http://sourceware.org/ml/gdb-patches/2010-12/msg00299.html
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
3 @c 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
4 @c 2010, 2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c
6 @c %**start of header
7 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
9 @setfilename gdb.info
10 @c
11 @include gdb-cfg.texi
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 @syncodeindex ky cp
24 @syncodeindex tp cp
25
26 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
28 @syncodeindex vr cp
29 @syncodeindex fn cp
30
31 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
33 @set EDITION Ninth
34
35 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
37
38 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39
40 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41 @c manuals to an info tree.
42 @dircategory Software development
43 @direntry
44 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
45 @end direntry
46
47 @copying
48 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
49 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
58
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
62 @end copying
63
64 @ifnottex
65 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
66
67 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
71 @end ifset
72 Version @value{GDBVN}.
73
74 @insertcopying
75 @end ifnottex
76
77 @titlepage
78 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
80 @sp 1
81 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
85 @end ifset
86 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
87 @page
88 @tex
89 {\parskip=0pt
90 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
93 }
94 @end tex
95
96 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
98 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100 ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
101
102 @insertcopying
103 @page
104 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106 software in general. We will miss him.
107 @end titlepage
108 @page
109
110 @ifnottex
111 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
115 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116
117 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120 @end ifset
121 Version @value{GDBVN}.
122
123 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124
125 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127 software in general. We will miss him.
128
129 @menu
130 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132
133 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139 * Stack:: Examining the stack
140 * Source:: Examining source files
141 * Data:: Examining data
142 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146
147 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148
149 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150 * Altering:: Altering execution
151 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
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 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
175 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
176 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
177 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
178 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
179 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
180 @value{GDBN}
181 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
182 the operating system
183 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
184 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
185 how you can copy and share GDB
186 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
187 * Index:: Index
188 @end menu
189
190 @end ifnottex
191
192 @contents
193
194 @node Summary
195 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
196
197 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
198 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
199 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
200
201 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
202 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
203
204 @itemize @bullet
205 @item
206 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
207
208 @item
209 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
210
211 @item
212 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
213
214 @item
215 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
216 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
217 @end itemize
218
219 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
220 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
221 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
222
223 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
224 @ref{D,,D}.
225
226 @cindex Modula-2
227 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
228 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
229
230 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
231 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
232
233 @cindex Pascal
234 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
235 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
236 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
237 syntax.
238
239 @cindex Fortran
240 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
241 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
242 underscore.
243
244 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
245 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
246
247 @menu
248 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
249 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
250 @end menu
251
252 @node Free Software
253 @unnumberedsec Free Software
254
255 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
256 General Public License
257 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
258 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
259 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
260 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
261 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
262 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
263
264 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
265 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
266 from anyone else.
267
268 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
269
270 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
271 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
272 include with the free software. Many of our most important
273 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
274 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
275 when an important free software package does not come with a free
276 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
277 gaps today.
278
279 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
280 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
281 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
282 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
283 them from the free software world.
284
285 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
286 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
287 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
288 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
289 contract to make it non-free.
290
291 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
292 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
293 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
294 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
295 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
296 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
297 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
298
299 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
300 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
301 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
302 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
303
304 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
305 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
306 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
307 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
308 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
309 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
310 community.
311
312 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
313 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
314 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
315 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
316 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
317 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
318 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
319 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
320 of the manual.
321
322 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
323 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
324 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
325 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
326 manual to replace it.
327
328 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
329 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
330 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
331 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
332 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
333 the free software community.
334
335 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
336 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
337 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
338 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
339 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
340 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
341 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
342 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
343 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
344
345 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
346 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
347 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
348 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
349 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
350 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
351 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
352 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
353
354 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
355 published by other publishers, at
356 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
357
358 @node Contributors
359 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
360
361 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
362 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
363 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
364 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
365 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
366 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
367 blow-by-blow account.
368
369 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
370
371 @quotation
372 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
373 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
374 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
375 @end quotation
376
377 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
378 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
379 releases:
380 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
381 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
382 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
383 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
384 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
385 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
386 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
387 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
388 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
389
390 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
391 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
392
393 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
394 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
395 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
396 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
397 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
398
399 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
400 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
401 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
402
403 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
404 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
405
406 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
407
408 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
409 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
410 support.
411 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
412 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
413 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
414 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
415 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
416 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
417 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
418 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
419 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
420 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
421 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
422 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
423 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
424 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
425 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
426 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
427
428 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
429
430 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
431 libraries.
432
433 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
434 about several machine instruction sets.
435
436 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
437 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
438 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
439 and RDI targets, respectively.
440
441 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
442 command-line editing and command history.
443
444 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
445 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
446
447 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
448 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
449 symbols.
450
451 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
452 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
453
454 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
455
456 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
457 processors.
458
459 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
460
461 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
462
463 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
464
465 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
466 watchpoints.
467
468 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
469
470 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
471
472 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
473 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
474
475 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
476 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
477 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
478 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
479 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
480 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
481 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
482
483 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
484 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
485
486 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
487 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
488 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
489 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
490 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
491 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
492 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
493 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
494 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
495 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
496 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
497 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
498 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
499 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
500 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
501
502 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
503 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
504
505 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
506 Hat.
507
508 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
509 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
510 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
511 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
512 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
513 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
514
515 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
516 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
517 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
518 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
519 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
520 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
521 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
522 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
523 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
524 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
525 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
526 Weigand.
527
528 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
529 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
530 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
531 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
532
533 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
534 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
535
536 @node Sample Session
537 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
538
539 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
540 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
541 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
542
543 @iftex
544 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
545 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
546 @end iftex
547
548 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
549 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
550
551 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
552 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
553 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
554 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
555 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
556 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
557 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
558 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
559 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
560
561 @smallexample
562 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
563 $ @b{./m4}
564 @b{define(foo,0000)}
565
566 @b{foo}
567 0000
568 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
569
570 @b{bar}
571 0000
572 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
573
574 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
575 @b{baz}
576 @b{Ctrl-d}
577 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
578 @end smallexample
579
580 @noindent
581 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
582
583 @smallexample
584 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
585 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
586 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
587 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
588 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
589 the conditions.
590 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
591 for details.
592
593 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
594 (@value{GDBP})
595 @end smallexample
596
597 @noindent
598 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
599 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
600 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
601 that examples fit in this manual.
602
603 @smallexample
604 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
605 @end smallexample
606
607 @noindent
608 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
609 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
610 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
611 @code{break} command.
612
613 @smallexample
614 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
615 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
616 @end smallexample
617
618 @noindent
619 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
620 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
621 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
622
623 @smallexample
624 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
625 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
626 @b{define(foo,0000)}
627
628 @b{foo}
629 0000
630 @end smallexample
631
632 @noindent
633 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
634 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
635 context where it stops.
636
637 @smallexample
638 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
639
640 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
641 at builtin.c:879
642 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
643 @end smallexample
644
645 @noindent
646 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
647 the next line of the current function.
648
649 @smallexample
650 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
651 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
652 : nil,
653 @end smallexample
654
655 @noindent
656 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
657 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
658 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
659 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
660
661 @smallexample
662 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
663 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
664 at input.c:530
665 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
666 @end smallexample
667
668 @noindent
669 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
670 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
671 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
672 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
673 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
674 stack frame for each active subroutine.
675
676 @smallexample
677 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
678 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
679 at input.c:530
680 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
681 at builtin.c:882
682 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
683 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
684 at macro.c:71
685 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
686 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
687 @end smallexample
688
689 @noindent
690 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
691 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
692 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
693
694 @smallexample
695 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
696 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
697 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
698 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
699 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
700 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
701 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
702 : xstrdup(rq);
703 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
704 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
705 @end smallexample
706
707 @noindent
708 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
709 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
710 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
711 (@code{print}) to see their values.
712
713 @smallexample
714 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
715 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
716 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
717 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
718 @end smallexample
719
720 @noindent
721 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
722 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
723 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
724
725 @smallexample
726 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
727 533 xfree(rquote);
728 534
729 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
730 : xstrdup (lq);
731 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
732 : xstrdup (rq);
733 537
734 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
735 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
736 540 @}
737 541
738 542 void
739 @end smallexample
740
741 @noindent
742 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
743 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
744
745 @smallexample
746 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
747 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
748 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
749 540 @}
750 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
751 $3 = 9
752 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
753 $4 = 7
754 @end smallexample
755
756 @noindent
757 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
758 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
759 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
760 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
761 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
762 assignments.
763
764 @smallexample
765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
766 $5 = 7
767 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
768 $6 = 9
769 @end smallexample
770
771 @noindent
772 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
773 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
774 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
775 example that caused trouble initially:
776
777 @smallexample
778 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
779 Continuing.
780
781 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
782
783 baz
784 0000
785 @end smallexample
786
787 @noindent
788 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
789 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
790 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
791
792 @smallexample
793 @b{Ctrl-d}
794 Program exited normally.
795 @end smallexample
796
797 @noindent
798 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
799 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
800 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
801
802 @smallexample
803 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
804 @end smallexample
805
806 @node Invocation
807 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
808
809 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
810 The essentials are:
811 @itemize @bullet
812 @item
813 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
814 @item
815 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
816 @end itemize
817
818 @menu
819 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
820 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
821 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
822 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
823 @end menu
824
825 @node Invoking GDB
826 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
827
828 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
829 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
830
831 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
832 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
833
834 The command-line options described here are designed
835 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
836 options may effectively be unavailable.
837
838 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
839 specifying an executable program:
840
841 @smallexample
842 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
843 @end smallexample
844
845 @noindent
846 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
847 specified:
848
849 @smallexample
850 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
851 @end smallexample
852
853 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
854 to debug a running process:
855
856 @smallexample
857 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
858 @end smallexample
859
860 @noindent
861 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
862 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
863
864 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
865 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
866 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
867 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
868 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
869
870 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
871 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
872 option processing.
873 @smallexample
874 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
875 @end smallexample
876 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
877 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
878
879 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
880 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
881
882 @smallexample
883 @value{GDBP} -silent
884 @end smallexample
885
886 @noindent
887 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
888 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
889
890 @noindent
891 Type
892
893 @smallexample
894 @value{GDBP} -help
895 @end smallexample
896
897 @noindent
898 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
899 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
900
901 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
902 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
903 @samp{-x} option is used.
904
905
906 @menu
907 * File Options:: Choosing files
908 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
909 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
910 @end menu
911
912 @node File Options
913 @subsection Choosing Files
914
915 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
916 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
917 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
918 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
919 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
920 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
921 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
922 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
923 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
924 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
925 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
926 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
927 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
928
929 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
930 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
931 argument and ignore it.
932
933 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
934 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
935 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
936 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
937 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
938
939 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
940 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
941 @c it.
942
943 @table @code
944 @item -symbols @var{file}
945 @itemx -s @var{file}
946 @cindex @code{--symbols}
947 @cindex @code{-s}
948 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
949
950 @item -exec @var{file}
951 @itemx -e @var{file}
952 @cindex @code{--exec}
953 @cindex @code{-e}
954 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
955 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
956
957 @item -se @var{file}
958 @cindex @code{--se}
959 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
960 file.
961
962 @item -core @var{file}
963 @itemx -c @var{file}
964 @cindex @code{--core}
965 @cindex @code{-c}
966 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
967
968 @item -pid @var{number}
969 @itemx -p @var{number}
970 @cindex @code{--pid}
971 @cindex @code{-p}
972 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
973
974 @item -command @var{file}
975 @itemx -x @var{file}
976 @cindex @code{--command}
977 @cindex @code{-x}
978 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
979 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
980 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
981
982 @item -eval-command @var{command}
983 @itemx -ex @var{command}
984 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
985 @cindex @code{-ex}
986 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
987
988 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
989 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
990
991 @smallexample
992 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
993 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
994 @end smallexample
995
996 @item -directory @var{directory}
997 @itemx -d @var{directory}
998 @cindex @code{--directory}
999 @cindex @code{-d}
1000 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1001
1002 @item -r
1003 @itemx -readnow
1004 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1005 @cindex @code{-r}
1006 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1007 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1008 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1009
1010 @end table
1011
1012 @node Mode Options
1013 @subsection Choosing Modes
1014
1015 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1016 batch mode or quiet mode.
1017
1018 @table @code
1019 @item -nx
1020 @itemx -n
1021 @cindex @code{--nx}
1022 @cindex @code{-n}
1023 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1024 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1025 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1026 Files}.
1027
1028 @item -quiet
1029 @itemx -silent
1030 @itemx -q
1031 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1032 @cindex @code{--silent}
1033 @cindex @code{-q}
1034 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1035 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1036
1037 @item -batch
1038 @cindex @code{--batch}
1039 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1040 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1041 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1042 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1043 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1044 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1045 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1046
1047 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1048 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1049 make this more useful, the message
1050
1051 @smallexample
1052 Program exited normally.
1053 @end smallexample
1054
1055 @noindent
1056 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1057 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1058 mode.
1059
1060 @item -batch-silent
1061 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1062 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1063 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1064 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1065 for an interactive session.
1066
1067 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1068 messages, for example.
1069
1070 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1071 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1072
1073 @item -return-child-result
1074 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1075 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1076 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1077
1078 @itemize @bullet
1079 @item
1080 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1081 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1082 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1083 @item
1084 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1085 @item
1086 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1087 the exit code will be -1.
1088 @end itemize
1089
1090 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1091 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1092 interface.
1093
1094 @item -nowindows
1095 @itemx -nw
1096 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1097 @cindex @code{-nw}
1098 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1099 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1100 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1101
1102 @item -windows
1103 @itemx -w
1104 @cindex @code{--windows}
1105 @cindex @code{-w}
1106 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1107 used if possible.
1108
1109 @item -cd @var{directory}
1110 @cindex @code{--cd}
1111 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1112 instead of the current directory.
1113
1114 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1115 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1116 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1117 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1118 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1119
1120 @item -fullname
1121 @itemx -f
1122 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1123 @cindex @code{-f}
1124 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1125 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1126 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1127 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1128 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1129 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1130 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1131 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1132 frame.
1133
1134 @item -epoch
1135 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1136 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1137 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1138 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1139 separate window.
1140
1141 @item -annotate @var{level}
1142 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1143 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1144 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1145 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1146 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1147 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1148 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1149 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1150 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1151
1152 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1153 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1154
1155 @item --args
1156 @cindex @code{--args}
1157 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1158 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1159 This option stops option processing.
1160
1161 @item -baud @var{bps}
1162 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1163 @cindex @code{--baud}
1164 @cindex @code{-b}
1165 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1166 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1167
1168 @item -l @var{timeout}
1169 @cindex @code{-l}
1170 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1171 for remote debugging.
1172
1173 @item -tty @var{device}
1174 @itemx -t @var{device}
1175 @cindex @code{--tty}
1176 @cindex @code{-t}
1177 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1178 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1179
1180 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1181 @item -tui
1182 @cindex @code{--tui}
1183 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1184 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1185 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1186 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1187 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1188 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1189 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1190
1191 @c @item -xdb
1192 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1193 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1194 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1195 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1196 @c systems.
1197
1198 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1199 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1200 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1201 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1202 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1203 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1204
1205 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1206 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1207 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1208 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1209 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1210 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1211
1212 @item -write
1213 @cindex @code{--write}
1214 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1215 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1216 (@pxref{Patching}).
1217
1218 @item -statistics
1219 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1220 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1221 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1222
1223 @item -version
1224 @cindex @code{--version}
1225 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1226 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1227
1228 @end table
1229
1230 @node Startup
1231 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1232 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1233
1234 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1235
1236 @enumerate
1237 @item
1238 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1239 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1240
1241 @item
1242 @cindex init file
1243 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1244 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1245 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1246 that file.
1247
1248 @item
1249 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1250 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1251 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1252 that file.
1253
1254 @item
1255 Processes command line options and operands.
1256
1257 @item
1258 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1259 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1260 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1261 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1262 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1263 @value{GDBN}.
1264
1265 @item
1266 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1267 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1268 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1269 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1270
1271 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1272 you must do something like the following:
1273
1274 @smallexample
1275 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" -ex "file myprogram"
1276 @end smallexample
1277
1278 The following does not work because the auto-loading is turned off too late:
1279
1280 @smallexample
1281 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" myprogram
1282 @end smallexample
1283
1284 @item
1285 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1286 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1287
1288 @item
1289 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1290 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1291 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1292 @end enumerate
1293
1294 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1295 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1296 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1297 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1298 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1299 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1300
1301 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1302 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1303
1304 @cindex init file name
1305 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1306 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1307 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1308 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1309 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1310 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1311 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1312 the file to the standard name.
1313
1314
1315 @node Quitting GDB
1316 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1317 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1318 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1319
1320 @table @code
1321 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1322 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1323 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1324 @itemx q
1325 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1326 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1327 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1328 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1329 error code.
1330 @end table
1331
1332 @cindex interrupt
1333 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1334 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1335 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1336 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1337 until a time when it is safe.
1338
1339 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1340 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1341 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1342
1343 @node Shell Commands
1344 @section Shell Commands
1345
1346 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1347 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1348 just use the @code{shell} command.
1349
1350 @table @code
1351 @kindex shell
1352 @cindex shell escape
1353 @item shell @var{command string}
1354 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1355 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1356 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1357 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1358 @end table
1359
1360 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1361 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1362 @value{GDBN}:
1363
1364 @table @code
1365 @kindex make
1366 @cindex calling make
1367 @item make @var{make-args}
1368 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1369 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1370 @end table
1371
1372 @node Logging Output
1373 @section Logging Output
1374 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1375 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1376
1377 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1378 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1379
1380 @table @code
1381 @kindex set logging
1382 @item set logging on
1383 Enable logging.
1384 @item set logging off
1385 Disable logging.
1386 @cindex logging file name
1387 @item set logging file @var{file}
1388 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1389 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1390 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1391 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1392 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1393 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1394 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1395 @kindex show logging
1396 @item show logging
1397 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1398 @end table
1399
1400 @node Commands
1401 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1402
1403 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1404 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1405 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1406 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1407 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1408
1409 @menu
1410 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1411 * Completion:: Command completion
1412 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1413 @end menu
1414
1415 @node Command Syntax
1416 @section Command Syntax
1417
1418 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1419 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1420 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1421 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1422 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1423 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1424
1425 @cindex abbreviation
1426 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1427 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1428 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1429 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1430 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1431 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1432 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1433
1434 @cindex repeating commands
1435 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1436 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1437 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1438 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1439 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1440 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1441 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1442
1443 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1444 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1445 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1446
1447 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1448 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1449 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1450 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1451 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1452
1453 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1454 @cindex comment
1455 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1456 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1457 Files,,Command Files}).
1458
1459 @cindex repeating command sequences
1460 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1461 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1462 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1463 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1464 for editing.
1465
1466 @node Completion
1467 @section Command Completion
1468
1469 @cindex completion
1470 @cindex word completion
1471 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1472 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1473 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1474 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1475
1476 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1477 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1478 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1479 enter it). For example, if you type
1480
1481 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1482 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1483 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1484 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1485 @smallexample
1486 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1487 @end smallexample
1488
1489 @noindent
1490 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1491 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1492
1493 @smallexample
1494 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1495 @end smallexample
1496
1497 @noindent
1498 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1499 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1500 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1501 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1502 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1503 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1504
1505 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1506 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1507 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1508 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1509 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1510 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1511 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1512 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1513 example:
1514
1515 @smallexample
1516 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1517 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1518 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1519 make_abs_section make_function_type
1520 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1521 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1522 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1523 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1524 @end smallexample
1525
1526 @noindent
1527 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1528 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1529 command.
1530
1531 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1532 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1533 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1534 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1535 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1536
1537 @cindex quotes in commands
1538 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1539 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1540 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1541 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1542 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1543 @value{GDBN} commands.
1544
1545 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1546 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1547 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1548 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1549 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1550 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1551 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1552 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1553 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1554 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1555 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1556
1557 @smallexample
1558 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1559 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1560 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1561 @end smallexample
1562
1563 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1564 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1565 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1566 place:
1567
1568 @smallexample
1569 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1570 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1571 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1572 @end smallexample
1573
1574 @noindent
1575 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1576 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1577 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1578
1579 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1580 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1581 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1582 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1583
1584 @cindex completion of structure field names
1585 @cindex structure field name completion
1586 @cindex completion of union field names
1587 @cindex union field name completion
1588 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1589 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1590 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1591 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1592 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1593 left-hand-side:
1594
1595 @smallexample
1596 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1597 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1598 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1599 @end smallexample
1600
1601 @noindent
1602 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1603 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1604 follows:
1605
1606 @smallexample
1607 struct ui_file
1608 @{
1609 int *magic;
1610 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1611 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1612 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1613 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1614 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1615 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1616 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1617 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1618 void *to_data;
1619 @}
1620 @end smallexample
1621
1622
1623 @node Help
1624 @section Getting Help
1625 @cindex online documentation
1626 @kindex help
1627
1628 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1629 using the command @code{help}.
1630
1631 @table @code
1632 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1633 @item help
1634 @itemx h
1635 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1636 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1637
1638 @smallexample
1639 (@value{GDBP}) help
1640 List of classes of commands:
1641
1642 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1643 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1644 data -- Examining data
1645 files -- Specifying and examining files
1646 internals -- Maintenance commands
1647 obscure -- Obscure features
1648 running -- Running the program
1649 stack -- Examining the stack
1650 status -- Status inquiries
1651 support -- Support facilities
1652 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1653 stopping the program
1654 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1655
1656 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1657 commands in that class.
1658 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1659 documentation.
1660 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1661 (@value{GDBP})
1662 @end smallexample
1663 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1664
1665 @item help @var{class}
1666 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1667 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1668 help display for the class @code{status}:
1669
1670 @smallexample
1671 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1672 Status inquiries.
1673
1674 List of commands:
1675
1676 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1677 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1678 info -- Generic command for showing things
1679 about the program being debugged
1680 show -- Generic command for showing things
1681 about the debugger
1682
1683 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1684 documentation.
1685 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1686 (@value{GDBP})
1687 @end smallexample
1688
1689 @item help @var{command}
1690 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1691 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1692
1693 @kindex apropos
1694 @item apropos @var{args}
1695 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1696 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1697 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1698
1699 @smallexample
1700 apropos reload
1701 @end smallexample
1702
1703 @noindent
1704 results in:
1705
1706 @smallexample
1707 @c @group
1708 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1709 multiple times in one run
1710 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1711 multiple times in one run
1712 @c @end group
1713 @end smallexample
1714
1715 @kindex complete
1716 @item complete @var{args}
1717 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1718 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1719 command you want completed. For example:
1720
1721 @smallexample
1722 complete i
1723 @end smallexample
1724
1725 @noindent results in:
1726
1727 @smallexample
1728 @group
1729 if
1730 ignore
1731 info
1732 inspect
1733 @end group
1734 @end smallexample
1735
1736 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1737 @end table
1738
1739 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1740 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1741 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1742 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1743 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1744 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1745
1746 @c @group
1747 @table @code
1748 @kindex info
1749 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1750 @item info
1751 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1752 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1753 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1754 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1755 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1756 @w{@code{help info}}.
1757
1758 @kindex set
1759 @item set
1760 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1761 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1762 @code{set prompt $}.
1763
1764 @kindex show
1765 @item show
1766 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1767 @value{GDBN} itself.
1768 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1769 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1770 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1771 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1772
1773 @kindex info set
1774 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1775 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1776 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1777 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1778 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1779 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1780 @end table
1781 @c @end group
1782
1783 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1784 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1785
1786 @table @code
1787 @kindex show version
1788 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1789 @item show version
1790 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1791 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1792 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1793 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1794 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1795 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1796 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1797 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1798 @value{GDBN}.
1799
1800 @kindex show copying
1801 @kindex info copying
1802 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1803 @item show copying
1804 @itemx info copying
1805 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1806
1807 @kindex show warranty
1808 @kindex info warranty
1809 @item show warranty
1810 @itemx info warranty
1811 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1812 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1813
1814 @end table
1815
1816 @node Running
1817 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1818
1819 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1820 debugging information when you compile it.
1821
1822 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1823 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1824 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1825 kill a child process.
1826
1827 @menu
1828 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1829 * Starting:: Starting your program
1830 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1831 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1832
1833 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1834 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1835 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1836 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1837
1838 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1839 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1840 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1841 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1842 @end menu
1843
1844 @node Compilation
1845 @section Compiling for Debugging
1846
1847 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1848 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1849 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1850 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1851 and addresses in the executable code.
1852
1853 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1854 the compiler.
1855
1856 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1857 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1858 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1859 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1860 executables containing debugging information.
1861
1862 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1863 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1864 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1865 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1866 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1867
1868 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1869 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1870 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1871
1872 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1873 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1874 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1875 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1876 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1877 provides macro information if you specify the options
1878 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1879 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1880 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1881 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1882 @option{-g} alone.
1883
1884 @need 2000
1885 @node Starting
1886 @section Starting your Program
1887 @cindex starting
1888 @cindex running
1889
1890 @table @code
1891 @kindex run
1892 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1893 @item run
1894 @itemx r
1895 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1896 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1897 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1898 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1899 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1900
1901 @end table
1902
1903 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1904 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1905 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1906 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1907 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1908 message like this one:
1909
1910 @smallexample
1911 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1912 Try "help target" or "continue".
1913 @end smallexample
1914
1915 @noindent
1916 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1917 first (@pxref{load}).
1918
1919 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1920 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1921 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1922 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1923 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1924 divided into four categories:
1925
1926 @table @asis
1927 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1928 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1929 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1930 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1931 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1932 the arguments.
1933 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1934 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1935 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1936
1937 @item The @emph{environment.}
1938 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1939 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1940 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1941 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1942
1943 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1944 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1945 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1946 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1947
1948 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1949 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1950 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1951 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1952 set a different device for your program.
1953 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1954
1955 @cindex pipes
1956 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1957 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1958 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1959 wrong program.
1960 @end table
1961
1962 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1963 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1964 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1965 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1966 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1967
1968 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1969 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1970 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1971 your current breakpoints.
1972
1973 @table @code
1974 @kindex start
1975 @item start
1976 @cindex run to main procedure
1977 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1978 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1979 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1980 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1981 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1982 procedure, depending on the language used.
1983
1984 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1985 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1986 the @samp{run} command.
1987
1988 @cindex elaboration phase
1989 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1990 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1991 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1992 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1993 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1994 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1995 will remain to halt execution.
1996
1997 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1998 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1999 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2000 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2001 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2002
2003 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2004 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2005 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2006 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2007 elaboration code before running your program.
2008
2009 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2010 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2011 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2012 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2013 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2014 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2015 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2016 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2017 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2018 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2019 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2020
2021 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2022 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2023 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2024 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2025
2026 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2027 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2028 environment:
2029
2030 @smallexample
2031 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2032 (@value{GDBP}) run
2033 @end smallexample
2034
2035 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2036 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2037
2038 @kindex set disable-randomization
2039 @item set disable-randomization
2040 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2041 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2042 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2043 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2044 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2045
2046 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2047 behavior using
2048
2049 @smallexample
2050 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2051 @end smallexample
2052
2053 @item set disable-randomization off
2054 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2055 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2056 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2057 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2058 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2059 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2060
2061 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2062 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2063 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2064 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2065 a code at its expected addresses.
2066
2067 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2068 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2069 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2070 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2071 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2072 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2073 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2074 a randomly chosen address.
2075
2076 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2077 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2078 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2079 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2080 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2081
2082 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2083 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2084
2085 @item show disable-randomization
2086 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2087 the virtual address space of the started program.
2088
2089 @end table
2090
2091 @node Arguments
2092 @section Your Program's Arguments
2093
2094 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2095 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2096 @code{run} command.
2097 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2098 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2099 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2100 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2101 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2102
2103 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2104 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2105 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2106 the program, not by the shell.
2107
2108 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2109 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2110
2111 @table @code
2112 @kindex set args
2113 @item set args
2114 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2115 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2116 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2117 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2118 it again without arguments.
2119
2120 @kindex show args
2121 @item show args
2122 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2123 @end table
2124
2125 @node Environment
2126 @section Your Program's Environment
2127
2128 @cindex environment (of your program)
2129 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2130 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2131 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2132 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2133 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2134 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2135 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2136
2137 @table @code
2138 @kindex path
2139 @item path @var{directory}
2140 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2141 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2142 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2143 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2144 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2145 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2146 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2147
2148 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2149 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2150 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2151 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2152 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2153 @var{directory} to the search path.
2154 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2155 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2156
2157 @kindex show paths
2158 @item show paths
2159 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2160 environment variable).
2161
2162 @kindex show environment
2163 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2164 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2165 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2166 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2167 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2168
2169 @kindex set environment
2170 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2171 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2172 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2173 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2174 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2175 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2176 null value.
2177 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2178 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2179
2180 For example, this command:
2181
2182 @smallexample
2183 set env USER = foo
2184 @end smallexample
2185
2186 @noindent
2187 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2188 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2189 are not actually required.)
2190
2191 @kindex unset environment
2192 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2193 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2194 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2195 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2196 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2197 @end table
2198
2199 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2200 the shell indicated
2201 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2202 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2203 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2204 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2205 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2206 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2207 @file{.profile}.
2208
2209 @node Working Directory
2210 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2211
2212 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2213 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2214 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2215 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2216 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2217 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2218
2219 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2220 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2221 Specify Files}.
2222
2223 @table @code
2224 @kindex cd
2225 @cindex change working directory
2226 @item cd @var{directory}
2227 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2228
2229 @kindex pwd
2230 @item pwd
2231 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2232 @end table
2233
2234 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2235 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2236 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2237 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2238 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2239 current working directory of the debuggee.
2240
2241 @node Input/Output
2242 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2243
2244 @cindex redirection
2245 @cindex i/o
2246 @cindex terminal
2247 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2248 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2249 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2250 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2251 running your program.
2252
2253 @table @code
2254 @kindex info terminal
2255 @item info terminal
2256 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2257 program is using.
2258 @end table
2259
2260 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2261 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2262
2263 @smallexample
2264 run > outfile
2265 @end smallexample
2266
2267 @noindent
2268 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2269
2270 @kindex tty
2271 @cindex controlling terminal
2272 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2273 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2274 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2275 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2276 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2277
2278 @smallexample
2279 tty /dev/ttyb
2280 @end smallexample
2281
2282 @noindent
2283 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2284 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2285 that as their controlling terminal.
2286
2287 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2288 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2289 terminal.
2290
2291 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2292 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2293 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2294 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2295
2296 @cindex inferior tty
2297 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2298 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2299 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2300 program.
2301
2302 @table @code
2303 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2304 @kindex set inferior-tty
2305 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2306
2307 @item show inferior-tty
2308 @kindex show inferior-tty
2309 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2310 @end table
2311
2312 @node Attach
2313 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2314 @kindex attach
2315 @cindex attach
2316
2317 @table @code
2318 @item attach @var{process-id}
2319 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2320 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2321 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2322 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2323 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2324
2325 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2326 executing the command.
2327 @end table
2328
2329 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2330 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2331 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2332 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2333
2334 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2335 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2336 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2337 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2338 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2339 Specify Files}.
2340
2341 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2342 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2343 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2344 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2345 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2346 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2347 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2348
2349 @table @code
2350 @kindex detach
2351 @item detach
2352 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2353 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2354 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2355 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2356 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2357 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2358 executing the command.
2359 @end table
2360
2361 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2362 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2363 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2364 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2365 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2366 Messages}).
2367
2368 @node Kill Process
2369 @section Killing the Child Process
2370
2371 @table @code
2372 @kindex kill
2373 @item kill
2374 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2375 @end table
2376
2377 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2378 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2379 is running.
2380
2381 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2382 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2383 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2384 outside the debugger.
