9810 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9811 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9812 an unrecognized tag.
9813 @end table
9814
9815 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
9816 information and show it to you. The types of information available
9817 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
9818 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
9819 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
9820 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9821 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9822
9823 @table @code
9824 @kindex info os
9825 @item info os @var{infotype}
9826
9827 Display OS information of the requested type.
9828
9829 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
9830
9831 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
9832 @table @code
9833 @kindex info os processes
9834 @item processes
9835 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9836 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
9837 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
9838 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
9839 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
9840 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
9841
9842 @kindex info os procgroups
9843 @item procgroups
9844 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
9845 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
9846 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
9847 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
9848 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
9849 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
9850 and the process group leader is listed first.
9851
9852 @kindex info os threads
9853 @item threads
9854 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
9855 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
9856 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
9857 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
9858 process is not listed.
9859
9860 @kindex info os files
9861 @item files
9862 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
9863 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
9864 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
9865 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
9866
9867 @kindex info os sockets
9868 @item sockets
9869 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
9870 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
9871 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
9872 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
9873 connection.
9874
9875 @kindex info os shm
9876 @item shm
9877 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
9878 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
9879 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
9880 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
9881 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
9882 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
9883 attached to, detach from, and changed.
9884
9885 @kindex info os semaphores
9886 @item semaphores
9887 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
9888 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
9889 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
9890 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
9891 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
9892
9893 @kindex info os msg
9894 @item msg
9895 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
9896 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
9897 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
9898 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
9899 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
9900 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
9901 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
9902 the message queue was last changed.
9903
9904 @kindex info os modules
9905 @item modules
9906 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
9907 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
9908 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
9909 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
9910 in memory.
9911 @end table
9912
9913 @item info os
9914 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
9915 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
9916 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
9917 types, this command will report an error.
9918 @end table
9919
9920 @node Memory Region Attributes
9921 @section Memory Region Attributes
9922 @cindex memory region attributes
9923
9924 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9925 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9926 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9927 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9928 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9929 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9930 user can override the fetched regions.
9931
9932 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9933 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9934 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9935 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9936 all memory.
9937
9938 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9939 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9940
9941 @table @code
9942 @kindex mem
9943 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9944 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9945 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9946 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9947 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9948 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9949
9950 @item mem auto
9951 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9952 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9953
9954 @kindex delete mem
9955 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9956 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9957 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9958
9959 @kindex disable mem
9960 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9961 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9962 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9963 It may be enabled again later.
9964
9965 @kindex enable mem
9966 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9967 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9968
9969 @kindex info mem
9970 @item info mem
9971 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9972 for each region:
9973
9974 @table @emph
9975 @item Memory Region Number
9976 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9977 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9978 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9979
9980 @item Lo Address
9981 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9982
9983 @item Hi Address
9984 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9985
9986 @item Attributes
9987 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9988 @end table
9989 @end table
9990
9991
9992 @subsection Attributes
9993
9994 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9995 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9996 write accesses to a memory region.
9997
9998 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9999 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10000 etc.@: from accessing memory.
10001
10002 @table @code
10003 @item ro
10004 Memory is read only.
10005 @item wo
10006 Memory is write only.
10007 @item rw
10008 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10009 @end table
10010
10011 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
10012 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10013 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10014 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10015 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10016
10017 @table @code
10018 @item 8
10019 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10020 @item 16
10021 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10022 @item 32
10023 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10024 @item 64
10025 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10026 @end table
10027
10028 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10029 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10030 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10031 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10032 @c
10033 @c @table @code
10034 @c @item hwbreak
10035 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
10036 @c @item swbreak (default)
10037 @c @end table
10038
10039 @subsubsection Data Cache
10040 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10041 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10042 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10043 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10044 registers.
10045
10046 @table @code
10047 @item cache
10048 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10049 @item nocache
10050 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10051 @end table
10052
10053 @subsection Memory Access Checking
10054 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10055 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10056 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10057 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10058
10059 @table @code
10060 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10061 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10062 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10063 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10064 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10065 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10066 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10067 The default value is @code{on}.
10068 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10069 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10070 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10071 @end table
10072
10073
10074 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10075 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10076 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10077 @c
10078 @c @table @code
10079 @c @item verify
10080 @c @item noverify (default)
10081 @c @end table
10082
10083 @node Dump/Restore Files
10084 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
10085 @cindex dump/restore files
10086 @cindex append data to a file
10087 @cindex dump data to a file
10088 @cindex restore data from a file
10089
10090 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10091 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10092 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10093 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10094 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10095 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10096 files.
10097
10098 @table @code
10099
10100 @kindex dump
10101 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10102 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10103 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10104 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10105
10106 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10107 @table @code
10108 @item binary
10109 Raw binary form.
10110 @item ihex
10111 Intel hex format.
10112 @item srec
10113 Motorola S-record format.
10114 @item tekhex
10115 Tektronix Hex format.
10116 @end table
10117
10118 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10119 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10120 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10121 form.
10122
10123 @kindex append
10124 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10125 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10126 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10127 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10128 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10129
10130 @kindex restore
10131 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10132 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10133 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10134 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10135 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10136
10137 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10138 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10139 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10140 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10141 from that location.
10142
10143 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10144 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10145 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10146 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10147
10148 @end table
10149
10150 @node Core File Generation
10151 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10152 @cindex dump core from inferior
10153
10154 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10155 image of a running process and its process status (register values
10156 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10157 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10158 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10159 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10160 the post-mortem debugging mode.
10161
10162 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10163 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10164 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10165
10166 @table @code
10167 @kindex gcore
10168 @kindex generate-core-file
10169 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10170 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10171 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10172 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10173 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10174 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10175
10176 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10177 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10178 @end table
10179
10180 @node Character Sets
10181 @section Character Sets
10182 @cindex character sets
10183 @cindex charset
10184 @cindex translating between character sets
10185 @cindex host character set
10186 @cindex target character set
10187
10188 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10189 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10190 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10191 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10192 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10193 @dfn{target character set}.
10194
10195 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10196 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10197 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10198 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10199 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10200 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10201 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10202 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10203 character and string literals in expressions.
10204
10205 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10206 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10207 target-charset} command, described below.
10208
10209 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10210 support:
10211
10212 @table @code
10213 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
10214 @kindex set target-charset
10215 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10216 list of supported target character sets, type
10217 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10218
10219 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
10220 @kindex set host-charset
10221 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10222
10223 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10224 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10225 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10226 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10227 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10228
10229 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10230 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10231 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10232
10233 @item set charset @var{charset}
10234 @kindex set charset
10235 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10236 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10237 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10238 for both host and target.
10239
10240 @item show charset
10241 @kindex show charset
10242 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10243
10244 @item show host-charset
10245 @kindex show host-charset
10246 Show the name of the current host character set.
10247
10248 @item show target-charset
10249 @kindex show target-charset
10250 Show the name of the current target character set.
10251
10252 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10253 @kindex set target-wide-charset
10254 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10255 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10256 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10257 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10258
10259 @item show target-wide-charset
10260 @kindex show target-wide-charset
10261 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10262 @end table
10263
10264 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10265 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10266 @file{charset-test.c}:
10267
10268 @smallexample
10269 #include <stdio.h>
10270
10271 char ascii_hello[]
10272 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10273 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10274 char ibm1047_hello[]
10275 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10276 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10277
10278 main ()
10279 @{
10280 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10281 @}
10282 @end smallexample
10283
10284 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10285 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10286 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10287
10288 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10289
10290 @smallexample
10291 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10292 $ gdb -nw charset-test
10293 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10294 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10295 @dots{}
10296 (@value{GDBP})
10297 @end smallexample
10298
10299 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10300 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10301 strings:
10302
10303 @smallexample
10304 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10305 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10306 (@value{GDBP})
10307 @end smallexample
10308
10309 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10310 initial character set:
10311 @smallexample
10312 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10313 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10314 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10315 (@value{GDBP})
10316 @end smallexample
10317
10318 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10319 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10320 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10321 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10322 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10323
10324 @smallexample
10325 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10326 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10327 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10328 $2 = 72 'H'
10329 (@value{GDBP})
10330 @end smallexample
10331
10332 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10333 literals you use in expressions:
10334
10335 @smallexample
10336 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10337 $3 = 43 '+'
10338 (@value{GDBP})
10339 @end smallexample
10340
10341 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10342 character.
10343
10344 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10345 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10346 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10347
10348 @smallexample
10349 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10350 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10351 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10352 $5 = 200 '\310'
10353 (@value{GDBP})
10354 @end smallexample
10355
10356 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10357 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10358
10359 @smallexample
10360 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10361 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10362 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10363 @end smallexample
10364
10365 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10366 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10367 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10368 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10369 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10370
10371 @smallexample
10372 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10373 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10374 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10375 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10376 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10377 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10378 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10379 $7 = 72 '\110'
10380 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10381 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10382 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10383 $9 = 200 'H'
10384 (@value{GDBP})
10385 @end smallexample
10386
10387 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10388 string literals you use in expressions:
10389
10390 @smallexample
10391 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10392 $10 = 78 '+'
10393 (@value{GDBP})
10394 @end smallexample
10395
10396 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10397 character.
10398
10399 @node Caching Remote Data
10400 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10401 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10402
10403 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10404 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10405 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10406 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10407 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10408 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10409 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10410 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10411 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10412 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10413 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10414 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10415 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10416 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10417 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10418
10419 @table @code
10420 @kindex set remotecache
10421 @item set remotecache on
10422 @itemx set remotecache off
10423 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10424 with old scripts.
10425
10426 @kindex show remotecache
10427 @item show remotecache
10428 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10429
10430 @kindex set stack-cache
10431 @item set stack-cache on
10432 @itemx set stack-cache off
10433 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10434 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10435
10436 @kindex show stack-cache
10437 @item show stack-cache
10438 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10439
10440 @kindex info dcache
10441 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10442 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10443 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10444 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10445 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10446 operation.
10447
10448 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10449 printed in hex.
10450
10451 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10452 @cindex dcache size
10453 @kindex set dcache size
10454 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10455
10456 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10457 @cindex dcache line-size
10458 @kindex set dcache line-size
10459 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10460 Must be a power of 2.
10461
10462 @item show dcache size
10463 @kindex show dcache size
10464 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10465
10466 @item show dcache line-size
10467 @kindex show dcache line-size
10468 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10469
10470 @end table
10471
10472 @node Searching Memory
10473 @section Search Memory
10474 @cindex searching memory
10475
10476 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10477 @code{find} command.
10478
10479 @table @code
10480 @kindex find
10481 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10482 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10483 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10484 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10485 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10486 @end table
10487
10488 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10489 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10490
10491 @table @r
10492 @item @var{s}, search query size
10493 The size of each search query value.
10494
10495 @table @code
10496 @item b
10497 bytes
10498 @item h
10499 halfwords (two bytes)
10500 @item w
10501 words (four bytes)
10502 @item g
10503 giant words (eight bytes)
10504 @end table
10505
10506 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10507 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10508 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10509
10510 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10511 value's type in the current language.
10512 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10513 pattern as a mixture of types.
10514 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10515 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10516 which is typically four bytes.
10517
10518 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10519 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10520 @end table
10521
10522 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10523 (@code{"}).
10524 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10525 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10526
10527 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10528 number of matches found.
10529
10530 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10531 @samp{$_}.
10532 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10533
10534 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10535
10536 @smallexample
10537 void
10538 hello ()
10539 @{
10540 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10541 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10542 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10543 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10544 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10545 @}
10546 @end smallexample
10547
10548 @noindent
10549 you get during debugging:
10550
10551 @smallexample
10552 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10553 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10554 1 pattern found
10555 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10556 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10557 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10558 2 patterns found
10559 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10560 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10561 1 pattern found
10562 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10563 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10564 1 pattern found
10565 (gdb) print $numfound
10566 $1 = 1
10567 (gdb) print $_
10568 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10569 @end smallexample
10570
10571 @node Optimized Code
10572 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10573 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10574 @cindex debugging optimized code
10575
10576 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10577 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10578 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10579 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10580 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10581 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10582 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10583
10584 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10585 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10586 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10587 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10588
10589 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10590 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10591 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10592 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10593 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10594 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10595
10596 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10597 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10598 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10599 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10600 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10601
10602 @menu
10603 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10604 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10605 @end menu
10606
10607 @node Inline Functions
10608 @section Inline Functions
10609 @cindex inline functions, debugging
10610
10611 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10612 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10613 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10614 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10615 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
10616 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
10617 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
10618 @code{info frame} command.
10619
10620 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
10621 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
10622 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
10623 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
10624 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
10625 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
10626 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
10627 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
10628 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
10629 local variables in the caller.
10630
10631 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
10632 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
10633 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
10634 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
10635 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
10636 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
10637 instructions are executed.
10638
10639 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
10640 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
10641 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
10642 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
10643
10644 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
10645 function calls are the same as normal calls:
10646
10647 @itemize @bullet
10648 @item
10649 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
10650 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
10651 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
10652 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
10653 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
10654 or inside the inlined function instead.
10655
10656 @item
10657 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
10658 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
10659 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
10660 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
10661
10662 @end itemize
10663
10664 @node Tail Call Frames
10665 @section Tail Call Frames
10666 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
10667
10668 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
10669 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
10670 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
10671 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
10672 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
10673
10674 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
10675 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
10676 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
10677 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
10678 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
10679 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
10680 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
10681
10682 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10683 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
10684 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10685 this information.
10686
10687 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
10688 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
10689
10690 @smallexample
10691 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
10692 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
10693 (gdb) info frame
10694 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
10695 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
10696 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
10697 source language c++.
10698 Arglist at unknown address.
10699 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
10700 @end smallexample
10701
10702 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
10703 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
10704 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
10705 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
10706 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
10707 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
10708
10709 @table @code
10710 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
10711 @item set debug entry-values
10712 @kindex set debug entry-values
10713 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
10714 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
10715 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
10716 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
10717 result.
10718
10719 @item show debug entry-values
10720 @kindex show debug entry-values
10721 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
10722 values at function entry and tail calls.
10723 @end table
10724
10725 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
10726 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
10727 reference by variable @code{x}):
10728
10729 @smallexample
10730 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
10731 void (*x) (void) = c;
10732 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10733 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
10734 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
10735
10736 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
10737 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
10738 a () at t.c:3
10739 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10740 (gdb) bt
10741 #0 a () at t.c:3
10742 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
10743 @end smallexample
10744
10745 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
10746
10747 @smallexample
10748 int i;
10749 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
10750 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10751 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10752 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10753 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10754 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10755 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10756 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10757
10758 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10759 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10760 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10761 (gdb) bt
10762 #0 f () at t.c:2
10763 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10764 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10765 @end smallexample
10766
10767 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10768 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10769
10770 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10771 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10772 @set ARROW @click{}
10773 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10774 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10775 @end ifset
10776 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10777 @set ARROW ->
10778 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
10779 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
10780 @end ifclear
10781
10782 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
10783 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
10784 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
10785
10786 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
10787 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
10788 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
10789 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
10790 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
10791 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
10792
10793 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
10794 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
10795 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
10796 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
10797 omitted.
10798
10799 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
10800 entry may fail:
10801
10802 @smallexample
10803 int v;
10804 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
10805 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
10806 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
10807 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
10808 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
10809 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
10810
10811 (gdb) bt
10812 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
10813 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
10814 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
10815 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
10816 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
10817 @end smallexample
10818
10819 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
10820 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
10821 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
10822 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
10823 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
10824
10825 @node Macros
10826 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10827
10828 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10829 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10830 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10831 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10832 where it was defined.
10833
10834 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10835 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10836 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10837 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10838
10839 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10840 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10841 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10842 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10843 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10844 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10845 see @ref{List}.
10846
10847 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10848 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10849 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10850
10851 @table @code
10852
10853 @kindex macro expand
10854 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10855 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10856 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10857 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10858 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10859 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10860 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10861 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10862 it can be any string of tokens.
10863
10864 @kindex macro exp1
10865 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10866 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10867 @cindex expand macro once
10868 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10869 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10870 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10871 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10872 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10873 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10874 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10875 can be any string of tokens.
10876
10877 @kindex info macro
10878 @cindex macro definition, showing
10879 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10880 @cindex macros, from debug info
10881 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10882 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10883 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10884 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10885 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10886 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10887
10888 @kindex info macros
10889 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10890 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10891 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10892 command-line where those definitions were established.
10893
10894 @kindex macro define
10895 @cindex user-defined macros
10896 @cindex defining macros interactively
10897 @cindex macros, user-defined
10898 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10899 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10900 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10901 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10902 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10903 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10904 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10905 @var{arglist}.
10906
10907 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10908 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10909 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10910 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10911 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10912
10913 @kindex macro undef
10914 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10915 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10916 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10917 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10918 in the program being debugged.
10919
10920 @kindex macro list
10921 @item macro list
10922 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10923 @end table
10924
10925 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10926 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10927 show our source files:
10928
10929 @smallexample
10930 $ cat sample.c
10931 #include <stdio.h>
10932 #include "sample.h"
10933
10934 #define M 42
10935 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10936
10937 main ()
10938 @{
10939 #define N 28
10940 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10941 #undef N
10942 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10943 #define N 1729
10944 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10945 @}
10946 $ cat sample.h
10947 #define Q <
10948 $
10949 @end smallexample
10950
10951 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10952 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10953 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10954 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10955 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10956 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10957 information.
10958
10959 @smallexample
10960 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10961 $
10962 @end smallexample
10963
10964 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10965
10966 @smallexample
10967 $ gdb -nw sample
10968 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10969 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10970 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10971 (@value{GDBP})
10972 @end smallexample
10973
10974 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10975 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10976 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10977
10978 @smallexample
10979 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10980 3
10981 4 #define M 42
10982 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10983 6
10984 7 main ()
10985 8 @{
10986 9 #define N 28
10987 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10988 11 #undef N
10989 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10990 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10991 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10992 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10993 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10994 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10995 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10996 #define Q <
10997 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10998 expands to: (42 + 1)
10999 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11000 expands to: once (M + 1)
11001 (@value{GDBP})
11002 @end smallexample
11003
11004 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11005 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11006 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11007 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11008
11009 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11010 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11011
11012 @smallexample
11013 (@value{GDBP}) break main
11014 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11015 (@value{GDBP}) run
11016 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11017
11018 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
11019 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11020 (@value{GDBP})
11021 @end smallexample
11022
11023 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11024
11025 @smallexample
11026 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11027 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11028 #define N 28
11029 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11030 expands to: 28 < 42
11031 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11032 $1 = 1
11033 (@value{GDBP})
11034 @end smallexample
11035
11036 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11037 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11038 thereof) in force at each point:
11039
11040 @smallexample
11041 (@value{GDBP}) next
11042 Hello, world!
11043 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11044 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11045 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11046 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11047 (@value{GDBP}) next
11048 We're so creative.
11049 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11050 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11051 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11052 #define N 1729
11053 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11054 expands to: 1729 < 42
11055 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11056 $2 = 0
11057 (@value{GDBP})
11058 @end smallexample
11059
11060 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11061 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11062 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11063 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11064
11065 @smallexample
11066 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11067 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11068 -D__STDC__=1
11069 (@value{GDBP})
11070 @end smallexample
11071
11072
11073 @node Tracepoints
11074 @chapter Tracepoints
11075 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11076 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11077
11078 @cindex tracepoints
11079 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11080 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11081 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11082 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11083 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11084 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11085 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11086
11087 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11088 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11089 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11090 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11091 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11092 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11093 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11094 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11095 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11096 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11097 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11098
11099 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11100 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11101 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11102 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11103 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11104 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11105 Packets}.
11106
11107 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11108 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11109 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11110
11111 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11112
11113 @menu
11114 * Set Tracepoints::
11115 * Analyze Collected Data::
11116 * Tracepoint Variables::
11117 * Trace Files::
11118 @end menu
11119
11120 @node Set Tracepoints
11121 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11122
11123 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11124 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11125 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11126 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11127 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11128 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11129 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11130
11131 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11132 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11133 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11134 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11135 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11136 tracepoint was hit.
11137
11138 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11139 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11140 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11141 either.
11142
11143 @cindex fast tracepoints
11144 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11145 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11146 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11147
11148 @cindex static tracepoints
11149 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
11150 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11151 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11152 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11153 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11154 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11155 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11156 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11157 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11158 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11159 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11160 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11161 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11162 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11163 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11164 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11165 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11166 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11167 static tracepoint marker.
11168
11169 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11170 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11171
11172 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11173 conditions and actions.
11174
11175 @menu
11176 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11177 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11178 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
11179 * Tracepoint Conditions::
11180 * Trace State Variables::
11181 * Tracepoint Actions::
11182 * Listing Tracepoints::
11183 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11184 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11185 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
11186 @end menu
11187
11188 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11189 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11190
11191 @table @code
11192 @cindex set tracepoint
11193 @kindex trace
11194 @item trace @var{location}
11195 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11196 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11197 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11198 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11199 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11200 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11201 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11202 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11203 in tracing}).
11204 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11205 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11206 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11207 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11208 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11209 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11210 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11211 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11212 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11213 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11214 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11215 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11216
11217 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11218
11219 @smallexample
11220 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11221
11222 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11223
11224 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11225
11226 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11227
11228 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11229 @end smallexample
11230
11231 @noindent
11232 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11233
11234 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11235 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11236 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11237 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11238 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11239 information on tracepoint conditions.
11240
11241 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11242 @cindex set fast tracepoint
11243 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11244 @kindex ftrace
11245 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11246 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11247 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11248 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11249 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11250 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11251 message.
11252
11253 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11254 @code{trace}.
11255
11256 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11257 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11258 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11259 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11260 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11261 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11262 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11263 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11264
11265 @example
11266 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11267 @end example
11268
11269 @noindent
11270 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11271 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11272
11273 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11274 @cindex set static tracepoint
11275 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
11276 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11277 @kindex strace
11278 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11279 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11280 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11281 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11282 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11283
11284 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11285 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11286 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11287 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11288 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11289 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11290 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11291 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11292 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11293 tracing engine:
11294
11295 @smallexample
11296 main ()
11297 @{
11298 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11299 @}
11300 @end smallexample
11301
11302 @noindent
11303 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11304 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11305
11306 @smallexample
11307 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11308 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11309 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11310 Data: "str %s"
11311 [etc...]
11312 @end smallexample
11313
11314 @noindent
11315 so you may probe the marker above with:
11316
11317 @smallexample
11318 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11319 @end smallexample
11320
11321 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11322 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11323 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11324 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11325 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11326 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11327 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11328 the @samp{Data:} field.
11329
11330 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11331 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11332 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11333
11334 @vindex $tpnum
11335 @cindex last tracepoint number
11336 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11337 @cindex tracepoint number
11338 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11339 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11340
11341 @kindex delete tracepoint
11342 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11343 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11344 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11345 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11346 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11347
11348 Examples:
11349
11350 @smallexample
11351 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11352
11353 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11354 @end smallexample
11355
11356 @noindent
11357 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11358 @end table
11359
11360 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11361 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11362
11363 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11364
11365 @table @code
11366 @kindex disable tracepoint
11367 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11368 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11369 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11370 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11371 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11372 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11373 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11374 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11375 next trace experiment.
11376
11377 @kindex enable tracepoint
11378 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11379 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11380 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11381 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11382 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11383 next time a trace experiment is run.
11384 @end table
11385
11386 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11387 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11388
11389 @table @code
11390 @kindex passcount
11391 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11392 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11393 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11394 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11395 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11396 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11397 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11398 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11399 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11400 user.
11401
11402 Examples:
11403
11404 @smallexample
11405 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11406 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11407
11408 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11409 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11410 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11411 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11412 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11413 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11414 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11415 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11416 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11417 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11418 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11419 @end smallexample
11420 @end table
11421
11422 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11423 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11424 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11425 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11426
11427 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11428 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11429 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11430 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11431 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11432 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11433 is true.
11434
11435 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11436 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11437 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11438 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11439 just as with breakpoints.
11440
11441 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11442 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11443 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11444 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11445 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11446 accesses, and so forth.
11447
11448 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11449 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11450 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11451 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11452 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11453 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11454 search through.
11455
11456 @smallexample
11457 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11458 @end smallexample
11459
11460 @node Trace State Variables
11461 @subsection Trace State Variables
11462 @cindex trace state variables
11463
11464 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11465 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11466 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11467 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11468 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11469 integers.
11470
11471 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11472 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11473 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11474 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11475
11476 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11477 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11478 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11479 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11480 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11481 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11482 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11483 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11484 variable with the same name.
11485
11486 @table @code
11487
11488 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11489 @kindex tvariable
11490 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11491 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11492 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11493 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11494 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11495 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11496 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11497 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11498 value. The default initial value is 0.
11499
11500 @item info tvariables
11501 @kindex info tvariables
11502 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11503 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11504 currently running.
11505
11506 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11507 @kindex delete tvariable
11508 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11509 are specified.
11510
11511 @end table
11512
11513 @node Tracepoint Actions
11514 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11515
11516 @table @code
11517 @kindex actions
11518 @cindex tracepoint actions
11519 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11520 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11521 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11522 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11523 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11524 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11525 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11526 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11527 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11528 @code{while-stepping}.
11529
11530 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11531 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11532 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11533
11534 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11535 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11536 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11537
11538 @smallexample
11539 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11540
11541 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11542
11543 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11544 @end smallexample
11545
11546 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11547 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11548 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11549 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11550 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11551 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11552 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11553 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11554
11555 @smallexample
11556 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11557 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11558 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11559 > collect bar,baz
11560 > collect $regs
11561 > while-stepping 12
11562 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11563 > end
11564 end
11565 @end smallexample
11566
11567 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11568 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11569 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11570 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11571 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11572 special arguments are supported:
11573
11574 @table @code
11575 @item $regs
11576 Collect all registers.
11577
11578 @item $args
11579 Collect all function arguments.
11580
11581 @item $locals
11582 Collect all local variables.
11583
11584 @item $_ret
11585 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11586 of a backtrace.
11587
11588 @item $_probe_argc
11589 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11590 tracepoint is located.
11591 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11592
11593 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11594 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11595 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11596 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11597
11598 @item $_sdata
11599 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11600 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11601 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11602 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11603 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11604 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11605 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11606 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11607 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11608
11609 @smallexample
11610 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11611 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11612 @end smallexample
11613
11614 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11615 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
11616 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
11617 @value{GDBN}.
11618 @end table
11619
11620 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
11621 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
11622 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
11623
11624 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
11625 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
11626 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
11627 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
11628 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
11629 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
11630 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
11631 @samp{mystr}.
11632
11633 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
11634 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
11635
11636 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
11637 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11638 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
11639 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
11640 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
11641 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
11642 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
11643 action were used.
11644
11645 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
11646 @item while-stepping @var{n}
11647 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
11648 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
11649 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
11650 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
11651
11652 @smallexample
11653 > while-stepping 12
11654 > collect $regs, myglobal
11655 > end
11656 >
11657 @end smallexample
11658
11659 @noindent
11660 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
11661 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
11662 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
11663 @code{stepping}.
11664
11665 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11666 @kindex set default-collect
11667 @cindex default collection action
11668 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
11669 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
11670 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
11671 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
11672 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
11673 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
11674
11675 @item show default-collect
11676 @kindex show default-collect
11677 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
11678 tracepoint hit.
11679
11680 @end table
11681
11682 @node Listing Tracepoints
11683 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
11684
11685 @table @code
11686 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11687 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11688 @cindex information about tracepoints
11689 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
11690 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
11691 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
11692 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
11693 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
11694 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
11695
11696 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
11697 tracing:
11698
11699 @itemize @bullet
11700 @item
11701 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
11702
11703 @item
11704 the state about installed on target of each location
11705 @end itemize
11706
11707 @smallexample
11708 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
11709 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
11710 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
11711 while-stepping 20
11712 collect globfoo, $regs
11713 end
11714 collect globfoo2
11715 end
11716 pass count 1200
11717 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
11718 collect $eip
11719 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
11720 installed on target
11721 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
11722 installed on target
11723 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
11724 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
11725 not installed on target
11726 (@value{GDBP})
11727 @end smallexample
11728
11729 @noindent
11730 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
11731 @end table
11732
11733 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11734 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11735
11736 @table @code
11737 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
11738 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
11739 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
11740 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
11741 program.
11742
11743 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
11744
11745 @table @emph
11746 @item Count
11747 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
11748 stable identifier.
11749 @item ID
11750 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
11751 @item Enabled or Disabled
11752 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
11753 that are not enabled.
11754 @item Address
11755 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
11756 @item What
11757 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
11758 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
11759 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
11760 will be left blank.
11761 @end table
11762
11763 @noindent
11764 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
11765
11766 @table @emph
11767 @item Data
11768 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
11769 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
11770 marker call.
11771 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
11772 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11773 @end table
11774
11775 @smallexample
11776 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11777 Cnt ID Enb Address What
11778 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
11779 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
11780 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
11781 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
11782 Data: str %s
11783 (@value{GDBP})
11784 @end smallexample
11785 @end table
11786
11787 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11788 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11789
11790 @table @code
11791 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
11792 @cindex start a new trace experiment
11793 @cindex collected data discarded
11794 @item tstart
11795 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
11796 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
11797 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
11798 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
11799 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
11800 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
11801 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
11802 information, and so forth.
11803
11804 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
11805 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
11806 @item tstop
11807 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
11808 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
11809 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
11810 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
11811 needs to be stopped quickly.
11812
11813 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
11814 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
11815 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
11816
11817 @kindex tstatus
11818 @cindex status of trace data collection
11819 @cindex trace experiment, status of
11820 @item tstatus
11821 This command displays the status of the current trace data
11822 collection.
11823 @end table
11824
11825 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
11826
11827 @smallexample
11828 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
11829 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11830 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
11831 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
11832 > while-stepping 11
11833 > collect $regs
11834 > end
11835 > end
11836 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11837 [time passes @dots{}]
11838 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
11839 @end smallexample
11840
11841 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
11842 @cindex disconnected tracing
11843 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
11844 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
11845 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
11846 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
11847 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
11848 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11849 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11850 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11851
11852 @table @code
11853 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11854 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11855 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11856 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11857 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11858 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11859 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11860 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11861
11862 @item show disconnected-tracing
11863 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11864 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11865
11866 @end table
11867
11868 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11869 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11870 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11871 it will continue after reconnection.
11872
11873 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11874 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11875 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11876 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11877 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11878 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11879 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11880 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11881 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11882 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11883
11884 @cindex circular trace buffer
11885 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11886 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11887 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11888 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11889 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11890 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11891 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11892 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11893 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11894 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11895 the next run.
11896
11897 @table @code
11898 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11899 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11900 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11901 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11902 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11903 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11904 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11905
11906 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11907 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11908 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11909 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11910 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11911 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11912
11913 @end table
11914
11915 @table @code
11916 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
11917 @itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
11918 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
11919 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
11920 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
11921 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
11922 @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
11923 likes. This is also the default.
11924
11925 @item show trace-buffer-size
11926 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
11927 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
11928 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
11929 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
11930 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
11931 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
11932 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
11933 @end table
11934
11935 @table @code
11936 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11937 @kindex set trace-user
11938
11939 @item show trace-user
11940 @kindex show trace-user
11941
11942 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11943 @kindex set trace-notes
11944 Set the trace run's notes.
11945
11946 @item show trace-notes
11947 @kindex show trace-notes
11948 Show the trace run's notes.
11949
11950 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11951 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11952 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11953 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11954 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11955
11956 @item show trace-stop-notes
11957 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11958 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11959
11960 @end table
11961
11962 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11963 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11964
11965 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11966 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11967 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11968 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11969 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11970 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11971 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11972 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11973 mentioned here.
11974
11975 @itemize @bullet
11976
11977 @item
11978 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11979 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11980 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11981 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11982 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11983 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11984 cannot be collected either.
11985
11986 @item
11987 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11988 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11989 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11990 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11991 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11992 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11993 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11994 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11995 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11996 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11997
11998 @item
11999 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12000 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12001 in a misleading way.
12002
12003 @item
12004 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12005 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12006 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12007 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12008 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12009 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12010 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12011 by @code{ptr}.
12012
12013 @item
12014 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12015 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12016 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12017 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12018 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12019 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12020 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12021 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12022 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12023 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12024 invalid address.
12025
12026 @item
12027 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12028 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12029 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12030 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12031 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12032 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12033 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12034 it to zero.
12035
12036 @end itemize
12037
12038 @node Analyze Collected Data
12039 @section Using the Collected Data
12040
12041 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12042 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12043 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12044 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12045 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12046 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12047 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12048 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12049 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12050 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12051 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12052 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12053 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12054 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12055 the buffer will fail.
12056
12057 @menu
12058 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12059 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12060 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12061 @end menu
12062
12063 @node tfind
12064 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12065
12066 @kindex tfind
12067 @cindex select trace snapshot
12068 @cindex find trace snapshot
12069 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12070 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12071 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12072 snapshot is selected.
12073
12074 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12075
12076 @table @code
12077 @item tfind start
12078 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12079 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12080
12081 @item tfind none
12082 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12083
12084 @item tfind end
12085 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12086
12087 @item tfind
12088 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12089
12090 @item tfind -
12091 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12092 retracing earlier steps.
12093
12094 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12095 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12096 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12097 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12098 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12099
12100 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
12101 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12102 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12103 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12104 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12105
12106 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12107 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12108 addresses (exclusive).
12109
12110 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12111 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12112 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
12113
12114 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12115 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12116 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12117 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12118 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12119 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12120 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12121 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12122 @end table
12123
12124 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12125 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12126 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12127 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12128 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12129 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12130 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12131 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12132 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12133 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12134 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12135 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12136 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12137 tracepoint as the current one.
12138
12139 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12140 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12141 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12142 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12143 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12144
12145 @smallexample
12146 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12147 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12148 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12149 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12150 > tfind
12151 > end
12152
12153 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12154 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12155 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12156 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12157 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12158 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12159 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12160 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12161 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12162 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12163 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12164 @end smallexample
12165
12166 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12167 the buffer:
12168
12169 @smallexample
12170 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12171 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12172 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12173 > tfind line
12174 > end
12175
12176 Frame 0, X = 1
12177 Frame 7, X = 2
12178 Frame 13, X = 255
12179 @end smallexample
12180
12181 @node tdump
12182 @subsection @code{tdump}
12183 @kindex tdump
12184 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12185 @cindex tracepoint data, display
12186
12187 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12188 the current trace snapshot.
12189
12190 @smallexample
12191 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12192 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12193 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12194 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12195 > end
12196
12197 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12198
12199 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12200 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12201 at gdb_test.c:444
12202 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12203
12204 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12205 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12206 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12207 d1 0x18 24
12208 d2 0x80 128
12209 d3 0x33 51
12210 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12211 d5 0x22 34
12212 d6 0xe0 224
12213 d7 0x380035 3670069
12214 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12215 a1 0x3000668 50333288
12216 a2 0x100 256
12217 a3 0x322000 3284992
12218 a4 0x3000698 50333336
12219 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12220 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12221 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12222 ps 0x0 0
12223 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12224 fpcontrol 0x0 0
12225 fpstatus 0x0 0
12226 fpiaddr 0x0 0
12227 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12228 p1 = (void *) 0x11
12229 p2 = (void *) 0x22
12230 p3 = (void *) 0x33
12231 p4 = (void *) 0x44
12232 p5 = (void *) 0x55
12233 p6 = (void *) 0x66
12234 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12235
12236 (@value{GDBP})
12237 @end smallexample
12238
12239 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12240 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12241 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12242 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12243
12244 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12245 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12246 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12247 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12248 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12249 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12250 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12251 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12252 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12253 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12254
12255 @node save tracepoints
12256 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12257 @kindex save tracepoints
12258 @kindex save-tracepoints
12259 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12260
12261 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12262 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12263 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12264 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12265 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12266 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12267
12268 @node Tracepoint Variables
12269 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12270 @cindex tracepoint variables
12271 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12272
12273 @table @code
12274 @vindex $trace_frame
12275 @item (int) $trace_frame
12276 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12277 snapshot is selected.
12278
12279 @vindex $tracepoint
12280 @item (int) $tracepoint
12281 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12282
12283 @vindex $trace_line
12284 @item (int) $trace_line
12285 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12286
12287 @vindex $trace_file
12288 @item (char []) $trace_file
12289 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12290
12291 @vindex $trace_func
12292 @item (char []) $trace_func
12293 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12294 @end table
12295
12296 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12297 use @code{output} instead.
12298
12299 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12300 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12301 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12302 which are managed by the target.
12303
12304 @smallexample
12305 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12306
12307 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12308 > output $trace_file
12309 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12310 > tfind
12311 > end
12312 @end smallexample
12313
12314 @node Trace Files
12315 @section Using Trace Files
12316 @cindex trace files
12317
12318 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12319 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12320 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12321 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12322 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12323
12324 @table @code
12325
12326 @kindex tsave
12327 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12328 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12329 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12330 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12331 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12332 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12333 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12334 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12335 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12336 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12337 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12338 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12339 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12340 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12341 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12342
12343 @kindex target tfile
12344 @kindex tfile
12345 @kindex target ctf
12346 @kindex ctf
12347 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12348 @itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
12349 Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
12350 a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
12351 a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
12352 @code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
12353 the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
12354 @var{filename} or @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
12355 the host.
12356
12357 @smallexample
12358 (@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
12359 (@value{GDBP}) tfind
12360 Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
12361 39 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
12362 (@value{GDBP}) tdump
12363 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
12364 i = 0
12365 a = 0
12366 b = 1 '\001'
12367 c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
12368 d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
12369 (@value{GDBP}) p b
12370 $1 = 1
12371 @end smallexample
12372
12373 @end table
12374
12375 @node Overlays
12376 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12377 @cindex overlays
12378
12379 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12380 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12381 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12382 use overlays.
12383
12384 @menu
12385 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12386 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12387 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12388 mapped by asking the inferior.
12389 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12390 @end menu
12391
12392 @node How Overlays Work
12393 @section How Overlays Work
12394 @cindex mapped overlays
12395 @cindex unmapped overlays
12396 @cindex load address, overlay's
12397 @cindex mapped address
12398 @cindex overlay area
12399
12400 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12401 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12402 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12403 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12404 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12405
12406 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12407 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12408 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12409 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12410 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12411 largest overlay as well.
12412
12413 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12414 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12415 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12416 there.
12417
12418 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12419 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12420 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12421
12422 @smallexample
12423 @group
12424 Data Instruction Larger
12425 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12426 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12427 | | | | | |
12428 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12429 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12430 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12431 | and heap | | | | | |
12432 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12433 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12434 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12435 | | | | | |
12436 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12437 address | | | | | |
12438 | overlay | <-' | | |
12439 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12440 | | <---. | | load address
12441 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12442 | | | |
12443 +-----------+ | |
12444 +-----------+
12445 | |
12446 +-----------+
12447
12448 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12449 @end group
12450 @end smallexample
12451
12452 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12453 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12454 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12455 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12456 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12457 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12458 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12459 program and the overlay area.
12460
12461 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12462 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12463 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12464 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12465 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12466 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12467 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12468
12469 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12470 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12471 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12472
12473 @itemize @bullet
12474
12475 @item
12476 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12477 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12478 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12479 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12480
12481 @item
12482 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12483 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12484 your program's performance.
12485
12486 @item
12487 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12488 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12489 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12490 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12491 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12492 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12493 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12494
12495 @item
12496 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12497 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12498 instruction and data spaces.
12499
12500 @end itemize
12501
12502 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12503 improved in many ways:
12504
12505 @itemize @bullet
12506
12507 @item
12508 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12509 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12510 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12511 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12512 area in the usual way.
12513
12514 @item
12515 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12516 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12517
12518 @item
12519 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12520 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12521 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12522 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12523 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12524 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12525 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12526
12527 @end itemize
12528
12529
12530 @node Overlay Commands
12531 @section Overlay Commands
12532
12533 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12534 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12535 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12536 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12537 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12538 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12539
12540 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12541 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12542
12543 @table @code
12544 @item overlay off
12545 @kindex overlay
12546 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12547 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12548 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12549 overlay support is disabled.
12550
12551 @item overlay manual
12552 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12553 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12554 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12555 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12556 commands described below.
12557
12558 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12559 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12560 @cindex map an overlay
12561 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12562 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12563 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12564 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12565 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12566 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12567
12568 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12569 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12570 @cindex unmap an overlay
12571 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12572 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12573 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12574 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12575
12576 @item overlay auto
12577 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12578 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12579 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12580 Overlay Debugging}.
12581
12582 @item overlay load-target
12583 @itemx overlay load
12584 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12585 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12586 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12587 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12588 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12589 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12590
12591 @item overlay list-overlays
12592 @itemx overlay list
12593 @cindex listing mapped overlays
12594 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12595 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12596
12597 @end table
12598
12599 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12600 of the function the address falls in:
12601
12602 @smallexample
12603 (@value{GDBP}) print main
12604 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12605 @end smallexample
12606 @noindent
12607 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12608 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12609 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12610 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12611
12612 @smallexample
12613 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12614 No sections are mapped.
12615 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12616 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
12617 @end smallexample
12618 @noindent
12619 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
12620 name normally:
12621
12622 @smallexample
12623 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12624 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
12625 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
12626 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12627 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
12628 @end smallexample
12629
12630 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
12631 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
12632 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
12633 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
12634 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
12635
12636 @itemize @bullet
12637 @item
12638 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
12639 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
12640 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
12641 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
12642 @item
12643 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
12644 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
12645 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
12646 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
12647 breakpoints properly.
12648 @end itemize
12649
12650
12651 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
12652 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
12653 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
12654
12655 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
12656 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
12657 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
12658 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
12659 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
12660 current state of the overlays.
12661
12662 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
12663 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
12664
12665 @table @asis
12666
12667 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
12668 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
12669
12670 @smallexample
12671 struct
12672 @{
12673 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
12674 unsigned long vma;
12675
12676 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
12677 unsigned long size;
12678
12679 /* The overlay's load address. */
12680 unsigned long lma;
12681
12682 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
12683 zero otherwise. */
12684 unsigned long mapped;
12685 @}
12686 @end smallexample
12687
12688 @item @code{_novlys}:
12689 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
12690 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
12691
12692 @end table
12693
12694 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
12695 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
12696 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
12697 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
12698 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
12699 currently mapped.
12700
12701 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
12702 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
12703 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
12704 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
12705 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
12706 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
12707 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
12708 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
12709 are not being executed.
12710
12711 @node Overlay Sample Program
12712 @section Overlay Sample Program
12713 @cindex overlay example program
12714
12715 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
12716 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
12717 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
12718 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
12719 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
12720 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
12721 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
12722
12723 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
12724 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
12725 suite. The program consists of the following files from
12726 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
12727
12728 @table @file
12729 @item overlays.c
12730 The main program file.
12731 @item ovlymgr.c
12732 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
12733 @item foo.c
12734 @itemx bar.c
12735 @itemx baz.c
12736 @itemx grbx.c
12737 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
12738 @item d10v.ld
12739 @itemx m32r.ld
12740 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
12741 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
12742 @end table
12743
12744 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
12745 cross-compiler like this:
12746
12747 @smallexample
12748 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
12749 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
12750 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
12751 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
12752 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
12753 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
12754 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
12755 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
12756 @end smallexample
12757
12758 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
12759 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
12760 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
12761
12762
12763 @node Languages
12764 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
12765 @cindex languages
12766
12767 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
12768 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
12769 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
12770 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
12771 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
12772 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
12773
12774 @cindex working language
12775 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
12776 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
12777 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
12778 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
12779 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
12780 language}.
12781
12782 @menu
12783 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
12784 * Show:: Displaying the language
12785 * Checks:: Type and range checks
12786 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
12787 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
12788 @end menu
12789
12790 @node Setting
12791 @section Switching Between Source Languages
12792
12793 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
12794 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
12795 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
12796 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
12797 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
12798 are printed, etc.
12799
12800 In addition to the working language, every source file that
12801 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
12802 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
12803 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
12804 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
12805 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
12806 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
12807 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
12808 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
12809 Displaying the Language}.
12810
12811 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
12812 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
12813 another language. In that case, make the
12814 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
12815 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
12816 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
12817
12818 @menu
12819 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
12820 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
12821 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
12822 @end menu
12823
12824 @node Filenames
12825 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
12826
12827 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
12828 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
12829
12830 @table @file
12831 @item .ada
12832 @itemx .ads
12833 @itemx .adb
12834 @itemx .a
12835 Ada source file.
12836
12837 @item .c
12838 C source file
12839
12840 @item .C
12841 @itemx .cc
12842 @itemx .cp
12843 @itemx .cpp
12844 @itemx .cxx
12845 @itemx .c++
12846 C@t{++} source file
12847
12848 @item .d
12849 D source file
12850
12851 @item .m
12852 Objective-C source file
12853
12854 @item .f
12855 @itemx .F
12856 Fortran source file
12857
12858 @item .mod
12859 Modula-2 source file
12860
12861 @item .s
12862 @itemx .S
12863 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
12864 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
12865 @end table
12866
12867 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
12868 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
12869
12870 @node Manually
12871 @subsection Setting the Working Language
12872
12873 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
12874 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
12875 your program.
12876
12877 @kindex set language
12878 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
12879 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
12880 a language, such as
12881 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
12882 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
12883
12884 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
12885 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
12886 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
12887 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
12888 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
12889 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
12890 command such as:
12891
12892 @smallexample
12893 print a = b + c
12894 @end smallexample
12895
12896 @noindent
12897 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12898 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12899 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12900 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12901
12902 @node Automatically
12903 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12904
12905 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12906 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12907 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12908 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12909 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12910 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12911 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12912 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12913 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12914
12915 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12916 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12917 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12918 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12919 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12920
12921 @node Show
12922 @section Displaying the Language
12923
12924 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12925 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12926
12927 @table @code
12928 @item show language
12929 @kindex show language
12930 Display the current working language. This is the
12931 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12932 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12933
12934 @item info frame
12935 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12936 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12937 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12938 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12939 information listed here.
12940
12941 @item info source
12942 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12943 Display the source language of this source file.
12944 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12945 information listed here.
12946 @end table
12947
12948 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12949 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12950 with a language explicitly:
12951
12952 @table @code
12953 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12954 @kindex set extension-language
12955 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12956 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12957
12958 @item info extensions
12959 @kindex info extensions
12960 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12961 @end table
12962
12963 @node Checks
12964 @section Type and Range Checking
12965
12966 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12967 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12968 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
12969 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12970 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12971 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
12972 errors when your program is running.
12973
12974 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
12975 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
12976 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
12977 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
12978
12979 @menu
12980 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12981 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12982 @end menu
12983
12984 @cindex type checking
12985 @cindex checks, type
12986 @node Type Checking
12987 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12988
12989 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12990 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12991 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12992 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12993
12994 @smallexample
12995 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
12996
12997 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
12998 $1 = 2
12999 @exdent but
13000 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13001 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13002 @end smallexample
13003
13004 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13005 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13006
13007 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13008 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13009 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13010 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13011 expressions like the second example above.
13012
13013 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13014 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13015 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13016 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13017 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13018 little sense to evaluate anyway.
13019
13020 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13021
13022 @kindex set check type
13023 @kindex show check type
13024 @table @code
13025 @item set check type on
13026 @itemx set check type off
13027 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13028 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13029 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13030
13031 @item show check type
13032 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13033 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13034 @end table
13035
13036 @cindex range checking
13037 @cindex checks, range
13038 @node Range Checking
13039 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13040
13041 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13042 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13043 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13044 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13045 not exceed the bounds of the array.
13046
13047 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13048 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13049 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13050 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13051
13052 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13053 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13054 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13055 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13056 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13057 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13058
13059 @smallexample
13060 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13061 @end smallexample
13062
13063 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13064 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13065 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13066
13067 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13068
13069 @kindex set check range
13070 @kindex show check range
13071 @table @code
13072 @item set check range auto
13073 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13074 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13075 each language.
13076
13077 @item set check range on
13078 @itemx set check range off
13079 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13080 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13081 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13082 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13083
13084 @item set check range warn
13085 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13086 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13087 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13088 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13089 systems).
13090
13091 @item show range
13092 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13093 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13094 @end table
13095
13096 @node Supported Languages
13097 @section Supported Languages
13098
13099 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13100 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13101 @c This is false ...
13102 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13103 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13104 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13105 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13106 language.
13107
13108 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13109 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13110 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13111 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13112 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13113 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13114 language reference or tutorial.
13115
13116 @menu
13117 * C:: C and C@t{++}
13118 * D:: D
13119 * Go:: Go
13120 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
13121 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13122 * Fortran:: Fortran
13123 * Pascal:: Pascal
13124 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
13125 * Ada:: Ada
13126 @end menu
13127
13128 @node C
13129 @subsection C and C@t{++}
13130
13131 @cindex C and C@t{++}
13132 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13133
13134 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13135 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13136 together.
13137
13138 @cindex C@t{++}
13139 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13140 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13141 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13142 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13143 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13144 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13145 compiler (@code{aCC}).
13146
13147 @menu
13148 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13149 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13150 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13151 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13152 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13153 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13154 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13155 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13156 @end menu
13157
13158 @node C Operators
13159 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13160
13161 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13162
13163 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13164 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13165 often defined on groups of types.
13166
13167 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13168
13169 @itemize @bullet
13170
13171 @item
13172 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13173 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13174
13175 @item
13176 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13177 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13178
13179 @item
13180 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13181
13182 @item
13183 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13184
13185 @end itemize
13186
13187 @noindent
13188 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13189 in order of increasing precedence:
13190
13191 @table @code
13192 @item ,
13193 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13194 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13195 expression being the last expression evaluated.
13196
13197 @item =
13198 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13199 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13200
13201 @item @var{op}=
13202 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13203 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13204 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13205 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13206 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13207
13208 @item ?:
13209 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13210 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13211 integral type.
13212
13213 @item ||
13214 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13215
13216 @item &&
13217 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13218
13219 @item |
13220 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13221
13222 @item ^
13223 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13224
13225 @item &
13226 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13227
13228 @item ==@r{, }!=
13229 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13230 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13231
13232 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13233 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13234 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13235 and non-zero for true.
13236
13237 @item <<@r{, }>>
13238 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13239
13240 @item @@
13241 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13242
13243 @item +@r{, }-
13244 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13245 pointer types.
13246
13247 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13248 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13249 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13250 integral types.
13251
13252 @item ++@r{, }--
13253 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13254 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13255 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13256 operation takes place.
13257
13258 @item *
13259 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13260 @code{++}.
13261
13262 @item &
13263 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13264
13265 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13266 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13267 to examine the address
13268 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13269 stored.
13270
13271 @item -
13272 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13273 precedence as @code{++}.
13274
13275 @item !
13276 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13277 @code{++}.
13278
13279 @item ~
13280 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13281 @code{++}.
13282
13283
13284 @item .@r{, }->
13285 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13286 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13287 pointer based on the stored type information.
13288 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13289
13290 @item .*@r{, }->*
13291 Dereferences of pointers to members.
13292
13293 @item []
13294 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13295 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13296
13297 @item ()
13298 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13299
13300 @item ::
13301 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13302 and @code{class} types.
13303
13304 @item ::
13305 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13306 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13307 above.
13308 @end table
13309
13310 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13311 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13312 predefined meaning.
13313
13314 @node C Constants
13315 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13316
13317 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13318
13319 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13320 following ways:
13321
13322 @itemize @bullet
13323 @item
13324 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13325 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13326 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13327 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13328 @code{long} value.
13329
13330 @item
13331 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13332 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13333 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13334 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13335 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13336 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13337 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13338 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13339 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13340 constant.
13341
13342 @item
13343 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13344 integral equivalents.
13345
13346 @item
13347 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13348 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13349 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13350 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13351 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13352 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13353 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13354 @samp{\n} for newline.
13355
13356 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13357 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13358 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13359 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13360
13361 @item
13362 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13363 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13364 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13365 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13366 characters.
13367
13368 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13369 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13370 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13371
13372 @item
13373 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13374 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13375
13376 @item
13377 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13378 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13379 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13380 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13381 @end itemize
13382
13383 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13384 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13385
13386 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13387 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13388
13389 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13390 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13391 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13392 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13393 @quotation
13394 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13395 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13396 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13397 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13398 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13399 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13400 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13401 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13402 @end quotation
13403
13404 @enumerate
13405
13406 @cindex member functions
13407 @item
13408 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13409
13410 @smallexample
13411 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13412 @end smallexample
13413
13414 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13415 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13416 @item
13417 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13418 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13419 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13420 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13421 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13422
13423 @cindex call overloaded functions
13424 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13425 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13426 @item
13427 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13428 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13429 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13430 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13431 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13432 default arguments.
13433
13434 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13435 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13436 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13437 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13438 number of function arguments.
13439
13440 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13441 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13442 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13443
13444 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13445 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13446 @smallexample
13447 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13448 @end smallexample
13449
13450 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13451 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13452
13453 @cindex reference declarations
13454 @item
13455 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13456 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13457 dereferenced.
13458
13459 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13460 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13461 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13462 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13463 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13464
13465 @item
13466 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13467 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13468 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13469 necessary, for example in an expression like
13470 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13471 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13472 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13473
13474 @item
13475 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13476 specification.
13477 @end enumerate
13478
13479 @node C Defaults
13480 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13481
13482 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13483
13484 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13485 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13486 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13487 selects the working language.
13488
13489 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13490 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13491 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13492 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13493 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13494 for further details.
13495
13496 @node C Checks
13497 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13498
13499 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13500
13501 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13502 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13503 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13504 constants to pointers.
13505
13506 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13507 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13508 that is not itself an array.
13509
13510 @node Debugging C
13511 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13512
13513 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13514 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13515 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13516 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13517
13518 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13519 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13520 ,Expressions}.
13521
13522 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13523 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13524
13525 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13526
13527 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13528 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13529
13530 @table @code
13531 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13532 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13533 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13534 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13535 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13536 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13537
13538 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13539 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13540 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13541 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13542 classes.
13543 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13544
13545 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13546 @item catch throw
13547 @itemx catch rethrow
13548 @itemx catch catch
13549 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13550 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13551
13552 @cindex inheritance
13553 @item ptype @var{typename}
13554 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13555 @var{typename}.
13556 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13557
13558 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13559 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13560 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13561 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13562 multiple inheritance is in use.
13563
13564 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13565 @item set print demangle
13566 @itemx show print demangle
13567 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13568 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13569 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13570 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13571 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13572
13573 @item set print object
13574 @itemx show print object
13575 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13576 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13577
13578 @item set print vtbl
13579 @itemx show print vtbl
13580 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13581 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13582 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13583 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13584
13585 @kindex set overload-resolution
13586 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13587 @item set overload-resolution on
13588 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13589 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13590 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13591 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13592 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13593 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13594
13595 @item set overload-resolution off
13596 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13597 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13598 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13599 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13600 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13601 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13602 argument types.
13603
13604 @kindex show overload-resolution
13605 @item show overload-resolution
13606 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13607
13608 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13609 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13610 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13611 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13612 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13613 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13614 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13615 @end table
13616
13617 @node Decimal Floating Point
13618 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
13619 @cindex decimal floating point format
13620
13621 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
13622 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
13623 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
13624 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
13625
13626 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
13627 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
13628 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
13629 target.
13630
13631 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
13632 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
13633 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
13634
13635 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
13636 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
13637 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
13638
13639 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
13640 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
13641 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
13642
13643 @node D
13644 @subsection D
13645
13646 @cindex D
13647 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
13648 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
13649 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
13650
13651 @node Go
13652 @subsection Go
13653
13654 @cindex Go (programming language)
13655 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
13656 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
13657
13658 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
13659
13660 @table @code
13661 @cindex current Go package
13662 @item The current Go package
13663 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
13664 specifying global variables and functions.
13665
13666 For example, given the program:
13667
13668 @example
13669 package main
13670 var myglob = "Shall we?"
13671 func main () @{
13672 // ...
13673 @}
13674 @end example
13675
13676 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
13677
13678 @example
13679 (gdb) p myglob
13680 (gdb) p main.myglob
13681 @end example
13682
13683 @cindex builtin Go types
13684 @item Builtin Go types
13685 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
13686 as a string.
13687
13688 @cindex builtin Go functions
13689 @item Builtin Go functions
13690 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
13691 function and handles it internally.
13692
13693 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
13694 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
13695 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
13696 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
13697 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
13698 @end table
13699
13700 @node Objective-C
13701 @subsection Objective-C
13702
13703 @cindex Objective-C
13704 This section provides information about some commands and command
13705 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
13706 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
13707 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
13708
13709 @menu
13710 * Method Names in Commands::
13711 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
13712 @end menu
13713
13714 @node Method Names in Commands
13715 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
13716
13717 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
13718 names as line specifications:
13719
13720 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
13721 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
13722 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
13723 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
13724 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
13725 @itemize
13726 @item @code{clear}
13727 @item @code{break}
13728 @item @code{info line}
13729 @item @code{jump}
13730 @item @code{list}
13731 @end itemize
13732
13733 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
13734
13735 @smallexample
13736 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
13737 @end smallexample
13738
13739 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
13740 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
13741 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
13742 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
13743 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
13744 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
13745 debugged, enter:
13746
13747 @smallexample
13748 break -[Fruit create]
13749 @end smallexample
13750
13751 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
13752 enter:
13753
13754 @smallexample
13755 list +[NSText initialize]
13756 @end smallexample
13757
13758 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
13759 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
13760 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
13761 is also possible to specify just a method name:
13762
13763 @smallexample
13764 break create
13765 @end smallexample
13766
13767 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
13768 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
13769 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
13770 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
13771 none apply.
13772
13773 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
13774 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
13775
13776 @smallexample
13777 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
13778 @end smallexample
13779
13780 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
13781 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
13782 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
13783 @kindex print-object
13784 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
13785
13786 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
13787
13788 @smallexample
13789 print -[@var{object} hash]
13790 @end smallexample
13791
13792 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
13793 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
13794 @noindent
13795 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
13796 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
13797 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
13798 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
13799 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
13800 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
13801
13802 @node OpenCL C
13803 @subsection OpenCL C
13804
13805 @cindex OpenCL C
13806 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
13807
13808 @menu
13809 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
13810 * OpenCL C Expressions::
13811 * OpenCL C Operators::
13812 @end menu
13813
13814 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
13815 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
13816
13817 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
13818 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
13819 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
13820 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
13821 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
13822
13823 @node OpenCL C Expressions
13824 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
13825
13826 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
13827 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
13828 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
13829 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
13830
13831 @node OpenCL C Operators
13832 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
13833
13834 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
13835 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
13836 vector data types.
13837
13838 @node Fortran
13839 @subsection Fortran
13840 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
13841
13842 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
13843 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
13844
13845 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
13846 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
13847 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
13848 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
13849 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
13850 underscore.
13851
13852 @menu
13853 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
13854 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
13855 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
13856 @end menu
13857
13858 @node Fortran Operators
13859 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
13860
13861 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
13862
13863 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13864 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
13865 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
13866
13867 @table @code
13868 @item **
13869 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
13870 of the second one.
13871
13872 @item :
13873 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
13874 represent a section of array.
13875
13876 @item %
13877 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
13878 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
13879 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
13880 union type.
13881 @end table
13882
13883 @node Fortran Defaults
13884 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
13885
13886 @cindex Fortran Defaults
13887
13888 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
13889 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
13890 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
13891 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
13892
13893 @node Special Fortran Commands
13894 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
13895
13896 @cindex Special Fortran commands
13897
13898 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
13899 such as displaying common blocks.
13900
13901 @table @code
13902 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13903 @kindex info common
13904 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13905 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13906 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13907 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13908 printed.
13909 @end table
13910
13911 @node Pascal
13912 @subsection Pascal
13913
13914 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13915 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13916 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13917 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13918 syntax.
13919
13920 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13921 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13922 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13923
13924 @node Modula-2
13925 @subsection Modula-2
13926
13927 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13928
13929 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13930 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13931 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13932 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13933 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13934 table.
13935
13936 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13937 @menu
13938 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13939 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13940 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13941 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13942 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13943 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13944 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13945 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13946 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13947 @end menu
13948
13949 @node M2 Operators
13950 @subsubsection Operators
13951 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13952
13953 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13954 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13955 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13956 following definitions hold:
13957
13958 @itemize @bullet
13959
13960 @item
13961 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13962 their subranges.
13963
13964 @item
13965 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13966
13967 @item
13968 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13969
13970 @item
13971 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13972 @var{type}}.
13973
13974 @item
13975 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13976
13977 @item
13978 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13979
13980 @item
13981 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13982 @end itemize
13983
13984 @noindent
13985 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13986 increasing precedence:
13987
13988 @table @code
13989 @item ,
13990 Function argument or array index separator.
13991
13992 @item :=
13993 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13994 @var{value}.
13995
13996 @item <@r{, }>
13997 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13998 types.
13999
14000 @item <=@r{, }>=
14001 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14002 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14003 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14004
14005 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14006 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14007 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14008 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14009 comment character.
14010
14011 @item IN
14012 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14013 Same precedence as @code{<}.
14014
14015 @item OR
14016 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14017
14018 @item AND@r{, }&
14019 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14020
14021 @item @@
14022 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14023
14024 @item +@r{, }-
14025 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14026 and difference on set types.
14027
14028 @item *
14029 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14030 on set types.
14031
14032 @item /
14033 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14034 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14035
14036 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
14037 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14038 precedence as @code{*}.
14039
14040 @item -
14041 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14042
14043 @item ^
14044 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14045
14046 @item NOT
14047 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14048 @code{^}.
14049
14050 @item .
14051 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14052 precedence as @code{^}.
14053
14054 @item []
14055 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14056
14057 @item ()
14058 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14059 as @code{^}.
14060
14061 @item ::@r{, }.
14062 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14063 @end table
14064
14065 @quotation
14066 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14067 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14068 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14069 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14070 @end quotation
14071
14072
14073 @node Built-In Func/Proc
14074 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14075 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14076
14077 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14078 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14079
14080 @table @var
14081
14082 @item a
14083 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14084
14085 @item c
14086 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14087
14088 @item i
14089 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14090
14091 @item m
14092 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14093 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14094 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14095
14096 @item n
14097 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14098
14099 @item r
14100 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14101
14102 @item t
14103 represents a type.
14104
14105 @item v
14106 represents a variable.
14107
14108 @item x
14109 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14110 explanation of the function for details.
14111 @end table
14112
14113 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14114
14115 @table @code
14116 @item ABS(@var{n})
14117 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14118
14119 @item CAP(@var{c})
14120 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14121 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14122
14123 @item CHR(@var{i})
14124 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14125
14126 @item DEC(@var{v})
14127 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14128
14129 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14130 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14131 new value.
14132
14133 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14134 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14135 set.
14136
14137 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
14138 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14139
14140 @item HIGH(@var{a})
14141 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14142
14143 @item INC(@var{v})
14144 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14145
14146 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14147 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14148 new value.
14149
14150 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14151 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14152 there. Returns the new set.