2385
2386 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2387 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2388 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2389 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2390 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2391 breakpoint settings).
2392
2393 @node Inferiors and Programs
2394 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2395
2396 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2397 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2398 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2399 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2400 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2401 from multiple executables.
2402
2403 @cindex inferior
2404 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2405 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2406 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2407 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2408 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2409 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2410 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2411 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2412 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2413 threads running in it.
2414
2415 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2416 inferiors}}:
2417
2418 @table @code
2419 @kindex info inferiors
2420 @item info inferiors
2421 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2422
2423 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2424
2425 @enumerate
2426 @item
2427 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2428
2429 @item
2430 the target system's inferior identifier
2431
2432 @item
2433 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2434
2435 @end enumerate
2436
2437 @noindent
2438 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2439 indicates the current inferior.
2440
2441 For example,
2442 @end table
2443 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2444
2445 @smallexample
2446 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2447 Num Description Executable
2448 2 process 2307 hello
2449 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2450 @end smallexample
2451
2452 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2453
2454 @table @code
2455 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2456 @item inferior @var{infno}
2457 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2458 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2459 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2460 @end table
2461
2462
2463 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2464 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2465 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2466 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2467 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2468 @w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2469
2470 @table @code
2471 @kindex add-inferior
2472 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2473 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2474 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2475 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2476 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2477 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2478
2479 @kindex clone-inferior
2480 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2481 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2482 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2483 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2484 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2485
2486 @smallexample
2487 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2488 Num Description Executable
2489 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2490 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2491 Added inferior 2.
2492 1 inferiors added.
2493 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2494 Num Description Executable
2495 2 <null> helloworld
2496 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2497 @end smallexample
2498
2499 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2500
2501 @kindex remove-inferior
2502 @item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2503 Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2504 inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2505 @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2506
2507 @end table
2508
2509 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2510 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2511 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2512 using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2513
2514 @table @code
2515 @kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2516 @item detach inferior @var{infno}
2517 Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2518 @var{infno}. Note that the inferior's entry still stays on the list
2519 of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its Description will
2520 show @samp{<null>}.
2521
2522 @kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2523 @item kill inferior @var{infno}
2524 Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2525 @var{infno}. Note that the inferior's entry still stays on the list
2526 of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its Description will
2527 show @samp{<null>}.
2528 @end table
2529
2530 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2531 @code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2532 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2533 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2534
2535
2536 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2537 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2538
2539 @table @code
2540 @kindex set print inferior-events
2541 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2542 @item set print inferior-events
2543 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2544 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2545 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2546 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2547 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2548 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2549
2550 @kindex show print inferior-events
2551 @item show print inferior-events
2552 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2553 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2554 @end table
2555
2556 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2557 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2558 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2559
2560
2561 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2562 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2563 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2564 info program-spaces}} command.
2565
2566 @table @code
2567 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2568 @item maint info program-spaces
2569 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2570 @value{GDBN}.
2571
2572 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2573
2574 @enumerate
2575 @item
2576 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2577
2578 @item
2579 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2580 the @code{file} command.
2581
2582 @end enumerate
2583
2584 @noindent
2585 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2586 indicates the current program space.
2587
2588 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2589 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2590 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2591
2592 @smallexample
2593 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2594 Id Executable
2595 2 goodbye
2596 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2597 * 1 hello
2598 @end smallexample
2599
2600 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2601 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2602 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2603 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2604 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2605
2606 @smallexample
2607 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2608 Id Executable
2609 * 1 vfork-test
2610 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2611 @end smallexample
2612
2613 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2614 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2615 @end table
2616
2617 @node Threads
2618 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2619
2620 @cindex threads of execution
2621 @cindex multiple threads
2622 @cindex switching threads
2623 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2624 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2625 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2626 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2627 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2628 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2629 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2630
2631 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2632 programs:
2633
2634 @itemize @bullet
2635 @item automatic notification of new threads
2636 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2637 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2638 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2639 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2640 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2641 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2642 messages on thread start and exit.
2643 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2644 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2645 isn't compatible with the program.
2646 @end itemize
2647
2648 @quotation
2649 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2650 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2651 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2652 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2653 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2654 like this:
2655
2656 @smallexample
2657 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2658 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2659 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2660 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2661 @end smallexample
2662 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2663 @c doesn't support threads"?
2664 @end quotation
2665
2666 @cindex focus of debugging
2667 @cindex current thread
2668 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2669 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2670 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2671 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2672 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2673
2674 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2675 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2676 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2677 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2678 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2679 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2680 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2681 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2682 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2683 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2684
2685 @smallexample
2686 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2687 @end smallexample
2688
2689 @noindent
2690 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2691 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2692 further qualifier.
2693
2694 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2695 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2696 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2697 @c program?
2698 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2699 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2700 @c threads ab initio?
2701
2702 @cindex thread number
2703 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2704 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2705 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2706
2707 @table @code
2708 @kindex info threads
2709 @item info threads
2710 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2711 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2712
2713 @enumerate
2714 @item
2715 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2716
2717 @item
2718 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2719
2720 @item
2721 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2722 @end enumerate
2723
2724 @noindent
2725 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2726 indicates the current thread.
2727
2728 For example,
2729 @end table
2730 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2731
2732 @smallexample
2733 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2734 Id Target Id Frame
2735 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2736 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2737 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2738 at threadtest.c:68
2739 @end smallexample
2740
2741 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2742 Solaris-specific command:
2743
2744 @table @code
2745 @item maint info sol-threads
2746 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2747 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2748 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2749 @end table
2750
2751 @table @code
2752 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2753 @item thread @var{threadno}
2754 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2755 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2756 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2757 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2758 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2759
2760 @smallexample
2761 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2762 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2763 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2764 8 printf ("hello\n");
2765 @end smallexample
2766
2767 @noindent
2768 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2769 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2770 threads.
2771
2772 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2773 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2774 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2775 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2776 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2777 information on convenience variables.
2778
2779 @kindex thread apply
2780 @cindex apply command to several threads
2781 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2782 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2783 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2784 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2785 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2786 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2787 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2788 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2789
2790 @kindex set print thread-events
2791 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2792 @item set print thread-events
2793 @itemx set print thread-events on
2794 @itemx set print thread-events off
2795 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2796 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2797 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2798 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2799 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2800
2801 @kindex show print thread-events
2802 @item show print thread-events
2803 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2804 have started and exited.
2805 @end table
2806
2807 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2808 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2809 programs with multiple threads.
2810
2811 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2812 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2813
2814 @table @code
2815 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2816 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2817 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2818 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2819 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2820 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2821 an empty list.
2822
2823 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2824 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2825 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2826 to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2827 with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2828 from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2829
2830 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2831 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2832 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2833 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2834 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2835 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2836 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2837
2838 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2839 only on some platforms.
2840
2841 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2842 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2843 Display current libthread_db search path.
2844
2845 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2846 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2847 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2848 @item set debug libthread-db
2849 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2850 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2851 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2852 @end table
2853
2854 @node Forks
2855 @section Debugging Forks
2856
2857 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2858 @cindex multiple processes
2859 @cindex processes, multiple
2860 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2861 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2862 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2863 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2864 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2865 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2866 will cause it to terminate.
2867
2868 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2869 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2870 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2871 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2872 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2873 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2874 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2875 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2876 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2877 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2878
2879 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2880 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2881 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2882 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2883
2884 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2885 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2886
2887 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2888 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2889
2890 @table @code
2891 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2892 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2893 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2894 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2895 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2896
2897 @table @code
2898 @item parent
2899 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2900 unimpeded. This is the default.
2901
2902 @item child
2903 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2904 unimpeded.
2905
2906 @end table
2907
2908 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2909 @item show follow-fork-mode
2910 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2911 @end table
2912
2913 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2914 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2915 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2916
2917 @table @code
2918 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2919 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2920 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2921 retain debugger control over them both.
2922
2923 @table @code
2924 @item on
2925 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2926 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2927 independently. This is the default.
2928
2929 @item off
2930 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2931 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2932 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2933 is held suspended.
2934
2935 @end table
2936
2937 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2938 @item show detach-on-fork
2939 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2940 @end table
2941
2942 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2943 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2944 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2945 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2946 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2947 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2948
2949 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2950 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2951 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2952 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2953 and Programs}.
2954
2955 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2956 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2957 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2958 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2959 the child process's @code{main}.
2960
2961 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2962 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2963
2964 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2965 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2966 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2967 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2968 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2969 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2970 command.
2971
2972 @table @code
2973 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
2974 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2975
2976 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
2977 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
2978
2979 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
2980
2981 @table @code
2982 @item new
2983 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
2984 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
2985 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
2986 original inferior.
2987
2988 For example:
2989
2990 @smallexample
2991 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2992 (gdb) info inferior
2993 Id Description Executable
2994 * 1 <null> prog1
2995 (@value{GDBP}) run
2996 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
2997 Program exited normally.
2998 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2999 Id Description Executable
3000 * 2 <null> prog2
3001 1 <null> prog1
3002 @end smallexample
3003
3004 @item same
3005 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3006 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3007 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3008 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3009 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3010
3011 For example:
3012
3013 @smallexample
3014 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3015 Id Description Executable
3016 * 1 <null> prog1
3017 (@value{GDBP}) run
3018 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3019 Program exited normally.
3020 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3021 Id Description Executable
3022 * 1 <null> prog2
3023 @end smallexample
3024
3025 @end table
3026 @end table
3027
3028 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3029 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3030 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3031
3032 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3033 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3034
3035 @cindex checkpoint
3036 @cindex restart
3037 @cindex bookmark
3038 @cindex snapshot of a process
3039 @cindex rewind program state
3040
3041 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3042 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3043 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3044 later.
3045
3046 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3047 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3048 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3049 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3050 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3051
3052 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3053 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3054 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3055 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3056 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3057 start again from there.
3058
3059 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3060 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3061
3062 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3063
3064 @table @code
3065 @kindex checkpoint
3066 @item checkpoint
3067 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3068 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3069 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3070
3071 @kindex info checkpoints
3072 @item info checkpoints
3073 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3074 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3075 listed:
3076
3077 @table @code
3078 @item Checkpoint ID
3079 @item Process ID
3080 @item Code Address
3081 @item Source line, or label
3082 @end table
3083
3084 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3085 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3086 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3087 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3088 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3089 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3090 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3091
3092 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3093 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3094 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3095 the debugger.
3096
3097 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3098 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3099 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3100
3101 @end table
3102
3103 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3104 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3105 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3106 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3107 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3108 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3109 previously read data can be read again.
3110
3111 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3112 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3113 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3114 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3115 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3116 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3117
3118 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3119 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3120 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3121 different execution path this time.
3122
3123 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3124 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3125 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3126 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3127 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3128 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3129 potentially pose a problem.
3130
3131 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3132
3133 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3134 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3135 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3136 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3137 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3138 next.
3139
3140 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3141 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3142 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3143 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3144 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3145
3146 @node Stopping
3147 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3148
3149 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3150 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3151 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3152
3153 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3154 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3155 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3156 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3157 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3158 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3159 explicitly request this information at any time.
3160
3161 @table @code
3162 @kindex info program
3163 @item info program
3164 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3165 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3166 @end table
3167
3168 @menu
3169 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3170 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3171 * Signals:: Signals
3172 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3173 @end menu
3174
3175 @node Breakpoints
3176 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3177
3178 @cindex breakpoints
3179 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3180 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3181 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3182 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3183 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3184 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3185 program.
3186
3187 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3188 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3189 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3190 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3191 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3192 call).
3193
3194 @cindex watchpoints
3195 @cindex data breakpoints
3196 @cindex memory tracing
3197 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3198 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3199 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3200 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3201 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3202 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3203 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3204 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3205 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3206 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3207 same commands.
3208
3209 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3210 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3211 Automatic Display}.
3212
3213 @cindex catchpoints
3214 @cindex breakpoint on events
3215 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3216 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3217 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3218 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3219 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3220 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3221 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3222
3223 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3224 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3225 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3226 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3227 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3228 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3229 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3230 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3231 enable it again.
3232
3233 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3234 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3235 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3236 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3237 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3238 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3239 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3240
3241 @menu
3242 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3243 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3244 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3245 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3246 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3247 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3248 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3249 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3250 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3251 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3252 @end menu
3253
3254 @node Set Breaks
3255 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3256
3257 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3258 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3259 @c
3260 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3261
3262 @kindex break
3263 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3264 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3265 @cindex latest breakpoint
3266 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3267 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3268 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3269 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3270 convenience variables.
3271
3272 @table @code
3273 @item break @var{location}
3274 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3275 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3276 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3277 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3278 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3279
3280 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3281 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3282 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3283 that situation.
3284
3285 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3286 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3287 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3288
3289 @item break
3290 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3291 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3292 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3293 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3294 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3295 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3296 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3297 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3298 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3299 inside loops.
3300
3301 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3302 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3303 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3304 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3305 existed when your program stopped.
3306
3307 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3308 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3309 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3310 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3311 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3312 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3313 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3314
3315 @kindex tbreak
3316 @item tbreak @var{args}
3317 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3318 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3319 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3320 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3321
3322 @kindex hbreak
3323 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3324 @item hbreak @var{args}
3325 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3326 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3327 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3328 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3329 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3330 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3331 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3332 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3333 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3334 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3335 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3336 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3337 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3338 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3339 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3340 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3341 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3342 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3343
3344 @kindex thbreak
3345 @item thbreak @var{args}
3346 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3347 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3348 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3349 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3350 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3351 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3352 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3353 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3354
3355 @kindex rbreak
3356 @cindex regular expression
3357 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3358 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3359 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3360 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3361 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3362 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3363 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3364 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3365 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3366
3367 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3368 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3369 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3370 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3371 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3372 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3373
3374 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3375 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3376 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3377 classes.
3378
3379 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3380 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3381 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3382
3383 @smallexample
3384 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3385 @end smallexample
3386
3387 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3388 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3389 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3390 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3391 every function in a given file:
3392
3393 @smallexample
3394 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3395 @end smallexample
3396
3397 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3398 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3399
3400 @kindex info breakpoints
3401 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3402 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3403 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3404 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3405 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3406 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3407 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3408
3409 @table @emph
3410 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3411 @item Type
3412 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3413 @item Disposition
3414 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3415 @item Enabled or Disabled
3416 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3417 that are not enabled.
3418 @item Address
3419 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3420 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3421 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3422 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3423 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3424 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3425 @item What
3426 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3427 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3428 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3429 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3430 @end table
3431
3432 @noindent
3433 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3434 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3435 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3436 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3437 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3438 valid location.
3439
3440 @noindent
3441 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3442 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3443 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3444 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3445 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3446
3447 @noindent
3448 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3449 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3450 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3451 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3452 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3453 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3454 @end table
3455
3456 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3457 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3458 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3459 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3460
3461 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3462 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3463 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3464 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3465
3466 @itemize @bullet
3467 @item
3468 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3469 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3470
3471 @item
3472 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3473 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3474
3475 @item
3476 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3477 several places where that function is inlined.
3478 @end itemize
3479
3480 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3481 the relevant locations@footnote{
3482 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3483 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3484 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3485 info with line numbers for them.}.
3486
3487 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3488 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3489 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3490 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3491 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3492 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3493 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3494
3495 For example:
3496
3497 @smallexample
3498 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3499 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3500 stop only if i==1
3501 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3502 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3503 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3504 @end smallexample
3505
3506 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3507 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3508 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3509 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3510 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3511 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3512 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3513 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3514 that belong to that breakpoint.
3515
3516 @cindex pending breakpoints
3517 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3518 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3519 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3520 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3521 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3522 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3523 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3524 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3525 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3526 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3527 is not yet resolved.
3528
3529 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3530 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3531 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3532 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3533 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3534 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3535
3536 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3537 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3538 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3539 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3540
3541 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3542 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3543 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3544
3545 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3546 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3547 address specification to an address:
3548
3549 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3550 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3551 @table @code
3552 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3553 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3554 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3555
3556 @item set breakpoint pending on
3557 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3558 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3559
3560 @item set breakpoint pending off
3561 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3562 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3563 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3564
3565 @item show breakpoint pending
3566 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3567 @end table
3568
3569 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3570 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3571 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3572
3573 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3574 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3575 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3576 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3577 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3578 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3579 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3580 breakpoints.
3581
3582 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3583
3584 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3585 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3586 @table @code
3587 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3588 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3589 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3590 breakpoint must be used.
3591
3592 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3593 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3594 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3595 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3596 @end table
3597
3598 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3599 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3600 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3601 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3602 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3603 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3604 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3605 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3606 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3607
3608 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3609 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3610 @table @code
3611 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3612 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3613 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3614 removed from the target when it stops.
3615
3616 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3617 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3618 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3619 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3620 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3621
3622 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3623 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3624 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3625 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3626 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3627 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3628 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3629 @end table
3630
3631 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3632 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3633 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3634 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3635 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3636 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3637 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3638 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3639
3640
3641 @node Set Watchpoints
3642 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3643
3644 @cindex setting watchpoints
3645 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3646 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3647 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3648 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3649 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3650
3651 @itemize @bullet
3652 @item
3653 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3654
3655 @item
3656 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3657 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3658 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3659
3660 @item
3661 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3662 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3663 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3664 @end itemize
3665
3666 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3667 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3668 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3669 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3670 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3671 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3672 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3673 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3674 the expression changes.
3675
3676 @cindex software watchpoints
3677 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3678 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3679 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3680 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3681 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3682 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3683 culprit.)
3684
3685 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3686 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3687 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3688
3689 @table @code
3690 @kindex watch
3691 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3692 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3693 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3694 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3695 to watch the value of a single variable:
3696
3697 @smallexample
3698 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3699 @end smallexample
3700
3701 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3702 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3703 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3704 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3705 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3706 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3707
3708 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3709 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3710 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3711 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3712 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3713 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3714 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3715 error.
3716
3717 @kindex rwatch
3718 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3719 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3720 by the program.
3721
3722 @kindex awatch
3723 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3724 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3725 or written into by the program.
3726
3727 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3728 @item info watchpoints
3729 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3730 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3731 @end table
3732
3733 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3734 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3735 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3736 a never-changing value:
3737
3738 @smallexample
3739 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3740 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3741 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3742 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3743 @end smallexample
3744
3745 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3746 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3747 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3748 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3749 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3750 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3751
3752 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3753 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3754 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3755 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3756 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3757 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3758 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3759 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3760
3761 @table @code
3762 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3763 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3764 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3765
3766 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3767 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3768 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3769 @end table
3770
3771 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3772 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3773 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3774
3775 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3776
3777 @smallexample
3778 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3779 @end smallexample
3780
3781 @noindent
3782 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3783
3784 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3785 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3786 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3787 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3788 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3789 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3790 will print a message like this:
3791
3792 @smallexample
3793 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3794 @end smallexample
3795
3796 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3797 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3798 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3799 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3800 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3801 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3802 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3803 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3804
3805 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3806 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3807 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3808 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3809 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3810 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3811
3812 @smallexample
3813 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3814 @end smallexample
3815
3816 @noindent
3817 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3818
3819 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3820 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3821 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3822 expression with separately allocated resources.
3823
3824 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3825 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3826 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3827
3828 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3829 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3830 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3831 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3832 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3833 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3834 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3835 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3836 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3837
3838 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3839 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3840 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3841 watched expression from every thread.
3842
3843 @quotation
3844 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3845 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3846 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3847 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3848 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3849 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3850 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3851 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3852 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3853 @end quotation
3854
3855 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3856
3857 @node Set Catchpoints
3858 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3859 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3860 @cindex exception handlers
3861 @cindex event handling
3862
3863 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3864 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3865 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3866
3867 @table @code
3868 @kindex catch
3869 @item catch @var{event}
3870 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3871 @table @code
3872 @item throw
3873 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3874 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3875
3876 @item catch
3877 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3878
3879 @item exception
3880 @cindex Ada exception catching
3881 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3882 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3883 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3884 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3885 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3886
3887 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3888 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3889 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3890 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3891 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3892 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3893 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3894 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3895
3896 @item exception unhandled
3897 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3898
3899 @item assert
3900 A failed Ada assertion.
3901
3902 @item exec
3903 @cindex break on fork/exec
3904 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3905 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3906
3907 @item syscall
3908 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3909 @cindex break on a system call.
3910 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3911 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3912 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3913 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3914 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3915 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3916 will be caught.
3917
3918 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3919 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3920 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3921 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3922
3923 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3924 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3925 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3926 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3927
3928 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3929 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3930 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3931 available choices.
3932
3933 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3934 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3935 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3936 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3937 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3938 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3939 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3940 behind the OS upgrades).
3941
3942 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3943 arguments to it:
3944
3945 @smallexample
3946 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3947 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3948 (@value{GDBP}) r
3949 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3950
3951 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3952 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3953 (@value{GDBP}) c
3954 Continuing.
3955
3956 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3957 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3958 (@value{GDBP})
3959 @end smallexample
3960
3961 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3962
3963 @smallexample
3964 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3965 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3966 (@value{GDBP}) r
3967 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3968
3969 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3970 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3971 (@value{GDBP}) c
3972 Continuing.
3973
3974 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3975 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3976 (@value{GDBP})
3977 @end smallexample
3978
3979 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3980 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3981 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
3982
3983 @smallexample
3984 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3985 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
3986 (@value{GDBP}) r
3987 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3988
3989 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
3990 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3991 (@value{GDBP}) c
3992 Continuing.
3993
3994 Program exited normally.
3995 (@value{GDBP})
3996 @end smallexample
3997
3998 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
3999 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4000 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4001 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4002
4003 @smallexample
4004 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4005 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4006 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4007 (@value{GDBP})
4008 @end smallexample
4009
4010 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4011 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4012 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4013 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4014 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4015 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4016
4017 @smallexample
4018 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4019 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4020 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4021 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4022 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4023 (@value{GDBP})
4024 @end smallexample
4025
4026 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4027
4028 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4029 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4030
4031 @smallexample
4032 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4033 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4034 @end smallexample
4035
4036 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4037
4038 @item fork
4039 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4040 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4041
4042 @item vfork
4043 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4044 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4045
4046 @end table
4047
4048 @item tcatch @var{event}
4049 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4050 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4051
4052 @end table
4053
4054 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4055
4056 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4057 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4058
4059 @itemize @bullet
4060 @item
4061 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4062 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4063 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4064 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4065 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4066 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4067 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4068 disabled within interactive calls.
4069
4070 @item
4071 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4072
4073 @item
4074 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4075 @end itemize
4076
4077 @cindex raise exceptions
4078 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4079 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4080 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4081 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4082 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4083 out where the exception was raised.
4084
4085 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4086 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4087 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4088 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4089
4090 @smallexample
4091 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4092 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4093 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4094 @end smallexample
4095
4096 @noindent
4097 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4098 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4099 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4100
4101 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4102 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4103 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4104 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4105 raised.
4106
4107
4108 @node Delete Breaks
4109 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4110
4111 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4112 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4113 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4114 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4115 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4116 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4117
4118 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4119 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4120 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4121 their breakpoint numbers.
4122
4123 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4124 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4125 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4126
4127 @table @code
4128 @kindex clear
4129 @item clear
4130 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4131 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4132 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4133 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4134
4135 @item clear @var{location}
4136 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4137 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4138 most useful ones are listed below:
4139
4140 @table @code
4141 @item clear @var{function}
4142 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4143 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4144
4145 @item clear @var{linenum}
4146 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4147 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4148 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4149 @end table
4150
4151 @cindex delete breakpoints
4152 @kindex delete
4153 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4154 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4155 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4156 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4157 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4158 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4159 @end table
4160
4161 @node Disabling
4162 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4163
4164 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4165 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4166 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4167 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4168 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4169
4170 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4171 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4172 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4173 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4174 do not know which numbers to use.
4175
4176 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4177 affects all of its locations.
4178
4179 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4180 states of enablement:
4181
4182 @itemize @bullet
4183 @item
4184 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4185 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4186 @item
4187 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4188 @item
4189 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4190 disabled.
4191 @item
4192 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4193 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4194 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4195 @end itemize
4196
4197 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4198 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4199
4200 @table @code
4201 @kindex disable
4202 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4203 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4204 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4205 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4206 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4207 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4208 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4209
4210 @kindex enable
4211 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4212 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4213 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4214
4215 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4216 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4217 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4218
4219 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4220 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4221 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4222 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4223 @end table
4224
4225 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4226 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4227 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4228 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4229 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4230 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4231 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4232 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4233 Stepping}.)
4234
4235 @node Conditions
4236 @subsection Break Conditions
4237 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4238 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4239
4240 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4241 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4242 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4243 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4244 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4245 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4246 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4247 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4248
4249 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4250 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4251 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4252 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4253 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4254
4255 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4256 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4257 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4258 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4259 one.
4260
4261 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4262 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4263 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4264 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4265 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4266 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4267 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4268 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4269 conditions for the
4270 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4271 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4272
4273 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4274 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4275 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4276 with the @code{condition} command.
4277
4278 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4279 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4280 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4281 catchpoint.
4282
4283 @table @code
4284 @kindex condition
4285 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4286 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4287 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4288 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4289 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4290 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4291 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4292 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4293 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4294 prints an error message:
4295
4296 @smallexample
4297 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4298 @end smallexample
4299
4300 @noindent
4301 @value{GDBN} does
4302 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4303 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4304 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4305
4306 @item condition @var{bnum}
4307 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4308 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4309 @end table
4310
4311 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4312 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4313 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4314 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4315 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4316 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4317 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4318 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4319 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4320 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4321 your program reaches it.
4322
4323 @table @code
4324 @kindex ignore
4325 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4326 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4327 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4328 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4329 takes no action.
4330
4331 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4332 a count of zero.
4333
4334 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4335 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4336 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4337 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4338
4339 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4340 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4341 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4342
4343 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4344 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4345 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4346 Variables}.
4347 @end table
4348
4349 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4350
4351
4352 @node Break Commands
4353 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4354
4355 @cindex breakpoint commands
4356 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4357 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4358 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4359 enable other breakpoints.
4360
4361 @table @code
4362 @kindex commands
4363 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4364 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4365 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4366 @itemx end
4367 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4368 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4369 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4370
4371 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4372 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4373
4374 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4375 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4376 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4377 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4378 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4379 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4380 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4381 Expressions}).
4382 @end table
4383
4384 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4385 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4386
4387 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4388 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4389 that resumes execution.
4390
4391 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4392 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4393 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4394 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4395 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4396
4397 @kindex silent
4398 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4399 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4400 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4401 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4402 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4403 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4404
4405 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4406 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4407 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4408
4409 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4410 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4411
4412 @smallexample
4413 break foo if x>0
4414 commands
4415 silent
4416 printf "x is %d\n",x
4417 cont
4418 end
4419 @end smallexample
4420
4421 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4422 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4423 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4424 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4425 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4426 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4427 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4428
4429 @smallexample
4430 break 403
4431 commands
4432 silent
4433 set x = y + 4
4434 cont
4435 end
4436 @end smallexample
4437
4438 @node Save Breakpoints
4439 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4440
4441 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4442 breakpoints}} command.
4443
4444 @table @code
4445 @kindex save breakpoints
4446 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4447 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4448 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4449 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4450 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4451 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4452 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4453 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4454 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4455 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4456 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4457 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4458 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4459 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4460 that can no longer be recreated.
4461 @end table
4462
4463 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4464 @node Error in Breakpoints
4465 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4466
4467 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4468 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4469
4470 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4471 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4472 @smallexample
4473 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4474 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4475 @end smallexample
4476
4477 @noindent
4478 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4479 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4480 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4481
4482 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4483 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4484
4485 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4486 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4487 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4488
4489 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4490 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4491 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4492 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4493
4494 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4495 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4496 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4497 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4498 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4499 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4500 first in the bundle.
4501
4502 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4503 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4504 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4505 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4506 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4507 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4508 is hit.
4509
4510 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4511 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4512
4513 @smallexample
4514 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4515 @end smallexample
4516
4517 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4518 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4519 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4520 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4521 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4522 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4523 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4524 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4525
4526 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4527 adjusted breakpoints:
4528
4529 @smallexample
4530 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4531 to 0x00010410.
4532 @end smallexample
4533
4534 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4535 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4536 frequently than expected.
4537
4538 @node Continuing and Stepping
4539 @section Continuing and Stepping
4540
4541 @cindex stepping
4542 @cindex continuing
4543 @cindex resuming execution
4544 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4545 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4546 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4547 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4548 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4549 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4550 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4551 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4552
4553 @table @code
4554 @kindex continue
4555 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4556 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4557 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4558 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4559 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4560 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4561 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4562 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4563 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4564 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4565
4566 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4567 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4568 @code{continue} is ignored.
4569
4570 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4571 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4572 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4573 @code{continue}.
4574 @end table
4575
4576 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4577 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4578 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4579 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4580
4581 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4582 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4583 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4584 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4585 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4586 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4587
4588 @table @code
4589 @kindex step
4590 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4591 @item step
4592 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4593 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4594 abbreviated @code{s}.
4595
4596 @quotation
4597 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4598 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4599 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4600 @c distinction here.
4601 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4602 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4603 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4604 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4605 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4606 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4607 below.
4608 @end quotation
4609
4610 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4611 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4612 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4613 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4614 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4615 called within the line.
4616
4617 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4618 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4619 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4620 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4621 was any debugging information about the routine.
4622
4623 @item step @var{count}
4624 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4625 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4626 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4627
4628 @kindex next
4629 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4630 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4631 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4632 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4633 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4634 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4635 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4636 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4637
4638 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4639
4640
4641 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4642 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4643 @c
4644 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4645 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4646 @c function are executed without stopping.
4647
4648 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4649 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4650 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4651
4652 @kindex set step-mode
4653 @item set step-mode
4654 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4655 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4656 @itemx set step-mode on
4657 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4658 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4659 information rather than stepping over it.
4660
4661 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4662 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4663 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4664
4665 @item set step-mode off
4666 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4667 debug information. This is the default.
4668
4669 @item show step-mode
4670 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4671 source line debug information.
4672
4673 @kindex finish
4674 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4675 @item finish
4676 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4677 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4678 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4679
4680 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4681 ,Returning from a Function}).
4682
4683 @kindex until
4684 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4685 @cindex run until specified location
4686 @item until
4687 @itemx u
4688 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4689 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4690 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4691 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4692 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4693 than the address of the jump.
4694
4695 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4696 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4697 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4698 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4699 through the next iteration.
4700
4701 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4702 stack frame.
4703
4704 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4705 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4706 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4707 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4708 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4709
4710 @smallexample
4711 (@value{GDBP}) f
4712 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4713 206 expand_input();
4714 (@value{GDBP}) until
4715 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4716 @end smallexample
4717
4718 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4719 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4720 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4721 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4722 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4723 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4724 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4725
4726 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4727 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4728 argument.
4729
4730 @item until @var{location}
4731 @itemx u @var{location}
4732 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4733 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4734 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4735 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4736 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4737 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4738 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4739 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4740 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4741 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4742 invocations have returned.
4743
4744 @smallexample
4745 94 int factorial (int value)
4746 95 @{
4747 96 if (value > 1) @{
4748 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4749 98 @}
4750 99 return (value);
4751 100 @}
4752 @end smallexample
4753
4754
4755 @kindex advance @var{location}
4756 @itemx advance @var{location}
4757 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4758 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4759 @ref{Specify Location}.
4760 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4761 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4762 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4763 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4764
4765
4766 @kindex stepi
4767 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4768 @item stepi
4769 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4770 @itemx si
4771 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4772
4773 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4774 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4775 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4776 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4777
4778 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4779
4780 @need 750
4781 @kindex nexti
4782 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4783 @item nexti
4784 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4785 @itemx ni
4786 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4787 proceed until the function returns.
4788
4789 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4790 @end table
4791
4792 @node Signals
4793 @section Signals
4794 @cindex signals
4795
4796 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4797 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4798 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4799 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4800 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4801 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4802 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4803 requested an alarm).
4804
4805 @cindex fatal signals
4806 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4807 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4808 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4809 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4810 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4811 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4812
4813 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4814 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4815 signal.
4816
4817 @cindex handling signals
4818 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4819 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4820 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4821 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4822 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4823
4824 @table @code
4825 @kindex info signals
4826 @kindex info handle
4827 @item info signals
4828 @itemx info handle
4829 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4830 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4831 the defined types of signals.
4832
4833 @item info signals @var{sig}
4834 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4835
4836 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4837
4838 @kindex handle
4839 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4840 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4841 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4842 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4843 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4844 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4845 say what change to make.
4846 @end table
4847
4848 @c @group
4849 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4850 Their full names are:
4851
4852 @table @code
4853 @item nostop
4854 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4855 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4856
4857 @item stop
4858 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4859 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4860
4861 @item print
4862 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4863
4864 @item noprint
4865 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4866 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4867
4868 @item pass
4869 @itemx noignore
4870 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4871 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4872 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4873
4874 @item nopass
4875 @itemx ignore
4876 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4877 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4878 @end table
4879 @c @end group
4880
4881 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4882 program until you
4883 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4884 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4885 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4886 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4887 program sees that signal when you continue.
4888
4889 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4890 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4891 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4892 erroneous signals.
4893
4894 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4895 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4896 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4897 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4898 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4899 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4900 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4901 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4902 Program a Signal}.
4903
4904 @cindex extra signal information
4905 @anchor{extra signal information}
4906
4907 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4908 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4909 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4910 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4911 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4912 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4913 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4914 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4915 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4916 system header.
4917
4918 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4919 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4920
4921 @smallexample
4922 @group
4923 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4924 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4925 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4926 69 *(int *)p = 0;
4927 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4928 type = struct @{
4929 int si_signo;
4930 int si_errno;
4931 int si_code;
4932 union @{
4933 int _pad[28];
4934 struct @{...@} _kill;
4935 struct @{...@} _timer;
4936 struct @{...@} _rt;
4937 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4938 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4939 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4940 @} _sifields;
4941 @}
4942 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4943 type = struct @{
4944 void *si_addr;
4945 @}
4946 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4947 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4948 @end group
4949 @end smallexample
4950
4951 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4952
4953 @node Thread Stops
4954 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4955
4956 @cindex stopped threads
4957 @cindex threads, stopped
4958
4959 @cindex continuing threads
4960 @cindex threads, continuing
4961
4962 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4963 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4964 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4965 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4966 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4967 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4968 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4969 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4970 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4971
4972 @menu
4973 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4974 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4975 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4976 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4977 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4978 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
4979 @end menu
4980
4981 @node All-Stop Mode
4982 @subsection All-Stop Mode
4983
4984 @cindex all-stop mode
4985
4986 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4987 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4988 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4989 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4990 underfoot.
4991
4992 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4993 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4994 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4995
4996 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4997 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4998 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4999 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5000 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5001 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5002 stops.
5003
5004 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5005 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5006 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5007 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5008
5009 @cindex automatic thread selection
5010 @cindex switching threads automatically
5011 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5012 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5013 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5014 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5015 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5016 thread.
5017
5018 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5019 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5020
5021 @table @code
5022 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5023 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5024 @cindex lock scheduler
5025 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5026 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5027 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5028 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5029 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5030 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5031 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5032 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5033 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5034 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5035 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5036 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5037
5038 @item show scheduler-locking
5039 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5040 @end table
5041
5042 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5043 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5044 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5045 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5046 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5047 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5048 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5049 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5050 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5051 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5052 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5053 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5054 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5055 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5056
5057 @table @code
5058 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5059 @item set schedule-multiple
5060 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5061 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5062 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5063 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5064 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5065 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5066
5067 @item show schedule-multiple
5068 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5069 multiple processes.
5070 @end table
5071
5072 @node Non-Stop Mode
5073 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5074
5075 @cindex non-stop mode
5076
5077 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5078 @c with more details.
5079
5080 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5081 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5082 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5083 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5084 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5085 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5086
5087 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5088 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5089 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5090 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5091 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5092 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5093 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5094 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5095 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5096 independently and simultaneously.
5097
5098 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5099 or attach to your program:
5100
5101 @smallexample
5102 # Enable the async interface.
5103 set target-async 1
5104
5105 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5106 set pagination off
5107
5108 # Finally, turn it on!
5109 set non-stop on
5110 @end smallexample
5111
5112 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5113
5114 @table @code
5115 @kindex set non-stop
5116 @item set non-stop on
5117 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5118 @item set non-stop off
5119 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5120 @kindex show non-stop
5121 @item show non-stop
5122 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5123 @end table
5124
5125 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5126 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5127 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5128 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5129 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5130 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5131 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5132 default.
5133
5134 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5135 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5136 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5137
5138 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5139 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5140 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5141 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5142 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5143
5144 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5145 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5146 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5147 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5148 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5149
5150 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5151
5152 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5153 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5154 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5155 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5156 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5157 previously current thread.
5158
5159 @node Background Execution
5160 @subsection Background Execution
5161
5162 @cindex foreground execution
5163 @cindex background execution
5164 @cindex asynchronous execution
5165 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5166
5167 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5168 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5169 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5170 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5171 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5172 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5173
5174 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5175 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5176 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5177
5178 @table @code
5179 @kindex set target-async
5180 @item set target-async on
5181 Enable asynchronous mode.
5182 @item set target-async off
5183 Disable asynchronous mode.
5184 @kindex show target-async
5185 @item show target-async
5186 Show the current target-async setting.
5187 @end table
5188
5189 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5190 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5191
5192 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5193 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5194 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5195 are:
5196
5197 @table @code
5198 @kindex run&
5199 @item run
5200 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5201
5202 @item attach
5203 @kindex attach&
5204 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5205
5206 @item step
5207 @kindex step&
5208 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5209
5210 @item stepi
5211 @kindex stepi&
5212 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5213
5214 @item next
5215 @kindex next&
5216 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5217
5218 @item nexti
5219 @kindex nexti&
5220 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5221
5222 @item continue
5223 @kindex continue&
5224 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5225
5226 @item finish
5227 @kindex finish&
5228 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5229
5230 @item until
5231 @kindex until&
5232 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5233
5234 @end table
5235
5236 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5237 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5238 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5239 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5240 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5241 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5242
5243 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5244 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5245
5246 @table @code
5247 @kindex interrupt
5248 @item interrupt
5249 @itemx interrupt -a
5250
5251 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5252 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5253 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5254 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5255 @end table
5256
5257 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5258 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5259
5260 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5261 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5262 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5263
5264 @table @code
5265 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5266 @cindex thread breakpoints
5267 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5268 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5269 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5270 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5271 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5272 specify some source line.
5273
5274 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5275 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5276 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5277 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5278 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5279
5280 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5281 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5282 program.
5283
5284 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5285 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5286 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5287
5288 @smallexample
5289 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5290 @end smallexample
5291
5292 @end table
5293
5294 @node Interrupted System Calls
5295 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5296
5297 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5298 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5299 @cindex premature return from system calls
5300 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5301 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5302 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5303 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5304 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5305 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5306 stop execution.
5307
5308 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5309 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5310 style anyways.
5311
5312 For example, do not write code like this:
5313
5314 @smallexample
5315 sleep (10);
5316 @end smallexample
5317
5318 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5319 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5320
5321 Instead, write this:
5322
5323 @smallexample
5324 int unslept = 10;
5325 while (unslept > 0)
5326 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5327 @end smallexample
5328
5329 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5330 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5331 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5332 @value{GDBN}.
5333
5334 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5335 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5336 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5337 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5338
5339 @node Observer Mode
5340 @subsection Observer Mode
5341
5342 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5343 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5344 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5345 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5346 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5347
5348 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5349 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5350 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5351 mode.
5352
5353 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5354 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5355 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5356 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5357 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5358
5359 @table @code
5360
5361 @kindex observer
5362 @item set observer on
5363 @itemx set observer off
5364 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5365 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5366 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5367 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5368
5369 @item show observer
5370 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5371
5372 @kindex may-write-registers
5373 @item set may-write-registers on
5374 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5375 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5376 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5377 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5378
5379 @item show may-write-registers
5380 Show the current permission to write registers.
5381
5382 @kindex may-write-memory
5383 @item set may-write-memory on
5384 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5385 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5386 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5387 defaults to @code{on}.
5388
5389 @item show may-write-memory
5390 Show the current permission to write memory.
5391
5392 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5393 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5394 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5395 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5396 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5397 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5398
5399 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5400 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5401
5402 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5403 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5404 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5405 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5406 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5407 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5408 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5409
5410 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5411 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5412
5413 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5414 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5415 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5416 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5417 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5418 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5419 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5420
5421 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5422 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5423
5424 @kindex may-interrupt
5425 @item set may-interrupt on
5426 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5427 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5428 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5429 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5430 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5431
5432 @item show may-interrupt
5433 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5434
5435 @end table
5436
5437 @node Reverse Execution
5438 @chapter Running programs backward
5439 @cindex reverse execution
5440 @cindex running programs backward
5441
5442 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5443 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5444 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5445 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5446
5447 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5448 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5449 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5450 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5451 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5452 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5453
5454 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5455 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5456 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5457 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5458 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5459 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5460 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5461 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5462 prior values@footnote{
5463 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5464 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5465 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5466
5467 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5468 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5469 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5470 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5471 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5472 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5473 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5474 }.
5475
5476 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5477 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5478
5479 @table @code
5480 @kindex reverse-continue
5481 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5482 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5483 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5484 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5485 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5486 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5487 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5488
5489 @kindex reverse-step
5490 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5491 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5492 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5493 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5494
5495 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5496 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5497 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5498 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5499 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5500 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5501
5502 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5503 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5504
5505 @kindex reverse-stepi
5506 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5507 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5508 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5509 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5510 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5511 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5512 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5513
5514 @kindex reverse-next
5515 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5516 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5517 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5518 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5519 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5520 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5521 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5522 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5523 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5524 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5525
5526 @kindex reverse-nexti
5527 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5528 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5529 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5530 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5531 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5532 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5533 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5534 frame) is reached.
5535
5536 @kindex reverse-finish
5537 @item reverse-finish
5538 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5539 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5540 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5541 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5542
5543 @kindex set exec-direction
5544 @item set exec-direction
5545 Set the direction of target execution.
5546 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5547 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5548 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5549 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5550 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5551 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5552 @item set exec-direction forward
5553 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5554 This is the default.
5555 @end table
5556
5557
5558 @node Process Record and Replay
5559 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5560 @cindex process record and replay
5561 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5562
5563 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5564 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5565 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5566
5567 @cindex replay mode
5568 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5569 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5570 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5571 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5572 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5573 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5574 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5575 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5576 execution log.
5577
5578 @cindex record mode
5579 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5580 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5581 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5582 for future replay.
5583
5584 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5585 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5586 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5587 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5588 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5589 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5590
5591 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5592 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5593 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5594 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5595
5596 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5597 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5598
5599 @table @code
5600 @kindex target record
5601 @kindex record
5602 @kindex rec
5603 @item target record
5604 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5605 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5606 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5607 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5608 the @kbd{target record} command.
5609
5610 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5611
5612 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5613 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5614 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5615 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5616 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5617
5618 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5619 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5620 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5621 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5622 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5623 support these two modes.
5624
5625 @kindex record stop
5626 @kindex rec s
5627 @item record stop
5628 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5629 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5630 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5631
5632 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5633 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5634 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5635 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5636 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5637
5638 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5639 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5640 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5641 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5642 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5643
5644 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5645 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5646
5647 @kindex record save
5648 @item record save @var{filename}
5649 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5650 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5651 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5652
5653 @kindex record restore
5654 @item record restore @var{filename}
5655 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5656 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5657
5658 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5659 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5660 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5661
5662 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5663 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5664 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5665 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5666 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5667 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5668 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5669 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5670
5671 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5672 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5673 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5674
5675 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5676 @item show record insn-number-max
5677 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5678
5679 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5680 @item set record stop-at-limit
5681 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5682 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5683 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5684 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5685 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5686 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5687
5688 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5689 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5690
5691 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5692 @item show record stop-at-limit
5693 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5694
5695 @kindex set record memory-query
5696 @item set record memory-query
5697 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5698 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5699 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5700
5701 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5702 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5703 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5704 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5705 results.
5706
5707 @kindex show record memory-query
5708 @item show record memory-query
5709 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5710
5711 @kindex info record
5712 @item info record
5713 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5714 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5715
5716 @itemize @bullet
5717 @item
5718 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5719 @item
5720 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5721 @item
5722 Highest recorded instruction number.
5723 @item
5724 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5725 @item
5726 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5727 @item
5728 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5729 @end itemize
5730
5731 @kindex record delete
5732 @kindex rec del
5733 @item record delete
5734 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5735 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5736 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5737 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5738 @end table
5739
5740
5741 @node Stack
5742 @chapter Examining the Stack
5743
5744 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5745 stopped and how it got there.
5746
5747 @cindex call stack
5748 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5749 is generated.
5750 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5751 the arguments of the call,
5752 and the local variables of the function being called.
5753 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5754 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5755 stack}.
5756
5757 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5758 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5759
5760 @cindex selected frame
5761 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5762 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5763 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5764 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5765 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5766 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5767
5768 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5769 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5770 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5771
5772 @menu
5773 * Frames:: Stack frames
5774 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5775 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5776 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5777
5778 @end menu
5779
5780 @node Frames
5781 @section Stack Frames
5782
5783 @cindex frame, definition
5784 @cindex stack frame
5785 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5786 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5787 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5788 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5789 which the function is executing.
5790
5791 @cindex initial frame
5792 @cindex outermost frame
5793 @cindex innermost frame
5794 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5795 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5796 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5797 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5798 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5799 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5800 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5801 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5802
5803 @cindex frame pointer
5804 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5805 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5806 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5807 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5808 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5809 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5810
5811 @cindex frame number
5812 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5813 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5814 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5815 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5816 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5817
5818 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5819 @c underflow problems.
5820 @cindex frameless execution
5821 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5822 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5823 @smallexample
5824 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5825 @end smallexample
5826 generates functions without a frame.)
5827 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5828 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5829 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5830 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5831 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5832 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5833 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5834
5835 @table @code
5836 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5837 @cindex current stack frame
5838 @item frame @var{args}
5839 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5840 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5841 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5842 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5843
5844 @kindex select-frame
5845 @cindex selecting frame silently
5846 @item select-frame
5847 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5848 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5849 @code{frame}.
5850 @end table
5851
5852 @node Backtrace
5853 @section Backtraces
5854
5855 @cindex traceback
5856 @cindex call stack traces
5857 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5858 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5859 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5860 stack.
5861
5862 @table @code
5863 @kindex backtrace
5864 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5865 @item backtrace
5866 @itemx bt
5867 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5868 frames in the stack.
5869
5870 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5871 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5872
5873 @item backtrace @var{n}
5874 @itemx bt @var{n}
5875 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5876
5877 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5878 @itemx bt -@var{n}
5879 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5880
5881 @item backtrace full
5882 @itemx bt full
5883 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5884 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5885 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5886 number of frames to print, as described above.
5887 @end table
5888
5889 @kindex where
5890 @kindex info stack
5891 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5892 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5893
5894 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5895 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5896 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5897 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5898 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5899 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5900 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5901 multi-threaded program.
5902
5903 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5904 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5905 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5906 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5907 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5908 line number.
5909
5910 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5911 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5912
5913 @smallexample
5914 @group
5915 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5916 at builtin.c:993
5917 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5918 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5919 at macro.c:71
5920 (More stack frames follow...)
5921 @end group
5922 @end smallexample
5923
5924 @noindent
5925 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5926 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5927 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5928
5929 @noindent
5930 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5931 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5932 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5933 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5934 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5935
5936 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5937 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5938 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5939 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5940 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5941 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5942 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5943 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5944 such a backtrace might look like:
5945
5946 @smallexample
5947 @group
5948 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5949 at builtin.c:993
5950 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5951 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5952 at macro.c:71
5953 (More stack frames follow...)
5954 @end group
5955 @end smallexample
5956
5957 @noindent
5958 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5959 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5960
5961 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5962 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5963 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5964
5965 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5966 @cindex program entry point
5967 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5968 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5969 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5970 @code{main}@footnote{
5971 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5972 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5973 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5974 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5975 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5976 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5977
5978 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5979 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5980
5981 @table @code
5982 @item set backtrace past-main
5983 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
5984 @kindex set backtrace
5985 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5986
5987 @item set backtrace past-main off
5988 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5989 default.
5990
5991 @item show backtrace past-main
5992 @kindex show backtrace
5993 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5994
5995 @item set backtrace past-entry
5996 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5997 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5998 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5999 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6000
6001 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6002 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6003 application. This is the default.
6004
6005 @item show backtrace past-entry
6006 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6007
6008 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6009 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6010 @cindex backtrace limit
6011 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6012 unlimited.
6013
6014 @item show backtrace limit
6015 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6016 @end table
6017
6018 @node Selection
6019 @section Selecting a Frame
6020
6021 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6022 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6023 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6024 of the stack frame just selected.
6025
6026 @table @code
6027 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6028 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6029 @item frame @var{n}
6030 @itemx f @var{n}
6031 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6032 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6033 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6034 @code{main}.
6035
6036 @item frame @var{addr}
6037 @itemx f @var{addr}
6038 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6039 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6040 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6041 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6042 switches between them.
6043
6044 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6045 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6046
6047 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6048 pointer and a program counter.
6049
6050 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6051 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6052
6053 @kindex up
6054 @item up @var{n}
6055 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6056 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6057 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6058
6059 @kindex down
6060 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6061 @item down @var{n}
6062 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6063 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6064 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6065 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6066 @end table
6067
6068 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6069 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6070 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6071 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6072
6073 @need 1000
6074 For example:
6075
6076 @smallexample
6077 @group
6078 (@value{GDBP}) up
6079 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6080 at env.c:10
6081 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6082 @end group
6083 @end smallexample
6084
6085 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6086 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6087 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6088 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6089 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6090 for details.
6091
6092 @table @code
6093 @kindex down-silently
6094 @kindex up-silently
6095 @item up-silently @var{n}
6096 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6097 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6098 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6099 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6100 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6101 distracting.
6102 @end table
6103
6104 @node Frame Info
6105 @section Information About a Frame
6106
6107 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6108 stack frame.
6109
6110 @table @code
6111 @item frame
6112 @itemx f
6113 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6114 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6115 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6116 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6117 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6118
6119 @kindex info frame
6120 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6121 @item info frame
6122 @itemx info f
6123 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6124 including:
6125
6126 @itemize @bullet
6127 @item
6128 the address of the frame
6129 @item
6130 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6131 @item
6132 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6133 @item
6134 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6135 @item
6136 the address of the frame's arguments
6137 @item
6138 the address of the frame's local variables
6139 @item
6140 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6141 @item
6142 which registers were saved in the frame
6143 @end itemize
6144
6145 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6146 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6147 the usual conventions.
6148
6149 @item info frame @var{addr}
6150 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6151 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6152 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6153 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6154 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6155 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6156
6157 @kindex info args
6158 @item info args
6159 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6160
6161 @item info locals
6162 @kindex info locals
6163 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6164 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6165 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6166
6167 @kindex info catch
6168 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6169 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
6170 @item info catch
6171 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6172 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6173 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6174 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6175 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6176
6177 @end table
6178
6179
6180 @node Source
6181 @chapter Examining Source Files
6182
6183 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6184 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6185 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6186 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6187 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6188 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6189 source files by explicit command.
6190
6191 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6192 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6193 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6194
6195 @menu
6196 * List:: Printing source lines
6197 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6198 * Edit:: Editing source files
6199 * Search:: Searching source files
6200 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6201 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6202 @end menu
6203
6204 @node List
6205 @section Printing Source Lines
6206
6207 @kindex list
6208 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6209 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6210 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6211 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6212 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6213
6214 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6215
6216 @table @code
6217 @item list @var{linenum}
6218 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6219 current source file.
6220
6221 @item list @var{function}
6222 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6223 @var{function}.
6224
6225 @item list
6226 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6227 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6228 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6229 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6230 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6231
6232 @item list -
6233 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6234 @end table
6235
6236 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6237 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6238 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6239
6240 @table @code
6241 @kindex set listsize
6242 @item set listsize @var{count}
6243 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6244 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6245
6246 @kindex show listsize
6247 @item show listsize
6248 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6249 @end table
6250
6251 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6252 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6253 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6254 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6255 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6256
6257 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6258 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6259 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6260 to specify some source line.
6261
6262 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6263
6264 @table @code
6265 @item list @var{linespec}
6266 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6267
6268 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6269 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6270 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6271 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6272 the same source file as the first linespec.
6273
6274 @item list ,@var{last}
6275 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6276
6277 @item list @var{first},
6278 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6279
6280 @item list +
6281 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6282
6283 @item list -
6284 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6285
6286 @item list
6287 As described in the preceding table.
6288 @end table
6289
6290 @node Specify Location
6291 @section Specifying a Location
6292 @cindex specifying location
6293 @cindex linespec
6294
6295 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6296 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6297 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6298 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6299
6300 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6301 @value{GDBN} understands:
6302
6303 @table @code
6304 @item @var{linenum}
6305 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6306
6307 @item -@var{offset}
6308 @itemx +@var{offset}
6309 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6310 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6311 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6312 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6313 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6314 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6315 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6316 linespec.
6317
6318 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6319 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6320
6321 @item @var{function}
6322 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6323 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6324
6325 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6326 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6327 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6328 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6329 functions in different source files.
6330
6331 @item @var{label}
6332 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6333 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6334 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6335 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6336 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6337
6338 @item *@var{address}
6339 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6340 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6341 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6342 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6343 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6344 source files.
6345
6346 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6347 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6348 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6349 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6350 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6351 of @var{address}:
6352
6353 @table @code
6354 @item @var{expression}
6355 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6356
6357 @item @var{funcaddr}
6358 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6359 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6360 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6361 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6362 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6363 (although the Pascal form also works).
6364
6365 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6366 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6367
6368 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6369 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6370 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6371 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6372 functions with identical names in different source files.
6373 @end table
6374
6375 @end table
6376
6377
6378 @node Edit
6379 @section Editing Source Files
6380 @cindex editing source files
6381
6382 @kindex edit
6383 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6384 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6385 The editing program of your choice
6386 is invoked with the current line set to
6387 the active line in the program.
6388 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6389 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6390
6391 @table @code
6392 @item edit @var{location}
6393 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6394 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6395 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6396 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6397 command most commonly used:
6398
6399 @table @code
6400 @item edit @var{number}
6401 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6402
6403 @item edit @var{function}
6404 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6405 @end table
6406
6407 @end table
6408
6409 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6410 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6411 @footnote{
6412 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6413 following command-line syntax:
6414 @smallexample
6415 ex +@var{number} file
6416 @end smallexample
6417 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6418 the file where to start editing.}.
6419 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6420 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6421 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6422 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6423 @smallexample
6424 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6425 export EDITOR
6426 gdb @dots{}
6427 @end smallexample
6428 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6429 @smallexample
6430 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6431 gdb @dots{}
6432 @end smallexample
6433
6434 @node Search
6435 @section Searching Source Files
6436 @cindex searching source files
6437
6438 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6439 regular expression.
6440
6441 @table @code
6442 @kindex search
6443 @kindex forward-search
6444 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6445 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6446 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6447 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6448 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6449 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6450 @code{fo}.
6451
6452 @kindex reverse-search
6453 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6454 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6455 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6456 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6457 this command as @code{rev}.
6458 @end table
6459
6460 @node Source Path
6461 @section Specifying Source Directories
6462
6463 @cindex source path
6464 @cindex directories for source files
6465 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6466 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6467 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6468 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6469 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6470 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6471 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6472
6473 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6474 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6475 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6476 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6477 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6478 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6479 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6480 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6481 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6482 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6483 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6484
6485 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6486 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6487 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6488 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6489 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6490 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6491
6492 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6493 source files.
6494
6495 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6496 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6497 each line is in the file.
6498
6499 @kindex directory
6500 @kindex dir
6501 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6502 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6503 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6504
6505 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6506 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6507
6508 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6509 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6510 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6511 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6512 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6513 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6514 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6515 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6516 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6517 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6518 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6519 name to look up the sources.
6520
6521 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6522 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6523 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6524 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6525 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6526 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6527 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6528 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6529
6530 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6531 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6532 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6533 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6534 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6535 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6536 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6537
6538 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6539 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6540 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6541 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6542 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6543 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6544 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6545 command.
6546
6547 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6548 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6549 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6550 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6551 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6552 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6553 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6554
6555 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6556 @cindex default source path substitution
6557 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6558 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6559 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6560 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6561 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6562 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6563 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6564 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6565 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6566 together.
6567
6568 @table @code
6569 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6570 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6571 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6572 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6573 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6574 part of absolute file names) or
6575 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6576 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6577
6578 @kindex cdir
6579 @kindex cwd
6580 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6581 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6582 @cindex compilation directory
6583 @cindex current directory
6584 @cindex working directory
6585 @cindex directory, current
6586 @cindex directory, compilation
6587 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6588 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6589 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6590 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6591 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6592 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6593
6594 @item directory
6595 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6596
6597 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6598 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6599
6600 @item set directories @var{path-list}
6601 @kindex set directories
6602 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
6603 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
6604
6605 @item show directories
6606 @kindex show directories
6607 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6608
6609 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6610 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6611 @kindex set substitute-path
6612 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6613 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6614 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6615
6616 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6617 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6618
6619 @smallexample
6620 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6621 @end smallexample
6622
6623 @noindent
6624 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6625 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6626 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6627
6628 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6629 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6630 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6631 the substitution.
6632
6633 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6634
6635 @smallexample
6636 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6637 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6638 @end smallexample
6639
6640 @noindent
6641 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6642 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6643 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6644 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6645
6646
6647 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6648 @kindex unset substitute-path
6649 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6650 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6651 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6652
6653 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6654
6655 @item show substitute-path [path]
6656 @kindex show substitute-path
6657 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6658 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6659
6660 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6661 rules.
6662
6663 @end table
6664
6665 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6666 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6667 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6668
6669 @enumerate
6670 @item
6671 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6672
6673 @item
6674 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6675 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6676 directories in one command.
6677 @end enumerate
6678
6679 @node Machine Code
6680 @section Source and Machine Code
6681 @cindex source line and its code address
6682
6683 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6684 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6685 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6686 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6687 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6688 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6689 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6690 well as hex.
6691
6692 @table @code
6693 @kindex info line
6694 @item info line @var{linespec}
6695 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6696 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6697 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6698 @end table
6699
6700 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6701 the object code for the first line of function
6702 @code{m4_changequote}:
6703
6704 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6705 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6706 @smallexample
6707 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6708 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6709 @end smallexample
6710
6711 @noindent
6712 @cindex code address and its source line
6713 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6714 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6715 @smallexample
6716 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6717 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6718 @end smallexample
6719
6720 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6721 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6722 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6723 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6724 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6725 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6726 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6727 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6728 Variables}).
6729
6730 @table @code
6731 @kindex disassemble
6732 @cindex assembly instructions
6733 @cindex instructions, assembly
6734 @cindex machine instructions
6735 @cindex listing machine instructions
6736 @item disassemble
6737 @itemx disassemble /m
6738 @itemx disassemble /r
6739 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6740 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6741 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6742 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6743 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6744 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6745 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6746 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6747 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6748 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
6749
6750 @table @code
6751 @item @var{start},@var{end}
6752 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
6753 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
6754 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
6755 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
6756 @end table
6757
6758 @noindent
6759 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
6760 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
6761
6762 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6763 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6764
6765 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6766 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6767 @end table
6768
6769 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6770 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6771
6772 @smallexample
6773 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6774 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6775 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6776 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6777 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6778 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6779 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6780 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6781 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6782 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6783 End of assembler dump.
6784 @end smallexample
6785
6786 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6787 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6788
6789 @smallexample
6790 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6791 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6792 5 @{
6793 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6794 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6795 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6796 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6797 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6798
6799 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6800 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6801 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6802
6803 7 return 0;
6804 8 @}
6805 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6806 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6807 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6808
6809 End of assembler dump.
6810 @end smallexample
6811
6812 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
6813
6814 @smallexample
6815 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
6816 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
6817 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
6818 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
6819 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
6820 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
6821 End of assembler dump.
6822 @end smallexample
6823
6824 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6825 mnemonics or other syntax.
6826
6827 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6828 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6829 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6830 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6831 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6832
6833 @table @code
6834 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6835 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6836 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6837 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6838 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6839 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6840
6841 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6842 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6843 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6844 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6845
6846 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6847 @item show disassembly-flavor
6848 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6849 @end table
6850
6851 @table @code
6852 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6853 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6854 @item set disassemble-next-line
6855 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6856 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6857 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6858 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6859 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6860 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6861 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6862 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6863 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6864 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6865 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6866 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6867 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6868 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6869 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6870 instruction.
6871 @end table
6872
6873
6874 @node Data
6875 @chapter Examining Data
6876
6877 @cindex printing data
6878 @cindex examining data
6879 @kindex print
6880 @kindex inspect
6881 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6882 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6883 @c different window or something like that.
6884 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6885 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6886 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6887 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6888 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
6889 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
6890
6891 @table @code
6892 @item print @var{expr}
6893 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6894 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6895 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6896 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6897 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6898 Formats}.
6899
6900 @item print
6901 @itemx print /@var{f}
6902 @cindex reprint the last value
6903 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6904 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6905 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6906 @end table
6907
6908 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6909 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6910 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6911
6912 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6913 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6914 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6915 Table}.
6916
6917 @menu
6918 * Expressions:: Expressions
6919 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6920 * Variables:: Program variables
6921 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6922 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6923 * Memory:: Examining memory
6924 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6925 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6926 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
6927 * Value History:: Value history
6928 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6929 * Registers:: Registers
6930 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6931 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6932 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6933 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6934 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6935 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6936 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6937 character set than GDB does
6938 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6939 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6940 @end menu
6941
6942 @node Expressions
6943 @section Expressions
6944
6945 @cindex expressions
6946 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6947 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6948 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6949 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6950 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6951 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6952 @ref{Compilation}.
6953
6954 @cindex arrays in expressions
6955 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6956 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6957 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6958 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6959 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6960 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6961
6962 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6963 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6964 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6965 languages.
6966
6967 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6968 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6969
6970 @cindex casts, in expressions
6971 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6972 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6973 at that address in memory.
6974 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6975
6976 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6977 to programming languages:
6978
6979 @table @code
6980 @item @@
6981 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6982 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6983
6984 @item ::
6985 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6986 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6987
6988 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
6989 @cindex type casting memory
6990 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6991 @cindex casts, to view memory
6992 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6993 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6994 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6995 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6996 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6997 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6998 @end table
6999
7000 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7001 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7002 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7003
7004 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7005 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7006 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7007 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7008 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7009 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7010 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7011
7012 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7013 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7014 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7015 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7016 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7017 as well.
7018
7019 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7020 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7021 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7022 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7023 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7024 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7025 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7026 choices.
7027
7028 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7029 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7030 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7031
7032 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7033 @smallexample
7034 @group
7035 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7036 [0] cancel
7037 [1] all
7038 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7039 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7040 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7041 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7042 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7043 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7044 > 2 4 6
7045 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7046 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7047 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7048 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7049 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7050 breakpoints.
7051 (@value{GDBP})
7052 @end group
7053 @end smallexample
7054
7055 @table @code
7056 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7057 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7058 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7059
7060 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7061 is ambiguous.