14153
14154 @item MAX(@var{t})
14155 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14156
14157 @item MIN(@var{t})
14158 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14159
14160 @item ODD(@var{i})
14161 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14162
14163 @item ORD(@var{x})
14164 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14165 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14166 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14167 integral, character and enumerated types.
14168
14169 @item SIZE(@var{x})
14170 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14171
14172 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
14173 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14174
14175 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
14176 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14177
14178 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14179 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14180 @end table
14181
14182 @quotation
14183 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14184 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14185 an error.
14186 @end quotation
14187
14188 @cindex Modula-2 constants
14189 @node M2 Constants
14190 @subsubsection Constants
14191
14192 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14193 ways:
14194
14195 @itemize @bullet
14196
14197 @item
14198 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14199 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14200 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14201 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14202
14203 @item
14204 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14205 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14206 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14207 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14208 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14209 digits.
14210
14211 @item
14212 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14213 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14214 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14215 followed by a @samp{C}.
14216
14217 @item
14218 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14219 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14220 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14221 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14222 sequences.
14223
14224 @item
14225 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14226
14227 @item
14228 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14229 @code{FALSE}.
14230
14231 @item
14232 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14233
14234 @item
14235 Set constants are not yet supported.
14236 @end itemize
14237
14238 @node M2 Types
14239 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14240 @cindex Modula-2 types
14241
14242 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14243 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14244 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14245 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14246 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14247 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14248
14249 The first example contains the following section of code:
14250
14251 @smallexample
14252 VAR
14253 s: SET OF CHAR ;
14254 r: [20..40] ;
14255 @end smallexample
14256
14257 @noindent
14258 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14259 @code{r} and @code{s}.
14260
14261 @smallexample
14262 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14263 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
14264 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14265 SET OF CHAR
14266 (@value{GDBP}) print r
14267 21
14268 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14269 [20..40]
14270 @end smallexample
14271
14272 @noindent
14273 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14274
14275 @smallexample
14276 VAR
14277 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14278 @end smallexample
14279
14280 @noindent
14281 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14282
14283 @smallexample
14284 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14285 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14286 @end smallexample
14287
14288 @noindent
14289 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14290 expressions using the debugger.
14291
14292 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14293 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14294
14295 @smallexample
14296 VAR
14297 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14298 @end smallexample
14299
14300 @smallexample
14301 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14302 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14303 @end smallexample
14304
14305 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14306 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14307 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14308 above.
14309
14310 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14311
14312 @smallexample
14313 TYPE
14314 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14315 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14316 VAR
14317 s: t ;
14318 BEGIN
14319 s := blue ;
14320 @end smallexample
14321
14322 @noindent
14323 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14324 and value of a variable.
14325
14326 @smallexample
14327 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14328 $1 = blue
14329 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14330 type = [blue..yellow]
14331 @end smallexample
14332
14333 @noindent
14334 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14335 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14336 their @code{C} counterparts.
14337
14338 @smallexample
14339 VAR
14340 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14341 BEGIN
14342 s[1] := 1 ;
14343 @end smallexample
14344
14345 @smallexample
14346 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14347 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14348 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14349 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14350 @end smallexample
14351
14352 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14353 pointer types as shown in this example:
14354
14355 @smallexample
14356 VAR
14357 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14358 BEGIN
14359 NEW(s) ;
14360 s^[1] := 1 ;
14361 @end smallexample
14362
14363 @noindent
14364 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14365
14366 @smallexample
14367 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14368 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14369 @end smallexample
14370
14371 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14372 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14373 types:
14374
14375 @smallexample
14376 TYPE
14377 foo = RECORD
14378 f1: CARDINAL ;
14379 f2: CHAR ;
14380 f3: myarray ;
14381 END ;
14382
14383 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14384 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14385 VAR
14386 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14387 @end smallexample
14388
14389 @noindent
14390 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14391 below.
14392
14393 @smallexample
14394 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14395 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14396 f1 : CARDINAL;
14397 f2 : CHAR;
14398 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14399 END
14400 @end smallexample
14401
14402 @node M2 Defaults
14403 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14404 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14405
14406 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14407 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14408 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14409 selected the working language.
14410
14411 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14412 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14413 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14414 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14415
14416 @node Deviations
14417 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14418 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14419
14420 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14421 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14422
14423 @itemize @bullet
14424 @item
14425 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14426 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14427 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14428 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14429 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14430 returned a pointer.)
14431
14432 @item
14433 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14434 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14435 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14436 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14437
14438 @item
14439 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14440 argument.
14441
14442 @item
14443 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14444 @end itemize
14445
14446 @node M2 Checks
14447 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14448 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14449
14450 @quotation
14451 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14452 range checking.
14453 @end quotation
14454 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14455
14456 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14457
14458 @itemize @bullet
14459 @item
14460 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14461 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14462
14463 @item
14464 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14465 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14466 @end itemize
14467
14468 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14469 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14470
14471 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14472 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14473
14474 @node M2 Scope
14475 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14476 @cindex scope
14477 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14478 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14479 @ifinfo
14480 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14481 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14482 @end ifinfo
14483 @ifnotinfo
14484 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14485 @end ifnotinfo
14486
14487 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14488 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14489 similar syntax:
14490
14491 @smallexample
14492
14493 @var{module} . @var{id}
14494 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14495 @end smallexample
14496
14497 @noindent
14498 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14499 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14500 identifier within your program, except another module.
14501
14502 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14503 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14504 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14505 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14506
14507 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14508 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14509 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14510 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14511 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14512 @var{module}.
14513
14514 @node GDB/M2
14515 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14516
14517 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14518 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14519 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14520 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14521 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14522 analogue in Modula-2.
14523
14524 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14525 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14526 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14527 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14528 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14529 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14530
14531 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14532 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14533 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14534
14535 @node Ada
14536 @subsection Ada
14537 @cindex Ada
14538
14539 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14540 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14541 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14542 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14543 to be difficult.
14544
14545
14546 @cindex expressions in Ada
14547 @menu
14548 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14549 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14550 in @value{GDBN}.
14551 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14552 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14553 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14554 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14555 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14556 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14557 Profile
14558 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14559 @end menu
14560
14561 @node Ada Mode Intro
14562 @subsubsection Introduction
14563 @cindex Ada mode, general
14564
14565 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14566 syntax, with some extensions.
14567 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14568
14569 @itemize @bullet
14570 @item
14571 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14572 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14573 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14574 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14575
14576 @item
14577 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14578 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14579
14580 @item
14581 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14582 @end itemize
14583
14584 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14585 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14586 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14587 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14588 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14589
14590 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14591 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14592 was translated from an Ada source file.
14593
14594 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14595 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14596 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14597 middle (to allow based literals).
14598
14599 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14600 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14601 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14602 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14603 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14604 functions to procedures elsewhere.
14605
14606 @node Omissions from Ada
14607 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14608 @cindex Ada, omissions from
14609
14610 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14611
14612 @itemize @bullet
14613 @item
14614 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14615
14616 @itemize @minus
14617 @item
14618 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
14619 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
14620
14621 @item
14622 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
14623
14624 @item
14625 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
14626
14627 @item
14628 @t{'Tag}.
14629
14630 @item
14631 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
14632 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
14633
14634 @item
14635 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
14636 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
14637
14638 @item
14639 @t{'Address}.
14640 @end itemize
14641
14642 @item
14643 The names in
14644 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
14645 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
14646 not currently available.
14647
14648 @item
14649 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
14650 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
14651 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
14652 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
14653 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
14654 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
14655 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
14656 indeterminate values.
14657
14658 @item
14659 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
14660 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
14661 are not implemented.
14662
14663 @item
14664 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
14665 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
14666 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
14667 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
14668 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
14669
14670 @smallexample
14671 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
14672 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
14673 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
14674 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
14675 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
14676 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
14677 @end smallexample
14678
14679 Changing a
14680 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
14681 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
14682 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
14683 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
14684 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
14685 declared to have a type such as:
14686
14687 @smallexample
14688 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
14689 Id : Integer;
14690 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
14691 end record;
14692 @end smallexample
14693
14694 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
14695 assignments:
14696
14697 @smallexample
14698 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
14699 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
14700 @end smallexample
14701
14702 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
14703 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
14704 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
14705 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
14706 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
14707 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
14708 redundant component associations, although which component values are
14709 assigned in such cases is not defined.
14710
14711 @item
14712 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
14713
14714 @item
14715 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
14716 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
14717 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
14718 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
14719 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
14720 the proper resolution.
14721
14722 @item
14723 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
14724
14725 @item
14726 Entry calls are not implemented.
14727
14728 @item
14729 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
14730 formats are not supported.
14731
14732 @item
14733 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
14734
14735 @item
14736 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
14737 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
14738 context.
14739 Should your program
14740 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
14741 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
14742 @end itemize
14743
14744 @node Additions to Ada
14745 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
14746 @cindex Ada, deviations from
14747
14748 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
14749 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
14750
14751 @itemize @bullet
14752 @item
14753 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
14754 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
14755 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
14756 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
14757 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
14758 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
14759 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
14760 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
14761
14762 @item
14763 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
14764 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
14765 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
14766
14767 @item
14768 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
14769 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
14770
14771 @item
14772 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
14773 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
14774 @end itemize
14775
14776 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
14777 additions specific to Ada:
14778
14779 @itemize @bullet
14780 @item
14781 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
14782 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
14783
14784 @smallexample
14785 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
14786 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
14787 @end smallexample
14788
14789 @item
14790 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
14791 the value of its right-hand operand.
14792 This allows, for example,
14793 complex conditional breaks:
14794
14795 @smallexample
14796 (@value{GDBP}) break f
14797 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
14798 @end smallexample
14799
14800 @item
14801 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
14802 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
14803 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
14804 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
14805 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
14806 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
14807 in strings. For example,
14808 @smallexample
14809 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
14810 @end smallexample
14811 @noindent
14812 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
14813 after each period.
14814
14815 @item
14816 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
14817 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
14818 to write
14819
14820 @smallexample
14821 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
14822 @end smallexample
14823
14824 @item
14825 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
14826 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
14827 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
14828 of 3 might print as
14829
14830 @smallexample
14831 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
14832 @end smallexample
14833
14834 @noindent
14835 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
14836 clause.
14837
14838 @item
14839 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
14840 multi-character subsequence of
14841 their names (an exact match gets preference).
14842 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
14843 in place of @t{a'length}.
14844
14845 @item
14846 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
14847 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
14848 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
14849 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
14850 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
14851 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
14852 For example,
14853 @smallexample
14854 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
14855 @end smallexample
14856
14857 @item
14858 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
14859 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
14860 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
14861 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
14862 object.
14863
14864 @end itemize
14865
14866 @node Stopping Before Main Program
14867 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
14868
14869 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
14870 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
14871 before reaching the main procedure.
14872 As defined in the Ada Reference
14873 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
14874 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
14875 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
14876 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
14877
14878 @node Ada Tasks
14879 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
14880 @cindex Ada, tasking
14881
14882 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
14883 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
14884
14885 @table @code
14886 @kindex info tasks
14887 @item info tasks
14888 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
14889
14890
14891 @smallexample
14892 @iftex
14893 @leftskip=0.5cm
14894 @end iftex
14895 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14896 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14897 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14898 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
14899 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
14900 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14901
14902 @end smallexample
14903
14904 @noindent
14905 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14906 task currently being inspected.
14907
14908 @table @asis
14909 @item ID
14910 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14911
14912 @item TID
14913 The Ada task ID.
14914
14915 @item P-ID
14916 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14917
14918 @item Pri
14919 The base priority of the task.
14920
14921 @item State
14922 Current state of the task.
14923
14924 @table @code
14925 @item Unactivated
14926 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14927 executing.
14928
14929 @item Runnable
14930 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14931 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14932
14933 @item Terminated
14934 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14935 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14936 terminated themselves.
14937
14938 @item Child Activation Wait
14939 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14940
14941 @item Accept Statement
14942 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14943
14944 @item Waiting on entry call
14945 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14946
14947 @item Async Select Wait
14948 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14949 select statement.
14950
14951 @item Delay Sleep
14952 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14953 alternative open.
14954
14955 @item Child Termination Wait
14956 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14957 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14958 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14959
14960 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14961 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14962 finish terminating.
14963
14964 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14965 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14966 @end table
14967
14968 @item Name
14969 Name of the task in the program.
14970
14971 @end table
14972
14973 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14974 @item info task @var{taskno}
14975 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14976 the following example:
14977 @smallexample
14978 @iftex
14979 @leftskip=0.5cm
14980 @end iftex
14981 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14982 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14983 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14984 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14985 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14986 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14987 Name: task_1
14988 Thread: 0x807f378
14989 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14990 Base Priority: 15
14991 State: Runnable
14992 @end smallexample
14993
14994 @item task
14995 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14996 @cindex current Ada task ID
14997 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14998
14999 @smallexample
15000 @iftex
15001 @leftskip=0.5cm
15002 @end iftex
15003 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15004 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15005 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15006 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15007 (@value{GDBP}) task
15008 [Current task is 2]
15009 @end smallexample
15010
15011 @item task @var{taskno}
15012 @cindex Ada task switching
15013 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15014 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15015 from the current task to the given task.
15016
15017 @smallexample
15018 @iftex
15019 @leftskip=0.5cm
15020 @end iftex
15021 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15022 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15023 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15024 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15025 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
15026 [Switching to task 1]
15027 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15028 (@value{GDBP}) bt
15029 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15030 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15031 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15032 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15033 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15034 @end smallexample
15035
15036 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15037 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15038 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15039 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15040 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15041 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15042 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
15043 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
15044 in @ref{Specify Location}.
15045
15046 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15047 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15048 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
15049 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15050 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15051
15052 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15053 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15054 program.
15055
15056 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15057 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15058 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15059
15060 For example,
15061
15062 @smallexample
15063 @iftex
15064 @leftskip=0.5cm
15065 @end iftex
15066 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15067 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15068 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15069 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15070 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15071 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15072 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15073 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15074 (@value{GDBP}) cont
15075 Continuing.
15076 task # 1 running
15077 task # 2 running
15078
15079 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
15080 15 flush;
15081 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15082 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15083 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15084 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15085 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15086 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15087 @end smallexample
15088 @end table
15089
15090 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15091 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15092 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15093
15094 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15095 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15096 the platform being used.
15097 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15098 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15099 as usual.
15100
15101 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15102 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15103 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15104 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15105 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15106 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15107
15108 @node Ravenscar Profile
15109 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15110 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
15111
15112 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15113 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15114 requirements.
15115
15116 @table @code
15117 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15118 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15119 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
15120 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15121 Profile. This is the default.
15122
15123 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15124 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
15125 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15126 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15127 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15128 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15129 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15130
15131 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15132 @item show ravenscar task-switching
15133 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15134 using the Ravenscar Profile.
15135
15136 @end table
15137
15138 @node Ada Glitches
15139 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15140 @cindex Ada, problems
15141
15142 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15143 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15144 @value{GDBN},
15145 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15146 and the GNU Ada compiler.
15147
15148 @itemize @bullet
15149 @item
15150 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15151 storage are invisible to the debugger.
15152
15153 @item
15154 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15155 argument lists are treated as positional).
15156
15157 @item
15158 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15159
15160 @item
15161 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15162 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15163 the host machine.
15164
15165 @item
15166 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15167 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15168 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15169 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15170 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15171 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15172 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15173 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15174 you can usually resolve the confusion
15175 by qualifying the problematic names with package
15176 @code{Standard} explicitly.
15177 @end itemize
15178
15179 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15180 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15181 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15182 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15183 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15184 enabled.
15185
15186 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15187 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15188 @table @code
15189
15190 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15191 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15192 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15193 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15194 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15195 This is the default.
15196
15197 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15198 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15199 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15200 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15201 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15202 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15203 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15204
15205 @end table
15206
15207 @node Unsupported Languages
15208 @section Unsupported Languages
15209
15210 @cindex unsupported languages
15211 @cindex minimal language
15212 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15213 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15214 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15215 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15216 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15217 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15218
15219 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15220 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15221 language.
15222
15223 @node Symbols
15224 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15225
15226 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15227 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15228 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15229 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15230 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15231 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15232 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15233
15234 @cindex symbol names
15235 @cindex names of symbols
15236 @cindex quoting names
15237 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15238 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15239 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15240 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15241 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15242 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15243 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15244 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15245
15246 @smallexample
15247 p 'foo.c'::x
15248 @end smallexample
15249
15250 @noindent
15251 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15252
15253 @table @code
15254 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15255 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15256 @kindex set case-sensitive
15257 @item set case-sensitive on
15258 @itemx set case-sensitive off
15259 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
15260 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15261 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15262 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15263 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15264 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15265 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15266 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15267 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15268 case-insensitive matches.
15269
15270 @kindex show case-sensitive
15271 @item show case-sensitive
15272 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15273 lookups.
15274
15275 @kindex set print type methods
15276 @item set print type methods
15277 @itemx set print type methods on
15278 @itemx set print type methods off
15279 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15280 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15281 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15282 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15283 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15284 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15285
15286 @kindex show print type methods
15287 @item show print type methods
15288 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15289 classes.
15290
15291 @kindex set print type typedefs
15292 @item set print type typedefs
15293 @itemx set print type typedefs on
15294 @itemx set print type typedefs off
15295
15296 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15297 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15298 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15299 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15300 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15301 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15302 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15303 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15304 types.
15305
15306 @kindex show print type typedefs
15307 @item show print type typedefs
15308 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15309 printing classes.
15310
15311 @kindex info address
15312 @cindex address of a symbol
15313 @item info address @var{symbol}
15314 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15315 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15316 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15317 is always stored.
15318
15319 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15320 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15321 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15322
15323 @kindex info symbol
15324 @cindex symbol from address
15325 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15326 @item info symbol @var{addr}
15327 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15328 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15329 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15330
15331 @smallexample
15332 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15333 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15334 @end smallexample
15335
15336 @noindent
15337 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15338 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15339
15340 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15341 library containing the symbol is also printed:
15342
15343 @smallexample
15344 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15345 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15346 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15347 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15348 @end smallexample
15349
15350 @kindex whatis
15351 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15352 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15353 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15354 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15355
15356 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15357 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15358 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15359
15360 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15361 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15362 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15363 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15364 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15365 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15366 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15367 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15368 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15369
15370 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15371 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15372 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15373 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15374 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15375 unroll it.
15376
15377 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15378 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15379 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15380
15381 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15382 Available flags are:
15383
15384 @table @code
15385 @item r
15386 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15387 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15388 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15389
15390 @item m
15391 Do not print methods defined in the class.
15392
15393 @item M
15394 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15395 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15396
15397 @item t
15398 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15399 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15400 names are substituted when printing other types.
15401
15402 @item T
15403 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15404 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15405 @end table
15406
15407 @kindex ptype
15408 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15409 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15410 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15411 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15412
15413 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15414 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15415 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15416 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15417 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15418 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15419 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15420 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15421
15422 For example, for this variable declaration:
15423
15424 @smallexample
15425 typedef double real_t;
15426 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15427 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15428 complex_t var;
15429 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15430 @end smallexample
15431
15432 @noindent
15433 the two commands give this output:
15434
15435 @smallexample
15436 @group
15437 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15438 type = complex_t
15439 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15440 type = struct complex @{
15441 real_t real;
15442 double imag;
15443 @}
15444 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15445 type = struct complex
15446 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15447 type = struct complex
15448 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15449 type = struct complex @{
15450 real_t real;
15451 double imag;
15452 @}
15453 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15454 type = real_t *
15455 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15456 type = double *
15457 @end group
15458 @end smallexample
15459
15460 @noindent
15461 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15462 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15463
15464 @cindex incomplete type
15465 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15466 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15467 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15468 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15469 given these declarations:
15470
15471 @smallexample
15472 struct foo;
15473 struct foo *fooptr;
15474 @end smallexample
15475
15476 @noindent
15477 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15478
15479 @smallexample
15480 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15481 $1 = <incomplete type>
15482 @end smallexample
15483
15484 @noindent
15485 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15486 completely specified.
15487
15488 @kindex info types
15489 @item info types @var{regexp}
15490 @itemx info types
15491 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15492 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15493 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15494 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15495 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15496 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15497 name is @code{value}.
15498
15499 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15500 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15501 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15502
15503 @kindex info type-printers
15504 @item info type-printers
15505 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
15506 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
15507 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
15508 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
15509 type printers.
15510
15511 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
15512
15513 @kindex enable type-printer
15514 @kindex disable type-printer
15515 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15516 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15517 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
15518
15519 @kindex info scope
15520 @cindex local variables
15521 @item info scope @var{location}
15522 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15523 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15524 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15525 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15526 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15527
15528 @smallexample
15529 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15530 Scope for command_line_handler:
15531 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15532 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15533 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15534 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15535 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15536 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15537 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15538 @end smallexample
15539
15540 @noindent
15541 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15542 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15543 collect}.
15544
15545 @kindex info source
15546 @item info source
15547 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15548 the function containing the current point of execution:
15549 @itemize @bullet
15550 @item
15551 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15552 @item
15553 the directory it was compiled in,
15554 @item
15555 its length, in lines,
15556 @item
15557 which programming language it is written in,
15558 @item
15559 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15560 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15561 @item
15562 whether the debugging information includes information about
15563 preprocessor macros.
15564 @end itemize
15565
15566
15567 @kindex info sources
15568 @item info sources
15569 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15570 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15571 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15572
15573 @kindex info functions
15574 @item info functions
15575 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15576
15577 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15578 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15579 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15580 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15581 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15582 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15583 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15584 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15585
15586 @kindex info variables
15587 @item info variables
15588 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15589 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15590
15591 @item info variables @var{regexp}
15592 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15593 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15594 @var{regexp}.
15595
15596 @kindex info classes
15597 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15598 @item info classes
15599 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15600 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15601 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15602 expression.
15603
15604 @kindex info selectors
15605 @item info selectors
15606 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15607 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15608 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15609 expression.
15610
15611 @ignore
15612 This was never implemented.
15613 @kindex info methods
15614 @item info methods
15615 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
15616 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
15617 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
15618 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
15619 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
15620 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
15621 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
15622 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
15623 @end ignore
15624
15625 @cindex opaque data types
15626 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
15627 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
15628 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
15629 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
15630 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
15631 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
15632 another source file. The default is on.
15633
15634 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
15635 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
15636
15637 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
15638 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
15639 is printed as follows:
15640 @smallexample
15641 @{<no data fields>@}
15642 @end smallexample
15643
15644 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
15645 @item show opaque-type-resolution
15646 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
15647
15648 @kindex maint print symbols
15649 @cindex symbol dump
15650 @kindex maint print psymbols
15651 @cindex partial symbol dump
15652 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
15653 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
15654 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
15655 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
15656 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
15657 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
15658 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
15659 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
15660 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
15661 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
15662 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
15663 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
15664 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
15665 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
15666 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
15667 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
15668 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
15669
15670 @kindex maint info symtabs
15671 @kindex maint info psymtabs
15672 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
15673 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15674 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15675 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15676 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15677 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15678
15679 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
15680 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
15681 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
15682 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
15683 structure in more detail. For example:
15684
15685 @smallexample
15686 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
15687 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15688 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15689 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15690 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
15691 readin no
15692 fullname (null)
15693 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
15694 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
15695 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
15696 dependencies (none)
15697 @}
15698 @}
15699 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15700 (@value{GDBP})
15701 @end smallexample
15702 @noindent
15703 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
15704 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
15705 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
15706 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
15707 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
15708
15709 @smallexample
15710 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
15711 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
15712 line 1574.
15713 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15714 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15715 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15716 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15717 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
15718 dirname (null)
15719 fullname (null)
15720 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
15721 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
15722 debugformat DWARF 2
15723 @}
15724 @}
15725 (@value{GDBP})
15726 @end smallexample
15727 @end table
15728
15729
15730 @node Altering
15731 @chapter Altering Execution
15732
15733 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
15734 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
15735 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
15736 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
15737 program.
15738
15739 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
15740 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
15741 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
15742
15743 @menu
15744 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
15745 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
15746 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
15747 * Returning:: Returning from a function
15748 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
15749 * Patching:: Patching your program
15750 @end menu
15751
15752 @node Assignment
15753 @section Assignment to Variables
15754
15755 @cindex assignment
15756 @cindex setting variables
15757 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
15758 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
15759
15760 @smallexample
15761 print x=4
15762 @end smallexample
15763
15764 @noindent
15765 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
15766 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
15767 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
15768 information on operators in supported languages.
15769
15770 @kindex set variable
15771 @cindex variables, setting
15772 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
15773 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
15774 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
15775 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
15776 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
15777
15778 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
15779 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
15780 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
15781 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
15782 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
15783 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
15784 command @code{set width}:
15785
15786 @smallexample
15787 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
15788 type = double
15789 (@value{GDBP}) p width
15790 $4 = 13
15791 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
15792 Invalid syntax in expression.
15793 @end smallexample
15794
15795 @noindent
15796 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
15797 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
15798
15799 @smallexample
15800 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
15801 @end smallexample
15802
15803 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
15804 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
15805 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
15806 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
15807 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
15808 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
15809
15810 @smallexample
15811 @group
15812 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
15813 type = double
15814 (@value{GDBP}) p g
15815 $1 = 1
15816 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
15817 (@value{GDBP}) p g
15818 $2 = 1
15819 (@value{GDBP}) r
15820 The program being debugged has been started already.
15821 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
15822 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
15823 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
15824 Invalid bfd target.
15825 (@value{GDBP}) show g
15826 The current BFD target is "=4".
15827 @end group
15828 @end smallexample
15829
15830 @noindent
15831 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
15832 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
15833 @code{g}, use
15834
15835 @smallexample
15836 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
15837 @end smallexample
15838
15839 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
15840 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
15841 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
15842 same length or shorter.
15843 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
15844 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
15845
15846 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
15847 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
15848 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
15849 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
15850 and representation in memory), and
15851
15852 @smallexample
15853 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
15854 @end smallexample
15855
15856 @noindent
15857 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
15858
15859 @node Jumping
15860 @section Continuing at a Different Address
15861
15862 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
15863 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
15864 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
15865
15866 @table @code
15867 @kindex jump
15868 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
15869 @item jump @var{linespec}
15870 @itemx j @var{linespec}
15871 @itemx jump @var{location}
15872 @itemx j @var{location}
15873 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
15874 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
15875 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
15876 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
15877 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
15878 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
15879
15880 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
15881 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
15882 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
15883 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
15884 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
15885 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
15886 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
15887 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
15888 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
15889 @end table
15890
15891 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
15892 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
15893 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
15894 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
15895 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
15896 example,
15897
15898 @smallexample
15899 set $pc = 0x485
15900 @end smallexample
15901
15902 @noindent
15903 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
15904 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
15905 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
15906
15907 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
15908 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
15909 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
15910 detail.
15911
15912 @c @group
15913 @node Signaling
15914 @section Giving your Program a Signal
15915 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
15916
15917 @table @code
15918 @kindex signal
15919 @item signal @var{signal}
15920 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
15921 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
15922 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
15923 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
15924
15925 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
15926 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
15927 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
15928 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
15929 signal.
15930
15931 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
15932 after executing the command.
15933 @end table
15934 @c @end group
15935
15936 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
15937 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
15938 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
15939 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
15940 passes the signal directly to your program.
15941
15942
15943 @node Returning
15944 @section Returning from a Function
15945
15946 @table @code
15947 @cindex returning from a function
15948 @kindex return
15949 @item return
15950 @itemx return @var{expression}
15951 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
15952 command. If you give an
15953 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
15954 value.
15955 @end table
15956
15957 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15958 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15959 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15960 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15961
15962 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15963 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15964 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15965 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15966 of functions.
15967
15968 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15969 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15970 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15971 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15972 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15973
15974 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15975 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15976 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15977 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15978 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15979 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15980 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15981 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15982 assignment into the right register(s).
15983
15984 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15985 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15986 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15987 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15988 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15989 into a @code{long long int}:
15990
15991 @smallexample
15992 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15993 29 return 31;
15994 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15995 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15996 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15997 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15998 (@value{GDBP})
15999 @end smallexample
16000
16001 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16002 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16003 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16004 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16005 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16006 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16007 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16008 an appropriate cast explicitly:
16009
16010 @smallexample
16011 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16012 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16013 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16014 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16015 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16016 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16017 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
16018 (@value{GDBP})
16019 @end smallexample
16020
16021 @node Calling
16022 @section Calling Program Functions
16023
16024 @table @code
16025 @cindex calling functions
16026 @cindex inferior functions, calling
16027 @item print @var{expr}
16028 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16029 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
16030 debugged.
16031
16032 @kindex call
16033 @item call @var{expr}
16034 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16035 returned values.
16036
16037 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16038 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16039 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16040 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16041 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16042 value history.
16043 @end table
16044
16045 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16046 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16047 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16048 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16049
16050 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16051 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16052 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16053 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16054 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16055 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16056 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16057 in that case is controlled by the
16058 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16059
16060 @table @code
16061 @item set unwindonsignal
16062 @kindex set unwindonsignal
16063 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
16064 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16065 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16066 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16067 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16068 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16069 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16070 received.
16071
16072 @item show unwindonsignal
16073 @kindex show unwindonsignal
16074 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16075 @value{GDBN}.
16076
16077 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16078 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16079 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16080 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16081 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16082 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16083 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16084 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16085 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16086 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16087
16088 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16089 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16090 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16091 @value{GDBN}.
16092
16093 @end table
16094
16095 @cindex weak alias functions
16096 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16097 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16098 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16099 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16100 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16101 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16102 function instead.
16103
16104 @node Patching
16105 @section Patching Programs
16106
16107 @cindex patching binaries
16108 @cindex writing into executables
16109 @cindex writing into corefiles
16110
16111 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16112 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16113 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16114 patching your program's binary.
16115
16116 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16117 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16118 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16119 repairs.
16120
16121 @table @code
16122 @kindex set write
16123 @item set write on
16124 @itemx set write off
16125 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16126 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16127 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16128
16129 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16130 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16131 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16132
16133 @item show write
16134 @kindex show write
16135 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16136 as well as reading.
16137 @end table
16138
16139 @node GDB Files
16140 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16141
16142 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16143 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16144 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16145 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16146
16147 @menu
16148 * Files:: Commands to specify files
16149 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16150 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16151 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16152 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16153 * Data Files:: GDB data files
16154 @end menu
16155
16156 @node Files
16157 @section Commands to Specify Files
16158
16159 @cindex symbol table
16160 @cindex core dump file
16161
16162 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16163 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16164 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16165 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16166
16167 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16168 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16169 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16170 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16171 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16172 new files are useful.
16173
16174 @table @code
16175 @cindex executable file
16176 @kindex file
16177 @item file @var{filename}
16178 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16179 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16180 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16181 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16182 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16183 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16184 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16185 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16186
16187 @cindex unlinked object files
16188 @cindex patching object files
16189 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16190 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16191 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16192 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16193 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16194 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16195 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16196 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16197
16198 @item file
16199 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16200 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16201
16202 @kindex exec-file
16203 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16204 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16205 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16206 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16207 discard information on the executable file.
16208
16209 @kindex symbol-file
16210 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16211 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16212 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16213 table and program to run from the same file.
16214
16215 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16216 program's symbol table.
16217
16218 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16219 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16220 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16221 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16222 @value{GDBN}.
16223
16224 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16225 executing it once.
16226
16227 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16228 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16229 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16230 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16231 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16232 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16233 optimized code.
16234
16235 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16236 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16237 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16238 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16239 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16240
16241 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16242 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16243 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16244 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16245 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16246 Warnings and Messages}.)
16247
16248 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16249 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16250 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16251 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16252 in stabs format.
16253
16254 @kindex readnow
16255 @cindex reading symbols immediately
16256 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
16257 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16258 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16259 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16260 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16261 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16262 entire symbol table available.
16263
16264 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16265 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16266 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16267 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16268 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16269 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16270 @c files.
16271
16272 @kindex core-file
16273 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16274 @itemx core
16275 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16276 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16277 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16278 executable file itself for other parts.
16279
16280 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16281 to be used.
16282
16283 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16284 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16285 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16286 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16287 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16288
16289 @kindex add-symbol-file
16290 @cindex dynamic linking
16291 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16292 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16293 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16294 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16295 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16296 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16297 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16298 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16299 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16300 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16301 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16302 @var{address} as an expression.
16303
16304 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16305 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16306 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16307 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
16308 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
16309
16310 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16311 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16312 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16313 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16314 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16315 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16316 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16317 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16318 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16319
16320 @itemize @bullet
16321 @item
16322 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16323 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16324 @item
16325 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16326 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16327 @item
16328 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16329 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16330 @end itemize
16331
16332 @noindent
16333 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16334 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16335 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16336 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16337 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16338 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16339 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16340 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16341 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16342 way.
16343
16344 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16345
16346 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16347 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16348 @cindex load symbols from memory
16349 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16350 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16351 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16352 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16353 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16354 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16355 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16356 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16357 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16358
16359 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16360 @kindex assf
16361 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16362 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
16363 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16364 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16365 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16366 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16367 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16368 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16369 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16370 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16371
16372 @kindex section
16373 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16374 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16375 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16376 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16377 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16378 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16379 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16380 their addresses.
16381
16382 @kindex info files
16383 @kindex info target
16384 @item info files
16385 @itemx info target
16386 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16387 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16388 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16389 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16390 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16391 current ones.
16392
16393 @kindex maint info sections
16394 @item maint info sections
16395 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16396 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16397 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16398 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16399 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16400 may be arbitrarily combined):
16401
16402 @table @code
16403 @item ALLOBJ
16404 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16405 @item @var{sections}
16406 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16407 @item @var{section-flags}
16408 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16409 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16410 @table @code
16411 @item ALLOC
16412 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16413 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16414 @item LOAD
16415 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16416 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16417 @item RELOC
16418 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16419 @item READONLY
16420 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16421 @item CODE
16422 Section contains executable code only.
16423 @item DATA
16424 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16425 @item ROM
16426 Section will reside in ROM.
16427 @item CONSTRUCTOR
16428 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16429 @item HAS_CONTENTS
16430 Section is not empty.
16431 @item NEVER_LOAD
16432 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16433 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16434 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16435 COFF shared library information.
16436 @item IS_COMMON
16437 Section contains common symbols.
16438 @end table
16439 @end table
16440 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16441 @cindex read-only sections
16442 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16443 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16444 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16445 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16446 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16447 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16448 enhancement to debugging performance.
16449
16450 The default is off.
16451
16452 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16453 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16454 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16455 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16456
16457 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16458 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16459 @end table
16460
16461 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16462 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16463 name and remembers it that way.
16464
16465 @cindex shared libraries
16466 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16467 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16468 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16469
16470 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16471 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16472
16473 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16474 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16475 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16476 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16477 debugging a core file).
16478
16479 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16480 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16481
16482 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16483 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16484 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16485
16486 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16487 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16488 particularly large or there are many of them.
16489
16490 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16491 commands:
16492
16493 @table @code
16494 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16495 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16496 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16497 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16498 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16499 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16500 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16501 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16502
16503 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16504 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16505 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16506 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16507 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16508 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16509 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16510 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16511 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16512
16513 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16514 @item show auto-solib-add
16515 Display the current autoloading mode.
16516 @end table
16517
16518 @cindex load shared library
16519 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16520 command:
16521
16522 @table @code
16523 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16524 @kindex info share
16525 @item info share @var{regex}
16526 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16527 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16528 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16529 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16530
16531 @kindex sharedlibrary
16532 @kindex share
16533 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16534 @itemx share @var{regex}
16535 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16536 Unix regular expression.
16537 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16538 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16539 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16540 loaded.
16541
16542 @item nosharedlibrary
16543 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16544 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16545 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16546 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16547 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16548 discarded.
16549 @end table
16550
16551 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16552 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16553 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16554 Catchpoints}).
16555
16556 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16557 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16558 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16559 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16560
16561 @table @code
16562 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16563 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16564 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16565 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16566 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16567 shared library.
16568
16569 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16570 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16571 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16572 library events happen.
16573 @end table
16574
16575 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16576 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16577 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16578 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16579 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16580 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16581 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16582 not.
16583
16584 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16585 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16586 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16587 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16588 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16589
16590 @table @code
16591 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
16592 @cindex system root, alternate
16593 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16594 @kindex set sysroot
16595 @item set sysroot @var{path}
16596 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16597 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16598 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16599 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16600 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16601 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16602 under @var{path}.
16603
16604 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16605 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16606 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16607 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16608 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16609 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16610 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16611 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16612 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16613
16614 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
16615 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
16616 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
16617 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
16618 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
16619
16620 @smallexample
16621 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
16622 @end smallexample
16623
16624 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
16625 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
16626 system:
16627
16628 @smallexample
16629 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
16630 @end smallexample
16631
16632 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
16633 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
16634 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
16635 colons:
16636
16637 @smallexample
16638 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
16639 @end smallexample
16640
16641 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
16642 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
16643 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
16644 @samp{z}):
16645
16646 @smallexample
16647 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
16648 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16649 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16650 @end smallexample
16651
16652 @noindent
16653 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
16654 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
16655 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
16656
16657 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
16658 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
16659
16660 @smallexample
16661 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
16662 @end smallexample
16663
16664 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
16665 if you don't want or need to.
16666
16667 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
16668 sysroot}.
16669
16670 @cindex default system root
16671 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
16672 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
16673 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
16674 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16675 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
16676 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16677 location.
16678
16679 @kindex show sysroot
16680 @item show sysroot
16681 Display the current shared library prefix.
16682
16683 @kindex set solib-search-path
16684 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
16685 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16686 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
16687 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
16688 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
16689 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
16690 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
16691 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
16692 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
16693 of shared library symbols.
16694
16695 @kindex show solib-search-path
16696 @item show solib-search-path
16697 Display the current shared library search path.
16698
16699 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
16700 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
16701 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
16702 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
16703 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
16704
16705 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
16706 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
16707 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
16708 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
16709 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
16710 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
16711 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
16712 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
16713 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
16714 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
16715 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
16716 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
16717 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
16718 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
16719 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
16720 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
16721 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
16722 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
16723 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
16724 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
16725 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
16726 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
16727
16728 @table @code
16729 @item unix
16730 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
16731 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
16732 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
16733 the forward slash.
16734
16735 @item dos-based
16736 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
16737 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
16738 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
16739 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
16740 considered directory separators.
16741
16742 @item auto
16743 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
16744 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
16745 This is the default.
16746 @end table
16747 @end table
16748
16749 @cindex file name canonicalization
16750 @cindex base name differences
16751 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
16752 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
16753 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
16754 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
16755 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
16756 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
16757 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
16758 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
16759 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
16760 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
16761 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
16762 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
16763 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
16764 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
16765 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
16766
16767 @table @code
16768 @item set basenames-may-differ
16769 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
16770 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16771
16772 @item show basenames-may-differ
16773 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
16774 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16775 @end table
16776
16777 @node Separate Debug Files
16778 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
16779 @cindex separate debugging information files
16780 @cindex debugging information in separate files
16781 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
16782 @cindex debugging information directory, global
16783 @cindex global debugging information directories
16784 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
16785 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
16786
16787 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
16788 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
16789 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
16790 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
16791 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
16792 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
16793 install only when they need to debug a problem.
16794
16795 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
16796 file:
16797
16798 @itemize @bullet
16799 @item
16800 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
16801 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
16802 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
16803 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
16804 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
16805 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
16806 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
16807 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
16808
16809 @item
16810 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
16811 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
16812 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
16813 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
16814 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
16815 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
16816 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
16817 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
16818 below.
16819 @end itemize
16820
16821 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
16822 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
16823
16824 @itemize @bullet
16825 @item
16826 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
16827 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
16828 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
16829 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
16830 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
16831
16832 @item
16833 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
16834 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
16835 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
16836 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
16837 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
16838 hex characters, not 10.)
16839 @end itemize
16840
16841 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
16842 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
16843 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
16844 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
16845 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
16846 debug information files, in the indicated order:
16847
16848 @itemize @minus
16849 @item
16850 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
16851 @item
16852 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
16853 @item
16854 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
16855 @item
16856 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
16857 @end itemize
16858
16859 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
16860 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
16861 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
16862 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
16863 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
16864
16865 @table @code
16866
16867 @kindex set debug-file-directory
16868 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
16869 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16870 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
16871 concatenating them by a path separator.
16872
16873 @kindex show debug-file-directory
16874 @item show debug-file-directory
16875 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16876 information files.
16877
16878 @end table
16879
16880 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
16881 @cindex debug link sections
16882 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
16883 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
16884
16885 @itemize
16886 @item
16887 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
16888 a zero byte,
16889 @item
16890 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
16891 boundary within the section, and
16892 @item
16893 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
16894 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
16895 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
16896 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
16897 @end itemize
16898
16899 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
16900 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
16901 described above.
16902
16903 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
16904 @cindex build ID sections
16905 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
16906 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
16907 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
16908 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
16909 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
16910 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
16911 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
16912 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
16913 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
16914
16915 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
16916 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
16917 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
16918 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
16919 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
16920 in an ordinary executable.
16921
16922 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
16923 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
16924 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
16925 following commands:
16926
16927 @smallexample
16928 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
16929 @kbd{strip -g foo}
16930 @end smallexample
16931
16932 @noindent
16933 These commands remove the debugging
16934 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
16935 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
16936 two files:
16937
16938 @itemize @bullet
16939 @item
16940 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
16941 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
16942
16943 @smallexample
16944 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
16945 @end smallexample
16946
16947 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
16948 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
16949 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
16950 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
16951
16952 @item
16953 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
16954 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
16955 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
16956 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
16957 @end itemize
16958
16959 @noindent
16960
16961 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
16962 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
16963 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
16964
16965 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16966 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16967 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16968 @c different ways!
16969 @ifhtml
16970 @display
16971 @html
16972 <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>
16973 + <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
16974 @end html
16975 @end display
16976 @end ifhtml
16977 @ifnothtml
16978 @display
16979 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16980 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16981 @end display
16982 @end ifnothtml
16983
16984 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16985 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16986 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16987 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16988 CRC.
16989
16990 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16991 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16992 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16993 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16994 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16995 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16996
16997 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16998 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16999 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
17000 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
17001 @code{0xffffffff}.
17002
17003 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
17004 @smallexample
17005 unsigned long
17006 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
17007 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
17008 @{
17009 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
17010 @{
17011 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
17012 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
17013 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
17014 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
17015 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
17016 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
17017 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
17018 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
17019 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
17020 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
17021 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
17022 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
17023 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
17024 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
17025 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
17026 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
17027 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
17028 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
17029 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
17030 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
17031 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
17032 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
17033 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
17034 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
17035 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
17036 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
17037 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
17038 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
17039 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
17040 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
17041 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
17042 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
17043 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
17044 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
17045 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
17046 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
17047 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
17048 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
17049 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
17050 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
17051 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
17052 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
17053 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
17054 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
17055 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17056 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17057 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17058 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17059 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17060 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17061 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17062 0x2d02ef8d
17063 @};
17064 unsigned char *end;
17065
17066 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17067 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17068 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17069 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17070 @}
17071 @end smallexample
17072
17073 @noindent
17074 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17075
17076 @node MiniDebugInfo
17077 @section Debugging information in a special section
17078 @cindex separate debug sections
17079 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17080
17081 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17082 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17083 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17084 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17085
17086 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17087 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17088 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17089 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17090 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17091 debugging information might be included in the section.
17092
17093 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17094 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17095 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17096
17097 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17098 standard utilities:
17099
17100 @smallexample
17101 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17102 # to also have these in the normal symbol table
17103 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17104 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17105
17106 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo .
17107 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17108 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t") print $1 @}' \
17109 | sort > funcsyms
17110
17111 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17112 # table.
17113 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17114
17115 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17116 # removing some unnecessary sections.
17117 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17118 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols @var{binary} mini_debuginfo
17119
17120 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17121 # original binary.
17122 xz mini_debuginfo
17123 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17124 @end smallexample
17125
17126 @node Index Files
17127 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17128 @cindex index files
17129 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17130
17131 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17132 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17133 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17134 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17135 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17136 startup.
17137
17138 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17139 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17140 using @command{objcopy}.
17141
17142 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17143
17144 @table @code
17145 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17146 @kindex save gdb-index
17147 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17148 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17149 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17150 @var{directory}.
17151 @end table
17152
17153 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17154 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17155
17156 @smallexample
17157 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17158 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17159 @end smallexample
17160
17161 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17162 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17163 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17164 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17165 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17166 The default is @code{off}.
17167 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17168 @xref{Index Section Format}.
17169
17170 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17171 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17172
17173 @smallexample
17174 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17175 @end smallexample
17176
17177 Instead you must do, for example,
17178
17179 @smallexample
17180 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17181 @end smallexample
17182
17183 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17184 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17185 currently work for programs using Ada.
17186
17187 @node Symbol Errors
17188 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17189
17190 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17191 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17192 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17193 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17194 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17195 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17196 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17197 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17198 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17199 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17200 Messages}).
17201
17202 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17203
17204 @table @code
17205 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17206
17207 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17208 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17209 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17210 in its outer scope blocks.
17211
17212 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17213 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17214 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17215 function.
17216
17217 @item block at @var{address} out of order
17218
17219 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17220 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17221 do so.
17222
17223 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17224 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17225 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17226 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17227 Messages}.)
17228
17229 @item bad block start address patched
17230
17231 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17232 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17233 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17234
17235 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17236 starting on the previous source line.
17237
17238 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17239
17240 @cindex foo
17241 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17242 larger than the size of the string table.
17243
17244 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17245 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17246 with this name.
17247
17248 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17249
17250 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17251 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17252 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17253
17254 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17255 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17256 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17257 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17258 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17259 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17260
17261 @item stub type has NULL name
17262
17263 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17264
17265 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17266 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17267 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17268 it.
17269
17270 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17271
17272 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17273
17274 @end table
17275
17276 @node Data Files
17277 @section GDB Data Files
17278
17279 @cindex prefix for data files
17280 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17281 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17282
17283 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17284 is currently using.
17285
17286 @table @code
17287 @kindex set data-directory
17288 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
17289 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17290 to @var{directory}.
17291
17292 @kindex show data-directory
17293 @item show data-directory
17294 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17295 @end table
17296
17297 @cindex default data directory
17298 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17299 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17300 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17301 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17302 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17303 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17304 location.
17305
17306 The data directory may also be specified with the
17307 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
17308 @xref{Mode Options}.
17309
17310 @node Targets
17311 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17312
17313 @cindex debugging target
17314 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17315
17316 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17317 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17318 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17319 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17320 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17321 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17322 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17323 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17324
17325 @cindex target architecture
17326 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17327 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17328 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17329 command.
17330
17331 @table @code
17332 @kindex set architecture
17333 @kindex show architecture
17334 @item set architecture @var{arch}
17335 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17336 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17337 supported architectures.
17338
17339 @item show architecture
17340 Show the current target architecture.
17341
17342 @item set processor
17343 @itemx processor
17344 @kindex set processor
17345 @kindex show processor
17346 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17347 and @code{show architecture}.
17348 @end table
17349
17350 @menu
17351 * Active Targets:: Active targets
17352 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17353 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17354 @end menu
17355
17356 @node Active Targets
17357 @section Active Targets
17358
17359 @cindex stacking targets
17360 @cindex active targets
17361 @cindex multiple targets
17362
17363 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17364 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17365 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17366 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17367 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17368 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17369 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17370 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17371 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17372
17373 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17374 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17375 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17376 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17377
17378 @node Target Commands
17379 @section Commands for Managing Targets
17380
17381 @table @code
17382 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17383 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17384 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17385 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17386 protocol of the target machine.
17387
17388 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17389 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17390 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17391
17392 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17393 after executing the command.
17394
17395 @kindex help target
17396 @item help target
17397 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17398 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17399 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17400
17401 @item help target @var{name}
17402 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17403 select it.
17404
17405 @kindex set gnutarget
17406 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
17407 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17408 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17409 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17410 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17411 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17412
17413 @quotation
17414 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17415 you must know the actual BFD name.
17416 @end quotation
17417
17418 @noindent
17419 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17420
17421 @kindex show gnutarget
17422 @item show gnutarget
17423 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17424 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17425 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17426 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17427 @end table
17428
17429 @cindex common targets
17430 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17431 configuration):
17432
17433 @table @code
17434 @kindex target
17435 @item target exec @var{program}
17436 @cindex executable file target
17437 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17438 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17439
17440 @item target core @var{filename}
17441 @cindex core dump file target
17442 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17443 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17444
17445 @item target remote @var{medium}
17446 @cindex remote target
17447 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17448 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17449 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17450
17451 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17452 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17453
17454 @smallexample
17455 target remote /dev/ttya
17456 @end smallexample
17457
17458 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17459 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17460 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17461 clobbered by the download.
17462
17463 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17464 @cindex built-in simulator target
17465 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17466 In general,
17467 @smallexample
17468 target sim
17469 load
17470 run
17471 @end smallexample
17472 @noindent
17473 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17474 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17475 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17476 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17477 Processors}.
17478
17479 @end table
17480
17481 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
17482
17483 @table @code
17484
17485 @item target nrom @var{dev}
17486 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
17487 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
17488
17489 @end table
17490
17491 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17492 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17493
17494 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17495 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17496 various aspects of this process.
17497
17498 @table @code
17499
17500 @item set hash
17501 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17502 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17503 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17504 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17505 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17506 monitor.
17507
17508 @item show hash
17509 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17510 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17511
17512 @item set debug monitor
17513 @kindex set debug monitor
17514 @cindex display remote monitor communications
17515 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17516 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17517
17518 @item show debug monitor
17519 @kindex show debug monitor
17520 Show the current status of displaying communications between
17521 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17522 @end table
17523
17524 @table @code
17525
17526 @kindex load @var{filename}
17527 @item load @var{filename}
17528 @anchor{load}
17529 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17530 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17531 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17532 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17533 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17534 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17535
17536 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17537 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17538 target is @dots{}}''
17539
17540 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17541 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17542 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17543 specifies a fixed address.
17544 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17545
17546 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17547 load programs into flash memory.
17548
17549 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17550 @end table
17551
17552 @node Byte Order
17553 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
17554
17555 @cindex choosing target byte order
17556 @cindex target byte order
17557
17558 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17559 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17560 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17561 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17562 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17563 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17564
17565 @table @code
17566 @kindex set endian
17567 @item set endian big
17568 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17569
17570 @item set endian little
17571 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17572
17573 @item set endian auto
17574 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17575 executable.
17576
17577 @item show endian
17578 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17579
17580 @end table
17581
17582 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17583 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17584 target system.
17585
17586
17587 @node Remote Debugging
17588 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17589 @cindex remote debugging
17590
17591 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17592 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17593 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17594 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17595 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17596
17597 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17598 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17599 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17600 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17601 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17602 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17603
17604 Other remote targets may be available in your
17605 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17606
17607 @menu
17608 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17609 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17610 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17611 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17612 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17613 @end menu
17614
17615 @node Connecting
17616 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
17617
17618 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
17619 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
17620 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
17621 program as the first argument.
17622
17623 @cindex @code{target remote}
17624 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
17625 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
17626 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
17627 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
17628 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
17629 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
17630
17631 @table @code
17632
17633 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
17634 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
17635 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
17636 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
17637
17638 @smallexample
17639 target remote /dev/ttyb
17640 @end smallexample
17641
17642 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
17643 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
17644 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
17645 @code{target} command.
17646
17647 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
17648 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17649 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
17650 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
17651 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
17652 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
17653 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
17654 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
17655 target.
17656
17657 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
17658 @code{manyfarms}:
17659
17660 @smallexample
17661 target remote manyfarms:2828
17662 @end smallexample
17663
17664 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
17665 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
17666 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
17667 port 1234 on your local machine:
17668
17669 @smallexample
17670 target remote :1234
17671 @end smallexample
17672 @noindent
17673
17674 Note that the colon is still required here.
17675
17676 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17677 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
17678 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
17679 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
17680
17681 @smallexample
17682 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
17683 @end smallexample
17684
17685 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
17686 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
17687 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
17688 cause havoc with your debugging session.
17689
17690 @item target remote | @var{command}
17691 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
17692 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
17693 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
17694 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
17695 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
17696 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
17697 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
17698 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
17699
17700 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
17701 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
17702 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
17703
17704 @end table
17705
17706 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
17707 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
17708 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
17709 need to use @kbd{run}.
17710
17711 @cindex interrupting remote programs
17712 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
17713 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
17714 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
17715 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
17716 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
17717 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
17718
17719 @smallexample
17720 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
17721 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
17722 @end smallexample
17723
17724 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
17725 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
17726 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
17727 goes back to waiting.
17728
17729 @table @code
17730 @kindex detach (remote)
17731 @item detach
17732 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
17733 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
17734 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
17735 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
17736 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
17737
17738 @kindex disconnect
17739 @item disconnect
17740 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
17741 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
17742 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
17743 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
17744 another target.
17745
17746 @cindex send command to remote monitor
17747 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
17748 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
17749 @kindex monitor
17750 @item monitor @var{cmd}
17751 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
17752 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
17753 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
17754 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
17755 and implement.
17756 @end table
17757
17758 @node File Transfer
17759 @section Sending files to a remote system
17760 @cindex remote target, file transfer
17761 @cindex file transfer
17762 @cindex sending files to remote systems
17763
17764 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
17765 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
17766 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
17767 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
17768 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
17769 the only way to upload or download files.
17770
17771 Not all remote targets support these commands.
17772
17773 @table @code
17774 @kindex remote put
17775 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
17776 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
17777 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
17778
17779 @kindex remote get
17780 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
17781 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
17782 on the host system.
17783
17784 @kindex remote delete
17785 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
17786 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
17787
17788 @end table
17789
17790 @node Server
17791 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
17792
17793 @kindex gdbserver
17794 @cindex remote connection without stubs
17795 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
17796 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
17797 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
17798
17799 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
17800 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
17801 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
17802 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
17803 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
17804 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
17805 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
17806 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
17807 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
17808 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
17809 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
17810 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
17811 choice for debugging.
17812
17813 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
17814 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
17815 protocol.
17816
17817 @quotation
17818 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
17819 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
17820 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
17821 target system with the same privileges as the user running
17822 @code{gdbserver}.
17823 @end quotation
17824
17825 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
17826 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
17827 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
17828
17829 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
17830 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
17831 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
17832 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
17833 system does all the symbol handling.
17834
17835 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
17836 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
17837 syntax is:
17838
17839 @smallexample
17840 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
17841 @end smallexample
17842
17843 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
17844 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
17845 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
17846 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
17847 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
17848 @file{/dev/com1}:
17849
17850 @smallexample
17851 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
17852 @end smallexample
17853
17854 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
17855 with it.
17856
17857 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
17858
17859 @smallexample
17860 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
17861 @end smallexample
17862
17863 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
17864 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
17865 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
17866 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
17867 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
17868 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
17869 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
17870 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
17871 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
17872 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
17873 @code{target remote} command.
17874
17875 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
17876 with ssh:
17877
17878 @smallexample
17879 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
17880 @end smallexample
17881
17882 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
17883 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
17884 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
17885 You could elide it if you want to.
17886
17887 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
17888 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
17889 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
17890 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
17891
17892 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
17893 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
17894 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
17895
17896 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
17897 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
17898
17899 @smallexample
17900 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
17901 @end smallexample
17902
17903 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
17904 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
17905
17906 @pindex pidof
17907 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
17908 @code{pidof} utility:
17909
17910 @smallexample
17911 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
17912 @end smallexample
17913
17914 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
17915 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
17916 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
17917
17918 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
17919 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
17920 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
17921
17922 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
17923 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
17924 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
17925 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
17926
17927 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
17928 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
17929 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
17930 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
17931 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
17932 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
17933 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
17934 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
17935 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
17936
17937 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
17938 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
17939 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
17940 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
17941 the program you want to debug.
17942
17943 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
17944 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
17945 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
17946 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
17947 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
17948 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
17949
17950 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
17951
17952 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
17953
17954 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
17955 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
17956 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
17957 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
17958 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
17959 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
17960 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
17961 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
17962
17963 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
17964 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
17965 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
17966
17967 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
17968 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
17969 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
17970 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
17971 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
17972 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
17973 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
17974 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
17975 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
17976 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
17977 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
17978 instance closes its port after the first connection.
17979
17980 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
17981
17982 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17983 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
17984 status information about the debugging process.
17985 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17986 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
17987 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
17988 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
17989
17990 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
17991 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
17992 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
17993 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
17994 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
17995
17996 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
17997 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
17998 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
17999 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
18000
18001 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
18002 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
18003 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
18004 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
18005
18006 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
18007 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
18008 environment:
18009
18010 @smallexample
18011 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
18012 @end smallexample
18013
18014 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
18015
18016 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
18017
18018 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
18019 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
18020 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
18021 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
18022
18023 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
18024 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
18025 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
18026 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
18027 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
18028 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
18029 programs.
18030
18031 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18032 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
18033 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
18034 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
18035 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
18036 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
18037 already on the target.
18038
18039 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
18040 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
18041 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
18042
18043 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
18044 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
18045 Here are the available commands.
18046
18047 @table @code
18048 @item monitor help
18049 List the available monitor commands.
18050
18051 @item monitor set debug 0
18052 @itemx monitor set debug 1
18053 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
18054
18055 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
18056 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18057 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18058 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18059
18060 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18061 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18062 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18063 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18064 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18065 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18066
18067 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18068 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18069
18070 @item monitor exit
18071 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18072 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18073 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18074 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18075 of a multi-process mode debug session.
18076
18077 @end table
18078
18079 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18080 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18081
18082 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18083 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18084
18085 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18086 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18087 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18088 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18089 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18090 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18091 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18092 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18093 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18094 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18095 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18096 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18097
18098 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18099
18100 @table @code
18101 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18102
18103 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18104 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18105 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18106
18107 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18108
18109 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18110 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18111 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18112 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18113 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18114 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
18115
18116 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18117
18118 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18119 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18120 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18121 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18122 command for that. For example:
18123
18124 @smallexample
18125 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18126 @end smallexample
18127
18128 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18129 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18130 @end table
18131
18132 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18133 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18134 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18135 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18136 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18137 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18138 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18139 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18140 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18141 @code{gdbserver} like so:
18142
18143 @smallexample
18144 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18145 @end smallexample
18146
18147 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18148
18149 @smallexample
18150 $ gdb myprogram
18151 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
18152 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18153 (@value{GDBP}) b main
18154 (@value{GDBP}) continue
18155 @end smallexample
18156
18157 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18158 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18159 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18160 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18161 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18162 tracing.
18163
18164 @node Remote Configuration
18165 @section Remote Configuration
18166
18167 @kindex set remote
18168 @kindex show remote
18169 This section documents the configuration options available when
18170 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18171 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18172 system-call-allowed}.
18173
18174 @table @code
18175 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18176 @cindex address size for remote targets
18177 @cindex bits in remote address
18178 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18179 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18180 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18181 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18182
18183 @item show remoteaddresssize
18184 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18185
18186 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
18187 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
18188 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18189 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18190 remote targets.
18191
18192 @item show remotebaud
18193 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18194
18195 @item set remotebreak
18196 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18197 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18198 @anchor{set remotebreak}
18199 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18200 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18201 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18202 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18203 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18204
18205 @item show remotebreak
18206 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18207 interrupt the remote program.
18208
18209 @item set remoteflow on
18210 @itemx set remoteflow off
18211 @kindex set remoteflow
18212 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18213 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18214
18215 @item show remoteflow
18216 @kindex show remoteflow
18217 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18218
18219 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18220 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18221 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18222 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18223 @code{ascii}.
18224
18225 @item show remotelogbase
18226 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18227 protocol.
18228
18229 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18230 @cindex record serial communications on file
18231 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18232 default is not to record at all.
18233
18234 @item show remotelogfile.
18235 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18236 serial communications.
18237
18238 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18239 @cindex timeout for serial communications
18240 @cindex remote timeout
18241 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18242 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18243
18244 @item show remotetimeout
18245 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18246 responses.
18247
18248 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18249 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18250 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18251 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18252 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18253 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18254 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18255 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18256
18257 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18258 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18259 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18260 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18261 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18262 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18263 as unlimited.
18264
18265 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18266 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18267 a remote hardware watchpoint.
18268
18269 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18270 @itemx show remote exec-file
18271 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
18272 @cindex executable file, for remote target
18273 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18274 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18275 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18276 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18277
18278 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
18279 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18280 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18281 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18282 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
18283 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18284 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18285 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18286 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18287 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18288
18289 @item show interrupt-sequence
18290 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18291 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18292 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18293 also known as Magic SysRq g.
18294
18295 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18296 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18297 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18298 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18299 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18300 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18301
18302 @item show interrupt-on-connect
18303 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18304 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18305
18306 @kindex set tcp
18307 @kindex show tcp
18308 @item set tcp auto-retry on
18309 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18310 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18311 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18312 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18313 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18314 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18315 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18316 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18317
18318 @item set tcp auto-retry off
18319 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18320
18321 @item show tcp auto-retry
18322 Show the current auto-retry setting.
18323
18324 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18325 @itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
18326 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18327 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18328 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18329 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18330 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18331 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18332 value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
18333 @value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
18334 unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
18335
18336 @item show tcp connect-timeout
18337 Show the current connection timeout setting.
18338 @end table
18339
18340 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18341 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18342 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18343 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18344 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18345 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18346 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18347 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18348 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18349
18350 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18351 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18352 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18353 @value{GDBN} developers.