7062
7063 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7064 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7065 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7066 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7067 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7068 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7069 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7070 in the use of the menu.
7071
7072 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7073 when an ambiguity is detected.
7074
7075 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7076 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7077
7078 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7079 @item show multiple-symbols
7080 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7081 @end table
7082
7083 @node Variables
7084 @section Program Variables
7085
7086 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7087 in your program.
7088
7089 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7090 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7091
7092 @itemize @bullet
7093 @item
7094 global (or file-static)
7095 @end itemize
7096
7097 @noindent or
7098
7099 @itemize @bullet
7100 @item
7101 visible according to the scope rules of the
7102 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7103 @end itemize
7104
7105 @noindent This means that in the function
7106
7107 @smallexample
7108 foo (a)
7109 int a;
7110 @{
7111 bar (a);
7112 @{
7113 int b = test ();
7114 bar (b);
7115 @}
7116 @}
7117 @end smallexample
7118
7119 @noindent
7120 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7121 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7122 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7123 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7124
7125 @cindex variable name conflict
7126 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7127 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7128 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7129 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7130 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7131 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
7132 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7133
7134 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7135 @ifnotinfo
7136 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7137 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7138 @end ifnotinfo
7139 @smallexample
7140 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7141 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7142 @end smallexample
7143
7144 @noindent
7145 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7146 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7147 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7148 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7149
7150 @smallexample
7151 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7152 @end smallexample
7153
7154 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7155 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7156 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7157 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7158 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7159 @c conflict?? --mew
7160
7161 @cindex wrong values
7162 @cindex variable values, wrong
7163 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7164 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7165 @quotation
7166 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7167 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7168 scope, and just before exit.
7169 @end quotation
7170 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7171 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7172 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7173 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7174 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7175 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7176 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7177 variable definitions may be gone.
7178
7179 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7180 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7181 when compiling.
7182
7183 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7184 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7185 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7186 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7187 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7188 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7189 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7190
7191 @smallexample
7192 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7193 @end smallexample
7194
7195 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7196 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7197 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
7198 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
7199 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
7200 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
7201 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
7202 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
7203 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
7204 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
7205 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7206
7207 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7208 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7209 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7210 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7211
7212 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7213 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7214 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7215 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7216 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7217 For program code
7218
7219 @smallexample
7220 char var0[] = "A";
7221 signed char var1[] = "A";
7222 @end smallexample
7223
7224 You get during debugging
7225 @smallexample
7226 (gdb) print var0
7227 $1 = "A"
7228 (gdb) print var1
7229 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7230 @end smallexample
7231
7232 @node Arrays
7233 @section Artificial Arrays
7234
7235 @cindex artificial array
7236 @cindex arrays
7237 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7238 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7239 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7240 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7241 program.
7242
7243 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7244 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7245 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7246 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7247 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7248 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7249 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7250 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7251 example. If a program says
7252
7253 @smallexample
7254 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7255 @end smallexample
7256
7257 @noindent
7258 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7259
7260 @smallexample
7261 p *array@@len
7262 @end smallexample
7263
7264 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7265 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7266 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7267 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7268 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7269
7270 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7271 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7272 The value need not be in memory:
7273 @smallexample
7274 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7275 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7276 @end smallexample
7277
7278 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7279 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7280 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7281 @smallexample
7282 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7283 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7284 @end smallexample
7285
7286 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7287 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7288 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7289 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7290 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7291 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7292 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7293 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7294 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7295 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7296
7297 @smallexample
7298 set $i = 0
7299 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7300 @key{RET}
7301 @key{RET}
7302 @dots{}
7303 @end smallexample
7304
7305 @node Output Formats
7306 @section Output Formats
7307
7308 @cindex formatted output
7309 @cindex output formats
7310 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7311 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7312 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7313 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7314 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7315
7316 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7317 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7318 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7319 letters supported are:
7320
7321 @table @code
7322 @item x
7323 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7324 hexadecimal.
7325
7326 @item d
7327 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7328
7329 @item u
7330 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7331
7332 @item o
7333 Print as integer in octal.
7334
7335 @item t
7336 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7337 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7338 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7339 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7340
7341 @item a
7342 @cindex unknown address, locating
7343 @cindex locate address
7344 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7345 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7346 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7347
7348 @smallexample
7349 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7350 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7351 @end smallexample
7352
7353 @noindent
7354 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7355 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7356
7357 @item c
7358 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7359 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7360 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7361 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7362
7363 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7364 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7365 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7366 data.
7367
7368 @item f
7369 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7370 using typical floating point syntax.
7371
7372 @item s
7373 @cindex printing strings
7374 @cindex printing byte arrays
7375 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7376 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7377 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7378 natural types.
7379
7380 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7381 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7382 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7383 array.
7384
7385 @item r
7386 @cindex raw printing
7387 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7388 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7389 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7390 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7391 pretty-printer which might exist.
7392 @end table
7393
7394 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7395
7396 @smallexample
7397 p/x $pc
7398 @end smallexample
7399
7400 @noindent
7401 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7402 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7403
7404 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7405 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7406 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7407
7408 @node Memory
7409 @section Examining Memory
7410
7411 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7412 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7413
7414 @cindex examining memory
7415 @table @code
7416 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7417 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7418 @itemx x @var{addr}
7419 @itemx x
7420 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7421 @end table
7422
7423 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7424 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7425 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7426 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7427 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7428
7429 @table @r
7430 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7431 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7432 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7433 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7434 @c 4.1.2.
7435
7436 @item @var{f}, the display format
7437 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7438 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7439 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7440 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7441 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7442
7443 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7444 The unit size is any of
7445
7446 @table @code
7447 @item b
7448 Bytes.
7449 @item h
7450 Halfwords (two bytes).
7451 @item w
7452 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7453 @item g
7454 Giant words (eight bytes).
7455 @end table
7456
7457 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7458 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7459 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7460 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7461 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7462 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7463 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7464 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7465 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7466 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7467 be altered.
7468
7469 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7470 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7471 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7472 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7473 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7474 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7475 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7476 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7477 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7478 a value from memory).
7479 @end table
7480
7481 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7482 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7483 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7484 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7485 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7486
7487 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7488 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7489 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7490 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7491 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7492
7493 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7494 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7495 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7496 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7497 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7498 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7499 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7500 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7501 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7502
7503 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7504 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7505 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7506 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7507 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7508 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7509 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7510
7511 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7512 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7513
7514 @smallexample
7515 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7516 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7517 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7518 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7519 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7520 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7521 @end smallexample
7522
7523 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7524 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7525 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7526 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7527 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7528 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7529 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7530 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7531 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7532
7533 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7534 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7535 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7536
7537 @cindex remote memory comparison
7538 @cindex verify remote memory image
7539 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7540 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7541 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7542 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7543 situations.
7544
7545 @table @code
7546 @kindex compare-sections
7547 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7548 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7549 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7550 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7551 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7552 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7553 remote request.
7554 @end table
7555
7556 @node Auto Display
7557 @section Automatic Display
7558 @cindex automatic display
7559 @cindex display of expressions
7560
7561 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7562 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7563 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7564 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7565 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7566 The automatic display looks like this:
7567
7568 @smallexample
7569 2: foo = 38
7570 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7571 @end smallexample
7572
7573 @noindent
7574 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7575 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7576 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7577 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7578 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7579 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7580
7581 @table @code
7582 @kindex display
7583 @item display @var{expr}
7584 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7585 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7586
7587 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7588
7589 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7590 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7591 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7592 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7593 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7594
7595 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7596 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7597 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7598 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7599 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7600 @end table
7601
7602 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7603 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7604 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7605
7606 @table @code
7607 @kindex delete display
7608 @kindex undisplay
7609 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7610 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7611 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7612
7613 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7614 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7615
7616 @kindex disable display
7617 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7618 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7619 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7620 enabled again later.
7621
7622 @kindex enable display
7623 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7624 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7625 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7626
7627 @item display
7628 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7629 done when your program stops.
7630
7631 @kindex info display
7632 @item info display
7633 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7634 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7635 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7636 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7637 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7638 @end table
7639
7640 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7641 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7642 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7643 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7644 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7645 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7646 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7647 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7648 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7649 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7650 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7651
7652 @node Print Settings
7653 @section Print Settings
7654
7655 @cindex format options
7656 @cindex print settings
7657 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7658 and symbols are printed.
7659
7660 @noindent
7661 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7662
7663 @table @code
7664 @kindex set print
7665 @item set print address
7666 @itemx set print address on
7667 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7668 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7669 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7670 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7671 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7672 @code{set print address on}:
7673
7674 @smallexample
7675 @group
7676 (@value{GDBP}) f
7677 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7678 at input.c:530
7679 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7680 @end group
7681 @end smallexample
7682
7683 @item set print address off
7684 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7685 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7686
7687 @smallexample
7688 @group
7689 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7690 (@value{GDBP}) f
7691 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7692 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7693 @end group
7694 @end smallexample
7695
7696 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7697 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7698 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7699 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7700
7701 @kindex show print
7702 @item show print address
7703 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7704 @end table
7705
7706 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7707 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7708 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7709 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7710 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7711 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7712 it prints a symbolic address:
7713
7714 @table @code
7715 @item set print symbol-filename on
7716 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7717 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7718 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7719 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7720
7721 @item set print symbol-filename off
7722 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7723 default.
7724
7725 @item show print symbol-filename
7726 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7727 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7728 @end table
7729
7730 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7731 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7732 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7733
7734 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7735 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7736
7737 @table @code
7738 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7739 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7740 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7741 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7742 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7743 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7744
7745 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7746 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7747 symbolic address.
7748 @end table
7749
7750 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7751 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7752 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7753 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7754 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7755 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7756 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7757 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7758
7759 @smallexample
7760 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7761 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7762 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7763 @end smallexample
7764
7765 @quotation
7766 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7767 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7768 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7769 @end quotation
7770
7771 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7772
7773 @table @code
7774 @item set print array
7775 @itemx set print array on
7776 @cindex pretty print arrays
7777 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7778 but uses more space. The default is off.
7779
7780 @item set print array off
7781 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7782
7783 @item show print array
7784 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7785 arrays.
7786
7787 @cindex print array indexes
7788 @item set print array-indexes
7789 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7790 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7791 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7792 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7793
7794 @item set print array-indexes off
7795 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7796
7797 @item show print array-indexes
7798 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7799 arrays.
7800
7801 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7802 @cindex number of array elements to print
7803 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7804 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7805 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7806 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7807 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7808 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7809 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7810
7811 @item show print elements
7812 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7813 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7814
7815 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7816 @kindex set print frame-arguments
7817 @cindex printing frame argument values
7818 @cindex print all frame argument values
7819 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7820 @cindex do not print frame argument values
7821 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7822 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7823 values are:
7824
7825 @table @code
7826 @item all
7827 The values of all arguments are printed.
7828
7829 @item scalars
7830 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7831 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7832 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7833 only scalar arguments are shown:
7834
7835 @smallexample
7836 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7837 at frame-args.c:23
7838 @end smallexample
7839
7840 @item none
7841 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7842 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7843
7844 @smallexample
7845 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7846 at frame-args.c:23
7847 @end smallexample
7848 @end table
7849
7850 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7851 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7852 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7853 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7854 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7855 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7856 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7857 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7858 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7859 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7860
7861 @item show print frame-arguments
7862 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7863
7864 @item set print repeats
7865 @cindex repeated array elements
7866 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7867 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7868 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7869 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7870 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7871 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7872 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7873
7874 @item show print repeats
7875 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7876 elements.
7877
7878 @item set print null-stop
7879 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7880 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7881 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7882 contain only short strings.
7883 The default is off.
7884
7885 @item show print null-stop
7886 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7887 @sc{null} character.
7888
7889 @item set print pretty on
7890 @cindex print structures in indented form
7891 @cindex indentation in structure display
7892 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7893 per line, like this:
7894
7895 @smallexample
7896 @group
7897 $1 = @{
7898 next = 0x0,
7899 flags = @{
7900 sweet = 1,
7901 sour = 1
7902 @},
7903 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7904 @}
7905 @end group
7906 @end smallexample
7907
7908 @item set print pretty off
7909 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7910
7911 @smallexample
7912 @group
7913 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7914 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7915 @end group
7916 @end smallexample
7917
7918 @noindent
7919 This is the default format.
7920
7921 @item show print pretty
7922 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7923
7924 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7925 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7926 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7927 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7928 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7929 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7930 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7931 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7932
7933 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7934 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7935 international character sets, and is the default.
7936
7937 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7938 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7939
7940 @item set print union on
7941 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7942 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7943 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7944
7945 @item set print union off
7946 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7947 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7948 instead.
7949
7950 @item show print union
7951 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7952 structures and other unions.
7953
7954 For example, given the declarations
7955
7956 @smallexample
7957 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7958 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7959 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7960 Bug_forms;
7961
7962 struct thing @{
7963 Species it;
7964 union @{
7965 Tree_forms tree;
7966 Bug_forms bug;
7967 @} form;
7968 @};
7969
7970 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7971 @end smallexample
7972
7973 @noindent
7974 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7975
7976 @smallexample
7977 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7978 @end smallexample
7979
7980 @noindent
7981 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7982
7983 @smallexample
7984 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7985 @end smallexample
7986
7987 @noindent
7988 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7989 and in Pascal.
7990 @end table
7991
7992 @need 1000
7993 @noindent
7994 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7995
7996 @table @code
7997 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7998 @item set print demangle
7999 @itemx set print demangle on
8000 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8001 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8002 linkage. The default is on.
8003
8004 @item show print demangle
8005 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8006
8007 @item set print asm-demangle
8008 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8009 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8010 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8011 The default is off.
8012
8013 @item show print asm-demangle
8014 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8015 or demangled form.
8016
8017 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8018 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8019 @kindex set demangle-style
8020 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8021 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8022 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8023
8024 @table @code
8025 @item auto
8026 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8027
8028 @item gnu
8029 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8030 This is the default.
8031
8032 @item hp
8033 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8034
8035 @item lucid
8036 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8037
8038 @item arm
8039 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8040 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8041 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8042 require further enhancement to permit that.
8043
8044 @end table
8045 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8046
8047 @item show demangle-style
8048 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8049
8050 @item set print object
8051 @itemx set print object on
8052 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8053 @cindex display derived types
8054 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8055 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8056 the virtual function table.
8057
8058 @item set print object off
8059 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8060 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8061
8062 @item show print object
8063 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8064
8065 @item set print static-members
8066 @itemx set print static-members on
8067 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8068 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8069
8070 @item set print static-members off
8071 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8072
8073 @item show print static-members
8074 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8075
8076 @item set print pascal_static-members
8077 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8078 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8079 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8080 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8081
8082 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8083 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8084
8085 @item show print pascal_static-members
8086 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8087
8088 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8089 @item set print vtbl
8090 @itemx set print vtbl on
8091 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8092 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8093 @cindex VTBL display
8094 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8095 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8096 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8097
8098 @item set print vtbl off
8099 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8100
8101 @item show print vtbl
8102 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8103 @end table
8104
8105 @node Pretty Printing
8106 @section Pretty Printing
8107
8108 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8109 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8110 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8111
8112 @menu
8113 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8114 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8115 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8116 @end menu
8117
8118 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8119 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8120
8121 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8122 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8123 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8124
8125 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8126 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8127 pretty-printers with their names.
8128 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8129 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8130 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8131 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8132
8133 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8134 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8135 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8136 do anything special.
8137
8138 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8139
8140 @itemize @bullet
8141 @item
8142 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8143 all inferiors.
8144
8145 @item
8146 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8147 when debugging that program.
8148 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8149
8150 @item
8151 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8152 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8153 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8154 @end itemize
8155
8156 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8157 pretty-printers are selected,
8158
8159 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8160 for new types.
8161
8162 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8163 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8164
8165 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8166
8167 @smallexample
8168 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8169 $1 = @{
8170 static npos = 4294967295,
8171 _M_dataplus = @{
8172 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8173 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8174 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8175 @},
8176 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8177 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8178 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8179 @}
8180 @}
8181 @end smallexample
8182
8183 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8184
8185 @smallexample
8186 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8187 $2 = "abcd"
8188 @end smallexample
8189
8190 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8191 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8192 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8193
8194 @table @code
8195 @kindex info pretty-printer
8196 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8197 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
8198 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
8199
8200 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
8201 whose pretty-printers to list.
8202 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
8203 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
8204 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
8205 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
8206 looks up a printer from these three objects.
8207
8208 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
8209 to list.
8210
8211 @kindex disable pretty-printer
8212 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8213 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8214 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
8215
8216 @kindex enable pretty-printer
8217 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8218 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8219 @end table
8220
8221 Example:
8222
8223 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
8224 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
8225 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
8226 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
8227
8228 @smallexample
8229 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8230 library1.so:
8231 foo
8232 library2.so:
8233 bar
8234 bar1
8235 bar2
8236 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8237 library2.so:
8238 bar
8239 bar1
8240 bar2
8241 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
8242 1 printer disabled
8243 2 of 3 printers enabled
8244 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8245 library1.so:
8246 foo [disabled]
8247 library2.so:
8248 bar
8249 bar1
8250 bar2
8251 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
8252 1 printer disabled
8253 1 of 3 printers enabled
8254 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8255 library1.so:
8256 foo [disabled]
8257 library2.so:
8258 bar
8259 bar1 [disabled]
8260 bar2
8261 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
8262 1 printer disabled
8263 0 of 3 printers enabled
8264 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8265 library1.so:
8266 foo [disabled]
8267 library2.so:
8268 bar [disabled]
8269 bar1 [disabled]
8270 bar2
8271 @end smallexample
8272
8273 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
8274 as can each individual subprinter.
8275
8276 @node Value History
8277 @section Value History
8278
8279 @cindex value history
8280 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8281 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8282 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8283 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8284 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8285 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8286 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8287 symbol table.
8288
8289 @cindex @code{$}
8290 @cindex @code{$$}
8291 @cindex history number
8292 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8293 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8294 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8295 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8296 history number.
8297
8298 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8299 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8300 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8301 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8302 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8303 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8304 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8305
8306 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8307 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8308
8309 @smallexample
8310 p *$
8311 @end smallexample
8312
8313 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8314 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8315
8316 @smallexample
8317 p *$.next
8318 @end smallexample
8319
8320 @noindent
8321 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8322 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8323
8324 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8325 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8326
8327 @smallexample
8328 print x
8329 set x=5
8330 @end smallexample
8331
8332 @noindent
8333 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8334 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8335
8336 @table @code
8337 @kindex show values
8338 @item show values
8339 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8340 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8341 values} does not change the history.
8342
8343 @item show values @var{n}
8344 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8345
8346 @item show values +
8347 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8348 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8349 @end table
8350
8351 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8352 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8353
8354 @node Convenience Vars
8355 @section Convenience Variables
8356
8357 @cindex convenience variables
8358 @cindex user-defined variables
8359 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8360 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8361 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8362 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8363 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8364
8365 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8366 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8367 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8368 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8369 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8370
8371 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8372 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8373 For example:
8374
8375 @smallexample
8376 set $foo = *object_ptr
8377 @end smallexample
8378
8379 @noindent
8380 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8381 @code{object_ptr}.
8382
8383 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8384 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8385 value with another assignment at any time.
8386
8387 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8388 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8389 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8390 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8391
8392 @table @code
8393 @kindex show convenience
8394 @cindex show all user variables
8395 @item show convenience
8396 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8397 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8398
8399 @kindex init-if-undefined
8400 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8401 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8402 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8403 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8404 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8405 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8406 override default values used in a command script.
8407
8408 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8409 any side-effects do not occur.
8410 @end table
8411
8412 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8413 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8414 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8415
8416 @smallexample
8417 set $i = 0
8418 print bar[$i++]->contents
8419 @end smallexample
8420
8421 @noindent
8422 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8423
8424 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8425 values likely to be useful.
8426
8427 @table @code
8428 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8429 @item $_
8430 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8431 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8432 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8433 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8434 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8435 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8436 to the type of @code{$__}.
8437
8438 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8439 @item $__
8440 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8441 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8442 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8443
8444 @item $_exitcode
8445 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8446 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8447 the program being debugged terminates.
8448
8449 @item $_sdata
8450 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
8451 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
8452 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
8453 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
8454 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
8455
8456 @item $_siginfo
8457 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8458 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8459 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8460 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8461 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8462
8463 @item $_tlb
8464 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8465 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8466 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8467 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8468 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8469 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8470
8471 @end table
8472
8473 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8474 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8475 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8476
8477 @cindex convenience functions
8478 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8479 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8480 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8481 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8482 @value{GDBN}.
8483
8484 @table @code
8485 @item help function
8486 @kindex help function
8487 @cindex show all convenience functions
8488 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8489 @end table
8490
8491 @node Registers
8492 @section Registers
8493
8494 @cindex registers
8495 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8496 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8497 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8498 your machine.
8499
8500 @table @code
8501 @kindex info registers
8502 @item info registers
8503 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8504 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8505
8506 @kindex info all-registers
8507 @cindex floating point registers
8508 @item info all-registers
8509 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8510 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8511
8512 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8513 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8514 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8515 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8516 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8517 @end table
8518
8519 @cindex stack pointer register
8520 @cindex program counter register
8521 @cindex process status register
8522 @cindex frame pointer register
8523 @cindex standard registers
8524 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8525 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8526 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8527 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8528 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8529 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8530 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8531 you could print the program counter in hex with
8532
8533 @smallexample
8534 p/x $pc
8535 @end smallexample
8536
8537 @noindent
8538 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8539
8540 @smallexample
8541 x/i $pc
8542 @end smallexample
8543
8544 @noindent
8545 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8546 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8547 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8548 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8549 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8550 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8551 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8552
8553 @smallexample
8554 set $sp += 4
8555 @end smallexample
8556
8557 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8558 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8559 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8560 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8561 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8562 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8563 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8564
8565 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8566 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8567 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8568 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8569 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8570 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8571 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8572
8573 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8574 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8575 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8576 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8577 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8578 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8579 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8580 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8581 prints the data in both formats.
8582
8583 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8584 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8585 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8586 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8587 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8588 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8589 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8590
8591 @smallexample
8592 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8593 $1 = @{
8594 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8595 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8596 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8597 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8598 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8599 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8600 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8601 @}
8602 @end smallexample
8603
8604 @noindent
8605 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8606 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8607 value to a @code{struct} member:
8608
8609 @smallexample
8610 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8611 @end smallexample
8612
8613 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8614 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8615 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8616 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8617 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8618 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8619
8620 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8621 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8622 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8623 frame makes no difference.
8624
8625 @node Floating Point Hardware
8626 @section Floating Point Hardware
8627 @cindex floating point
8628
8629 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8630 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8631
8632 @table @code
8633 @kindex info float
8634 @item info float
8635 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8636 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8637 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8638 the ARM and x86 machines.
8639 @end table
8640
8641 @node Vector Unit
8642 @section Vector Unit
8643 @cindex vector unit
8644
8645 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8646 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8647
8648 @table @code
8649 @kindex info vector
8650 @item info vector
8651 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8652 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8653 @end table
8654
8655 @node OS Information
8656 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8657 @cindex OS information
8658
8659 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8660 you debug your program.
8661
8662 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8663 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8664 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8665 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8666 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8667 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8668 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8669 structure.
8670
8671 @table @code
8672 @item info udot
8673 @kindex info udot
8674 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8675 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8676 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8677 the @code{examine} command.
8678 @end table
8679
8680 @cindex auxiliary vector
8681 @cindex vector, auxiliary
8682 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8683 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8684 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8685 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8686 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8687 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8688 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8689 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8690 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8691 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8692 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8693
8694 @table @code
8695 @kindex info auxv
8696 @item info auxv
8697 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8698 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8699 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8700 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8701 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8702 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8703 an unrecognized tag.
8704 @end table
8705
8706 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8707 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8708 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8709 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8710
8711 @table @code
8712 @kindex info os
8713 @item info os
8714 List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
8715 target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
8716 report an error.
8717
8718 @kindex info os processes
8719 @item info os processes
8720 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8721 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8722 the command corresponding to the process.
8723 @end table
8724
8725 @node Memory Region Attributes
8726 @section Memory Region Attributes
8727 @cindex memory region attributes
8728
8729 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8730 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8731 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8732 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8733 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8734 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8735 user can override the fetched regions.
8736
8737 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8738 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8739 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8740 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8741 all memory.
8742
8743 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8744 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8745
8746 @table @code
8747 @kindex mem
8748 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8749 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8750 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8751 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8752 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8753 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8754
8755 @item mem auto
8756 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8757 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8758
8759 @kindex delete mem
8760 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8761 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8762 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8763
8764 @kindex disable mem
8765 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8766 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8767 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8768 It may be enabled again later.
8769
8770 @kindex enable mem
8771 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8772 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8773
8774 @kindex info mem
8775 @item info mem
8776 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8777 for each region:
8778
8779 @table @emph
8780 @item Memory Region Number
8781 @item Enabled or Disabled.
8782 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8783 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8784
8785 @item Lo Address
8786 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8787
8788 @item Hi Address
8789 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8790
8791 @item Attributes
8792 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8793 @end table
8794 @end table
8795
8796
8797 @subsection Attributes
8798
8799 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8800 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8801 write accesses to a memory region.
8802
8803 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8804 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8805 etc.@: from accessing memory.
8806
8807 @table @code
8808 @item ro
8809 Memory is read only.
8810 @item wo
8811 Memory is write only.
8812 @item rw
8813 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8814 @end table
8815
8816 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
8817 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8818 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8819 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8820 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8821
8822 @table @code
8823 @item 8
8824 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8825 @item 16
8826 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8827 @item 32
8828 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8829 @item 64
8830 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8831 @end table
8832
8833 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8834 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8835 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8836 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8837 @c
8838 @c @table @code
8839 @c @item hwbreak
8840 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
8841 @c @item swbreak (default)
8842 @c @end table
8843
8844 @subsubsection Data Cache
8845 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8846 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8847 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8848 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8849 registers.
8850
8851 @table @code
8852 @item cache
8853 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8854 @item nocache
8855 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8856 @end table
8857
8858 @subsection Memory Access Checking
8859 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8860 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8861 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8862 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8863
8864 @table @code
8865 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8866 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8867 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8868 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8869 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8870 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8871 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8872 The default value is @code{on}.
8873 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8874 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8875 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8876 @end table
8877
8878
8879 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8880 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8881 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8882 @c
8883 @c @table @code
8884 @c @item verify
8885 @c @item noverify (default)
8886 @c @end table
8887
8888 @node Dump/Restore Files
8889 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
8890 @cindex dump/restore files
8891 @cindex append data to a file
8892 @cindex dump data to a file
8893 @cindex restore data from a file
8894
8895 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8896 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8897 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8898 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8899 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8900 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8901 files.
8902
8903 @table @code
8904
8905 @kindex dump
8906 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8907 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8908 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8909 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8910
8911 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8912 @table @code
8913 @item binary
8914 Raw binary form.
8915 @item ihex
8916 Intel hex format.
8917 @item srec
8918 Motorola S-record format.
8919 @item tekhex
8920 Tektronix Hex format.
8921 @end table
8922
8923 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8924 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8925 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8926 form.
8927
8928 @kindex append
8929 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8930 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8931 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8932 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8933 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8934
8935 @kindex restore
8936 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8937 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8938 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8939 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8940 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8941
8942 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8943 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8944 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8945 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8946 from that location.
8947
8948 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8949 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8950 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8951 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8952
8953 @end table
8954
8955 @node Core File Generation
8956 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8957 @cindex dump core from inferior
8958
8959 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8960 image of a running process and its process status (register values
8961 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8962 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8963 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8964 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8965 the post-mortem debugging mode.
8966
8967 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8968 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8969 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8970
8971 @table @code
8972 @kindex gcore
8973 @kindex generate-core-file
8974 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8975 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8976 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8977 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8978 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8979 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8980
8981 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8982 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8983 @end table
8984
8985 @node Character Sets
8986 @section Character Sets
8987 @cindex character sets
8988 @cindex charset
8989 @cindex translating between character sets
8990 @cindex host character set
8991 @cindex target character set
8992
8993 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8994 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8995 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8996 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8997 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8998 @dfn{target character set}.
8999
9000 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9001 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9002 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9003 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9004 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9005 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9006 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9007 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9008 character and string literals in expressions.
9009
9010 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9011 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9012 target-charset} command, described below.
9013
9014 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9015 support:
9016
9017 @table @code
9018 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9019 @kindex set target-charset
9020 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9021 list of supported target character sets, type
9022 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9023
9024 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9025 @kindex set host-charset
9026 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9027
9028 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9029 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9030 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9031 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9032 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9033
9034 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9035 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9036 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9037
9038 @item set charset @var{charset}
9039 @kindex set charset
9040 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9041 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9042 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9043 for both host and target.
9044
9045 @item show charset
9046 @kindex show charset
9047 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9048
9049 @item show host-charset
9050 @kindex show host-charset
9051 Show the name of the current host character set.
9052
9053 @item show target-charset
9054 @kindex show target-charset
9055 Show the name of the current target character set.
9056
9057 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9058 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9059 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9060 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9061 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9062 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9063
9064 @item show target-wide-charset
9065 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9066 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9067 @end table
9068
9069 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9070 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9071 @file{charset-test.c}:
9072
9073 @smallexample
9074 #include <stdio.h>
9075
9076 char ascii_hello[]
9077 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9078 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9079 char ibm1047_hello[]
9080 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9081 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9082
9083 main ()
9084 @{
9085 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9086 @}
9087 @end smallexample
9088
9089 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9090 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9091 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9092
9093 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9094
9095 @smallexample
9096 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9097 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9098 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9099 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9100 @dots{}
9101 (@value{GDBP})
9102 @end smallexample
9103
9104 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9105 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
9106 strings:
9107
9108 @smallexample
9109 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9110 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
9111 (@value{GDBP})
9112 @end smallexample
9113
9114 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
9115 initial character set:
9116 @smallexample
9117 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
9118 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9119 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
9120 (@value{GDBP})
9121 @end smallexample
9122
9123 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
9124 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
9125 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9126 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9127 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9128
9129 @smallexample
9130 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9131 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9132 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9133 $2 = 72 'H'
9134 (@value{GDBP})
9135 @end smallexample
9136
9137 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9138 literals you use in expressions:
9139
9140 @smallexample
9141 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9142 $3 = 43 '+'
9143 (@value{GDBP})
9144 @end smallexample
9145
9146 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9147 character.
9148
9149 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9150 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9151 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9152
9153 @smallexample
9154 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9155 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9156 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9157 $5 = 200 '\310'
9158 (@value{GDBP})
9159 @end smallexample
9160
9161 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9162 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9163
9164 @smallexample
9165 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9166 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9167 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9168 @end smallexample
9169
9170 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9171 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9172 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9173 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9174 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9175
9176 @smallexample
9177 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9178 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9179 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9180 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9181 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9182 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9183 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9184 $7 = 72 '\110'
9185 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9186 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9187 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9188 $9 = 200 'H'
9189 (@value{GDBP})
9190 @end smallexample
9191
9192 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9193 string literals you use in expressions:
9194
9195 @smallexample
9196 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9197 $10 = 78 '+'
9198 (@value{GDBP})
9199 @end smallexample
9200
9201 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9202 character.
9203
9204 @node Caching Remote Data
9205 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9206 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9207
9208 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9209 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9210 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9211 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9212 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9213 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9214 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9215 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9216 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9217 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9218 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9219 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9220 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9221 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9222 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9223
9224 @table @code
9225 @kindex set remotecache
9226 @item set remotecache on
9227 @itemx set remotecache off
9228 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9229 with old scripts.
9230
9231 @kindex show remotecache
9232 @item show remotecache
9233 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9234
9235 @kindex set stack-cache
9236 @item set stack-cache on
9237 @itemx set stack-cache off
9238 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9239 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9240
9241 @kindex show stack-cache
9242 @item show stack-cache
9243 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9244
9245 @kindex info dcache
9246 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9247 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9248 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9249 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9250 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9251 operation.
9252
9253 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9254 printed in hex.
9255 @end table
9256
9257 @node Searching Memory
9258 @section Search Memory
9259 @cindex searching memory
9260
9261 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9262 @code{find} command.
9263
9264 @table @code
9265 @kindex find
9266 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9267 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9268 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9269 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9270 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9271 @end table
9272
9273 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9274 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9275
9276 @table @r
9277 @item @var{s}, search query size
9278 The size of each search query value.
9279
9280 @table @code
9281 @item b
9282 bytes
9283 @item h
9284 halfwords (two bytes)
9285 @item w
9286 words (four bytes)
9287 @item g
9288 giant words (eight bytes)
9289 @end table
9290
9291 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9292 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9293 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9294
9295 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9296 value's type in the current language.
9297 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9298 pattern as a mixture of types.
9299 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9300 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9301 which is typically four bytes.
9302
9303 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9304 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9305 @end table
9306
9307 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9308 (@code{"}).
9309 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9310 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9311
9312 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9313 number of matches found.
9314
9315 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9316 @samp{$_}.
9317 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9318
9319 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9320
9321 @smallexample
9322 void
9323 hello ()
9324 @{
9325 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9326 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9327 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9328 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9329 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9330 @}
9331 @end smallexample
9332
9333 @noindent
9334 you get during debugging:
9335
9336 @smallexample
9337 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9338 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9339 1 pattern found
9340 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9341 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9342 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9343 2 patterns found
9344 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9345 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9346 1 pattern found
9347 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9348 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9349 1 pattern found
9350 (gdb) print $numfound
9351 $1 = 1
9352 (gdb) print $_
9353 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9354 @end smallexample
9355
9356 @node Optimized Code
9357 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9358 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9359 @cindex debugging optimized code
9360
9361 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9362 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9363 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9364 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9365 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9366 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9367 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9368
9369 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9370 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9371 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9372 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9373
9374 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9375 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9376 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9377 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9378 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9379 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9380
9381 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9382 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9383 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9384 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9385 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9386
9387 @menu
9388 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9389 @end menu
9390
9391 @node Inline Functions
9392 @section Inline Functions
9393 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9394
9395 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9396 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9397 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9398 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9399 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9400 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9401 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9402 @code{info frame} command.
9403
9404 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9405 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9406 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9407 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9408 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9409 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9410 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9411 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9412 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9413 local variables in the caller.
9414
9415 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9416 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9417 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9418 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9419 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9420 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9421 instructions are executed.
9422
9423 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9424 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9425 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9426 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9427
9428 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9429 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9430
9431 @itemize @bullet
9432 @item
9433 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9434 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9435 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9436 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9437 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9438 function instead.
9439
9440 @item
9441 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9442 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9443 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9444 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9445 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9446 or inside the inlined function instead.
9447
9448 @item
9449 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9450 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9451 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9452 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9453
9454 @end itemize
9455
9456
9457 @node Macros
9458 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9459
9460 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9461 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9462 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9463 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9464 where it was defined.
9465
9466 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9467 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9468 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9469 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9470
9471 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9472 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9473 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9474 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9475 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9476 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9477 see @ref{List}.
9478
9479 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9480 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9481 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9482
9483 @table @code
9484
9485 @kindex macro expand
9486 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9487 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9488 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9489 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9490 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9491 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9492 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9493 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9494 it can be any string of tokens.
9495
9496 @kindex macro exp1
9497 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9498 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9499 @cindex expand macro once
9500 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9501 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9502 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9503 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9504 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9505 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9506 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9507 can be any string of tokens.
9508
9509 @kindex info macro
9510 @cindex macro definition, showing
9511 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
9512 @item info macro @var{macro}
9513 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9514 source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9515
9516 @kindex macro define
9517 @cindex user-defined macros
9518 @cindex defining macros interactively
9519 @cindex macros, user-defined
9520 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9521 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9522 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9523 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9524 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9525 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9526 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9527 @var{arglist}.
9528
9529 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9530 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9531 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9532 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9533 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9534
9535 @kindex macro undef
9536 @item macro undef @var{macro}
9537 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9538 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9539 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9540 in the program being debugged.
9541
9542 @kindex macro list
9543 @item macro list
9544 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9545 @end table
9546
9547 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
9548 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9549 show our source files:
9550
9551 @smallexample
9552 $ cat sample.c
9553 #include <stdio.h>
9554 #include "sample.h"
9555
9556 #define M 42
9557 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9558
9559 main ()
9560 @{
9561 #define N 28
9562 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9563 #undef N
9564 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9565 #define N 1729
9566 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9567 @}
9568 $ cat sample.h
9569 #define Q <
9570 $
9571 @end smallexample
9572
9573 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9574 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9575 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9576 information.
9577
9578 @smallexample
9579 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9580 $
9581 @end smallexample
9582
9583 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9584
9585 @smallexample
9586 $ gdb -nw sample
9587 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9588 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9589 GDB is free software, @dots{}
9590 (@value{GDBP})
9591 @end smallexample
9592
9593 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9594 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9595 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9596
9597 @smallexample
9598 (@value{GDBP}) list main
9599 3
9600 4 #define M 42
9601 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9602 6
9603 7 main ()
9604 8 @{
9605 9 #define N 28
9606 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9607 11 #undef N
9608 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9609 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9610 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9611 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9612 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9613 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9614 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9615 #define Q <
9616 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9617 expands to: (42 + 1)
9618 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9619 expands to: once (M + 1)
9620 (@value{GDBP})
9621 @end smallexample
9622
9623 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9624 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9625 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9626 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9627
9628 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9629 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9630
9631 @smallexample
9632 (@value{GDBP}) break main
9633 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9634 (@value{GDBP}) run
9635 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9636
9637 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
9638 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9639 (@value{GDBP})
9640 @end smallexample
9641
9642 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9643
9644 @smallexample
9645 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9646 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9647 #define N 28
9648 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9649 expands to: 28 < 42
9650 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9651 $1 = 1
9652 (@value{GDBP})
9653 @end smallexample
9654
9655 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9656 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9657 thereof) in force at each point:
9658
9659 @smallexample
9660 (@value{GDBP}) next
9661 Hello, world!
9662 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9663 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9664 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9665 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9666 (@value{GDBP}) next
9667 We're so creative.
9668 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9669 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9670 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9671 #define N 1729
9672 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9673 expands to: 1729 < 42
9674 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9675 $2 = 0
9676 (@value{GDBP})
9677 @end smallexample
9678
9679 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9680 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9681 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9682 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9683
9684 @smallexample
9685 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9686 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9687 -D__STDC__=1
9688 (@value{GDBP})
9689 @end smallexample
9690
9691
9692 @node Tracepoints
9693 @chapter Tracepoints
9694 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9695 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9696
9697 @cindex tracepoints
9698 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9699 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9700 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9701 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9702 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9703 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9704 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9705
9706 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9707 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9708 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9709 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9710 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9711 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9712 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9713 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9714 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9715 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9716 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9717
9718 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9719 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9720 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9721 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9722 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9723 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9724 Packets}.
9725
9726 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
9727 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
9728 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
9729
9730 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9731
9732 @menu
9733 * Set Tracepoints::
9734 * Analyze Collected Data::
9735 * Tracepoint Variables::
9736 * Trace Files::
9737 @end menu
9738
9739 @node Set Tracepoints
9740 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9741
9742 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9743 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9744 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9745 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9746 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9747 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9748 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9749
9750 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9751 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9752 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9753 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9754 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9755 tracepoint was hit.
9756
9757 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
9758 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
9759 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
9760 either.
9761
9762 @cindex fast tracepoints
9763 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9764 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9765 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9766
9767 @cindex static tracepoints
9768 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
9769 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
9770 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
9771 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
9772 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
9773 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
9774 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
9775 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
9776 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
9777 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
9778 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
9779 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
9780 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
9781 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namelly, support for collecting
9782 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
9783 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
9784 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
9785 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
9786 static tracepoint marker.
9787
9788 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
9789 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
9790
9791 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9792 conditions and actions.
9793
9794 @menu
9795 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9796 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9797 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
9798 * Tracepoint Conditions::
9799 * Trace State Variables::
9800 * Tracepoint Actions::
9801 * Listing Tracepoints::
9802 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
9803 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9804 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
9805 @end menu
9806
9807 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9808 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9809
9810 @table @code
9811 @cindex set tracepoint
9812 @kindex trace
9813 @item trace @var{location}
9814 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9815 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9816 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9817 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9818 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9819 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9820 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9821 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9822 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9823
9824 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9825
9826 @smallexample
9827 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9828
9829 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9830
9831 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9832
9833 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9834
9835 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9836 @end smallexample
9837
9838 @noindent
9839 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9840
9841 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9842 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9843 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9844 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9845 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9846 information on tracepoint conditions.
9847
9848 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9849 @cindex set fast tracepoint
9850 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
9851 @kindex ftrace
9852 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9853 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9854 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9855 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9856 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9857 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9858 message.
9859
9860 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9861 @code{trace}.
9862
9863 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9864 @cindex set static tracepoint
9865 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
9866 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
9867 @kindex strace
9868 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
9869 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
9870 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
9871 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
9872 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
9873
9874 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
9875 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
9876 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
9877 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
9878 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
9879 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
9880 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
9881 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
9882 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
9883 tracing engine:
9884
9885 @smallexample
9886 main ()
9887 @{
9888 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
9889 @}
9890 @end smallexample
9891
9892 @noindent
9893 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
9894 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
9895
9896 @smallexample
9897 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
9898 Cnt Enb ID Address What
9899 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
9900 Data: "str %s"
9901 [etc...]
9902 @end smallexample
9903
9904 @noindent
9905 so you may probe the marker above with:
9906
9907 @smallexample
9908 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
9909 @end smallexample
9910
9911 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
9912 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
9913 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
9914 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
9915 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
9916 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
9917 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
9918 the @samp{Data:} field.
9919
9920 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
9921 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
9922 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
9923
9924 @vindex $tpnum
9925 @cindex last tracepoint number
9926 @cindex recent tracepoint number
9927 @cindex tracepoint number
9928 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9929 of the most recently set tracepoint.
9930
9931 @kindex delete tracepoint
9932 @cindex tracepoint deletion
9933 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9934 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9935 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9936 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9937
9938 Examples:
9939
9940 @smallexample
9941 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9942
9943 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9944 @end smallexample
9945
9946 @noindent
9947 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9948 @end table
9949
9950 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9951 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9952
9953 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9954
9955 @table @code
9956 @kindex disable tracepoint
9957 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9958 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9959 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9960 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9961 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9962
9963 @kindex enable tracepoint
9964 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9965 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9966 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9967 run.
9968 @end table
9969
9970 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
9971 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9972
9973 @table @code
9974 @kindex passcount
9975 @cindex tracepoint pass count
9976 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9977 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9978 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9979 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9980 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9981 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9982 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9983 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9984 user.
9985
9986 Examples:
9987
9988 @smallexample
9989 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9990 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9991
9992 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9993 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9994 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9995 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9996 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9997 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9998 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9999 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
10000 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
10001 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
10002 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
10003 @end smallexample
10004 @end table
10005
10006 @node Tracepoint Conditions
10007 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
10008 @cindex conditional tracepoints
10009 @cindex tracepoint conditions
10010
10011 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
10012 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
10013 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
10014 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
10015 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
10016 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
10017 is true.
10018
10019 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
10020 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
10021 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
10022 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
10023 just as with breakpoints.
10024
10025 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
10026 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
10027 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
10028 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
10029 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
10030 accesses, and so forth.
10031
10032 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
10033 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
10034 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
10035 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
10036 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
10037 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
10038 search through.
10039
10040 @smallexample
10041 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
10042 @end smallexample
10043
10044 @node Trace State Variables
10045 @subsection Trace State Variables
10046 @cindex trace state variables
10047
10048 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
10049 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
10050 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
10051 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
10052 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
10053 integers.
10054
10055 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
10056 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
10057 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
10058 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
10059
10060 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
10061 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
10062 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
10063 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
10064 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
10065 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
10066 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
10067 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
10068 variable with the same name.
10069
10070 @table @code
10071
10072 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
10073 @kindex tvariable
10074 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
10075 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
10076 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
10077 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
10078 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
10079 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
10080 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
10081 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
10082 value. The default initial value is 0.
10083
10084 @item info tvariables
10085 @kindex info tvariables
10086 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
10087 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
10088 currently running.
10089
10090 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
10091 @kindex delete tvariable
10092 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
10093 are specified.
10094
10095 @end table
10096
10097 @node Tracepoint Actions
10098 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
10099
10100 @table @code
10101 @kindex actions
10102 @cindex tracepoint actions
10103 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10104 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
10105 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
10106 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
10107 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
10108 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
10109 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
10110 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
10111 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
10112 @code{while-stepping}.
10113
10114 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
10115 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
10116 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
10117
10118 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
10119 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
10120 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
10121
10122 @smallexample
10123 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
10124
10125 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
10126
10127 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
10128 @end smallexample
10129
10130 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
10131 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
10132 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
10133 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
10134 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
10135 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
10136 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
10137 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
10138
10139 @smallexample
10140 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10141 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10142 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
10143 > collect bar,baz
10144 > collect $regs
10145 > while-stepping 12
10146 > collect $pc, arr[i]
10147 > end
10148 end
10149 @end smallexample
10150
10151 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
10152 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10153 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
10154 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
10155 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
10156 special arguments are supported:
10157
10158 @table @code
10159 @item $regs
10160 Collect all registers.
10161
10162 @item $args
10163 Collect all function arguments.
10164
10165 @item $locals
10166 Collect all local variables.
10167
10168 @item $_sdata
10169 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
10170 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
10171 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
10172 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
10173 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
10174 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
10175 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
10176 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
10177 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
10178
10179 @smallexample
10180 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
10181 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
10182 @end smallexample
10183
10184 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
10185 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
10186 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
10187 @value{GDBN}.
10188 @end table
10189
10190 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
10191 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
10192 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
10193
10194 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
10195 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
10196
10197 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
10198 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10199 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
10200 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
10201 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
10202 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
10203 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
10204 action were used.
10205
10206 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
10207 @item while-stepping @var{n}
10208 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
10209 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
10210 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
10211 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
10212
10213 @smallexample
10214 > while-stepping 12
10215 > collect $regs, myglobal
10216 > end
10217 >
10218 @end smallexample
10219
10220 @noindent
10221 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
10222 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
10223 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
10224 @code{stepping}.
10225
10226 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10227 @kindex set default-collect
10228 @cindex default collection action
10229 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
10230 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
10231 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
10232 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
10233 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
10234 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
10235
10236 @item show default-collect
10237 @kindex show default-collect
10238 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
10239 tracepoint hit.
10240
10241 @end table
10242
10243 @node Listing Tracepoints
10244 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
10245
10246 @table @code
10247 @kindex info tracepoints
10248 @kindex info tp
10249 @cindex information about tracepoints
10250 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10251 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
10252 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
10253 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
10254 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
10255 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
10256
10257 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
10258 tracing:
10259
10260 @itemize @bullet
10261 @item
10262 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
10263 @end itemize
10264
10265 @smallexample
10266 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
10267 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
10268 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
10269 while-stepping 20
10270 collect globfoo, $regs
10271 end
10272 collect globfoo2
10273 end
10274 pass count 1200
10275 (@value{GDBP})
10276 @end smallexample
10277
10278 @noindent
10279 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10280 @end table
10281
10282 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10283 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10284
10285 @table @code
10286 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
10287 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
10288 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
10289 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
10290 program.
10291
10292 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
10293
10294 @table @emph
10295 @item Count
10296 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
10297 stable identifier.
10298 @item ID
10299 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
10300 @item Enabled or Disabled
10301 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
10302 that are not enabled.
10303 @item Address
10304 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
10305 @item What
10306 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
10307 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
10308 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
10309 will be left blank.
10310 @end table
10311
10312 @noindent
10313 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
10314
10315 @table @emph
10316 @item Data
10317 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
10318 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
10319 marker call.
10320 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
10321 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
10322 @end table
10323
10324 @smallexample
10325 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10326 Cnt ID Enb Address What
10327 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
10328 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
10329 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
10330 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
10331 Data: str %s
10332 (@value{GDBP})
10333 @end smallexample
10334 @end table
10335
10336 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10337 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10338
10339 @table @code
10340 @kindex tstart
10341 @cindex start a new trace experiment
10342 @cindex collected data discarded
10343 @item tstart
10344 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
10345 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
10346 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
10347 experiment.
10348
10349 @kindex tstop
10350 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
10351 @item tstop
10352 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
10353 stops collecting data.
10354
10355 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10356 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10357 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10358
10359 @kindex tstatus
10360 @cindex status of trace data collection
10361 @cindex trace experiment, status of
10362 @item tstatus
10363 This command displays the status of the current trace data
10364 collection.
10365 @end table
10366
10367 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10368
10369 @smallexample
10370 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10371 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10372 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10373 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
10374 > while-stepping 11
10375 > collect $regs
10376 > end
10377 > end
10378 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10379 [time passes @dots{}]
10380 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10381 @end smallexample
10382
10383 @cindex disconnected tracing
10384 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10385 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10386 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10387 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10388 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10389 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
10390 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
10391 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
10392
10393 @table @code
10394 @item set disconnected-tracing on
10395 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
10396 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
10397 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
10398 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
10399 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
10400 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
10401 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
10402
10403 @item show disconnected-tracing
10404 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
10405 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
10406
10407 @end table
10408
10409 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
10410 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
10411 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
10412 it will continue after reconnection.
10413
10414 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
10415 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
10416 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
10417 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
10418 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
10419 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
10420 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
10421 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
10422 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
10423 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
10424
10425 @cindex circular trace buffer
10426 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
10427 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
10428 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
10429 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
10430 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
10431 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
10432 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
10433 @samp{circular_trace_buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
10434 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
10435 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
10436 the next run.
10437
10438 @table @code
10439 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
10440 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
10441 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
10442 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
10443 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
10444 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
10445 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
10446
10447 @item show circular-trace-buffer
10448 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
10449 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
10450 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
10451 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
10452 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
10453
10454 @end table
10455
10456 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
10457 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
10458
10459 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
10460 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
10461 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
10462 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
10463 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
10464 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
10465 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
10466 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
10467 mentioned here.
10468
10469 @itemize @bullet
10470
10471 @item
10472 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
10473 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
10474 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
10475 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
10476 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
10477 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
10478 cannot be collected either.
10479
10480 @item
10481 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
10482 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
10483 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
10484 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
10485 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
10486 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
10487 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
10488 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
10489 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
10490 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
10491
10492 @item
10493 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
10494 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
10495 in a misleading way.
10496
10497 @item
10498 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
10499 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
10500 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
10501 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
10502 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
10503 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
10504 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
10505 by @code{ptr}.
10506
10507 @item
10508 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
10509 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
10510 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*$esp@@300}
10511 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
10512 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
10513 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
10514 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
10515 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
10516 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
10517 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
10518 invalid address.
10519
10520 @item
10521 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
10522 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
10523 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
10524 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
10525 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
10526 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
10527 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
10528 it to zero.
10529
10530 @end itemize
10531
10532 @node Analyze Collected Data
10533 @section Using the Collected Data
10534
10535 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
10536 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
10537 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
10538 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
10539 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
10540 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
10541 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
10542 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
10543 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
10544 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
10545 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
10546 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
10547 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
10548 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
10549 the buffer will fail.
10550
10551 @menu
10552 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
10553 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
10554 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
10555 @end menu
10556
10557 @node tfind
10558 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
10559
10560 @kindex tfind
10561 @cindex select trace snapshot
10562 @cindex find trace snapshot
10563 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
10564 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
10565 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
10566 snapshot is selected.
10567
10568 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
10569
10570 @table @code
10571 @item tfind start
10572 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
10573 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
10574
10575 @item tfind none
10576 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
10577
10578 @item tfind end
10579 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
10580
10581 @item tfind
10582 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
10583
10584 @item tfind -
10585 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
10586 retracing earlier steps.
10587
10588 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
10589 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
10590 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
10591 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
10592 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
10593
10594 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
10595 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
10596 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
10597 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
10598 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
10599
10600 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10601 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
10602 addresses (exclusive).
10603
10604 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10605 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
10606 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
10607
10608 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
10609 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
10610 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
10611 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
10612 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
10613 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
10614 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
10615 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
10616 @end table
10617
10618 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
10619 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
10620 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
10621 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
10622 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
10623 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
10624 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
10625 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
10626 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
10627 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
10628 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
10629 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
10630 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
10631 tracepoint as the current one.
10632
10633 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
10634 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
10635 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
10636 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
10637 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
10638
10639 @smallexample
10640 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10641 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10642 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
10643 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
10644 > tfind
10645 > end
10646
10647 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
10648 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
10649 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
10650 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
10651 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
10652 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
10653 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
10654 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
10655 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
10656 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
10657 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
10658 @end smallexample
10659
10660 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
10661 the buffer:
10662
10663 @smallexample
10664 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10665 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10666 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
10667 > tfind line
10668 > end
10669
10670 Frame 0, X = 1
10671 Frame 7, X = 2
10672 Frame 13, X = 255
10673 @end smallexample
10674
10675 @node tdump
10676 @subsection @code{tdump}
10677 @kindex tdump
10678 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
10679 @cindex tracepoint data, display
10680
10681 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
10682 the current trace snapshot.
10683
10684 @smallexample
10685 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
10686 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10687 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
10688 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
10689 > end
10690
10691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10692
10693 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
10694 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
10695 at gdb_test.c:444
10696 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
10697
10698 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
10699 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
10700 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
10701 d1 0x18 24
10702 d2 0x80 128
10703 d3 0x33 51
10704 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
10705 d5 0x22 34
10706 d6 0xe0 224
10707 d7 0x380035 3670069
10708 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
10709 a1 0x3000668 50333288
10710 a2 0x100 256
10711 a3 0x322000 3284992
10712 a4 0x3000698 50333336
10713 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
10714 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
10715 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
10716 ps 0x0 0
10717 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
10718 fpcontrol 0x0 0
10719 fpstatus 0x0 0
10720 fpiaddr 0x0 0
10721 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
10722 p1 = (void *) 0x11
10723 p2 = (void *) 0x22
10724 p3 = (void *) 0x33
10725 p4 = (void *) 0x44
10726 p5 = (void *) 0x55
10727 p6 = (void *) 0x66
10728 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
10729
10730 (@value{GDBP})
10731 @end smallexample
10732
10733 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
10734 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
10735 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
10736 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
10737
10738 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
10739 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
10740 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
10741 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
10742 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
10743 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
10744 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
10745 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
10746 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
10747 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
10748
10749 @node save tracepoints
10750 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
10751 @kindex save tracepoints
10752 @kindex save-tracepoints
10753 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
10754
10755 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
10756 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
10757 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
10758 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
10759 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
10760 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
10761
10762 @node Tracepoint Variables
10763 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
10764 @cindex tracepoint variables
10765 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10766
10767 @table @code
10768 @vindex $trace_frame
10769 @item (int) $trace_frame
10770 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10771 snapshot is selected.
10772
10773 @vindex $tracepoint
10774 @item (int) $tracepoint
10775 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10776
10777 @vindex $trace_line
10778 @item (int) $trace_line
10779 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10780
10781 @vindex $trace_file
10782 @item (char []) $trace_file
10783 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10784
10785 @vindex $trace_func
10786 @item (char []) $trace_func
10787 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10788 @end table
10789
10790 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10791 use @code{output} instead.
10792
10793 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10794 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10795 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10796 which are managed by the target.
10797
10798 @smallexample
10799 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10800
10801 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10802 > output $trace_file
10803 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10804 > tfind
10805 > end
10806 @end smallexample
10807
10808 @node Trace Files
10809 @section Using Trace Files
10810 @cindex trace files
10811
10812 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
10813 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
10814 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
10815 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
10816 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
10817
10818 @table @code
10819
10820 @kindex tsave
10821 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
10822 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
10823 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
10824 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
10825 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
10826 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
10827 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
10828 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
10829 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
10830
10831 @kindex target tfile
10832 @kindex tfile
10833 @item target tfile @var{filename}
10834 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
10835 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
10836 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
10837 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
10838 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
10839 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
10840
10841 @end table
10842
10843 @node Overlays
10844 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10845 @cindex overlays
10846
10847 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10848 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10849 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10850 use overlays.
10851
10852 @menu
10853 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10854 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10855 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10856 mapped by asking the inferior.
10857 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10858 @end menu
10859
10860 @node How Overlays Work
10861 @section How Overlays Work
10862 @cindex mapped overlays
10863 @cindex unmapped overlays
10864 @cindex load address, overlay's
10865 @cindex mapped address
10866 @cindex overlay area
10867
10868 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10869 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10870 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10871 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10872 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10873
10874 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10875 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10876 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10877 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10878 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10879 largest overlay as well.
10880
10881 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10882 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10883 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10884 there.
10885
10886 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10887 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10888 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10889
10890 @smallexample
10891 @group
10892 Data Instruction Larger
10893 Address Space Address Space Address Space
10894 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10895 | | | | | |
10896 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10897 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10898 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
10899 | and heap | | | | | |
10900 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10901 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
10902 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10903 | | | | | |
10904 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10905 address | | | | | |
10906 | overlay | <-' | | |
10907 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10908 | | <---. | | load address
10909 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10910 | | | |
10911 +-----------+ | |
10912 +-----------+
10913 | |
10914 +-----------+
10915
10916 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10917 @end group
10918 @end smallexample
10919
10920 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10921 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10922 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10923 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10924 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10925 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10926 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10927 program and the overlay area.
10928
10929 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10930 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10931 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10932 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10933 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10934 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10935 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10936
10937 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10938 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10939 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10940
10941 @itemize @bullet
10942
10943 @item
10944 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10945 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10946 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10947 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10948
10949 @item
10950 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10951 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10952 your program's performance.
10953
10954 @item
10955 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10956 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10957 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10958 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10959 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10960 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10961 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10962
10963 @item
10964 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10965 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10966 instruction and data spaces.
10967
10968 @end itemize
10969
10970 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10971 improved in many ways:
10972
10973 @itemize @bullet
10974
10975 @item
10976 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10977 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10978 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10979 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10980 area in the usual way.
10981
10982 @item
10983 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
10984 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
10985
10986 @item
10987 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
10988 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
10989 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
10990 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
10991 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
10992 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
10993 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
10994
10995 @end itemize
10996
10997
10998 @node Overlay Commands
10999 @section Overlay Commands
11000
11001 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
11002 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
11003 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
11004 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
11005 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
11006 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
11007
11008 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
11009 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
11010
11011 @table @code
11012 @item overlay off
11013 @kindex overlay
11014 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
11015 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
11016 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
11017 overlay support is disabled.
11018
11019 @item overlay manual
11020 @cindex manual overlay debugging
11021 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11022 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
11023 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
11024 commands described below.
11025
11026 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
11027 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
11028 @cindex map an overlay
11029 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
11030 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
11031 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
11032 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
11033 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
11034 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
11035
11036 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
11037 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
11038 @cindex unmap an overlay
11039 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
11040 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
11041 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
11042 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
11043
11044 @item overlay auto
11045 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11046 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
11047 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
11048 Overlay Debugging}.
11049
11050 @item overlay load-target
11051 @itemx overlay load
11052 @cindex reloading the overlay table
11053 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
11054 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
11055 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
11056 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
11057 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
11058
11059 @item overlay list-overlays
11060 @itemx overlay list
11061 @cindex listing mapped overlays
11062 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
11063 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
11064
11065 @end table
11066
11067 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
11068 of the function the address falls in:
11069
11070 @smallexample
11071 (@value{GDBP}) print main
11072 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
11073 @end smallexample
11074 @noindent
11075 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
11076 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
11077 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
11078 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
11079
11080 @smallexample
11081 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11082 No sections are mapped.
11083 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11084 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
11085 @end smallexample
11086 @noindent
11087 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
11088 name normally:
11089
11090 @smallexample
11091 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11092 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
11093 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
11094 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11095 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
11096 @end smallexample
11097
11098 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
11099 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
11100 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
11101 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
11102 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
11103
11104 @itemize @bullet
11105 @item
11106 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
11107 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
11108 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
11109 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
11110 @item
11111 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
11112 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
11113 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
11114 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
11115 breakpoints properly.
11116 @end itemize
11117
11118
11119 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
11120 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
11121 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
11122
11123 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
11124 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
11125 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
11126 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
11127 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
11128 current state of the overlays.
11129
11130 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
11131 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
11132
11133 @table @asis
11134
11135 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
11136 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
11137
11138 @smallexample
11139 struct
11140 @{
11141 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
11142 unsigned long vma;
11143
11144 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
11145 unsigned long size;
11146
11147 /* The overlay's load address. */
11148 unsigned long lma;
11149
11150 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
11151 zero otherwise. */
11152 unsigned long mapped;
11153 @}
11154 @end smallexample
11155
11156 @item @code{_novlys}:
11157 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
11158 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
11159
11160 @end table
11161
11162 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
11163 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
11164 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
11165 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
11166 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
11167 currently mapped.
11168
11169 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
11170 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
11171 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
11172 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
11173 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
11174 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
11175 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
11176 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
11177 are not being executed.
11178
11179 @node Overlay Sample Program
11180 @section Overlay Sample Program
11181 @cindex overlay example program
11182
11183 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
11184 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
11185 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
11186 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
11187 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
11188 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
11189 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
11190
11191 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
11192 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
11193 suite. The program consists of the following files from
11194 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
11195
11196 @table @file
11197 @item overlays.c
11198 The main program file.
11199 @item ovlymgr.c
11200 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
11201 @item foo.c
11202 @itemx bar.c
11203 @itemx baz.c
11204 @itemx grbx.c
11205 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
11206 @item d10v.ld
11207 @itemx m32r.ld
11208 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
11209 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
11210 @end table
11211
11212 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
11213 cross-compiler like this:
11214
11215 @smallexample
11216 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
11217 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
11218 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
11219 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
11220 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
11221 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
11222 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
11223 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
11224 @end smallexample
11225
11226 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
11227 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
11228 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
11229
11230
11231 @node Languages
11232 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
11233 @cindex languages
11234
11235 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
11236 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
11237 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
11238 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
11239 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
11240 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
11241
11242 @cindex working language
11243 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
11244 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
11245 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
11246 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
11247 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
11248 language}.
11249
11250 @menu
11251 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
11252 * Show:: Displaying the language
11253 * Checks:: Type and range checks
11254 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
11255 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
11256 @end menu
11257
11258 @node Setting
11259 @section Switching Between Source Languages
11260
11261 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
11262 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
11263 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
11264 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
11265 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
11266 are printed, etc.
11267
11268 In addition to the working language, every source file that
11269 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
11270 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
11271 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
11272 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
11273 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
11274 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
11275 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
11276 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
11277 Displaying the Language}.
11278
11279 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
11280 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
11281 another language. In that case, make the
11282 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
11283 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
11284 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
11285
11286 @menu
11287 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
11288 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
11289 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
11290 @end menu
11291
11292 @node Filenames
11293 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
11294
11295 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
11296 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
11297
11298 @table @file
11299 @item .ada
11300 @itemx .ads
11301 @itemx .adb
11302 @itemx .a
11303 Ada source file.
11304
11305 @item .c
11306 C source file
11307
11308 @item .C
11309 @itemx .cc
11310 @itemx .cp
11311 @itemx .cpp
11312 @itemx .cxx
11313 @itemx .c++
11314 C@t{++} source file
11315
11316 @item .d
11317 D source file
11318
11319 @item .m
11320 Objective-C source file
11321
11322 @item .f
11323 @itemx .F
11324 Fortran source file
11325
11326 @item .mod
11327 Modula-2 source file
11328
11329 @item .s
11330 @itemx .S
11331 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
11332 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
11333 @end table
11334
11335 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
11336 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
11337
11338 @node Manually
11339 @subsection Setting the Working Language
11340
11341 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
11342 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
11343 your program.