18354
18355 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18356 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18357 are:
18358
18359 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18360 @item Command Name
18361 @tab Remote Packet
18362 @tab Related Features
18363
18364 @item @code{fetch-register}
18365 @tab @code{p}
18366 @tab @code{info registers}
18367
18368 @item @code{set-register}
18369 @tab @code{P}
18370 @tab @code{set}
18371
18372 @item @code{binary-download}
18373 @tab @code{X}
18374 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18375
18376 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
18377 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18378 @tab @code{info auxv}
18379
18380 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
18381 @tab @code{qSymbol}
18382 @tab Detecting multiple threads
18383
18384 @item @code{attach}
18385 @tab @code{vAttach}
18386 @tab @code{attach}
18387
18388 @item @code{verbose-resume}
18389 @tab @code{vCont}
18390 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18391
18392 @item @code{run}
18393 @tab @code{vRun}
18394 @tab @code{run}
18395
18396 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
18397 @tab @code{Z0}
18398 @tab @code{break}
18399
18400 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18401 @tab @code{Z1}
18402 @tab @code{hbreak}
18403
18404 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
18405 @tab @code{Z2}
18406 @tab @code{watch}
18407
18408 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
18409 @tab @code{Z3}
18410 @tab @code{rwatch}
18411
18412 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
18413 @tab @code{Z4}
18414 @tab @code{awatch}
18415
18416 @item @code{target-features}
18417 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18418 @tab @code{set architecture}
18419
18420 @item @code{library-info}
18421 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18422 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18423
18424 @item @code{memory-map}
18425 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18426 @tab @code{info mem}
18427
18428 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
18429 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18430 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
18431
18432 @item @code{read-spu-object}
18433 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18434 @tab @code{info spu}
18435
18436 @item @code{write-spu-object}
18437 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18438 @tab @code{info spu}
18439
18440 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18441 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18442 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18443
18444 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18445 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18446 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18447
18448 @item @code{threads}
18449 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18450 @tab @code{info threads}
18451
18452 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18453 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18454 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18455
18456 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18457 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18458 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18459
18460 @item @code{search-memory}
18461 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18462 @tab @code{find}
18463
18464 @item @code{supported-packets}
18465 @tab @code{qSupported}
18466 @tab Remote communications parameters
18467
18468 @item @code{pass-signals}
18469 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18470 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18471
18472 @item @code{program-signals}
18473 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18474 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18475
18476 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18477 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18478 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18479
18480 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18481 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18482 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18483
18484 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18485 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18486 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18487
18488 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18489 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18490 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18491
18492 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18493 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18494 @tab @code{remote delete}
18495
18496 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18497 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18498 @tab Host I/O
18499
18500 @item @code{noack-packet}
18501 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18502 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18503
18504 @item @code{osdata}
18505 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18506 @tab @code{info os}
18507
18508 @item @code{query-attached}
18509 @tab @code{qAttached}
18510 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
18511
18512 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
18513 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
18514 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
18515
18516 @item @code{trace-status}
18517 @tab @code{qTStatus}
18518 @tab @code{tstatus}
18519
18520 @item @code{traceframe-info}
18521 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18522 @tab Traceframe info
18523
18524 @item @code{install-in-trace}
18525 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18526 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18527
18528 @item @code{disable-randomization}
18529 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18530 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18531
18532 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18533 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18534 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18535 @end multitable
18536
18537 @node Remote Stub
18538 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
18539
18540 @cindex debugging stub, example
18541 @cindex remote stub, example
18542 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
18543 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18544 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18545 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18546 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18547 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18548 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18549 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18550
18551 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18552 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18553 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18554 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18555 program, you need:
18556
18557 @enumerate
18558 @item
18559 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18560 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18561 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18562
18563 @item
18564 A C subroutine library to support your program's
18565 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18566
18567 @item
18568 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18569 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18570 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18571 documentation.
18572 @end enumerate
18573
18574 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18575 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18576 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18577
18578 @table @emph
18579 @item On the host,
18580 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18581 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18582 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18583
18584 @item On the target,
18585 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18586 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18587 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18588
18589 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18590 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18591 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18592 @end table
18593
18594 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18595 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18596 @sc{sparc} boards.
18597
18598 @cindex remote serial stub list
18599 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18600
18601 @table @code
18602
18603 @item i386-stub.c
18604 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18605 @cindex Intel
18606 @cindex i386
18607 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18608
18609 @item m68k-stub.c
18610 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18611 @cindex Motorola 680x0
18612 @cindex m680x0
18613 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18614
18615 @item sh-stub.c
18616 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
18617 @cindex Renesas
18618 @cindex SH
18619 For Renesas SH architectures.
18620
18621 @item sparc-stub.c
18622 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
18623 @cindex Sparc
18624 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
18625
18626 @item sparcl-stub.c
18627 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
18628 @cindex Fujitsu
18629 @cindex SparcLite
18630 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
18631
18632 @end table
18633
18634 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
18635 recently added stubs.
18636
18637 @menu
18638 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
18639 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
18640 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
18641 @end menu
18642
18643 @node Stub Contents
18644 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
18645
18646 @cindex remote serial stub
18647 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
18648 subroutines:
18649
18650 @table @code
18651 @item set_debug_traps
18652 @findex set_debug_traps
18653 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
18654 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
18655 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
18656 program's startup code.
18657
18658 @item handle_exception
18659 @findex handle_exception
18660 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
18661 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
18662 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
18663 run when a trap is triggered.
18664
18665 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
18666 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
18667 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
18668 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
18669 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
18670 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
18671 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
18672 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
18673 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
18674 machine.
18675
18676 @item breakpoint
18677 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
18678 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
18679 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
18680 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
18681 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
18682 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
18683 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
18684 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
18685 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
18686 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
18687 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
18688
18689 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
18690 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
18691 start of your debugging session.
18692 @end table
18693
18694 @node Bootstrapping
18695 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
18696
18697 @cindex remote stub, support routines
18698 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
18699 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
18700 debugging target machine.
18701
18702 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
18703 serial port.
18704
18705 @table @code
18706 @item int getDebugChar()
18707 @findex getDebugChar
18708 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
18709 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
18710 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18711
18712 @item void putDebugChar(int)
18713 @findex putDebugChar
18714 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
18715 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
18716 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18717 @end table
18718
18719 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
18720 @cindex interrupting remote targets
18721 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
18722 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
18723 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
18724 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
18725 remote system to stop.
18726
18727 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
18728 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
18729 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
18730 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
18731
18732 Other routines you need to supply are:
18733
18734 @table @code
18735 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
18736 @findex exceptionHandler
18737 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
18738 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
18739 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
18740 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
18741 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
18742 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
18743 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
18744 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
18745 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
18746 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
18747 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
18748 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
18749 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
18750
18751 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
18752 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
18753 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
18754 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
18755 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
18756
18757 @item void flush_i_cache()
18758 @findex flush_i_cache
18759 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
18760 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
18761 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
18762
18763 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
18764 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
18765 @end table
18766
18767 @noindent
18768 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
18769
18770 @table @code
18771 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
18772 @findex memset
18773 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
18774 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
18775 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
18776 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
18777 @end table
18778
18779 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
18780 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
18781 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
18782 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
18783
18784
18785 @node Debug Session
18786 @subsection Putting it All Together
18787
18788 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
18789 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
18790 steps.
18791
18792 @enumerate
18793 @item
18794 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
18795 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
18796 @display
18797 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
18798 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
18799 @end display
18800
18801 @item
18802 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
18803 procedure is called:
18804
18805 @smallexample
18806 set_debug_traps();
18807 breakpoint();
18808 @end smallexample
18809
18810 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
18811 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
18812 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
18813 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
18814 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
18815 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
18816 progress.
18817
18818 @item
18819 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
18820 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
18821
18822 @smallexample
18823 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
18824 @end smallexample
18825
18826 @noindent
18827 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
18828 function in your program, that function is called when
18829 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
18830 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
18831 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
18832
18833 @item
18834 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
18835 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
18836
18837 @item
18838 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
18839 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
18840
18841 @item
18842 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
18843 @c document that. FIXME.
18844 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
18845 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
18846
18847 @item
18848 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
18849 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18850
18851 @end enumerate
18852
18853 @node Configurations
18854 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
18855
18856 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
18857 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
18858 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
18859
18860 There are three major categories of configurations: native
18861 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
18862 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
18863 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
18864 are quite different from each other.
18865
18866 @menu
18867 * Native::
18868 * Embedded OS::
18869 * Embedded Processors::
18870 * Architectures::
18871 @end menu
18872
18873 @node Native
18874 @section Native
18875
18876 This section describes details specific to particular native
18877 configurations.
18878
18879 @menu
18880 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
18881 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
18882 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
18883 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
18884 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
18885 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
18886 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
18887 @end menu
18888
18889 @node HP-UX
18890 @subsection HP-UX
18891
18892 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
18893 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
18894 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
18895
18896
18897 @node BSD libkvm Interface
18898 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
18899
18900 @cindex libkvm
18901 @cindex kernel memory image
18902 @cindex kernel crash dump
18903
18904 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
18905 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
18906 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
18907 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
18908 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
18909 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
18910 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
18911 @code{kvm} target:
18912
18913 @smallexample
18914 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
18915 @end smallexample
18916
18917 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
18918 argument:
18919
18920 @smallexample
18921 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
18922 @end smallexample
18923
18924 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
18925 available:
18926
18927 @table @code
18928 @kindex kvm
18929 @item kvm pcb
18930 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
18931
18932 @item kvm proc
18933 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
18934 modern FreeBSD systems.
18935 @end table
18936
18937 @node SVR4 Process Information
18938 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
18939 @cindex /proc
18940 @cindex examine process image
18941 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
18942
18943 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
18944 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
18945 process using file-system subroutines.
18946
18947 If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
18948 facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
18949 information about the process running your program, or about any
18950 process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
18951 @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
18952 not HP-UX, for example.
18953
18954 This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
18955 that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
18956
18957 @table @code
18958 @kindex info proc
18959 @cindex process ID
18960 @item info proc
18961 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
18962 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
18963 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
18964 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
18965 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
18966 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
18967 executable file's absolute file name.
18968
18969 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
18970 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
18971 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
18972 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
18973 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
18974 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
18975
18976 @item info proc cmdline
18977 @cindex info proc cmdline
18978 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
18979 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
18980
18981 @item info proc cwd
18982 @cindex info proc cwd
18983 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
18984 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
18985
18986 @item info proc exe
18987 @cindex info proc exe
18988 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
18989 to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
18990
18991 @item info proc mappings
18992 @cindex memory address space mappings
18993 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
18994 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
18995 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
18996 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
18997 memory access rights to that range.
18998
18999 @item info proc stat
19000 @itemx info proc status
19001 @cindex process detailed status information
19002 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
19003 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
19004 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
19005 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
19006 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
19007 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
19008 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
19009
19010 @item info proc all
19011 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
19012 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
19013
19014 @ignore
19015 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
19016 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
19017 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
19018 @kindex info proc times
19019 @item info proc times
19020 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
19021 its children.
19022
19023 @kindex info proc id
19024 @item info proc id
19025 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
19026 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
19027 @end ignore
19028
19029 @item set procfs-trace
19030 @kindex set procfs-trace
19031 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
19032 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
19033
19034 @item show procfs-trace
19035 @kindex show procfs-trace
19036 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
19037
19038 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
19039 @kindex set procfs-file
19040 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
19041 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
19042 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
19043 standard output.
19044
19045 @item show procfs-file
19046 @kindex show procfs-file
19047 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
19048
19049 @item proc-trace-entry
19050 @itemx proc-trace-exit
19051 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
19052 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
19053 @kindex proc-trace-entry
19054 @kindex proc-trace-exit
19055 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
19056 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
19057 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
19058 from the @code{syscall} interface.
19059
19060 @item info pidlist
19061 @kindex info pidlist
19062 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19063 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19064 processes and all the threads within each process.
19065
19066 @item info meminfo
19067 @kindex info meminfo
19068 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19069 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19070 @end table
19071
19072 @node DJGPP Native
19073 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19074 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19075 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19076 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19077
19078 @cindex DPMI
19079 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19080 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19081 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19082 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19083
19084 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19085 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19086 subsection describes those commands.
19087
19088 @table @code
19089 @kindex info dos
19090 @item info dos
19091 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19092 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19093
19094 @kindex sysinfo
19095 @cindex MS-DOS system info
19096 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19097 @item info dos sysinfo
19098 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19099 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19100 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19101
19102 @cindex GDT
19103 @cindex LDT
19104 @cindex IDT
19105 @cindex segment descriptor tables
19106 @cindex descriptor tables display
19107 @item info dos gdt
19108 @itemx info dos ldt
19109 @itemx info dos idt
19110 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19111 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19112 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19113 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19114 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19115 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19116 rights.
19117
19118 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19119 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19120 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19121 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19122 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19123
19124 @cindex garbled pointers
19125 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19126 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19127 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19128 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19129 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19130 debugged program's data segment:
19131
19132 @smallexample
19133 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19134 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19135 @end smallexample
19136
19137 @noindent
19138 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19139 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19140
19141 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19142 @item info dos pde
19143 @itemx info dos pte
19144 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19145 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19146 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19147 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19148 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19149 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19150 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19151 that is currently in use.
19152
19153 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19154 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19155 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19156 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19157 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19158 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19159 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19160
19161 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19162 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19163 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19164 controller.
19165
19166 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19167
19168 @cindex physical address from linear address
19169 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19170 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19171 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19172 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19173 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19174 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19175 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19176
19177 @smallexample
19178 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19179 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19180 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19181 @end smallexample
19182
19183 @noindent
19184 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19185 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19186 attributes of that page.
19187
19188 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19189 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19190 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19191 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19192 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19193 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19194
19195 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19196 transfer buffer:
19197
19198 @smallexample
19199 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19200 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19201 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19202 @end smallexample
19203
19204 @noindent
19205 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
19206 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19207 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19208 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19209 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19210
19211 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19212 @end table
19213
19214 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19215 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19216 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19217 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19218
19219 @table @code
19220 @kindex set com1base
19221 @kindex set com1irq
19222 @kindex set com2base
19223 @kindex set com2irq
19224 @kindex set com3base
19225 @kindex set com3irq
19226 @kindex set com4base
19227 @kindex set com4irq
19228 @item set com1base @var{addr}
19229 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19230 port.
19231
19232 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
19233 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19234 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19235
19236 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19237 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19238 other 3 COM ports.
19239
19240 @kindex show com1base
19241 @kindex show com1irq
19242 @kindex show com2base
19243 @kindex show com2irq
19244 @kindex show com3base
19245 @kindex show com3irq
19246 @kindex show com4base
19247 @kindex show com4irq
19248 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19249 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19250 lines used by the COM ports.
19251
19252 @item info serial
19253 @kindex info serial
19254 @cindex DOS serial port status
19255 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19256 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19257 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19258 counts of various errors encountered so far.
19259 @end table
19260
19261
19262 @node Cygwin Native
19263 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19264 @cindex MS Windows debugging
19265 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
19266 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19267
19268 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19269 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19270
19271 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19272 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19273 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19274 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19275 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19276 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19277 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19278 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
19279
19280 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19281 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19282 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19283
19284 @table @code
19285 @kindex info w32
19286 @item info w32
19287 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19288 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19289
19290 @item info w32 selector
19291 This command displays information returned by
19292 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19293 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19294 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19295 Without argument, this command displays information
19296 about the six segment registers.
19297
19298 @item info w32 thread-information-block
19299 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19300 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19301 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19302
19303 @kindex info dll
19304 @item info dll
19305 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19306
19307 @kindex dll-symbols
19308 @item dll-symbols
19309 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19310 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19311
19312 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19313 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19314 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19315 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19316 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19317 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19318 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19319 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19320 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19321 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19322 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19323
19324 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19325 @item show cygwin-exceptions
19326 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19327 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19328
19329 @kindex set new-console
19330 @item set new-console @var{mode}
19331 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19332 be started in a new console on next start.
19333 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19334 be started in the same console as the debugger.
19335
19336 @kindex show new-console
19337 @item show new-console
19338 Displays whether a new console is used
19339 when the debuggee is started.
19340
19341 @kindex set new-group
19342 @item set new-group @var{mode}
19343 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19344 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19345 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19346 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
19347
19348 @kindex show new-group
19349 @item show new-group
19350 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19351
19352 @kindex set debugevents
19353 @item set debugevents
19354 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19355 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19356 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19357 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19358 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19359
19360 @kindex set debugexec
19361 @item set debugexec
19362 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19363 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19364
19365 @kindex set debugexceptions
19366 @item set debugexceptions
19367 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19368 debuggee seen by the debugger.
19369
19370 @kindex set debugmemory
19371 @item set debugmemory
19372 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19373 and writes by the debugger.
19374
19375 @kindex set shell
19376 @item set shell
19377 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19378 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19379
19380 @kindex show shell
19381 @item show shell
19382 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19383
19384 @end table
19385
19386 @menu
19387 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19388 @end menu
19389
19390 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19391 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19392 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19393 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19394
19395 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19396 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19397 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19398 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19399 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19400 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19401 ``minimal symbols''.
19402
19403 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19404 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
19405 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
19406 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
19407 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
19408 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
19409 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
19410 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
19411 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
19412 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
19413
19414 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
19415
19416 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
19417 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
19418 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
19419 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
19420 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
19421 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
19422 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19423 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19424 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19425
19426 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19427 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19428 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19429 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19430 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19431 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19432
19433 @smallexample
19434 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19435 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19436
19437 Non-debugging symbols:
19438 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
19439 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19440 @end smallexample
19441
19442 @smallexample
19443 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
19444 All functions matching regular expression "!":
19445
19446 Non-debugging symbols:
19447 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
19448 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
19449 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19450 [etc...]
19451 @end smallexample
19452
19453 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19454
19455 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19456 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19457 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19458 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19459 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19460 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19461 a function within a DLL without a running program.
19462
19463 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19464 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19465 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19466 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19467 problem:
19468
19469 @smallexample
19470 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19471 $1 = 268572168
19472 @end smallexample
19473
19474 @smallexample
19475 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
19476 0x10021610: "\230y\""
19477 @end smallexample
19478
19479 And two possible solutions:
19480
19481 @smallexample
19482 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
19483 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19484 @end smallexample
19485
19486 @smallexample
19487 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
19488 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
19489 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
19490 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19491 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
19492 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19493 @end smallexample
19494
19495 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19496 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19497 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19498 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19499 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19500
19501 @smallexample
19502 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19503 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19504 @end smallexample
19505
19506 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19507 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19508 safe.
19509
19510 @node Hurd Native
19511 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19512 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19513
19514 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19515 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19516
19517 @table @code
19518 @item set signals
19519 @itemx set sigs
19520 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19521 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19522 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19523 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19524 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19525 @code{signals}.
19526
19527 @item show signals
19528 @itemx show sigs
19529 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19530 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19531 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19532
19533 @item set signal-thread
19534 @itemx set sigthread
19535 @kindex set signal-thread
19536 @kindex set sigthread
19537 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19538 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19539 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19540 signal-thread}.
19541
19542 @item show signal-thread
19543 @itemx show sigthread
19544 @kindex show signal-thread
19545 @kindex show sigthread
19546 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19547 delivered a signal.
19548
19549 @item set stopped
19550 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19551 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19552 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19553 continued by delivering a signal to it.
19554
19555 @item show stopped
19556 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19557 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19558 stopped.
19559
19560 @item set exceptions
19561 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19562 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19563 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19564 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19565 trapping on.
19566
19567 @item show exceptions
19568 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19569 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19570
19571 @item set task pause
19572 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19573 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19574 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19575 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19576 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19577 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19578 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19579 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19580 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19581
19582 @item show task pause
19583 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19584 Show the current state of task suspension.
19585
19586 @item set task detach-suspend-count
19587 @cindex task suspend count
19588 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19589 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
19590 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
19591
19592 @item show task detach-suspend-count
19593 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
19594
19595 @item set task exception-port
19596 @itemx set task excp
19597 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19598 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19599 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19600 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19601
19602 @item set noninvasive
19603 @cindex noninvasive task options
19604 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19605 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19606 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19607 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19608
19609 @item info send-rights
19610 @itemx info receive-rights
19611 @itemx info port-rights
19612 @itemx info port-sets
19613 @itemx info dead-names
19614 @itemx info ports
19615 @itemx info psets
19616 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19617 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19618 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19619 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19620 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19621 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
19622 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
19623 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
19624 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
19625
19626 @item set thread pause
19627 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
19628 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19629 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19630 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
19631 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
19632 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
19633 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
19634 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
19635 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
19636 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
19637 only the current thread.
19638
19639 @item show thread pause
19640 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
19641 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
19642
19643 @item set thread run
19644 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19645
19646 @item show thread run
19647 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19648
19649 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
19650 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19651 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19652 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
19653 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
19654 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
19655 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
19656
19657 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
19658 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
19659 detaching.
19660
19661 @item set thread exception-port
19662 @itemx set thread excp
19663 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
19664 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
19665 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
19666
19667 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
19668 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
19669 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
19670 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
19671
19672 @item set thread default
19673 @itemx show thread default
19674 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19675 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
19676 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
19677 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
19678 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
19679 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
19680 the non-default commands.
19681 @end table
19682
19683 @node Darwin
19684 @subsection Darwin
19685 @cindex Darwin
19686
19687 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
19688
19689 @table @code
19690 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
19691 @kindex set debug darwin
19692 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
19693 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
19694
19695 @item show debug darwin
19696 @kindex show debug darwin
19697 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
19698
19699 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
19700 @kindex set debug mach-o
19701 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
19702 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
19703 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
19704 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
19705 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
19706 usage.
19707
19708 @item show debug mach-o
19709 @kindex show debug mach-o
19710 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
19711
19712 @item set mach-exceptions on
19713 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
19714 @kindex set mach-exceptions
19715 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
19716 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
19717 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
19718 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
19719
19720 @item show mach-exceptions
19721 @kindex show mach-exceptions
19722 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
19723 @end table
19724
19725
19726 @node Embedded OS
19727 @section Embedded Operating Systems
19728
19729 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
19730 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
19731 architectures.
19732
19733 @menu
19734 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19735 @end menu
19736
19737 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
19738 various real-time operating systems.
19739
19740 @node VxWorks
19741 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19742
19743 @cindex VxWorks
19744
19745 @table @code
19746
19747 @kindex target vxworks
19748 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
19749 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
19750 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
19751
19752 @end table
19753
19754 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
19755 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
19756
19757 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
19758 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
19759 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19760 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
19761 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
19762 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
19763 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
19764
19765 @table @code
19766 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
19767 @kindex vxworks-timeout
19768 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
19769 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19770 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
19771 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
19772 of a thin network line.
19773 @end table
19774
19775 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
19776 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
19777 procedures.
19778
19779 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
19780 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
19781 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
19782 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
19783 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
19784 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
19785 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
19786 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
19787 manual.
19788 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
19789
19790 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
19791 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19792 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
19793 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
19794
19795 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19796
19797 @smallexample
19798 (vxgdb)
19799 @end smallexample
19800
19801 @menu
19802 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
19803 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
19804 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
19805 @end menu
19806
19807 @node VxWorks Connection
19808 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
19809
19810 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
19811 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
19812
19813 @smallexample
19814 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
19815 @end smallexample
19816
19817 @need 750
19818 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19819
19820 @smallexample
19821 Attaching remote machine across net...
19822 Connected to tt.
19823 @end smallexample
19824
19825 @need 1000
19826 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
19827 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
19828 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
19829 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
19830 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
19831
19832 @smallexample
19833 prog.o: No such file or directory.
19834 @end smallexample
19835
19836 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
19837 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
19838 command again.
19839
19840 @node VxWorks Download
19841 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
19842
19843 @cindex download to VxWorks
19844 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
19845 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
19846 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
19847 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
19848 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
19849 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
19850 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
19851 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
19852 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
19853 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
19854 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
19855 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
19856 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
19857 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
19858 program, type this on VxWorks:
19859
19860 @smallexample
19861 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
19862 @end smallexample
19863
19864 @noindent
19865 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19866
19867 @smallexample
19868 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
19869 (vxgdb) load prog.o
19870 @end smallexample
19871
19872 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
19873
19874 @smallexample
19875 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
19876 @end smallexample
19877
19878 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
19879 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
19880 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
19881 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
19882 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
19883 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
19884 table.)
19885
19886 @node VxWorks Attach
19887 @subsubsection Running Tasks
19888
19889 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
19890 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
19891 follows:
19892
19893 @smallexample
19894 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
19895 @end smallexample
19896
19897 @noindent
19898 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
19899 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
19900 the time of attachment.
19901
19902 @node Embedded Processors
19903 @section Embedded Processors
19904
19905 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
19906 configurations.
19907
19908 @cindex send command to simulator
19909 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
19910 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
19911
19912 @table @code
19913 @item sim @var{command}
19914 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
19915 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
19916 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
19917 acceptable commands.
19918 @end table
19919
19920
19921 @menu
19922 * ARM:: ARM RDI
19923 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
19924 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
19925 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
19926 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
19927 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
19928 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
19929 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
19930 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
19931 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
19932 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
19933 * CRIS:: CRIS
19934 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
19935 @end menu
19936
19937 @node ARM
19938 @subsection ARM
19939 @cindex ARM RDI
19940
19941 @table @code
19942 @kindex target rdi
19943 @item target rdi @var{dev}
19944 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
19945 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
19946 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
19947
19948 @kindex target rdp
19949 @item target rdp @var{dev}
19950 ARM Demon monitor.
19951
19952 @end table
19953
19954 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
19955
19956 @table @code
19957 @item set arm disassembler
19958 @kindex set arm
19959 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
19960 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
19961
19962 @item show arm disassembler
19963 @kindex show arm
19964 Show the current disassembly style.
19965
19966 @item set arm apcs32
19967 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
19968 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
19969
19970 @item show arm apcs32
19971 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
19972
19973 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
19974 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
19975 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
19976
19977 @table @code
19978 @item auto
19979 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
19980 @item softfpa
19981 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
19982 processors.
19983 @item fpa
19984 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
19985 @item softvfp
19986 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
19987 @item vfp
19988 VFP co-processor.
19989 @end table
19990
19991 @item show arm fpu
19992 Show the current type of the FPU.
19993
19994 @item set arm abi
19995 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
19996
19997 @item show arm abi
19998 Show the currently used ABI.
19999
20000 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20001 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20002 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20003 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20004 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20005 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20006 register).
20007
20008 @item show arm fallback-mode
20009 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20010
20011 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20012 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20013 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20014 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20015 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20016
20017 @item show arm force-mode
20018 Show the current forced instruction mode.
20019
20020 @item set debug arm
20021 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20022 target support subsystem.
20023
20024 @item show debug arm
20025 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20026 @end table
20027
20028 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20029 using the RDI interface:
20030
20031 @table @code
20032 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20033 @kindex rdilogfile
20034 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
20035 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
20036 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
20037 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
20038 @file{rdi.log}.
20039
20040 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
20041 @kindex rdilogenable
20042 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
20043 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
20044 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
20045 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
20046 are logged to a file.
20047
20048 @item set rdiromatzero
20049 @kindex set rdiromatzero
20050 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
20051 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
20052 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
20053 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
20054 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
20055
20056 @item show rdiromatzero
20057 @kindex show rdiromatzero
20058 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20059
20060 @item set rdiheartbeat
20061 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
20062 @cindex RDI heartbeat
20063 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20064 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20065 well as the Angel monitor.
20066
20067 @item show rdiheartbeat
20068 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
20069 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20070 @end table
20071
20072 @table @code
20073 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20074 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20075
20076 @table @code
20077 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
20078 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20079 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20080 The default value is @code{all}.
20081
20082 @table @code
20083 @item none
20084 @item demon
20085 @item angel
20086 @item redboot
20087 @item all
20088 @end table
20089 @end table
20090 @end table
20091
20092 @node M32R/D
20093 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20094
20095 @table @code
20096 @kindex target m32r
20097 @item target m32r @var{dev}
20098 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20099
20100 @kindex target m32rsdi
20101 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20102 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20103 @end table
20104
20105 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20106
20107 @table @code
20108 @item set download-path @var{path}
20109 @kindex set download-path
20110 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20111 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20112
20113 @item show download-path
20114 @kindex show download-path
20115 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20116
20117 @item set board-address @var{addr}
20118 @kindex set board-address
20119 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
20120 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20121
20122 @item show board-address
20123 @kindex show board-address
20124 Show the current IP address of the target board.
20125
20126 @item set server-address @var{addr}
20127 @kindex set server-address
20128 @cindex download server address (M32R)
20129 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20130 host machine.
20131
20132 @item show server-address
20133 @kindex show server-address
20134 Display the IP address of the download server.
20135
20136 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20137 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20138 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20139 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20140 executable file is uploaded.
20141
20142 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20143 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20144 Test the @code{upload} command.
20145 @end table
20146
20147 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20148
20149 @table @code
20150 @item sdireset
20151 @kindex sdireset
20152 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20153 This command resets the SDI connection.
20154
20155 @item sdistatus
20156 @kindex sdistatus
20157 This command shows the SDI connection status.
20158
20159 @item debug_chaos
20160 @kindex debug_chaos
20161 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20162 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20163
20164 @item use_debug_dma
20165 @kindex use_debug_dma
20166 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20167
20168 @item use_mon_code
20169 @kindex use_mon_code
20170 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20171
20172 @item use_ib_break
20173 @kindex use_ib_break
20174 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20175
20176 @item use_dbt_break
20177 @kindex use_dbt_break
20178 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20179 @end table
20180
20181 @node M68K
20182 @subsection M68k
20183
20184 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20185 target command for the following ROM monitor.
20186
20187 @table @code
20188
20189 @kindex target dbug
20190 @item target dbug @var{dev}
20191 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20192
20193 @end table
20194
20195 @node MicroBlaze
20196 @subsection MicroBlaze
20197 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20198 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20199
20200 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20201 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20202 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20203 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20204 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20205 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20206 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20207 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20208 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20209 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20210 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20211
20212 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20213
20214 @table @code
20215 @item target remote :1234
20216 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20217 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20218
20219 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20220 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20221 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20222
20223 @item load
20224 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20225
20226 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20227 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20228
20229 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20230 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20231 @end table
20232
20233 @node MIPS Embedded
20234 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20235
20236 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20237 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20238 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20239 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20240
20241 @need 1000
20242 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20243
20244 @table @code
20245 @item target mips @var{port}
20246 @kindex target mips @var{port}
20247 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20248 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20249 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20250 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20251 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20252 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20253
20254 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20255 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20256 debugger:
20257
20258 @smallexample
20259 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20260 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20261 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20262 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20263 (@value{GDBP}) run
20264 @end smallexample
20265
20266 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20267 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20268 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20269 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20270 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20271
20272 @item target pmon @var{port}
20273 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
20274 PMON ROM monitor.
20275
20276 @item target ddb @var{port}
20277 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
20278 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20279
20280 @item target lsi @var{port}
20281 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
20282 LSI variant of PMON.
20283
20284 @kindex target r3900
20285 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
20286 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20287
20288 @kindex target array
20289 @item target array @var{dev}
20290 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20291
20292 @end table
20293
20294
20295 @noindent
20296 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20297
20298 @table @code
20299 @item set mipsfpu double
20300 @itemx set mipsfpu single
20301 @itemx set mipsfpu none
20302 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
20303 @itemx show mipsfpu
20304 @kindex set mipsfpu
20305 @kindex show mipsfpu
20306 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20307 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20308 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20309 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20310 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20311 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20312 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20313 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20314 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20315 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20316 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20317 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20318 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20319
20320 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20321 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20322 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20323
20324 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20325 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
20326
20327 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
20328 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20329 @itemx show timeout
20330 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
20331 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20332 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20333 @kindex set timeout
20334 @kindex show timeout
20335 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
20336 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
20337 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20338 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20339 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20340 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20341 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20342 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20343 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20344 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20345
20346 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20347 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20348 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20349 to run before stopping.
20350
20351 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20352 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20353 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20354 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20355 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20356 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20357
20358 @item show syn-garbage-limit
20359 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20360 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20361 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20362
20363 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20364 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20365 @cindex remote monitor prompt
20366 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20367 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20368 @table @asis
20369 @item pmon target
20370 @samp{PMON}
20371 @item ddb target
20372 @samp{NEC010}
20373 @item lsi target
20374 @samp{PMON>}
20375 @end table
20376
20377 @item show monitor-prompt
20378 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20379 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20380 remote monitor.
20381
20382 @item set monitor-warnings
20383 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20384 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20385 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20386 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20387 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20388
20389 @item show monitor-warnings
20390 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20391 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20392
20393 @item pmon @var{command}
20394 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20395 @cindex send PMON command
20396 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20397 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20398 @end table
20399
20400 @node PowerPC Embedded
20401 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20402
20403 @cindex DVC register
20404 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20405 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20406
20407 @smallexample
20408 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20409 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20410 @end smallexample
20411
20412 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20413 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20414 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20415 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20416 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20417 or newer.
20418
20419 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20420 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20421 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20422 watching variables of scalar types.
20423
20424 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20425 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20426
20427 @smallexample
20428 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20429 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20430 @end smallexample
20431
20432 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20433 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20434
20435 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20436 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20437 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20438 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20439 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20440 use the @code{break-range} command.
20441
20442 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20443
20444 @table @code
20445 @kindex break-range
20446 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20447 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20448 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20449 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20450 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20451 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20452 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20453 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20454 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20455
20456 @kindex set powerpc
20457 @item set powerpc soft-float
20458 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20459 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20460 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20461 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20462
20463 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20464 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20465 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20466 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20467 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20468 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20469 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20470 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20471
20472 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20473 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20474 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20475 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20476 address of its first byte.
20477
20478 @kindex target dink32
20479 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20480 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20481
20482 @kindex target ppcbug
20483 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20484 @kindex target ppcbug1
20485 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20486 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20487
20488 @kindex target sds
20489 @item target sds @var{dev}
20490 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20491 @end table
20492
20493 @cindex SDS protocol
20494 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20495 by @value{GDBN}:
20496
20497 @table @code
20498 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20499 @kindex set sdstimeout
20500 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20501 default is 2 seconds.
20502
20503 @item show sdstimeout
20504 @kindex show sdstimeout
20505 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20506
20507 @item sds @var{command}
20508 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20509 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20510 @end table
20511
20512
20513 @node PA
20514 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20515
20516 @table @code
20517
20518 @kindex target op50n
20519 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20520 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20521
20522 @kindex target w89k
20523 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20524 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20525
20526 @end table
20527
20528 @node Sparclet
20529 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20530
20531 @cindex Sparclet
20532
20533 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20534 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20535 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20536 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20537 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20538
20539 @table @code
20540 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20541 @kindex remotetimeout
20542 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20543 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20544 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20545 @end table
20546
20547 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20548 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20549 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20550 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20551 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20552
20553 @smallexample
20554 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20555 @end smallexample
20556
20557 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20558
20559 @smallexample
20560 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20561 @end smallexample
20562
20563 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20564 Once you have set
20565 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20566 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20567 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20568
20569 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20570
20571 @smallexample
20572 (gdbslet)
20573 @end smallexample
20574
20575 @menu
20576 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20577 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20578 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20579 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20580 @end menu
20581
20582 @node Sparclet File
20583 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20584
20585 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20586
20587 @smallexample
20588 (gdbslet) file prog
20589 @end smallexample
20590
20591 @need 1000
20592 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20593 @value{GDBN} locates
20594 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20595 path.
20596 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20597 files will be searched as well.
20598 @value{GDBN} locates
20599 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20600 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20601 If it fails
20602 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20603
20604 @smallexample
20605 prog: No such file or directory.
20606 @end smallexample
20607
20608 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20609 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20610 @code{target} command again.
20611
20612 @node Sparclet Connection
20613 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20614
20615 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
20616 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
20617
20618 @smallexample
20619 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
20620 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
20621 main () at ../prog.c:3
20622 @end smallexample
20623
20624 @need 750
20625 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20626
20627 @smallexample
20628 Connected to ttya.
20629 @end smallexample
20630
20631 @node Sparclet Download
20632 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
20633
20634 @cindex download to Sparclet
20635 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
20636 you can use the @value{GDBN}
20637 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
20638 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
20639 command.
20640 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
20641 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
20642 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
20643 of each of the file's sections.
20644 For instance, if the program
20645 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
20646 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20647
20648 @smallexample
20649 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
20650 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
20651 @end smallexample
20652
20653 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
20654 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
20655 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
20656
20657 @node Sparclet Execution
20658 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
20659
20660 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
20661 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
20662 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
20663 manual for the list of commands.
20664
20665 @smallexample
20666 (gdbslet) b main
20667 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
20668 (gdbslet) run
20669 Starting program: prog
20670 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
20671 3 char *symarg = 0;
20672 (gdbslet) step
20673 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
20674 (gdbslet)
20675 @end smallexample
20676
20677 @node Sparclite
20678 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
20679
20680 @table @code
20681
20682 @kindex target sparclite
20683 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
20684 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
20685 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
20686 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
20687 remote protocol.
20688
20689 @end table
20690
20691 @node Z8000
20692 @subsection Zilog Z8000
20693
20694 @cindex Z8000
20695 @cindex simulator, Z8000
20696 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
20697
20698 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
20699 a Z8000 simulator.
20700
20701 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
20702 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
20703 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
20704 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
20705
20706 @table @code
20707 @item target sim @var{args}
20708 @kindex sim
20709 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
20710 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
20711 options, specify them via @var{args}.
20712 @end table
20713
20714 @noindent
20715 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
20716 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
20717 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
20718 to run your program, and so on.
20719
20720 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
20721 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
20722 additional items of information as specially named registers:
20723
20724 @table @code
20725
20726 @item cycles
20727 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
20728
20729 @item insts
20730 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
20731
20732 @item time
20733 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
20734
20735 @end table
20736
20737 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
20738 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
20739 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
20740 simulated clock ticks.
20741
20742 @node AVR
20743 @subsection Atmel AVR
20744 @cindex AVR
20745
20746 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
20747 following AVR-specific commands:
20748
20749 @table @code
20750 @item info io_registers
20751 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
20752 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
20753 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
20754 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
20755 @end table
20756
20757 @node CRIS
20758 @subsection CRIS
20759 @cindex CRIS
20760
20761 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
20762 following CRIS-specific commands:
20763
20764 @table @code
20765 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
20766 @cindex CRIS version
20767 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
20768 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
20769 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
20770
20771 @item show cris-version
20772 Show the current CRIS version.
20773
20774 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
20775 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
20776 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
20777 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
20778 @code{R59}.
20779
20780 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
20781 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
20782
20783 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
20784 @cindex CRIS mode
20785 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
20786 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
20787 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
20788
20789 @item show cris-mode
20790 Show the current CRIS mode.
20791 @end table
20792
20793 @node Super-H
20794 @subsection Renesas Super-H
20795 @cindex Super-H
20796
20797 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
20798 commands:
20799
20800 @table @code
20801 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
20802 @kindex set sh calling-convention
20803 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
20804 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
20805 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
20806 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
20807 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
20808 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
20809 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
20810 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
20811 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
20812 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
20813
20814 @item show sh calling-convention
20815 @kindex show sh calling-convention
20816 Show the current calling convention setting.
20817
20818 @end table
20819
20820
20821 @node Architectures
20822 @section Architectures
20823
20824 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
20825 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
20826
20827 @menu
20828 * AArch64::
20829 * i386::
20830 * Alpha::
20831 * MIPS::
20832 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
20833 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20834 * PowerPC::
20835 * Nios II::
20836 @end menu
20837
20838 @node AArch64
20839 @subsection AArch64
20840 @cindex AArch64 support
20841
20842 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
20843 following special commands:
20844
20845 @table @code
20846 @item set debug aarch64
20847 @kindex set debug aarch64
20848 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
20849 messages are to be displayed.
20850
20851 @item show debug aarch64
20852 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
20853
20854 @end table
20855
20856 @node i386
20857 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
20858
20859 @table @code
20860 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
20861 @kindex set struct-convention
20862 @cindex struct return convention
20863 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
20864 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
20865 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
20866 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
20867 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
20868 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
20869 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
20870 be returned in a register.
20871
20872 @item show struct-convention
20873 @kindex show struct-convention
20874 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
20875 from functions.
20876 @end table
20877
20878 @node Alpha
20879 @subsection Alpha
20880
20881 See the following section.
20882
20883 @node MIPS
20884 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
20885
20886 @cindex stack on Alpha
20887 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
20888 @cindex Alpha stack
20889 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
20890 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
20891 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
20892 find the beginning of a function.
20893
20894 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
20895 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
20896 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
20897 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
20898 commands:
20899
20900 @table @code
20901 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
20902 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
20903 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
20904 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
20905 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
20906 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
20907 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
20908 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
20909
20910 @item show heuristic-fence-post
20911 Display the current limit.
20912 @end table
20913
20914 @noindent
20915 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
20916 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
20917
20918 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
20919 programs:
20920
20921 @table @code
20922 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
20923 @kindex set mips abi
20924 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
20925 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
20926 values of @var{arg} are:
20927
20928 @table @samp
20929 @item auto
20930 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
20931 default).
20932 @item o32
20933 @item o64
20934 @item n32
20935 @item n64
20936 @item eabi32
20937 @item eabi64
20938 @end table
20939
20940 @item show mips abi
20941 @kindex show mips abi
20942 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20943
20944 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
20945 @kindex set mips compression
20946 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
20947 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
20948 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
20949 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
20950 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
20951 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
20952 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
20953 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
20954 provided by the executable.
20955
20956 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
20957 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
20958 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
20959 identified as such.
20960
20961 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
20962 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
20963 implicitly from an executable.
20964
20965 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
20966 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
20967 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
20968 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
20969 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
20970
20971 @item show mips compression
20972 @kindex show mips compression
20973 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
20974 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20975
20976 @item set mipsfpu
20977 @itemx show mipsfpu
20978 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20979
20980 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20981 @kindex set mips mask-address
20982 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
20983 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20984 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20985 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20986 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20987
20988 @item show mips mask-address
20989 @kindex show mips mask-address
20990 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
20991 not.
20992
20993 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20994 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20995 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
20996 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
20997 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20998 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20999
21000 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21001 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21002 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
21003
21004 @item set debug mips
21005 @kindex set debug mips
21006 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
21007 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21008
21009 @item show debug mips
21010 @kindex show debug mips
21011 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
21012 @end table
21013
21014
21015 @node HPPA
21016 @subsection HPPA
21017 @cindex HPPA support
21018
21019 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
21020 following special commands:
21021
21022 @table @code
21023 @item set debug hppa
21024 @kindex set debug hppa
21025 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
21026 messages are to be displayed.
21027
21028 @item show debug hppa
21029 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
21030
21031 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
21032 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
21033 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
21034 given @var{address}.
21035
21036 @end table
21037
21038
21039 @node SPU
21040 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21041 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
21042 @cindex SPU
21043
21044 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
21045 it provides the following special commands:
21046
21047 @table @code
21048 @item info spu event
21049 @kindex info spu
21050 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
21051 and pending event status.
21052
21053 @item info spu signal
21054 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
21055 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
21056 notification channels.
21057
21058 @item info spu mailbox
21059 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21060 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21061 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21062
21063 @item info spu dma
21064 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21065 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21066 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21067
21068 @item info spu proxydma
21069 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21070 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21071 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21072
21073 @end table
21074
21075 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21076 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21077 special commands:
21078
21079 @table @code
21080 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21081 @kindex set spu
21082 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21083 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21084 function. The default is @code{off}.
21085
21086 @item show spu stop-on-load
21087 @kindex show spu
21088 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21089
21090 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21091 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21092 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21093 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21094 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21095 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21096
21097 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
21098 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21099
21100 @end table
21101
21102 @node PowerPC
21103 @subsection PowerPC
21104 @cindex PowerPC architecture
21105
21106 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21107 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21108 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21109 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21110 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21111
21112 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21113 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21114 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21115
21116 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21117 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21118
21119 @node Nios II
21120 @subsection Nios II
21121 @cindex Nios II architecture
21122
21123 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
21124 it provides the following special commands:
21125
21126 @table @code
21127
21128 @item set debug nios2
21129 @kindex set debug nios2
21130 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
21131 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21132
21133 @item show debug nios2
21134 @kindex show debug nios2
21135 Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
21136 @end table
21137
21138 @node Controlling GDB
21139 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21140
21141 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21142 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21143 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21144 described here.
21145
21146 @menu
21147 * Prompt:: Prompt
21148 * Editing:: Command editing
21149 * Command History:: Command history
21150 * Screen Size:: Screen size
21151 * Numbers:: Numbers
21152 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21153 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21154 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21155 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21156 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21157 @end menu
21158
21159 @node Prompt
21160 @section Prompt
21161
21162 @cindex prompt
21163
21164 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21165 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21166 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21167 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21168 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21169 which one you are talking to.
21170
21171 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21172 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21173 or a prompt that does not.
21174
21175 @table @code
21176 @kindex set prompt
21177 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21178 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21179
21180 @kindex show prompt
21181 @item show prompt
21182 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21183 @end table
21184
21185 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21186 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21187 are:
21188
21189 @table @code
21190 @kindex set extended-prompt
21191 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21192 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21193 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21194 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21195 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21196 is displayed.
21197
21198 For example:
21199
21200 @smallexample
21201 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21202 @end smallexample
21203
21204 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21205 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21206
21207 @kindex show extended-prompt
21208 @item show extended-prompt
21209 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21210 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21211 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21212 @end table
21213
21214 @node Editing
21215 @section Command Editing
21216 @cindex readline
21217 @cindex command line editing
21218
21219 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21220 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21221 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21222 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21223 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21224 debugging sessions.
21225
21226 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21227 command @code{set}.
21228
21229 @table @code
21230 @kindex set editing
21231 @cindex editing
21232 @item set editing
21233 @itemx set editing on
21234 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21235
21236 @item set editing off
21237 Disable command line editing.
21238
21239 @kindex show editing
21240 @item show editing
21241 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21242 @end table
21243
21244 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21245 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21246 @end ifset
21247 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21248 @xref{Command Line Editing},
21249 @end ifclear
21250 for more details about the Readline
21251 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21252 encouraged to read that chapter.
21253
21254 @node Command History
21255 @section Command History
21256 @cindex command history
21257
21258 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21259 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21260 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21261 history facility.
21262
21263 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21264 package, to provide the history facility.
21265 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21266 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21267 @end ifset
21268 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21269 @xref{Using History Interactively},
21270 @end ifclear
21271 for the detailed description of the History library.
21272
21273 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21274 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21275 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21276 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21277 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21278 pressed on a line by itself.
21279
21280 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21281 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21282 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21283 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21284
21285 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21286 history.
21287
21288 @table @code
21289 @cindex history substitution
21290 @cindex history file
21291 @kindex set history filename
21292 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21293 @item set history filename @var{fname}
21294 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21295 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21296 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21297 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21298 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21299 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21300 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21301 is not set.
21302
21303 @cindex save command history
21304 @kindex set history save
21305 @item set history save
21306 @itemx set history save on
21307 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21308 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21309
21310 @item set history save off
21311 Stop recording command history in a file.
21312
21313 @cindex history size
21314 @kindex set history size
21315 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21316 @item set history size @var{size}
21317 @itemx set history size unlimited
21318 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21319 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21320 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
21321 is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
21322 history list is unlimited.
21323 @end table
21324
21325 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21326 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21327 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21328 @end ifset
21329 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21330 @xref{Event Designators},
21331 @end ifclear
21332 for more details.
21333
21334 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21335 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21336 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21337 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21338 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21339 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21340 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21341 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21342
21343 The commands to control history expansion are:
21344
21345 @table @code
21346 @item set history expansion on
21347 @itemx set history expansion
21348 @kindex set history expansion
21349 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21350
21351 @item set history expansion off
21352 Disable history expansion.
21353
21354 @c @group
21355 @kindex show history
21356 @item show history
21357 @itemx show history filename
21358 @itemx show history save
21359 @itemx show history size
21360 @itemx show history expansion
21361 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21362 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21363 @c @end group
21364 @end table
21365
21366 @table @code
21367 @kindex show commands
21368 @cindex show last commands
21369 @cindex display command history
21370 @item show commands
21371 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21372
21373 @item show commands @var{n}
21374 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21375
21376 @item show commands +
21377 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21378 @end table
21379
21380 @node Screen Size
21381 @section Screen Size
21382 @cindex size of screen
21383 @cindex pauses in output
21384
21385 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21386 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21387 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21388 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21389 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21390 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21391 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21392 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21393
21394 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21395 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21396 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21397 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21398 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21399 width} commands:
21400
21401 @table @code
21402 @kindex set height
21403 @kindex set width
21404 @kindex show width
21405 @kindex show height
21406 @item set height @var{lpp}
21407 @itemx set height unlimited
21408 @itemx show height
21409 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21410 @itemx set width unlimited
21411 @itemx show width
21412 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21413 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21414 commands display the current settings.
21415
21416 If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
21417 @value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
21418 output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
21419 buffer.
21420
21421 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
21422 width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
21423
21424 @item set pagination on
21425 @itemx set pagination off
21426 @kindex set pagination
21427 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21428 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
21429 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21430 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21431
21432 @item show pagination
21433 @kindex show pagination
21434 Show the current pagination mode.
21435 @end table
21436
21437 @node Numbers
21438 @section Numbers
21439 @cindex number representation
21440 @cindex entering numbers
21441
21442 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21443 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21444 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21445 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21446 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21447 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21448 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21449 both input and output with the commands described below.
21450
21451 @table @code
21452 @kindex set input-radix
21453 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21454 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21455 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21456 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21457 example, any of
21458
21459 @smallexample
21460 set input-radix 012
21461 set input-radix 10.
21462 set input-radix 0xa
21463 @end smallexample
21464
21465 @noindent
21466 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21467 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21468 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21469 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21470 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21471 change the radix.
21472
21473 @kindex set output-radix
21474 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21475 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21476 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21477 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21478
21479 @kindex show input-radix
21480 @item show input-radix
21481 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21482
21483 @kindex show output-radix
21484 @item show output-radix
21485 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21486
21487 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21488 @itemx show radix
21489 @kindex set radix
21490 @kindex show radix
21491 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21492 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21493 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21494 default value of 10.
21495
21496 @end table
21497
21498 @node ABI
21499 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21500
21501 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21502 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21503 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21504 current ABI.
21505
21506 @cindex OS ABI
21507 @kindex set osabi
21508 @kindex show osabi
21509 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
21510
21511 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21512 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21513 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21514 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21515 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21516 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21517 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21518 platform provides.
21519
21520 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
21521 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
21522 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
21523 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
21524
21525 @table @code
21526 @item show osabi
21527 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21528
21529 @item set osabi
21530 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21531
21532 @item set osabi @var{abi}
21533 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21534 @end table
21535
21536 @cindex float promotion
21537
21538 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21539 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21540 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21541 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21542 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21543 @code{double} and then passed.
21544
21545 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21546 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21547 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21548
21549 @table @code
21550 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21551 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21552 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21553 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21554 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21555
21556 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21557 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21558 functions.
21559
21560 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21561 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21562 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21563 @end table
21564
21565 @kindex set cp-abi
21566 @kindex show cp-abi
21567 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21568 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21569 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21570 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21571 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21572 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21573 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21574 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21575 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21576 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21577 ``auto''.
21578
21579 @table @code
21580 @item show cp-abi
21581 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21582
21583 @item set cp-abi
21584 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21585
21586 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21587 @itemx set cp-abi auto
21588 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21589 @end table
21590
21591 @node Auto-loading
21592 @section Automatically loading associated files
21593 @cindex auto-loading
21594
21595 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21596 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21597 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21598 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21599 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21600 sources).
21601
21602 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21603 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21604 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21605
21606 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21607 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21608
21609 @table @code
21610 @anchor{set auto-load off}
21611 @kindex set auto-load off
21612 @item set auto-load off
21613 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21614 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21615 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
21616 @smallexample
21617 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
21618 @end smallexample
21619
21620 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
21621 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
21622 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
21623 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
21624 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
21625 @code{set auto-load no}.
21626
21627 @anchor{show auto-load}
21628 @kindex show auto-load
21629 @item show auto-load
21630 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
21631 or disabled.
21632
21633 @smallexample
21634 (gdb) show auto-load
21635 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
21636 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
21637 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
21638 is on.
21639 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
21640 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21641 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21642 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
21643 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21644 @end smallexample
21645
21646 @anchor{info auto-load}
21647 @kindex info auto-load
21648 @item info auto-load
21649 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
21650 not.
21651
21652 @smallexample
21653 (gdb) info auto-load
21654 gdb-scripts:
21655 Loaded Script
21656 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
21657 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
21658 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
21659 loaded.
21660 python-scripts:
21661 Loaded Script
21662 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
21663 @end smallexample
21664 @end table
21665
21666 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
21667
21668 @itemize @bullet
21669 @item
21670 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21671 @item
21672 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21673 @item
21674 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
21675 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21676 @item
21677 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
21678 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21679 @item
21680 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21681 @end itemize
21682
21683 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
21684
21685 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
21686 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
21687 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
21688 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
21689 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
21690 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
21691 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
21692 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21693 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21694 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21695 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21696 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21697 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21698 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21699 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21700 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
21701 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21702 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
21703 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21704 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21705 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21706 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
21707 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21708 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21709 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
21710 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21711 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
21712 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21713 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
21714 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21715 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
21716 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
21717 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
21718 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
21719 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
21720 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
21721 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
21722 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
21723 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
21724 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
21725 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
21726 @end multitable
21727
21728 @menu
21729 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21730 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
21731 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
21732 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
21733 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
21734 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
21735 @end menu
21736
21737 @node Init File in the Current Directory
21738 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
21739 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
21740
21741 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
21742 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
21743 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
21744
21745 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
21746 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21747
21748 @table @code
21749 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
21750 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
21751 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
21752 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
21753 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
21754
21755 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
21756 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
21757 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
21758 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21759 current directory is enabled or disabled.
21760
21761 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21762 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
21763 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
21764 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21765 current directory have been auto-loaded.
21766 @end table
21767
21768 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
21769 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
21770 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
21771
21772 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
21773
21774 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
21775 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
21776
21777 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
21778 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
21779 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
21780 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
21781 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
21782 library.
21783
21784 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
21785 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21786
21787 @table @code
21788 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
21789 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
21790 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
21791 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
21792
21793 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
21794 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
21795 @item show auto-load libthread-db
21796 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
21797 enabled or disabled.
21798
21799 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
21800 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
21801 @item info auto-load libthread-db
21802 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
21803 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
21804 @end table
21805
21806 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
21807 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
21808 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
21809
21810 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
21811 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
21812 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
21813
21814 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
21815 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21816
21817 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
21818 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
21819
21820 @table @code
21821 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
21822 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
21823 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
21824 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
21825
21826 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
21827 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
21828 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
21829 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
21830 disabled.
21831
21832 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
21833 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
21834 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
21835 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
21836 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
21837 auto-loaded.
21838 @end table
21839
21840 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
21841 matching names are printed.
21842
21843 @node Auto-loading safe path
21844 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
21845 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
21846
21847 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
21848 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
21849 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
21850 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
21851 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
21852
21853 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
21854 get loaded:
21855
21856 @smallexample
21857 $ ./gdb -q ./gdb
21858 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
21859 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
21860 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
21861 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
21862 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
21863 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
21864 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
21865 @end smallexample
21866
21867 @noindent
21868 To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
21869 invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
21870
21871 @smallexample
21872 $ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
21873 @end smallexample
21874
21875 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
21876
21877 @table @code
21878 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
21879 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
21880 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
21881 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
21882 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
21883 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
21884 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
21885 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
21886 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
21887 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
21888
21889 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
21890 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
21891 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
21892
21893 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
21894 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
21895 @item show auto-load safe-path
21896 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
21897 scripts.
21898
21899 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
21900 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
21901 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
21902 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
21903 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
21904 host platform path separator in use.
21905 @end table
21906
21907 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
21908 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
21909 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21910 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
21911 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
21912
21913 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
21914 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
21915 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
21916 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
21917 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
21918 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
21919 init file in the current directory
21920 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
21921
21922 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
21923 example, you could use one of the following ways:
21924
21925 @table @asis
21926 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
21927 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
21928 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
21929 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
21930
21931 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
21932 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
21933 @value{GDBN} session.
21934
21935 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
21936 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21937 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
21938 from trusted sources.
21939
21940 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
21941 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
21942 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
21943 trusted sources.
21944 @end table
21945
21946 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
21947 also suppresses any such warning messages:
21948
21949 @table @asis
21950 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
21951 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21952
21953 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
21954 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
21955 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
21956 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
21957 @end table
21958
21959 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
21960 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
21961 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
21962 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
21963 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
21964 recommended to be entered.
21965
21966 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
21967 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
21968 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
21969
21970 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
21971 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
21972 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
21973 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
21974 be printed.
21975
21976 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21977 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
21978 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
21979
21980 @smallexample
21981 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
21982 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
21983 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
21984 for objfile "/tmp/true".
21985 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
21986 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
21987 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
21988 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
21989 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
21990 @end smallexample
21991
21992 @table @code
21993 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
21994 @kindex set debug auto-load
21995 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
21996 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
21997
21998 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
21999 @kindex show debug auto-load
22000 @item show debug auto-load
22001 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22002 on or off.
22003 @end table
22004
22005 @node Messages/Warnings
22006 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
22007
22008 @cindex verbose operation
22009 @cindex optional warnings
22010 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22011 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22012 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22013 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22014
22015 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22016 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22017 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22018
22019 @table @code
22020 @kindex set verbose
22021 @item set verbose on
22022 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22023
22024 @item set verbose off
22025 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22026
22027 @kindex show verbose
22028 @item show verbose
22029 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22030 @end table
22031
22032 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22033 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22034 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22035 Symbol Files}).
22036
22037 @table @code
22038
22039 @kindex set complaints
22040 @item set complaints @var{limit}
22041 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
22042 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
22043 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
22044 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
22045
22046 @kindex show complaints
22047 @item show complaints
22048 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
22049
22050 @end table
22051
22052 @anchor{confirmation requests}
22053 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
22054 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
22055 you try to run a program which is already running:
22056
22057 @smallexample
22058 (@value{GDBP}) run
22059 The program being debugged has been started already.
22060 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
22061 @end smallexample
22062
22063 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
22064 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
22065
22066 @table @code
22067
22068 @kindex set confirm
22069 @cindex flinching
22070 @cindex confirmation
22071 @cindex stupid questions
22072 @item set confirm off
22073 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
22074 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
22075 automatically disables confirmation requests.
22076
22077 @item set confirm on
22078 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
22079
22080 @kindex show confirm
22081 @item show confirm
22082 Displays state of confirmation requests.
22083
22084 @end table
22085
22086 @cindex command tracing
22087 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
22088 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
22089 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
22090 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22091
22092 @table @code
22093 @kindex set trace-commands
22094 @cindex command scripts, debugging
22095 @item set trace-commands on
22096 Enable command tracing.
22097 @item set trace-commands off
22098 Disable command tracing.
22099 @item show trace-commands
22100 Display the current state of command tracing.
22101 @end table
22102
22103 @node Debugging Output
22104 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22105 @cindex optional debugging messages
22106
22107 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22108 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22109 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22110 section documents those commands.
22111
22112 @table @code
22113 @kindex set exec-done-display
22114 @item set exec-done-display
22115 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22116 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22117 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22118 @kindex show exec-done-display
22119 @item show exec-done-display
22120 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22121 notification.
22122 @kindex set debug
22123 @cindex ARM AArch64
22124 @item set debug aarch64
22125 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22126 The default is off.
22127 @kindex show debug
22128 @item show debug aarch64
22129 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22130 ARM AArch64.
22131 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
22132 @cindex architecture debugging info
22133 @item set debug arch
22134 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22135 @item show debug arch
22136 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22137 @item set debug aix-thread
22138 @cindex AIX threads
22139 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22140 module.
22141 @item show debug aix-thread
22142 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22143 @item set debug check-physname
22144 @cindex physname
22145 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22146 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22147 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22148 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22149 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22150 both ways and display any discrepancies.
22151 @item show debug check-physname
22152 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22153 @item set debug coff-pe-read
22154 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22155 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22156 exported symbols. The default is off.
22157 @item show debug coff-pe-read
22158 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22159 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22160 @item set debug dwarf2-die
22161 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22162 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22163 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22164 A value of zero turns off the display.
22165 @item show debug dwarf2-die
22166 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22167 @item set debug dwarf2-read
22168 @cindex DWARF2 Reading
22169 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22170 DWARF debug info. The default is off.
22171 @item show debug dwarf2-read
22172 Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22173 @item set debug displaced
22174 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22175 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22176 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22177 @item show debug displaced
22178 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22179 related to displaced stepping.
22180 @item set debug event
22181 @cindex event debugging info
22182 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22183 default is off.
22184 @item show debug event
22185 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22186 info.
22187 @item set debug expression
22188 @cindex expression debugging info
22189 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22190 expression parsing. The default is off.
22191 @item show debug expression
22192 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22193 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22194 @item set debug frame
22195 @cindex frame debugging info
22196 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22197 default is off.
22198 @item show debug frame
22199 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22200 info.
22201 @item set debug gnu-nat
22202 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22203 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22204 @item show debug gnu-nat
22205 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22206 @item set debug infrun
22207 @cindex inferior debugging info
22208 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22209 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22210 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22211 @item show debug infrun
22212 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22213 @item set debug jit
22214 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22215 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22216 @item show debug jit
22217 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22218 @item set debug lin-lwp
22219 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22220 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
22221 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22222 @item show debug lin-lwp
22223 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22224 @item set debug mach-o
22225 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22226 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22227 processing. The default is off.
22228 @item show debug mach-o
22229 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22230 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22231 @item set debug notification
22232 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
22233 Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22234 The default is off.
22235 @item show debug notification
22236 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22237 @item set debug observer
22238 @cindex observer debugging info
22239 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22240 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22241 @item show debug observer
22242 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22243 @item set debug overload
22244 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22245 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22246 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22247 is off.
22248 @item show debug overload
22249 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22250 debugging info.
22251 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
22252 @cindex debug expression parser
22253 @item set debug parser
22254 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22255 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22256 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22257 details. The default is off.
22258 @item show debug parser
22259 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22260 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22261 @cindex serial connections, debugging
22262 @cindex debug remote protocol
22263 @cindex remote protocol debugging
22264 @cindex display remote packets
22265 @item set debug remote
22266 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22267 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22268 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22269 @item show debug remote
22270 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22271 @item set debug serial
22272 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22273 default is off.
22274 @item show debug serial
22275 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22276 info.
22277 @item set debug solib-frv
22278 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22279 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22280 @item show debug solib-frv
22281 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22282 messages.
22283 @item set debug symtab-create
22284 @cindex symbol table creation
22285 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22286 The default is off.
22287 @item show debug symtab-create
22288 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22289 @item set debug target
22290 @cindex target debugging info
22291 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22292 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22293 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22294 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22295 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22296 @item show debug target
22297 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22298 info.
22299 @item set debug timestamp
22300 @cindex timestampping debugging info
22301 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22302 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22303 message.
22304 @item show debug timestamp
22305 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22306 debugging info.
22307 @item set debugvarobj
22308 @cindex variable object debugging info
22309 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22310 info. The default is off.
22311 @item show debugvarobj
22312 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22313 debugging info.
22314 @item set debug xml
22315 @cindex XML parser debugging
22316 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22317 @item show debug xml
22318 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22319 @end table
22320
22321 @node Other Misc Settings
22322 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22323 @cindex miscellaneous settings
22324
22325 @table @code
22326 @kindex set interactive-mode
22327 @item set interactive-mode
22328 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22329 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22330 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22331 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22332 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22333 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22334 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22335 is, non-interactively otherwise.
22336
22337 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22338 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22339 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22340 inside a cygwin window.
22341
22342 @kindex show interactive-mode
22343 @item show interactive-mode
22344 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22345 @end table
22346
22347 @node Extending GDB
22348 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22349 @cindex extending GDB
22350
22351 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
22352 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
22353 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
22354 existing commands.
22355
22356 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
22357 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22358 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
22359 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22360 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22361 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22362
22363 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22364 setting:
22365
22366 @table @code
22367 @kindex set script-extension
22368 @kindex show script-extension
22369 @item set script-extension off
22370 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22371
22372 @item set script-extension soft
22373 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22374 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22375 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22376 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22377
22378 @item set script-extension strict
22379 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22380 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22381 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22382
22383 @item show script-extension
22384 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22385
22386 @end table
22387
22388 @menu
22389 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
22390 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22391 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22392 @end menu
22393
22394 @node Sequences
22395 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
22396
22397 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22398 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22399 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22400 files.
22401
22402 @menu
22403 * Define:: How to define your own commands
22404 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22405 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22406 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
22407 @end menu
22408
22409 @node Define
22410 @subsection User-defined Commands
22411
22412 @cindex user-defined command
22413 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22414 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22415 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22416 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22417 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22418 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22419
22420 @smallexample
22421 define adder
22422 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22423 end
22424 @end smallexample
22425
22426 @noindent
22427 To execute the command use:
22428
22429 @smallexample
22430 adder 1 2 3
22431 @end smallexample
22432
22433 @noindent
22434 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
22435 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
22436 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
22437 functions calls.
22438
22439 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
22440 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
22441 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
22442 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
22443
22444 @smallexample
22445 define adder
22446 if $argc == 2
22447 print $arg0 + $arg1
22448 end
22449 if $argc == 3
22450 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22451 end
22452 end
22453 @end smallexample
22454
22455 @table @code
22456
22457 @kindex define
22458 @item define @var{commandname}
22459 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22460 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22461 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22462 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22463 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22464 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22465
22466 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22467 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22468 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22469
22470 @kindex document
22471 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22472 @item document @var{commandname}
22473 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22474 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22475 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22476 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22477 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22478 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22479
22480 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22481 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22482 does not change the documentation.
22483
22484 @kindex dont-repeat
22485 @cindex don't repeat command
22486 @item dont-repeat
22487 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22488 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22489 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22490
22491 @kindex help user-defined
22492 @item help user-defined
22493 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22494 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22495 included (if any).
22496
22497 @kindex show user
22498 @item show user
22499 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
22500 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22501 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22502 definitions for all user-defined commands.
22503 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22504
22505 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22506 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
22507 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
22508 @item show max-user-call-depth
22509 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
22510 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22511 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22512 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22513 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22514 @end table
22515
22516 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22517 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22518
22519 When user-defined commands are executed, the
22520 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22521 stops execution of the user-defined command.
22522
22523 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22524 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22525 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22526 messages when used in a user-defined command.
22527
22528 @node Hooks
22529 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22530 @cindex command hooks
22531 @cindex hooks, for commands
22532 @cindex hooks, pre-command
22533
22534 @kindex hook
22535 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22536 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22537 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22538 before that command.
22539
22540 @cindex hooks, post-command
22541 @kindex hookpost
22542 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22543 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22544 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22545 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22546 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22547
22548 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22549 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22550
22551 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22552 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22553
22554 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22555 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22556 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22557 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22558 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22559
22560 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22561 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22562 you could define:
22563
22564 @smallexample
22565 define hook-stop
22566 handle SIGALRM nopass
22567 end
22568
22569 define hook-run
22570 handle SIGALRM pass
22571 end
22572
22573 define hook-continue
22574 handle SIGALRM pass
22575 end
22576 @end smallexample
22577
22578 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
22579 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
22580 you could define:
22581
22582 @smallexample
22583 define hook-echo
22584 echo <<<---
22585 end
22586
22587 define hookpost-echo
22588 echo --->>>\n
22589 end
22590
22591 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22592 <<<---Hello World--->>>
22593 (@value{GDBP})
22594
22595 @end smallexample
22596
22597 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22598 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22599 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22600 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22601 @c or not?
22602 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22603 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
22604 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
22605
22606 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
22607 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
22608 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
22609
22610 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
22611 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
22612
22613 @node Command Files
22614 @subsection Command Files
22615
22616 @cindex command files
22617 @cindex scripting commands
22618 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
22619 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
22620 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
22621 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
22622 terminal.
22623
22624 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
22625 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
22626 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
22627 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
22628 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
22629
22630 @table @code
22631 @kindex source
22632 @cindex execute commands from a file
22633 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
22634 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
22635 @end table
22636
22637 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
22638 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
22639 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
22640 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
22641 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
22642
22643 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
22644 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
22645 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
22646 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
22647 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
22648 is not relevant to scripts.
22649
22650 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
22651 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
22652 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
22653 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
22654 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22655 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
22656 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
22657 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
22658 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22659 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
22660 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
22661 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
22662 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
22663 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
22664
22665 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
22666 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
22667 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
22668
22669 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
22670 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
22671 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
22672 when called from command files.
22673
22674 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
22675 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
22676 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
22677 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
22678 the next command.
22679
22680 @smallexample
22681 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
22682 @end smallexample
22683
22684 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
22685 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
22686 would be directed to @file{log}.
22687
22688 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
22689 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
22690 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
22691 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
22692 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
22693 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
22694 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
22695 conditionally, etc.
22696
22697 @table @code
22698 @kindex if
22699 @kindex else
22700 @item if
22701 @itemx else
22702 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
22703 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
22704 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
22705 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
22706 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
22707 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
22708 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22709
22710 @kindex while
22711 @item while
22712 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
22713 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
22714 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
22715 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
22716 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
22717 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
22718
22719 @kindex loop_break
22720 @item loop_break
22721 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
22722 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
22723 line.
22724
22725 @kindex loop_continue
22726 @item loop_continue
22727 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
22728 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
22729 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
22730 the controlling expression.
22731
22732 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
22733 @item end
22734 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
22735 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
22736 @end table
22737
22738
22739 @node Output
22740 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
22741
22742 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
22743 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
22744 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
22745 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
22746 want.
22747
22748 @table @code
22749 @kindex echo
22750 @item echo @var{text}
22751 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
22752 @c because it is not in ANSI.
22753 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
22754 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
22755 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
22756 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
22757 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
22758 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
22759 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
22760 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
22761 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
22762
22763 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
22764 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
22765
22766 @smallexample
22767 echo This is some text\n\
22768 which is continued\n\
22769 onto several lines.\n
22770 @end smallexample
22771
22772 produces the same output as
22773
22774 @smallexample
22775 echo This is some text\n
22776 echo which is continued\n
22777 echo onto several lines.\n
22778 @end smallexample
22779
22780 @kindex output
22781 @item output @var{expression}
22782 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
22783 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
22784 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
22785 on expressions.
22786
22787 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
22788 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
22789 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
22790 Formats}, for more information.
22791
22792 @kindex printf
22793 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22794 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22795 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
22796 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
22797 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
22798 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
22799 executing the code below:
22800
22801 @smallexample
22802 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
22803 @end smallexample
22804
22805 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
22806 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
22807 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
22808 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
22809 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
22810 printed.
22811
22812 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
22813
22814 @smallexample
22815 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
22816 @end smallexample
22817
22818 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
22819 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
22820 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
22821
22822 @itemize @bullet
22823 @item
22824 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
22825
22826 @item
22827 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
22828 width.
22829
22830 @item
22831 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
22832 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
22833
22834 @item
22835 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
22836 supported.
22837
22838 @item
22839 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
22840
22841 @item
22842 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
22843 @end itemize
22844
22845 @noindent
22846 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
22847 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
22848 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
22849 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
22850
22851 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
22852 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
22853 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
22854 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
22855 supported.
22856
22857 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
22858 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
22859 together with a floating point specifier.
22860 letters:
22861
22862 @itemize @bullet
22863 @item
22864 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
22865
22866 @item
22867 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
22868
22869 @item
22870 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
22871 @end itemize
22872
22873 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
22874 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
22875 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
22876
22877 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
22878 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
22879
22880 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
22881 @smallexample
22882 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
22883 @end smallexample
22884
22885 @kindex eval
22886 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22887 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22888 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
22889
22890 @end table
22891
22892 @node Python
22893 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22894 @cindex python scripting
22895 @cindex scripting with python
22896
22897 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
22898 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
22899 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
22900
22901 @cindex python directory
22902 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
22903 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
22904 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
22905 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
22906 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
22907 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
22908
22909 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
22910 are written in Python and are located in the
22911 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
22912 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
22913 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
22914
22915 @menu
22916 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
22917 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
22918 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
22919 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
22920 @end menu
22921
22922 @node Python Commands
22923 @subsection Python Commands
22924 @cindex python commands
22925 @cindex commands to access python
22926
22927 @value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
22928 and one related setting:
22929
22930 @table @code
22931 @kindex python-interactive
22932 @kindex pi
22933 @item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22934 @itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22935 Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
22936 to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
22937 type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
22938
22939 Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
22940 argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
22941 will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
22942
22943 @smallexample
22944 (@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
22945 5
22946 @end smallexample
22947
22948 @kindex python
22949 @kindex py
22950 @item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22951 @itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22952 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
22953
22954 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
22955 argument as a Python command. For example:
22956
22957 @smallexample
22958 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
22959 23
22960 @end smallexample
22961
22962 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
22963 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
22964 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
22965 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
22966 containing @code{end}. For example:
22967
22968 @smallexample
22969 (@value{GDBP}) python
22970 Type python script
22971 End with a line saying just "end".
22972 >print 23
22973 >end
22974 23
22975 @end smallexample
22976
22977 @kindex set python print-stack
22978 @item set python print-stack
22979 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
22980 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
22981 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
22982 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
22983 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
22984 the message component of the error is printed.
22985 @end table
22986
22987 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
22988 interpreter:
22989
22990 @table @code
22991 @item source @file{script-name}
22992 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
22993 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
22994 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
22995
22996 @item python execfile ("script-name")
22997 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
22998 and thus is always available.
22999 @end table
23000
23001 @node Python API
23002 @subsection Python API
23003 @cindex python api
23004 @cindex programming in python
23005
23006 You can get quick online help for @value{GDBN}'s Python API by issuing
23007 the command @w{@kbd{python help (gdb)}}.
23008
23009 Functions and methods which have two or more optional arguments allow
23010 them to be specified using keyword syntax. This allows passing some
23011 optional arguments while skipping others. Example:
23012 @w{@code{gdb.some_function ('foo', bar = 1, baz = 2)}}.
23013
23014 @menu
23015 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
23016 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
23017 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
23018 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
23019 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
23020 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
23021 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
23022 * Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
23023 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
23024 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
23025 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
23026 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
23027 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
23028 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
23029 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
23030 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
23031 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23032 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing blocks from Python.
23033 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
23034 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
23035 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
23036 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
23037 using Python.
23038 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
23039 * Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
23040 @end menu
23041
23042 @node Basic Python
23043 @subsubsection Basic Python
23044
23045 @cindex python stdout
23046 @cindex python pagination
23047 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
23048 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
23049 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
23050 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
23051 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
23052
23053 Some care must be taken when writing Python code to run in
23054 @value{GDBN}. Two things worth noting in particular:
23055
23056 @itemize @bullet
23057 @item
23058 @value{GDBN} install handlers for @code{SIGCHLD} and @code{SIGINT}.
23059 Python code must not override these, or even change the options using
23060 @code{sigaction}. If your program changes the handling of these
23061 signals, @value{GDBN} will most likely stop working correctly. Note
23062 that it is unfortunately common for GUI toolkits to install a
23063 @code{SIGCHLD} handler.
23064
23065 @item
23066 @value{GDBN} takes care to mark its internal file descriptors as
23067 close-on-exec. However, this cannot be done in a thread-safe way on
23068 all platforms. Your Python programs should be aware of this and
23069 should both create new file descriptors with the close-on-exec flag
23070 set and arrange to close unneeded file descriptors before starting a
23071 child process.
23072 @end itemize
23073
23074 @cindex python functions
23075 @cindex python module
23076 @cindex gdb module
23077 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
23078 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
23079 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
23080 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
23081
23082 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
23083 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
23084 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
23085 @end defvar
23086
23087 @findex gdb.execute
23088 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
23089 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23090 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
23091 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
23092
23093 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
23094 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
23095 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
23096
23097 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
23098 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
23099 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
23100 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
23101 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
23102 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
23103 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
23104 @end defun
23105
23106 @findex gdb.breakpoints
23107 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
23108 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
23109 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
23110 @end defun
23111
23112 @findex gdb.parameter
23113 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
23114 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
23115 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
23116 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
23117 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
23118
23119 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
23120 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23121 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23122 type, and returned.
23123 @end defun
23124
23125 @findex gdb.history
23126 @defun gdb.history (number)
23127 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23128 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23129 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23130 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23131 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23132 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23133 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23134 raised.
23135
23136 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23137 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23138 @end defun
23139
23140 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23141 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23142 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23143 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23144 @var{expression} must be a string.
23145
23146 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23147 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23148 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23149 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23150 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23151 @end defun
23152
23153 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
23154 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23155 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23156 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23157 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23158 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23159 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23160 @end defun
23161
23162 @findex gdb.post_event
23163 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
23164 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23165 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23166 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23167 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23168 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23169 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23170
23171 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23172 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23173 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23174 this. For example:
23175
23176 @smallexample
23177 (@value{GDBP}) python
23178 >import threading
23179 >
23180 >class Writer():
23181 > def __init__(self, message):
23182 > self.message = message;
23183 > def __call__(self):
23184 > gdb.write(self.message)
23185 >
23186 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23187 > def run (self):
23188 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23189 >
23190 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23191 > def run (self):
23192 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23193 >
23194 >MyThread1().start()
23195 >MyThread2().start()
23196 >end
23197 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23198 @end smallexample
23199 @end defun
23200
23201 @findex gdb.write
23202 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23203 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23204 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23205 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23206 values are:
23207
23208 @table @code
23209 @findex STDOUT
23210 @findex gdb.STDOUT
23211 @item gdb.STDOUT
23212 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23213
23214 @findex STDERR
23215 @findex gdb.STDERR
23216 @item gdb.STDERR
23217 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23218
23219 @findex STDLOG
23220 @findex gdb.STDLOG
23221 @item gdb.STDLOG
23222 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23223 @end table
23224
23225 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23226 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23227 relevant stream.
23228 @end defun
23229
23230 @findex gdb.flush
23231 @defun gdb.flush ()
23232 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23233 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23234 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23235 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23236 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23237 stream values are:
23238
23239 @table @code
23240 @findex STDOUT
23241 @findex gdb.STDOUT
23242 @item gdb.STDOUT
23243 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23244
23245 @findex STDERR
23246 @findex gdb.STDERR
23247 @item gdb.STDERR
23248 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23249
23250 @findex STDLOG
23251 @findex gdb.STDLOG
23252 @item gdb.STDLOG
23253 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23254
23255 @end table
23256
23257 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23258 call this function for the relevant stream.
23259 @end defun
23260
23261 @findex gdb.target_charset
23262 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
23263 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23264 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23265 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23266 @end defun
23267
23268 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23269 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23270 Return the name of the current target wide character set
23271 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23272 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23273 never returned.
23274 @end defun
23275
23276 @findex gdb.solib_name
23277 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23278 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23279 as a string, or @code{None}.
23280 @end defun
23281
23282 @findex gdb.decode_line
23283 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23284 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23285 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23286 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23287 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23288 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23289 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23290 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23291 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23292 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23293 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23294 @end defun
23295
23296 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23297 @anchor{prompt_hook}
23298
23299 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23300 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23301 @value{GDBN}.
23302
23303 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23304 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23305 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23306 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23307 the current prompt.
23308
23309 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23310 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23311 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23312 @end defun
23313
23314 @node Exception Handling
23315 @subsubsection Exception Handling
23316 @cindex python exceptions
23317 @cindex exceptions, python
23318
23319 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23320 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23321 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23322 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23323 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23324 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23325 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23326
23327 @smallexample
23328 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23329 Traceback (most recent call last):
23330 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23331 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23332 @end smallexample
23333
23334 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23335 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23336 Python exception depends on the error.
23337
23338 @ftable @code
23339 @item gdb.error
23340 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23341 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23342 versions of @value{GDBN}.
23343
23344 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23345 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23346
23347 @item gdb.MemoryError
23348 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23349 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23350
23351 @item KeyboardInterrupt
23352 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23353 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23354 @end ftable
23355
23356 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23357 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23358 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23359 traceback.
23360
23361 @findex gdb.GdbError
23362 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23363 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23364 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
23365 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
23366 to handle this case. Example:
23367
23368 @smallexample
23369 (gdb) python
23370 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23371 > """Greet the whole world."""
23372 > def __init__ (self):
23373 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
23374 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
23375 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
23376 > if len (argv) != 0:
23377 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
23378 > print "Hello, World!"
23379 >HelloWorld ()
23380 >end
23381 (gdb) hello-world 42
23382 hello-world takes no arguments
23383 @end smallexample
23384
23385 @node Values From Inferior
23386 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
23387 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
23388 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
23389
23390 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
23391 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
23392 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
23393 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
23394 fetching values when necessary.
23395
23396 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
23397 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
23398 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
23399
23400 @smallexample
23401 bar = some_val + 2
23402 @end smallexample
23403
23404 @noindent
23405 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
23406 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
23407
23408 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
23409 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
23410 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
23411 can access its @code{foo} element with:
23412
23413 @smallexample
23414 bar = some_val['foo']
23415 @end smallexample
23416
23417 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
23418
23419 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
23420 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
23421 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
23422 by that prototype.
23423
23424 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23425 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23426 execute this function, call it like so:
23427
23428 @smallexample
23429 result = some_val (10,20)
23430 @end smallexample
23431
23432 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
23433 @code{gdb.Value}.
23434
23435 The following attributes are provided:
23436
23437 @defvar Value.address
23438 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
23439 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
23440 this attribute holds @code{None}.
23441 @end defvar
23442
23443 @cindex optimized out value in Python
23444 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
23445 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
23446 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
23447 @end defvar
23448
23449 @defvar Value.type
23450 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
23451 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
23452 @end defvar
23453
23454 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
23455 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
23456 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
23457 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
23458 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
23459 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
23460 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
23461 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
23462 type.
23463
23464 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
23465 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
23466 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
23467 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
23468 @end defvar
23469
23470 @defvar Value.is_lazy
23471 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
23472 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
23473 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
23474 For example:
23475
23476 @smallexample
23477 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
23478 @end smallexample
23479
23480 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
23481 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
23482 method is invoked.
23483 @end defvar
23484
23485 The following methods are provided:
23486
23487 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
23488 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
23489 this object initializer. Specifically:
23490
23491 @table @asis
23492 @item Python boolean
23493 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
23494 language.
23495
23496 @item Python integer
23497 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
23498 current architecture.
23499
23500 @item Python long
23501 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
23502 current architecture.
23503
23504 @item Python float
23505 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
23506 current architecture.
23507
23508 @item Python string
23509 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
23510 target encoding.
23511
23512 @item @code{gdb.Value}
23513 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
23514
23515 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
23516 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
23517 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
23518 its result is used.
23519 @end table
23520 @end defun
23521
23522 @defun Value.cast (type)
23523 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
23524 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
23525 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
23526 reason, this method throws an exception.
23527 @end defun
23528
23529 @defun Value.dereference ()
23530 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
23531 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
23532 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
23533
23534 @smallexample
23535 int *foo;
23536 @end smallexample
23537
23538 @noindent
23539 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23540 @code{foo} points to like this:
23541
23542 @smallexample
23543 bar = foo.dereference ()
23544 @end smallexample
23545
23546 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23547 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23548
23549 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23550 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23551 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23552 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23553 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23554 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23555 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23556 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23557 as
23558
23559 @smallexample
23560 typedef int *intptr;
23561 ...
23562 int val = 10;
23563 intptr ptr = &val;
23564 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23565 @end smallexample
23566
23567 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23568 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23569 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23570 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23571 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23572 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
23573
23574 @smallexample
23575 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
23576 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
23577 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
23578 @end smallexample
23579
23580 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23581 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
23582 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
23583 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
23584 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
23585 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
23586 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
23587 example). The results are however identical when applied on
23588 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
23589 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
23590 @end defun
23591
23592 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
23593 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
23594 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
23595 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
23596 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
23597 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
23598 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
23599 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
23600 in your C@t{++} program as
23601
23602 @smallexample
23603 int val = 10;
23604 int &ref = val;
23605 @end smallexample
23606
23607 @noindent
23608 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
23609 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
23610 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
23611 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
23612
23613 @smallexample
23614 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
23615 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
23616 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
23617 @end smallexample
23618
23619 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23620 corresponding to @code{val}.
23621 @end defun
23622
23623 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
23624 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
23625 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23626 @end defun
23627
23628 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
23629 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
23630 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23631 @end defun
23632
23633 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
23634 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23635 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
23636 throw an exception.
23637
23638 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
23639 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
23640 language.
23641
23642 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
23643 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
23644 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
23645 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
23646 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
23647
23648 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23649 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
23650 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
23651 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
23652 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
23653 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
23654 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
23655 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
23656 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
23657
23658 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
23659 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
23660
23661 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23662 fetched and converted to the given length.
23663 @end defun
23664
23665 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
23666 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23667 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
23668 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
23669
23670 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23671 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
23672 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
23673 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
23674 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
23675
23676 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
23677 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
23678 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
23679 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
23680 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
23681 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
23682
23683 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23684 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
23685 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
23686 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
23687 @end defun
23688
23689 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
23690 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
23691 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
23692 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
23693 will produce a Python exception.
23694
23695 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
23696 has no effect.
23697
23698 This method does not return a value.
23699 @end defun
23700
23701
23702 @node Types In Python
23703 @subsubsection Types In Python
23704 @cindex types in Python
23705 @cindex Python, working with types
23706
23707 @tindex gdb.Type
23708 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
23709 @code{gdb.Type}.
23710
23711 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23712 module:
23713
23714 @findex gdb.lookup_type
23715 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
23716 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
23717 type to look up. It must be a string.
23718
23719 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23720 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23721
23722 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
23723 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
23724 @end defun
23725
23726 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
23727 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
23728 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
23729 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
23730
23731 @smallexample
23732 bar = some_type['foo']
23733 @end smallexample
23734
23735 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
23736 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
23737 @code{gdb.Field} class.
23738
23739 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
23740
23741 @defvar Type.code
23742 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
23743 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
23744 @end defvar
23745
23746 @defvar Type.sizeof
23747 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
23748 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
23749 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
23750 @end defvar
23751
23752 @defvar Type.tag
23753 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
23754 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
23755 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
23756 @code{None} is returned.
23757 @end defvar
23758
23759 The following methods are provided:
23760
23761 @defun Type.fields ()
23762 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
23763 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
23764 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
23765 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
23766 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
23767 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
23768
23769 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
23770 @table @code
23771 @item bitpos
23772 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
23773 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
23774 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
23775 enumeration member's integer representation.
23776
23777 @item name
23778 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
23779
23780 @item artificial
23781 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
23782 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
23783 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
23784
23785 @item is_base_class
23786 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
23787 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
23788 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
23789 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
23790
23791 @item bitsize
23792 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
23793 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
23794 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
23795
23796 @item type
23797 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
23798 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
23799 @end table
23800 @end defun
23801
23802 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23803 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
23804 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23805 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23806 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
23807 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
23808 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23809 @end defun
23810
23811 @defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23812 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
23813 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23814 the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23815 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
23816 second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
23817 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23818
23819 The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
23820 arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
23821 to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
23822 @end defun
23823
23824 @defun Type.const ()
23825 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23826 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
23827 @end defun
23828
23829 @defun Type.volatile ()
23830 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23831 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
23832 @end defun
23833
23834 @defun Type.unqualified ()
23835 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
23836 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
23837 @code{volatile}.
23838 @end defun
23839
23840 @defun Type.range ()
23841 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
23842 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
23843 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
23844 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23845 @end defun
23846
23847 @defun Type.reference ()
23848 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
23849 type.
23850 @end defun
23851
23852 @defun Type.pointer ()
23853 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
23854 type.
23855 @end defun
23856
23857 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
23858 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
23859 after removing all layers of typedefs.
23860 @end defun
23861
23862 @defun Type.target ()
23863 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
23864 of this type.
23865
23866 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
23867 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
23868 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
23869 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
23870 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
23871 target type is the aliased type.
23872
23873 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
23874 exception.
23875 @end defun
23876
23877 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
23878 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
23879 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
23880 @var{n}th template argument.
23881
23882 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
23883 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
23884
23885 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23886 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23887 @end defun
23888
23889
23890 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
23891 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
23892 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23893
23894 @table @code
23895 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
23896 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23897 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23898 The type is a pointer.
23899
23900 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23901 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23902 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23903 The type is an array.
23904
23905 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23906 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23907 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23908 The type is a structure.
23909
23910 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
23911 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23912 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23913 The type is a union.
23914
23915 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23916 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23917 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23918 The type is an enum.
23919
23920 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23921 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23922 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23923 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
23924
23925 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23926 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23927 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23928 The type is a function.
23929
23930 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
23931 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23932 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23933 The type is an integer type.
23934
23935 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
23936 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23937 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23938 A floating point type.
23939
23940 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
23941 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23942 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23943 The special type @code{void}.
23944
23945 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
23946 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23947 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23948 A Pascal set type.
23949
23950 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23951 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23952 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23953 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
23954
23955 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
23956 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23957 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23958 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
23959 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
23960
23961 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23962 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23963 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23964 A string of bits. It is deprecated.
23965
23966 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23967 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23968 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23969 An unknown or erroneous type.
23970
23971 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23972 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23973 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23974 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
23975
23976 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23977 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23978 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23979 A pointer-to-member-function.
23980
23981 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23982 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23983 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23984 A pointer-to-member.
23985
23986 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
23987 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23988 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23989 A reference type.
23990
23991 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23992 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23993 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23994 A character type.
23995
23996 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23997 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23998 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23999 A boolean type.
24000
24001 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24002 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24003 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24004 A complex float type.
24005
24006 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24007 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24008 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24009 A typedef to some other type.
24010
24011 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24012 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24013 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24014 A C@t{++} namespace.
24015
24016 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24017 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24018 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24019 A decimal floating point type.
24020
24021 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24022 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24023 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24024 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
24025 convenience functions.
24026 @end table
24027
24028 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
24029 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
24030
24031 @node Pretty Printing API
24032 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
24033
24034 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24035
24036 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
24037 specific interface, defined here.
24038
24039 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
24040 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
24041 children of the pretty-printer's value.
24042
24043 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24044 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
24045 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
24046 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
24047 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
24048
24049 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
24050 as though the value has no children.
24051 @end defun
24052
24053 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
24054 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
24055 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
24056 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
24057 printed.
24058
24059 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
24060 string.
24061
24062 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
24063
24064 @table @samp
24065 @item array
24066 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
24067 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
24068 @code{set print array}.
24069
24070 @item map
24071 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
24072 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
24073 values.
24074
24075 @item string
24076 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
24077 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
24078 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
24079 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
24080 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
24081 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
24082 @end table
24083 @end defun
24084
24085 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
24086 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
24087 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
24088
24089 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
24090 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
24091 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
24092 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
24093 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
24094 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
24095 the result of @code{children}.
24096
24097 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
24098
24099 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
24100 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
24101 another pretty-printer.
24102
24103 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
24104 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
24105 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
24106 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
24107 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
24108
24109 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
24110 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
24111
24112 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
24113 @end defun
24114
24115 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
24116 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
24117
24118 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
24119 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
24120 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24121 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24122 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24123 @end defun
24124
24125 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24126 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24127
24128 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24129 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24130 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24131 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24132 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24133 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24134 attribute.
24135
24136 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24137 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24138 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24139 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24140 @code{None}.
24141
24142 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24143 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24144 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24145 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24146 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24147 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24148 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24149 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24150 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24151 object is returned.
24152
24153 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24154 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24155 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24156 object is returned.
24157
24158 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24159 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24160 the pretty-printer is out of date.
24161
24162 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24163 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24164 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24165 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24166 with a broken printer.
24167
24168 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24169 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24170 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24171 the printer is enabled.
24172
24173 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24174 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24175 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
24176
24177 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24178 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24179
24180 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24181 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24182 must provide.
24183
24184 @smallexample
24185 class StdStringPrinter(object):
24186 "Print a std::string"
24187
24188 def __init__(self, val):
24189 self.val = val
24190
24191 def to_string(self):
24192 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24193
24194 def display_hint(self):
24195 return 'string'
24196 @end smallexample
24197
24198 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24199 example above might be written.
24200
24201 @smallexample
24202 def str_lookup_function(val):
24203 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24204 if lookup_tag == None:
24205 return None
24206 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24207 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24208 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24209 return None
24210 @end smallexample
24211
24212 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24213 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24214 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24215 returns @code{None}.
24216
24217 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24218 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24219 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24220 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24221 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24222 different names.
24223
24224 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24225 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24226 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24227 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24228 the current objfile.
24229
24230 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24231 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24232 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24233 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24234 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24235 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24236 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24237 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24238 inferior.
24239
24240 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24241 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24242
24243 @smallexample
24244 def register_printers(objfile):
24245 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24246 @end smallexample
24247
24248 @noindent
24249 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24250
24251 @smallexample
24252 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24253 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24254 @end smallexample
24255
24256 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24257 There are a few things that can be improved on.
24258 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24259 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24260 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24261
24262 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24263 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24264 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24265 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24266 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24267 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24268
24269 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24270 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24271 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24272
24273 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24274
24275 @smallexample
24276 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24277 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24278 @end smallexample
24279
24280 Here are the printers:
24281
24282 @smallexample
24283 class fooPrinter:
24284 """Print a foo object."""
24285
24286 def __init__(self, val):
24287 self.val = val
24288
24289 def to_string(self):
24290 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24291 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24292
24293 class barPrinter:
24294 """Print a bar object."""
24295
24296 def __init__(self, val):
24297 self.val = val
24298
24299 def to_string(self):
24300 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24301 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24302 @end smallexample
24303
24304 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24305 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24306 the object that handles the lookup.
24307
24308 @smallexample
24309 import gdb.printing
24310
24311 def build_pretty_printer():
24312 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24313 "my_library")
24314 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24315 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24316 return pp
24317 @end smallexample
24318
24319 And here is the autoload support:
24320
24321 @smallexample
24322 import gdb.printing
24323 import my_library
24324 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24325 gdb.current_objfile(),
24326 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24327 @end smallexample
24328
24329 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24330 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24331
24332 @smallexample
24333 (gdb) info pretty-printer
24334 my_library.so:
24335 my_library
24336 foo
24337 bar
24338 @end smallexample
24339
24340 @node Type Printing API
24341 @subsubsection Type Printing API
24342 @cindex type printing API for Python
24343
24344 @value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
24345 This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
24346 types.
24347
24348 @cindex type printer
24349 A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
24350 protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
24351 see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
24352
24353 @defivar type_printer enabled
24354 A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
24355 otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
24356 and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
24357 @end defivar
24358
24359 @defivar type_printer name
24360 The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
24361 the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
24362 commands.
24363 @end defivar
24364
24365 @defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
24366 This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
24367 only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
24368 new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
24369 @end defmethod
24370
24371
24372 When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
24373 will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
24374 first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
24375 followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
24376 Python}), and finally the global type printers.
24377
24378 @value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
24379 type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
24380 ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
24381
24382 Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
24383 over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
24384 function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
24385 The recognition function is defined as:
24386
24387 @defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
24388 If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
24389 return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
24390 @var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
24391 Python}).
24392 @end defmethod
24393
24394 @value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
24395 efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
24396 example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
24397 printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
24398 done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
24399 order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
24400 inferior changed.
24401
24402 @node Inferiors In Python
24403 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
24404 @cindex inferiors in Python
24405
24406 @findex gdb.Inferior
24407 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
24408 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
24409 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
24410 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
24411
24412 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24413 module:
24414
24415 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
24416 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
24417 @end defun
24418
24419 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
24420 Return an object representing the current inferior.
24421 @end defun
24422
24423 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
24424
24425 @defvar Inferior.num
24426 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
24427 @end defvar
24428
24429 @defvar Inferior.pid
24430 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
24431 system.
24432 @end defvar
24433
24434 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
24435 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
24436 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
24437 @end defvar
24438
24439 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
24440
24441 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
24442 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
24443 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
24444 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
24445 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
24446 at the time the method is called.
24447 @end defun
24448
24449 @defun Inferior.threads ()
24450 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
24451 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
24452 return an empty tuple.
24453 @end defun
24454
24455 @findex Inferior.read_memory
24456 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
24457 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
24458 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
24459 or a string. It can be modified and given to the
24460 @code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
24461 value is a @code{memoryview} object.
24462 @end defun
24463
24464 @findex Inferior.write_memory
24465 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
24466 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
24467 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
24468 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
24469 object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
24470 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
24471 @end defun
24472
24473 @findex gdb.search_memory
24474 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
24475 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
24476 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
24477 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
24478 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
24479 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
24480 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
24481 the pattern could not be found.
24482 @end defun
24483
24484 @node Events In Python
24485 @subsubsection Events In Python
24486 @cindex inferior events in Python
24487
24488 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
24489 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
24490 the inferior.
24491
24492 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
24493 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
24494 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
24495
24496 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
24497 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
24498 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
24499 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
24500
24501 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
24502 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
24503 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
24504 @end defun
24505
24506 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
24507 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
24508 will no longer receive notifications of events.
24509 @end defun
24510
24511 Here is an example:
24512
24513 @smallexample
24514 def exit_handler (event):
24515 print "event type: exit"
24516 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
24517
24518 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
24519 @end smallexample
24520
24521 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
24522 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
24523 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
24524 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
24525 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
24526 the inferior.
24527
24528 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
24529 details of the events they emit:
24530
24531 @table @code
24532
24533 @item events.cont
24534 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24535
24536 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
24537 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
24538 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
24539 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
24540 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
24541 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
24542
24543 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
24544 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
24545 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
24546 @end defvar
24547
24548 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24549
24550 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
24551 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
24552
24553 @item events.exited
24554 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
24555 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
24556 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
24557 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
24558 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
24559 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
24560 the attribute does not exist.
24561 @end defvar
24562 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
24563 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
24564 @end defvar
24565
24566 @item events.stop
24567 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24568
24569 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
24570 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
24571 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
24572 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
24573
24574 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
24575
24576 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
24577 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
24578
24579 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
24580 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
24581 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
24582 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
24583 @end defvar
24584
24585 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
24586
24587 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
24588 been hit, and has the following attributes:
24589
24590 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
24591 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
24592 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
24593 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
24594 @end defvar
24595 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
24596 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
24597 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
24598 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
24599 @end defvar
24600
24601 @item events.new_objfile
24602 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
24603 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
24604
24605 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
24606 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
24607 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
24608 @end defvar
24609
24610 @end table
24611
24612 @node Threads In Python
24613 @subsubsection Threads In Python
24614 @cindex threads in python
24615
24616 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
24617 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
24618 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
24619
24620 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24621 module:
24622
24623 @findex gdb.selected_thread
24624 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
24625 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
24626 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
24627 @end defun
24628
24629 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
24630
24631 @defvar InferiorThread.name
24632 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
24633 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
24634 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
24635 returns @code{None}.
24636
24637 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
24638 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
24639 user-specified thread name.
24640 @end defvar
24641
24642 @defvar InferiorThread.num
24643 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
24644 @end defvar
24645
24646 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
24647 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
24648 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
24649 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
24650 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
24651 does not use that identifier.
24652 @end defvar
24653
24654 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
24655
24656 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
24657 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
24658 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
24659 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
24660 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
24661 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24662 @end defun
24663
24664 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
24665 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
24666 by this object.
24667 @end defun
24668
24669 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
24670 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
24671 @end defun
24672
24673 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
24674 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
24675 @end defun
24676
24677 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
24678 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
24679 @end defun
24680
24681 @node Commands In Python
24682 @subsubsection Commands In Python
24683
24684 @cindex commands in python
24685 @cindex python commands
24686 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
24687 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
24688 class, most commonly using a subclass.
24689
24690 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
24691 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
24692 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
24693 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24694
24695 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
24696 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24697 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
24698 an exception is raised.
24699
24700 There is no support for multi-line commands.
24701
24702 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24703 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
24704 new command in the help system.
24705
24706 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
24707 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
24708 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
24709 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
24710 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
24711 error will occur when completion is attempted.
24712
24713 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
24714 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
24715 registered.
24716
24717 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
24718 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
24719 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
24720 not documented.'' is used.
24721 @end defun
24722
24723 @cindex don't repeat Python command
24724 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
24725 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
24726 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
24727 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
24728 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
24729 @end defun
24730
24731 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
24732 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
24733
24734 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
24735 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
24736
24737 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
24738 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
24739 that the command came from elsewhere.
24740
24741 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
24742 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
24743
24744 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
24745 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
24746 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
24747 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
24748 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
24749 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
24750 Example:
24751
24752 @smallexample
24753 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
24754 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
24755 @end smallexample
24756
24757 @end defun
24758
24759 @cindex completion of Python commands
24760 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
24761 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
24762 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
24763 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
24764 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
24765 complete}).
24766
24767 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
24768 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
24769 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
24770 using a word-breaking heuristic.
24771
24772 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
24773 @itemize @bullet
24774 @item
24775 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
24776 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
24777 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
24778 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
24779 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
24780 sequence are ignored.
24781
24782 @item
24783 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
24784 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
24785 function is invoked, and its result is used.
24786
24787 @item
24788 All other results are treated as though there were no available
24789 completions.
24790 @end itemize
24791 @end defun
24792
24793 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
24794 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
24795 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
24796 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
24797 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
24798 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24799
24800 @table @code
24801 @findex COMMAND_NONE
24802 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24803 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24804 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
24805 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
24806
24807 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
24808 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24809 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24810 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
24811 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
24812 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24813 commands in this category.
24814
24815 @findex COMMAND_DATA
24816 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24817 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24818 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
24819 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
24820 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
24821 in this category.
24822
24823 @findex COMMAND_STACK
24824 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24825 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24826 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
24827 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
24828 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
24829 list of commands in this category.
24830
24831 @findex COMMAND_FILES
24832 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24833 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24834 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
24835 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
24836 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24837 commands in this category.
24838
24839 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
24840 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24841 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24842 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
24843 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
24844 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
24845 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
24846 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24847 commands in this category.
24848
24849 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
24850 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24851 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24852 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
24853 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
24854 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
24855 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
24856
24857 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24858 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24859 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24860 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
24861 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24862 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
24863 this category.
24864
24865 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24866 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24867 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24868 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
24869 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
24870 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24871 commands in this category.
24872
24873 @findex COMMAND_USER
24874 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
24875 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
24876 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
24877 does not fit in one of the other categories.
24878 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
24879 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
24880 (@pxref{Sequences}).
24881
24882 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
24883 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24884 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24885 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
24886 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
24887 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24888 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
24889 category.
24890
24891 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24892 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24893 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24894 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
24895 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
24896 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24897 commands in this category.
24898 @end table
24899
24900 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
24901 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
24902 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
24903 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24904
24905 @table @code
24906 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
24907 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24908 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24909 This constant means that no completion should be done.
24910
24911 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
24912 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24913 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24914 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
24915
24916 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
24917 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24918 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24919 This constant means that location completion should be done.
24920 @xref{Specify Location}.
24921
24922 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
24923 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24924 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24925 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
24926 command names.
24927
24928 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24929 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24930 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24931 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
24932 as the source.
24933 @end table
24934
24935 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
24936 implemented in Python:
24937
24938 @smallexample
24939 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
24940 """Greet the whole world."""
24941
24942 def __init__ (self):
24943 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
24944
24945 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
24946 print "Hello, World!"
24947
24948 HelloWorld ()
24949 @end smallexample
24950
24951 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24952 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24953 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24954 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24955
24956 @node Parameters In Python
24957 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
24958
24959 @cindex parameters in python
24960 @cindex python parameters
24961 @tindex gdb.Parameter
24962 @tindex Parameter
24963 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
24964 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
24965 class.
24966
24967 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
24968 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
24969
24970 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
24971 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
24972 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
24973 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
24974 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
24975
24976 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
24977 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
24978 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
24979 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24980
24981 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
24982 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24983 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
24984 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
24985 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
24986 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
24987 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
24988
24989 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
24990 can be found, an exception is raised.
24991
24992 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24993 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
24994 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
24995
24996 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
24997 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
24998 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
24999 completion.
25000
25001 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
25002 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
25003 represent the possible values for the parameter.
25004
25005 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
25006 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
25007
25008 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
25009 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
25010 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
25011 @end defun
25012
25013 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
25014 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
25015 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
25016 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
25017 have no effect.
25018 @end defvar
25019
25020 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
25021 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
25022 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
25023 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
25024 have no effect.
25025 @end defvar
25026
25027 @defvar Parameter.value
25028 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
25029 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
25030 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
25031 @end defvar
25032
25033 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
25034 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
25035
25036 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
25037 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
25038 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
25039 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
25040 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
25041 @end defun
25042
25043 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
25044 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
25045 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
25046 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
25047 current value. This method must return a string.
25048 @end defun
25049
25050 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
25051 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
25052 module:
25053
25054 @table @code
25055 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
25056 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
25057 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
25058 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
25059 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
25060
25061 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25062 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25063 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25064 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
25065 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
25066 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
25067
25068 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
25069 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
25070 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
25071 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
25072 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
25073
25074 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
25075 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
25076 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
25077 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
25078 to mean ``unlimited''.
25079
25080 @findex PARAM_STRING
25081 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
25082 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
25083 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
25084 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
25085 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
25086 host charset.
25087
25088 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25089 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25090 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25091 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
25092 passed through untranslated.
25093
25094 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25095 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25096 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25097 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
25098
25099 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
25100 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
25101 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
25102 The value is a filename. This is just like
25103 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
25104
25105 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
25106 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
25107 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
25108 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
25109 is interpreted as itself.
25110
25111 @findex PARAM_ENUM
25112 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
25113 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
25114 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
25115 constants provided when the parameter is created.
25116 @end table
25117
25118 @node Functions In Python
25119 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
25120
25121 @cindex writing convenience functions
25122 @cindex convenience functions in python
25123 @cindex python convenience functions
25124 @tindex gdb.Function
25125 @tindex Function
25126 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
25127 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
25128 class @code{gdb.Function}.
25129
25130 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
25131 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
25132 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
25133 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
25134 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
25135 the given @var{name}.
25136
25137 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
25138 string for the new class.
25139 @end defun
25140
25141 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
25142 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
25143 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
25144 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
25145 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
25146 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
25147 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
25148 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
25149
25150 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
25151 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
25152 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
25153 @end defun
25154
25155 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
25156 be implemented in Python:
25157
25158 @smallexample
25159 class Greet (gdb.Function):
25160 """Return string to greet someone.
25161 Takes a name as argument."""
25162
25163 def __init__ (self):
25164 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
25165
25166 def invoke (self, name):
25167 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
25168
25169 Greet ()
25170 @end smallexample
25171
25172 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
25173 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
25174 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
25175 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
25176
25177 Now you can use the function in an expression:
25178
25179 @smallexample
25180 (gdb) print $greet("Bob")
25181 $1 = "Hello, Bob!"
25182 @end smallexample
25183
25184 @node Progspaces In Python
25185 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
25186
25187 @cindex progspaces in python
25188 @tindex gdb.Progspace
25189 @tindex Progspace
25190 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
25191 of an address space.
25192 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
25193 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25194 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
25195 about program spaces.
25196
25197 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
25198 @code{gdb} module:
25199
25200 @findex gdb.current_progspace
25201 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
25202 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
25203 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
25204 @end defun
25205
25206 @findex gdb.progspaces
25207 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
25208 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
25209 @end defun
25210
25211 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
25212 class.
25213
25214 @defvar Progspace.filename
25215 The file name of the progspace as a string.
25216 @end defvar
25217
25218 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
25219 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
25220 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
25221 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
25222 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
25223 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
25224 information.
25225 @end defvar
25226
25227 @defvar Progspace.type_printers
25228 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
25229 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
25230 @end defvar
25231
25232 @node Objfiles In Python
25233 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
25234
25235 @cindex objfiles in python
25236 @tindex gdb.Objfile
25237 @tindex Objfile
25238 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
25239 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
25240 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
25241 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
25242 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
25243
25244 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
25245 @code{gdb} module:
25246
25247 @findex gdb.current_objfile
25248 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
25249 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
25250 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
25251 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
25252 this function returns @code{None}.
25253 @end defun
25254
25255 @findex gdb.objfiles
25256 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
25257 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
25258 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25259 @end defun
25260
25261 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
25262 class.
25263
25264 @defvar Objfile.filename
25265 The file name of the objfile as a string.
25266 @end defvar
25267
25268 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
25269 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
25270 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
25271 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
25272 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
25273 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
25274 information.
25275 @end defvar
25276
25277 @defvar Objfile.type_printers
25278 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
25279 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
25280 @end defvar
25281
25282 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
25283
25284 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
25285 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
25286 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
25287 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
25288 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
25289 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25290 @end defun
25291
25292 @node Frames In Python
25293 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
25294
25295 @cindex frames in python
25296 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
25297 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
25298 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
25299 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
25300 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
25301 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
25302
25303 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
25304 operator, like:
25305
25306 @smallexample
25307 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
25308 True
25309 @end smallexample
25310
25311 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
25312
25313 @findex gdb.selected_frame
25314 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
25315 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
25316 @end defun
25317
25318 @findex gdb.newest_frame
25319 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
25320 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
25321 @end defun
25322
25323 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
25324 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
25325 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
25326 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
25327 @end defun
25328
25329 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
25330
25331 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
25332 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
25333 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
25334 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
25335 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25336 @end defun
25337
25338 @defun Frame.name ()
25339 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
25340 obtained.
25341 @end defun
25342
25343 @defun Frame.architecture ()
25344 Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
25345 architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
25346 @end defun
25347
25348 @defun Frame.type ()
25349 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
25350 @table @code
25351 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
25352 An ordinary stack frame.
25353
25354 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
25355 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
25356 inferior function call.
25357
25358 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
25359 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
25360 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
25361
25362 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
25363 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
25364
25365 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
25366 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
25367 it calls into a signal handler.
25368
25369 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
25370 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
25371
25372 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
25373 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
25374 newest frame.
25375 @end table
25376 @end defun
25377
25378 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
25379 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
25380 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
25381 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
25382 function to a string. The value can be one of:
25383
25384 @table @code
25385 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
25386 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
25387
25388 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
25389 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
25390
25391 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
25392 This frame is the outermost.
25393
25394 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
25395 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
25396 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
25397
25398 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
25399 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
25400 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
25401 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
25402
25403 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
25404 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
25405 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
25406 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
25407 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
25408 stack corruption.
25409
25410 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
25411 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
25412 one to unwind further.
25413
25414 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
25415 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
25416 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
25417 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
25418 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
25419 versions. Using it, you could write:
25420 @smallexample
25421 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
25422 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
25423 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
25424 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
25425 @end smallexample
25426 @end table
25427
25428 @end defun
25429
25430 @defun Frame.pc ()
25431 Returns the frame's resume address.
25432 @end defun
25433
25434 @defun Frame.block ()
25435 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25436 @end defun
25437
25438 @defun Frame.function ()
25439 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
25440 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
25441 @end defun
25442
25443 @defun Frame.older ()
25444 Return the frame that called this frame.
25445 @end defun
25446
25447 @defun Frame.newer ()
25448 Return the frame called by this frame.
25449 @end defun
25450
25451 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
25452 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
25453 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
25454 @end defun
25455
25456 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
25457 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
25458 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
25459 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
25460 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
25461 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
25462 @code{gdb.Block} object.
25463 @end defun
25464
25465 @defun Frame.select ()
25466 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
25467 Stack}.
25468 @end defun
25469
25470 @node Blocks In Python
25471 @subsubsection Accessing blocks from Python.
25472
25473 @cindex blocks in python
25474 @tindex gdb.Block
25475
25476 In @value{GDBN}, symbols are stored in blocks. A block corresponds
25477 roughly to a scope in the source code. Blocks are organized
25478 hierarchically, and are represented individually in Python as a
25479 @code{gdb.Block}. Blocks rely on debugging information being
25480 available.
25481
25482 A frame has a block. Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more
25483 in-depth discussion of frames.
25484
25485 The outermost block is known as the @dfn{global block}. The global
25486 block typically holds public global variables and functions.
25487
25488 The block nested just inside the global block is the @dfn{static
25489 block}. The static block typically holds file-scoped variables and
25490 functions.
25491
25492 @value{GDBN} provides a method to get a block's superblock, but there
25493 is currently no way to examine the sub-blocks of a block, or to
25494 iterate over all the blocks in a symbol table (@pxref{Symbol Tables In
25495 Python}).
25496
25497 Here is a short example that should help explain blocks:
25498
25499 @smallexample
25500 /* This is in the global block. */
25501 int global;
25502
25503 /* This is in the static block. */
25504 static int file_scope;
25505
25506 /* 'function' is in the global block, and 'argument' is
25507 in a block nested inside of 'function'. */
25508 int function (int argument)
25509 @{
25510 /* 'local' is in a block inside 'function'. It may or may
25511 not be in the same block as 'argument'. */
25512 int local;
25513
25514 @{
25515 /* 'inner' is in a block whose superblock is the one holding
25516 'local'. */
25517 int inner;
25518
25519 /* If this call is expanded by the compiler, you may see
25520 a nested block here whose function is 'inline_function'
25521 and whose superblock is the one holding 'inner'. */
25522 inline_function ();
25523 @}
25524 @}
25525 @end smallexample
25526
25527 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
25528 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
25529 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
25530 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
25531 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
25532 table.
25533
25534 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25535 module:
25536
25537 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
25538 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
25539 Return the innermost @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc}
25540 value. If the block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified,
25541 the function will return @code{None}.
25542 @end defun
25543
25544 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
25545
25546 @defun Block.is_valid ()
25547 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
25548 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
25549 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
25550 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
25551 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
25552 during iteration over symbols of the block.
25553 @end defun
25554
25555 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
25556
25557 @defvar Block.start
25558 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
25559 @end defvar
25560
25561 @defvar Block.end
25562 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
25563 @end defvar
25564
25565 @defvar Block.function
25566 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
25567 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
25568 attribute is not writable.
25569
25570 For ordinary function blocks, the superblock is the static block.
25571 However, you should note that it is possible for a function block to
25572 have a superblock that is not the static block -- for instance this
25573 happens for an inlined function.
25574 @end defvar
25575
25576 @defvar Block.superblock
25577 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
25578 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25579 @end defvar
25580
25581 @defvar Block.global_block
25582 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
25583 writable.
25584 @end defvar
25585
25586 @defvar Block.static_block
25587 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
25588 writable.
25589 @end defvar
25590
25591 @defvar Block.is_global
25592 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
25593 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
25594 writable.
25595 @end defvar
25596
25597 @defvar Block.is_static
25598 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
25599 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
25600 @end defvar
25601
25602 @node Symbols In Python
25603 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
25604
25605 @cindex symbols in python
25606 @tindex gdb.Symbol
25607
25608 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
25609 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
25610 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
25611 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
25612
25613 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25614 module:
25615
25616 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
25617 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
25618 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
25619 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
25620 arguments.
25621
25622 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
25623 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
25624 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
25625 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
25626 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
25627 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
25628 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
25629 in this chapter.
25630
25631 The result is a tuple of two elements.
25632 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
25633 is not found.
25634 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
25635 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
25636 otherwise it is @code{False}.
25637 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
25638 @end defun
25639
25640 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
25641 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
25642 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
25643 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
25644
25645 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
25646 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
25647 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
25648 module and described later in this chapter.
25649
25650 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
25651 is not found.
25652 @end defun
25653
25654 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
25655
25656 @defvar Symbol.type
25657 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
25658 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
25659 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25660 @end defvar
25661
25662 @defvar Symbol.symtab
25663 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
25664 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
25665 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25666 @end defvar
25667
25668 @defvar Symbol.line
25669 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
25670 This is an integer.
25671 @end defvar
25672
25673 @defvar Symbol.name
25674 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
25675 @end defvar
25676
25677 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
25678 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
25679 This attribute is not writable.
25680 @end defvar
25681
25682 @defvar Symbol.print_name
25683 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
25684 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
25685 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
25686 @end defvar
25687
25688 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
25689 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
25690 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
25691 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
25692 @end defvar
25693
25694 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
25695 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
25696 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
25697 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
25698 @end defvar
25699
25700 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
25701 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
25702 @end defvar
25703
25704 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
25705 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
25706 @end defvar
25707
25708 @defvar Symbol.is_function
25709 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
25710 @end defvar
25711
25712 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
25713 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
25714 @end defvar
25715
25716 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
25717
25718 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
25719 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
25720 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
25721 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
25722 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
25723 invalid at the time the method is called.
25724 @end defun
25725
25726 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
25727 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
25728 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
25729 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
25730 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
25731 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
25732 exception.
25733 @end defun
25734
25735 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25736 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25737
25738 @table @code
25739 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25740 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25741 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25742 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
25743 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
25744 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25745 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25746 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25747 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25748 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
25749 type values.
25750 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25751 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25752 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25753 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
25754 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25755 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25756 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25757 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
25758 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25759 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25760 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25761 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
25762 contains everything minus functions and types.
25763 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25764 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25765 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
25766 This domain contains all functions.
25767 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25768 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25769 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25770 This domain contains all types.
25771 @end table
25772
25773 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25774 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25775
25776 @table @code
25777 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25778 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25779 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25780 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
25781 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25782 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25783 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25784 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25785 Value is constant int.
25786 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25787 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25788 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25789 Value is at a fixed address.
25790 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25791 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25792 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25793 Value is in a register.
25794 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25795 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25796 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25797 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
25798 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
25799 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25800 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25801 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25802 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
25803 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
25804 offset, not the value itself.
25805 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25806 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25807 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25808 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
25809 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
25810 itself.
25811 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25812 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25813 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25814 Value is a local variable.
25815 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25816 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25817 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25818 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
25819 have this class.
25820 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25821 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25822 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25823 Value is a block.
25824 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25825 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25826 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25827 Value is a byte-sequence.
25828 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25829 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25830 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25831 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
25832 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
25833 referenced.
25834 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25835 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25836 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25837 The value does not actually exist in the program.
25838 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25839 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25840 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25841 The value's address is a computed location.
25842 @end table
25843
25844 @node Symbol Tables In Python
25845 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
25846
25847 @cindex symbol tables in python
25848 @tindex gdb.Symtab
25849 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
25850
25851 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
25852 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
25853 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
25854 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
25855 @xref{Frames In Python}.
25856
25857 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
25858 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
25859
25860 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
25861
25862 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
25863 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
25864 This attribute is not writable.
25865 @end defvar
25866
25867 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
25868 Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
25869 current source line. This attribute is not writable.
25870 @end defvar
25871
25872 @defvar Symtab_and_line.last
25873 Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
25874 source line. This attribute is not writable.
25875 @end defvar
25876
25877 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
25878 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
25879 attribute is not writable.
25880 @end defvar
25881
25882 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
25883
25884 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
25885 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
25886 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
25887 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
25888 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
25889 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
25890 invalid at the time the method is called.
25891 @end defun
25892
25893 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
25894
25895 @defvar Symtab.filename
25896 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
25897 @end defvar
25898
25899 @defvar Symtab.objfile
25900 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25901 This attribute is not writable.
25902 @end defvar
25903
25904 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
25905
25906 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
25907 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
25908 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
25909 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
25910 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
25911 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25912 @end defun
25913
25914 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
25915 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
25916 @end defun
25917
25918 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
25919 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
25920 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25921 @end defun
25922
25923 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
25924 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
25925 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25926 @end defun
25927
25928 @node Breakpoints In Python
25929 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
25930
25931 @cindex breakpoints in python
25932 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
25933
25934 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
25935 class.
25936
25937 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
25938 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
25939 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
25940 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
25941 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
25942 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
25943 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
25944 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
25945 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
25946 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
25947 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
25948 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
25949 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
25950 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
25951 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
25952 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
25953 @end defun
25954
25955 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
25956 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
25957 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
25958 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
25959 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
25960 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
25961 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
25962 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
25963
25964 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
25965 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
25966 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
25967 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
25968 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
25969 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
25970
25971 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
25972 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
25973 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
25974 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
25975 at this time.
25976
25977 Example @code{stop} implementation:
25978
25979 @smallexample
25980 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
25981 def stop (self):
25982 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
25983 if inf_val == 3:
25984 return True
25985 return False
25986 @end smallexample
25987 @end defun
25988
25989 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
25990 @code{gdb} module:
25991
25992 @table @code
25993 @findex WP_READ
25994 @findex gdb.WP_READ
25995 @item gdb.WP_READ
25996 Read only watchpoint.
25997
25998 @findex WP_WRITE
25999 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
26000 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
26001 Write only watchpoint.
26002
26003 @findex WP_ACCESS
26004 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
26005 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
26006 Read/Write watchpoint.
26007 @end table
26008
26009 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
26010 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
26011 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
26012 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
26013 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
26014 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
26015 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
26016 @end defun
26017
26018 @defun Breakpoint.delete
26019 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
26020 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
26021 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
26022 @end defun
26023
26024 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
26025 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
26026 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
26027 @end defvar
26028
26029 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
26030 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
26031 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
26032
26033 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
26034 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
26035 @code{silent} attribute.
26036 @end defvar
26037
26038 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
26039 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
26040 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
26041 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
26042 @end defvar
26043
26044 @defvar Breakpoint.task
26045 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
26046 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
26047 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
26048 is writable.
26049 @end defvar
26050
26051 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
26052 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
26053 This attribute is writable.
26054 @end defvar
26055
26056 @defvar Breakpoint.number
26057 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
26058 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
26059 @end defvar
26060
26061 @defvar Breakpoint.type
26062 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
26063 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
26064 writable.
26065 @end defvar
26066
26067 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
26068 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
26069 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
26070 attribute is not writable.
26071 @end defvar
26072
26073 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
26074 module:
26075
26076 @table @code
26077 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
26078 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
26079 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
26080 Normal code breakpoint.
26081
26082 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
26083 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
26084 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
26085 Watchpoint breakpoint.
26086
26087 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26088 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26089 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26090 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
26091
26092 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26093 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26094 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26095 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
26096
26097 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26098 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26099 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26100 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
26101 @end table
26102
26103 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
26104 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
26105 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
26106 @end defvar
26107
26108 @defvar Breakpoint.location
26109 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
26110 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
26111 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
26112 attribute is not writable.
26113 @end defvar
26114
26115 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
26116 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
26117 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
26118 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
26119 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26120 @end defvar
26121
26122 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
26123 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
26124 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
26125 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
26126 @end defvar
26127
26128 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
26129 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
26130 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
26131 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
26132 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26133 @end defvar
26134
26135 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
26136 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
26137
26138 @cindex python finish breakpoints
26139 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
26140
26141 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
26142 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
26143 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
26144 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
26145 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
26146 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
26147 thread selected.
26148
26149 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
26150 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
26151 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
26152 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
26153 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
26154 details about this argument.
26155 @end defun
26156
26157 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
26158 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
26159 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
26160 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
26161 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
26162
26163 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
26164 method:
26165
26166 @smallexample
26167 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
26168 def stop (self):
26169 print "normal finish"
26170 return True
26171
26172 def out_of_scope ():
26173 print "abnormal finish"
26174 @end smallexample
26175 @end defun
26176
26177 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
26178 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
26179 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
26180 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
26181 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
26182 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
26183 is not writable.
26184 @end defvar
26185
26186 @node Lazy Strings In Python
26187 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
26188
26189 @cindex lazy strings in python
26190 @tindex gdb.LazyString
26191
26192 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
26193 encoded until it is needed.
26194
26195 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
26196 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
26197 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
26198 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
26199 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
26200 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
26201 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
26202 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
26203 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
26204
26205 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
26206
26207 @defun LazyString.value ()
26208 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
26209 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
26210 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
26211 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
26212 @end defun
26213
26214 @defvar LazyString.address
26215 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
26216 writable.
26217 @end defvar
26218
26219 @defvar LazyString.length
26220 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
26221 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
26222 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
26223 @end defvar
26224
26225 @defvar LazyString.encoding
26226 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
26227 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
26228 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
26229 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
26230 is not writable.
26231 @end defvar
26232
26233 @defvar LazyString.type
26234 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
26235 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
26236 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
26237 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
26238 writable.
26239 @end defvar
26240
26241 @node Architectures In Python
26242 @subsubsection Python representation of architectures
26243 @cindex Python architectures
26244
26245 @value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
26246 number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
26247 by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
26248
26249 A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
26250
26251 @defun Architecture.name ()
26252 Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
26253 @end defun
26254
26255 @defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
26256 Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
26257 address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
26258 @var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
26259 If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
26260 specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
26261 whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
26262 @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
26263 specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
26264 instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
26265 @var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
26266 instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
26267 interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
26268 @var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
26269 @var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
26270 returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
26271
26272 @table @code
26273
26274 @item addr
26275 The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
26276 the memory address of the instruction.
26277
26278 @item asm
26279 The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
26280 the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
26281 language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
26282 variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
26283
26284 @item length
26285 The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
26286 instruction in bytes.
26287
26288 @end table
26289 @end defun
26290
26291 @node Python Auto-loading
26292 @subsection Python Auto-loading
26293 @cindex Python auto-loading
26294
26295 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
26296 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
26297 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
26298 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
26299 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
26300 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
26301
26302 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
26303 debugging commands and scripts.
26304
26305 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
26306 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
26307
26308 @table @code
26309 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
26310 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
26311 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
26312 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
26313
26314 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
26315 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
26316 @item show auto-load python-scripts
26317 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
26318
26319 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
26320 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
26321 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
26322 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
26323 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
26324
26325 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
26326 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
26327 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
26328 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
26329 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
26330 an error message for each one is problematic.
26331
26332 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
26333
26334 Example:
26335
26336 @smallexample
26337 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
26338 Loaded Script
26339 Yes py-section-script.py
26340 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
26341 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
26342 @end smallexample
26343 @end table
26344
26345 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
26346 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
26347 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
26348 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
26349
26350 @menu
26351 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
26352 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
26353 * Which flavor to choose?::
26354 @end menu
26355
26356 @node objfile-gdb.py file
26357 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
26358 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
26359
26360 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
26361 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
26362 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
26363 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
26364 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
26365 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
26366
26367 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
26368 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
26369
26370 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
26371 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
26372
26373 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
26374 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
26375 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
26376 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
26377 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
26378 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
26379
26380 @table @code
26381 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
26382 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
26383 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
26384 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
26385 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
26386 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
26387
26388 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
26389 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
26390
26391 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
26392 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
26393 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
26394 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
26395
26396 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
26397 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
26398 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
26399 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
26400 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
26401 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
26402 platform.
26403
26404 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
26405 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
26406 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
26407
26408 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
26409 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
26410 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
26411 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
26412 @end table
26413
26414 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
26415 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
26416 @var{objfile} is opened.
26417 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
26418 is evaluated more than once.
26419
26420 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
26421 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
26422 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
26423
26424 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
26425 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
26426 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
26427 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
26428
26429 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
26430 current directory and then along the source search path
26431 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
26432 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
26433 directory is not relevant to scripts.