11344
11345 @kindex set language
11346 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
11347 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
11348 a language, such as
11349 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
11350 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
11351
11352 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
11353 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
11354 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11355 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11356 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11357 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11358 command such as:
11359
11360 @smallexample
11361 print a = b + c
11362 @end smallexample
11363
11364 @noindent
11365 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
11366 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
11367 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
11368 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
11369
11370 @node Automatically
11371 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
11372
11373 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
11374 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
11375 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
11376 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
11377 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
11378 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
11379 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
11380 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
11381 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
11382
11383 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
11384 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
11385 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
11386 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
11387 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
11388
11389 @node Show
11390 @section Displaying the Language
11391
11392 The following commands help you find out which language is the
11393 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
11394
11395 @table @code
11396 @item show language
11397 @kindex show language
11398 Display the current working language. This is the
11399 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
11400 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
11401
11402 @item info frame
11403 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
11404 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
11405 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
11406 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
11407 information listed here.
11408
11409 @item info source
11410 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
11411 Display the source language of this source file.
11412 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
11413 information listed here.
11414 @end table
11415
11416 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
11417 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
11418 with a language explicitly:
11419
11420 @table @code
11421 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
11422 @kindex set extension-language
11423 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
11424 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
11425
11426 @item info extensions
11427 @kindex info extensions
11428 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
11429 @end table
11430
11431 @node Checks
11432 @section Type and Range Checking
11433
11434 @quotation
11435 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
11436 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
11437 section documents the intended facilities.
11438 @end quotation
11439 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
11440
11441 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
11442 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
11443 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
11444 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
11445 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
11446 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
11447 errors when your program is running.
11448
11449 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
11450 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
11451 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
11452 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
11453 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
11454 automatically based on your program's source language.
11455 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
11456 settings of supported languages.
11457
11458 @menu
11459 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
11460 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
11461 @end menu
11462
11463 @cindex type checking
11464 @cindex checks, type
11465 @node Type Checking
11466 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
11467
11468 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
11469 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
11470 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
11471 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
11472
11473 @smallexample
11474 1 + 2 @result{} 3
11475 @exdent but
11476 @error{} 1 + 2.3
11477 @end smallexample
11478
11479 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
11480 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
11481
11482 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
11483 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
11484 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
11485 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
11486 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
11487 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
11488 also issues a warning.
11489
11490 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
11491 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
11492 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
11493 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
11494 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
11495 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
11496
11497 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
11498 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
11499 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
11500 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
11501 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
11502 details on specific languages.
11503
11504 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
11505
11506 @kindex set check type
11507 @kindex show check type
11508 @table @code
11509 @item set check type auto
11510 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
11511 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11512 each language.
11513
11514 @item set check type on
11515 @itemx set check type off
11516 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11517 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
11518 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
11519 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
11520 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
11521
11522 @item set check type warn
11523 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
11524 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
11525 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
11526 numbers and structures.
11527
11528 @item show type
11529 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
11530 is setting it automatically.
11531 @end table
11532
11533 @cindex range checking
11534 @cindex checks, range
11535 @node Range Checking
11536 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
11537
11538 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
11539 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
11540 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
11541 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
11542 not exceed the bounds of the array.
11543
11544 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
11545 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
11546 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
11547 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
11548
11549 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
11550 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
11551 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
11552 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
11553 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
11554 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
11555
11556 @smallexample
11557 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
11558 @end smallexample
11559
11560 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
11561 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
11562 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
11563
11564 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
11565
11566 @kindex set check range
11567 @kindex show check range
11568 @table @code
11569 @item set check range auto
11570 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
11571 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11572 each language.
11573
11574 @item set check range on
11575 @itemx set check range off
11576 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11577 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
11578 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
11579 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
11580
11581 @item set check range warn
11582 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
11583 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
11584 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
11585 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
11586 systems).
11587
11588 @item show range
11589 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
11590 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
11591 @end table
11592
11593 @node Supported Languages
11594 @section Supported Languages
11595
11596 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, OpenCL C, Pascal,
11597 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
11598 @c This is false ...
11599 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
11600 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
11601 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
11602 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
11603 language.
11604
11605 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
11606 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
11607 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
11608 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
11609 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
11610 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
11611 language reference or tutorial.
11612
11613 @menu
11614 * C:: C and C@t{++}
11615 * D:: D
11616 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
11617 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
11618 * Fortran:: Fortran
11619 * Pascal:: Pascal
11620 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
11621 * Ada:: Ada
11622 @end menu
11623
11624 @node C
11625 @subsection C and C@t{++}
11626
11627 @cindex C and C@t{++}
11628 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
11629
11630 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
11631 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
11632 together.
11633
11634 @cindex C@t{++}
11635 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
11636 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
11637 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
11638 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
11639 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
11640 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
11641 compiler (@code{aCC}).
11642
11643 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
11644 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
11645 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
11646 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
11647 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
11648 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
11649
11650 @menu
11651 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
11652 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
11653 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
11654 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
11655 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
11656 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
11657 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
11658 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
11659 @end menu
11660
11661 @node C Operators
11662 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
11663
11664 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
11665
11666 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11667 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11668 often defined on groups of types.
11669
11670 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
11671
11672 @itemize @bullet
11673
11674 @item
11675 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
11676 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
11677
11678 @item
11679 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
11680 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
11681
11682 @item
11683 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
11684
11685 @item
11686 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
11687
11688 @end itemize
11689
11690 @noindent
11691 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
11692 in order of increasing precedence:
11693
11694 @table @code
11695 @item ,
11696 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
11697 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
11698 expression being the last expression evaluated.
11699
11700 @item =
11701 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
11702 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
11703
11704 @item @var{op}=
11705 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
11706 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
11707 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
11708 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
11709 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
11710
11711 @item ?:
11712 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
11713 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
11714 integral type.
11715
11716 @item ||
11717 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11718
11719 @item &&
11720 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11721
11722 @item |
11723 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11724
11725 @item ^
11726 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11727
11728 @item &
11729 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11730
11731 @item ==@r{, }!=
11732 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
11733 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
11734
11735 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
11736 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
11737 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
11738 and non-zero for true.
11739
11740 @item <<@r{, }>>
11741 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
11742
11743 @item @@
11744 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11745
11746 @item +@r{, }-
11747 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
11748 pointer types.
11749
11750 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
11751 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
11752 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
11753 integral types.
11754
11755 @item ++@r{, }--
11756 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
11757 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
11758 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
11759 operation takes place.
11760
11761 @item *
11762 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
11763 @code{++}.
11764
11765 @item &
11766 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
11767
11768 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
11769 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
11770 to examine the address
11771 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
11772 stored.
11773
11774 @item -
11775 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
11776 precedence as @code{++}.
11777
11778 @item !
11779 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11780 @code{++}.
11781
11782 @item ~
11783 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11784 @code{++}.
11785
11786
11787 @item .@r{, }->
11788 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
11789 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
11790 pointer based on the stored type information.
11791 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
11792
11793 @item .*@r{, }->*
11794 Dereferences of pointers to members.
11795
11796 @item []
11797 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
11798 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11799
11800 @item ()
11801 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11802
11803 @item ::
11804 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11805 and @code{class} types.
11806
11807 @item ::
11808 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11809 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11810 above.
11811 @end table
11812
11813 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11814 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11815 predefined meaning.
11816
11817 @node C Constants
11818 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11819
11820 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11821
11822 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11823 following ways:
11824
11825 @itemize @bullet
11826 @item
11827 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11828 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11829 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11830 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11831 @code{long} value.
11832
11833 @item
11834 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11835 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11836 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11837 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11838 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11839 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11840 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11841 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11842 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11843 constant.
11844
11845 @item
11846 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11847 integral equivalents.
11848
11849 @item
11850 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11851 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11852 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11853 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11854 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11855 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11856 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11857 @samp{\n} for newline.
11858
11859 @item
11860 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11861 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11862 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11863 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11864 characters.
11865
11866 @item
11867 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11868 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11869
11870 @item
11871 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11872 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11873 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11874 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11875 @end itemize
11876
11877 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
11878 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11879
11880 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11881 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11882
11883 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11884 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
11885 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11886 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11887 @quotation
11888 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11889 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11890 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11891 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11892 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11893 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11894 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11895 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11896 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11897 C@t{++} code.
11898 @end quotation
11899
11900 @enumerate
11901
11902 @cindex member functions
11903 @item
11904 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11905
11906 @smallexample
11907 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11908 @end smallexample
11909
11910 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11911 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11912 @item
11913 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11914 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11915 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11916 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11917
11918 @cindex call overloaded functions
11919 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
11920 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11921 @item
11922 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11923 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11924 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11925 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11926 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11927 default arguments.
11928
11929 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11930 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11931 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11932 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11933 number of function arguments.
11934
11935 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11936 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11937 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11938
11939 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11940 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11941 @smallexample
11942 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11943 @end smallexample
11944
11945 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11946 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11947
11948 @cindex reference declarations
11949 @item
11950 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11951 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11952 dereferenced.
11953
11954 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11955 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11956 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11957 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11958 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11959
11960 @item
11961 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11962 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11963 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11964 necessary, for example in an expression like
11965 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11966 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11967 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11968 @end enumerate
11969
11970 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11971 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11972 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11973 invoking user-defined operators.
11974
11975 @node C Defaults
11976 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11977
11978 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11979
11980 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11981 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
11982 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11983 selects the working language.
11984
11985 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
11986 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
11987 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
11988 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
11989 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
11990 for further details.
11991
11992 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
11993 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
11994 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
11995
11996 @node C Checks
11997 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
11998
11999 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
12000
12001 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
12002 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
12003 considers two variables type equivalent if:
12004
12005 @itemize @bullet
12006 @item
12007 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
12008 enumerated tag.
12009
12010 @item
12011 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
12012 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
12013
12014 @ignore
12015 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
12016 @c FIXME--beers?
12017 @item
12018 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
12019 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
12020 compilers.)
12021 @end ignore
12022 @end itemize
12023
12024 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
12025 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
12026 that is not itself an array.
12027
12028 @node Debugging C
12029 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
12030
12031 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
12032 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
12033 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
12034 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
12035
12036 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
12037 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
12038 ,Expressions}.
12039
12040 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
12041 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
12042
12043 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
12044
12045 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
12046 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
12047
12048 @table @code
12049 @cindex break in overloaded functions
12050 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
12051 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
12052 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
12053 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
12054 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
12055
12056 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
12057 @item rbreak @var{regex}
12058 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
12059 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
12060 classes.
12061 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12062
12063 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
12064 @item catch throw
12065 @itemx catch catch
12066 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
12067 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
12068
12069 @cindex inheritance
12070 @item ptype @var{typename}
12071 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
12072 @var{typename}.
12073 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
12074
12075 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
12076 @item set print demangle
12077 @itemx show print demangle
12078 @itemx set print asm-demangle
12079 @itemx show print asm-demangle
12080 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
12081 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
12082 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12083
12084 @item set print object
12085 @itemx show print object
12086 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
12087 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12088
12089 @item set print vtbl
12090 @itemx show print vtbl
12091 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
12092 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12093 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
12094 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
12095
12096 @kindex set overload-resolution
12097 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
12098 @item set overload-resolution on
12099 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
12100 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
12101 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
12102 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
12103 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
12104 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
12105
12106 @item set overload-resolution off
12107 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
12108 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12109 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
12110 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
12111 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12112 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
12113 argument types.
12114
12115 @kindex show overload-resolution
12116 @item show overload-resolution
12117 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
12118
12119 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
12120 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
12121 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
12122 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
12123 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
12124 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
12125 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
12126 @end table
12127
12128 @node Decimal Floating Point
12129 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
12130 @cindex decimal floating point format
12131
12132 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
12133 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
12134 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
12135 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
12136
12137 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
12138 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
12139 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
12140 target.
12141
12142 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
12143 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
12144 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
12145
12146 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
12147 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
12148 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
12149
12150 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
12151 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
12152 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
12153
12154 @node D
12155 @subsection D
12156
12157 @cindex D
12158 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
12159 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
12160 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
12161
12162 @node Objective-C
12163 @subsection Objective-C
12164
12165 @cindex Objective-C
12166 This section provides information about some commands and command
12167 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
12168 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
12169 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
12170
12171 @menu
12172 * Method Names in Commands::
12173 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
12174 @end menu
12175
12176 @node Method Names in Commands
12177 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
12178
12179 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
12180 names as line specifications:
12181
12182 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
12183 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
12184 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
12185 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
12186 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
12187 @itemize
12188 @item @code{clear}
12189 @item @code{break}
12190 @item @code{info line}
12191 @item @code{jump}
12192 @item @code{list}
12193 @end itemize
12194
12195 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
12196
12197 @smallexample
12198 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
12199 @end smallexample
12200
12201 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
12202 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
12203 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
12204 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
12205 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
12206 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
12207 debugged, enter:
12208
12209 @smallexample
12210 break -[Fruit create]
12211 @end smallexample
12212
12213 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
12214 enter:
12215
12216 @smallexample
12217 list +[NSText initialize]
12218 @end smallexample
12219
12220 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
12221 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
12222 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
12223 is also possible to specify just a method name:
12224
12225 @smallexample
12226 break create
12227 @end smallexample
12228
12229 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
12230 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
12231 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
12232 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
12233 none apply.
12234
12235 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
12236 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
12237
12238 @smallexample
12239 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
12240 @end smallexample
12241
12242 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
12243 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
12244 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
12245 @kindex print-object
12246 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
12247
12248 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
12249
12250 @smallexample
12251 print -[@var{object} hash]
12252 @end smallexample
12253
12254 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
12255 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
12256 @noindent
12257 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
12258 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
12259 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
12260 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
12261 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
12262 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
12263
12264 @node OpenCL C
12265 @subsection OpenCL C
12266
12267 @cindex OpenCL C
12268 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
12269
12270 @menu
12271 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
12272 * OpenCL C Expressions::
12273 * OpenCL C Operators::
12274 @end menu
12275
12276 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
12277 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
12278
12279 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
12280 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
12281 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
12282 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
12283 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
12284
12285 @node OpenCL C Expressions
12286 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
12287
12288 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
12289 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
12290 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
12291 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
12292
12293 @node OpenCL C Operators
12294 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
12295
12296 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
12297 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
12298 vector data types.
12299
12300 @node Fortran
12301 @subsection Fortran
12302 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
12303
12304 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
12305 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
12306
12307 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
12308 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
12309 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
12310 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
12311 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
12312 underscore.
12313
12314 @menu
12315 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
12316 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
12317 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
12318 @end menu
12319
12320 @node Fortran Operators
12321 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
12322
12323 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
12324
12325 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12326 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
12327 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
12328
12329 @table @code
12330 @item **
12331 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
12332 of the second one.
12333
12334 @item :
12335 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
12336 represent a section of array.
12337
12338 @item %
12339 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
12340 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
12341 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
12342 union type.
12343 @end table
12344
12345 @node Fortran Defaults
12346 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
12347
12348 @cindex Fortran Defaults
12349
12350 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
12351 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
12352 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
12353 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
12354
12355 @node Special Fortran Commands
12356 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
12357
12358 @cindex Special Fortran commands
12359
12360 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
12361 such as displaying common blocks.
12362
12363 @table @code
12364 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
12365 @kindex info common
12366 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
12367 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
12368 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
12369 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
12370 printed.
12371 @end table
12372
12373 @node Pascal
12374 @subsection Pascal
12375
12376 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
12377 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
12378 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
12379 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
12380 syntax.
12381
12382 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
12383 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
12384 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
12385
12386 @node Modula-2
12387 @subsection Modula-2
12388
12389 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
12390
12391 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
12392 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
12393 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
12394 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12395 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
12396 table.
12397
12398 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
12399 @menu
12400 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
12401 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
12402 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
12403 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
12404 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
12405 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
12406 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
12407 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12408 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12409 @end menu
12410
12411 @node M2 Operators
12412 @subsubsection Operators
12413 @cindex Modula-2 operators
12414
12415 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12416 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12417 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
12418 following definitions hold:
12419
12420 @itemize @bullet
12421
12422 @item
12423 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
12424 their subranges.
12425
12426 @item
12427 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
12428
12429 @item
12430 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
12431
12432 @item
12433 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
12434 @var{type}}.
12435
12436 @item
12437 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
12438
12439 @item
12440 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
12441
12442 @item
12443 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
12444 @end itemize
12445
12446 @noindent
12447 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
12448 increasing precedence:
12449
12450 @table @code
12451 @item ,
12452 Function argument or array index separator.
12453
12454 @item :=
12455 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
12456 @var{value}.
12457
12458 @item <@r{, }>
12459 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
12460 types.
12461
12462 @item <=@r{, }>=
12463 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
12464 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
12465 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
12466
12467 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
12468 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
12469 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
12470 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
12471 comment character.
12472
12473 @item IN
12474 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
12475 Same precedence as @code{<}.
12476
12477 @item OR
12478 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12479
12480 @item AND@r{, }&
12481 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12482
12483 @item @@
12484 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12485
12486 @item +@r{, }-
12487 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
12488 and difference on set types.
12489
12490 @item *
12491 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
12492 on set types.
12493
12494 @item /
12495 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
12496 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
12497
12498 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
12499 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
12500 precedence as @code{*}.
12501
12502 @item -
12503 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
12504
12505 @item ^
12506 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
12507
12508 @item NOT
12509 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
12510 @code{^}.
12511
12512 @item .
12513 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
12514 precedence as @code{^}.
12515
12516 @item []
12517 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
12518
12519 @item ()
12520 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
12521 as @code{^}.
12522
12523 @item ::@r{, }.
12524 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
12525 @end table
12526
12527 @quotation
12528 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
12529 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
12530 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
12531 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
12532 @end quotation
12533
12534
12535 @node Built-In Func/Proc
12536 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
12537 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
12538
12539 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
12540 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
12541
12542 @table @var
12543
12544 @item a
12545 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
12546
12547 @item c
12548 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
12549
12550 @item i
12551 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
12552
12553 @item m
12554 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
12555 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
12556 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
12557
12558 @item n
12559 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
12560
12561 @item r
12562 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
12563
12564 @item t
12565 represents a type.
12566
12567 @item v
12568 represents a variable.
12569
12570 @item x
12571 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
12572 explanation of the function for details.
12573 @end table
12574
12575 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
12576
12577 @table @code
12578 @item ABS(@var{n})
12579 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
12580
12581 @item CAP(@var{c})
12582 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
12583 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
12584
12585 @item CHR(@var{i})
12586 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12587
12588 @item DEC(@var{v})
12589 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12590
12591 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
12592 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12593 new value.
12594
12595 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12596 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
12597 set.
12598
12599 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
12600 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
12601
12602 @item HIGH(@var{a})
12603 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
12604
12605 @item INC(@var{v})
12606 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12607
12608 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
12609 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12610 new value.
12611
12612 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12613 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
12614 there. Returns the new set.
12615
12616 @item MAX(@var{t})
12617 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
12618
12619 @item MIN(@var{t})
12620 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
12621
12622 @item ODD(@var{i})
12623 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
12624
12625 @item ORD(@var{x})
12626 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
12627 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
12628 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
12629 integral, character and enumerated types.
12630
12631 @item SIZE(@var{x})
12632 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12633
12634 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
12635 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
12636
12637 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
12638 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12639
12640 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
12641 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12642 @end table
12643
12644 @quotation
12645 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
12646 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
12647 an error.
12648 @end quotation
12649
12650 @cindex Modula-2 constants
12651 @node M2 Constants
12652 @subsubsection Constants
12653
12654 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
12655 ways:
12656
12657 @itemize @bullet
12658
12659 @item
12660 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
12661 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
12662 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
12663 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
12664
12665 @item
12666 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
12667 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
12668 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
12669 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
12670 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
12671 digits.
12672
12673 @item
12674 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
12675 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
12676 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
12677 followed by a @samp{C}.
12678
12679 @item
12680 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
12681 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
12682 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
12683 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
12684 sequences.
12685
12686 @item
12687 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
12688
12689 @item
12690 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
12691 @code{FALSE}.
12692
12693 @item
12694 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
12695
12696 @item
12697 Set constants are not yet supported.
12698 @end itemize
12699
12700 @node M2 Types
12701 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
12702 @cindex Modula-2 types
12703
12704 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
12705 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
12706 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
12707 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
12708 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
12709 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
12710
12711 The first example contains the following section of code:
12712
12713 @smallexample
12714 VAR
12715 s: SET OF CHAR ;
12716 r: [20..40] ;
12717 @end smallexample
12718
12719 @noindent
12720 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
12721 @code{r} and @code{s}.
12722
12723 @smallexample
12724 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12725 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
12726 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12727 SET OF CHAR
12728 (@value{GDBP}) print r
12729 21
12730 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
12731 [20..40]
12732 @end smallexample
12733
12734 @noindent
12735 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
12736
12737 @smallexample
12738 VAR
12739 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
12740 @end smallexample
12741
12742 @noindent
12743 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
12744
12745 @smallexample
12746 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12747 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
12748 @end smallexample
12749
12750 @noindent
12751 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
12752 expressions using the debugger.
12753
12754 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
12755 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
12756
12757 @smallexample
12758 VAR
12759 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
12760 @end smallexample
12761
12762 @smallexample
12763 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12764 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
12765 @end smallexample
12766
12767 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
12768 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
12769 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
12770 above.
12771
12772 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
12773
12774 @smallexample
12775 TYPE
12776 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
12777 t = [blue..yellow] ;
12778 VAR
12779 s: t ;
12780 BEGIN
12781 s := blue ;
12782 @end smallexample
12783
12784 @noindent
12785 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
12786 and value of a variable.
12787
12788 @smallexample
12789 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12790 $1 = blue
12791 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
12792 type = [blue..yellow]
12793 @end smallexample
12794
12795 @noindent
12796 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
12797 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
12798 their @code{C} counterparts.
12799
12800 @smallexample
12801 VAR
12802 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12803 BEGIN
12804 s[1] := 1 ;
12805 @end smallexample
12806
12807 @smallexample
12808 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12809 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
12810 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12811 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12812 @end smallexample
12813
12814 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
12815 pointer types as shown in this example:
12816
12817 @smallexample
12818 VAR
12819 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12820 BEGIN
12821 NEW(s) ;
12822 s^[1] := 1 ;
12823 @end smallexample
12824
12825 @noindent
12826 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
12827
12828 @smallexample
12829 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12830 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12831 @end smallexample
12832
12833 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
12834 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
12835 types:
12836
12837 @smallexample
12838 TYPE
12839 foo = RECORD
12840 f1: CARDINAL ;
12841 f2: CHAR ;
12842 f3: myarray ;
12843 END ;
12844
12845 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
12846 myrange = [-2..2] ;
12847 VAR
12848 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12849 @end smallexample
12850
12851 @noindent
12852 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12853 below.
12854
12855 @smallexample
12856 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12857 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12858 f1 : CARDINAL;
12859 f2 : CHAR;
12860 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12861 END
12862 @end smallexample
12863
12864 @node M2 Defaults
12865 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12866 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
12867
12868 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12869 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12870 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12871 selected the working language.
12872
12873 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12874 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12875 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12876 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12877
12878 @node Deviations
12879 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12880 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12881
12882 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12883 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12884
12885 @itemize @bullet
12886 @item
12887 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12888 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12889 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12890 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12891 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12892 returned a pointer.)
12893
12894 @item
12895 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12896 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12897 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12898 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12899
12900 @item
12901 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12902 argument.
12903
12904 @item
12905 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12906 @end itemize
12907
12908 @node M2 Checks
12909 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12910 @cindex Modula-2 checks
12911
12912 @quotation
12913 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12914 range checking.
12915 @end quotation
12916 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12917
12918 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12919
12920 @itemize @bullet
12921 @item
12922 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12923 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12924
12925 @item
12926 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12927 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12928 @end itemize
12929
12930 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12931 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12932
12933 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12934 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12935
12936 @node M2 Scope
12937 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12938 @cindex scope
12939 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12940 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12941 @ifinfo
12942 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12943 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12944 @end ifinfo
12945 @ifnotinfo
12946 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
12947 @end ifnotinfo
12948
12949 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
12950 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
12951 similar syntax:
12952
12953 @smallexample
12954
12955 @var{module} . @var{id}
12956 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
12957 @end smallexample
12958
12959 @noindent
12960 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12961 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12962 identifier within your program, except another module.
12963
12964 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12965 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12966 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12967 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12968
12969 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12970 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12971 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12972 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12973 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12974 @var{module}.
12975
12976 @node GDB/M2
12977 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12978
12979 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12980 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12981 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
12982 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
12983 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
12984 analogue in Modula-2.
12985
12986 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
12987 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
12988 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
12989 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
12990 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
12991 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
12992
12993 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
12994 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
12995 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
12996
12997 @node Ada
12998 @subsection Ada
12999 @cindex Ada
13000
13001 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
13002 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
13003 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
13004 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13005 to be difficult.
13006
13007
13008 @cindex expressions in Ada
13009 @menu
13010 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
13011 and semantics supported by Ada mode
13012 in @value{GDBN}.
13013 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
13014 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
13015 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
13016 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
13017 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13018 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
13019 Profile
13020 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
13021 @end menu
13022
13023 @node Ada Mode Intro
13024 @subsubsection Introduction
13025 @cindex Ada mode, general
13026
13027 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
13028 syntax, with some extensions.
13029 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
13030
13031 @itemize @bullet
13032 @item
13033 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
13034 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
13035 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
13036 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
13037
13038 @item
13039 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
13040 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13041
13042 @item
13043 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13044 @end itemize
13045
13046 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
13047 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
13048 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
13049 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
13050 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
13051
13052 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
13053 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
13054 was translated from an Ada source file.
13055
13056 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
13057 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
13058 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
13059 middle (to allow based literals).
13060
13061 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
13062 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
13063 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
13064 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
13065 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
13066 functions to procedures elsewhere.
13067
13068 @node Omissions from Ada
13069 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
13070 @cindex Ada, omissions from
13071
13072 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
13073
13074 @itemize @bullet
13075 @item
13076 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
13077
13078 @itemize @minus
13079 @item
13080 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
13081 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
13082
13083 @item
13084 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
13085
13086 @item
13087 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
13088
13089 @item
13090 @t{'Tag}.
13091
13092 @item
13093 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
13094 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
13095
13096 @item
13097 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
13098 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
13099
13100 @item
13101 @t{'Address}.
13102 @end itemize
13103
13104 @item
13105 The names in
13106 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
13107 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
13108 not currently available.
13109
13110 @item
13111 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
13112 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
13113 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
13114 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
13115 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
13116 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
13117 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
13118 indeterminate values.
13119
13120 @item
13121 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
13122 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
13123 are not implemented.
13124
13125 @item
13126 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
13127 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
13128 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
13129 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
13130 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
13131
13132 @smallexample
13133 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
13134 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
13135 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
13136 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
13137 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
13138 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
13139 @end smallexample
13140
13141 Changing a
13142 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
13143 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
13144 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
13145 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
13146 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
13147 declared to have a type such as:
13148
13149 @smallexample
13150 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
13151 Id : Integer;
13152 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
13153 end record;
13154 @end smallexample
13155
13156 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
13157 assignments:
13158
13159 @smallexample
13160 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
13161 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
13162 @end smallexample
13163
13164 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
13165 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
13166 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
13167 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
13168 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
13169 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
13170 redundant component associations, although which component values are
13171 assigned in such cases is not defined.
13172
13173 @item
13174 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
13175
13176 @item
13177 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
13178 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
13179 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
13180 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
13181 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
13182 the proper resolution.
13183
13184 @item
13185 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
13186
13187 @item
13188 Entry calls are not implemented.
13189
13190 @item
13191 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
13192 formats are not supported.
13193
13194 @item
13195 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
13196
13197 @item
13198 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
13199 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
13200 context.
13201 Should your program
13202 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
13203 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
13204 @end itemize
13205
13206 @node Additions to Ada
13207 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
13208 @cindex Ada, deviations from
13209
13210 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
13211 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
13212
13213 @itemize @bullet
13214 @item
13215 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
13216 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
13217 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
13218 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
13219 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
13220 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
13221 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
13222 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
13223
13224 @item
13225 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
13226 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
13227 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
13228
13229 @item
13230 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
13231 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
13232
13233 @item
13234 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
13235 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
13236 @end itemize
13237
13238 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
13239 additions specific to Ada:
13240
13241 @itemize @bullet
13242 @item
13243 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
13244 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
13245
13246 @smallexample
13247 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
13248 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
13249 @end smallexample
13250
13251 @item
13252 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
13253 the value of its right-hand operand.
13254 This allows, for example,
13255 complex conditional breaks:
13256
13257 @smallexample
13258 (@value{GDBP}) break f
13259 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
13260 @end smallexample
13261
13262 @item
13263 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
13264 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
13265 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
13266 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
13267 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
13268 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
13269 in strings. For example,
13270 @smallexample
13271 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
13272 @end smallexample
13273 @noindent
13274 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
13275 after each period.
13276
13277 @item
13278 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
13279 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
13280 to write
13281
13282 @smallexample
13283 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
13284 @end smallexample
13285
13286 @item
13287 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
13288 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
13289 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
13290 of 3 might print as
13291
13292 @smallexample
13293 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
13294 @end smallexample
13295
13296 @noindent
13297 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
13298 clause.
13299
13300 @item
13301 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
13302 multi-character subsequence of
13303 their names (an exact match gets preference).
13304 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
13305 in place of @t{a'length}.
13306
13307 @item
13308 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
13309 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
13310 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
13311 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
13312 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
13313 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
13314 For example,
13315 @smallexample
13316 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
13317 @end smallexample
13318
13319 @item
13320 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
13321 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
13322 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
13323 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
13324 object.
13325
13326 @end itemize
13327
13328 @node Stopping Before Main Program
13329 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
13330
13331 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
13332 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
13333 before reaching the main procedure.
13334 As defined in the Ada Reference
13335 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
13336 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
13337 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
13338 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
13339
13340 @node Ada Tasks
13341 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
13342 @cindex Ada, tasking
13343
13344 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
13345 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
13346
13347 @table @code
13348 @kindex info tasks
13349 @item info tasks
13350 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
13351
13352
13353 @smallexample
13354 @iftex
13355 @leftskip=0.5cm
13356 @end iftex
13357 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13358 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13359 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13360 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
13361 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
13362 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
13363
13364 @end smallexample
13365
13366 @noindent
13367 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
13368 task currently being inspected.
13369
13370 @table @asis
13371 @item ID
13372 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
13373
13374 @item TID
13375 The Ada task ID.
13376
13377 @item P-ID
13378 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
13379
13380 @item Pri
13381 The base priority of the task.
13382
13383 @item State
13384 Current state of the task.
13385
13386 @table @code
13387 @item Unactivated
13388 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
13389 executing.
13390
13391 @item Runnable
13392 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
13393 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
13394
13395 @item Terminated
13396 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
13397 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
13398 terminated themselves.
13399
13400 @item Child Activation Wait
13401 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
13402
13403 @item Accept Statement
13404 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
13405
13406 @item Waiting on entry call
13407 The task is waiting on an entry call.
13408
13409 @item Async Select Wait
13410 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
13411 select statement.
13412
13413 @item Delay Sleep
13414 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
13415 alternative open.