26434
26435 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
26436 for example, this GCC macro:
26437
26438 @example
26439 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
26440 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
26441 asm("\
26442 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
26443 .byte 1\n\
26444 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
26445 .popsection \n\
26446 ");
26447 @end example
26448
26449 @noindent
26450 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
26451
26452 @example
26453 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
26454 @end example
26455
26456 The script name may include directories if desired.
26457
26458 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
26459 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
26460
26461 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
26462 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
26463
26464 @node Which flavor to choose?
26465 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
26466
26467 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
26468 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
26469
26470 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
26471
26472 @itemize @bullet
26473 @item
26474 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
26475
26476 @item
26477 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
26478
26479 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
26480 in the source search path.
26481 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
26482 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
26483
26484 @item
26485 Doesn't require source code additions.
26486 @end itemize
26487
26488 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
26489
26490 @itemize @bullet
26491 @item
26492 Works with static linking.
26493
26494 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
26495 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
26496 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
26497 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
26498
26499 @item
26500 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
26501
26502 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
26503 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
26504
26505 @item
26506 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
26507
26508 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
26509 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
26510 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
26511 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
26512 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
26513 top of the source tree to the source search path.
26514 @end itemize
26515
26516 @node Python modules
26517 @subsection Python modules
26518 @cindex python modules
26519
26520 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
26521
26522 @menu
26523 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
26524 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
26525 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
26526 @end menu
26527
26528 @node gdb.printing
26529 @subsubsection gdb.printing
26530 @cindex gdb.printing
26531
26532 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
26533 pretty-printers.
26534
26535 @table @code
26536 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
26537 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
26538 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
26539 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
26540
26541 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
26542 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
26543 corresponding API for the subprinters.
26544
26545 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
26546 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
26547 regular expressions.
26548 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
26549
26550 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
26551 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
26552 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
26553 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
26554 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
26555 the @code{enum} type to look up.
26556
26557 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
26558 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
26559 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
26560 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
26561 if a printer with the same name already exists.
26562 @end table
26563
26564 @node gdb.types
26565 @subsubsection gdb.types
26566 @cindex gdb.types
26567
26568 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
26569 @code{gdb.Type} objects.
26570
26571 @table @code
26572 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
26573 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
26574 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
26575
26576 C@t{++} example:
26577
26578 @smallexample
26579 typedef const int const_int;
26580 const_int foo (3);
26581 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
26582 int main () @{ return 0; @}
26583 @end smallexample
26584
26585 Then in gdb:
26586
26587 @smallexample
26588 (gdb) start
26589 (gdb) python import gdb.types
26590 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
26591 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
26592 int
26593 @end smallexample
26594
26595 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
26596 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
26597 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
26598
26599 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
26600 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
26601
26602 @item deep_items (@var{type})
26603 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
26604 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
26605 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
26606 union fields. For example:
26607
26608 @smallexample
26609 struct A
26610 @{
26611 int a;
26612 union @{
26613 int b0;
26614 int b1;
26615 @};
26616 @};
26617 @end smallexample
26618
26619 @noindent
26620 Then in @value{GDBN}:
26621 @smallexample
26622 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
26623 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
26624 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
26625 @{['a', '']@}
26626 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
26627 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
26628 @end smallexample
26629
26630 @item get_type_recognizers ()
26631 Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
26632 This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
26633 (@pxref{Type Printing API}).
26634
26635 @item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
26636 Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
26637 @var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
26638 string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
26639 @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
26640 API}).
26641
26642 @item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
26643 This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
26644 @var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
26645 type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
26646 which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
26647 @code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
26648 that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
26649 registered globally.
26650
26651 @item TypePrinter
26652 This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
26653 printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
26654 It defines a constructor:
26655
26656 @defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
26657 Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
26658 starts in the enabled state.
26659 @end defmethod
26660
26661 @end table
26662
26663 @node gdb.prompt
26664 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
26665 @cindex gdb.prompt
26666
26667 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
26668
26669 @table @code
26670 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
26671 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
26672 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
26673 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
26674
26675 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
26676
26677 @table @code
26678 @item \\
26679 Substitute a backslash.
26680 @item \e
26681 Substitute an ESC character.
26682 @item \f
26683 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
26684 @item \n
26685 Substitute a newline.
26686 @item \p
26687 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
26688 @item \r
26689 Substitute a carriage return.
26690 @item \t
26691 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
26692 @item \v
26693 Substitute the version of GDB.
26694 @item \w
26695 Substitute the current working directory.
26696 @item \[
26697 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
26698 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
26699 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
26700 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
26701 @item \]
26702 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
26703 @end table
26704
26705 For example:
26706
26707 @smallexample
26708 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
26709 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
26710 @end smallexample
26711
26712 @exdent will return the string:
26713
26714 @smallexample
26715 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
26716 @end smallexample
26717 @end table
26718
26719 @node Aliases
26720 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
26721 @cindex aliases for commands
26722
26723 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
26724 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
26725 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
26726 that involves less typing.
26727
26728 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
26729 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
26730 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
26731
26732 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
26733 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
26734 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
26735
26736 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
26737
26738 @table @code
26739
26740 @kindex alias
26741 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
26742
26743 @end table
26744
26745 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
26746 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
26747 underscores.
26748
26749 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
26750 that is being aliased.
26751
26752 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
26753 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
26754 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
26755
26756 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
26757 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
26758
26759 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
26760 of a command so that there is less to type.
26761 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
26762 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
26763 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
26764 The following will accomplish this.
26765
26766 @smallexample
26767 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
26768 @end smallexample
26769
26770 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
26771 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
26772 for it with the @samp{document} command.
26773 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
26774
26775 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
26776 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
26777 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
26778 of a command.
26779
26780 @smallexample
26781 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
26782 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
26783 (gdb) set p elms 20
26784 (gdb) show p elms
26785 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
26786 @end smallexample
26787
26788 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
26789 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
26790 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
26791
26792 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
26793 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
26794
26795 @smallexample
26796 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
26797 @end smallexample
26798
26799 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
26800 alias for a more complex command.
26801 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
26802
26803 @smallexample
26804 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
26805 (gdb) spe 20
26806 @end smallexample
26807
26808 @node Interpreters
26809 @chapter Command Interpreters
26810 @cindex command interpreters
26811
26812 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
26813 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
26814 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
26815
26816 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
26817 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
26818 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
26819 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
26820
26821 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
26822 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
26823 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
26824 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
26825
26826 @table @code
26827 @item console
26828 @cindex console interpreter
26829 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
26830 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
26831 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
26832
26833 @item mi
26834 @cindex mi interpreter
26835 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
26836 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
26837 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
26838 Interface}.
26839
26840 @item mi2
26841 @cindex mi2 interpreter
26842 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
26843
26844 @item mi1
26845 @cindex mi1 interpreter
26846 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
26847
26848 @end table
26849
26850 @cindex invoke another interpreter
26851 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
26852 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
26853 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
26854 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
26855 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
26856 the IDE inoperable!
26857
26858 @kindex interpreter-exec
26859 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
26860 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
26861 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
26862 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
26863
26864 @smallexample
26865 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
26866 @end smallexample
26867
26868 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
26869 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
26870
26871 @node TUI
26872 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
26873 @cindex TUI
26874 @cindex Text User Interface
26875
26876 @menu
26877 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
26878 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
26879 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
26880 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
26881 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
26882 @end menu
26883
26884 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
26885 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
26886 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
26887 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
26888 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
26889 is available.
26890
26891 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
26892 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
26893 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
26894 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
26895 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
26896
26897 @node TUI Overview
26898 @section TUI Overview
26899
26900 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
26901
26902 @table @emph
26903 @item command
26904 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
26905 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
26906 managed using readline.
26907
26908 @item source
26909 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
26910 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
26911
26912 @item assembly
26913 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
26914
26915 @item register
26916 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
26917 when their values change.
26918 @end table
26919
26920 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
26921 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
26922 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
26923 indicates the breakpoint type:
26924
26925 @table @code
26926 @item B
26927 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26928
26929 @item b
26930 Breakpoint which was never hit.
26931
26932 @item H
26933 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26934
26935 @item h
26936 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
26937 @end table
26938
26939 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
26940
26941 @table @code
26942 @item +
26943 Breakpoint is enabled.
26944
26945 @item -
26946 Breakpoint is disabled.
26947 @end table
26948
26949 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
26950 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
26951 changes.
26952
26953 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
26954 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
26955 layouts:
26956
26957 @itemize @bullet
26958 @item
26959 source only,
26960
26961 @item
26962 assembly only,
26963
26964 @item
26965 source and assembly,
26966
26967 @item
26968 source and registers, or
26969
26970 @item
26971 assembly and registers.
26972 @end itemize
26973
26974 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
26975
26976 @table @emph
26977 @item target
26978 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
26979 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
26980
26981 @item process
26982 Gives the current process or thread number.
26983 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
26984
26985 @item function
26986 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
26987 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
26988 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
26989 the string @code{??} is displayed.
26990
26991 @item line
26992 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
26993 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
26994
26995 @item pc
26996 Indicates the current program counter address.
26997 @end table
26998
26999 @node TUI Keys
27000 @section TUI Key Bindings
27001 @cindex TUI key bindings
27002
27003 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
27004 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
27005 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
27006 @end ifset
27007 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
27008 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
27009 @end ifclear
27010 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
27011 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
27012
27013 @table @kbd
27014 @kindex C-x C-a
27015 @item C-x C-a
27016 @kindex C-x a
27017 @itemx C-x a
27018 @kindex C-x A
27019 @itemx C-x A
27020 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
27021 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
27022 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
27023 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
27024 The screen is then refreshed.
27025
27026 @kindex C-x 1
27027 @item C-x 1
27028 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
27029 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
27030 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
27031
27032 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
27033
27034 @kindex C-x 2
27035 @item C-x 2
27036 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
27037 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
27038 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
27039 previous layout and the new one.
27040
27041 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
27042
27043 @kindex C-x o
27044 @item C-x o
27045 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
27046 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
27047 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
27048
27049 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
27050
27051 @kindex C-x s
27052 @item C-x s
27053 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
27054 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
27055 @end table
27056
27057 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
27058
27059 @table @asis
27060 @kindex PgUp
27061 @item @key{PgUp}
27062 Scroll the active window one page up.
27063
27064 @kindex PgDn
27065 @item @key{PgDn}
27066 Scroll the active window one page down.
27067
27068 @kindex Up
27069 @item @key{Up}
27070 Scroll the active window one line up.
27071
27072 @kindex Down
27073 @item @key{Down}
27074 Scroll the active window one line down.
27075
27076 @kindex Left
27077 @item @key{Left}
27078 Scroll the active window one column left.
27079
27080 @kindex Right
27081 @item @key{Right}
27082 Scroll the active window one column right.
27083
27084 @kindex C-L
27085 @item @kbd{C-L}
27086 Refresh the screen.
27087 @end table
27088
27089 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
27090 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
27091 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
27092 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
27093 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
27094
27095 @node TUI Single Key Mode
27096 @section TUI Single Key Mode
27097 @cindex TUI single key mode
27098
27099 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
27100 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
27101 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
27102
27103 @table @kbd
27104 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27105 @item c
27106 continue
27107
27108 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27109 @item d
27110 down
27111
27112 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27113 @item f
27114 finish
27115
27116 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27117 @item n
27118 next
27119
27120 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27121 @item q
27122 exit the SingleKey mode.
27123
27124 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27125 @item r
27126 run
27127
27128 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27129 @item s
27130 step
27131
27132 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27133 @item u
27134 up
27135
27136 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27137 @item v
27138 info locals
27139
27140 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27141 @item w
27142 where
27143 @end table
27144
27145 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
27146 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
27147 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
27148 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
27149 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
27150 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
27151
27152
27153 @node TUI Commands
27154 @section TUI-specific Commands
27155 @cindex TUI commands
27156
27157 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
27158 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
27159 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
27160 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
27161
27162 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
27163 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
27164 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
27165 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
27166 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
27167
27168 @table @code
27169 @item info win
27170 @kindex info win
27171 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
27172
27173 @item layout next
27174 @kindex layout
27175 Display the next layout.
27176
27177 @item layout prev
27178 Display the previous layout.
27179
27180 @item layout src
27181 Display the source window only.
27182
27183 @item layout asm
27184 Display the assembly window only.
27185
27186 @item layout split
27187 Display the source and assembly window.
27188
27189 @item layout regs
27190 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
27191
27192 @item focus next
27193 @kindex focus
27194 Make the next window active for scrolling.
27195
27196 @item focus prev
27197 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
27198
27199 @item focus src
27200 Make the source window active for scrolling.
27201
27202 @item focus asm
27203 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
27204
27205 @item focus regs
27206 Make the register window active for scrolling.
27207
27208 @item focus cmd
27209 Make the command window active for scrolling.
27210
27211 @item refresh
27212 @kindex refresh
27213 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
27214
27215 @item tui reg float
27216 @kindex tui reg
27217 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
27218
27219 @item tui reg general
27220 Show the general registers in the register window.
27221
27222 @item tui reg next
27223 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
27224 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
27225 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
27226 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
27227
27228 @item tui reg system
27229 Show the system registers in the register window.
27230
27231 @item update
27232 @kindex update
27233 Update the source window and the current execution point.
27234
27235 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
27236 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
27237 @kindex winheight
27238 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
27239 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
27240 decrease it.
27241
27242 @item tabset @var{nchars}
27243 @kindex tabset
27244 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
27245 @end table
27246
27247 @node TUI Configuration
27248 @section TUI Configuration Variables
27249 @cindex TUI configuration variables
27250
27251 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
27252
27253 @table @code
27254 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
27255 @kindex set tui border-kind
27256 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
27257 The possible values are the following:
27258 @table @code
27259 @item space
27260 Use a space character to draw the border.
27261
27262 @item ascii
27263 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
27264
27265 @item acs
27266 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
27267 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
27268 @end table
27269
27270 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
27271 @kindex set tui border-mode
27272 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
27273 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
27274 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
27275 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
27276 @table @code
27277 @item normal
27278 Use normal attributes to display the border.
27279
27280 @item standout
27281 Use standout mode.
27282
27283 @item reverse
27284 Use reverse video mode.
27285
27286 @item half
27287 Use half bright mode.
27288
27289 @item half-standout
27290 Use half bright and standout mode.
27291
27292 @item bold
27293 Use extra bright or bold mode.
27294
27295 @item bold-standout
27296 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
27297 @end table
27298 @end table
27299
27300 @node Emacs
27301 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
27302
27303 @cindex Emacs
27304 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
27305 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
27306 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
27307 @value{GDBN}.
27308
27309 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
27310 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
27311 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
27312 created Emacs buffer.
27313 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
27314
27315 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
27316 things:
27317
27318 @itemize @bullet
27319 @item
27320 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
27321 the GUD buffer.
27322
27323 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
27324 and output done by the program you are debugging.
27325
27326 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
27327 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
27328 in this way.
27329
27330 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
27331 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
27332 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
27333 stop.
27334
27335 @item
27336 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
27337
27338 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
27339 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
27340 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
27341 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
27342 and the source.
27343
27344 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
27345 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
27346 @end itemize
27347
27348 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
27349 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
27350 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
27351 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
27352
27353 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
27354 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
27355 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
27356 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
27357 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
27358 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
27359 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
27360 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
27361 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
27362
27363 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
27364 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
27365 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
27366 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
27367
27368 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
27369 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
27370 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
27371 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
27372 one you want.
27373
27374 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
27375 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
27376
27377 @table @kbd
27378 @item C-h m
27379 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
27380
27381 @item C-c C-s
27382 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
27383 update the display window to show the current file and location.
27384
27385 @item C-c C-n
27386 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
27387 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
27388 to show the current file and location.
27389
27390 @item C-c C-i
27391 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
27392 display window accordingly.
27393
27394 @item C-c C-f
27395 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
27396 @code{finish} command.
27397
27398 @item C-c C-r
27399 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
27400 command.
27401
27402 @item C-c <
27403 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
27404 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
27405 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
27406
27407 @item C-c >
27408 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
27409 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
27410 @end table
27411
27412 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
27413 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
27414
27415 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
27416 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
27417 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
27418 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
27419 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
27420 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
27421 speedbar displays watch expressions.
27422
27423 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
27424 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
27425 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
27426 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
27427 frame.
27428
27429 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
27430 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
27431 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
27432 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
27433 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
27434 to correspond properly with the code.
27435
27436 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
27437 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
27438 Emacs Manual}).
27439
27440 @node GDB/MI
27441 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
27442
27443 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
27444
27445 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
27446 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
27447 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
27448 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
27449 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
27450 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
27451
27452 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
27453 in the form of a reference manual.
27454
27455 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
27456 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
27457 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
27458
27459 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
27460
27461 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
27462 This chapter uses the following notation:
27463
27464 @itemize @bullet
27465 @item
27466 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
27467
27468 @item
27469 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
27470 it may or may not be given.
27471
27472 @item
27473 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
27474 may repeat zero or more times.
27475
27476 @item
27477 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
27478 may repeat one or more times.
27479
27480 @item
27481 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
27482 @end itemize
27483
27484 @ignore
27485 @heading Dependencies
27486 @end ignore
27487
27488 @menu
27489 * GDB/MI General Design::
27490 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
27491 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
27492 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
27493 * GDB/MI Output Records::
27494 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
27495 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
27496 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
27497 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
27498 * GDB/MI Program Context::
27499 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
27500 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
27501 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
27502 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
27503 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
27504 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
27505 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
27506 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
27507 * GDB/MI File Commands::
27508 @ignore
27509 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
27510 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
27511 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
27512 @end ignore
27513 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
27514 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
27515 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
27516 @end menu
27517
27518 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27519 @node GDB/MI General Design
27520 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
27521 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
27522
27523 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
27524 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
27525 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
27526 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
27527 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
27528 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
27529 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
27530 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
27531 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
27532 a command and reported as part of that command response.
27533
27534 The important examples of notifications are:
27535 @itemize @bullet
27536
27537 @item
27538 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
27539 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
27540 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
27541 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
27542 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
27543 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
27544 command itself was successfully executed.
27545
27546 @item
27547 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
27548 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
27549 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
27550 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
27551 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
27552 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
27553
27554 @item
27555 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
27556 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
27557 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
27558 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
27559 orthogonal frontend design.
27560
27561 @end itemize
27562
27563 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
27564 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
27565 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
27566 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
27567 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
27568 the user interface.
27569
27570
27571 @menu
27572 * Context management::
27573 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
27574 * Thread groups::
27575 @end menu
27576
27577 @node Context management
27578 @subsection Context management
27579
27580 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
27581 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
27582 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
27583 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
27584 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
27585 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
27586 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
27587 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
27588 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
27589
27590 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
27591 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
27592 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
27593 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
27594 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
27595 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
27596 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
27597 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
27598 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
27599 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
27600 for thread and frame to operate on.
27601
27602 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
27603 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
27604 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
27605 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
27606 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
27607 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
27608 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
27609 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
27610 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
27611 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
27612
27613 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
27614 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
27615 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
27616 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
27617 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
27618 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
27619 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
27620 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
27621 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
27622 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
27623 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
27624 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
27625 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
27626 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
27627 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
27628 @samp{--frame} options.
27629
27630 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
27631 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
27632
27633 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
27634 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
27635 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
27636 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
27637 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
27638 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
27639 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
27640 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
27641 @code{-list-target-features} command.
27642
27643 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
27644 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
27645 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
27646 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
27647 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
27648 are running.
27649
27650 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
27651 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
27652 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
27653 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
27654 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
27655 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
27656 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
27657 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
27658 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
27659 @samp{--thread} option).
27660
27661 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
27662 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
27663 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
27664 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
27665
27666 @node Thread groups
27667 @subsection Thread groups
27668 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
27669 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
27670 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
27671 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
27672 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
27673
27674 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
27675 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
27676 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
27677 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
27678 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
27679 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
27680 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
27681 into processes.
27682
27683 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
27684 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
27685 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
27686 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
27687 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
27688 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
27689 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
27690 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
27691 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
27692 the members of specific thread group.
27693
27694 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
27695 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
27696 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
27697 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
27698 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
27699 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
27700 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
27701 after attaching to that thread group.
27702
27703 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
27704 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
27705 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
27706 such thread groups.
27707
27708 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27709 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
27710 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
27711
27712 @menu
27713 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
27714 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
27715 @end menu
27716
27717 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
27718 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
27719
27720 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
27721 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
27722 @table @code
27723 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
27724 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
27725
27726 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
27727 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
27728 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
27729
27730 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
27731 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
27732 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
27733
27734 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27735 "any sequence of digits"
27736
27737 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
27738 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
27739
27740 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
27741 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
27742
27743 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
27744 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
27745
27746 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
27747 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
27748 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
27749
27750 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
27751 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
27752
27753 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27754 @code{CR | CR-LF}
27755 @end table
27756
27757 @noindent
27758 Notes:
27759
27760 @itemize @bullet
27761 @item
27762 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
27763 output is described below.
27764
27765 @item
27766 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
27767 finishes.
27768
27769 @item
27770 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
27771 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
27772 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
27773 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
27774 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
27775 @end itemize
27776
27777 Pragmatics:
27778
27779 @itemize @bullet
27780 @item
27781 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
27782
27783 @item
27784 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
27785 @end itemize
27786
27787 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
27788 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
27789
27790 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
27791 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
27792 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
27793 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
27794 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
27795 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
27796
27797 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
27798 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
27799 @var{token}.
27800
27801 @table @code
27802 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
27803 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
27804
27805 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
27806 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27807
27808 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
27809 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
27810
27811 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
27812 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
27813
27814 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
27815 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
27816
27817 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
27818 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
27819
27820 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
27821 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
27822
27823 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
27824 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27825
27826 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
27827 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
27828
27829 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
27830 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
27831 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
27832
27833 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
27834 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
27835
27836 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
27837 @code{ @var{string} }
27838
27839 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
27840 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
27841
27842 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
27843 @code{@var{c-string}}
27844
27845 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
27846 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
27847
27848 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
27849 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
27850 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
27851
27852 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
27853 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
27854
27855 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
27856 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
27857
27858 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
27859 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
27860
27861 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
27862 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
27863
27864 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27865 @code{CR | CR-LF}
27866
27867 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27868 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
27869 @end table
27870
27871 @noindent
27872 Notes:
27873
27874 @itemize @bullet
27875 @item
27876 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
27877
27878 @item
27879 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
27880 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
27881 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
27882 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
27883 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
27884 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
27885 prior command.
27886
27887 @item
27888 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27889 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
27890 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
27891 prefixed by @samp{+}.
27892
27893 @item
27894 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27895 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
27896 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
27897 @samp{*}.
27898
27899 @item
27900 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27901 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
27902 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
27903 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
27904
27905 @item
27906 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27907 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
27908 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
27909 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
27910
27911 @item
27912 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27913 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
27914 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
27915
27916 @item
27917 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27918 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
27919 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
27920 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
27921
27922 @item
27923 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27924 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
27925 @var{values}.
27926
27927
27928 @end itemize
27929
27930 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
27931 details about the various output records.
27932
27933 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27934 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
27935 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
27936
27937 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
27938 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
27939
27940 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
27941 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
27942 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
27943 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
27944 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
27945 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
27946
27947 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
27948 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
27949 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
27950
27951 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27952 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
27953 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
27954 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
27955
27956 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
27957 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
27958
27959 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
27960 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
27961 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
27962 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
27963 might change.
27964
27965 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
27966 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
27967 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
27968 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
27969
27970 @itemize @bullet
27971 @item
27972 New MI commands may be added.
27973
27974 @item
27975 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
27976
27977 @item
27978 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
27979 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
27980
27981 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
27982 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
27983
27984 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
27985 @c resolve inconsistencies.
27986 @end itemize
27987
27988 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
27989 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
27990 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
27991 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
27992 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
27993
27994 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
27995 @c version?
27996
27997 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
27998 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
27999 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
28000 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
28001 @cindex mailing lists
28002
28003 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28004 @node GDB/MI Output Records
28005 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
28006
28007 @menu
28008 * GDB/MI Result Records::
28009 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
28010 * GDB/MI Async Records::
28011 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
28012 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
28013 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
28014 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
28015 @end menu
28016
28017 @node GDB/MI Result Records
28018 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
28019
28020 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28021 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
28022 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
28023 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
28024
28025 @table @code
28026 @findex ^done
28027 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
28028 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
28029 values.
28030
28031 @item "^running"
28032 @findex ^running
28033 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
28034 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
28035 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
28036 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
28037 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
28038 which threads are resumed.
28039
28040 @item "^connected"
28041 @findex ^connected
28042 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
28043
28044 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
28045 @findex ^error
28046 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
28047 error message.
28048
28049 @item "^exit"
28050 @findex ^exit
28051 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
28052
28053 @end table
28054
28055 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
28056 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
28057
28058 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
28059 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28060 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
28061 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
28062 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
28063
28064 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
28065 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
28066 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
28067 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
28068 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
28069
28070 @table @code
28071 @item "~" @var{string-output}
28072 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
28073 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
28074
28075 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
28076 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
28077 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
28078 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
28079
28080 @item "&" @var{string-output}
28081 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
28082 internals.
28083 @end table
28084
28085 @node GDB/MI Async Records
28086 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
28087
28088 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28089 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
28090 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
28091 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
28092 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
28093 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
28094
28095 The following is the list of possible async records:
28096
28097 @table @code
28098
28099 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
28100 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
28101 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
28102 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
28103 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
28104 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
28105 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
28106 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
28107 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
28108 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
28109
28110 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
28111 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
28112 following values:
28113
28114 @table @code
28115 @item breakpoint-hit
28116 A breakpoint was reached.
28117 @item watchpoint-trigger
28118 A watchpoint was triggered.
28119 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
28120 A read watchpoint was triggered.
28121 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
28122 An access watchpoint was triggered.
28123 @item function-finished
28124 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
28125 @item location-reached
28126 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
28127 @item watchpoint-scope
28128 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
28129 @item end-stepping-range
28130 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
28131 similar CLI command was accomplished.
28132 @item exited-signalled
28133 The inferior exited because of a signal.
28134 @item exited
28135 The inferior exited.
28136 @item exited-normally
28137 The inferior exited normally.
28138 @item signal-received
28139 A signal was received by the inferior.
28140 @item solib-event
28141 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
28142 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
28143 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
28144 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
28145 @item fork
28146 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
28147 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
28148 @item vfork
28149 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
28150 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
28151 @item syscall-entry
28152 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
28153 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
28154 @item syscall-entry
28155 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
28156 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
28157 @item exec
28158 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
28159 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
28160 @end table
28161
28162 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
28163 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
28164 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
28165 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
28166 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
28167 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
28168 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
28169 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
28170 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
28171 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
28172 if such information is not available.
28173
28174 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
28175 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
28176 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
28177 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
28178 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
28179 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
28180 cannot be used in any way.
28181
28182 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
28183 A thread group became associated with a running program,
28184 either because the program was just started or the thread group
28185 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
28186 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
28187 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
28188
28189 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
28190 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
28191 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
28192 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
28193 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
28194 only when the inferior exited with some code.
28195
28196 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
28197 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
28198 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
28199 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
28200 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
28201
28202 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
28203 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
28204 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
28205 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
28206 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
28207 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
28208 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
28209
28210 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
28211 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
28212 that thread.
28213
28214 @item =library-loaded,...
28215 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
28216 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
28217 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
28218 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
28219 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
28220 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
28221 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
28222 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
28223 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
28224 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
28225 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
28226 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
28227 thread groups.
28228
28229 @item =library-unloaded,...
28230 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
28231 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
28232 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
28233 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
28234 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
28235 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
28236 thread groups.
28237
28238 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
28239 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
28240 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
28241 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
28242 frame is @var{tpnum}.
28243
28244 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
28245 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
28246 initial value @var{initial}.
28247
28248 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
28249 @itemx =tsv-deleted
28250 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
28251 trace state variables are deleted.
28252
28253 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
28254 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
28255 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
28256 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
28257 value of trace state variable is known.
28258
28259 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
28260 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
28261 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
28262 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
28263 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
28264 user.
28265
28266 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
28267 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
28268 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
28269
28270 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
28271 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
28272
28273 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
28274 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
28275 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
28276 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
28277 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
28278
28279 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
28280 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
28281 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
28282 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
28283 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
28284 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
28285
28286 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
28287 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
28288 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
28289 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
28290 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
28291 executable code.
28292 @end table
28293
28294 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
28295 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
28296
28297 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
28298 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
28299 following fields:
28300
28301 @table @code
28302 @item number
28303 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
28304 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
28305 @samp{1.2}.
28306
28307 @item type
28308 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
28309 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
28310
28311 @item catch-type
28312 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
28313 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
28314
28315 @item disp
28316 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
28317 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
28318 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
28319
28320 @item enabled
28321 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
28322 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
28323 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
28324
28325 @item addr
28326 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
28327 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
28328 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
28329 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
28330 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
28331
28332 @item func
28333 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
28334 If not known, this field is not present.
28335
28336 @item filename
28337 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
28338 If not known, this field is not present.
28339
28340 @item fullname
28341 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
28342 known. If not known, this field is not present.
28343
28344 @item line
28345 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
28346 If not known, this field is not present.
28347
28348 @item at
28349 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
28350 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
28351 by a symbol name.
28352
28353 @item pending
28354 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
28355 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
28356
28357 @item evaluated-by
28358 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
28359 @samp{target}.
28360
28361 @item thread
28362 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
28363 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
28364
28365 @item task
28366 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
28367 field will hold the task identifier.
28368
28369 @item cond
28370 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
28371
28372 @item ignore
28373 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
28374
28375 @item enable
28376 The enable count of the breakpoint.
28377
28378 @item traceframe-usage
28379 FIXME.
28380
28381 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
28382 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
28383
28384 @item mask
28385 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
28386
28387 @item pass
28388 A tracepoint's pass count.
28389
28390 @item original-location
28391 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
28392 This field is optional.
28393
28394 @item times
28395 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
28396
28397 @item installed
28398 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
28399 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
28400 is not.
28401
28402 @item what
28403 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
28404
28405 @end table
28406
28407 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
28408 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
28409
28410 @smallexample
28411 -> -break-insert main
28412 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28413 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
28414 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
28415 times="0"@}
28416 <- (gdb)
28417 @end smallexample
28418
28419 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
28420 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
28421
28422 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
28423 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
28424 fields:
28425
28426 @table @code
28427 @item level
28428 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
28429 zero. This field is always present.
28430
28431 @item func
28432 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
28433 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
28434
28435 @item addr
28436 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
28437
28438 @item file
28439 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
28440 address. This field may be absent.
28441
28442 @item line
28443 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
28444 may be absent.
28445
28446 @item from
28447 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
28448 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
28449
28450 @end table
28451
28452 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
28453 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
28454
28455 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
28456 uses a tuple with the following fields:
28457
28458 @table @code
28459 @item id
28460 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
28461 always present.
28462
28463 @item target-id
28464 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
28465
28466 @item details
28467 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
28468 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
28469 frontend. This field is optional.
28470
28471 @item state
28472 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
28473 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
28474
28475 @item core
28476 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
28477 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
28478 @end table
28479
28480 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
28481 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
28482
28483 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
28484 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
28485 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
28486 the @code{exception-name} field.
28487
28488 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28489 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
28490 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
28491 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
28492
28493 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
28494 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
28495 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
28496 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
28497
28498 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
28499 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
28500
28501 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
28502
28503 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
28504 information of the breakpoint.
28505
28506 @smallexample
28507 -> -break-insert main
28508 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28509 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
28510 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
28511 times="0"@}
28512 <- (gdb)
28513 @end smallexample
28514
28515 @subheading Program Execution
28516
28517 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
28518 reason that execution stopped.
28519
28520 @smallexample
28521 -> -exec-run
28522 <- ^running
28523 <- (gdb)
28524 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
28525 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
28526 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
28527 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
28528 <- (gdb)
28529 -> -exec-continue
28530 <- ^running
28531 <- (gdb)
28532 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
28533 <- (gdb)
28534 @end smallexample
28535
28536 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
28537
28538 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
28539
28540 @smallexample
28541 -> (gdb)
28542 <- -gdb-exit
28543 <- ^exit
28544 @end smallexample
28545
28546 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
28547 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
28548 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
28549 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
28550 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
28551 fails to exit in reasonable time.
28552
28553 @subheading A Bad Command
28554
28555 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
28556
28557 @smallexample
28558 -> -rubbish
28559 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
28560 <- (gdb)
28561 @end smallexample
28562
28563
28564 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28565 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
28566 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
28567
28568 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
28569 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
28570
28571 @subheading Motivation
28572
28573 The motivation for this collection of commands.
28574
28575 @subheading Introduction
28576
28577 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
28578
28579 @subheading Commands
28580
28581 For each command in the block, the following is described:
28582
28583 @subsubheading Synopsis
28584
28585 @smallexample
28586 -command @var{args}@dots{}
28587 @end smallexample
28588
28589 @subsubheading Result
28590
28591 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28592
28593 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
28594
28595 @subsubheading Example
28596
28597 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
28598 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
28599
28600
28601 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28602 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
28603 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
28604
28605 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
28606 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
28607 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
28608 breakpoints.
28609
28610 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
28611 @findex -break-after
28612
28613 @subsubheading Synopsis
28614
28615 @smallexample
28616 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
28617 @end smallexample
28618
28619 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
28620 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
28621 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
28622 @samp{-break-list} command below.
28623
28624 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28625
28626 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
28627
28628 @subsubheading Example
28629
28630 @smallexample
28631 (gdb)
28632 -break-insert main
28633 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28634 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
28635 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
28636 times="0"@}
28637 (gdb)
28638 -break-after 1 3
28639 ~
28640 ^done
28641 (gdb)
28642 -break-list
28643 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28644 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28645 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28646 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28647 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28648 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28649 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28650 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28651 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28652 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
28653 (gdb)
28654 @end smallexample
28655
28656 @ignore
28657 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
28658 @findex -break-catch
28659 @end ignore
28660
28661 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
28662 @findex -break-commands
28663
28664 @subsubheading Synopsis
28665
28666 @smallexample
28667 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
28668 @end smallexample
28669
28670 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
28671 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
28672 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
28673 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
28674 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
28675 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
28676
28677 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28678
28679 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
28680
28681 @subsubheading Example
28682
28683 @smallexample
28684 (gdb)
28685 -break-insert main
28686 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28687 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
28688 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
28689 times="0"@}
28690 (gdb)
28691 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
28692 ^done
28693 (gdb)
28694 @end smallexample
28695
28696 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
28697 @findex -break-condition
28698
28699 @subsubheading Synopsis
28700
28701 @smallexample
28702 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
28703 @end smallexample
28704
28705 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
28706 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
28707 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
28708 command below).
28709
28710 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28711
28712 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
28713
28714 @subsubheading Example
28715
28716 @smallexample
28717 (gdb)
28718 -break-condition 1 1
28719 ^done
28720 (gdb)
28721 -break-list
28722 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28723 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28724 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28725 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28726 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28727 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28728 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28729 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28730 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28731 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
28732 (gdb)
28733 @end smallexample
28734
28735 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
28736 @findex -break-delete
28737
28738 @subsubheading Synopsis
28739
28740 @smallexample
28741 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28742 @end smallexample
28743
28744 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
28745 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
28746
28747 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28748
28749 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
28750
28751 @subsubheading Example
28752
28753 @smallexample
28754 (gdb)
28755 -break-delete 1
28756 ^done
28757 (gdb)
28758 -break-list
28759 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28760 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28761 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28762 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28763 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28764 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28765 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28766 body=[]@}
28767 (gdb)
28768 @end smallexample
28769
28770 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
28771 @findex -break-disable
28772
28773 @subsubheading Synopsis
28774
28775 @smallexample
28776 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28777 @end smallexample
28778
28779 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
28780 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
28781
28782 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28783
28784 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
28785
28786 @subsubheading Example
28787
28788 @smallexample
28789 (gdb)
28790 -break-disable 2
28791 ^done
28792 (gdb)
28793 -break-list
28794 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28795 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28796 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28797 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28798 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28799 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28800 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28801 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
28802 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28803 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28804 (gdb)
28805 @end smallexample
28806
28807 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
28808 @findex -break-enable
28809
28810 @subsubheading Synopsis
28811
28812 @smallexample
28813 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28814 @end smallexample
28815
28816 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
28817
28818 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28819
28820 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
28821
28822 @subsubheading Example
28823
28824 @smallexample
28825 (gdb)
28826 -break-enable 2
28827 ^done
28828 (gdb)
28829 -break-list
28830 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28831 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28832 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28833 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28834 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28835 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28836 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28837 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28838 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28839 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28840 (gdb)
28841 @end smallexample
28842
28843 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
28844 @findex -break-info
28845
28846 @subsubheading Synopsis
28847
28848 @smallexample
28849 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
28850 @end smallexample
28851
28852 @c REDUNDANT???
28853 Get information about a single breakpoint.
28854
28855 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
28856 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
28857 table.
28858
28859 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28860
28861 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
28862
28863 @subsubheading Example
28864 N.A.
28865
28866 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
28867 @findex -break-insert
28868
28869 @subsubheading Synopsis
28870
28871 @smallexample
28872 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
28873 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
28874 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
28875 @end smallexample
28876
28877 @noindent
28878 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
28879
28880 @itemize @bullet
28881 @item function
28882 @c @item +offset
28883 @c @item -offset
28884 @c @item linenum
28885 @item filename:linenum
28886 @item filename:function
28887 @item *address
28888 @end itemize
28889
28890 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
28891
28892 @table @samp
28893 @item -t
28894 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
28895 @item -h
28896 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
28897 @item -f
28898 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
28899 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
28900 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
28901 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
28902 cannot be parsed.
28903 @item -d
28904 Create a disabled breakpoint.
28905 @item -a
28906 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
28907 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
28908 @item -c @var{condition}
28909 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28910 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
28911 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
28912 @item -p @var{thread-id}
28913 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
28914 @end table
28915
28916 @subsubheading Result
28917
28918 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
28919 resulting breakpoint.
28920
28921 Note: this format is open to change.
28922 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
28923
28924 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28925
28926 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
28927 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
28928
28929 @subsubheading Example
28930
28931 @smallexample
28932 (gdb)
28933 -break-insert main
28934 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
28935 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
28936 times="0"@}
28937 (gdb)
28938 -break-insert -t foo
28939 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
28940 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28941 times="0"@}
28942 (gdb)
28943 -break-list
28944 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28945 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28946 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28947 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28948 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28949 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28950 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28951 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28952 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
28953 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
28954 times="0"@},
28955 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
28956 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
28957 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28958 times="0"@}]@}
28959 (gdb)
28960 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
28961 @c ~int foo(int, int);
28962 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
28963 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28964 @c times="0"@}
28965 @c (gdb)
28966 @end smallexample
28967
28968 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
28969 @findex -break-list
28970
28971 @subsubheading Synopsis
28972
28973 @smallexample
28974 -break-list
28975 @end smallexample
28976
28977 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
28978
28979 @table @samp
28980 @item Number
28981 number of the breakpoint
28982 @item Type
28983 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
28984 @item Disposition
28985 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
28986 or @samp{nokeep}
28987 @item Enabled
28988 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
28989 @item Address
28990 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
28991 @item What
28992 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
28993 name, line number
28994 @item Thread-groups
28995 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
28996 @item Times
28997 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
28998 @end table
28999
29000 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
29001 @code{body} field is an empty list.
29002
29003 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29004
29005 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
29006
29007 @subsubheading Example
29008
29009 @smallexample
29010 (gdb)
29011 -break-list
29012 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
29013 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29014 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29015 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29016 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29017 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29018 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29019 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29020 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29021 times="0"@},
29022 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29023 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29024 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29025 (gdb)
29026 @end smallexample
29027
29028 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
29029
29030 @smallexample
29031 (gdb)
29032 -break-list
29033 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
29034 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29035 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29036 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29037 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29038 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29039 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29040 body=[]@}
29041 (gdb)
29042 @end smallexample
29043
29044 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
29045 @findex -break-passcount
29046
29047 @subsubheading Synopsis
29048
29049 @smallexample
29050 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
29051 @end smallexample
29052
29053 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
29054 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
29055 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
29056 command @samp{passcount}.
29057
29058 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
29059 @findex -break-watch
29060
29061 @subsubheading Synopsis
29062
29063 @smallexample
29064 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
29065 @end smallexample
29066
29067 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
29068 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
29069 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
29070 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
29071 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
29072 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
29073 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
29074 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
29075
29076 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
29077 breakpoints inserted.
29078
29079 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29080
29081 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
29082 @samp{rwatch}.
29083
29084 @subsubheading Example
29085
29086 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
29087
29088 @smallexample
29089 (gdb)
29090 -break-watch x
29091 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
29092 (gdb)
29093 -exec-continue
29094 ^running
29095 (gdb)
29096 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
29097 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
29098 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
29099 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
29100 (gdb)
29101 @end smallexample
29102
29103 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
29104 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
29105 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
29106
29107 @smallexample
29108 (gdb)
29109 -break-watch C
29110 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
29111 (gdb)
29112 -exec-continue
29113 ^running
29114 (gdb)
29115 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
29116 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
29117 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
29118 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29119 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
29120 (gdb)
29121 -exec-continue
29122 ^running
29123 (gdb)
29124 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
29125 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
29126 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
29127 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29128 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
29129 (gdb)
29130 @end smallexample
29131
29132 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
29133 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
29134 deleted.
29135
29136 @smallexample
29137 (gdb)
29138 -break-watch C
29139 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
29140 (gdb)
29141 -break-list
29142 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
29143 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29144 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29145 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29146 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29147 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29148 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29149 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29150 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29151 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29152 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
29153 times="1"@},
29154 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
29155 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29156 (gdb)
29157 -exec-continue
29158 ^running
29159 (gdb)
29160 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
29161 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
29162 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
29163 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29164 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
29165 (gdb)
29166 -break-list
29167 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
29168 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29169 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29170 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29171 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29172 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29173 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29174 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29175 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29176 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29177 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
29178 times="1"@},
29179 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
29180 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
29181 (gdb)
29182 -exec-continue
29183 ^running
29184 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
29185 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
29186 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
29187 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29188 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
29189 (gdb)
29190 -break-list
29191 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29192 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29193 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29194 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29195 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29196 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29197 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29198 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29199 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29200 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29201 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
29202 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
29203 (gdb)
29204 @end smallexample
29205
29206
29207 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29208 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
29209 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
29210
29211 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
29212 catchpoints.
29213
29214 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
29215 @findex -catch-load
29216
29217 @subsubheading Synopsis
29218
29219 @smallexample
29220 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
29221 @end smallexample
29222
29223 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
29224 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
29225 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
29226 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
29227 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
29228
29229
29230 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29231
29232 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
29233
29234 @subsubheading Example
29235
29236 @smallexample
29237 -catch-load -t foo.so
29238 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
29239 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
29240 (gdb)
29241 @end smallexample
29242
29243
29244 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
29245 @findex -catch-unload
29246
29247 @subsubheading Synopsis
29248
29249 @smallexample
29250 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
29251 @end smallexample
29252
29253 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
29254 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
29255 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
29256 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
29257 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
29258
29259 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29260
29261 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
29262
29263 @subsubheading Example
29264
29265 @smallexample
29266 -catch-unload -d bar.so
29267 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
29268 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
29269 (gdb)
29270 @end smallexample
29271
29272
29273 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29274 @node GDB/MI Program Context
29275 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
29276
29277 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
29278 @findex -exec-arguments
29279
29280
29281 @subsubheading Synopsis
29282
29283 @smallexample
29284 -exec-arguments @var{args}
29285 @end smallexample
29286
29287 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
29288 @samp{-exec-run}.
29289
29290 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29291
29292 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
29293
29294 @subsubheading Example
29295
29296 @smallexample
29297 (gdb)
29298 -exec-arguments -v word
29299 ^done
29300 (gdb)
29301 @end smallexample
29302
29303
29304 @ignore
29305 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
29306 @findex -exec-show-arguments
29307
29308 @subsubheading Synopsis
29309
29310 @smallexample
29311 -exec-show-arguments
29312 @end smallexample
29313
29314 Print the arguments of the program.
29315
29316 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29317
29318 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
29319
29320 @subsubheading Example
29321 N.A.
29322 @end ignore
29323
29324
29325 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
29326 @findex -environment-cd
29327
29328 @subsubheading Synopsis
29329
29330 @smallexample
29331 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
29332 @end smallexample
29333
29334 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
29335
29336 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29337
29338 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
29339
29340 @subsubheading Example
29341
29342 @smallexample
29343 (gdb)
29344 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
29345 ^done
29346 (gdb)
29347 @end smallexample
29348
29349
29350 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
29351 @findex -environment-directory
29352
29353 @subsubheading Synopsis
29354
29355 @smallexample
29356 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
29357 @end smallexample
29358
29359 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
29360 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
29361 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
29362 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
29363 occurs as normal.
29364 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
29365 multiple directories in a single command
29366 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
29367 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
29368 If blanks are needed as
29369 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
29370 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
29371 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
29372 character must not be used
29373 in any directory name.
29374 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
29375
29376 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29377
29378 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
29379
29380 @subsubheading Example
29381
29382 @smallexample
29383 (gdb)
29384 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
29385 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
29386 (gdb)
29387 -environment-directory ""
29388 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
29389 (gdb)
29390 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
29391 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
29392 (gdb)
29393 -environment-directory -r
29394 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
29395 (gdb)
29396 @end smallexample
29397
29398
29399 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
29400 @findex -environment-path
29401
29402 @subsubheading Synopsis
29403
29404 @smallexample
29405 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
29406 @end smallexample
29407
29408 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
29409 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
29410 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
29411 supplied in addition to the
29412 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
29413 occurs as normal.
29414 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
29415 multiple directories in a single command
29416 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
29417 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
29418 If blanks are needed as
29419 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
29420 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
29421 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
29422 character must not be used
29423 in any directory name.
29424 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
29425
29426
29427 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29428
29429 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
29430
29431 @subsubheading Example
29432
29433 @smallexample
29434 (gdb)
29435 -environment-path
29436 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
29437 (gdb)
29438 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
29439 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
29440 (gdb)
29441 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
29442 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
29443 (gdb)
29444 @end smallexample
29445
29446
29447 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
29448 @findex -environment-pwd
29449
29450 @subsubheading Synopsis
29451
29452 @smallexample
29453 -environment-pwd
29454 @end smallexample
29455
29456 Show the current working directory.
29457
29458 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29459
29460 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
29461
29462 @subsubheading Example
29463
29464 @smallexample
29465 (gdb)
29466 -environment-pwd
29467 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
29468 (gdb)
29469 @end smallexample
29470
29471 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29472 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
29473 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
29474
29475
29476 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
29477 @findex -thread-info
29478
29479 @subsubheading Synopsis
29480
29481 @smallexample
29482 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
29483 @end smallexample
29484
29485 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
29486 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
29487 threads. When printing information about all threads,
29488 also reports the current thread.
29489
29490 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29491
29492 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
29493 about all threads.
29494
29495 @subsubheading Result
29496
29497 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
29498 defined for a given thread:
29499
29500 @table @samp
29501 @item current
29502 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
29503
29504 @item id
29505 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
29506
29507 @item target-id
29508 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
29509
29510 @item details
29511 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
29512 field is optional.
29513
29514 @item name
29515 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
29516 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
29517 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
29518 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
29519 field is omitted.
29520
29521 @item frame
29522 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
29523
29524 @item state
29525 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
29526 values:
29527
29528 @table @code
29529 @item stopped
29530 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
29531 threads.
29532
29533 @item running
29534 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
29535 threads.
29536
29537 @end table
29538
29539 @item core
29540 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
29541 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
29542
29543 @end table
29544
29545 @subsubheading Example
29546
29547 @smallexample
29548 -thread-info
29549 ^done,threads=[
29550 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
29551 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
29552 args=[]@},state="running"@},
29553 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
29554 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
29555 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
29556 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
29557 state="running"@}],
29558 current-thread-id="1"
29559 (gdb)
29560 @end smallexample
29561
29562 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
29563 @findex -thread-list-ids
29564
29565 @subsubheading Synopsis
29566
29567 @smallexample
29568 -thread-list-ids
29569 @end smallexample
29570
29571 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
29572 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
29573
29574 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
29575 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
29576
29577 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29578
29579 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
29580
29581 @subsubheading Example
29582
29583 @smallexample
29584 (gdb)
29585 -thread-list-ids
29586 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
29587 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
29588 (gdb)
29589 @end smallexample
29590
29591
29592 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
29593 @findex -thread-select
29594
29595 @subsubheading Synopsis
29596
29597 @smallexample
29598 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
29599 @end smallexample
29600
29601 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
29602 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
29603
29604 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
29605 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
29606
29607 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29608
29609 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
29610
29611 @subsubheading Example
29612
29613 @smallexample
29614 (gdb)
29615 -exec-next
29616 ^running
29617 (gdb)
29618 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
29619 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
29620 (gdb)
29621 -thread-list-ids
29622 ^done,
29623 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
29624 number-of-threads="3"
29625 (gdb)
29626 -thread-select 3
29627 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
29628 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
29629 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
29630 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
29631 (gdb)
29632 @end smallexample
29633
29634 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29635 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
29636 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
29637
29638 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
29639 @findex -ada-task-info
29640
29641 @subsubheading Synopsis
29642
29643 @smallexample
29644 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
29645 @end smallexample
29646
29647 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
29648 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
29649
29650 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29651
29652 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
29653 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
29654
29655 @subsubheading Result
29656
29657 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
29658 defined for each Ada task:
29659
29660 @table @samp
29661 @item current
29662 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
29663
29664 @item id
29665 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
29666
29667 @item task-id
29668 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
29669
29670 @item thread-id
29671 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
29672
29673 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
29674 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
29675 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
29676
29677 @item parent-id
29678 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
29679 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
29680
29681 @item priority
29682 The base priority of the task.
29683
29684 @item state
29685 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
29686 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
29687
29688 @item name
29689 The name of the task.
29690
29691 @end table
29692
29693 @subsubheading Example
29694
29695 @smallexample
29696 -ada-task-info
29697 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
29698 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
29699 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
29700 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
29701 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
29702 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
29703 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
29704 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
29705 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
29706 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
29707 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
29708 (gdb)
29709 @end smallexample
29710
29711 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29712 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
29713 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
29714
29715 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
29716 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
29717 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
29718 other cases.
29719
29720 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
29721 @findex -exec-continue
29722
29723 @subsubheading Synopsis
29724
29725 @smallexample
29726 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
29727 @end smallexample
29728
29729 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
29730 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
29731 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
29732 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
29733 @itemize @bullet
29734 @item
29735 breakpoints or watchpoints
29736 @item
29737 signals or exceptions
29738 @item
29739 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
29740 @item
29741 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
29742 @end itemize
29743 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
29744 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
29745 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
29746 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
29747 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
29748 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
29749
29750 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29751
29752 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
29753
29754 @subsubheading Example
29755
29756 @smallexample
29757 -exec-continue
29758 ^running
29759 (gdb)
29760 @@Hello world
29761 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
29762 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
29763 line="13"@}
29764 (gdb)
29765 @end smallexample
29766
29767
29768 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
29769 @findex -exec-finish
29770
29771 @subsubheading Synopsis
29772
29773 @smallexample
29774 -exec-finish [--reverse]
29775 @end smallexample
29776
29777 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
29778 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
29779 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
29780 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
29781 function was called.
29782
29783 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29784
29785 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
29786
29787 @subsubheading Example
29788
29789 Function returning @code{void}.
29790
29791 @smallexample
29792 -exec-finish
29793 ^running
29794 (gdb)
29795 @@hello from foo
29796 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29797 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
29798 (gdb)
29799 @end smallexample
29800
29801 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
29802 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
29803 value itself.
29804
29805 @smallexample
29806 -exec-finish
29807 ^running
29808 (gdb)
29809 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
29810 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
29811 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29812 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
29813 (gdb)
29814 @end smallexample
29815
29816
29817 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
29818 @findex -exec-interrupt
29819
29820 @subsubheading Synopsis
29821
29822 @smallexample
29823 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
29824 @end smallexample
29825
29826 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
29827 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
29828 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
29829 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
29830 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
29831
29832 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
29833 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
29834 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
29835 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
29836
29837 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
29838 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
29839 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
29840 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
29841
29842 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29843
29844 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
29845
29846 @subsubheading Example
29847
29848 @smallexample
29849 (gdb)
29850 111-exec-continue
29851 111^running
29852
29853 (gdb)
29854 222-exec-interrupt
29855 222^done
29856 (gdb)
29857 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
29858 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29859 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
29860 (gdb)
29861
29862 (gdb)
29863 -exec-interrupt
29864 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
29865 (gdb)
29866 @end smallexample
29867
29868 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
29869 @findex -exec-jump
29870
29871 @subsubheading Synopsis
29872
29873 @smallexample
29874 -exec-jump @var{location}
29875 @end smallexample
29876
29877 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
29878 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
29879 different forms of @var{location}.
29880
29881 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29882
29883 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
29884
29885 @subsubheading Example
29886
29887 @smallexample
29888 -exec-jump foo.c:10
29889 *running,thread-id="all"
29890 ^running
29891 @end smallexample
29892
29893
29894 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
29895 @findex -exec-next
29896
29897 @subsubheading Synopsis
29898
29899 @smallexample
29900 -exec-next [--reverse]
29901 @end smallexample
29902
29903 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29904 of the next source line is reached.
29905
29906 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29907 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
29908 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
29909 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
29910 source line where the function was called.
29911
29912
29913 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29914
29915 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
29916
29917 @subsubheading Example
29918
29919 @smallexample
29920 -exec-next
29921 ^running
29922 (gdb)
29923 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
29924 (gdb)
29925 @end smallexample
29926
29927
29928 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
29929 @findex -exec-next-instruction
29930
29931 @subsubheading Synopsis
29932
29933 @smallexample
29934 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
29935 @end smallexample
29936
29937 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
29938 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
29939 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
29940 printed as well.
29941
29942 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29943 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
29944 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
29945 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
29946 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
29947
29948 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29949
29950 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
29951
29952 @subsubheading Example
29953
29954 @smallexample
29955 (gdb)
29956 -exec-next-instruction
29957 ^running
29958
29959 (gdb)
29960 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29961 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
29962 (gdb)
29963 @end smallexample
29964
29965
29966 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
29967 @findex -exec-return
29968
29969 @subsubheading Synopsis
29970
29971 @smallexample
29972 -exec-return
29973 @end smallexample
29974
29975 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
29976 Displays the new current frame.
29977
29978 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29979
29980 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
29981
29982 @subsubheading Example
29983
29984 @smallexample
29985 (gdb)
29986 200-break-insert callee4
29987 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
29988 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29989 (gdb)
29990 000-exec-run
29991 000^running
29992 (gdb)
29993 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29994 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
29995 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29996 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29997 (gdb)
29998 205-break-delete
29999 205^done
30000 (gdb)
30001 111-exec-return
30002 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
30003 args=[@{name="strarg",
30004 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30005 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30006 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30007 (gdb)
30008 @end smallexample
30009
30010
30011 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
30012 @findex -exec-run
30013
30014 @subsubheading Synopsis
30015
30016 @smallexample
30017 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
30018 @end smallexample
30019
30020 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
30021 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
30022 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
30023 the program has exited exceptionally.
30024
30025 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
30026 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
30027 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
30028 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
30029
30030 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30031
30032 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
30033
30034 @subsubheading Examples
30035
30036 @smallexample
30037 (gdb)
30038 -break-insert main
30039 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
30040 (gdb)
30041 -exec-run
30042 ^running
30043 (gdb)
30044 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
30045 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30046 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
30047 (gdb)
30048 @end smallexample
30049
30050 @noindent
30051 Program exited normally:
30052
30053 @smallexample
30054 (gdb)
30055 -exec-run
30056 ^running
30057 (gdb)
30058 x = 55
30059 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
30060 (gdb)
30061 @end smallexample
30062
30063 @noindent
30064 Program exited exceptionally:
30065
30066 @smallexample
30067 (gdb)
30068 -exec-run
30069 ^running
30070 (gdb)
30071 x = 55
30072 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
30073 (gdb)
30074 @end smallexample
30075
30076 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
30077 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
30078
30079 @smallexample
30080 (gdb)
30081 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
30082 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
30083 @end smallexample
30084
30085
30086 @c @subheading -exec-signal
30087
30088
30089 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
30090 @findex -exec-step
30091
30092 @subsubheading Synopsis
30093
30094 @smallexample
30095 -exec-step [--reverse]
30096 @end smallexample
30097
30098 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
30099 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
30100 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
30101 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
30102 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
30103 previously executed source line.
30104
30105 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30106
30107 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
30108
30109 @subsubheading Example
30110
30111 Stepping into a function:
30112
30113 @smallexample
30114 -exec-step
30115 ^running
30116 (gdb)
30117 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
30118 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
30119 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
30120 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
30121 (gdb)
30122 @end smallexample
30123
30124 Regular stepping:
30125
30126 @smallexample
30127 -exec-step
30128 ^running
30129 (gdb)
30130 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
30131 (gdb)
30132 @end smallexample
30133
30134
30135 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
30136 @findex -exec-step-instruction
30137
30138 @subsubheading Synopsis
30139
30140 @smallexample
30141 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
30142 @end smallexample
30143
30144 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
30145 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
30146 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
30147 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
30148 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
30149 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
30150 as well.
30151
30152 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30153
30154 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
30155
30156 @subsubheading Example
30157
30158 @smallexample
30159 (gdb)
30160 -exec-step-instruction
30161 ^running
30162
30163 (gdb)
30164 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
30165 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
30166 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
30167 (gdb)
30168 -exec-step-instruction
30169 ^running
30170
30171 (gdb)
30172 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
30173 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
30174 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
30175 (gdb)
30176 @end smallexample
30177
30178
30179 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
30180 @findex -exec-until
30181
30182 @subsubheading Synopsis
30183
30184 @smallexample
30185 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
30186 @end smallexample
30187
30188 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
30189 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
30190 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
30191 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
30192
30193 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30194
30195 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
30196
30197 @subsubheading Example
30198
30199 @smallexample
30200 (gdb)
30201 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
30202 ^running
30203 (gdb)
30204 x = 55
30205 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
30206 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
30207 (gdb)
30208 @end smallexample
30209
30210 @ignore
30211 @subheading -file-clear
30212 Is this going away????
30213 @end ignore
30214
30215 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30216 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
30217 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
30218
30219
30220 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
30221 @findex -stack-info-frame
30222
30223 @subsubheading Synopsis
30224
30225 @smallexample
30226 -stack-info-frame
30227 @end smallexample
30228
30229 Get info on the selected frame.
30230
30231 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30232
30233 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
30234 (without arguments).
30235
30236 @subsubheading Example
30237
30238 @smallexample
30239 (gdb)
30240 -stack-info-frame
30241 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
30242 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30243 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
30244 (gdb)
30245 @end smallexample
30246
30247 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
30248 @findex -stack-info-depth
30249
30250 @subsubheading Synopsis
30251
30252 @smallexample
30253 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
30254 @end smallexample
30255
30256 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
30257 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
30258
30259 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30260
30261 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
30262
30263 @subsubheading Example
30264
30265 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
30266
30267 @smallexample
30268 (gdb)
30269 -stack-info-depth
30270 ^done,depth="12"
30271 (gdb)
30272 -stack-info-depth 4
30273 ^done,depth="4"
30274 (gdb)
30275 -stack-info-depth 12
30276 ^done,depth="12"
30277 (gdb)
30278 -stack-info-depth 11
30279 ^done,depth="11"
30280 (gdb)
30281 -stack-info-depth 13
30282 ^done,depth="12"
30283 (gdb)
30284 @end smallexample
30285
30286 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
30287 @findex -stack-list-arguments
30288
30289 @subsubheading Synopsis
30290
30291 @smallexample
30292 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
30293 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
30294 @end smallexample
30295
30296 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
30297 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
30298 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
30299 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
30300 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
30301 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
30302 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
30303 which case only existing frames will be returned.
30304
30305 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
30306 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
30307 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
30308 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
30309 structures and unions.
30310
30311 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
30312 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
30313
30314 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30315
30316 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
30317 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
30318 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
30319
30320 @subsubheading Example
30321
30322 @smallexample
30323 (gdb)
30324 -stack-list-frames
30325 ^done,
30326 stack=[
30327 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30328 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30329 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
30330 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
30331 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30332 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
30333 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
30334 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30335 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
30336 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
30337 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30338 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
30339 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
30340 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30341 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
30342 (gdb)
30343 -stack-list-arguments 0
30344 ^done,
30345 stack-args=[
30346 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
30347 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
30348 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
30349 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
30350 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
30351 (gdb)
30352 -stack-list-arguments 1
30353 ^done,
30354 stack-args=[
30355 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
30356 frame=@{level="1",
30357 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
30358 frame=@{level="2",args=[
30359 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
30360 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
30361 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
30362 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
30363 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
30364 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
30365 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
30366 (gdb)
30367 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
30368 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
30369 (gdb)
30370 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
30371 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
30372 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
30373 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
30374 (gdb)
30375 @end smallexample
30376
30377 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
30378
30379
30380 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
30381 @findex -stack-list-frames
30382
30383 @subsubheading Synopsis
30384
30385 @smallexample
30386 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
30387 @end smallexample
30388
30389 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
30390 following info:
30391
30392 @table @samp
30393 @item @var{level}
30394 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
30395 @item @var{addr}
30396 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
30397 @item @var{func}
30398 Function name.
30399 @item @var{file}
30400 File name of the source file where the function lives.
30401 @item @var{fullname}
30402 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
30403 @item @var{line}
30404 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
30405 @item @var{from}
30406 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
30407 if the frame's function is not known.
30408 @end table
30409
30410 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
30411 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
30412 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
30413 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
30414 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
30415 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
30416 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
30417
30418 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30419
30420 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
30421
30422 @subsubheading Example
30423
30424 Full stack backtrace:
30425
30426 @smallexample
30427 (gdb)
30428 -stack-list-frames
30429 ^done,stack=
30430 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
30431 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
30432 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30433 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30434 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30435 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30436 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30437 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30438 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30439 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30440 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30441 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30442 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30443 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30444 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30445 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30446 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30447 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30448 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30449 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30450 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30451 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30452 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
30453 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
30454 (gdb)
30455 @end smallexample
30456
30457 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
30458
30459 @smallexample
30460 (gdb)
30461 -stack-list-frames 3 5
30462 ^done,stack=
30463 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30464 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30465 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30466 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30467 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30468 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
30469 (gdb)
30470 @end smallexample
30471
30472 Show a single frame:
30473
30474 @smallexample
30475 (gdb)
30476 -stack-list-frames 3 3
30477 ^done,stack=
30478 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30479 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
30480 (gdb)
30481 @end smallexample
30482
30483
30484 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
30485 @findex -stack-list-locals
30486
30487 @subsubheading Synopsis
30488
30489 @smallexample
30490 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
30491 @end smallexample
30492
30493 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
30494 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
30495 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
30496 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
30497 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
30498 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
30499 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
30500 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
30501 more detail.
30502
30503 This command is deprecated in favor of the
30504 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
30505
30506 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30507
30508 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
30509
30510 @subsubheading Example
30511
30512 @smallexample
30513 (gdb)
30514 -stack-list-locals 0
30515 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
30516 (gdb)
30517 -stack-list-locals --all-values
30518 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
30519 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
30520 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
30521 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
30522 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
30523 (gdb)
30524 @end smallexample
30525
30526 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
30527 @findex -stack-list-variables
30528
30529 @subsubheading Synopsis
30530
30531 @smallexample
30532 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
30533 @end smallexample
30534
30535 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
30536 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
30537 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
30538 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
30539 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
30540 structures and unions.
30541
30542 @subsubheading Example
30543
30544 @smallexample
30545 (gdb)
30546 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
30547 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
30548 (gdb)
30549 @end smallexample
30550
30551
30552 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
30553 @findex -stack-select-frame
30554
30555 @subsubheading Synopsis
30556
30557 @smallexample
30558 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
30559 @end smallexample
30560
30561 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
30562 the stack.
30563
30564 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
30565 option to every command.
30566
30567 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30568
30569 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
30570 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
30571
30572 @subsubheading Example
30573
30574 @smallexample
30575 (gdb)
30576 -stack-select-frame 2
30577 ^done
30578 (gdb)
30579 @end smallexample
30580
30581 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30582 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
30583 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
30584
30585 @ignore
30586
30587 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
30588
30589 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
30590 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
30591 used by @code{Insight}.
30592
30593 The two main reasons for that are:
30594
30595 @enumerate 1
30596 @item
30597 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
30598
30599 @item
30600 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
30601 now).
30602 @end enumerate
30603
30604 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
30605 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
30606 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
30607 hints about their use.
30608
30609 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
30610 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
30611 least, the following operations:
30612
30613 @itemize @bullet
30614 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
30615 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
30616 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
30617 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
30618 @end itemize
30619
30620 @end ignore
30621
30622 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
30623
30624 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
30625
30626 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
30627 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
30628 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
30629 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
30630 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
30631 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
30632 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
30633 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
30634 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
30635 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
30636 object, or to change display format.
30637
30638 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
30639 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
30640 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
30641 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
30642 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
30643 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
30644 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
30645 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
30646 child will be created.
30647
30648 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
30649 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
30650 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
30651 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
30652 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
30653
30654 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
30655 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
30656 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
30657 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
30658 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
30659 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
30660 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
30661 variables that frontend has created.
30662
30663 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
30664 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
30665 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
30666 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
30667 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
30668 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
30669 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
30670 implicitly updated.
30671
30672 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
30673 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
30674 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
30675 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
30676 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
30677 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
30678 frame. Consider this example:
30679
30680 @smallexample
30681 void do_work(...)
30682 @{
30683 struct work_state state;
30684
30685 if (...)
30686 do_work(...);
30687 @}
30688 @end smallexample
30689
30690 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
30691 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
30692 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
30693 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
30694 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
30695
30696 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
30697 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
30698 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
30699 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
30700 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
30701 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
30702
30703 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
30704 access this functionality:
30705
30706 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
30707 @item @strong{Operation}
30708 @tab @strong{Description}
30709
30710 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
30711 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
30712 @item @code{-var-create}
30713 @tab create a variable object
30714 @item @code{-var-delete}
30715 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
30716 @item @code{-var-set-format}
30717 @tab set the display format of this variable
30718 @item @code{-var-show-format}
30719 @tab show the display format of this variable
30720 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
30721 @tab tells how many children this object has
30722 @item @code{-var-list-children}
30723 @tab return a list of the object's children
30724 @item @code{-var-info-type}
30725 @tab show the type of this variable object
30726 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
30727 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
30728 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
30729 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
30730 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
30731 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
30732 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
30733 @tab get the value of this variable
30734 @item @code{-var-assign}
30735 @tab set the value of this variable
30736 @item @code{-var-update}
30737 @tab update the variable and its children
30738 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
30739 @tab set frozeness attribute
30740 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
30741 @tab set range of children to display on update
30742 @end multitable
30743
30744 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
30745 how it can be used.
30746
30747 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
30748
30749 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
30750 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
30751
30752 @smallexample
30753 -enable-pretty-printing
30754 @end smallexample
30755
30756 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
30757 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
30758 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
30759 request that this functionality be enabled.
30760
30761 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
30762
30763 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
30764 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
30765
30766 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
30767 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
30768
30769 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
30770 @findex -var-create
30771
30772 @subsubheading Synopsis
30773
30774 @smallexample
30775 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
30776 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
30777 @end smallexample
30778
30779 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
30780 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
30781 register.
30782
30783 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
30784 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
30785 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
30786 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
30787 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
30788
30789 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
30790 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
30791 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
30792 object must be created.
30793
30794 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
30795 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
30796
30797 @itemize @bullet
30798 @item
30799 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
30800
30801 @item
30802 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
30803
30804 @item
30805 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
30806 @end itemize
30807
30808 @cindex dynamic varobj
30809 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
30810 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
30811 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
30812 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
30813 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
30814 compatibility for existing clients.
30815
30816 @subsubheading Result
30817
30818 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
30819 are:
30820
30821 @table @samp
30822 @item name
30823 The name of the varobj.
30824
30825 @item numchild
30826 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
30827 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
30828 @samp{has_more} attribute.
30829
30830 @item value
30831 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
30832 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
30833 will not be interesting.
30834
30835 @item type
30836 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
30837 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
30838 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30839 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30840 @emph{declared} one.
30841
30842 @item thread-id
30843 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
30844 thread's identifier.
30845
30846 @item has_more
30847 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
30848 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
30849
30850 @item dynamic
30851 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30852 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30853 then this attribute will not be present.
30854
30855 @item displayhint
30856 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30857 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30858 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30859 @end table
30860
30861 Typical output will look like this:
30862
30863 @smallexample
30864 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
30865 has_more="@var{has_more}"
30866 @end smallexample
30867
30868
30869 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
30870 @findex -var-delete
30871
30872 @subsubheading Synopsis
30873
30874 @smallexample
30875 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
30876 @end smallexample
30877
30878 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
30879 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
30880
30881 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
30882
30883
30884 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
30885 @findex -var-set-format
30886
30887 @subsubheading Synopsis
30888
30889 @smallexample
30890 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
30891 @end smallexample
30892
30893 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
30894 @var{format-spec}.
30895
30896 @anchor{-var-set-format}
30897 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
30898
30899 @smallexample
30900 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
30901 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
30902 @end smallexample
30903
30904 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
30905 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
30906 for pointers, etc.).
30907
30908 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
30909 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
30910
30911 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
30912 @findex -var-show-format
30913
30914 @subsubheading Synopsis
30915
30916 @smallexample
30917 -var-show-format @var{name}
30918 @end smallexample
30919
30920 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
30921
30922 @smallexample
30923 @var{format} @expansion{}
30924 @var{format-spec}
30925 @end smallexample
30926
30927
30928 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
30929 @findex -var-info-num-children
30930
30931 @subsubheading Synopsis
30932
30933 @smallexample
30934 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
30935 @end smallexample
30936
30937 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
30938
30939 @smallexample
30940 numchild=@var{n}
30941 @end smallexample
30942
30943 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
30944 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
30945 be available.
30946
30947
30948 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
30949 @findex -var-list-children
30950
30951 @subsubheading Synopsis
30952
30953 @smallexample
30954 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
30955 @end smallexample
30956 @anchor{-var-list-children}
30957
30958 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
30959 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
30960 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
30961 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
30962 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
30963 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
30964 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
30965 and unions.
30966
30967 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
30968 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
30969 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
30970 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
30971 reported.
30972
30973 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
30974 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
30975 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
30976 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
30977 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
30978 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
30979 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
30980 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
30981 the visible items.
30982
30983 For each child the following results are returned:
30984
30985 @table @var
30986
30987 @item name
30988 Name of the variable object created for this child.
30989
30990 @item exp
30991 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
30992 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
30993
30994 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
30995 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
30996
30997 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
30998 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
30999 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
31000 type and value are not present.
31001
31002 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
31003 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
31004 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
31005
31006 @item numchild
31007 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
31008 0.
31009
31010 @item type
31011 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
31012 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
31013 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
31014 @emph{declared} one.
31015
31016 @item value
31017 If values were requested, this is the value.
31018
31019 @item thread-id
31020 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
31021 Otherwise this result is not present.
31022
31023 @item frozen
31024 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
31025 @end table
31026
31027 The result may have its own attributes:
31028
31029 @table @samp
31030 @item displayhint
31031 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
31032 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
31033 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
31034
31035 @item has_more
31036 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
31037 remaining after the end of the selected range.
31038 @end table
31039
31040 @subsubheading Example
31041
31042 @smallexample
31043 (gdb)
31044 -var-list-children n
31045 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
31046 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
31047 (gdb)
31048 -var-list-children --all-values n
31049 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
31050 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
31051 @end smallexample
31052
31053
31054 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
31055 @findex -var-info-type
31056
31057 @subsubheading Synopsis
31058
31059 @smallexample
31060 -var-info-type @var{name}
31061 @end smallexample
31062
31063 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
31064 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
31065 @value{GDBN} CLI:
31066
31067 @smallexample
31068 type=@var{typename}
31069 @end smallexample
31070
31071
31072 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
31073 @findex -var-info-expression
31074
31075 @subsubheading Synopsis
31076
31077 @smallexample
31078 -var-info-expression @var{name}
31079 @end smallexample
31080
31081 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
31082 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
31083 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
31084
31085 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
31086 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
31087
31088 @smallexample
31089 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
31090 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
31091 @end smallexample
31092
31093 @noindent
31094 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
31095
31096 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
31097 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
31098 is of limited use.
31099
31100 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
31101 @findex -var-info-path-expression
31102
31103 @subsubheading Synopsis
31104
31105 @smallexample
31106 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
31107 @end smallexample
31108
31109 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
31110 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
31111 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
31112 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
31113 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
31114 watchpoint from a variable object.
31115
31116 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
31117 and will give an error when invoked on one.
31118
31119 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
31120 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
31121 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
31122 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
31123 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
31124 @smallexample
31125 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
31126 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
31127 @end smallexample
31128
31129 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
31130 @findex -var-show-attributes
31131
31132 @subsubheading Synopsis
31133
31134 @smallexample
31135 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
31136 @end smallexample
31137
31138 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
31139
31140 @smallexample
31141 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
31142 @end smallexample
31143
31144 @noindent
31145 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
31146
31147 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
31148 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
31149
31150 @subsubheading Synopsis
31151
31152 @smallexample
31153 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
31154 @end smallexample
31155
31156 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
31157 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
31158 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
31159 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
31160 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
31161 the current display format will be used. The current display format
31162 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
31163
31164 @smallexample
31165 value=@var{value}
31166 @end smallexample
31167
31168 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
31169 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
31170
31171 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
31172 @findex -var-assign
31173
31174 @subsubheading Synopsis
31175
31176 @smallexample
31177 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
31178 @end smallexample
31179
31180 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
31181 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
31182 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
31183 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
31184
31185 @subsubheading Example
31186
31187 @smallexample
31188 (gdb)
31189 -var-assign var1 3
31190 ^done,value="3"
31191 (gdb)
31192 -var-update *
31193 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
31194 (gdb)
31195 @end smallexample
31196
31197 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
31198 @findex -var-update
31199
31200 @subsubheading Synopsis
31201
31202 @smallexample
31203 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
31204 @end smallexample
31205
31206 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
31207 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
31208 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
31209 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
31210 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
31211 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
31212 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
31213 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
31214 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
31215 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
31216 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
31217 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
31218 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
31219
31220 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
31221 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
31222 diagnostic.
31223
31224 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
31225 only the selected range of children will be reported.
31226
31227 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
31228 @samp{changelist}.
31229
31230 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
31231
31232 @table @samp
31233 @item name
31234 The name of the varobj.
31235
31236 @item value
31237 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
31238 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
31239
31240 @item in_scope
31241 @anchor{-var-update}
31242 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
31243
31244 @table @code
31245 @item "true"
31246 The variable object's current value is valid.
31247
31248 @item "false"
31249 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
31250 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
31251 scope.
31252
31253 @item "invalid"
31254 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
31255 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
31256 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
31257 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
31258 objects.
31259 @end table
31260
31261 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
31262 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
31263
31264 @item type_changed
31265 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
31266 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
31267 be @samp{false}.
31268
31269 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
31270 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
31271 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
31272 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
31273 unset.
31274
31275 @item new_type
31276 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
31277 hold the new type.
31278
31279 @item new_num_children
31280 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
31281 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
31282
31283 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
31284 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
31285 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
31286 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
31287 children which may be available.
31288
31289 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
31290 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
31291 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
31292 only happen at the end of the update range).
31293
31294 @item displayhint
31295 The display hint, if any.
31296
31297 @item has_more
31298 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
31299 available outside the varobj's update range.
31300
31301 @item dynamic
31302 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
31303 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
31304 then this attribute will not be present.
31305
31306 @item new_children
31307 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
31308 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
31309 be listed in this attribute.
31310 @end table
31311
31312 @subsubheading Example
31313
31314 @smallexample
31315 (gdb)
31316 -var-assign var1 3
31317 ^done,value="3"
31318 (gdb)
31319 -var-update --all-values var1
31320 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
31321 type_changed="false"@}]
31322 (gdb)
31323 @end smallexample
31324
31325 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
31326 @findex -var-set-frozen
31327 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
31328
31329 @subsubheading Synopsis
31330
31331 @smallexample
31332 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
31333 @end smallexample
31334
31335 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
31336 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
31337 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
31338 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
31339 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
31340 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
31341 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
31342 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
31343 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
31344 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
31345 @code{-var-update} does.
31346
31347 @subsubheading Example
31348
31349 @smallexample
31350 (gdb)
31351 -var-set-frozen V 1
31352 ^done
31353 (gdb)
31354 @end smallexample
31355
31356 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
31357 @findex -var-set-update-range
31358 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
31359
31360 @subsubheading Synopsis
31361
31362 @smallexample
31363 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
31364 @end smallexample
31365
31366 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
31367 @code{-var-update}.
31368
31369 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
31370 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
31371 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
31372 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
31373
31374 @subsubheading Example
31375
31376 @smallexample
31377 (gdb)
31378 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
31379 ^done
31380 @end smallexample
31381
31382 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
31383 @findex -var-set-visualizer
31384 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
31385
31386 @subsubheading Synopsis
31387
31388 @smallexample
31389 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
31390 @end smallexample
31391
31392 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
31393
31394 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
31395 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
31396
31397 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
31398 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
31399 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
31400 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
31401 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
31402 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
31403 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
31404
31405 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
31406 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
31407 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
31408 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
31409
31410 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
31411 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
31412 can be used to check this.
31413
31414 @subsubheading Example
31415
31416 Resetting the visualizer:
31417
31418 @smallexample
31419 (gdb)
31420 -var-set-visualizer V None
31421 ^done
31422 @end smallexample
31423
31424 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
31425
31426 @smallexample
31427 (gdb)
31428 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
31429 ^done
31430 @end smallexample
31431
31432 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
31433 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
31434
31435 @smallexample
31436 (gdb)
31437 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
31438 ^done
31439 @end smallexample
31440
31441 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31442 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
31443 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
31444
31445 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
31446 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
31447 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
31448 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
31449
31450 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
31451 @c @subheading -data-assign
31452 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
31453 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
31454 @c set variable
31455 @c @subsubheading Example
31456 @c N.A.
31457
31458 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
31459 @findex -data-disassemble
31460
31461 @subsubheading Synopsis
31462
31463 @smallexample
31464 -data-disassemble
31465 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
31466 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
31467 -- @var{mode}
31468 @end smallexample
31469
31470 @noindent
31471 Where:
31472
31473 @table @samp
31474 @item @var{start-addr}
31475 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
31476 @item @var{end-addr}
31477 is the end address
31478 @item @var{filename}
31479 is the name of the file to disassemble
31480 @item @var{linenum}
31481 is the line number to disassemble around
31482 @item @var{lines}
31483 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
31484 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
31485 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
31486 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
31487 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
31488 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
31489 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
31490 are displayed.
31491 @item @var{mode}
31492 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
31493 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
31494 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
31495 @end table
31496
31497 @subsubheading Result
31498
31499 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
31500 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
31501 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
31502
31503 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
31504 following fields:
31505
31506 @table @code
31507 @item address
31508 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
31509
31510 @item func-name
31511 The name of the function this instruction is within.
31512
31513 @item offset
31514 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
31515
31516 @item inst
31517 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
31518
31519 @item opcodes
31520 This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
31521 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
31522
31523 @end table
31524
31525 For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
31526 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
31527
31528 @table @code
31529 @item line
31530 The line number within @samp{file}.
31531
31532 @item file
31533 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
31534 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
31535 used.
31536
31537 @item fullname
31538 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
31539 using the source file search path
31540 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
31541 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
31542
31543 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
31544 present in the debug information.
31545
31546 @item line_asm_insn
31547 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
31548 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
31549 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
31550 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
31551 @samp{opcodes}.
31552
31553 @end table
31554
31555 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
31556 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
31557 adjust its format.
31558
31559 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31560
31561 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
31562
31563 @subsubheading Example
31564
31565 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
31566
31567 @smallexample
31568 (gdb)
31569 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
31570 ^done,
31571 asm_insns=[
31572 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31573 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31574 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31575 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31576 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
31577 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
31578 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
31579 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31580 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
31581 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
31582 (gdb)
31583 @end smallexample
31584
31585 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
31586 @code{main}.
31587
31588 @smallexample
31589 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
31590 ^done,asm_insns=[
31591 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
31592 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
31593 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31594 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31595 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31596 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31597 [@dots{}]
31598 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
31599 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
31600 (gdb)
31601 @end smallexample
31602
31603 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
31604
31605 @smallexample
31606 (gdb)
31607 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
31608 ^done,asm_insns=[
31609 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
31610 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
31611 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31612 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31613 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31614 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
31615 (gdb)
31616 @end smallexample
31617
31618 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
31619
31620 @smallexample
31621 (gdb)
31622 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
31623 ^done,asm_insns=[
31624 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
31625 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31626 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31627 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
31628 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
31629 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
31630 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31631 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31632 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
31633 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31634 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31635 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
31636 (gdb)
31637 @end smallexample
31638
31639
31640 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
31641 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
31642
31643 @subsubheading Synopsis
31644
31645 @smallexample
31646 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
31647 @end smallexample
31648
31649 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
31650 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
31651 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
31652
31653 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31654
31655 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
31656 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
31657 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
31658
31659 @subsubheading Example
31660
31661 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
31662 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
31663 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
31664 output.
31665
31666 @smallexample
31667 211-data-evaluate-expression A
31668 211^done,value="1"
31669 (gdb)
31670 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
31671 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
31672 (gdb)
31673 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
31674 411^done,value="4"
31675 (gdb)
31676 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
31677 511^done,value="4"
31678 (gdb)
31679 @end smallexample
31680
31681
31682 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
31683 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
31684
31685 @subsubheading Synopsis
31686
31687 @smallexample
31688 -data-list-changed-registers
31689 @end smallexample
31690
31691 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
31692
31693 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31694
31695 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
31696 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
31697
31698 @subsubheading Example
31699
31700 On a PPC MBX board:
31701
31702 @smallexample
31703 (gdb)
31704 -exec-continue
31705 ^running
31706
31707 (gdb)
31708 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
31709 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
31710 line="5"@}
31711 (gdb)
31712 -data-list-changed-registers
31713 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
31714 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
31715 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
31716 (gdb)
31717 @end smallexample
31718
31719
31720 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
31721 @findex -data-list-register-names
31722
31723 @subsubheading Synopsis
31724
31725 @smallexample
31726 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
31727 @end smallexample
31728
31729 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
31730 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
31731 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
31732 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
31733 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
31734 include empty register names.
31735
31736 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31737
31738 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
31739 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
31740 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
31741
31742 @subsubheading Example
31743
31744 For the PPC MBX board:
31745 @smallexample
31746 (gdb)
31747 -data-list-register-names
31748 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
31749 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
31750 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
31751 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
31752 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
31753 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
31754 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
31755 (gdb)
31756 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
31757 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
31758 (gdb)
31759 @end smallexample
31760
31761 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
31762 @findex -data-list-register-values
31763
31764 @subsubheading Synopsis
31765
31766 @smallexample
31767 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
31768 @end smallexample
31769
31770 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
31771 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
31772 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
31773 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
31774
31775 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
31776
31777 @table @code
31778 @item x
31779 Hexadecimal
31780 @item o
31781 Octal
31782 @item t
31783 Binary
31784 @item d
31785 Decimal
31786 @item r
31787 Raw
31788 @item N
31789 Natural
31790 @end table
31791
31792 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31793
31794 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
31795 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
31796
31797 @subsubheading Example
31798
31799 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
31800 don't appear in the actual output):
31801
31802 @smallexample
31803 (gdb)
31804 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
31805 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
31806 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
31807 (gdb)
31808 -data-list-register-values x
31809 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
31810 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
31811 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
31812 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
31813 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
31814 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
31815 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
31816 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
31817 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
31818 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
31819 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
31820 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
31821 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
31822 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
31823 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
31824 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
31825 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
31826 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
31827 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
31828 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
31829 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
31830 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
31831 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
31832 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
31833 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
31834 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
31835 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
31836 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
31837 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
31838 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
31839 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
31840 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
31841 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
31842 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
31843 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
31844 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
31845 (gdb)
31846 @end smallexample
31847
31848
31849 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
31850 @findex -data-read-memory
31851
31852 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
31853
31854 @subsubheading Synopsis
31855
31856 @smallexample
31857 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
31858 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
31859 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
31860 @end smallexample
31861
31862 @noindent
31863 where:
31864
31865 @table @samp
31866 @item @var{address}
31867 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31868 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31869 quoted using the C convention.
31870
31871 @item @var{word-format}
31872 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
31873 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
31874 ,Output Formats}).
31875
31876 @item @var{word-size}
31877 The size of each memory word in bytes.
31878
31879 @item @var{nr-rows}
31880 The number of rows in the output table.
31881
31882 @item @var{nr-cols}
31883 The number of columns in the output table.
31884
31885 @item @var{aschar}
31886 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
31887 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
31888 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
31889 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
31890
31891 @item @var{byte-offset}
31892 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
31893 @end table
31894
31895 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
31896 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
31897 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
31898 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
31899 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
31900 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
31901 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
31902 @samp{addr}.
31903
31904 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
31905 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
31906 @samp{prev-page}.
31907
31908 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31909
31910 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
31911 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
31912
31913 @subsubheading Example
31914
31915 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
31916 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
31917 word. Display each word in hex.
31918
31919 @smallexample
31920 (gdb)
31921 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
31922 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
31923 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
31924 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
31925 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
31926 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
31927 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
31928 (gdb)
31929 @end smallexample
31930
31931 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
31932 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
31933
31934 @smallexample
31935 (gdb)
31936 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
31937 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
31938 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
31939 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
31940 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
31941 (gdb)
31942 @end smallexample
31943
31944 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
31945 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
31946 used as the non-printable character.
31947
31948 @smallexample
31949 (gdb)
31950 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
31951 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
31952 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
31953 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
31954 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31955 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31956 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31957 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31958 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
31959 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
31960 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
31961 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
31962 (gdb)
31963 @end smallexample
31964
31965 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
31966 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
31967
31968 @subsubheading Synopsis
31969
31970 @smallexample
31971 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
31972 @var{address} @var{count}
31973 @end smallexample
31974
31975 @noindent
31976 where:
31977
31978 @table @samp
31979 @item @var{address}
31980 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31981 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31982 quoted using the C convention.
31983
31984 @item @var{count}
31985 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
31986
31987 @item @var{byte-offset}
31988 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
31989 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
31990 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
31991 perform address arithmetics itself.
31992
31993 @end table
31994
31995 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
31996 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
31997 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
31998 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
31999 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
32000 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
32001
32002 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
32003 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
32004 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
32005 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
32006 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
32007 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
32008 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
32009 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
32010
32011 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
32012 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
32013 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
32014 and has the following fields:
32015
32016 @table @code
32017 @item begin
32018 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
32019
32020 @item end
32021 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
32022
32023 @item offset
32024 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
32025 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
32026
32027 @item contents
32028 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
32029
32030 @end table
32031
32032
32033
32034 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32035
32036 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
32037
32038 @subsubheading Example
32039
32040 @smallexample
32041 (gdb)
32042 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
32043 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
32044 end="0xbffff15e",
32045 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
32046 (gdb)
32047 @end smallexample
32048
32049
32050 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
32051 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
32052
32053 @subsubheading Synopsis
32054
32055 @smallexample
32056 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
32057 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
32058 @end smallexample
32059
32060 @noindent
32061 where:
32062
32063 @table @samp
32064 @item @var{address}
32065 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
32066 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
32067 quoted using the C convention.
32068
32069 @item @var{contents}
32070 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
32071
32072 @item @var{count}
32073 Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
32074 is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
32075 write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
32076
32077 @end table
32078
32079 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32080
32081 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
32082
32083 @subsubheading Example
32084
32085 @smallexample
32086 (gdb)
32087 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
32088 ^done
32089 (gdb)
32090 @end smallexample
32091
32092 @smallexample
32093 (gdb)
32094 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
32095 ^done
32096 (gdb)
32097 @end smallexample
32098
32099 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32100 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
32101 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
32102
32103 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
32104 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
32105
32106 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
32107 @findex -trace-find
32108
32109 @subsubheading Synopsis
32110
32111 @smallexample
32112 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
32113 @end smallexample
32114
32115 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
32116 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
32117 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
32118
32119 @table @samp
32120
32121 @item none
32122 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
32123
32124 @item frame-number
32125 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
32126 that index.
32127
32128 @item tracepoint-number
32129 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
32130 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
32131
32132 @item pc
32133 An address is required as parameter. Finds
32134 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
32135 address.
32136
32137 @item pc-inside-range
32138 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
32139 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
32140 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
32141
32142 @item pc-outside-range
32143 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
32144 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
32145 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
32146
32147 @item line
32148 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
32149 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
32150 the specified location.
32151
32152 @end table
32153
32154 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
32155 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
32156
32157 @table @samp
32158 @item found
32159 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
32160 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
32161
32162 @item traceframe
32163 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
32164 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
32165
32166 @item tracepoint
32167 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
32168 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
32169
32170 @item frame
32171 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
32172 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
32173 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
32174
32175 @end table
32176
32177 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32178
32179 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
32180
32181 @subheading -trace-define-variable
32182 @findex -trace-define-variable
32183
32184 @subsubheading Synopsis
32185
32186 @smallexample
32187 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
32188 @end smallexample
32189
32190 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
32191 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
32192 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
32193 with the @samp{$} character.
32194
32195 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32196
32197 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
32198
32199 @subheading -trace-list-variables
32200 @findex -trace-list-variables
32201
32202 @subsubheading Synopsis
32203
32204 @smallexample
32205 -trace-list-variables
32206 @end smallexample
32207
32208 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
32209 table has the following fields:
32210
32211 @table @samp
32212 @item name
32213 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
32214
32215 @item initial
32216 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
32217 field is always present.
32218
32219 @item current
32220 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
32221 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
32222 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
32223 presently running.
32224
32225 @end table
32226
32227 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32228
32229 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
32230
32231 @subsubheading Example
32232
32233 @smallexample
32234 (gdb)
32235 -trace-list-variables
32236 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
32237 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
32238 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
32239 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
32240 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
32241 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
32242 (gdb)
32243 @end smallexample
32244
32245 @subheading -trace-save
32246 @findex -trace-save
32247
32248 @subsubheading Synopsis
32249
32250 @smallexample
32251 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
32252 @end smallexample
32253
32254 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
32255 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
32256 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
32257 to perform the save.
32258
32259 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32260
32261 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
32262
32263
32264 @subheading -trace-start
32265 @findex -trace-start
32266
32267 @subsubheading Synopsis
32268
32269 @smallexample
32270 -trace-start
32271 @end smallexample
32272
32273 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
32274 have any fields.
32275
32276 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32277
32278 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
32279
32280 @subheading -trace-status
32281 @findex -trace-status
32282
32283 @subsubheading Synopsis
32284
32285 @smallexample
32286 -trace-status
32287 @end smallexample
32288
32289 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
32290 the following fields:
32291
32292 @table @samp
32293
32294 @item supported
32295 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
32296 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
32297 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
32298 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
32299 started. This field is always present.
32300
32301 @item running
32302 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
32303 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
32304 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
32305
32306 @item stop-reason
32307 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
32308 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
32309 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
32310 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
32311 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
32312 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
32313 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
32314 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
32315 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
32316
32317 @item stopping-tracepoint
32318 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
32319 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
32320 @samp{passcount}.
32321
32322 @item frames
32323 @itemx frames-created
32324 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
32325 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
32326 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
32327 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
32328
32329 @item buffer-size
32330 @itemx buffer-free
32331 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
32332 remaining space. These fields are optional.
32333
32334 @item circular
32335 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
32336 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
32337 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
32338 and may fill up.
32339
32340 @item disconnected
32341 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
32342 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
32343 that the trace run will stop.
32344
32345 @item trace-file
32346 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
32347 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
32348
32349 @end table
32350
32351 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32352
32353 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
32354
32355 @subheading -trace-stop
32356 @findex -trace-stop
32357
32358 @subsubheading Synopsis
32359
32360 @smallexample
32361 -trace-stop
32362 @end smallexample
32363
32364 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
32365 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
32366 @samp{running} fields are not output.
32367
32368 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32369
32370 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
32371
32372
32373 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32374 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
32375 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
32376
32377
32378 @ignore
32379 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
32380 @findex -symbol-info-address
32381
32382 @subsubheading Synopsis
32383
32384 @smallexample
32385 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
32386 @end smallexample
32387
32388 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
32389
32390 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32391
32392 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
32393
32394 @subsubheading Example
32395 N.A.
32396
32397
32398 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
32399 @findex -symbol-info-file
32400
32401 @subsubheading Synopsis
32402
32403 @smallexample
32404 -symbol-info-file
32405 @end smallexample
32406
32407 Show the file for the symbol.
32408
32409 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32410
32411 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
32412 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
32413
32414 @subsubheading Example
32415 N.A.
32416
32417
32418 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
32419 @findex -symbol-info-function
32420
32421 @subsubheading Synopsis
32422
32423 @smallexample
32424 -symbol-info-function
32425 @end smallexample
32426
32427 Show which function the symbol lives in.
32428
32429 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32430
32431 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
32432
32433 @subsubheading Example
32434 N.A.
32435
32436
32437 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
32438 @findex -symbol-info-line
32439
32440 @subsubheading Synopsis
32441
32442 @smallexample
32443 -symbol-info-line
32444 @end smallexample
32445
32446 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
32447
32448 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32449
32450 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
32451 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
32452
32453 @subsubheading Example
32454 N.A.
32455
32456
32457 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
32458 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
32459
32460 @subsubheading Synopsis
32461
32462 @smallexample
32463 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
32464 @end smallexample
32465
32466 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
32467
32468 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32469
32470 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
32471
32472 @subsubheading Example
32473 N.A.
32474
32475
32476 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
32477 @findex -symbol-list-functions
32478
32479 @subsubheading Synopsis
32480
32481 @smallexample
32482 -symbol-list-functions
32483 @end smallexample
32484
32485 List the functions in the executable.
32486
32487 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32488
32489 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
32490 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32491
32492 @subsubheading Example
32493 N.A.
32494 @end ignore
32495
32496
32497 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
32498 @findex -symbol-list-lines
32499
32500 @subsubheading Synopsis
32501
32502 @smallexample
32503 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
32504 @end smallexample
32505
32506 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
32507 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
32508 ascending PC order.
32509
32510 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32511
32512 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
32513
32514 @subsubheading Example
32515 @smallexample
32516 (gdb)
32517 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
32518 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
32519 (gdb)
32520 @end smallexample
32521
32522
32523 @ignore
32524 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
32525 @findex -symbol-list-types
32526
32527 @subsubheading Synopsis
32528
32529 @smallexample
32530 -symbol-list-types
32531 @end smallexample
32532
32533 List all the type names.
32534
32535 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32536
32537 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
32538 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32539
32540 @subsubheading Example
32541 N.A.
32542
32543
32544 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
32545 @findex -symbol-list-variables
32546
32547 @subsubheading Synopsis
32548
32549 @smallexample
32550 -symbol-list-variables
32551 @end smallexample
32552
32553 List all the global and static variable names.
32554
32555 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32556
32557 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32558
32559 @subsubheading Example
32560 N.A.
32561
32562
32563 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
32564 @findex -symbol-locate
32565
32566 @subsubheading Synopsis
32567
32568 @smallexample
32569 -symbol-locate
32570 @end smallexample
32571
32572 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32573
32574 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
32575
32576 @subsubheading Example
32577 N.A.
32578
32579
32580 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
32581 @findex -symbol-type
32582
32583 @subsubheading Synopsis
32584
32585 @smallexample
32586 -symbol-type @var{variable}
32587 @end smallexample
32588
32589 Show type of @var{variable}.
32590
32591 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32592
32593 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
32594 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
32595
32596 @subsubheading Example
32597 N.A.
32598 @end ignore
32599
32600
32601 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32602 @node GDB/MI File Commands
32603 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
32604
32605 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
32606 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
32607
32608 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
32609 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
32610
32611 @subsubheading Synopsis
32612
32613 @smallexample
32614 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
32615 @end smallexample
32616
32617 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
32618 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
32619 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
32620 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
32621 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
32622 notification.
32623
32624 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32625
32626 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
32627
32628 @subsubheading Example
32629
32630 @smallexample
32631 (gdb)
32632 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32633 ^done
32634 (gdb)
32635 @end smallexample
32636
32637
32638 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
32639 @findex -file-exec-file
32640
32641 @subsubheading Synopsis
32642
32643 @smallexample
32644 -file-exec-file @var{file}
32645 @end smallexample
32646
32647 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
32648 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
32649 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
32650 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
32651 notification.
32652
32653 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32654
32655 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
32656
32657 @subsubheading Example
32658
32659 @smallexample
32660 (gdb)
32661 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32662 ^done
32663 (gdb)
32664 @end smallexample
32665
32666
32667 @ignore
32668 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
32669 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
32670
32671 @subsubheading Synopsis
32672
32673 @smallexample
32674 -file-list-exec-sections
32675 @end smallexample
32676
32677 List the sections of the current executable file.
32678
32679 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32680
32681 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
32682 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
32683 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
32684
32685 @subsubheading Example
32686 N.A.
32687 @end ignore
32688
32689
32690 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
32691 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
32692
32693 @subsubheading Synopsis
32694
32695 @smallexample
32696 -file-list-exec-source-file
32697 @end smallexample
32698
32699 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
32700 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
32701 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
32702 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
32703
32704 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32705
32706 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
32707
32708 @subsubheading Example
32709
32710 @smallexample
32711 (gdb)
32712 123-file-list-exec-source-file
32713 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
32714 (gdb)
32715 @end smallexample
32716
32717
32718 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
32719 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
32720
32721 @subsubheading Synopsis
32722
32723 @smallexample
32724 -file-list-exec-source-files
32725 @end smallexample
32726
32727 List the source files for the current executable.
32728
32729 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
32730 name) of a source file.
32731
32732 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32733
32734 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
32735 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
32736
32737 @subsubheading Example
32738 @smallexample
32739 (gdb)
32740 -file-list-exec-source-files
32741 ^done,files=[
32742 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
32743 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
32744 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
32745 (gdb)
32746 @end smallexample
32747
32748 @ignore
32749 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
32750 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
32751
32752 @subsubheading Synopsis
32753
32754 @smallexample
32755 -file-list-shared-libraries
32756 @end smallexample
32757
32758 List the shared libraries in the program.
32759
32760 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32761
32762 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
32763
32764 @subsubheading Example
32765 N.A.
32766
32767
32768 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
32769 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
32770
32771 @subsubheading Synopsis
32772
32773 @smallexample
32774 -file-list-symbol-files
32775 @end smallexample
32776
32777 List symbol files.
32778
32779 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32780
32781 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
32782
32783 @subsubheading Example
32784 N.A.
32785 @end ignore
32786
32787
32788 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
32789 @findex -file-symbol-file
32790
32791 @subsubheading Synopsis
32792
32793 @smallexample
32794 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
32795 @end smallexample
32796
32797 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
32798 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
32799 produced, except for a completion notification.
32800
32801 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32802
32803 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
32804
32805 @subsubheading Example
32806
32807 @smallexample
32808 (gdb)
32809 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32810 ^done
32811 (gdb)
32812 @end smallexample
32813
32814 @ignore
32815 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32816 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
32817 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
32818
32819 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
32820
32821 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
32822
32823 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
32824
32825 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
32826
32827 @c @subheading -overlay-map
32828
32829 @c @subheading -overlay-off
32830
32831 @c @subheading -overlay-on
32832
32833 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
32834
32835 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32836 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
32837 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
32838
32839 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
32840
32841 @c @subheading -signal-handle
32842
32843 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
32844
32845 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
32846 @end ignore
32847
32848
32849 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32850 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
32851 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
32852
32853
32854 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
32855 @findex -target-attach
32856
32857 @subsubheading Synopsis
32858
32859 @smallexample
32860 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
32861 @end smallexample
32862
32863 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
32864 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
32865 group, the id previously returned by
32866 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
32867
32868 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32869
32870 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
32871
32872 @subsubheading Example
32873 @smallexample
32874 (gdb)
32875 -target-attach 34
32876 =thread-created,id="1"
32877 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
32878 ^done
32879 (gdb)
32880 @end smallexample
32881
32882 @ignore
32883 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
32884 @findex -target-compare-sections
32885
32886 @subsubheading Synopsis
32887
32888 @smallexample
32889 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
32890 @end smallexample
32891
32892 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
32893 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
32894
32895 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32896
32897 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
32898
32899 @subsubheading Example
32900 N.A.
32901 @end ignore
32902
32903
32904 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
32905 @findex -target-detach
32906
32907 @subsubheading Synopsis
32908
32909 @smallexample
32910 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
32911 @end smallexample
32912
32913 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
32914 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
32915 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
32916
32917 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32918
32919 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
32920
32921 @subsubheading Example
32922
32923 @smallexample
32924 (gdb)
32925 -target-detach
32926 ^done
32927 (gdb)
32928 @end smallexample
32929
32930
32931 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
32932 @findex -target-disconnect
32933
32934 @subsubheading Synopsis
32935
32936 @smallexample
32937 -target-disconnect
32938 @end smallexample
32939
32940 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
32941 generally not resumed.
32942
32943 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32944
32945 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
32946
32947 @subsubheading Example
32948
32949 @smallexample
32950 (gdb)
32951 -target-disconnect
32952 ^done
32953 (gdb)
32954 @end smallexample
32955
32956
32957 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
32958 @findex -target-download
32959
32960 @subsubheading Synopsis
32961
32962 @smallexample
32963 -target-download
32964 @end smallexample
32965
32966 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
32967 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
32968
32969 @table @samp
32970 @item section
32971 The name of the section.
32972 @item section-sent
32973 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
32974 @item section-size
32975 The size of the section.
32976 @item total-sent
32977 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
32978 @item total-size
32979 The size of the overall executable to download.
32980 @end table
32981
32982 @noindent
32983 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
32984 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
32985
32986 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
32987 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
32988
32989 @table @samp
32990 @item section
32991 The name of the section.
32992 @item section-size
32993 The size of the section.
32994 @item total-size
32995 The size of the overall executable to download.
32996 @end table
32997
32998 @noindent
32999 At the end, a summary is printed.
33000
33001 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33002
33003 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
33004
33005 @subsubheading Example
33006
33007 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
33008 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
33009
33010 @smallexample
33011 (gdb)
33012 -target-download
33013 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
33014 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
33015 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
33016 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
33017 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
33018 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
33019 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
33020 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
33021 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
33022 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
33023 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
33024 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
33025 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
33026 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
33027 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
33028 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
33029 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
33030 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
33031 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
33032 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
33033 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
33034 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
33035 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
33036 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
33037 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
33038 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
33039 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
33040 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
33041 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
33042 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
33043 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
33044 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
33045 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
33046 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
33047 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
33048 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
33049 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
33050 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
33051 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
33052 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
33053 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
33054 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
33055 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
33056 write-rate="429"
33057 (gdb)
33058 @end smallexample
33059
33060
33061 @ignore
33062 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
33063 @findex -target-exec-status
33064
33065 @subsubheading Synopsis
33066
33067 @smallexample
33068 -target-exec-status
33069 @end smallexample
33070
33071 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
33072 not, for instance).
33073
33074 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33075
33076 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
33077
33078 @subsubheading Example
33079 N.A.
33080
33081
33082 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
33083 @findex -target-list-available-targets
33084
33085 @subsubheading Synopsis
33086
33087 @smallexample
33088 -target-list-available-targets
33089 @end smallexample
33090
33091 List the possible targets to connect to.
33092
33093 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33094
33095 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
33096
33097 @subsubheading Example
33098 N.A.
33099
33100
33101 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
33102 @findex -target-list-current-targets
33103
33104 @subsubheading Synopsis
33105
33106 @smallexample
33107 -target-list-current-targets
33108 @end smallexample
33109
33110 Describe the current target.
33111
33112 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33113
33114 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
33115 other things).
33116
33117 @subsubheading Example
33118 N.A.
33119
33120
33121 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
33122 @findex -target-list-parameters
33123
33124 @subsubheading Synopsis
33125
33126 @smallexample
33127 -target-list-parameters
33128 @end smallexample
33129
33130 @c ????
33131 @end ignore
33132
33133 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33134
33135 No equivalent.
33136
33137 @subsubheading Example
33138 N.A.
33139
33140
33141 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
33142 @findex -target-select
33143
33144 @subsubheading Synopsis
33145
33146 @smallexample
33147 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
33148 @end smallexample
33149
33150 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
33151
33152 @table @samp
33153 @item @var{type}
33154 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
33155 @item @var{parameters}
33156 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
33157 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
33158 @end table
33159
33160 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
33161 which the target program is, in the following form:
33162
33163 @smallexample
33164 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
33165 args=[@var{arg list}]
33166 @end smallexample
33167
33168 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33169
33170 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
33171
33172 @subsubheading Example
33173
33174 @smallexample
33175 (gdb)
33176 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
33177 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
33178 (gdb)
33179 @end smallexample
33180
33181 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33182 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
33183 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
33184
33185
33186 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
33187 @findex -target-file-put
33188
33189 @subsubheading Synopsis
33190
33191 @smallexample
33192 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
33193 @end smallexample
33194
33195 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
33196 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
33197
33198 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33199
33200 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
33201
33202 @subsubheading Example
33203
33204 @smallexample
33205 (gdb)
33206 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
33207 ^done
33208 (gdb)
33209 @end smallexample
33210
33211
33212 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
33213 @findex -target-file-get
33214
33215 @subsubheading Synopsis
33216
33217 @smallexample
33218 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
33219 @end smallexample
33220
33221 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
33222 on the host system.
33223
33224 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33225
33226 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
33227
33228 @subsubheading Example
33229
33230 @smallexample
33231 (gdb)
33232 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
33233 ^done
33234 (gdb)
33235 @end smallexample
33236
33237
33238 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
33239 @findex -target-file-delete
33240
33241 @subsubheading Synopsis
33242
33243 @smallexample
33244 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
33245 @end smallexample
33246
33247 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
33248
33249 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33250
33251 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
33252
33253 @subsubheading Example
33254
33255 @smallexample
33256 (gdb)
33257 -target-file-delete remotefile
33258 ^done
33259 (gdb)
33260 @end smallexample
33261
33262
33263 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33264 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
33265 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
33266
33267 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
33268
33269 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
33270 @findex -gdb-exit
33271
33272 @subsubheading Synopsis
33273
33274 @smallexample
33275 -gdb-exit
33276 @end smallexample
33277
33278 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
33279
33280 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33281
33282 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
33283
33284 @subsubheading Example
33285
33286 @smallexample
33287 (gdb)
33288 -gdb-exit
33289 ^exit
33290 @end smallexample
33291
33292
33293 @ignore
33294 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
33295 @findex -exec-abort
33296
33297 @subsubheading Synopsis
33298
33299 @smallexample
33300 -exec-abort
33301 @end smallexample
33302
33303 Kill the inferior running program.
33304
33305 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33306
33307 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
33308
33309 @subsubheading Example
33310 N.A.
33311 @end ignore
33312
33313
33314 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
33315 @findex -gdb-set
33316
33317 @subsubheading Synopsis
33318
33319 @smallexample
33320 -gdb-set
33321 @end smallexample
33322
33323 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
33324 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
33325
33326 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33327
33328 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
33329
33330 @subsubheading Example
33331
33332 @smallexample
33333 (gdb)
33334 -gdb-set $foo=3
33335 ^done
33336 (gdb)
33337 @end smallexample
33338
33339
33340 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
33341 @findex -gdb-show
33342
33343 @subsubheading Synopsis
33344
33345 @smallexample
33346 -gdb-show
33347 @end smallexample
33348
33349 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
33350
33351 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33352
33353 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
33354
33355 @subsubheading Example
33356
33357 @smallexample
33358 (gdb)
33359 -gdb-show annotate
33360 ^done,value="0"
33361 (gdb)
33362 @end smallexample
33363
33364 @c @subheading -gdb-source
33365
33366
33367 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
33368 @findex -gdb-version
33369
33370 @subsubheading Synopsis
33371
33372 @smallexample
33373 -gdb-version
33374 @end smallexample
33375
33376 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
33377
33378 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33379
33380 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
33381 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
33382
33383 @subsubheading Example
33384
33385 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
33386 @c box in TeX.
33387 @smallexample
33388 (gdb)
33389 -gdb-version
33390 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
33391 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
33392 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
33393 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
33394 ~ certain conditions.
33395 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
33396 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
33397 ~ details.
33398 ~This GDB was configured as
33399 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
33400 ^done
33401 (gdb)
33402 @end smallexample
33403
33404 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
33405 @findex -list-features
33406
33407 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
33408 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
33409 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
33410 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
33411 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
33412 startup.
33413
33414 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
33415 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
33416 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
33417 is given below.
33418
33419 Example output:
33420
33421 @smallexample
33422 (gdb) -list-features
33423 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
33424 @end smallexample
33425
33426 The current list of features is:
33427
33428 @table @samp
33429 @item frozen-varobjs
33430 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
33431 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
33432 of @code{-varobj-create}.
33433 @item pending-breakpoints
33434 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
33435 command.
33436 @item python
33437 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
33438 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
33439 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
33440 @item thread-info
33441 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
33442 @item data-read-memory-bytes
33443 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
33444 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
33445 @item breakpoint-notifications
33446 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
33447 CLI will be announced via async records.
33448 @item ada-task-info
33449 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
33450 @end table
33451
33452 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
33453 @findex -list-target-features
33454
33455 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
33456 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
33457 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
33458 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
33459 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
33460 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
33461 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
33462 Example output:
33463
33464 @smallexample
33465 (gdb) -list-features
33466 ^done,result=["async"]
33467 @end smallexample
33468
33469 The current list of features is:
33470
33471 @table @samp
33472 @item async
33473 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
33474 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
33475 while the target is running.
33476
33477 @item reverse
33478 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
33479 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33480
33481 @end table
33482
33483 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
33484 @findex -list-thread-groups
33485
33486 @subheading Synopsis
33487
33488 @smallexample
33489 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
33490 @end smallexample
33491
33492 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
33493 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
33494 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
33495 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
33496 top-level thread groups.
33497
33498 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
33499 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
33500 available on the target.
33501
33502 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
33503 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
33504 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
33505 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
33506 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
33507 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
33508 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
33509 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
33510
33511 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
33512 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
33513 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
33514 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
33515 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
33516 @samp{threads} field.
33517
33518 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
33519 the following caveats:
33520
33521 @itemize @bullet
33522 @item
33523 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
33524 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
33525 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
33526
33527 @item
33528 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
33529 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
33530 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
33531 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
33532 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
33533 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
33534
33535 @end itemize
33536
33537 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
33538 have the following fields:
33539
33540 @table @code
33541 @item id
33542 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
33543 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
33544 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
33545
33546 @item type
33547 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
33548 valid type.
33549
33550 @item pid
33551 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
33552 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
33553
33554 @item num_children
33555 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
33556 absent for an available thread group.
33557
33558 @item threads
33559 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
33560 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
33561 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
33562
33563 @item cores
33564 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
33565 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
33566 such information is not available.
33567
33568 @item executable
33569 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
33570 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
33571 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
33572
33573 @end table
33574
33575 @subheading Example
33576
33577 @smallexample
33578 @value{GDBP}
33579 -list-thread-groups
33580 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
33581 -list-thread-groups 17
33582 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
33583 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
33584 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
33585 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
33586 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
33587 -list-thread-groups --available
33588 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
33589 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
33590 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
33591 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
33592 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
33593 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
33594 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
33595 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
33596 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
33597 @end smallexample
33598
33599 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
33600 @findex -info-os
33601
33602 @subsubheading Synopsis
33603
33604 @smallexample
33605 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
33606 @end smallexample
33607
33608 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
33609 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
33610 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
33611 of data of that type.
33612
33613 The types of information available depend on the target operating
33614 system.
33615
33616 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33617
33618 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
33619
33620 @subsubheading Example
33621
33622 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
33623 like this:
33624
33625 @smallexample
33626 @value{GDBP}
33627 -info-os
33628 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
33629 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
33630 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
33631 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
33632 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
33633 col2="Processes"@},
33634 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
33635 col2="Process groups"@},
33636 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
33637 col2="Threads"@},
33638 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
33639 col2="File descriptors"@},
33640 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
33641 col2="Sockets"@},
33642 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
33643 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
33644 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
33645 col2="Semaphores"@},
33646 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
33647 col2="Message queues"@},
33648 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
33649 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
33650 @value{GDBP}
33651 -info-os processes
33652 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
33653 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
33654 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
33655 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
33656 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
33657 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
33658 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
33659 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
33660 ...
33661 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
33662 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
33663 (gdb)
33664 @end smallexample
33665
33666 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
33667 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
33668 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
33669 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
33670 @code{info os} omits it.)
33671
33672 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
33673 @findex -add-inferior
33674
33675 @subheading Synopsis
33676
33677 @smallexample
33678 -add-inferior
33679 @end smallexample
33680
33681 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
33682 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
33683 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
33684 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
33685 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
33686 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
33687
33688 @subheading Example
33689
33690 @smallexample
33691 @value{GDBP}
33692 -add-inferior
33693 ^done,thread-group="i3"
33694 @end smallexample
33695
33696 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
33697 @findex -interpreter-exec
33698
33699 @subheading Synopsis
33700
33701 @smallexample
33702 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
33703 @end smallexample
33704 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
33705
33706 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
33707
33708 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33709
33710 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
33711
33712 @subheading Example
33713
33714 @smallexample
33715 (gdb)
33716 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
33717 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
33718 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
33719 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
33720 ^done
33721 (gdb)
33722 @end smallexample
33723
33724 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
33725 @findex -inferior-tty-set
33726
33727 @subheading Synopsis
33728
33729 @smallexample
33730 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33731 @end smallexample
33732
33733 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
33734
33735 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33736
33737 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
33738
33739 @subheading Example
33740
33741 @smallexample
33742 (gdb)
33743 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33744 ^done
33745 (gdb)
33746 @end smallexample
33747
33748 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
33749 @findex -inferior-tty-show
33750
33751 @subheading Synopsis
33752
33753 @smallexample
33754 -inferior-tty-show
33755 @end smallexample
33756
33757 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
33758
33759 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33760
33761 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
33762
33763 @subheading Example
33764
33765 @smallexample
33766 (gdb)
33767 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33768 ^done
33769 (gdb)
33770 -inferior-tty-show
33771 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
33772 (gdb)
33773 @end smallexample
33774
33775 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
33776 @findex -enable-timings
33777
33778 @subheading Synopsis
33779
33780 @smallexample
33781 -enable-timings [yes | no]
33782 @end smallexample
33783
33784 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
33785 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
33786 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
33787 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
33788
33789 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33790
33791 No equivalent.
33792
33793 @subheading Example
33794
33795 @smallexample
33796 (gdb)
33797 -enable-timings
33798 ^done
33799 (gdb)
33800 -break-insert main
33801 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
33802 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
33803 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
33804 times="0"@},
33805 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
33806 (gdb)
33807 -enable-timings no
33808 ^done
33809 (gdb)
33810 -exec-run
33811 ^running
33812 (gdb)
33813 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
33814 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
33815 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
33816 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
33817 (gdb)
33818 @end smallexample
33819
33820 @node Annotations
33821 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
33822
33823 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
33824 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
33825 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
33826 relatively high level.
33827
33828 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
33829 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
33830
33831 @ignore
33832 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
33833 @end ignore
33834
33835 @menu
33836 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
33837 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
33838 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
33839 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
33840 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
33841 * Annotations for Running::
33842 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
33843 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
33844 @end menu
33845
33846 @node Annotations Overview
33847 @section What is an Annotation?
33848 @cindex annotations
33849
33850 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
33851 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
33852 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
33853 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
33854 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
33855 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
33856 cannot contain newline characters.
33857
33858 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
33859 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
33860 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
33861 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
33862 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
33863 means those three characters as output.
33864
33865 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
33866 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
33867 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
33868 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
33869 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
33870 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
33871 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
33872 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
33873 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
33874
33875 @table @code
33876 @kindex set annotate
33877 @item set annotate @var{level}
33878 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
33879 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
33880
33881 @item show annotate
33882 @kindex show annotate
33883 Show the current annotation level.
33884 @end table
33885
33886 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
33887
33888 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
33889
33890 @smallexample
33891 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
33892 GNU gdb 6.0
33893 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
33894 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
33895 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
33896 under certain conditions.
33897 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
33898 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
33899 for details.
33900 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
33901
33902 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
33903 (@value{GDBP})
33904 ^Z^Zprompt
33905 @kbd{quit}
33906
33907 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
33908 $
33909 @end smallexample
33910
33911 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
33912 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
33913 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
33914 output from @value{GDBN}.
33915
33916 @node Server Prefix
33917 @section The Server Prefix
33918 @cindex server prefix
33919
33920 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
33921 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
33922 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
33923 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
33924 a transparent manner.
33925
33926 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
33927 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
33928 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
33929 @code{print} command.
33930
33931 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
33932 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
33933
33934 @node Prompting
33935 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
33936
33937 @cindex annotations for prompts
33938 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
33939 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
33940 over, etc.
33941
33942 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
33943 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
33944 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
33945 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
33946 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
33947 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
33948 features the following annotations:
33949
33950 @smallexample
33951 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
33952 ^Z^Zprompt
33953 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
33954 @end smallexample
33955
33956 The input types are
33957
33958 @table @code
33959 @findex pre-prompt annotation
33960 @findex prompt annotation
33961 @findex post-prompt annotation
33962 @item prompt
33963 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
33964
33965 @findex pre-commands annotation
33966 @findex commands annotation
33967 @findex post-commands annotation
33968 @item commands
33969 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
33970 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
33971
33972 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
33973 @findex overload-choice annotation
33974 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
33975 @item overload-choice
33976 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
33977
33978 @findex pre-query annotation
33979 @findex query annotation
33980 @findex post-query annotation
33981 @item query
33982 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
33983
33984 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
33985 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
33986 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
33987 @item prompt-for-continue
33988 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
33989 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
33990 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
33991 presence of annotations.
33992 @end table
33993
33994 @node Errors
33995 @section Errors
33996 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
33997
33998 @findex quit annotation
33999 @smallexample
34000 ^Z^Zquit
34001 @end smallexample
34002
34003 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
34004
34005 @findex error annotation
34006 @smallexample
34007 ^Z^Zerror
34008 @end smallexample
34009
34010 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
34011
34012 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
34013 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
34014 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
34015 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
34016 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
34017 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
34018 to the top level.
34019
34020 @findex error-begin annotation
34021 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
34022
34023 @smallexample
34024 ^Z^Zerror-begin
34025 @end smallexample
34026
34027 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
34028 message.
34029
34030 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
34031 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
34032 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
34033
34034 @node Invalidation
34035 @section Invalidation Notices
34036
34037 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
34038 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
34039 changed.
34040
34041 @table @code
34042 @findex frames-invalid annotation
34043 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
34044
34045 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
34046 have changed.
34047
34048 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
34049 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
34050
34051 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
34052 deleted a breakpoint.
34053 @end table
34054
34055 @node Annotations for Running
34056 @section Running the Program
34057 @cindex annotations for running programs
34058
34059 @findex starting annotation
34060 @findex stopping annotation
34061 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
34062 @code{step} or @code{continue},
34063
34064 @smallexample
34065 ^Z^Zstarting
34066 @end smallexample
34067
34068 is output. When the program stops,
34069
34070 @smallexample
34071 ^Z^Zstopped
34072 @end smallexample
34073
34074 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
34075 annotations describe how the program stopped.
34076
34077 @table @code
34078 @findex exited annotation
34079 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
34080 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
34081 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
34082
34083 @findex signalled annotation
34084 @findex signal-name annotation
34085 @findex signal-name-end annotation
34086 @findex signal-string annotation
34087 @findex signal-string-end annotation
34088 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
34089 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
34090 annotation continues:
34091
34092 @smallexample
34093 @var{intro-text}
34094 ^Z^Zsignal-name
34095 @var{name}
34096 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
34097 @var{middle-text}
34098 ^Z^Zsignal-string
34099 @var{string}
34100 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
34101 @var{end-text}
34102 @end smallexample
34103
34104 @noindent
34105 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
34106 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
34107 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
34108 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
34109 user's benefit and have no particular format.
34110
34111 @findex signal annotation
34112 @item ^Z^Zsignal
34113 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
34114 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
34115 terminated with it.
34116
34117 @findex breakpoint annotation
34118 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
34119 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
34120
34121 @findex watchpoint annotation
34122 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
34123 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
34124 @end table
34125
34126 @node Source Annotations
34127 @section Displaying Source
34128 @cindex annotations for source display
34129
34130 @findex source annotation
34131 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
34132
34133 @smallexample
34134 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
34135 @end smallexample
34136
34137 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
34138 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
34139 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
34140 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
34141 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
34142 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
34143 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
34144 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
34145 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
34146 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
34147 depend on the language).
34148
34149 @node JIT Interface
34150 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
34151 @cindex just-in-time compilation
34152 @cindex JIT compilation interface
34153
34154 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
34155 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
34156 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
34157 performance while maintaining platform independence.
34158
34159 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
34160 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
34161 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
34162 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
34163 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
34164 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
34165
34166 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
34167 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
34168 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
34169 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
34170 LLVM JIT.
34171
34172 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
34173 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
34174 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
34175 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
34176 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
34177 out about additional code.
34178
34179 @menu
34180 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
34181 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
34182 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
34183 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
34184 @end menu
34185
34186 @node Declarations
34187 @section JIT Declarations
34188
34189 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
34190 implement the interface:
34191
34192 @smallexample
34193 typedef enum
34194 @{
34195 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
34196 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
34197 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
34198 @} jit_actions_t;
34199
34200 struct jit_code_entry
34201 @{
34202 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
34203 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
34204 const char *symfile_addr;
34205 uint64_t symfile_size;
34206 @};
34207
34208 struct jit_descriptor
34209 @{
34210 uint32_t version;
34211 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
34212 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
34213 uint32_t action_flag;
34214 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
34215 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
34216 @};
34217
34218 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
34219 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
34220
34221 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
34222 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
34223 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
34224 @end smallexample
34225
34226 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
34227 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
34228 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
34229
34230 @node Registering Code
34231 @section Registering Code
34232
34233 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
34234
34235 @itemize @bullet
34236 @item
34237 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
34238 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
34239
34240 @item
34241 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
34242 file.
34243
34244 @item
34245 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
34246
34247 @item
34248 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
34249
34250 @item
34251 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
34252 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
34253 @end itemize
34254
34255 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
34256 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
34257 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
34258 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
34259
34260 @node Unregistering Code
34261 @section Unregistering Code
34262
34263 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
34264
34265 @itemize @bullet
34266 @item
34267 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
34268
34269 @item
34270 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
34271
34272 @item
34273 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
34274 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
34275 @end itemize
34276
34277 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
34278 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
34279
34280 @node Custom Debug Info
34281 @section Custom Debug Info
34282 @cindex custom JIT debug info
34283 @cindex JIT debug info reader
34284
34285 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
34286 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
34287 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
34288 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
34289 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
34290 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
34291 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
34292 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
34293 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
34294
34295 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
34296 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
34297 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
34298 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
34299 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
34300 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
34301 compiler.
34302
34303 @menu
34304 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
34305 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
34306 @end menu
34307
34308 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
34309 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
34310 @kindex jit-reader-load
34311 @kindex jit-reader-unload
34312
34313 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
34314 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
34315
34316 @table @code
34317 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
34318 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
34319 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
34320 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
34321 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
34322 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
34323 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
34324
34325 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
34326 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
34327 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
34328 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
34329 @code{jit-reader-load}.
34330
34331 @item jit-reader-unload
34332 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
34333
34334 @end table
34335
34336 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
34337 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
34338 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
34339
34340 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
34341 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
34342
34343 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
34344 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
34345 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
34346 the system include directory.
34347
34348 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
34349 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
34350 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
34351
34352 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
34353 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
34354
34355 @findex gdb_init_reader
34356 @smallexample
34357 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
34358 @end smallexample
34359
34360 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
34361
34362 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
34363 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
34364 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
34365 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
34366 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
34367 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
34368
34369 @smallexample
34370 struct gdb_reader_funcs
34371 @{
34372 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
34373 int reader_version;
34374
34375 /* For use by the reader. */
34376 void *priv_data;
34377
34378 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
34379 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
34380 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
34381 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
34382 @};
34383 @end smallexample
34384
34385 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
34386 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
34387
34388 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
34389 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
34390 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
34391 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
34392 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
34393 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
34394 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
34395 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
34396 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
34397 target's address space.
34398
34399 @node In-Process Agent
34400 @chapter In-Process Agent
34401 @cindex debugging agent
34402 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
34403 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
34404 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
34405 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
34406 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
34407 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
34408 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
34409 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
34410 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
34411 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
34412 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
34413 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
34414 behavior without interrupting it.
34415
34416 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
34417 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
34418 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
34419 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
34420 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
34421 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
34422 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
34423 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
34424 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
34425
34426 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
34427 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
34428 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
34429 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
34430
34431 @anchor{Control Agent}
34432 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
34433 debugging with the following commands:
34434
34435 @table @code
34436 @kindex set agent on
34437 @item set agent on
34438 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
34439 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
34440 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
34441 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
34442 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
34443 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
34444
34445 @kindex set agent off
34446 @item set agent off
34447 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
34448 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
34449
34450 @kindex show agent
34451 @item show agent
34452 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
34453 the in-process agent.