13416
13417 @item Child Termination Wait
13418 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
13419 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
13420 waiting on a terminate Phase.
13421
13422 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
13423 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
13424 finish terminating.
13425
13426 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
13427 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
13428 @end table
13429
13430 @item Name
13431 Name of the task in the program.
13432
13433 @end table
13434
13435 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
13436 @item info task @var{taskno}
13437 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
13438 the following example:
13439 @smallexample
13440 @iftex
13441 @leftskip=0.5cm
13442 @end iftex
13443 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13444 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13445 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13446 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
13447 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
13448 Ada Task: 0x807c468
13449 Name: task_1
13450 Thread: 0x807f378
13451 Parent: 1 (main_task)
13452 Base Priority: 15
13453 State: Runnable
13454 @end smallexample
13455
13456 @item task
13457 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
13458 @cindex current Ada task ID
13459 This command prints the ID of the current task.
13460
13461 @smallexample
13462 @iftex
13463 @leftskip=0.5cm
13464 @end iftex
13465 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13466 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13467 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13468 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13469 (@value{GDBP}) task
13470 [Current task is 2]
13471 @end smallexample
13472
13473 @item task @var{taskno}
13474 @cindex Ada task switching
13475 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
13476 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
13477 from the current task to the given task.
13478
13479 @smallexample
13480 @iftex
13481 @leftskip=0.5cm
13482 @end iftex
13483 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13484 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13485 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13486 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13487 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
13488 [Switching to task 1]
13489 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13490 (@value{GDBP}) bt
13491 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13492 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
13493 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
13494 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
13495 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
13496 @end smallexample
13497
13498 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
13499 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
13500 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
13501 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
13502 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
13503 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
13504 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
13505 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
13506 in @ref{Specify Location}.
13507
13508 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
13509 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
13510 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
13511 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
13512 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
13513
13514 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
13515 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
13516 program.
13517
13518 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
13519 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
13520 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
13521
13522 For example,
13523
13524 @smallexample
13525 @iftex
13526 @leftskip=0.5cm
13527 @end iftex
13528 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13529 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13530 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13531 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
13532 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13533 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
13534 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
13535 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
13536 (@value{GDBP}) cont
13537 Continuing.
13538 task # 1 running
13539 task # 2 running
13540
13541 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
13542 15 flush;
13543 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13544 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13545 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13546 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
13547 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13548 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
13549 @end smallexample
13550 @end table
13551
13552 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
13553 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13554 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
13555
13556 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
13557 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
13558 the platform being used.
13559 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
13560 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
13561 as usual.
13562
13563 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
13564 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
13565 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
13566 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
13567 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
13568 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
13569
13570 @node Ravenscar Profile
13571 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
13572 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
13573
13574 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
13575 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
13576 requirements.
13577
13578 @table @code
13579 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
13580 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
13581 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
13582 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
13583 Profile. This is the default.
13584
13585 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
13586 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
13587 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
13588 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
13589 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
13590 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
13591 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
13592
13593 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
13594 @item show ravenscar task-switching
13595 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
13596 using the Ravenscar Profile.
13597
13598 @end table
13599
13600 @node Ada Glitches
13601 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
13602 @cindex Ada, problems
13603
13604 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
13605 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
13606 @value{GDBN},
13607 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
13608 and the GNU Ada compiler.
13609
13610 @itemize @bullet
13611 @item
13612 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
13613 storage are invisible to the debugger.
13614
13615 @item
13616 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
13617 argument lists are treated as positional).
13618
13619 @item
13620 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
13621
13622 @item
13623 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
13624 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
13625 the host machine.
13626
13627 @item
13628 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
13629 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
13630 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
13631 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
13632 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
13633 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
13634 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
13635 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
13636 you can usually resolve the confusion
13637 by qualifying the problematic names with package
13638 @code{Standard} explicitly.
13639 @end itemize
13640
13641 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
13642 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
13643 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
13644 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
13645 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
13646 enabled.
13647
13648 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13649 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13650 @table @code
13651
13652 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
13653 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
13654 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
13655 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
13656 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
13657 This is the default.
13658
13659 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
13660 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
13661 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
13662 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
13663 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
13664 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
13665 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
13666
13667 @end table
13668
13669 @node Unsupported Languages
13670 @section Unsupported Languages
13671
13672 @cindex unsupported languages
13673 @cindex minimal language
13674 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
13675 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
13676 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
13677 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
13678 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
13679 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
13680
13681 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
13682 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
13683 language.
13684
13685 @node Symbols
13686 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
13687
13688 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
13689 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
13690 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
13691 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
13692 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
13693 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
13694 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13695
13696 @cindex symbol names
13697 @cindex names of symbols
13698 @cindex quoting names
13699 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
13700 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
13701 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
13702 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
13703 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
13704 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
13705 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
13706 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
13707
13708 @smallexample
13709 p 'foo.c'::x
13710 @end smallexample
13711
13712 @noindent
13713 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
13714
13715 @table @code
13716 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
13717 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
13718 @kindex set case-sensitive
13719 @item set case-sensitive on
13720 @itemx set case-sensitive off
13721 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
13722 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
13723 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
13724 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
13725 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
13726 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
13727 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
13728 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
13729 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
13730 case-insensitive matches.
13731
13732 @kindex show case-sensitive
13733 @item show case-sensitive
13734 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
13735 lookups.
13736
13737 @kindex info address
13738 @cindex address of a symbol
13739 @item info address @var{symbol}
13740 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
13741 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
13742 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
13743 is always stored.
13744
13745 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
13746 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
13747 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
13748
13749 @kindex info symbol
13750 @cindex symbol from address
13751 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
13752 @item info symbol @var{addr}
13753 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
13754 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
13755 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
13756
13757 @smallexample
13758 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
13759 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
13760 @end smallexample
13761
13762 @noindent
13763 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
13764 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
13765
13766 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
13767 library containing the symbol is also printed:
13768
13769 @smallexample
13770 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
13771 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
13772 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
13773 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
13774 @end smallexample
13775
13776 @kindex whatis
13777 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
13778 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
13779 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
13780 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
13781 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
13782 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
13783 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
13784 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
13785 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
13786 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
13787 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13788
13789 @kindex ptype
13790 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
13791 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
13792 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
13793 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13794
13795 For example, for this variable declaration:
13796
13797 @smallexample
13798 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
13799 @end smallexample
13800
13801 @noindent
13802 the two commands give this output:
13803
13804 @smallexample
13805 @group
13806 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
13807 type = struct complex
13808 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
13809 type = struct complex @{
13810 double real;
13811 double imag;
13812 @}
13813 @end group
13814 @end smallexample
13815
13816 @noindent
13817 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
13818 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
13819
13820 @cindex incomplete type
13821 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
13822 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
13823 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
13824 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
13825 given these declarations:
13826
13827 @smallexample
13828 struct foo;
13829 struct foo *fooptr;
13830 @end smallexample
13831
13832 @noindent
13833 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
13834
13835 @smallexample
13836 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
13837 $1 = <incomplete type>
13838 @end smallexample
13839
13840 @noindent
13841 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
13842 completely specified.
13843
13844 @kindex info types
13845 @item info types @var{regexp}
13846 @itemx info types
13847 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
13848 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
13849 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
13850 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
13851 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
13852 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
13853 name is @code{value}.
13854
13855 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
13856 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
13857 lists all source files where a type is defined.
13858
13859 @kindex info scope
13860 @cindex local variables
13861 @item info scope @var{location}
13862 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
13863 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
13864 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
13865 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
13866 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
13867
13868 @smallexample
13869 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
13870 Scope for command_line_handler:
13871 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
13872 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
13873 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
13874 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
13875 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
13876 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
13877 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
13878 @end smallexample
13879
13880 @noindent
13881 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
13882 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
13883 collect}.
13884
13885 @kindex info source
13886 @item info source
13887 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
13888 the function containing the current point of execution:
13889 @itemize @bullet
13890 @item
13891 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
13892 @item
13893 the directory it was compiled in,
13894 @item
13895 its length, in lines,
13896 @item
13897 which programming language it is written in,
13898 @item
13899 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
13900 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13901 @item
13902 whether the debugging information includes information about
13903 preprocessor macros.
13904 @end itemize
13905
13906
13907 @kindex info sources
13908 @item info sources
13909 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13910 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13911 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13912
13913 @kindex info functions
13914 @item info functions
13915 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13916
13917 @item info functions @var{regexp}
13918 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13919 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13920 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13921 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13922 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13923 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13924 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13925
13926 @kindex info variables
13927 @item info variables
13928 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13929 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13930
13931 @item info variables @var{regexp}
13932 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13933 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13934 @var{regexp}.
13935
13936 @kindex info classes
13937 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13938 @item info classes
13939 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13940 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13941 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13942 expression.
13943
13944 @kindex info selectors
13945 @item info selectors
13946 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
13947 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
13948 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13949 expression.
13950
13951 @ignore
13952 This was never implemented.
13953 @kindex info methods
13954 @item info methods
13955 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
13956 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
13957 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
13958 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
13959 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
13960 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
13961 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
13962 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
13963 @end ignore
13964
13965 @cindex reloading symbols
13966 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
13967 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
13968 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
13969 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
13970 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
13971
13972 @table @code
13973 @kindex set symbol-reloading
13974 @item set symbol-reloading on
13975 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
13976 object file with a particular name is seen again.
13977
13978 @item set symbol-reloading off
13979 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
13980 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
13981 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
13982 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
13983 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
13984 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
13985 name.
13986
13987 @kindex show symbol-reloading
13988 @item show symbol-reloading
13989 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
13990 @end table
13991
13992 @cindex opaque data types
13993 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
13994 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
13995 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
13996 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
13997 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
13998 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
13999 another source file. The default is on.
14000
14001 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
14002 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
14003
14004 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
14005 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
14006 is printed as follows:
14007 @smallexample
14008 @{<no data fields>@}
14009 @end smallexample
14010
14011 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
14012 @item show opaque-type-resolution
14013 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
14014
14015 @kindex maint print symbols
14016 @cindex symbol dump
14017 @kindex maint print psymbols
14018 @cindex partial symbol dump
14019 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
14020 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
14021 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
14022 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
14023 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
14024 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
14025 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
14026 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
14027 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
14028 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
14029 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
14030 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
14031 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
14032 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
14033 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
14034 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
14035 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
14036
14037 @kindex maint info symtabs
14038 @kindex maint info psymtabs
14039 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
14040 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14041 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14042 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14043 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14044 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14045
14046 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
14047 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
14048 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
14049 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
14050 structure in more detail. For example:
14051
14052 @smallexample
14053 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
14054 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14055 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14056 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14057 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
14058 readin no
14059 fullname (null)
14060 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
14061 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
14062 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
14063 dependencies (none)
14064 @}
14065 @}
14066 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14067 (@value{GDBP})
14068 @end smallexample
14069 @noindent
14070 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
14071 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
14072 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
14073 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
14074 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
14075
14076 @smallexample
14077 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
14078 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
14079 line 1574.
14080 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14081 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14082 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14083 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14084 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
14085 dirname (null)
14086 fullname (null)
14087 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
14088 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
14089 debugformat DWARF 2
14090 @}
14091 @}
14092 (@value{GDBP})
14093 @end smallexample
14094 @end table
14095
14096
14097 @node Altering
14098 @chapter Altering Execution
14099
14100 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
14101 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
14102 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
14103 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
14104 program.
14105
14106 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
14107 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
14108 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
14109
14110 @menu
14111 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
14112 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
14113 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
14114 * Returning:: Returning from a function
14115 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
14116 * Patching:: Patching your program
14117 @end menu
14118
14119 @node Assignment
14120 @section Assignment to Variables
14121
14122 @cindex assignment
14123 @cindex setting variables
14124 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
14125 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
14126
14127 @smallexample
14128 print x=4
14129 @end smallexample
14130
14131 @noindent
14132 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
14133 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
14134 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
14135 information on operators in supported languages.
14136
14137 @kindex set variable
14138 @cindex variables, setting
14139 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
14140 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
14141 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
14142 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
14143 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
14144
14145 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
14146 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
14147 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
14148 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
14149 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
14150 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
14151 command @code{set width}:
14152
14153 @smallexample
14154 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
14155 type = double
14156 (@value{GDBP}) p width
14157 $4 = 13
14158 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
14159 Invalid syntax in expression.
14160 @end smallexample
14161
14162 @noindent
14163 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
14164 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
14165
14166 @smallexample
14167 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
14168 @end smallexample
14169
14170 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
14171 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
14172 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
14173 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
14174 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
14175 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
14176
14177 @smallexample
14178 @group
14179 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
14180 type = double
14181 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14182 $1 = 1
14183 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
14184 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14185 $2 = 1
14186 (@value{GDBP}) r
14187 The program being debugged has been started already.
14188 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
14189 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
14190 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
14191 Invalid bfd target.
14192 (@value{GDBP}) show g
14193 The current BFD target is "=4".
14194 @end group
14195 @end smallexample
14196
14197 @noindent
14198 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
14199 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
14200 @code{g}, use
14201
14202 @smallexample
14203 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
14204 @end smallexample
14205
14206 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
14207 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
14208 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
14209 same length or shorter.
14210 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
14211 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
14212
14213 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
14214 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
14215 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
14216 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
14217 and representation in memory), and
14218
14219 @smallexample
14220 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
14221 @end smallexample
14222
14223 @noindent
14224 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
14225
14226 @node Jumping
14227 @section Continuing at a Different Address
14228
14229 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
14230 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
14231 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
14232
14233 @table @code
14234 @kindex jump
14235 @item jump @var{linespec}
14236 @itemx jump @var{location}
14237 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
14238 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
14239 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
14240 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
14241 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
14242 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14243
14244 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
14245 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
14246 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
14247 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
14248 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
14249 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
14250 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
14251 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
14252 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
14253 @end table
14254
14255 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
14256 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
14257 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
14258 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
14259 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
14260 example,
14261
14262 @smallexample
14263 set $pc = 0x485
14264 @end smallexample
14265
14266 @noindent
14267 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
14268 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
14269 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
14270
14271 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
14272 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
14273 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
14274 detail.
14275
14276 @c @group
14277 @node Signaling
14278 @section Giving your Program a Signal
14279 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
14280
14281 @table @code
14282 @kindex signal
14283 @item signal @var{signal}
14284 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
14285 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
14286 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
14287 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
14288
14289 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
14290 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
14291 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
14292 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
14293 signal.
14294
14295 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
14296 after executing the command.
14297 @end table
14298 @c @end group
14299
14300 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
14301 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
14302 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
14303 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
14304 passes the signal directly to your program.
14305
14306
14307 @node Returning
14308 @section Returning from a Function
14309
14310 @table @code
14311 @cindex returning from a function
14312 @kindex return
14313 @item return
14314 @itemx return @var{expression}
14315 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
14316 command. If you give an
14317 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
14318 value.
14319 @end table
14320
14321 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
14322 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
14323 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
14324 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
14325
14326 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
14327 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
14328 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
14329 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
14330 of functions.
14331
14332 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
14333 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
14334 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
14335 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
14336 selected stack frame returns naturally.
14337
14338 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
14339 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
14340 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
14341 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
14342 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
14343 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
14344 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
14345 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
14346 assignment into the right register(s).
14347
14348 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
14349 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
14350 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
14351 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
14352 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
14353 into a @code{long long int}:
14354
14355 @smallexample
14356 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
14357 29 return 31;
14358 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
14359 Make func return now? (y or n) y
14360 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
14361 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
14362 (@value{GDBP})
14363 @end smallexample
14364
14365 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
14366 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
14367 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
14368 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
14369 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
14370 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
14371 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
14372 an appropriate cast explicitly:
14373
14374 @smallexample
14375 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
14376 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
14377 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
14378 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
14379 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
14380 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
14381 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
14382 (@value{GDBP})
14383 @end smallexample
14384
14385 @node Calling
14386 @section Calling Program Functions
14387
14388 @table @code
14389 @cindex calling functions
14390 @cindex inferior functions, calling
14391 @item print @var{expr}
14392 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
14393 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
14394 debugged.
14395
14396 @kindex call
14397 @item call @var{expr}
14398 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
14399 returned values.
14400
14401 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
14402 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
14403 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
14404 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
14405 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
14406 value history.
14407 @end table
14408
14409 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
14410 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
14411 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
14412 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
14413
14414 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
14415 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
14416 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
14417 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
14418 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
14419 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
14420 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
14421 in that case is controlled by the
14422 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
14423
14424 @table @code
14425 @item set unwindonsignal
14426 @kindex set unwindonsignal
14427 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
14428 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
14429 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
14430 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
14431 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
14432 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
14433 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
14434 received.
14435
14436 @item show unwindonsignal
14437 @kindex show unwindonsignal
14438 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14439 @value{GDBN}.
14440
14441 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14442 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14443 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
14444 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
14445 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
14446 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
14447 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
14448 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
14449 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
14450 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
14451
14452 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14453 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14454 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14455 @value{GDBN}.
14456
14457 @end table
14458
14459 @cindex weak alias functions
14460 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
14461 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
14462 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
14463 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
14464 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
14465 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
14466 function instead.
14467
14468 @node Patching
14469 @section Patching Programs
14470
14471 @cindex patching binaries
14472 @cindex writing into executables
14473 @cindex writing into corefiles
14474
14475 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
14476 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
14477 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
14478 patching your program's binary.
14479
14480 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
14481 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
14482 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
14483 repairs.
14484
14485 @table @code
14486 @kindex set write
14487 @item set write on
14488 @itemx set write off
14489 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
14490 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
14491 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
14492
14493 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
14494 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
14495 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
14496
14497 @item show write
14498 @kindex show write
14499 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
14500 as well as reading.
14501 @end table
14502
14503 @node GDB Files
14504 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
14505
14506 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
14507 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
14508 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
14509 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
14510
14511 @menu
14512 * Files:: Commands to specify files
14513 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
14514 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
14515 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
14516 * Data Files:: GDB data files
14517 @end menu
14518
14519 @node Files
14520 @section Commands to Specify Files
14521
14522 @cindex symbol table
14523 @cindex core dump file
14524
14525 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
14526 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
14527 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
14528 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
14529
14530 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
14531 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
14532 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
14533 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
14534 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
14535 new files are useful.
14536
14537 @table @code
14538 @cindex executable file
14539 @kindex file
14540 @item file @var{filename}
14541 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
14542 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
14543 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
14544 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
14545 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
14546 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
14547 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
14548 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
14549
14550 @cindex unlinked object files
14551 @cindex patching object files
14552 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
14553 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
14554 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
14555 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
14556 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
14557 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
14558 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
14559 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
14560
14561 @item file
14562 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
14563 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
14564
14565 @kindex exec-file
14566 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14567 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
14568 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
14569 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
14570 discard information on the executable file.
14571
14572 @kindex symbol-file
14573 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14574 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
14575 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
14576 table and program to run from the same file.
14577
14578 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
14579 program's symbol table.
14580
14581 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
14582 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
14583 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
14584 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
14585 @value{GDBN}.
14586
14587 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
14588 executing it once.
14589
14590 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
14591 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
14592 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14593 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
14594 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
14595 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
14596 optimized code.
14597
14598 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
14599 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
14600 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
14601 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
14602 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
14603
14604 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
14605 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
14606 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
14607 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
14608 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
14609 Warnings and Messages}.)
14610
14611 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
14612 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
14613 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
14614 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
14615 in stabs format.
14616
14617 @kindex readnow
14618 @cindex reading symbols immediately
14619 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
14620 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14621 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14622 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
14623 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
14624 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14625 entire symbol table available.
14626
14627 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
14628 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
14629 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
14630 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
14631 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
14632 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
14633 @c files.
14634
14635 @kindex core-file
14636 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
14637 @itemx core
14638 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
14639 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
14640 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
14641 executable file itself for other parts.
14642
14643 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
14644 to be used.
14645
14646 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
14647 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
14648 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
14649 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
14650 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
14651
14652 @kindex add-symbol-file
14653 @cindex dynamic linking
14654 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
14655 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
14656 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
14657 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
14658 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
14659 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
14660 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
14661 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
14662 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
14663 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
14664 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
14665 @var{address} as an expression.
14666
14667 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
14668 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
14669 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
14670 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
14671 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
14672
14673 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
14674 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
14675 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
14676 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
14677 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
14678 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
14679 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
14680 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
14681 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
14682
14683 @itemize @bullet
14684 @item
14685 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
14686 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
14687 @item
14688 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
14689 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
14690 @item
14691 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
14692 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14693 @end itemize
14694
14695 @noindent
14696 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
14697 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
14698 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
14699 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
14700 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
14701 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
14702 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
14703 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
14704 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
14705 way.
14706
14707 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
14708
14709 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
14710 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
14711 @cindex load symbols from memory
14712 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
14713 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
14714 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
14715 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
14716 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
14717 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
14718 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
14719 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
14720 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
14721
14722 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
14723 @kindex assf
14724 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
14725 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
14726 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
14727 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
14728 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
14729 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
14730 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
14731 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
14732 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
14733 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
14734
14735 @kindex section
14736 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
14737 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
14738 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
14739 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
14740 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
14741 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
14742 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
14743 their addresses.
14744
14745 @kindex info files
14746 @kindex info target
14747 @item info files
14748 @itemx info target
14749 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
14750 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
14751 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
14752 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
14753 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
14754 current ones.
14755
14756 @kindex maint info sections
14757 @item maint info sections
14758 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
14759 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
14760 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
14761 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
14762 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
14763 may be arbitrarily combined):
14764
14765 @table @code
14766 @item ALLOBJ
14767 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
14768 @item @var{sections}
14769 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
14770 @item @var{section-flags}
14771 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
14772 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
14773 @table @code
14774 @item ALLOC
14775 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
14776 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
14777 @item LOAD
14778 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
14779 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
14780 @item RELOC
14781 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
14782 @item READONLY
14783 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
14784 @item CODE
14785 Section contains executable code only.
14786 @item DATA
14787 Section contains data only (no executable code).
14788 @item ROM
14789 Section will reside in ROM.
14790 @item CONSTRUCTOR
14791 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
14792 @item HAS_CONTENTS
14793 Section is not empty.
14794 @item NEVER_LOAD
14795 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
14796 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
14797 A notification to the linker that the section contains
14798 COFF shared library information.
14799 @item IS_COMMON
14800 Section contains common symbols.
14801 @end table
14802 @end table
14803 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
14804 @cindex read-only sections
14805 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
14806 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
14807 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
14808 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
14809 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
14810 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
14811 enhancement to debugging performance.
14812
14813 The default is off.
14814
14815 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
14816 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
14817 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
14818 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
14819
14820 @item show trust-readonly-sections
14821 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
14822 @end table
14823
14824 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
14825 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
14826 name and remembers it that way.
14827
14828 @cindex shared libraries
14829 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
14830 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
14831 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
14832
14833 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
14834 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
14835
14836 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
14837 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
14838 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
14839 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
14840 debugging a core file).
14841
14842 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
14843 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
14844
14845 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
14846 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
14847 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
14848
14849 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
14850 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
14851 particularly large or there are many of them.
14852
14853 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
14854 commands:
14855
14856 @table @code
14857 @kindex set auto-solib-add
14858 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
14859 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
14860 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
14861 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
14862 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
14863 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
14864 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
14865
14866 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
14867 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
14868 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
14869 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
14870 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
14871 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
14872 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
14873 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
14874 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
14875
14876 @kindex show auto-solib-add
14877 @item show auto-solib-add
14878 Display the current autoloading mode.
14879 @end table
14880
14881 @cindex load shared library
14882 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
14883 command:
14884
14885 @table @code
14886 @kindex info sharedlibrary
14887 @kindex info share
14888 @item info share @var{regex}
14889 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14890 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
14891 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
14892 all shared libraries that are loaded.
14893
14894 @kindex sharedlibrary
14895 @kindex share
14896 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14897 @itemx share @var{regex}
14898 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
14899 Unix regular expression.
14900 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
14901 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
14902 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14903 loaded.
14904
14905 @item nosharedlibrary
14906 @kindex nosharedlibrary
14907 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14908 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14909 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14910 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14911 discarded.
14912 @end table
14913
14914 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14915 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14916 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14917
14918 @table @code
14919 @item set stop-on-solib-events
14920 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14921 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14922 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14923 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14924 shared library.
14925
14926 @item show stop-on-solib-events
14927 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14928 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14929 library events happen.
14930 @end table
14931
14932 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14933 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14934 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14935 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14936 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14937 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14938 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14939 not.
14940
14941 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
14942 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14943 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14944 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
14945 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
14946
14947 @table @code
14948 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
14949 @cindex system root, alternate
14950 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
14951 @kindex set sysroot
14952 @item set sysroot @var{path}
14953 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
14954 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
14955 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
14956 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
14957 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
14958 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
14959 under @var{path}.
14960
14961 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
14962 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
14963 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
14964 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
14965 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
14966 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
14967 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
14968 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
14969 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
14970
14971 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
14972 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
14973 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
14974 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
14975 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
14976
14977 @smallexample
14978 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
14979 @end smallexample
14980
14981 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
14982 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
14983 system:
14984
14985 @smallexample
14986 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
14987 @end smallexample
14988
14989 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
14990 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
14991 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
14992 colons:
14993
14994 @smallexample
14995 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
14996 @end smallexample
14997
14998 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
14999 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
15000 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
15001 @samp{z}):
15002
15003 @smallexample
15004 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
15005 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15006 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15007 @end smallexample
15008
15009 @noindent
15010 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
15011 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
15012 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
15013
15014 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
15015 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
15016
15017 @smallexample
15018 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
15019 @end smallexample
15020
15021 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
15022 if you don't want or need to.
15023
15024 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
15025 sysroot}.
15026
15027 @cindex default system root
15028 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
15029 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
15030 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
15031 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15032 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
15033 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15034 location.
15035
15036 @kindex show sysroot
15037 @item show sysroot
15038 Display the current shared library prefix.
15039
15040 @kindex set solib-search-path
15041 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
15042 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15043 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
15044 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
15045 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
15046 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
15047 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
15048 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
15049 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
15050 of shared library symbols.
15051
15052 @kindex show solib-search-path
15053 @item show solib-search-path
15054 Display the current shared library search path.
15055
15056 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
15057 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
15058 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
15059 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
15060 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
15061
15062 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
15063 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
15064 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
15065 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
15066 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
15067 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
15068 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
15069 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
15070 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
15071 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
15072 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
15073 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
15074 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
15075 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
15076 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
15077 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
15078 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
15079 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
15080 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
15081 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
15082 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
15083 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
15084
15085 @table @code
15086 @item unix
15087 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
15088 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
15089 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
15090 the forward slash.
15091
15092 @item dos-based
15093 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
15094 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
15095 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
15096 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
15097 considered directory separators.
15098
15099 @item auto
15100 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
15101 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
15102 This is the default.
15103 @end table
15104 @end table
15105
15106
15107 @node Separate Debug Files
15108 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
15109 @cindex separate debugging information files
15110 @cindex debugging information in separate files
15111 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
15112 @cindex debugging information directory, global
15113 @cindex global debugging information directory
15114 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
15115 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
15116
15117 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
15118 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
15119 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
15120 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
15121 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
15122 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
15123 install only when they need to debug a problem.
15124
15125 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
15126 file:
15127
15128 @itemize @bullet
15129 @item
15130 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
15131 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
15132 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
15133 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
15134 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
15135 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
15136 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
15137 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
15138
15139 @item
15140 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
15141 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
15142 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
15143 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
15144 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
15145 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
15146 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
15147 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
15148 below.
15149 @end itemize
15150
15151 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
15152 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
15153
15154 @itemize @bullet
15155 @item
15156 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
15157 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
15158 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
15159 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
15160 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
15161
15162 @item
15163 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
15164 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
15165 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
15166 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
15167 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
15168 hex characters, not 10.)
15169 @end itemize
15170
15171 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
15172 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
15173 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
15174 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
15175 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
15176 debug information files, in the indicated order:
15177
15178 @itemize @minus
15179 @item
15180 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
15181 @item
15182 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
15183 @item
15184 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
15185 @item
15186 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
15187 @end itemize
15188
15189 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
15190 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
15191
15192 @table @code
15193
15194 @kindex set debug-file-directory
15195 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
15196 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15197 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
15198 concatenating them by a directory separator.
15199
15200 @kindex show debug-file-directory
15201 @item show debug-file-directory
15202 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15203 information files.
15204
15205 @end table
15206
15207 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
15208 @cindex debug link sections
15209 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
15210 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
15211
15212 @itemize
15213 @item
15214 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
15215 a zero byte,
15216 @item
15217 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
15218 boundary within the section, and
15219 @item
15220 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
15221 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
15222 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
15223 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
15224 @end itemize
15225
15226 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
15227 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
15228 described above.
15229
15230 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
15231 @cindex build ID sections
15232 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
15233 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
15234 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
15235 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
15236 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
15237 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
15238 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
15239 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
15240 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
15241
15242 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
15243 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
15244 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
15245 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
15246 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
15247 in an ordinary executable.
15248
15249 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
15250 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
15251 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
15252 following commands:
15253
15254 @smallexample
15255 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
15256 @kbd{strip -g foo}
15257 @end smallexample
15258
15259 @noindent
15260 These commands remove the debugging
15261 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
15262 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
15263 two files:
15264
15265 @itemize @bullet
15266 @item
15267 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
15268 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
15269
15270 @smallexample
15271 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
15272 @end smallexample
15273
15274 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
15275 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
15276 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
15277 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
15278
15279 @item
15280 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
15281 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
15282 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
15283 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
15284 @end itemize
15285
15286 @noindent
15287
15288 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
15289 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
15290 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
15291
15292 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
15293 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
15294 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
15295 @c different ways!
15296 @ifhtml
15297 @display
15298 @html
15299 <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>
15300 + <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
15301 @end html
15302 @end display
15303 @end ifhtml
15304 @ifnothtml
15305 @display
15306 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
15307 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
15308 @end display
15309 @end ifnothtml
15310
15311 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
15312 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
15313 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
15314 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
15315 CRC.
15316
15317 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
15318 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
15319 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
15320 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
15321 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
15322 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
15323
15324 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
15325 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
15326 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
15327 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
15328 @code{0xffffffff}.
15329
15330 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
15331 @smallexample
15332 unsigned long
15333 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
15334 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
15335 @{
15336 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
15337 @{
15338 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
15339 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
15340 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
15341 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
15342 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
15343 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
15344 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
15345 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
15346 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
15347 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
15348 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
15349 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
15350 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
15351 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
15352 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
15353 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
15354 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
15355 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
15356 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
15357 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
15358 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
15359 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
15360 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
15361 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
15362 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
15363 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
15364 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
15365 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
15366 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
15367 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
15368 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
15369 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
15370 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
15371 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
15372 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
15373 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
15374 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
15375 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
15376 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
15377 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
15378 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
15379 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
15380 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
15381 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
15382 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
15383 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
15384 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
15385 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
15386 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
15387 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
15388 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
15389 0x2d02ef8d
15390 @};
15391 unsigned char *end;
15392
15393 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15394 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
15395 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
15396 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15397 @}
15398 @end smallexample
15399
15400 @noindent
15401 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
15402
15403
15404 @node Index Files
15405 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
15406 @cindex index files
15407 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
15408
15409 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
15410 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
15411 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
15412 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
15413 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
15414 startup.
15415
15416 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
15417 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
15418 using @command{objcopy}.
15419
15420 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
15421
15422 @table @code
15423 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
15424 @kindex save gdb-index
15425 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
15426 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
15427 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
15428 @var{directory}.
15429 @end table
15430
15431 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
15432 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
15433
15434 @smallexample
15435 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
15436 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
15437 @end smallexample
15438
15439 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
15440 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
15441 currently work for programs using Ada.