34454 @end table
34455
34456 @menu
34457 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
34458 @end menu
34459
34460 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
34461 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
34462 @cindex in-process agent protocol
34463
34464 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
34465 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
34466 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
34467 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
34468 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
34469 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
34470 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
34471 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
34472 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
34473
34474 @menu
34475 * IPA Protocol Objects::
34476 * IPA Protocol Commands::
34477 @end menu
34478
34479 @node IPA Protocol Objects
34480 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
34481 @cindex ipa protocol objects
34482
34483 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
34484 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
34485
34486 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
34487 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
34488 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
34489 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
34490
34491 @enumerate
34492 @item
34493 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
34494 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
34495 @item
34496 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
34497 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
34498 the other one.
34499 @end enumerate
34500
34501 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
34502
34503 @enumerate
34504 @item
34505 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
34506 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
34507 @anchor{agent expression object}
34508 @item
34509 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
34510 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
34511 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
34512 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
34513 @item
34514 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
34515 @anchor{tracepoint object}
34516
34517 @end enumerate
34518
34519 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
34520 object:
34521
34522 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
34523 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
34524 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
34525 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
34526 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
34527 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
34528 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34529 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
34530 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
34531 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
34532 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
34533 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
34534 memory address for collecting.
34535 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
34536 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34537 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
34538 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34539 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
34540 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34541 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
34542 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
34543 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
34544 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
34545 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
34546 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
34547 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
34548 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
34549 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
34550 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
34551 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
34552 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
34553 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
34554 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
34555 @ref{agent expression object}
34556 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
34557 @ref{agent expression object}
34558 @item actions @tab variable
34559 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
34560 @end multitable
34561
34562 @node IPA Protocol Commands
34563 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
34564 @cindex ipa protocol commands
34565
34566 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
34567 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
34568
34569 @table @samp
34570
34571 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
34572 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
34573 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
34574 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
34575 in IPA finally.
34576
34577 Replies:
34578 @table @samp
34579 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
34580 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
34581 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
34582 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
34583 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
34584 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
34585 @item E @var{NN}
34586 for an error
34587
34588 @end table
34589
34590 @item close
34591 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
34592 is about to kill inferiors.
34593
34594 @item qTfSTM
34595 @xref{qTfSTM}.
34596 @item qTsSTM
34597 @xref{qTsSTM}.
34598 @item qTSTMat
34599 @xref{qTSTMat}.
34600 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
34601 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
34602
34603 Replies:
34604 @table @samp
34605 @item E @var{NN}
34606 for an error
34607 @end table
34608 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
34609 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
34610 @end table
34611
34612 @node GDB Bugs
34613 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
34614 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
34615 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
34616
34617 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
34618
34619 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
34620 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
34621 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
34622 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
34623
34624 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
34625 information that enables us to fix the bug.
34626
34627 @menu
34628 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
34629 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
34630 @end menu
34631
34632 @node Bug Criteria
34633 @section Have You Found a Bug?
34634 @cindex bug criteria
34635
34636 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
34637
34638 @itemize @bullet
34639 @cindex fatal signal
34640 @cindex debugger crash
34641 @cindex crash of debugger
34642 @item
34643 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
34644 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
34645
34646 @cindex error on valid input
34647 @item
34648 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
34649 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
34650 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
34651
34652 @cindex invalid input
34653 @item
34654 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
34655 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
34656 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
34657 for traditional practice''.
34658
34659 @item
34660 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
34661 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
34662 @end itemize
34663
34664 @node Bug Reporting
34665 @section How to Report Bugs
34666 @cindex bug reports
34667 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
34668
34669 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
34670 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
34671 contact that organization first.
34672
34673 You can find contact information for many support companies and
34674 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
34675 distribution.
34676 @c should add a web page ref...
34677
34678 @ifset BUGURL
34679 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
34680 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
34681 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
34682 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
34683 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
34684 be used.
34685
34686 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
34687 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
34688 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
34689 @samp{bug-gdb}.
34690
34691 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
34692 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
34693 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
34694 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
34695 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
34696 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
34697 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
34698 bug reports to the mailing list.
34699 @end ifset
34700 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
34701 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
34702 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
34703 @end ifclear
34704 @end ifset
34705
34706 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
34707 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
34708 fact or leave it out, state it!
34709
34710 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
34711 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
34712 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
34713 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
34714 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
34715 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
34716 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
34717 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
34718 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
34719
34720 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
34721 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
34722 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
34723 self-contained.
34724
34725 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
34726 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
34727 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
34728 bugs properly.
34729
34730 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
34731
34732 @itemize @bullet
34733 @item
34734 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
34735 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
34736 version}.
34737
34738 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
34739 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
34740
34741 @item
34742 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
34743 version number.
34744
34745 @item
34746 The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
34747 @value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
34748 @option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
34749 @code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
34750
34751 @item
34752 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
34753 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
34754
34755 @item
34756 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
34757 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
34758 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
34759 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
34760 those compilers.
34761
34762 @item
34763 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
34764 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
34765 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
34766 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
34767
34768 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
34769 and then we might not encounter the bug.
34770
34771 @item
34772 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
34773 reproduce the bug.
34774
34775 @item
34776 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
34777 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
34778
34779 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
34780 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
34781 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
34782 a chance to make a mistake.
34783
34784 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
34785 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
34786 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
34787 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
34788 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
34789 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
34790 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
34791 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
34792
34793 @pindex script
34794 @cindex recording a session script
34795 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
34796 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
34797 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
34798 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
34799
34800 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
34801 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
34802
34803 @item
34804 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
34805 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
34806 it by context, not by line number.
34807
34808 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
34809 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
34810
34811 @end itemize
34812
34813 Here are some things that are not necessary:
34814
34815 @itemize @bullet
34816 @item
34817 A description of the envelope of the bug.
34818
34819 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
34820 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
34821 changes will not affect it.
34822
34823 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
34824 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
34825 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
34826 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
34827
34828 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
34829 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
34830 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
34831 less time, and so on.
34832
34833 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
34834 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
34835
34836 @item
34837 A patch for the bug.
34838
34839 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
34840 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
34841 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
34842 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
34843
34844 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
34845 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
34846 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
34847 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
34848
34849 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
34850 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
34851 help us to understand.
34852
34853 @item
34854 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
34855
34856 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
34857 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
34858 @end itemize
34859
34860 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
34861 @c and consists of the two following files:
34862 @c rluser.texi
34863 @c hsuser.texi
34864 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
34865 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
34866 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
34867 @include rluser.texi
34868 @include hsuser.texi
34869 @end ifclear
34870
34871 @node In Memoriam
34872 @appendix In Memoriam
34873
34874 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
34875 contributors:
34876
34877 @table @code
34878 @item Fred Fish
34879 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
34880 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
34881 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
34882
34883 @item Michael Snyder
34884 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
34885 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
34886 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
34887 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
34888 @end table
34889
34890 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
34891 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
34892
34893 @node Formatting Documentation
34894 @appendix Formatting Documentation
34895
34896 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
34897 @cindex reference card
34898 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
34899 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
34900 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
34901 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
34902 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
34903 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
34904
34905 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
34906 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
34907
34908 @smallexample
34909 make refcard.dvi
34910 @end smallexample
34911
34912 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
34913 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
34914 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
34915 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
34916 your @sc{dvi} output program.
34917
34918 @cindex documentation
34919
34920 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
34921 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
34922 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
34923 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
34924 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
34925 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
34926
34927 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
34928 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
34929 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
34930 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
34931 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
34932 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
34933 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
34934 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
34935
34936 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
34937 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
34938 @code{makeinfo}.
34939
34940 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
34941 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
34942 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
34943
34944 @smallexample
34945 cd gdb
34946 make gdb.info
34947 @end smallexample
34948
34949 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
34950 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
34951 Texinfo definitions file.
34952
34953 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
34954 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
34955 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
34956 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
34957 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
34958 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
34959 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
34960
34961 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
34962 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
34963 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
34964 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
34965 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
34966 directory.
34967
34968 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
34969 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
34970 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
34971 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
34972
34973 @smallexample
34974 make gdb.dvi
34975 @end smallexample
34976
34977 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
34978
34979 @node Installing GDB
34980 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
34981 @cindex installation
34982
34983 @menu
34984 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
34985 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
34986 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
34987 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
34988 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
34989 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
34990 @end menu
34991
34992 @node Requirements
34993 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
34994 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
34995
34996 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
34997 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
34998
34999 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
35000 @table @asis
35001 @item ISO C90 compiler
35002 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
35003 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
35004
35005 @end table
35006
35007 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
35008 @table @asis
35009 @item Expat
35010 @anchor{Expat}
35011 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
35012 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
35013 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
35014 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
35015 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
35016 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
35017
35018 Expat is used for:
35019
35020 @itemize @bullet
35021 @item
35022 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
35023 @item
35024 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
35025 @item
35026 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
35027 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
35028 @item
35029 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
35030 @item
35031 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
35032 @item
35033 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
35034 @end itemize
35035
35036 @item zlib
35037 @cindex compressed debug sections
35038 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
35039 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
35040 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
35041 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
35042 information in such binaries.
35043
35044 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
35045 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
35046 @url{http://zlib.net}.
35047
35048 @item iconv
35049 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
35050 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
35051 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
35052 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
35053
35054 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
35055 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
35056 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
35057 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
35058
35059 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
35060 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
35061 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
35062
35063 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
35064 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
35065 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
35066 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
35067 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
35068 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
35069 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
35070 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
35071 @end table
35072
35073 @node Running Configure
35074 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
35075 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
35076 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
35077 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
35078 build the @code{gdb} program.
35079 @iftex
35080 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
35081 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
35082 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
35083 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
35084 @end iftex
35085
35086 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
35087 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
35088 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
35089
35090 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
35091 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
35092
35093 @table @code
35094 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
35095 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
35096
35097 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
35098 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
35099
35100 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
35101 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
35102
35103 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
35104 @sc{gnu} include files
35105
35106 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
35107 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
35108
35109 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
35110 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
35111
35112 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
35113 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
35114
35115 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
35116 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
35117
35118 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
35119 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
35120 @end table
35121
35122 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
35123 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
35124 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
35125
35126 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
35127 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
35128 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
35129 argument.
35130
35131 For example:
35132
35133 @smallexample
35134 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
35135 ./configure @var{host}
35136 make
35137 @end smallexample
35138
35139 @noindent
35140 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
35141 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
35142 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
35143 correct value by examining your system.)
35144
35145 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
35146 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
35147 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
35148 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
35149
35150 @need 750
35151 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
35152 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
35153 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
35154
35155 @smallexample
35156 sh configure @var{host}
35157 @end smallexample
35158
35159 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
35160 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
35161 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
35162 @file{configure}
35163 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
35164 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
35165
35166 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
35167 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
35168 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
35169 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
35170 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
35171 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
35172 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
35173 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
35174 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
35175
35176 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
35177 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
35178 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
35179 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
35180 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
35181
35182 @node Separate Objdir
35183 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
35184
35185 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
35186 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
35187 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
35188 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
35189 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
35190 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
35191 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
35192 program specified there.
35193
35194 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
35195 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
35196 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
35197 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
35198 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
35199 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
35200
35201 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
35202 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
35203
35204 @smallexample
35205 @group
35206 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
35207 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
35208 cd ../gdb-sun4
35209 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
35210 make
35211 @end group
35212 @end smallexample
35213
35214 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
35215 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
35216 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
35217 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
35218 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
35219 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
35220
35221 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
35222 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
35223 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
35224 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
35225 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
35226
35227 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
35228 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
35229 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
35230 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
35231 You specify a cross-debugging target by
35232 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
35233
35234 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
35235 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
35236 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
35237
35238 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
35239 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
35240 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
35241 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
35242 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
35243
35244 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
35245 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
35246 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
35247 with each other.
35248
35249 @node Config Names
35250 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
35251
35252 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
35253 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
35254 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
35255 of information in the following pattern:
35256
35257 @smallexample
35258 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
35259 @end smallexample
35260
35261 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
35262 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
35263 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
35264
35265 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
35266 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
35267 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
35268 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
35269 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
35270 abbreviations---for example:
35271
35272 @smallexample
35273 % sh config.sub i386-linux
35274 i386-pc-linux-gnu
35275 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
35276 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
35277 % sh config.sub hp9k700
35278 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
35279 % sh config.sub sun4
35280 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
35281 % sh config.sub sun3
35282 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
35283 % sh config.sub i986v
35284 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
35285 @end smallexample
35286
35287 @noindent
35288 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
35289 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
35290
35291 @node Configure Options
35292 @section @file{configure} Options
35293
35294 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
35295 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
35296 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
35297 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
35298
35299 @smallexample
35300 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
35301 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
35302 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
35303 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
35304 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
35305 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
35306 @var{host}
35307 @end smallexample
35308
35309 @noindent
35310 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
35311 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
35312 @samp{--}.
35313
35314 @table @code
35315 @item --help
35316 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
35317
35318 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
35319 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
35320 @file{@var{dir}}.
35321
35322 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
35323 Configure the source to install programs under directory
35324 @file{@var{dir}}.
35325
35326 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
35327 @need 2000
35328 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
35329 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
35330 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
35331 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
35332 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
35333 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
35334 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
35335 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
35336 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
35337 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
35338 @var{dirname}.
35339
35340 @item --norecursion
35341 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
35342 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
35343
35344 @item --target=@var{target}
35345 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
35346 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
35347 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
35348
35349 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
35350
35351 @item @var{host} @dots{}
35352 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
35353
35354 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
35355 @end table
35356
35357 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
35358 needed for special purposes only.
35359
35360 @node System-wide configuration
35361 @section System-wide configuration and settings
35362 @cindex system-wide init file
35363
35364 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
35365 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
35366 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
35367
35368 Here is the corresponding configure option:
35369
35370 @table @code
35371 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
35372 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
35373 @var{file}.
35374 @end table
35375
35376 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
35377 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
35378
35379 @itemize @bullet
35380 @item
35381 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
35382 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
35383 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
35384 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
35385 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
35386 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
35387
35388 @item
35389 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
35390 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
35391 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
35392 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
35393 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
35394 @end itemize
35395
35396 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
35397 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
35398 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
35399 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
35400 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
35401 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
35402 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
35403 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
35404 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
35405 reread.
35406
35407 @node Maintenance Commands
35408 @appendix Maintenance Commands
35409 @cindex maintenance commands
35410 @cindex internal commands
35411
35412 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
35413 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
35414 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
35415 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
35416 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
35417
35418 @table @code
35419 @kindex maint agent
35420 @kindex maint agent-eval
35421 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
35422 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
35423 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
35424 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
35425 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
35426 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
35427 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
35428 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
35429 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
35430 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
35431 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
35432 addition and return the sum.
35433 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
35434 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
35435
35436 @kindex maint agent-printf
35437 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
35438 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
35439 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
35440 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
35441 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
35442
35443 @kindex maint info breakpoints
35444 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
35445 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
35446 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
35447 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
35448 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
35449 is shown:
35450
35451 @table @code
35452 @item breakpoint
35453 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
35454
35455 @item watchpoint
35456 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
35457
35458 @item longjmp
35459 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
35460 @code{longjmp} calls.
35461
35462 @item longjmp resume
35463 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
35464
35465 @item until
35466 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
35467
35468 @item finish
35469 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
35470
35471 @item shlib events
35472 Shared library events.
35473
35474 @end table
35475
35476 @kindex maint info bfds
35477 @item maint info bfds
35478 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
35479 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
35480
35481 @kindex set displaced-stepping
35482 @kindex show displaced-stepping
35483 @cindex displaced stepping support
35484 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
35485 @item set displaced-stepping
35486 @itemx show displaced-stepping
35487 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
35488 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
35489 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
35490 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
35491 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
35492
35493 @table @code
35494 @item set displaced-stepping on
35495 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
35496 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
35497
35498 @item set displaced-stepping off
35499 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
35500 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
35501
35502 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
35503 @item set displaced-stepping auto
35504 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
35505 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
35506 architecture supports displaced stepping.
35507 @end table
35508
35509 @kindex maint check-symtabs
35510 @item maint check-symtabs
35511 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
35512
35513 @kindex maint cplus first_component
35514 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
35515 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
35516
35517 @kindex maint cplus namespace
35518 @item maint cplus namespace
35519 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
35520
35521 @kindex maint demangle
35522 @item maint demangle @var{name}
35523 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
35524
35525 @kindex maint deprecate
35526 @kindex maint undeprecate
35527 @cindex deprecated commands
35528 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
35529 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
35530 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
35531 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
35532 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
35533 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
35534 the replacement as part of the warning.
35535
35536 @kindex maint dump-me
35537 @item maint dump-me
35538 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
35539 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
35540 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
35541 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
35542
35543 @kindex maint internal-error
35544 @kindex maint internal-warning
35545 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
35546 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
35547 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
35548 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
35549 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
35550 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
35551 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
35552 @value{GDBN} session.
35553
35554 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
35555 used as the text of the error or warning message.
35556
35557 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
35558
35559 @smallexample
35560 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
35561 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
35562 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
35563 debugging may prove unreliable.
35564 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
35565 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
35566 (@value{GDBP})
35567 @end smallexample
35568
35569 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
35570 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
35571
35572 @kindex maint set internal-error
35573 @kindex maint show internal-error
35574 @kindex maint set internal-warning
35575 @kindex maint show internal-warning
35576 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
35577 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
35578 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
35579 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
35580 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
35581 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
35582 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
35583 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
35584 described in the table below.
35585
35586 @table @samp
35587 @item quit
35588 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
35589 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
35590
35591 @item corefile
35592 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
35593 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
35594 @end table
35595
35596 @kindex maint packet
35597 @item maint packet @var{text}
35598 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
35599 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
35600 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
35601 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
35602 checksum.
35603
35604 @kindex maint print architecture
35605 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35606 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
35607 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
35608
35609 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
35610 @item maint print c-tdesc
35611 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
35612 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
35613 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
35614
35615 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
35616 @item maint print dummy-frames
35617 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
35618
35619 @smallexample
35620 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
35621 @dots{}
35622 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
35623 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
35624 58 return (a + b);
35625 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
35626 @dots{}
35627 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
35628 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
35629 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
35630 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
35631 (@value{GDBP})
35632 @end smallexample
35633
35634 Takes an optional file parameter.
35635
35636 @kindex maint print registers
35637 @kindex maint print raw-registers
35638 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
35639 @kindex maint print register-groups
35640 @kindex maint print remote-registers
35641 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35642 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35643 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35644 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35645 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35646 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
35647
35648 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
35649 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
35650 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
35651 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
35652 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
35653 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
35654 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
35655 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
35656 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
35657
35658 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
35659 write the information.
35660
35661 @kindex maint print reggroups
35662 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35663 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
35664 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
35665 information.
35666
35667 The register groups info looks like this:
35668
35669 @smallexample
35670 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
35671 Group Type
35672 general user
35673 float user
35674 all user
35675 vector user
35676 system user
35677 save internal
35678 restore internal
35679 @end smallexample
35680
35681 @kindex flushregs
35682 @item flushregs
35683 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
35684
35685 @kindex maint print objfiles
35686 @cindex info for known object files
35687 @item maint print objfiles
35688 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
35689 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
35690 and symtabs.
35691
35692 @kindex maint print section-scripts
35693 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
35694 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
35695 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
35696 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
35697 matching @var{regexp}.
35698 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
35699 and the full path if known.
35700 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
35701
35702 @kindex maint print statistics
35703 @cindex bcache statistics
35704 @item maint print statistics
35705 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
35706 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
35707 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
35708 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
35709 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
35710 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
35711 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
35712 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
35713 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
35714 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
35715 lengths.
35716
35717 @kindex maint print target-stack
35718 @cindex target stack description
35719 @item maint print target-stack
35720 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
35721 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
35722 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
35723 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
35724 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
35725 address.
35726
35727 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
35728 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
35729
35730 @kindex maint print type
35731 @cindex type chain of a data type
35732 @item maint print type @var{expr}
35733 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
35734 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
35735 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
35736 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
35737 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
35738
35739 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
35740 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
35741 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
35742 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
35743 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
35744 information.
35745
35746 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
35747 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
35748 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
35749 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
35750 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
35751 always see the disassembly form.
35752
35753 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
35754
35755 @smallexample
35756 (gdb) info addr argc
35757 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
35758 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
35759 @end smallexample
35760
35761 For more information on these expressions, see
35762 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
35763
35764 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
35765 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
35766 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
35767 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
35768 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
35769
35770 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
35771 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
35772 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
35773 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
35774 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
35775 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
35776 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
35777 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
35778 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
35779
35780 @kindex maint set profile
35781 @kindex maint show profile
35782 @cindex profiling GDB
35783 @item maint set profile
35784 @itemx maint show profile
35785 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
35786
35787 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
35788 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
35789 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
35790 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
35791 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
35792 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
35793 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
35794
35795 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
35796 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
35797
35798 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
35799 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
35800 @cindex hardware debug registers
35801 @item maint set show-debug-regs
35802 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
35803 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
35804 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
35805 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
35806 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
35807 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
35808
35809 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
35810 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
35811 @item maint set show-all-tib
35812 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
35813 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
35814 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
35815 command.
35816
35817 @kindex maint set per-command
35818 @kindex maint show per-command
35819 @item maint set per-command
35820 @itemx maint show per-command
35821 @cindex resources used by commands
35822
35823 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
35824 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
35825
35826 @table @code
35827 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
35828 @itemx maint show per-command space
35829 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
35830 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
35831 took, following the command's own output.
35832 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
35833 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
35834
35835 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
35836 @itemx maint show per-command time
35837 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
35838 for each command.
35839 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
35840 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
35841 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
35842 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
35843 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
35844 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
35845 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
35846 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
35847 spent by the program been debugged.
35848 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
35849 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
35850
35851 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
35852 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
35853 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
35854 for each command.
35855 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
35856
35857 @enumerate a
35858 @item
35859 number of symbol tables
35860 @item
35861 number of primary symbol tables
35862 @item
35863 number of blocks in the blockvector
35864 @end enumerate
35865 @end table
35866
35867 @kindex maint space
35868 @cindex memory used by commands
35869 @item maint space @var{value}
35870 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
35871 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
35872
35873 @kindex maint time
35874 @cindex time of command execution
35875 @item maint time @var{value}
35876 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
35877 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
35878
35879 @kindex maint translate-address
35880 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
35881 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
35882 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
35883 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
35884 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
35885 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
35886 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
35887
35888 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
35889 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
35890 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
35891
35892 @end table
35893
35894 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
35895 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
35896
35897 @table @code
35898 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
35899 @kindex set watchdog
35900 @cindex watchdog timer
35901 @cindex timeout for commands
35902 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
35903 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
35904 reports and error and the command is aborted.
35905
35906 @item show watchdog
35907 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
35908 @end table
35909
35910 @node Remote Protocol
35911 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
35912
35913 @menu
35914 * Overview::
35915 * Packets::
35916 * Stop Reply Packets::
35917 * General Query Packets::
35918 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
35919 * Tracepoint Packets::
35920 * Host I/O Packets::
35921 * Interrupts::
35922 * Notification Packets::
35923 * Remote Non-Stop::
35924 * Packet Acknowledgment::
35925 * Examples::
35926 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
35927 * Library List Format::
35928 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
35929 * Memory Map Format::
35930 * Thread List Format::
35931 * Traceframe Info Format::
35932 * Branch Trace Format::
35933 @end menu
35934
35935 @node Overview
35936 @section Overview
35937
35938 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
35939 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
35940 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
35941 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
35942
35943 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
35944 transmitted and received data, respectively.
35945
35946 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
35947 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
35948 @cindex remote serial protocol
35949 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
35950 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
35951 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
35952 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
35953 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
35954
35955 @smallexample
35956 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35957 @end smallexample
35958 @noindent
35959
35960 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
35961 @noindent
35962 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
35963 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
35964 eight bit unsigned checksum).
35965
35966 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
35967 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
35968
35969 @smallexample
35970 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35971 @end smallexample
35972
35973 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
35974 @noindent
35975 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
35976 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
35977 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
35978
35979 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
35980 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
35981 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
35982 retransmission):
35983
35984 @smallexample
35985 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35986 <- @code{+}
35987 @end smallexample
35988 @noindent
35989
35990 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
35991 once a connection is established.
35992 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
35993
35994 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
35995 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
35996 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
35997 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
35998 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
35999 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
36000 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
36001
36002 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
36003 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
36004 exceptions).
36005
36006 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
36007 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
36008 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
36009 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
36010
36011 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
36012 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
36013 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
36014
36015 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
36016 @anchor{Binary Data}
36017 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
36018 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
36019 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
36020 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
36021 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
36022 binary data.
36023
36024 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
36025 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
36026 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
36027 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
36028 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
36029 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
36030 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
36031 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
36032 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
36033 (described next).
36034
36035 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
36036 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
36037 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
36038 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
36039 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
36040 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
36041 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
36042 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
36043 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
36044 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
36045 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
36046 3}} more times.
36047
36048 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
36049 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
36050 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
36051 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
36052 @samp{0*"00}.
36053
36054 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
36055 error number. That number is not well defined.
36056
36057 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
36058 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
36059 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
36060 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
36061 on that response.
36062
36063 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
36064 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
36065 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
36066 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
36067 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
36068 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
36069
36070 @node Packets
36071 @section Packets
36072
36073 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
36074 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
36075 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
36076 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
36077
36078 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
36079 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
36080 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
36081 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
36082 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
36083 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
36084 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
36085 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
36086 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
36087 @var{baz}.
36088
36089 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
36090 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
36091 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
36092 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
36093 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
36094 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
36095 pick any thread.
36096
36097 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
36098 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
36099 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
36100 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
36101 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
36102 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
36103 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
36104 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
36105 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
36106 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
36107 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
36108 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
36109 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
36110
36111 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
36112 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
36113 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
36114 more information.
36115
36116 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
36117 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
36118
36119 Here are the packet descriptions.
36120
36121 @table @samp
36122
36123 @item !
36124 @cindex @samp{!} packet
36125 @anchor{extended mode}
36126 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
36127 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
36128 debugged.
36129
36130 Reply:
36131 @table @samp
36132 @item OK
36133 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
36134 @end table
36135
36136 @item ?
36137 @cindex @samp{?} packet
36138 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
36139 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
36140 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
36141
36142 Reply:
36143 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36144
36145 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
36146 @cindex @samp{A} packet
36147 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
36148 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
36149 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
36150
36151 Reply:
36152 @table @samp
36153 @item OK
36154 The arguments were set.
36155 @item E @var{NN}
36156 An error occurred.
36157 @end table
36158
36159 @item b @var{baud}
36160 @cindex @samp{b} packet
36161 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
36162 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
36163
36164 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
36165 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
36166 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
36167
36168 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
36169 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
36170 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
36171 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
36172 of view, nothing actually happened.}
36173
36174 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
36175 @cindex @samp{B} packet
36176 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
36177 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
36178
36179 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
36180 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
36181
36182 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
36183 @anchor{bc}
36184 @item bc
36185 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
36186 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
36187
36188 Reply:
36189 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36190
36191 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
36192 @anchor{bs}
36193 @item bs
36194 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
36195 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
36196
36197 Reply:
36198 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36199
36200 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
36201 @cindex @samp{c} packet
36202 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
36203 resume at current address.
36204
36205 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36206 packet}.
36207
36208 Reply:
36209 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36210
36211 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
36212 @cindex @samp{C} packet
36213 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
36214 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
36215
36216 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36217 packet}.
36218
36219 Reply:
36220 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36221
36222 @item d
36223 @cindex @samp{d} packet
36224 Toggle debug flag.
36225
36226 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
36227 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
36228
36229 @item D
36230 @itemx D;@var{pid}
36231 @cindex @samp{D} packet
36232 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
36233 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
36234 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
36235
36236 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
36237 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
36238 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
36239 big-endian hex string.
36240
36241 Reply:
36242 @table @samp
36243 @item OK
36244 for success
36245 @item E @var{NN}
36246 for an error
36247 @end table
36248
36249 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
36250 @cindex @samp{F} packet
36251 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
36252 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
36253 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
36254
36255 @item g
36256 @anchor{read registers packet}
36257 @cindex @samp{g} packet
36258 Read general registers.
36259
36260 Reply:
36261 @table @samp
36262 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36263 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
36264 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
36265 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
36266 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
36267 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
36268 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
36269
36270 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
36271 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
36272 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
36273 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
36274 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
36275 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
36276 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
36277 have been collected, and both have zero value:
36278
36279 @smallexample
36280 -> @code{g}
36281 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
36282 @end smallexample
36283
36284 @item E @var{NN}
36285 for an error.
36286 @end table
36287
36288 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
36289 @cindex @samp{G} packet
36290 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
36291 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
36292
36293 Reply:
36294 @table @samp
36295 @item OK
36296 for success
36297 @item E @var{NN}
36298 for an error
36299 @end table
36300
36301 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
36302 @cindex @samp{H} packet
36303 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
36304 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
36305 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
36306 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
36307 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
36308 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
36309 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36310
36311 Reply:
36312 @table @samp
36313 @item OK
36314 for success
36315 @item E @var{NN}
36316 for an error
36317 @end table
36318
36319 @c FIXME: JTC:
36320 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
36321 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
36322 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
36323 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
36324 @c described. For example:
36325 @c
36326 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
36327 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
36328 @c otherwise returns current registers.
36329 @c
36330 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
36331 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
36332 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
36333
36334 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
36335 @anchor{cycle step packet}
36336 @cindex @samp{i} packet
36337 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
36338 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
36339 step starting at that address.
36340
36341 @item I
36342 @cindex @samp{I} packet
36343 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
36344 step packet}.
36345
36346 @item k
36347 @cindex @samp{k} packet
36348 Kill request.
36349
36350 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
36351 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
36352 thread?)}.
36353
36354 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
36355 @cindex @samp{m} packet
36356 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
36357 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
36358
36359 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
36360 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
36361 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
36362 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
36363 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
36364 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
36365 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
36366 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
36367
36368 Reply:
36369 @table @samp
36370 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36371 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
36372 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
36373 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
36374 @item E @var{NN}
36375 @var{NN} is errno
36376 @end table
36377
36378 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36379 @cindex @samp{M} packet
36380 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
36381 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
36382 hexadecimal number.
36383
36384 Reply:
36385 @table @samp
36386 @item OK
36387 for success
36388 @item E @var{NN}
36389 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
36390 written).
36391 @end table
36392
36393 @item p @var{n}
36394 @cindex @samp{p} packet
36395 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
36396 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
36397 register value is encoded.
36398
36399 Reply:
36400 @table @samp
36401 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36402 the register's value
36403 @item E @var{NN}
36404 for an error
36405 @item @w{}
36406 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
36407 @end table
36408
36409 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
36410 @anchor{write register packet}
36411 @cindex @samp{P} packet
36412 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
36413 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
36414 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
36415
36416 Reply:
36417 @table @samp
36418 @item OK
36419 for success
36420 @item E @var{NN}
36421 for an error
36422 @end table
36423
36424 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
36425 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
36426 @cindex @samp{q} packet
36427 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
36428 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
36429 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
36430
36431 @item r
36432 @cindex @samp{r} packet
36433 Reset the entire system.
36434
36435 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
36436
36437 @item R @var{XX}
36438 @cindex @samp{R} packet
36439 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
36440 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36441
36442 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
36443
36444 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
36445 @cindex @samp{s} packet
36446 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
36447 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
36448
36449 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36450 packet}.
36451
36452 Reply:
36453 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36454
36455 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
36456 @anchor{step with signal packet}
36457 @cindex @samp{S} packet
36458 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
36459 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
36460
36461 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36462 packet}.
36463
36464 Reply:
36465 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36466
36467 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
36468 @cindex @samp{t} packet
36469 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
36470 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
36471 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
36472
36473 @item T @var{thread-id}
36474 @cindex @samp{T} packet
36475 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
36476
36477 Reply:
36478 @table @samp
36479 @item OK
36480 thread is still alive
36481 @item E @var{NN}
36482 thread is dead
36483 @end table
36484
36485 @item v
36486 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
36487 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
36488
36489 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
36490 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
36491 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
36492 The process ID is a
36493 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
36494 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
36495 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
36496
36497 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
36498 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
36499 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
36500 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
36501 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
36502 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
36503 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
36504 @c stopping or restarting threads.
36505
36506 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36507
36508 Reply:
36509 @table @samp
36510 @item E @var{nn}
36511 for an error
36512 @item @r{Any stop packet}
36513 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
36514 @item OK
36515 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
36516 @end table
36517
36518 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
36519 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
36520 @anchor{vCont packet}
36521 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
36522 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
36523 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
36524 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
36525 in their current state in non-stop mode.
36526 Specifying multiple
36527 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
36528 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36529
36530 Currently supported actions are:
36531
36532 @table @samp
36533 @item c
36534 Continue.
36535 @item C @var{sig}
36536 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
36537 @item s
36538 Step.
36539 @item S @var{sig}
36540 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
36541 @item t
36542 Stop.
36543 @end table
36544
36545 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
36546 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
36547 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
36548
36549 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
36550 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
36551 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
36552 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
36553 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
36554 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
36555 as an implementation detail.
36556
36557 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
36558 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
36559 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
36560 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
36561 @var{thread-id}.
36562
36563 Reply:
36564 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36565
36566 @item vCont?
36567 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
36568 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
36569
36570 Reply:
36571 @table @samp
36572 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
36573 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
36574 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
36575 @item @w{}
36576 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
36577 @end table
36578
36579 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
36580 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
36581 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
36582 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
36583
36584 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
36585 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
36586 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
36587 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
36588 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
36589 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
36590 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
36591 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
36592 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
36593 packet is received.
36594
36595 Reply:
36596 @table @samp
36597 @item OK
36598 for success
36599 @item E @var{NN}
36600 for an error
36601 @end table
36602
36603 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36604 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
36605 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
36606 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
36607 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
36608 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
36609 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
36610 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
36611 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
36612 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
36613 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
36614 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
36615
36616
36617 Reply:
36618 @table @samp
36619 @item OK
36620 for success
36621 @item E.memtype
36622 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
36623 @item E @var{NN}
36624 for an error
36625 @end table
36626
36627 @item vFlashDone
36628 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
36629 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
36630 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
36631 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
36632 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
36633 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
36634 request is completed.
36635
36636 @item vKill;@var{pid}
36637 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
36638 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
36639 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
36640 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
36641 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
36642
36643 Reply:
36644 @table @samp
36645 @item E @var{nn}
36646 for an error
36647 @item OK
36648 for success
36649 @end table
36650
36651 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
36652 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
36653 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
36654 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
36655 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
36656 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
36657 state.
36658
36659 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
36660
36661 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36662
36663 Reply:
36664 @table @samp
36665 @item E @var{nn}
36666 for an error
36667 @item @r{Any stop packet}
36668 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
36669 @end table
36670
36671 @item vStopped
36672 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
36673 @xref{Notification Packets}.
36674
36675 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36676 @anchor{X packet}
36677 @cindex @samp{X} packet
36678 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
36679 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
36680 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
36681
36682 Reply:
36683 @table @samp
36684 @item OK
36685 for success
36686 @item E @var{NN}
36687 for an error
36688 @end table
36689
36690 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
36691 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
36692 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
36693 @cindex @samp{z} packet
36694 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
36695 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
36696 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
36697
36698 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
36699 separately.
36700
36701 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
36702 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
36703 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
36704 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
36705 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
36706 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
36707
36708 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36709 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
36710 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
36711 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
36712 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
36713 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
36714
36715 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
36716 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
36717 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
36718 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
36719 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
36720 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
36721 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
36722 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
36723 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
36724 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
36725
36726 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
36727 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
36728
36729 @table @samp
36730
36731 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36732 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
36733 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
36734
36735 @end table
36736
36737 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
36738 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
36739 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
36740 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
36741 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
36742 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
36743 separators. Each expression has the following form:
36744
36745 @table @samp
36746
36747 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36748 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
36749 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
36750
36751 @end table
36752
36753 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
36754
36755 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
36756 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
36757 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
36758 target, is not defined.}
36759
36760 Reply:
36761 @table @samp
36762 @item OK
36763 success
36764 @item @w{}
36765 not supported
36766 @item E @var{NN}
36767 for an error
36768 @end table
36769
36770 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36771 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
36772 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
36773 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
36774 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
36775 address @var{addr}.
36776
36777 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
36778 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
36779 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
36780
36781 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
36782 movement.}
36783
36784 Reply:
36785 @table @samp
36786 @item OK
36787 success
36788 @item @w{}
36789 not supported
36790 @item E @var{NN}
36791 for an error
36792 @end table
36793
36794 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36795 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36796 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
36797 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
36798 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36799 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
36800
36801 Reply:
36802 @table @samp
36803 @item OK
36804 success
36805 @item @w{}
36806 not supported
36807 @item E @var{NN}
36808 for an error
36809 @end table
36810
36811 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36812 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36813 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
36814 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
36815 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36816 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
36817
36818 Reply:
36819 @table @samp
36820 @item OK
36821 success
36822 @item @w{}
36823 not supported
36824 @item E @var{NN}
36825 for an error
36826 @end table
36827
36828 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36829 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36830 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
36831 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
36832 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36833 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
36834
36835 Reply:
36836 @table @samp
36837 @item OK
36838 success
36839 @item @w{}
36840 not supported
36841 @item E @var{NN}
36842 for an error
36843 @end table
36844
36845 @end table
36846
36847 @node Stop Reply Packets
36848 @section Stop Reply Packets
36849 @cindex stop reply packets
36850
36851 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
36852 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
36853 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
36854 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
36855 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
36856 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
36857 @value{GDBN} source code.
36858
36859 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
36860 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
36861 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
36862 components.
36863
36864 @table @samp
36865
36866 @item S @var{AA}
36867 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
36868 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
36869 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
36870
36871 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
36872 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
36873 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
36874 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
36875 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
36876 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
36877 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
36878 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
36879
36880 @itemize @bullet
36881 @item
36882 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
36883 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
36884 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
36885 two-digit hex number.
36886
36887 @item
36888 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
36889 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36890
36891 @item
36892 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
36893 the core on which the stop event was detected.
36894
36895 @item
36896 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
36897 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
36898 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
36899 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
36900
36901 @item
36902 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
36903 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
36904 future.
36905 @end itemize
36906
36907 The currently defined stop reasons are:
36908
36909 @table @samp
36910 @item watch
36911 @itemx rwatch
36912 @itemx awatch
36913 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
36914 hex.
36915
36916 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
36917 @item library
36918 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
36919 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
36920 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
36921
36922 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
36923 @item replaylog
36924 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
36925 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
36926 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
36927 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
36928 for more information.
36929 @end table
36930
36931 @item W @var{AA}
36932 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
36933 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
36934 applicable to certain targets.
36935
36936 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
36937 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
36938 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
36939 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
36940
36941 @item X @var{AA}
36942 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
36943 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
36944
36945 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
36946 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
36947 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
36948 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
36949
36950 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
36951 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
36952 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
36953 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
36954 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
36955
36956 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
36957 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
36958 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
36959 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
36960 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
36961 system calls.
36962
36963 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
36964 this very system call.
36965
36966 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
36967 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
36968 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
36969 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
36970 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
36971 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
36972
36973 @end table
36974
36975 @node General Query Packets
36976 @section General Query Packets
36977 @cindex remote query requests
36978
36979 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
36980 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
36981 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
36982 sending information to and from the stub.
36983
36984 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
36985 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
36986 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
36987 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
36988 conventions:
36989
36990 @itemize @bullet
36991 @item
36992 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
36993 @item
36994 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
36995 letter.
36996 @item
36997 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
36998 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
36999 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
37000 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
37001 @end itemize
37002
37003 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
37004 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
37005 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
37006 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
37007 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
37008 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
37009 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
37010 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
37011 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
37012 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
37013 packet.}.
37014
37015 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
37016 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
37017 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
37018 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
37019 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
37020
37021 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
37022
37023 @table @samp
37024
37025 @item QAgent:1
37026 @itemx QAgent:0
37027 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
37028 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
37029
37030 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
37031 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
37032 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
37033 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
37034 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
37035 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
37036 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
37037 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
37038 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
37039 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
37040 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
37041
37042 @item qC
37043 @cindex current thread, remote request
37044 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
37045 Return the current thread ID.
37046
37047 Reply:
37048 @table @samp
37049 @item QC @var{thread-id}
37050 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
37051 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37052 @item @r{(anything else)}
37053 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
37054 @end table
37055
37056 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
37057 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
37058 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
37059 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
37060 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
37061 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
37062 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
37063
37064 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
37065 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
37066 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
37067 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
37068 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
37069 detect trailing zeros.
37070
37071 Reply:
37072 @table @samp
37073 @item E @var{NN}
37074 An error (such as memory fault)
37075 @item C @var{crc32}
37076 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
37077 @end table
37078
37079 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
37080 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
37081 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
37082 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
37083 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
37084 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
37085 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
37086 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
37087 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
37088 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
37089 randomization.
37090
37091 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37092
37093 Reply:
37094 @table @samp
37095 @item OK
37096 The request succeeded.
37097
37098 @item E @var{nn}
37099 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37100
37101 @item @w{}
37102 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
37103 by the stub.
37104 @end table
37105
37106 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37107 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37108 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
37109 address space randomization.
37110
37111 @item qfThreadInfo
37112 @itemx qsThreadInfo
37113 @cindex list active threads, remote request
37114 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
37115 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
37116 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
37117 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
37118 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
37119 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
37120 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
37121 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
37122
37123 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
37124
37125 Reply:
37126 @table @samp
37127 @item m @var{thread-id}
37128 A single thread ID
37129 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
37130 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
37131 @item l
37132 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
37133 @end table
37134
37135 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
37136 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
37137 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
37138 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
37139 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
37140 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
37141 fields.
37142
37143 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
37144 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
37145 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
37146 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
37147 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
37148
37149 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
37150 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
37151
37152 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
37153 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
37154 information associated with the variable.)
37155
37156 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
37157 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
37158 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
37159 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
37160 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
37161 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
37162
37163 Reply:
37164 @table @samp
37165 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37166 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
37167 local storage requested.
37168
37169 @item E @var{nn}
37170 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37171
37172 @item @w{}
37173 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
37174 @end table
37175
37176 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
37177 @cindex get thread information block address
37178 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
37179 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
37180
37181 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
37182
37183 Reply:
37184 @table @samp
37185 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37186 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
37187 thread information block.
37188
37189 @item E @var{nn}
37190 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
37191 address could not be retrieved.
37192
37193 @item @w{}
37194 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
37195 @end table
37196
37197 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
37198 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
37199 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
37200 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
37201 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
37202 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
37203 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
37204
37205 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
37206
37207 Reply:
37208 @table @samp
37209 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
37210 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
37211 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
37212 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
37213 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
37214 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
37215 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
37216 @end table
37217
37218 @item qOffsets
37219 @cindex section offsets, remote request
37220 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
37221 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
37222 image.
37223
37224 Reply:
37225 @table @samp
37226 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
37227 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
37228 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
37229 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
37230 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
37231 segments by the supplied offsets.
37232
37233 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
37234 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
37235 to the @code{Bss} section.}
37236
37237 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
37238 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
37239 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
37240 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
37241 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
37242 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
37243 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
37244 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
37245 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
37246 @end table
37247
37248 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
37249 @cindex thread information, remote request
37250 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
37251 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
37252 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
37253 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
37254
37255 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
37256 (see below).
37257
37258 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
37259
37260 @item QNonStop:1
37261 @itemx QNonStop:0
37262 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
37263 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
37264 @anchor{QNonStop}
37265 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
37266 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
37267
37268 Reply:
37269 @table @samp
37270 @item OK
37271 The request succeeded.
37272
37273 @item E @var{nn}
37274 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37275
37276 @item @w{}
37277 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
37278 the stub.
37279 @end table
37280
37281 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37282 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37283 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
37284 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
37285
37286 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
37287 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
37288 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
37289 @anchor{QPassSignals}
37290 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
37291 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
37292 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
37293 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
37294 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
37295 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
37296 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
37297 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
37298 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
37299
37300 Reply:
37301 @table @samp
37302 @item OK
37303 The request succeeded.
37304
37305 @item E @var{nn}
37306 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37307
37308 @item @w{}
37309 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
37310 the stub.
37311 @end table
37312
37313 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
37314 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
37315 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37316 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37317
37318 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
37319 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
37320 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
37321 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
37322 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
37323 Others should be silently discarded.
37324
37325 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
37326 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
37327 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
37328 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
37329 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
37330 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
37331 signals.
37332
37333 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
37334 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
37335
37336 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
37337 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
37338 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
37339 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
37340 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
37341
37342 Reply:
37343 @table @samp
37344 @item OK
37345 The request succeeded.
37346
37347 @item E @var{nn}
37348 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37349
37350 @item @w{}
37351 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
37352 by the stub.
37353 @end table
37354
37355 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
37356 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
37357 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37358 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37359
37360 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
37361 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
37362 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
37363 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
37364 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
37365 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
37366 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
37367 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
37368 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
37369
37370 Reply:
37371 @table @samp
37372 @item OK
37373 A command response with no output.
37374 @item @var{OUTPUT}
37375 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
37376 @item E @var{NN}
37377 Indicate a badly formed request.
37378 @item @w{}
37379 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
37380 @end table
37381
37382 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
37383 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
37384 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
37385 packets.)
37386
37387 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
37388 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
37389 @ifnotinfo
37390 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
37391 @end ifnotinfo
37392 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
37393 @anchor{qSearch memory}
37394 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
37395 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
37396 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
37397
37398 Reply:
37399 @table @samp
37400 @item 0
37401 The pattern was not found.
37402 @item 1,address
37403 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
37404 @item E @var{NN}
37405 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
37406 @item @w{}
37407 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
37408 @end table
37409
37410 @item QStartNoAckMode
37411 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
37412 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
37413 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
37414 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
37415
37416 Reply:
37417 @table @samp
37418 @item OK
37419 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
37420 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
37421 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
37422 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
37423 @item @w{}
37424 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
37425 @end table
37426
37427 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
37428 @cindex supported packets, remote query
37429 @cindex features of the remote protocol
37430 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
37431 @anchor{qSupported}
37432 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
37433 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
37434 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
37435 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
37436 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
37437 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
37438 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
37439 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
37440 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
37441 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
37442 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
37443 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
37444 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
37445 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
37446
37447 Reply:
37448 @table @samp
37449 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
37450 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
37451 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
37452 possible forms).
37453 @item @w{}
37454 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
37455 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
37456 @end table
37457
37458 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
37459 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
37460 are:
37461
37462 @table @samp
37463 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
37464 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
37465 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
37466 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
37467 @item @var{name}+
37468 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
37469 need an associated value.
37470 @item @var{name}-
37471 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
37472 @item @var{name}?
37473 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
37474 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
37475 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
37476 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
37477 @end table
37478
37479 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
37480 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
37481 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
37482 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
37483 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
37484
37485 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
37486 are defined:
37487
37488 @table @samp
37489 @item multiprocess
37490 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
37491 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
37492 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
37493 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
37494 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
37495
37496 @item xmlRegisters
37497 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
37498 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
37499 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
37500 description.
37501
37502 @item qRelocInsn
37503 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
37504 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37505 instruction reply packet}).
37506 @end table
37507
37508 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
37509 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
37510 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
37511 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
37512 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
37513 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
37514 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
37515 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
37516 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
37517 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
37518 all the features it supports.
37519
37520 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
37521 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
37522
37523 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
37524 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
37525 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
37526 form response.
37527
37528 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
37529 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
37530 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
37531 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
37532
37533 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
37534 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
37535 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
37536 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
37537 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
37538
37539 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
37540
37541 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
37542 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
37543 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
37544 @item Feature Name
37545 @tab Value Required
37546 @tab Default
37547 @tab Probe Allowed
37548
37549 @item @samp{PacketSize}
37550 @tab Yes
37551 @tab @samp{-}
37552 @tab No
37553
37554 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
37555 @tab No
37556 @tab @samp{-}
37557 @tab Yes
37558
37559 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
37560 @tab No
37561 @tab @samp{-}
37562 @tab Yes
37563
37564 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
37565 @tab No
37566 @tab @samp{-}
37567 @tab Yes
37568
37569 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
37570 @tab No
37571 @tab @samp{-}
37572 @tab Yes
37573
37574 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
37575 @tab No
37576 @tab @samp{-}
37577 @tab Yes
37578
37579 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
37580 @tab No
37581 @tab @samp{-}
37582 @tab Yes
37583
37584 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
37585 @tab No
37586 @tab @samp{-}
37587 @tab Yes
37588
37589 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
37590 @tab No
37591 @tab @samp{-}
37592 @tab Yes
37593
37594 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
37595 @tab No
37596 @tab @samp{-}
37597 @tab Yes
37598
37599 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
37600 @tab No
37601 @tab @samp{-}
37602 @tab Yes
37603
37604 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
37605 @tab No
37606 @tab @samp{-}
37607 @tab Yes
37608
37609 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
37610 @tab No
37611 @tab @samp{-}
37612 @tab Yes
37613
37614 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
37615 @tab No
37616 @tab @samp{-}
37617 @tab Yes
37618
37619 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
37620 @tab No
37621 @tab @samp{-}
37622 @tab Yes
37623
37624 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
37625 @tab Yes
37626 @tab @samp{-}
37627 @tab Yes
37628
37629 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
37630 @tab Yes
37631 @tab @samp{-}
37632 @tab Yes
37633
37634 @item @samp{QNonStop}
37635 @tab No
37636 @tab @samp{-}
37637 @tab Yes
37638
37639 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
37640 @tab No
37641 @tab @samp{-}
37642 @tab Yes
37643
37644 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
37645 @tab No
37646 @tab @samp{-}
37647 @tab Yes
37648
37649 @item @samp{multiprocess}
37650 @tab No
37651 @tab @samp{-}
37652 @tab No
37653
37654 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
37655 @tab No
37656 @tab @samp{-}
37657 @tab No
37658
37659 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
37660 @tab No
37661 @tab @samp{-}
37662 @tab No
37663
37664 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
37665 @tab No
37666 @tab @samp{-}
37667 @tab No
37668
37669 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
37670 @tab No
37671 @tab @samp{-}
37672 @tab No
37673
37674 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
37675 @tab No
37676 @tab @samp{-}
37677 @tab No
37678
37679 @item @samp{QAgent}
37680 @tab No
37681 @tab @samp{-}
37682 @tab No
37683
37684 @item @samp{QAllow}
37685 @tab No
37686 @tab @samp{-}
37687 @tab No
37688
37689 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
37690 @tab No
37691 @tab @samp{-}
37692 @tab No
37693
37694 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
37695 @tab No
37696 @tab @samp{-}
37697 @tab No
37698
37699 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
37700 @tab No
37701 @tab @samp{-}
37702 @tab No
37703
37704 @item @samp{tracenz}
37705 @tab No
37706 @tab @samp{-}
37707 @tab No
37708
37709 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
37710 @tab No
37711 @tab @samp{-}
37712 @tab No
37713
37714 @end multitable
37715
37716 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
37717
37718 @table @samp
37719 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
37720 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
37721 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
37722 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
37723 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
37724 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
37725 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
37726 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
37727 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
37728 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
37729
37730 @item qXfer:auxv:read
37731 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
37732 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
37733
37734 @item qXfer:btrace:read
37735 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
37736 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
37737
37738 @item qXfer:features:read
37739 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
37740 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
37741
37742 @item qXfer:libraries:read
37743 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
37744 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
37745
37746 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
37747 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
37748 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
37749
37750 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
37751 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
37752 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
37753
37754 @item qXfer:sdata:read
37755 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
37756 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
37757
37758 @item qXfer:spu:read
37759 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
37760 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
37761
37762 @item qXfer:spu:write
37763 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
37764 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
37765
37766 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
37767 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
37768 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
37769
37770 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
37771 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
37772 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
37773
37774 @item qXfer:threads:read
37775 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
37776 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
37777
37778 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
37779 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
37780 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
37781
37782 @item qXfer:uib:read
37783 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
37784 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
37785
37786 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
37787 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
37788 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
37789
37790 @item QNonStop
37791 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
37792 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
37793
37794 @item QPassSignals
37795 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
37796 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
37797
37798 @item QStartNoAckMode
37799 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
37800 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
37801
37802 @item multiprocess
37803 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
37804 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
37805 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
37806 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
37807 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
37808 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
37809 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
37810 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
37811 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
37812 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
37813 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
37814
37815 @item qXfer:osdata:read
37816 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
37817 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
37818
37819 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
37820 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
37821 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
37822 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
37823
37824 @item ConditionalTracepoints
37825 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
37826 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
37827
37828 @item ReverseContinue
37829 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
37830 (@pxref{bc}).
37831
37832 @item ReverseStep
37833 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
37834 (@pxref{bs}).
37835
37836 @item TracepointSource
37837 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
37838 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
37839
37840 @item QAgent
37841 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
37842
37843 @item QAllow
37844 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
37845
37846 @item QDisableRandomization
37847 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
37848
37849 @item StaticTracepoint
37850 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
37851 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
37852
37853 @item InstallInTrace
37854 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
37855 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
37856
37857 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
37858 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
37859 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
37860 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
37861
37862 @item QTBuffer:size
37863 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
37864 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
37865
37866 @item tracenz
37867 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
37868 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
37869 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
37870
37871 @item BreakpointCommands
37872 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
37873 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
37874 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
37875
37876 @item Qbtrace:off
37877 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
37878
37879 @item Qbtrace:bts
37880 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
37881
37882 @end table
37883
37884 @item qSymbol::
37885 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
37886 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
37887 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
37888 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
37889
37890 Reply:
37891 @table @samp
37892 @item OK
37893 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
37894 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
37895 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
37896 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
37897 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
37898 below.
37899 @end table
37900
37901 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
37902 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
37903
37904 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
37905 target has previously requested.
37906
37907 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
37908 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
37909 will be empty.
37910
37911 Reply:
37912 @table @samp
37913 @item OK
37914 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
37915 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
37916 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
37917 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
37918 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
37919 @end table
37920
37921 @item qTBuffer
37922 @itemx QTBuffer
37923 @itemx QTDisconnected
37924 @itemx QTDP
37925 @itemx QTDPsrc
37926 @itemx QTDV
37927 @itemx qTfP
37928 @itemx qTfV
37929 @itemx QTFrame
37930 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
37931
37932 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37933
37934 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
37935 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
37936 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
37937 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
37938 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
37939 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
37940 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
37941 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
37942 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
37943 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
37944 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
37945
37946 Reply:
37947 @table @samp
37948 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37949 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
37950 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
37951 the thread's attributes.
37952 @end table
37953
37954 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
37955 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
37956 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
37957 packets.)
37958
37959 @item QTNotes
37960 @itemx qTP
37961 @itemx QTSave
37962 @itemx qTsP
37963 @itemx qTsV
37964 @itemx QTStart
37965 @itemx QTStop
37966 @itemx QTEnable
37967 @itemx QTDisable
37968 @itemx QTinit
37969 @itemx QTro
37970 @itemx qTStatus
37971 @itemx qTV
37972 @itemx qTfSTM
37973 @itemx qTsSTM
37974 @itemx qTSTMat
37975 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37976
37977 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37978 @cindex read special object, remote request
37979 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
37980 @anchor{qXfer read}
37981 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
37982 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
37983 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
37984 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
37985 additional details about what data to access.
37986
37987 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37988 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37989 formats, listed below.
37990
37991 @table @samp
37992 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37993 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
37994 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
37995 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
37996
37997 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37998 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37999
38000 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38001 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
38002
38003 Return a description of the current branch trace.
38004 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
38005 packet may have one of the following values:
38006
38007 @table @code
38008 @item all
38009 Returns all available branch trace.
38010
38011 @item new
38012 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
38013 the last read request.
38014 @end table
38015
38016 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
38017 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38018
38019 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38020 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
38021 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
38022 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
38023 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
38024
38025 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38026 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38027
38028 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38029 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
38030 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
38031 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
38032 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38033
38034 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
38035 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
38036 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
38037
38038 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38039 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38040
38041 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38042 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
38043 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
38044 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
38045 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38046
38047 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
38048 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
38049
38050 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38051 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38052
38053 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38054 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
38055 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
38056 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
38057 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38058
38059 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38060 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38061
38062 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38063 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
38064
38065 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
38066 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
38067 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
38068 Action Lists}.
38069
38070 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38071 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38072 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38073
38074 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38075 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
38076 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
38077 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
38078 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38079
38080 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38081 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38082 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38083
38084 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38085 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
38086 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
38087 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
38088 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
38089 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
38090 in that context to be accessed.
38091
38092 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38093 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38094 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38095
38096 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38097 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
38098 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
38099 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
38100 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38101
38102 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38103 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38104
38105 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38106 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
38107
38108 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
38109 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
38110 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38111
38112 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38113 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38114
38115 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38116 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
38117
38118 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
38119 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
38120
38121 This packet is not probed by default.
38122
38123 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38124 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
38125 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
38126 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
38127 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
38128
38129 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38130 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38131
38132 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38133 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
38134 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
38135 @xref{Operating System Information}.
38136
38137 @end table
38138
38139 Reply:
38140 @table @samp
38141 @item m @var{data}
38142 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
38143 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
38144 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
38145 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
38146 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
38147 request.
38148
38149 @item l @var{data}
38150 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
38151 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
38152 than the @var{length} in the request.
38153
38154 @item l
38155 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
38156 There is no more data to be read.
38157
38158 @item E00
38159 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
38160
38161 @item E @var{nn}
38162 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
38163 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
38164
38165 @item @w{}
38166 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
38167 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
38168 @end table
38169
38170 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
38171 @cindex write data into object, remote request
38172 @anchor{qXfer write}
38173 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
38174 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
38175 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
38176 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
38177 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
38178 to access.
38179
38180 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
38181 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
38182 formats, listed below.
38183
38184 @table @samp
38185 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
38186 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
38187 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
38188 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
38189 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
38190
38191 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38192 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38193 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38194
38195 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
38196 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
38197 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
38198 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
38199 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
38200 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
38201 in that context to be accessed.
38202
38203 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38204 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38205 @end table
38206
38207 Reply:
38208 @table @samp
38209 @item @var{nn}
38210 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
38211 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
38212
38213 @item E00
38214 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
38215
38216 @item E @var{nn}
38217 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
38218 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
38219
38220 @item @w{}
38221 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
38222 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
38223 @end table
38224
38225 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
38226 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
38227 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
38228 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
38229 must respond with an empty packet.
38230
38231 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
38232 @cindex query attached, remote request
38233 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
38234 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
38235 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
38236 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
38237 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
38238 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
38239 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
38240
38241 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
38242 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
38243 the @code{quit} command.
38244
38245 Reply:
38246 @table @samp
38247 @item 1
38248 The remote server attached to an existing process.
38249 @item 0
38250 The remote server created a new process.
38251 @item E @var{NN}
38252 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38253 @end table
38254
38255 @item Qbtrace:bts
38256 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
38257
38258 Reply:
38259 @table @samp
38260 @item OK
38261 Branch tracing has been enabled.
38262 @item E.errtext
38263 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38264 @end table
38265
38266 @item Qbtrace:off
38267 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
38268
38269 Reply:
38270 @table @samp
38271 @item OK
38272 Branch tracing has been disabled.
38273 @item E.errtext
38274 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38275 @end table
38276
38277 @end table
38278
38279 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
38280 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
38281
38282 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
38283 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
38284 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
38285
38286 @menu
38287 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
38288 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
38289 @end menu
38290
38291 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
38292 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
38293
38294 @menu
38295 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
38296 @end menu
38297
38298 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
38299 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
38300 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
38301
38302 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
38303
38304 @table @r
38305
38306 @item 2
38307 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
38308
38309 @item 3
38310 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
38311
38312 @item 4
38313 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
38314
38315 @end table
38316
38317 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
38318 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
38319
38320 @menu
38321 * MIPS Register packet Format::
38322 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
38323 @end menu
38324
38325 @node MIPS Register packet Format
38326 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
38327 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
38328
38329 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
38330 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
38331 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
38332 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
38333 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
38334 most-significant -- least-significant.
38335
38336 @table @r
38337
38338 @item MIPS32
38339 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
38340 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
38341 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
38342
38343 @item MIPS64
38344 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
38345 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
38346 as @code{MIPS32}.
38347
38348 @end table
38349
38350 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
38351 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
38352 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
38353
38354 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
38355
38356 @table @r
38357
38358 @item 2
38359 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
38360
38361 @item 3
38362 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
38363
38364 @item 4
38365 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
38366
38367 @item 5
38368 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
38369
38370 @end table
38371
38372 @node Tracepoint Packets
38373 @section Tracepoint Packets
38374 @cindex tracepoint packets
38375 @cindex packets, tracepoint
38376
38377 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
38378 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
38379
38380 @table @samp
38381
38382 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
38383 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
38384 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
38385 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
38386 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
38387 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
38388 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
38389 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
38390 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
38391 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
38392 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
38393 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
38394 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
38395 actions.
38396
38397 Replies:
38398 @table @samp
38399 @item OK
38400 The packet was understood and carried out.
38401 @item qRelocInsn
38402 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
38403 @item @w{}
38404 The packet was not recognized.
38405 @end table
38406
38407 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
38408 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
38409 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
38410 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
38411 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
38412 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
38413 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
38414
38415 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
38416 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
38417 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
38418 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
38419 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
38420 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
38421 tracepoint actions.
38422
38423 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
38424 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
38425 following forms:
38426
38427 @table @samp
38428
38429 @item R @var{mask}
38430 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
38431 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
38432 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
38433 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
38434 not fit in a 32-bit word.
38435
38436 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
38437 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
38438 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
38439 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
38440 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
38441 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
38442 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
38443
38444 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38445 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
38446 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
38447 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
38448 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
38449 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
38450 packet).
38451
38452 @end table
38453
38454 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
38455 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
38456 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
38457 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
38458 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
38459 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
38460 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
38461 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
38462
38463 Replies:
38464 @table @samp
38465 @item OK
38466 The packet was understood and carried out.
38467 @item qRelocInsn
38468 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
38469 @item @w{}
38470 The packet was not recognized.
38471 @end table
38472
38473 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
38474 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
38475 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
38476 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
38477 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
38478 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
38479 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
38480 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
38481
38482 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
38483 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
38484 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
38485 fit in a single packet.
38486 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
38487 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
38488
38489 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
38490 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
38491 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
38492 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
38493
38494 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
38495 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
38496 query packets.
38497
38498 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
38499 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
38500 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
38501 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
38502 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
38503 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
38504 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
38505 be found.
38506
38507 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
38508 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
38509 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
38510 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
38511 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
38512 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
38513 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
38514 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
38515 mentioned in expressions.
38516
38517 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
38518 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
38519 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
38520 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
38521 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
38522
38523 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
38524 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
38525 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
38526 one of the following forms:
38527
38528 @table @samp
38529 @item F @var{f}
38530 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
38531 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
38532 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
38533
38534 @item T @var{t}
38535 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
38536 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
38537
38538 @end table
38539
38540 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
38541 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
38542 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
38543 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
38544
38545 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
38546 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
38547 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
38548 is a hexadecimal number.
38549
38550 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
38551 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
38552 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
38553 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
38554 numbers.
38555
38556 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
38557 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
38558 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
38559
38560 @item qTMinFTPILen
38561 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
38562 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
38563 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
38564 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
38565 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
38566 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
38567 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
38568 arrange for that.
38569
38570 Replies:
38571
38572 @table @samp
38573 @item 0
38574 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
38575 @item @var{length}
38576 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
38577 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
38578 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
38579 @item E
38580 An error has occurred.
38581 @item @w{}
38582 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
38583 @end table
38584
38585 @item QTStart
38586 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
38587 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
38588 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
38589 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
38590 instruction reply packet}).
38591
38592 @item QTStop
38593 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
38594 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
38595
38596 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
38597 @anchor{QTEnable}
38598 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
38599 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
38600 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
38601 of data from it will resume.
38602
38603 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
38604 @anchor{QTDisable}
38605 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
38606 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
38607 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
38608 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
38609
38610 @item QTinit
38611 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
38612 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
38613
38614 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
38615 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
38616 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
38617 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
38618 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
38619
38620 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
38621 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
38622 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
38623 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
38624
38625 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
38626 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
38627 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
38628 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
38629 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
38630 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
38631
38632 @item qTStatus
38633 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
38634 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
38635
38636 The reply has the form:
38637
38638 @table @samp
38639
38640 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
38641 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
38642 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
38643 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
38644
38645 @end table
38646
38647 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
38648 explanations as one of the optional fields:
38649
38650 @table @samp
38651
38652 @item tnotrun:0
38653 No trace has been run yet.
38654
38655 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
38656 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
38657 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
38658 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
38659 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
38660
38661 @item tfull:0
38662 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
38663
38664 @item tdisconnected:0
38665 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
38666
38667 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
38668 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
38669
38670 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
38671 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
38672 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
38673 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
38674 @var{text} is hex encoded.
38675
38676 @item tunknown:0
38677 The trace stopped for some other reason.
38678
38679 @end table
38680
38681 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
38682 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
38683 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
38684 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
38685 trace.
38686
38687 @table @samp
38688
38689 @item tframes:@var{n}
38690 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
38691
38692 @item tcreated:@var{n}
38693 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
38694 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
38695
38696 @item tsize:@var{n}
38697 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
38698
38699 @item tfree:@var{n}
38700 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
38701
38702 @item circular:@var{n}
38703 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
38704 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
38705 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
38706 and may fill up.
38707
38708 @item disconn:@var{n}
38709 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
38710 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
38711 that the trace run will stop.
38712
38713 @end table
38714
38715 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
38716 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
38717 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
38718 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
38719 address @var{addr}.
38720
38721 Replies:
38722 @table @samp
38723 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
38724 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
38725 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
38726 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
38727 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
38728
38729 @end table
38730
38731 @item qTV:@var{var}
38732 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
38733 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
38734 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
38735
38736 Replies:
38737 @table @samp
38738 @item V@var{value}
38739 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
38740 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
38741 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
38742 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
38743 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
38744 program is running.
38745
38746 @item U
38747 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
38748 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
38749 was not collected.
38750 @end table
38751
38752 @item qTfP
38753 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
38754 @itemx qTsP
38755 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
38756 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
38757 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
38758 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
38759 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
38760 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
38761
38762 @item qTfV
38763 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
38764 @itemx qTsV
38765 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
38766 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
38767 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
38768 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
38769 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
38770 trace state variables.
38771
38772 @item qTfSTM
38773 @itemx qTsSTM
38774 @anchor{qTfSTM}
38775 @anchor{qTsSTM}
38776 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
38777 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
38778 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
38779 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
38780 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
38781 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
38782
38783 Reply:
38784 @table @samp
38785 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
38786 A single marker
38787 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
38788 a comma-separated list of markers
38789 @item l
38790 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38791 @item E @var{nn}
38792 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38793 @item @w{}
38794 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
38795 stub.
38796 @end table
38797
38798 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
38799 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
38800
38801 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38802 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
38803 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
38804 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
38805 @dfn{last}).
38806
38807 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
38808 @anchor{qTSTMat}
38809 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
38810 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
38811 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
38812 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
38813 tracepoint markers.
38814
38815 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
38816 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
38817 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
38818 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
38819 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
38820 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
38821
38822 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
38823 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
38824 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
38825 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
38826 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
38827 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
38828 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
38829 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
38830 available.
38831
38832 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
38833 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
38834 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
38835
38836 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
38837 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
38838 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
38839 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
38840 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
38841 use whatever size it prefers.
38842
38843 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
38844 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
38845 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
38846 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
38847 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
38848
38849 @end table
38850
38851 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
38852 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
38853 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
38854 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
38855 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
38856 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
38857 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
38858 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
38859 it had executed in the original location.
38860
38861 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
38862 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
38863 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
38864 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
38865 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
38866 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
38867 format of the request is:
38868
38869 @table @samp
38870 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
38871
38872 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
38873 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
38874 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
38875 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
38876 memory starting at @var{to}.
38877 @end table
38878
38879 Replies:
38880 @table @samp
38881 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
38882 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
38883 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
38884 @item E @var{NN}
38885 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
38886 relocating the instruction.
38887 @end table
38888
38889 @node Host I/O Packets
38890 @section Host I/O Packets
38891 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
38892 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
38893
38894 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
38895 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
38896 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
38897 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
38898 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
38899 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
38900 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
38901 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
38902 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
38903 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
38904
38905 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
38906 its arguments. They have this format:
38907
38908 @table @samp
38909
38910 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
38911 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
38912 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
38913 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
38914 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
38915 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
38916 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
38917 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
38918 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38919
38920 @end table
38921
38922 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
38923
38924 @table @samp
38925
38926 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
38927 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
38928 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
38929 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
38930 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
38931 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
38932 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
38933 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
38934 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
38935 @var{attachment}.
38936
38937 @item @w{}
38938 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
38939
38940 @end table
38941
38942 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
38943
38944 @table @samp
38945 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
38946 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
38947 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
38948 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
38949 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
38950 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
38951 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
38952
38953 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
38954 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
38955 -1 if an error occurs.
38956
38957 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
38958 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
38959 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
38960 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
38961 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
38962 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
38963 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
38964 @var{count} was zero.
38965
38966 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38967 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38968 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38969 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38970 some characters were escaped.
38971
38972 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
38973 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
38974 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
38975 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
38976 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
38977 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
38978 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
38979 error occurred.
38980
38981 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
38982 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
38983 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
38984
38985 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
38986 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
38987 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
38988
38989 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38990 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38991 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38992 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38993 some characters were escaped.
38994
38995 @end table
38996
38997 @node Interrupts
38998 @section Interrupts
38999 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
39000
39001 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
39002 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
39003 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
39004 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
39005
39006 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
39007 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
39008 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
39009 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
39010 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
39011
39012 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
39013 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
39014 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
39015 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
39016 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
39017 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
39018 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
39019 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
39020
39021 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
39022 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
39023 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
39024
39025 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
39026 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
39027 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
39028 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
39029 currently-executing threads and processes.
39030 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
39031 running program, it should send one of the stop
39032 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
39033 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
39034 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
39035 Interrupts received while the
39036 program is stopped are discarded.
39037
39038 @node Notification Packets
39039 @section Notification Packets
39040 @cindex notification packets
39041 @cindex packets, notification
39042
39043 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
39044 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
39045 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
39046 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
39047 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
39048 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
39049 is not a problem.
39050
39051 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
39052 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
39053 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
39054 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
39055 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
39056 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
39057 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
39058
39059 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
39060 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
39061
39062 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
39063 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
39064 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
39065 not they understand it.
39066
39067 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
39068 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
39069 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
39070 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
39071 recipients.
39072
39073 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
39074 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
39075 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
39076 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
39077 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
39078
39079 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
39080 @table @samp
39081 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
39082 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
39083 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
39084 carrying the specific information about the notification.
39085 @var{name} is the name of the notification.
39086 @item @var{ack}
39087 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
39088 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
39089 @end table
39090
39091 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
39092 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
39093
39094 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
39095 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
39096 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
39097 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
39098 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
39099 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
39100 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
39101 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
39102 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
39103 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
39104
39105 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
39106 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
39107 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
39108 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
39109 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
39110 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
39111
39112 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
39113 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
39114 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
39115 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
39116 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
39117
39118 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
39119 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
39120 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
39121 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
39122 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
39123 normally.
39124
39125 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
39126 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
39127 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
39128 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
39129 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
39130 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
39131 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
39132 the process shall be repeated.
39133
39134 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
39135 following example:
39136 @smallexample
39137 <- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
39138 @code{...}
39139 -> @code{vStopped}
39140 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
39141 -> @code{vStopped}
39142 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
39143 -> @code{vStopped}
39144 <- @code{OK}
39145 @end smallexample
39146
39147 The following notifications are defined:
39148 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
39149
39150 @item Notification
39151 @tab Ack
39152 @tab Event
39153 @tab Description
39154
39155 @item Stop
39156 @tab vStopped
39157 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
39158 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
39159 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
39160 @value{GDBN}.
39161 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
39162
39163 @end multitable
39164
39165 @node Remote Non-Stop
39166 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
39167
39168 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
39169 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
39170 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
39171 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39172
39173 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
39174 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
39175 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
39176 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
39177 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
39178 probe the target state after a mode change.
39179
39180 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
39181 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
39182 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
39183 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
39184 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
39185 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
39186 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
39187 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
39188 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
39189 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
39190 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
39191
39192 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
39193 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
39194 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
39195 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
39196 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
39197 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
39198 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
39199 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
39200 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
39201 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
39202 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
39203 @samp{OK}.
39204
39205 @node Packet Acknowledgment
39206 @section Packet Acknowledgment
39207
39208 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
39209 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
39210 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
39211 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
39212 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
39213 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
39214 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
39215
39216 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
39217 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
39218 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
39219 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
39220 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
39221
39222 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
39223 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
39224 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
39225 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
39226
39227 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
39228 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
39229 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
39230 @pxref{qSupported}.
39231 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
39232 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
39233 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
39234 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
39235 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
39236 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
39237 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
39238
39239 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
39240 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
39241 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
39242 connection.
39243 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
39244 new connection is established,
39245 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
39246 for the current connection, once disabled.
39247
39248 @node Examples
39249 @section Examples
39250
39251 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
39252 does not get any direct output:
39253
39254 @smallexample
39255 -> @code{R00}
39256 <- @code{+}
39257 @emph{target restarts}
39258 -> @code{?}
39259 <- @code{+}
39260 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
39261 -> @code{+}
39262 @end smallexample
39263
39264 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
39265
39266 @smallexample
39267 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
39268 <- @code{+}
39269 -> @code{s}
39270 <- @code{+}
39271 @emph{time passes}
39272 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
39273 -> @code{+}
39274 -> @code{g}
39275 <- @code{+}
39276 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
39277 -> @code{+}
39278 @end smallexample
39279
39280 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
39281 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
39282 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
39283
39284 @menu
39285 * File-I/O Overview::
39286 * Protocol Basics::
39287 * The F Request Packet::
39288 * The F Reply Packet::
39289 * The Ctrl-C Message::
39290 * Console I/O::
39291 * List of Supported Calls::
39292 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
39293 * Constants::
39294 * File-I/O Examples::
39295 @end menu
39296
39297 @node File-I/O Overview
39298 @subsection File-I/O Overview
39299 @cindex file-i/o overview
39300
39301 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
39302 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
39303 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
39304 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
39305 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
39306 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
39307
39308 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
39309 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
39310 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
39311 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
39312 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
39313
39314 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
39315 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
39316 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
39317 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
39318 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
39319 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
39320 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
39321
39322 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
39323 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
39324 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
39325 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
39326 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
39327
39328 @smallexample
39329 (@value{GDBP}) continue
39330 <- target requests 'system call X'
39331 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
39332 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
39333 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
39334 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
39335 @end smallexample
39336
39337 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
39338 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
39339 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
39340 system are not supported by this protocol.
39341
39342 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
39343
39344 @node Protocol Basics
39345 @subsection Protocol Basics
39346 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
39347
39348 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
39349 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
39350 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
39351 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
39352 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
39353 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
39354 to call the appropriate host system call:
39355
39356 @itemize @bullet
39357 @item
39358 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
39359
39360 @item
39361 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
39362 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
39363 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
39364 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
39365
39366 @end itemize
39367
39368 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
39369
39370 @itemize @bullet
39371 @item
39372 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
39373 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
39374 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
39375 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
39376 packet.
39377
39378 @item
39379 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
39380 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
39381
39382 @item
39383 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
39384
39385 @item
39386 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
39387
39388 @item
39389 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
39390 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
39391 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
39392 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
39393 packet.
39394
39395 @end itemize
39396
39397 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
39398 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
39399
39400 @itemize @bullet
39401 @item
39402 Return value.
39403
39404 @item
39405 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
39406
39407 @item
39408 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
39409
39410 @end itemize
39411
39412 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
39413 the latest continue or step action.
39414
39415 @node The F Request Packet
39416 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
39417 @cindex file-i/o request packet
39418 @cindex @code{F} request packet
39419
39420 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
39421
39422 @table @samp
39423 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
39424
39425 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
39426 This is just the name of the function.
39427
39428 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
39429 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
39430 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
39431 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
39432 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
39433 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
39434 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
39435
39436 @end table
39437
39438
39439
39440 @node The F Reply Packet
39441 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
39442 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
39443 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
39444
39445 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
39446
39447 @table @samp
39448
39449 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
39450
39451 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
39452
39453 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
39454 representation.
39455 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
39456
39457 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
39458 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
39459 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
39460
39461 @smallexample
39462 F0,0,C
39463 @end smallexample
39464
39465 @noindent
39466 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
39467
39468 @smallexample
39469 F-1,4,C
39470 @end smallexample
39471
39472 @noindent
39473 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
39474
39475 @end table
39476
39477
39478 @node The Ctrl-C Message
39479 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
39480 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
39481
39482 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
39483 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
39484 the target should behave as if it had
39485 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
39486 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
39487 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
39488 packet.
39489
39490 It's important for the target to know in which
39491 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
39492
39493 @itemize @bullet
39494 @item
39495 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
39496
39497 @item
39498 The system call on the host has been finished.
39499
39500 @end itemize
39501
39502 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
39503 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
39504 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
39505 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
39506 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
39507 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
39508
39509 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
39510 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
39511 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
39512 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
39513 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
39514 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
39515 or the full action has been completed.
39516
39517 @node Console I/O
39518 @subsection Console I/O
39519 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
39520
39521 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
39522 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
39523 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
39524 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
39525 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
39526 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
39527 conditions is met:
39528
39529 @itemize @bullet
39530 @item
39531 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
39532 @code{read}
39533 system call is treated as finished.
39534
39535 @item
39536 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
39537 newline.
39538
39539 @item
39540 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
39541 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
39542
39543 @end itemize
39544
39545 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
39546 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
39547 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
39548 is stopped at the user's request.
39549
39550
39551 @node List of Supported Calls
39552 @subsection List of Supported Calls
39553 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
39554
39555 @menu
39556 * open::
39557 * close::
39558 * read::
39559 * write::
39560 * lseek::
39561 * rename::
39562 * unlink::
39563 * stat/fstat::
39564 * gettimeofday::
39565 * isatty::
39566 * system::
39567 @end menu
39568
39569 @node open
39570 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
39571 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
39572
39573 @table @asis
39574 @item Synopsis:
39575 @smallexample
39576 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
39577 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
39578 @end smallexample
39579
39580 @item Request:
39581 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
39582
39583 @noindent
39584 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
39585
39586 @table @code
39587 @item O_CREAT
39588 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
39589 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
39590 are concerned.
39591
39592 @item O_EXCL
39593 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
39594 an error and open() fails.
39595
39596 @item O_TRUNC
39597 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
39598 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
39599 truncated to zero length.
39600
39601 @item O_APPEND
39602 The file is opened in append mode.
39603
39604 @item O_RDONLY
39605 The file is opened for reading only.
39606
39607 @item O_WRONLY
39608 The file is opened for writing only.
39609
39610 @item O_RDWR
39611 The file is opened for reading and writing.
39612 @end table
39613
39614 @noindent
39615 Other bits are silently ignored.
39616
39617
39618 @noindent
39619 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
39620
39621 @table @code
39622 @item S_IRUSR
39623 User has read permission.
39624
39625 @item S_IWUSR
39626 User has write permission.
39627
39628 @item S_IRGRP
39629 Group has read permission.
39630
39631 @item S_IWGRP
39632 Group has write permission.
39633
39634 @item S_IROTH
39635 Others have read permission.
39636
39637 @item S_IWOTH
39638 Others have write permission.
39639 @end table
39640
39641 @noindent
39642 Other bits are silently ignored.
39643
39644
39645 @item Return value:
39646 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
39647 occurred.
39648
39649 @item Errors:
39650
39651 @table @code
39652 @item EEXIST
39653 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
39654
39655 @item EISDIR
39656 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
39657
39658 @item EACCES
39659 The requested access is not allowed.
39660
39661 @item ENAMETOOLONG
39662 @var{pathname} was too long.
39663
39664 @item ENOENT
39665 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
39666
39667 @item ENODEV
39668 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
39669
39670 @item EROFS
39671 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
39672 write access was requested.
39673
39674 @item EFAULT
39675 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
39676
39677 @item ENOSPC
39678 No space on device to create the file.
39679
39680 @item EMFILE
39681 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
39682
39683 @item ENFILE
39684 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
39685 has been reached.
39686
39687 @item EINTR
39688 The call was interrupted by the user.
39689 @end table
39690
39691 @end table
39692
39693 @node close
39694 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
39695 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
39696
39697 @table @asis
39698 @item Synopsis:
39699 @smallexample
39700 int close(int fd);
39701 @end smallexample
39702
39703 @item Request:
39704 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
39705
39706 @item Return value:
39707 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
39708
39709 @item Errors:
39710
39711 @table @code
39712 @item EBADF
39713 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
39714
39715 @item EINTR
39716 The call was interrupted by the user.
39717 @end table
39718
39719 @end table
39720
39721 @node read
39722 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
39723 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
39724
39725 @table @asis
39726 @item Synopsis:
39727 @smallexample
39728 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
39729 @end smallexample
39730
39731 @item Request:
39732 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
39733
39734 @item Return value:
39735 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
39736 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
39737 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
39738
39739 @item Errors:
39740
39741 @table @code
39742 @item EBADF
39743 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
39744 reading.
39745
39746 @item EFAULT
39747 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39748
39749 @item EINTR
39750 The call was interrupted by the user.
39751 @end table
39752
39753 @end table
39754
39755 @node write
39756 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
39757 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
39758
39759 @table @asis
39760 @item Synopsis:
39761 @smallexample
39762 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
39763 @end smallexample
39764
39765 @item Request:
39766 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
39767
39768 @item Return value:
39769 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
39770 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
39771 is returned.
39772
39773 @item Errors:
39774
39775 @table @code
39776 @item EBADF
39777 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
39778 writing.
39779
39780 @item EFAULT
39781 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39782
39783 @item EFBIG
39784 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
39785 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
39786
39787 @item ENOSPC
39788 No space on device to write the data.
39789
39790 @item EINTR
39791 The call was interrupted by the user.
39792 @end table
39793
39794 @end table
39795
39796 @node lseek
39797 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
39798 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
39799
39800 @table @asis
39801 @item Synopsis:
39802 @smallexample
39803 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
39804 @end smallexample
39805
39806 @item Request:
39807 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
39808
39809 @var{flag} is one of:
39810
39811 @table @code
39812 @item SEEK_SET
39813 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
39814
39815 @item SEEK_CUR
39816 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
39817 bytes.
39818
39819 @item SEEK_END
39820 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
39821 bytes.
39822 @end table
39823
39824 @item Return value:
39825 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
39826 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
39827 value of -1 is returned.
39828
39829 @item Errors:
39830
39831 @table @code
39832 @item EBADF
39833 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
39834
39835 @item ESPIPE
39836 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
39837
39838 @item EINVAL
39839 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
39840
39841 @item EINTR
39842 The call was interrupted by the user.
39843 @end table
39844
39845 @end table
39846
39847 @node rename
39848 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
39849 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
39850
39851 @table @asis
39852 @item Synopsis:
39853 @smallexample
39854 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
39855 @end smallexample
39856
39857 @item Request:
39858 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
39859
39860 @item Return value:
39861 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39862
39863 @item Errors:
39864
39865 @table @code
39866 @item EISDIR
39867 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
39868 directory.
39869
39870 @item EEXIST
39871 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
39872
39873 @item EBUSY
39874 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
39875 process.
39876
39877 @item EINVAL
39878 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
39879 of itself.
39880
39881 @item ENOTDIR
39882 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
39883 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
39884 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
39885
39886 @item EFAULT
39887 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
39888
39889 @item EACCES
39890 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39891
39892 @item ENAMETOOLONG
39893
39894 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
39895
39896 @item ENOENT
39897 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
39898
39899 @item EROFS
39900 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
39901
39902 @item ENOSPC
39903 The device containing the file has no room for the new
39904 directory entry.
39905
39906 @item EINTR
39907 The call was interrupted by the user.
39908 @end table
39909
39910 @end table
39911
39912 @node unlink
39913 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
39914 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
39915
39916 @table @asis
39917 @item Synopsis:
39918 @smallexample
39919 int unlink(const char *pathname);
39920 @end smallexample
39921
39922 @item Request:
39923 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
39924
39925 @item Return value:
39926 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39927
39928 @item Errors:
39929
39930 @table @code
39931 @item EACCES
39932 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39933
39934 @item EPERM
39935 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
39936
39937 @item EBUSY
39938 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
39939 being used by another process.
39940
39941 @item EFAULT
39942 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39943
39944 @item ENAMETOOLONG
39945 @var{pathname} was too long.
39946
39947 @item ENOENT
39948 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
39949
39950 @item ENOTDIR
39951 A component of the path is not a directory.
39952
39953 @item EROFS
39954 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
39955
39956 @item EINTR
39957 The call was interrupted by the user.
39958 @end table
39959
39960 @end table
39961
39962 @node stat/fstat
39963 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
39964 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
39965 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
39966
39967 @table @asis
39968 @item Synopsis:
39969 @smallexample
39970 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
39971 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
39972 @end smallexample
39973
39974 @item Request:
39975 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
39976 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
39977
39978 @item Return value:
39979 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39980
39981 @item Errors:
39982
39983 @table @code
39984 @item EBADF
39985 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
39986
39987 @item ENOENT
39988 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
39989 path is an empty string.
39990
39991 @item ENOTDIR
39992 A component of the path is not a directory.
39993
39994 @item EFAULT
39995 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39996
39997 @item EACCES
39998 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39999
40000 @item ENAMETOOLONG
40001 @var{pathname} was too long.
40002
40003 @item EINTR
40004 The call was interrupted by the user.
40005 @end table
40006
40007 @end table
40008
40009 @node gettimeofday
40010 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
40011 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
40012
40013 @table @asis
40014 @item Synopsis:
40015 @smallexample
40016 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
40017 @end smallexample
40018
40019 @item Request:
40020 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
40021
40022 @item Return value:
40023 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
40024
40025 @item Errors:
40026
40027 @table @code
40028 @item EINVAL
40029 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
40030
40031 @item EFAULT
40032 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40033 @end table
40034
40035 @end table
40036
40037 @node isatty
40038 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
40039 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
40040
40041 @table @asis
40042 @item Synopsis:
40043 @smallexample
40044 int isatty(int fd);
40045 @end smallexample
40046
40047 @item Request:
40048 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
40049
40050 @item Return value:
40051 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
40052
40053 @item Errors:
40054
40055 @table @code
40056 @item EINTR
40057 The call was interrupted by the user.
40058 @end table
40059
40060 @end table
40061
40062 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
40063 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
40064 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
40065 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
40066 needed.
40067
40068
40069 @node system
40070 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
40071 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
40072
40073 @table @asis
40074 @item Synopsis:
40075 @smallexample
40076 int system(const char *command);
40077 @end smallexample
40078
40079 @item Request:
40080 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
40081
40082 @item Return value:
40083 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
40084 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
40085 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
40086 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
40087 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
40088 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
40089 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
40090
40091 @item Errors:
40092
40093 @table @code
40094 @item EINTR
40095 The call was interrupted by the user.
40096 @end table
40097
40098 @end table
40099
40100 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
40101 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
40102 the host is simplified before it's returned
40103 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
40104 is discarded, and the return value consists
40105 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
40106
40107 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
40108 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
40109 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
40110
40111 @table @code
40112 @item set remote system-call-allowed
40113 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
40114 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
40115 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
40116
40117 @item show remote system-call-allowed
40118 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
40119 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
40120 protocol.
40121 @end table
40122
40123 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
40124 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
40125 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
40126
40127 @menu
40128 * Integral Datatypes::
40129 * Pointer Values::
40130 * Memory Transfer::
40131 * struct stat::
40132 * struct timeval::
40133 @end menu
40134
40135 @node Integral Datatypes
40136 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
40137 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
40138
40139 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
40140 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
40141 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
40142
40143 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
40144 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
40145
40146 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
40147
40148 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
40149 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
40150
40151 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
40152
40153 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
40154 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
40155 byte order.
40156
40157 @node Pointer Values
40158 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
40159 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
40160
40161 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
40162 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
40163 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
40164 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
40165
40166 @smallexample
40167 @code{1aaf/12}
40168 @end smallexample
40169
40170 @noindent
40171 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
40172 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
40173 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
40174 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
40175
40176 @smallexample
40177 @code{123456/d}
40178 @end smallexample
40179
40180 @node Memory Transfer
40181 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
40182 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
40183
40184 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
40185 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
40186 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
40187 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
40188 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
40189 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
40190 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
40191
40192
40193 @node struct stat
40194 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
40195 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
40196
40197 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
40198 is defined as follows:
40199
40200 @smallexample
40201 struct stat @{
40202 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
40203 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
40204 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
40205 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
40206 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
40207 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
40208 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
40209 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
40210 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
40211 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
40212 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
40213 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
40214 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
40215 @};
40216 @end smallexample
40217
40218 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
40219 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
40220 structure is of size 64 bytes.
40221
40222 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
40223 range of values.
40224
40225 @table @code
40226
40227 @item st_dev
40228 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
40229
40230 @item st_ino
40231 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
40232
40233 @item st_mode
40234 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
40235 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
40236
40237 @item st_uid
40238 @itemx st_gid
40239 @itemx st_rdev
40240 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
40241
40242 @item st_atime
40243 @itemx st_mtime
40244 @itemx st_ctime
40245 These values have a host and file system dependent
40246 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
40247 support exact timing values.
40248 @end table
40249
40250 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
40251 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
40252 continuing.
40253
40254 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
40255 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
40256 get truncated on the target.
40257
40258 @node struct timeval
40259 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
40260 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
40261
40262 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
40263 is defined as follows:
40264
40265 @smallexample
40266 struct timeval @{
40267 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
40268 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
40269 @};
40270 @end smallexample
40271
40272 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
40273 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
40274 structure is of size 8 bytes.
40275
40276 @node Constants
40277 @subsection Constants
40278 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
40279
40280 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
40281 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
40282 values before and after the call as needed.
40283
40284 @menu
40285 * Open Flags::
40286 * mode_t Values::
40287 * Errno Values::
40288 * Lseek Flags::
40289 * Limits::
40290 @end menu
40291
40292 @node Open Flags
40293 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
40294 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
40295
40296 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
40297
40298 @smallexample
40299 O_RDONLY 0x0
40300 O_WRONLY 0x1
40301 O_RDWR 0x2
40302 O_APPEND 0x8
40303 O_CREAT 0x200
40304 O_TRUNC 0x400
40305 O_EXCL 0x800
40306 @end smallexample
40307
40308 @node mode_t Values
40309 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
40310 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
40311
40312 All values are given in octal representation.
40313
40314 @smallexample
40315 S_IFREG 0100000
40316 S_IFDIR 040000
40317 S_IRUSR 0400
40318 S_IWUSR 0200
40319 S_IXUSR 0100
40320 S_IRGRP 040
40321 S_IWGRP 020
40322 S_IXGRP 010
40323 S_IROTH 04
40324 S_IWOTH 02
40325 S_IXOTH 01
40326 @end smallexample
40327
40328 @node Errno Values
40329 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
40330 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
40331
40332 All values are given in decimal representation.
40333
40334 @smallexample
40335 EPERM 1
40336 ENOENT 2
40337 EINTR 4
40338 EBADF 9
40339 EACCES 13
40340 EFAULT 14
40341 EBUSY 16
40342 EEXIST 17
40343 ENODEV 19
40344 ENOTDIR 20
40345 EISDIR 21
40346 EINVAL 22
40347 ENFILE 23
40348 EMFILE 24
40349 EFBIG 27
40350 ENOSPC 28
40351 ESPIPE 29
40352 EROFS 30
40353 ENAMETOOLONG 91
40354 EUNKNOWN 9999
40355 @end smallexample
40356
40357 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
40358 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
40359
40360 @node Lseek Flags
40361 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
40362 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
40363
40364 @smallexample
40365 SEEK_SET 0
40366 SEEK_CUR 1
40367 SEEK_END 2
40368 @end smallexample
40369
40370 @node Limits
40371 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
40372 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
40373
40374 All values are given in decimal representation.
40375
40376 @smallexample
40377 INT_MIN -2147483648
40378 INT_MAX 2147483647
40379 UINT_MAX 4294967295
40380 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
40381 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
40382 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
40383 @end smallexample
40384
40385 @node File-I/O Examples
40386 @subsection File-I/O Examples
40387 @cindex file-i/o examples
40388
40389 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
40390 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
40391
40392 @smallexample
40393 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
40394 @emph{request memory read from target}
40395 -> @code{m1234,6}
40396 <- XXXXXX
40397 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
40398 -> @code{F6}
40399 @end smallexample
40400
40401 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
40402 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
40403
40404 @smallexample
40405 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
40406 @emph{request memory write to target}
40407 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
40408 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
40409 -> @code{F6}
40410 @end smallexample
40411
40412 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
40413 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
40414
40415 @smallexample
40416 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
40417 -> @code{F-1,9}
40418 @end smallexample
40419
40420 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
40421 host is called:
40422
40423 @smallexample
40424 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
40425 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
40426 <- @code{T02}
40427 @end smallexample
40428
40429 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
40430 host is called:
40431
40432 @smallexample
40433 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
40434 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
40435 <- @code{T02}
40436 @end smallexample
40437
40438 @node Library List Format
40439 @section Library List Format
40440 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
40441
40442 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
40443 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
40444 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
40445 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
40446 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
40447 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
40448 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
40449 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
40450 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
40451 are loaded.
40452
40453 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
40454 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
40455 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
40456 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
40457
40458 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
40459 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
40460 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
40461 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
40462 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
40463 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
40464
40465 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40466 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
40467
40468 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
40469 offset, looks like this:
40470
40471 @smallexample
40472 <library-list>
40473 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
40474 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
40475 </library>
40476 </library-list>
40477 @end smallexample
40478
40479 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
40480 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
40481
40482 @smallexample
40483 <library-list>
40484 <library name="sharedlib.o">
40485 <section address="0x10000000"/>
40486 <section address="0x20000000"/>
40487 <section address="0x30000000"/>
40488 </library>
40489 </library-list>
40490 @end smallexample
40491
40492 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
40493
40494 @smallexample
40495 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
40496 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
40497 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40498 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
40499 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
40500 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
40501 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
40502 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
40503 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
40504 @end smallexample
40505
40506 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
40507 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
40508 section for each library.
40509
40510 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
40511 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
40512 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
40513
40514 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
40515 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
40516 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
40517 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
40518
40519 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
40520 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
40521 target, the following parameters are reported:
40522
40523 @itemize @minus
40524 @item
40525 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
40526 @code{struct link_map}.
40527 @item
40528 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
40529 (Thread Local Storage) access.
40530 @item
40531 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
40532 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
40533 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
40534 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
40535 @item
40536 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
40537 @end itemize
40538
40539 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
40540 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
40541 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
40542
40543 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40544 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
40545
40546 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
40547 looks like this:
40548
40549 @smallexample
40550 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
40551 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
40552 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
40553 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
40554 l_ld="0x152350"/>
40555 </library-list-svr>
40556 @end smallexample
40557
40558 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
40559
40560 @smallexample
40561 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
40562 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
40563 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40564 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
40565 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
40566 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
40567 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
40568 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
40569 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
40570 @end smallexample
40571
40572 @node Memory Map Format
40573 @section Memory Map Format
40574 @cindex memory map format
40575
40576 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
40577 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
40578 memory map.
40579
40580 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
40581 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
40582 lists memory regions.
40583
40584 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40585 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
40586
40587 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40588
40589 @smallexample
40590 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40591 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
40592 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
40593 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
40594 <memory-map>
40595 region...
40596 </memory-map>
40597 @end smallexample
40598
40599 Each region can be either:
40600
40601 @itemize
40602
40603 @item
40604 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
40605 bytes from there:
40606
40607 @smallexample
40608 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
40609 @end smallexample
40610
40611
40612 @item
40613 A region of read-only memory:
40614
40615 @smallexample
40616 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
40617 @end smallexample
40618
40619
40620 @item
40621 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
40622 bytes in length:
40623
40624 @smallexample
40625 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
40626 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
40627 </memory>
40628 @end smallexample
40629
40630 @end itemize
40631
40632 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
40633 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
40634 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
40635
40636 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
40637
40638 @smallexample
40639 <!-- ................................................... -->
40640 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
40641 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
40642 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
40643 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
40644 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
40645 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
40646 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
40647 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
40648 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
40649 and its type, or device. -->
40650 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
40651 start CDATA #REQUIRED
40652 length CDATA #REQUIRED
40653 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
40654 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
40655 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
40656 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
40657 @end smallexample
40658
40659 @node Thread List Format
40660 @section Thread List Format
40661 @cindex thread list format
40662
40663 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
40664 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
40665 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
40666 the following structure:
40667
40668 @smallexample
40669 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40670 <threads>
40671 <thread id="id" core="0">
40672 ... description ...
40673 </thread>
40674 </threads>
40675 @end smallexample
40676
40677 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
40678 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
40679 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
40680 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
40681 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
40682
40683 @node Traceframe Info Format
40684 @section Traceframe Info Format
40685 @cindex traceframe info format
40686
40687 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
40688 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
40689 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
40690 collected in a traceframe.
40691
40692 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
40693 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
40694
40695 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40696 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40697
40698 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40699
40700 @smallexample
40701 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40702 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
40703 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
40704 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
40705 <traceframe-info>
40706 block...
40707 </traceframe-info>
40708 @end smallexample
40709
40710 Each traceframe block can be either:
40711
40712 @itemize
40713
40714 @item
40715 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
40716 @var{length} bytes from there:
40717
40718 @smallexample
40719 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
40720 @end smallexample
40721
40722 @end itemize
40723
40724 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
40725
40726 @smallexample
40727 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
40728 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40729
40730 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
40731 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
40732 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
40733 @end smallexample
40734
40735 @node Branch Trace Format
40736 @section Branch Trace Format
40737 @cindex branch trace format
40738
40739 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
40740 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
40741 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
40742 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
40743
40744 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
40745 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
40746
40747 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40748 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40749
40750 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40751
40752 @smallexample
40753 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40754 <!DOCTYPE btrace
40755 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
40756 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
40757 <btrace>
40758 block...
40759 </btrace>
40760 @end smallexample
40761
40762 @itemize
40763
40764 @item
40765 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
40766 and ending at @var{end}:
40767
40768 @smallexample
40769 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
40770 @end smallexample
40771
40772 @end itemize
40773
40774 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
40775
40776 @smallexample
40777 <!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
40778 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40779
40780 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
40781 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
40782 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
40783 @end smallexample
40784
40785 @include agentexpr.texi
40786
40787 @node Target Descriptions
40788 @appendix Target Descriptions
40789 @cindex target descriptions
40790
40791 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
40792 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
40793 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
40794 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
40795 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
40796 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
40797 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
40798
40799 @itemize @bullet
40800 @item
40801 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
40802 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
40803 @item
40804 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
40805 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
40806 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
40807 @item
40808 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
40809 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
40810 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
40811 @end itemize
40812
40813 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
40814 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
40815 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
40816 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
40817 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
40818
40819 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40820 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
40821
40822 @menu
40823 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
40824 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
40825 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
40826 descriptions.
40827 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
40828 @end menu
40829
40830 @node Retrieving Descriptions
40831 @section Retrieving Descriptions
40832
40833 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
40834 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
40835 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
40836 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
40837 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
40838 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
40839 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
40840 Format}.
40841
40842 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
40843 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
40844 specify a file are:
40845
40846 @table @code
40847 @cindex set tdesc filename
40848 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
40849 Read the target description from @var{path}.
40850
40851 @cindex unset tdesc filename
40852 @item unset tdesc filename
40853 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
40854 will use the description supplied by the current target.
40855
40856 @cindex show tdesc filename
40857 @item show tdesc filename
40858 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
40859 @end table
40860
40861
40862 @node Target Description Format
40863 @section Target Description Format
40864 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
40865
40866 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
40867 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
40868 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
40869 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
40870 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
40871 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
40872 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
40873
40874 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
40875 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
40876 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
40877 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
40878 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
40879
40880 Here is a simple target description:
40881
40882 @smallexample
40883 <target version="1.0">
40884 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
40885 </target>
40886 @end smallexample
40887
40888 @noindent
40889 This minimal description only says that the target uses
40890 the x86-64 architecture.
40891
40892 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
40893 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
40894 are explained further below.
40895
40896 @smallexample
40897 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40898 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
40899 <target version="1.0">
40900 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
40901 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
40902 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
40903 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
40904 </target>
40905 @end smallexample
40906
40907 @noindent
40908 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
40909 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
40910 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
40911 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
40912 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
40913 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
40914 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
40915 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
40916 the version mismatch.
40917
40918 @subsection Inclusion
40919 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
40920 @cindex XInclude
40921 @ifnotinfo
40922 @cindex <xi:include>
40923 @end ifnotinfo
40924
40925 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
40926 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
40927 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
40928 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
40929 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
40930
40931 @smallexample
40932 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
40933 @end smallexample
40934
40935 @noindent
40936 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
40937 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
40938 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
40939 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
40940 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
40941 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
40942 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
40943 original description.
40944
40945 @subsection Architecture
40946 @cindex <architecture>
40947
40948 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
40949
40950 @smallexample
40951 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
40952 @end smallexample
40953
40954 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
40955 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
40956
40957 @subsection OS ABI
40958 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
40959
40960 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
40961 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
40962
40963 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
40964
40965 @smallexample
40966 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
40967 @end smallexample
40968
40969 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
40970 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
40971
40972 @subsection Compatible Architecture
40973 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
40974
40975 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
40976 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
40977
40978 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
40979
40980 @smallexample
40981 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
40982 @end smallexample
40983
40984 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
40985 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
40986
40987 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
40988 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
40989 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
40990 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
40991 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
40992 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
40993 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
40994
40995 @smallexample
40996 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
40997 <compatible>spu</compatible>
40998 @end smallexample
40999
41000 @subsection Features
41001 @cindex <feature>
41002
41003 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
41004 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
41005 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
41006 has this form:
41007
41008 @smallexample
41009 <feature name="@var{name}">
41010 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
41011 @var{reg}@dots{}
41012 </feature>
41013 @end smallexample
41014
41015 @noindent
41016 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
41017 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
41018 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
41019 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
41020
41021 @subsection Types
41022
41023 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
41024 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
41025 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
41026 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
41027 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
41028
41029 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
41030 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
41031 Types must be defined before they are used.
41032
41033 @cindex <vector>
41034 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
41035 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
41036 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
41037 @var{count}:
41038
41039 @smallexample
41040 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
41041 @end smallexample
41042
41043 @cindex <union>
41044 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
41045 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
41046 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
41047 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
41048
41049 @smallexample
41050 <union id="@var{id}">
41051 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
41052 @dots{}
41053 </union>
41054 @end smallexample
41055
41056 @cindex <struct>
41057 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
41058 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
41059 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
41060 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
41061 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
41062 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
41063 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
41064 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
41065
41066 @smallexample
41067 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
41068 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
41069 @dots{}
41070 </struct>
41071 @end smallexample
41072
41073 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
41074 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
41075
41076 @smallexample
41077 <struct id="@var{id}">
41078 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
41079 @dots{}
41080 </struct>
41081 @end smallexample
41082
41083 @cindex <flags>
41084 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
41085 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
41086 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
41087 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
41088 are supported.
41089
41090 @smallexample
41091 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
41092 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
41093 @dots{}
41094 </flags>
41095 @end smallexample
41096
41097 @subsection Registers
41098 @cindex <reg>
41099
41100 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
41101
41102 @smallexample
41103 <reg name="@var{name}"
41104 bitsize="@var{size}"
41105 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
41106 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
41107 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
41108 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
41109 @end smallexample
41110
41111 @noindent
41112 The components are as follows:
41113
41114 @table @var
41115
41116 @item name
41117 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
41118
41119 @item bitsize
41120 The register's size, in bits.
41121
41122 @item regnum
41123 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
41124 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
41125 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
41126 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
41127 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
41128 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
41129 in order of increasing register number.
41130
41131 @item save-restore
41132 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
41133 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
41134 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
41135 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
41136 ABI.
41137
41138 @item type
41139 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
41140 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
41141 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
41142 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
41143 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
41144 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
41145
41146 @item group
41147 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
41148 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
41149 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
41150 in @code{info registers}.
41151
41152 @end table
41153
41154 @node Predefined Target Types
41155 @section Predefined Target Types
41156 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
41157
41158 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
41159 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
41160 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
41161 types. The currently supported types are:
41162
41163 @table @code
41164
41165 @item int8
41166 @itemx int16
41167 @itemx int32
41168 @itemx int64
41169 @itemx int128
41170 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
41171
41172 @item uint8
41173 @itemx uint16
41174 @itemx uint32
41175 @itemx uint64
41176 @itemx uint128
41177 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
41178
41179 @item code_ptr
41180 @itemx data_ptr
41181 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
41182 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
41183 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
41184 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
41185 may be marked as data pointers.
41186
41187 @item ieee_single
41188 Single precision IEEE floating point.
41189
41190 @item ieee_double
41191 Double precision IEEE floating point.
41192
41193 @item arm_fpa_ext
41194 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
41195
41196 @item i387_ext
41197 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
41198
41199 @item i386_eflags
41200 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
41201
41202 @item i386_mxcsr
41203 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
41204
41205 @end table
41206
41207 @node Standard Target Features
41208 @section Standard Target Features
41209 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
41210
41211 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
41212 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
41213 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
41214 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
41215 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
41216 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
41217 can recognize them.
41218
41219 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
41220 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
41221 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
41222 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
41223 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
41224 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
41225 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
41226 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
41227
41228 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
41229 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
41230 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
41231
41232 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
41233 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
41234 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
41235 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
41236
41237 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
41238 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
41239 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
41240
41241 @menu
41242 * AArch64 Features::
41243 * ARM Features::
41244 * i386 Features::
41245 * MIPS Features::
41246 * M68K Features::
41247 * Nios II Features::
41248 * PowerPC Features::
41249 * TIC6x Features::
41250 @end menu
41251
41252
41253 @node AArch64 Features
41254 @subsection AArch64 Features
41255 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
41256
41257 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
41258 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
41259 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
41260
41261 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
41262 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
41263 and @samp{fpcr}.
41264
41265 @node ARM Features
41266 @subsection ARM Features
41267 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
41268
41269 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
41270 ARM targets.
41271 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
41272 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
41273
41274 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
41275 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
41276 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
41277 and @samp{xpsr}.
41278
41279 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
41280 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
41281
41282 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
41283 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
41284 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
41285 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
41286
41287 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
41288 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
41289 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
41290 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
41291 halves of the double-precision registers.
41292
41293 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
41294 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
41295 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
41296 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
41297 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
41298 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
41299
41300 @node i386 Features
41301 @subsection i386 Features
41302 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
41303
41304 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
41305 targets. It should describe the following registers:
41306
41307 @itemize @minus
41308 @item
41309 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
41310 @item
41311 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
41312 @item
41313 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
41314 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
41315 @item
41316 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
41317 @item
41318 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
41319 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
41320 @end itemize
41321
41322 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
41323
41324 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
41325 describe registers:
41326
41327 @itemize @minus
41328 @item
41329 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
41330 @item
41331 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
41332 @item
41333 @samp{mxcsr}
41334 @end itemize
41335
41336 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
41337 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
41338 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
41339
41340 @itemize @minus
41341 @item
41342 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
41343 @item
41344 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
41345 @end itemize
41346
41347 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
41348 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
41349
41350 @node MIPS Features
41351 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
41352 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
41353
41354 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
41355 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
41356 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
41357 on the target.
41358
41359 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
41360 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
41361 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
41362
41363 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
41364 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
41365 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
41366 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
41367
41368 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
41369 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
41370 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
41371 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
41372
41373 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
41374 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
41375 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
41376
41377 @node M68K Features
41378 @subsection M68K Features
41379 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
41380
41381 @table @code
41382 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
41383 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
41384 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
41385 One of those features must be always present.
41386 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
41387 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
41388 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
41389 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
41390
41391 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
41392 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
41393 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
41394 @samp{fpiaddr}.
41395 @end table
41396
41397 @node Nios II Features
41398 @subsection Nios II Features
41399 @cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
41400
41401 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
41402 targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
41403 @samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
41404 @samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
41405 @samp{mpuacc}).
41406
41407 @node PowerPC Features
41408 @subsection PowerPC Features
41409 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
41410
41411 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
41412 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
41413 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
41414 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
41415
41416 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
41417 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
41418
41419 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
41420 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
41421 and @samp{vrsave}.
41422
41423 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
41424 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
41425 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
41426 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
41427 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
41428 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
41429
41430 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
41431 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
41432 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
41433 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
41434 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
41435 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
41436 user.
41437
41438 @node TIC6x Features
41439 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
41440 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
41441 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
41442 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
41443 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
41444 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
41445
41446 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
41447 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
41448 through @samp{B31}.
41449
41450 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
41451 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
41452
41453 @node Operating System Information
41454 @appendix Operating System Information
41455 @cindex operating system information
41456
41457 @menu
41458 * Process list::
41459 @end menu
41460
41461 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
41462 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
41463 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
41464 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
41465 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
41466 on a different aspect of target.
41467
41468 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
41469 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
41470 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
41471 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
41472
41473 @node Process list
41474 @appendixsection Process list
41475 @cindex operating system information, process list
41476
41477 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
41478 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
41479 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
41480 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
41481
41482 An example document is:
41483
41484 @smallexample
41485 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41486 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
41487 <osdata type="processes">
41488 <item>
41489 <column name="pid">1</column>
41490 <column name="user">root</column>
41491 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
41492 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
41493 </item>
41494 </osdata>
41495 @end smallexample
41496
41497 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
41498 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
41499 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
41500 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
41501 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
41502 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
41503 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
41504
41505 @node Trace File Format
41506 @appendix Trace File Format
41507 @cindex trace file format
41508
41509 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
41510 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
41511
41512 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
41513 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
41514 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
41515 in the future.
41516
41517 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
41518 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
41519 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
41520 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
41521 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
41522 of this section.
41523
41524 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
41525
41526 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
41527 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
41528 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
41529 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
41530 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
41531 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
41532 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
41533 endianness.
41534
41535 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
41536
41537 @table @code
41538 @item R @var{bytes}
41539 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
41540 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
41541 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
41542 hexadecimal encoding.
41543
41544 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
41545 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
41546 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
41547 @var{length} bytes.
41548
41549 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
41550 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
41551 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
41552
41553 @end table
41554
41555 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
41556 of blocks.
41557
41558 @node Index Section Format
41559 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
41560 @cindex .gdb_index section format
41561 @cindex index section format
41562
41563 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
41564 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
41565 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
41566 description.
41567
41568 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
41569 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
41570 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
41571 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
41572 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
41573 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
41574
41575 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
41576
41577 @enumerate
41578 @item
41579 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
41580 unless otherwise noted:
41581
41582 @enumerate
41583 @item
41584 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
41585 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
41586 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
41587 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
41588 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
41589 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
41590 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
41591
41592 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
41593 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
41594 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
41595 currently not flagged as deprecated.
41596
41597 @item
41598 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
41599
41600 @item
41601 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
41602 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
41603 to the next offset.
41604
41605 @item
41606 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
41607
41608 @item
41609 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
41610
41611 @item
41612 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
41613 @end enumerate
41614
41615 @item
41616 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
41617 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
41618 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
41619 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
41620 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
41621 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
41622 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
41623 CU indices.
41624
41625 @item
41626 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
41627 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
41628 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
41629 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
41630
41631 @item
41632 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
41633 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
41634
41635 @enumerate
41636 @item
41637 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
41638
41639 @item
41640 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
41641 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
41642
41643 @item
41644 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
41645 @end enumerate
41646
41647 @item
41648 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
41649 the hash table is always a power of 2.
41650
41651 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
41652 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
41653 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
41654 constant pool.
41655
41656 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
41657 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
41658 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
41659
41660 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
41661 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
41662 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
41663 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
41664 index version:
41665
41666 @table @asis
41667 @item Version 4
41668 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
41669
41670 @item Versions 5 to 7
41671 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
41672 @end table
41673
41674 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
41675
41676 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
41677 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
41678 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
41679 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
41680 collision.
41681
41682 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
41683 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
41684 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
41685 the code.
41686
41687 @item
41688 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
41689 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
41690 strings.
41691
41692 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
41693 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
41694 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
41695 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
41696 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
41697 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
41698
41699 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
41700 @end enumerate
41701
41702 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
41703 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
41704 CU index+attributes value for each use.
41705
41706 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
41707 (bit 0 = LSB):
41708
41709 @table @asis
41710
41711 @item Bits 0-23
41712 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
41713 @item Bits 24-27
41714 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
41715 @item Bits 28-30
41716 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
41717
41718 @table @asis
41719 @item 0
41720 This value is reserved and should not be used.
41721 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
41722 with previous versions of the index.
41723 @item 1
41724 The symbol is a type.
41725 @item 2
41726 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
41727 @item 3
41728 The symbol is a function.
41729 @item 4
41730 Any other kind of symbol.
41731 @item 5,6,7
41732 These values are reserved.
41733 @end table
41734
41735 @item Bit 31
41736 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
41737
41738 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
41739 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
41740 @value{GDBN} sources.
41741
41742 @end table
41743
41744 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
41745 global/static attributes in the index.
41746
41747 @smallexample
41748 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
41749 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
41750 switch (die->tag)
41751 @{
41752 case DW_TAG_typedef:
41753 case DW_TAG_base_type:
41754 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
41755 kind = TYPE;
41756 is_static = 1;
41757 break;
41758 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
41759 kind = VARIABLE;
41760 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
41761 break;
41762 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
41763 kind = FUNCTION;
41764 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
41765 break;
41766 case DW_TAG_constant:
41767 kind = VARIABLE;
41768 is_static = ! is_external;
41769 break;
41770 case DW_TAG_variable:
41771 kind = VARIABLE;
41772 is_static = ! is_external;
41773 break;
41774 case DW_TAG_namespace:
41775 kind = TYPE;
41776 is_static = 0;
41777 break;
41778 case DW_TAG_class_type:
41779 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
41780 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
41781 case DW_TAG_union_type:
41782 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
41783 kind = TYPE;
41784 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
41785 break;
41786 default:
41787 assert (0);
41788 @}
41789 @end smallexample
41790
41791 @node Man Pages
41792 @appendix Manual pages
41793 @cindex Man pages
41794
41795 @menu
41796 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
41797 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
41798 * gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
41799 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
41800 @end menu
41801
41802 @node gdb man
41803 @heading gdb man
41804
41805 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
41806
41807 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
41808 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
41809 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
41810 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
41811 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
41812 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
41813 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
41814 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
41815 [@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
41816 @c man end
41817
41818 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
41819 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
41820 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
41821 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
41822
41823 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
41824 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
41825
41826 @itemize @bullet
41827 @item
41828 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
41829
41830 @item
41831 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
41832
41833 @item
41834 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
41835
41836 @item
41837 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
41838 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
41839 @end itemize
41840
41841 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
41842 Modula-2.
41843
41844 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
41845 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
41846 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
41847 by using the command @code{help}.
41848
41849 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
41850 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
41851 executable program as the argument:
41852
41853 @smallexample
41854 gdb program
41855 @end smallexample
41856
41857 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
41858
41859 @smallexample
41860 gdb program core
41861 @end smallexample
41862
41863 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
41864 to debug a running process:
41865
41866 @smallexample
41867 gdb program 1234
41868 gdb -p 1234
41869 @end smallexample
41870
41871 @noindent
41872 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
41873 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
41874 With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
41875
41876 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
41877
41878 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
41879 @table @env
41880 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
41881 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
41882
41883 @item run [@var{arglist}]
41884 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
41885
41886 @item bt
41887 Backtrace: display the program stack.
41888
41889 @item print @var{expr}
41890 Display the value of an expression.
41891
41892 @item c
41893 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
41894
41895 @item next
41896 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
41897 function calls in the line.
41898
41899 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
41900 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
41901
41902 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
41903 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
41904
41905 @item step
41906 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
41907 function calls in the line.
41908
41909 @item help [@var{name}]
41910 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
41911 about using @value{GDBN}.
41912
41913 @item quit
41914 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
41915 @end table
41916
41917 @ifset man
41918 For full details on @value{GDBN},
41919 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41920 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
41921 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
41922 @end ifset
41923 @c man end
41924
41925 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
41926 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
41927 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
41928 encountered with no
41929 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
41930 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
41931 Many options have
41932 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
41933 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
41934 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
41935 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
41936 more usual convention.)
41937
41938 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
41939 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
41940 option is used.
41941
41942 @table @env
41943 @item -help
41944 @itemx -h
41945 List all options, with brief explanations.
41946
41947 @item -symbols=@var{file}
41948 @itemx -s @var{file}
41949 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
41950
41951 @item -write
41952 Enable writing into executable and core files.
41953
41954 @item -exec=@var{file}
41955 @itemx -e @var{file}
41956 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
41957 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
41958 dump.
41959
41960 @item -se=@var{file}
41961 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
41962 file.
41963
41964 @item -core=@var{file}
41965 @itemx -c @var{file}
41966 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
41967
41968 @item -command=@var{file}
41969 @itemx -x @var{file}
41970 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
41971
41972 @item -ex @var{command}
41973 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
41974
41975 @item -directory=@var{directory}
41976 @itemx -d @var{directory}
41977 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
41978
41979 @item -nh
41980 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
41981
41982 @item -nx
41983 @itemx -n
41984 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
41985
41986 @item -quiet
41987 @itemx -q
41988 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
41989 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
41990
41991 @item -batch
41992 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
41993 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
41994 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
41995 commands in the command files.
41996
41997 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
41998 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
41999 more useful, the message
42000
42001 @smallexample
42002 Program exited normally.
42003 @end smallexample
42004
42005 @noindent
42006 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
42007 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
42008
42009 @item -cd=@var{directory}
42010 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
42011 instead of the current directory.
42012
42013 @item -fullname
42014 @itemx -f
42015 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
42016 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
42017 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
42018 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
42019 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
42020 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
42021 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
42022 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
42023
42024 @item -b @var{bps}
42025 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
42026 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
42027
42028 @item -tty=@var{device}
42029 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
42030 @end table
42031 @c man end
42032
42033 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
42034 @ifset man
42035 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
42036 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
42037 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
42038
42039 @smallexample
42040 info gdb
42041 @end smallexample
42042
42043 @noindent
42044 should give you access to the complete manual.
42045
42046 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
42047 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
42048 @end ifset
42049 @c man end
42050
42051 @node gdbserver man
42052 @heading gdbserver man
42053
42054 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
42055 @format
42056 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
42057 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
42058
42059 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
42060
42061 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
42062 @c man end
42063 @end format
42064
42065 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
42066 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
42067 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
42068
42069 @ifclear man
42070 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
42071 @end ifclear
42072 @ifset man
42073 Usage (server (target) side):
42074 @end ifset
42075
42076 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
42077 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
42078 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
42079 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
42080
42081 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
42082 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
42083 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
42084
42085 @smallexample
42086 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
42087 @end smallexample
42088
42089 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
42090
42091 @smallexample
42092 @ifset man
42093 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
42094 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
42095 @end ifset
42096 @ifclear man
42097 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
42098 @end ifclear
42099 @end smallexample
42100
42101 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
42102 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
42103 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
42104
42105 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
42106
42107 @smallexample
42108 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
42109 @end smallexample
42110
42111 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
42112 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
42113 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
42114 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
42115 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
42116 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
42117 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
42118 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
42119 print an error message and exit.
42120
42121 @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
42122 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
42123
42124 @smallexample
42125 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
42126 @end smallexample
42127
42128 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
42129 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
42130
42131 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
42132 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
42133 In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
42134 the program you want to debug.
42135
42136 @smallexample
42137 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
42138 @end smallexample
42139
42140 @ifclear man
42141 @subheading Usage (host side)
42142 @end ifclear
42143 @ifset man
42144 Usage (host side):
42145 @end ifset
42146
42147 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
42148 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
42149 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
42150 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
42151 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
42152 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
42153 (or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
42154 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
42155 descriptor. For example:
42156
42157 @smallexample
42158 @ifset man
42159 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
42160 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
42161 @end ifset
42162 @ifclear man
42163 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
42164 @end ifclear
42165 @end smallexample
42166
42167 @noindent
42168 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
42169
42170 @smallexample
42171 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
42172 @end smallexample
42173
42174 @noindent
42175 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
42176 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
42177 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
42178 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
42179 `Connection refused'.
42180
42181 @command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
42182 described in
42183 @ifset man
42184 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
42185 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
42186 @end ifset
42187 @ifclear man
42188 @ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
42189 @end ifclear
42190 In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
42191
42192 @smallexample
42193 (gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
42194 @end smallexample
42195
42196 The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
42197 case.
42198 @c man end
42199
42200 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
42201 There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
42202
42203 @itemize @bullet
42204
42205 @item
42206 Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
42207
42208 @smallexample
42209 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
42210 @end smallexample
42211
42212 The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
42213 with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
42214 a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
42215 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
42216 debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
42217 program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
42218 connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
42219
42220 @item
42221 Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
42222 program:
42223
42224 @smallexample
42225 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
42226 @end smallexample
42227
42228 The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
42229 of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
42230 else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
42231 @value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
42232
42233 @item
42234 Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
42235
42236 @smallexample
42237 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
42238 @end smallexample
42239
42240 In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
42241 command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
42242 close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
42243 debug several processes in the same session.
42244 @end itemize
42245
42246 In each of the modes you may specify these options:
42247
42248 @table @env
42249
42250 @item --help
42251 List all options, with brief explanations.
42252
42253 @item --version
42254 This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
42255
42256 @item --attach
42257 @command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
42258
42259 @smallexample
42260 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
42261 @end smallexample
42262
42263 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
42264 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
42265
42266 @item --multi
42267 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
42268 or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
42269 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
42270 the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
42271
42272 @smallexample
42273 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
42274 @end smallexample
42275
42276 @item --debug
42277 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
42278 process.
42279 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
42280 the developers.
42281
42282 @item --remote-debug
42283 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
42284 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
42285 the developers.
42286
42287 @item --wrapper
42288 Specify a wrapper to launch programs
42289 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
42290 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
42291 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
42292
42293 @item --once
42294 By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
42295 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
42296 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
42297 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
42298
42299 @c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
42300
42301 @c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
42302 @c QDisableRandomization.
42303
42304 @end table
42305 @c man end
42306
42307 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
42308 @ifset man
42309 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
42310 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
42311 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
42312
42313 @smallexample
42314 info gdb
42315 @end smallexample
42316
42317 should give you access to the complete manual.
42318
42319 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
42320 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
42321 @end ifset
42322 @c man end
42323
42324 @node gcore man
42325 @heading gcore
42326
42327 @c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
42328
42329 @format
42330 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
42331 gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
42332 @c man end
42333 @end format
42334
42335 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
42336 Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
42337 Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
42338 crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
42339 limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
42340 running without any change.
42341 @c man end
42342
42343 @c man begin OPTIONS gcore
42344 @table @env
42345 @item -o @var{filename}
42346 The optional argument
42347 @var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
42348 If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
42349 where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
42350 @end table
42351 @c man end
42352
42353 @c man begin SEEALSO gcore
42354 @ifset man
42355 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
42356 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
42357 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
42358
42359 @smallexample
42360 info gdb
42361 @end smallexample
42362
42363 @noindent
42364 should give you access to the complete manual.
42365
42366 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
42367 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
42368 @end ifset
42369 @c man end
42370
42371 @node gdbinit man
42372 @heading gdbinit
42373
42374 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
42375
42376 @format
42377 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
42378 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
42379 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
42380 @end ifset
42381
42382 ~/.gdbinit
42383
42384 ./.gdbinit
42385 @c man end
42386 @end format
42387
42388 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
42389 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
42390 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
42391 described in
42392 @ifset man
42393 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
42394 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
42395 @end ifset
42396 @ifclear man
42397 @ref{Sequences}.
42398 @end ifclear
42399
42400 Please read more in
42401 @ifset man
42402 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
42403 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
42404 @end ifset
42405 @ifclear man
42406 @ref{Startup}.
42407 @end ifclear
42408
42409 @table @env
42410 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
42411 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
42412 @end ifset
42413 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
42414 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
42415 @end ifclear
42416 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
42417 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
42418 See more in
42419 @ifset man
42420 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
42421 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
42422 @end ifset
42423 @ifclear man
42424 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
42425 @end ifclear
42426
42427 @item ~/.gdbinit
42428 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
42429 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
42430
42431 @item ./.gdbinit
42432 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
42433 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
42434 See more in
42435 @ifset man
42436 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
42437 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
42438 @end ifset
42439 @ifclear man
42440 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
42441 @end ifclear
42442 @end table
42443 @c man end
42444
42445 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
42446 @ifset man
42447 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
42448
42449 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
42450 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
42451 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
42452
42453 @smallexample
42454 info gdb
42455 @end smallexample
42456
42457 should give you access to the complete manual.
42458
42459 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
42460 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
42461 @end ifset
42462 @c man end
42463
42464 @include gpl.texi
42465
42466 @node GNU Free Documentation License
42467 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
42468 @include fdl.texi
42469
42470 @node Concept Index
42471 @unnumbered Concept Index
42472
42473 @printindex cp
42474
42475 @node Command and Variable Index
42476 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
42477
42478 @printindex fn
42479
42480 @tex
42481 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
42482 % meantime:
42483 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
42484 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
42485 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
42486 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
42487 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
42488 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
42489 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
42490 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
42491 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
42492 \page\colophon
42493 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
42494 @end tex
42495
42496 @bye
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