15442
15443 @node Symbol Errors
15444 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
15445
15446 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
15447 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
15448 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
15449 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
15450 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
15451 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
15452 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
15453 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
15454 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
15455 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15456 Messages}).
15457
15458 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
15459
15460 @table @code
15461 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
15462
15463 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
15464 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
15465 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
15466 in its outer scope blocks.
15467
15468 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
15469 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
15470 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
15471 function.
15472
15473 @item block at @var{address} out of order
15474
15475 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
15476 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
15477 do so.
15478
15479 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
15480 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
15481 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
15482 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15483 Messages}.)
15484
15485 @item bad block start address patched
15486
15487 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
15488 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
15489 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
15490
15491 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
15492 starting on the previous source line.
15493
15494 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
15495
15496 @cindex foo
15497 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
15498 larger than the size of the string table.
15499
15500 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
15501 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
15502 with this name.
15503
15504 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
15505
15506 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
15507 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
15508 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
15509
15510 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
15511 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
15512 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
15513 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
15514 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
15515 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
15516
15517 @item stub type has NULL name
15518
15519 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
15520
15521 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
15522 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
15523 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
15524 it.
15525
15526 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
15527
15528 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
15529
15530 @end table
15531
15532 @node Data Files
15533 @section GDB Data Files
15534
15535 @cindex prefix for data files
15536 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
15537 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
15538
15539 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
15540 is currently using.
15541
15542 @table @code
15543 @kindex set data-directory
15544 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
15545 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
15546 to @var{directory}.
15547
15548 @kindex show data-directory
15549 @item show data-directory
15550 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
15551 @end table
15552
15553 @cindex default data directory
15554 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
15555 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
15556 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
15557 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15558 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
15559 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15560 location.
15561
15562 The data directory may also be specified with the
15563 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
15564 @xref{Mode Options}.
15565
15566 @node Targets
15567 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
15568
15569 @cindex debugging target
15570 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
15571
15572 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
15573 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
15574 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
15575 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
15576 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
15577 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
15578 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
15579 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
15580
15581 @cindex target architecture
15582 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
15583 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
15584 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
15585 command.
15586
15587 @table @code
15588 @kindex set architecture
15589 @kindex show architecture
15590 @item set architecture @var{arch}
15591 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
15592 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
15593 supported architectures.
15594
15595 @item show architecture
15596 Show the current target architecture.
15597
15598 @item set processor
15599 @itemx processor
15600 @kindex set processor
15601 @kindex show processor
15602 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
15603 and @code{show architecture}.
15604 @end table
15605
15606 @menu
15607 * Active Targets:: Active targets
15608 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
15609 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
15610 @end menu
15611
15612 @node Active Targets
15613 @section Active Targets
15614
15615 @cindex stacking targets
15616 @cindex active targets
15617 @cindex multiple targets
15618
15619 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
15620 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
15621 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
15622 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
15623 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
15624 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
15625 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
15626 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
15627 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
15628
15629 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
15630 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
15631 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
15632 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
15633
15634 @node Target Commands
15635 @section Commands for Managing Targets
15636
15637 @table @code
15638 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
15639 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
15640 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
15641 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
15642 protocol of the target machine.
15643
15644 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
15645 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
15646 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
15647
15648 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
15649 after executing the command.
15650
15651 @kindex help target
15652 @item help target
15653 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
15654 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
15655 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15656
15657 @item help target @var{name}
15658 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
15659 select it.
15660
15661 @kindex set gnutarget
15662 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
15663 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
15664 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
15665 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
15666 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
15667 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
15668
15669 @quotation
15670 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
15671 you must know the actual BFD name.
15672 @end quotation
15673
15674 @noindent
15675 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
15676
15677 @kindex show gnutarget
15678 @item show gnutarget
15679 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
15680 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
15681 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
15682 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
15683 @end table
15684
15685 @cindex common targets
15686 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
15687 configuration):
15688
15689 @table @code
15690 @kindex target
15691 @item target exec @var{program}
15692 @cindex executable file target
15693 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
15694 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
15695
15696 @item target core @var{filename}
15697 @cindex core dump file target
15698 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
15699 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
15700
15701 @item target remote @var{medium}
15702 @cindex remote target
15703 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
15704 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
15705 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
15706
15707 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
15708 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
15709
15710 @smallexample
15711 target remote /dev/ttya
15712 @end smallexample
15713
15714 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
15715 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
15716 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
15717 clobbered by the download.
15718
15719 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
15720 @cindex built-in simulator target
15721 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
15722 In general,
15723 @smallexample
15724 target sim
15725 load
15726 run
15727 @end smallexample
15728 @noindent
15729 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
15730 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
15731 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
15732 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
15733 Processors}.
15734
15735 @end table
15736
15737 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
15738
15739 @table @code
15740
15741 @item target nrom @var{dev}
15742 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
15743 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
15744
15745 @end table
15746
15747 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
15748 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
15749
15750 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
15751 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
15752 various aspects of this process.
15753
15754 @table @code
15755
15756 @item set hash
15757 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15758 @cindex hash mark while downloading
15759 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
15760 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
15761 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
15762 monitor.
15763
15764 @item show hash
15765 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15766 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
15767
15768 @item set debug monitor
15769 @kindex set debug monitor
15770 @cindex display remote monitor communications
15771 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
15772 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15773
15774 @item show debug monitor
15775 @kindex show debug monitor
15776 Show the current status of displaying communications between
15777 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15778 @end table
15779
15780 @table @code
15781
15782 @kindex load @var{filename}
15783 @item load @var{filename}
15784 @anchor{load}
15785 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
15786 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
15787 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
15788 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
15789 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
15790 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15791
15792 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
15793 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
15794 target is @dots{}}''
15795
15796 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
15797 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
15798 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
15799 specifies a fixed address.
15800 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
15801
15802 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
15803 load programs into flash memory.
15804
15805 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
15806 @end table
15807
15808 @node Byte Order
15809 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
15810
15811 @cindex choosing target byte order
15812 @cindex target byte order
15813
15814 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
15815 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
15816 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
15817 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
15818 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
15819 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
15820
15821 @table @code
15822 @kindex set endian
15823 @item set endian big
15824 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
15825
15826 @item set endian little
15827 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
15828
15829 @item set endian auto
15830 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
15831 executable.
15832
15833 @item show endian
15834 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
15835
15836 @end table
15837
15838 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
15839 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
15840 target system.
15841
15842
15843 @node Remote Debugging
15844 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
15845 @cindex remote debugging
15846
15847 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
15848 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
15849 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
15850 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
15851 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
15852
15853 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
15854 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
15855 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
15856 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
15857 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
15858 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
15859
15860 Other remote targets may be available in your
15861 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
15862
15863 @menu
15864 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
15865 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
15866 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
15867 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
15868 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
15869 @end menu
15870
15871 @node Connecting
15872 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
15873
15874 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
15875 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
15876 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
15877 program as the first argument.
15878
15879 @cindex @code{target remote}
15880 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
15881 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
15882 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
15883 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
15884 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
15885 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
15886
15887 @table @code
15888
15889 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
15890 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
15891 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
15892 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
15893
15894 @smallexample
15895 target remote /dev/ttyb
15896 @end smallexample
15897
15898 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
15899 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
15900 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
15901 @code{target} command.
15902
15903 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
15904 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15905 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
15906 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
15907 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
15908 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
15909 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
15910 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
15911 target.
15912
15913 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
15914 @code{manyfarms}:
15915
15916 @smallexample
15917 target remote manyfarms:2828
15918 @end smallexample
15919
15920 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
15921 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
15922 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
15923 port 1234 on your local machine:
15924
15925 @smallexample
15926 target remote :1234
15927 @end smallexample
15928 @noindent
15929
15930 Note that the colon is still required here.
15931
15932 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15933 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
15934 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
15935 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
15936
15937 @smallexample
15938 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
15939 @end smallexample
15940
15941 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
15942 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
15943 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
15944 cause havoc with your debugging session.
15945
15946 @item target remote | @var{command}
15947 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
15948 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
15949 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
15950 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
15951 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
15952 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
15953 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
15954 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
15955
15956 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
15957 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
15958 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
15959
15960 @end table
15961
15962 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
15963 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
15964 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
15965 need to use @kbd{run}.
15966
15967 @cindex interrupting remote programs
15968 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
15969 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
15970 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
15971 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
15972 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
15973 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
15974
15975 @smallexample
15976 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
15977 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
15978 @end smallexample
15979
15980 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
15981 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
15982 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
15983 goes back to waiting.
15984
15985 @table @code
15986 @kindex detach (remote)
15987 @item detach
15988 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
15989 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
15990 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
15991 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
15992 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
15993
15994 @kindex disconnect
15995 @item disconnect
15996 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
15997 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
15998 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
15999 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
16000 another target.
16001
16002 @cindex send command to remote monitor
16003 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
16004 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
16005 @kindex monitor
16006 @item monitor @var{cmd}
16007 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
16008 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
16009 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
16010 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
16011 and implement.
16012 @end table
16013
16014 @node File Transfer
16015 @section Sending files to a remote system
16016 @cindex remote target, file transfer
16017 @cindex file transfer
16018 @cindex sending files to remote systems
16019
16020 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
16021 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
16022 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
16023 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
16024 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
16025 the only way to upload or download files.
16026
16027 Not all remote targets support these commands.
16028
16029 @table @code
16030 @kindex remote put
16031 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
16032 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
16033 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
16034
16035 @kindex remote get
16036 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
16037 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
16038 on the host system.
16039
16040 @kindex remote delete
16041 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
16042 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
16043
16044 @end table
16045
16046 @node Server
16047 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
16048
16049 @kindex gdbserver
16050 @cindex remote connection without stubs
16051 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
16052 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
16053 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
16054
16055 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
16056 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
16057 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
16058 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
16059 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
16060 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
16061 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
16062 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
16063 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
16064 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
16065 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
16066 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
16067 choice for debugging.
16068
16069 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
16070 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
16071 protocol.
16072
16073 @quotation
16074 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
16075 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
16076 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
16077 target system with the same privileges as the user running
16078 @code{gdbserver}.
16079 @end quotation
16080
16081 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
16082 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
16083
16084 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
16085 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
16086 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
16087 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
16088 system does all the symbol handling.
16089
16090 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
16091 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
16092 syntax is:
16093
16094 @smallexample
16095 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
16096 @end smallexample
16097
16098 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
16099 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
16100 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
16101 @file{/dev/com1}:
16102
16103 @smallexample
16104 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
16105 @end smallexample
16106
16107 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
16108 with it.
16109
16110 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
16111
16112 @smallexample
16113 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
16114 @end smallexample
16115
16116 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
16117 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
16118 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
16119 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
16120 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
16121 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
16122 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
16123 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
16124 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
16125 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
16126 @code{target remote} command.
16127
16128 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
16129
16130 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
16131 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
16132
16133 @smallexample
16134 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
16135 @end smallexample
16136
16137 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
16138 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
16139
16140 @pindex pidof
16141 @cindex attach to a program by name
16142 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
16143 @code{pidof} utility:
16144
16145 @smallexample
16146 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
16147 @end smallexample
16148
16149 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
16150 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
16151 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
16152
16153 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
16154 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
16155 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
16156
16157 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
16158 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
16159 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
16160 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
16161
16162 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
16163 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
16164 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
16165 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
16166 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
16167 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
16168 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
16169 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
16170 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
16171
16172 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
16173 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
16174 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
16175 the program you want to debug.
16176
16177 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
16178 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
16179 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
16180
16181 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
16182
16183 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
16184 status information about the debugging process. The
16185 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
16186 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
16187 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
16188
16189 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
16190 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
16191 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
16192 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
16193
16194 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
16195 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
16196 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
16197 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
16198
16199 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
16200 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
16201 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
16202 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
16203
16204 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
16205 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
16206 environment:
16207
16208 @smallexample
16209 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
16210 @end smallexample
16211
16212 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
16213
16214 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
16215
16216 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
16217 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
16218 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
16219 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
16220
16221 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
16222 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
16223 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
16224 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
16225 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
16226 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
16227 programs.
16228
16229 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16230 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
16231 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
16232 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
16233 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
16234 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
16235 already on the target.
16236
16237 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
16238 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
16239 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
16240
16241 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
16242 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
16243 Here are the available commands.
16244
16245 @table @code
16246 @item monitor help
16247 List the available monitor commands.
16248
16249 @item monitor set debug 0
16250 @itemx monitor set debug 1
16251 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
16252
16253 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
16254 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
16255 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
16256 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
16257
16258 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
16259 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
16260 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16261 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
16262 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
16263 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
16264
16265 @item monitor exit
16266 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
16267 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
16268 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
16269 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
16270 of a multi-process mode debug session.
16271
16272 @end table
16273
16274 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16275 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16276
16277 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
16278 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
16279
16280 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
16281 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
16282 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
16283 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
16284 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
16285 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
16286 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
16287 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
16288 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
16289 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
16290 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
16291 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
16292
16293 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
16294
16295 @table @code
16296 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
16297
16298 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
16299 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
16300 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
16301
16302 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
16303
16304 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
16305 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
16306 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
16307 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
16308 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
16309 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
16310
16311 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
16312
16313 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
16314 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
16315 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
16316 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
16317 command for that. For example:
16318
16319 @smallexample
16320 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
16321 @end smallexample
16322
16323 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
16324 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
16325 @end table
16326
16327 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
16328 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
16329 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
16330 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
16331 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
16332 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
16333 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
16334 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
16335 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
16336 @code{gdbserver} like so:
16337
16338 @smallexample
16339 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
16340 @end smallexample
16341
16342 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
16343
16344 @smallexample
16345 $ gdb myprogram
16346 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
16347 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
16348 (@value{GDBP}) b main
16349 (@value{GDBP}) continue
16350 @end smallexample
16351
16352 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
16353 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
16354 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
16355 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
16356 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
16357 tracing.
16358
16359 @node Remote Configuration
16360 @section Remote Configuration
16361
16362 @kindex set remote
16363 @kindex show remote
16364 This section documents the configuration options available when
16365 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
16366 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
16367 system-call-allowed}.
16368
16369 @table @code
16370 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
16371 @cindex address size for remote targets
16372 @cindex bits in remote address
16373 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
16374 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
16375 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
16376 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
16377
16378 @item show remoteaddresssize
16379 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
16380
16381 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
16382 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
16383 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
16384 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
16385 remote targets.
16386
16387 @item show remotebaud
16388 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
16389
16390 @item set remotebreak
16391 @cindex interrupt remote programs
16392 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
16393 @anchor{set remotebreak}
16394 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
16395 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
16396 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
16397 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
16398 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
16399
16400 @item show remotebreak
16401 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
16402 interrupt the remote program.
16403
16404 @item set remoteflow on
16405 @itemx set remoteflow off
16406 @kindex set remoteflow
16407 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
16408 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
16409
16410 @item show remoteflow
16411 @kindex show remoteflow
16412 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
16413
16414 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
16415 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
16416 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
16417 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
16418 @code{ascii}.
16419
16420 @item show remotelogbase
16421 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
16422 protocol.
16423
16424 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
16425 @cindex record serial communications on file
16426 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
16427 default is not to record at all.
16428
16429 @item show remotelogfile.
16430 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
16431 serial communications.
16432
16433 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
16434 @cindex timeout for serial communications
16435 @cindex remote timeout
16436 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
16437 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
16438
16439 @item show remotetimeout
16440 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
16441 responses.
16442
16443 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
16444 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
16445 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
16446 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
16447 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
16448 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
16449 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
16450 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
16451
16452 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
16453 @itemx show remote exec-file
16454 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
16455 @cindex executable file, for remote target
16456 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
16457 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
16458 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
16459 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
16460
16461 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
16462 @cindex interrupt remote programs
16463 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
16464 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
16465 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
16466 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
16467 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
16468 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
16469 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
16470 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
16471
16472 @item show interrupt-sequence
16473 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
16474 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
16475 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
16476 also known as Magic SysRq g.
16477
16478 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
16479 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
16480 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
16481 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
16482 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
16483 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
16484
16485 @item show interrupt-on-connect
16486 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
16487 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
16488
16489 @kindex set tcp
16490 @kindex show tcp
16491 @item set tcp auto-retry on
16492 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
16493 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
16494 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
16495 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
16496 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
16497 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
16498 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
16499 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
16500
16501 @item set tcp auto-retry off
16502 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
16503
16504 @item show tcp auto-retry
16505 Show the current auto-retry setting.
16506
16507 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
16508 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
16509 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
16510 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
16511 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
16512 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
16513 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
16514 value.
16515
16516 @item show tcp connect-timeout
16517 Show the current connection timeout setting.
16518 @end table
16519
16520 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
16521 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
16522 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
16523 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
16524 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
16525 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
16526 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
16527 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
16528 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
16529
16530 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
16531 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
16532 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
16533 @value{GDBN} developers.
16534
16535 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
16536 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
16537 are:
16538
16539 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
16540 @item Command Name
16541 @tab Remote Packet
16542 @tab Related Features
16543
16544 @item @code{fetch-register}
16545 @tab @code{p}
16546 @tab @code{info registers}
16547
16548 @item @code{set-register}
16549 @tab @code{P}
16550 @tab @code{set}
16551
16552 @item @code{binary-download}
16553 @tab @code{X}
16554 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
16555
16556 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
16557 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
16558 @tab @code{info auxv}
16559
16560 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
16561 @tab @code{qSymbol}
16562 @tab Detecting multiple threads
16563
16564 @item @code{attach}
16565 @tab @code{vAttach}
16566 @tab @code{attach}
16567
16568 @item @code{verbose-resume}
16569 @tab @code{vCont}
16570 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
16571
16572 @item @code{run}
16573 @tab @code{vRun}
16574 @tab @code{run}
16575
16576 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
16577 @tab @code{Z0}
16578 @tab @code{break}
16579
16580 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
16581 @tab @code{Z1}
16582 @tab @code{hbreak}
16583
16584 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
16585 @tab @code{Z2}
16586 @tab @code{watch}
16587
16588 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
16589 @tab @code{Z3}
16590 @tab @code{rwatch}
16591
16592 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
16593 @tab @code{Z4}
16594 @tab @code{awatch}
16595
16596 @item @code{target-features}
16597 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
16598 @tab @code{set architecture}
16599
16600 @item @code{library-info}
16601 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
16602 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
16603
16604 @item @code{memory-map}
16605 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
16606 @tab @code{info mem}
16607
16608 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
16609 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
16610 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
16611
16612 @item @code{read-spu-object}
16613 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
16614 @tab @code{info spu}
16615
16616 @item @code{write-spu-object}
16617 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
16618 @tab @code{info spu}
16619
16620 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
16621 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
16622 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
16623
16624 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
16625 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
16626 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
16627
16628 @item @code{threads}
16629 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
16630 @tab @code{info threads}
16631
16632 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
16633 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
16634 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
16635
16636 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
16637 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
16638 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
16639
16640 @item @code{search-memory}
16641 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
16642 @tab @code{find}
16643
16644 @item @code{supported-packets}
16645 @tab @code{qSupported}
16646 @tab Remote communications parameters
16647
16648 @item @code{pass-signals}
16649 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
16650 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
16651
16652 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
16653 @tab @code{vFile:close}
16654 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16655
16656 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
16657 @tab @code{vFile:open}
16658 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16659
16660 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
16661 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
16662 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16663
16664 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
16665 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
16666 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16667
16668 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
16669 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
16670 @tab @code{remote delete}
16671
16672 @item @code{noack-packet}
16673 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
16674 @tab Packet acknowledgment
16675
16676 @item @code{osdata}
16677 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
16678 @tab @code{info os}
16679
16680 @item @code{query-attached}
16681 @tab @code{qAttached}
16682 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
16683 @end multitable
16684
16685 @node Remote Stub
16686 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
16687
16688 @cindex debugging stub, example
16689 @cindex remote stub, example
16690 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
16691 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
16692 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
16693 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
16694 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
16695 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
16696 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
16697 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
16698
16699 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
16700 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
16701 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
16702 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
16703 program, you need:
16704
16705 @enumerate
16706 @item
16707 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
16708 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
16709 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
16710
16711 @item
16712 A C subroutine library to support your program's
16713 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
16714
16715 @item
16716 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
16717 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
16718 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
16719 documentation.
16720 @end enumerate
16721
16722 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
16723 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
16724 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
16725
16726 @table @emph
16727 @item On the host,
16728 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
16729 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
16730 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
16731
16732 @item On the target,
16733 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
16734 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
16735 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
16736
16737 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
16738 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
16739 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
16740 @end table
16741
16742 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
16743 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
16744 @sc{sparc} boards.
16745
16746 @cindex remote serial stub list
16747 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
16748
16749 @table @code
16750
16751 @item i386-stub.c
16752 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
16753 @cindex Intel
16754 @cindex i386
16755 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
16756
16757 @item m68k-stub.c
16758 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
16759 @cindex Motorola 680x0
16760 @cindex m680x0
16761 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
16762
16763 @item sh-stub.c
16764 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
16765 @cindex Renesas
16766 @cindex SH
16767 For Renesas SH architectures.
16768
16769 @item sparc-stub.c
16770 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
16771 @cindex Sparc
16772 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
16773
16774 @item sparcl-stub.c
16775 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
16776 @cindex Fujitsu
16777 @cindex SparcLite
16778 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
16779
16780 @end table
16781
16782 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
16783 recently added stubs.
16784
16785 @menu
16786 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
16787 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
16788 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
16789 @end menu
16790
16791 @node Stub Contents
16792 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
16793
16794 @cindex remote serial stub
16795 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
16796 subroutines:
16797
16798 @table @code
16799 @item set_debug_traps
16800 @findex set_debug_traps
16801 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
16802 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
16803 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
16804 beginning of your program.
16805
16806 @item handle_exception
16807 @findex handle_exception
16808 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
16809 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
16810 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
16811 run when a trap is triggered.
16812
16813 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
16814 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
16815 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
16816 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
16817 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
16818 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
16819 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
16820 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
16821 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
16822 machine.
16823
16824 @item breakpoint
16825 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
16826 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
16827 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
16828 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
16829 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
16830 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
16831 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
16832 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
16833 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
16834 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
16835 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
16836
16837 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
16838 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
16839 start of your debugging session.
16840 @end table
16841
16842 @node Bootstrapping
16843 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
16844
16845 @cindex remote stub, support routines
16846 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
16847 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
16848 debugging target machine.
16849
16850 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
16851 serial port.
16852
16853 @table @code
16854 @item int getDebugChar()
16855 @findex getDebugChar
16856 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
16857 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
16858 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16859
16860 @item void putDebugChar(int)
16861 @findex putDebugChar
16862 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
16863 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
16864 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16865 @end table
16866
16867 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
16868 @cindex interrupting remote targets
16869 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
16870 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
16871 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
16872 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
16873 remote system to stop.
16874
16875 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
16876 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
16877 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
16878 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
16879
16880 Other routines you need to supply are:
16881
16882 @table @code
16883 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
16884 @findex exceptionHandler
16885 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
16886 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
16887 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
16888 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
16889 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
16890 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
16891 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
16892 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
16893 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
16894 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
16895 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
16896 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
16897 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
16898
16899 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
16900 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
16901 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
16902 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
16903 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
16904
16905 @item void flush_i_cache()
16906 @findex flush_i_cache
16907 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
16908 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
16909 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
16910
16911 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
16912 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
16913 @end table
16914
16915 @noindent
16916 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
16917
16918 @table @code
16919 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
16920 @findex memset
16921 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
16922 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
16923 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
16924 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
16925 @end table
16926
16927 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
16928 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
16929 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
16930 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
16931
16932
16933 @node Debug Session
16934 @subsection Putting it All Together
16935
16936 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
16937 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
16938 steps.
16939
16940 @enumerate
16941 @item
16942 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
16943 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
16944 @display
16945 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
16946 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
16947 @end display
16948
16949 @item
16950 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
16951
16952 @smallexample
16953 set_debug_traps();
16954 breakpoint();
16955 @end smallexample
16956
16957 @item
16958 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
16959 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
16960
16961 @smallexample
16962 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
16963 @end smallexample
16964
16965 @noindent
16966 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
16967 function in your program, that function is called when
16968 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
16969 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
16970 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
16971
16972 @item
16973 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
16974 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
16975
16976 @item
16977 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
16978 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
16979
16980 @item
16981 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
16982 @c document that. FIXME.
16983 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
16984 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
16985
16986 @item
16987 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
16988 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16989
16990 @end enumerate
16991
16992 @node Configurations
16993 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
16994
16995 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
16996 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
16997 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
16998
16999 There are three major categories of configurations: native
17000 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
17001 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
17002 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
17003 are quite different from each other.
17004
17005 @menu
17006 * Native::
17007 * Embedded OS::
17008 * Embedded Processors::
17009 * Architectures::
17010 @end menu
17011
17012 @node Native
17013 @section Native
17014
17015 This section describes details specific to particular native
17016 configurations.
17017
17018 @menu
17019 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
17020 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
17021 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
17022 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
17023 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
17024 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
17025 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
17026 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
17027 @end menu
17028
17029 @node HP-UX
17030 @subsection HP-UX
17031
17032 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
17033 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
17034 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
17035
17036
17037 @node BSD libkvm Interface
17038 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
17039
17040 @cindex libkvm
17041 @cindex kernel memory image
17042 @cindex kernel crash dump
17043
17044 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
17045 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
17046 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
17047 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
17048 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
17049 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
17050 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
17051 @code{kvm} target:
17052
17053 @smallexample
17054 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
17055 @end smallexample
17056
17057 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
17058 argument:
17059
17060 @smallexample
17061 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
17062 @end smallexample
17063
17064 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
17065 available:
17066
17067 @table @code
17068 @kindex kvm
17069 @item kvm pcb
17070 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
17071
17072 @item kvm proc
17073 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
17074 modern FreeBSD systems.
17075 @end table
17076
17077 @node SVR4 Process Information
17078 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
17079 @cindex /proc
17080 @cindex examine process image
17081 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
17082
17083 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
17084 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
17085 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
17086 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
17087 proc} is available to report information about the process running
17088 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
17089 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
17090 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
17091 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
17092
17093 @table @code
17094 @kindex info proc
17095 @cindex process ID
17096 @item info proc
17097 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
17098 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
17099 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
17100 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
17101 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
17102 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
17103 executable file's absolute file name.
17104
17105 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
17106 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
17107 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
17108 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
17109 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
17110 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
17111
17112 @item info proc mappings
17113 @cindex memory address space mappings
17114 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
17115 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
17116 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
17117 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
17118 memory access rights to that range.
17119
17120 @item info proc stat
17121 @itemx info proc status
17122 @cindex process detailed status information
17123 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
17124 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
17125 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
17126 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
17127 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
17128 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
17129 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
17130
17131 @item info proc all
17132 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
17133 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
17134
17135 @ignore
17136 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
17137 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
17138 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
17139 @kindex info proc times
17140 @item info proc times
17141 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
17142 its children.
17143
17144 @kindex info proc id
17145 @item info proc id
17146 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
17147 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
17148 @end ignore
17149
17150 @item set procfs-trace
17151 @kindex set procfs-trace
17152 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
17153 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
17154
17155 @item show procfs-trace
17156 @kindex show procfs-trace
17157 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
17158
17159 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
17160 @kindex set procfs-file
17161 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
17162 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
17163 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
17164 standard output.
17165
17166 @item show procfs-file
17167 @kindex show procfs-file
17168 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
17169
17170 @item proc-trace-entry
17171 @itemx proc-trace-exit
17172 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
17173 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
17174 @kindex proc-trace-entry
17175 @kindex proc-trace-exit
17176 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
17177 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
17178 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
17179 from the @code{syscall} interface.
17180
17181 @item info pidlist
17182 @kindex info pidlist
17183 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
17184 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
17185 processes and all the threads within each process.
17186
17187 @item info meminfo
17188 @kindex info meminfo
17189 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
17190 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
17191 @end table
17192
17193 @node DJGPP Native
17194 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
17195 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
17196 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
17197 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
17198
17199 @cindex DPMI
17200 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
17201 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
17202 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
17203 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
17204
17205 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
17206 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
17207 subsection describes those commands.
17208
17209 @table @code
17210 @kindex info dos
17211 @item info dos
17212 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
17213 information about the target system and important OS structures.
17214
17215 @kindex sysinfo
17216 @cindex MS-DOS system info
17217 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
17218 @item info dos sysinfo
17219 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
17220 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
17221 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
17222
17223 @cindex GDT
17224 @cindex LDT
17225 @cindex IDT
17226 @cindex segment descriptor tables
17227 @cindex descriptor tables display
17228 @item info dos gdt
17229 @itemx info dos ldt
17230 @itemx info dos idt
17231 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
17232 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
17233 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
17234 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
17235 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
17236 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
17237 rights.
17238
17239 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
17240 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
17241 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
17242 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
17243 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
17244
17245 @cindex garbled pointers
17246 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
17247 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
17248 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
17249 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
17250 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
17251 debugged program's data segment:
17252
17253 @smallexample
17254 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
17255 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
17256 @end smallexample
17257
17258 @noindent
17259 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
17260 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
17261
17262 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
17263 @item info dos pde
17264 @itemx info dos pte
17265 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
17266 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
17267 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
17268 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
17269 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
17270 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
17271 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
17272 that is currently in use.
17273
17274 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
17275 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
17276 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
17277 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
17278 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
17279 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
17280 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
17281
17282 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
17283 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
17284 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
17285 controller.
17286
17287 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
17288
17289 @cindex physical address from linear address
17290 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
17291 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
17292 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
17293 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
17294 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
17295 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
17296 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
17297
17298 @smallexample
17299 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
17300 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
17301 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
17302 @end smallexample
17303
17304 @noindent
17305 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
17306 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
17307 attributes of that page.
17308
17309 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
17310 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
17311 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
17312 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
17313 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
17314 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
17315
17316 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
17317 transfer buffer:
17318
17319 @smallexample
17320 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
17321 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
17322 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
17323 @end smallexample
17324
17325 @noindent
17326 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
17327 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
17328 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
17329 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
17330 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
17331
17332 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
17333 @end table
17334
17335 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
17336 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
17337 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
17338 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
17339
17340 @table @code
17341 @kindex set com1base
17342 @kindex set com1irq
17343 @kindex set com2base
17344 @kindex set com2irq
17345 @kindex set com3base
17346 @kindex set com3irq
17347 @kindex set com4base
17348 @kindex set com4irq
17349 @item set com1base @var{addr}
17350 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
17351 port.
17352
17353 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
17354 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
17355 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
17356
17357 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
17358 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
17359 other 3 COM ports.
17360
17361 @kindex show com1base
17362 @kindex show com1irq
17363 @kindex show com2base
17364 @kindex show com2irq
17365 @kindex show com3base
17366 @kindex show com3irq
17367 @kindex show com4base
17368 @kindex show com4irq
17369 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
17370 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
17371 lines used by the COM ports.
17372
17373 @item info serial
17374 @kindex info serial
17375 @cindex DOS serial port status
17376 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
17377 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
17378 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
17379 counts of various errors encountered so far.
17380 @end table
17381
17382
17383 @node Cygwin Native
17384 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
17385 @cindex MS Windows debugging
17386 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
17387 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
17388
17389 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
17390 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
17391
17392 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
17393 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
17394 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
17395 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
17396 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
17397 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
17398 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
17399 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
17400
17401 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
17402 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
17403 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
17404
17405 @table @code
17406 @kindex info w32
17407 @item info w32
17408 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
17409 information about the target system and important OS structures.
17410
17411 @item info w32 selector
17412 This command displays information returned by
17413 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
17414 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
17415 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
17416 Without argument, this command displays information
17417 about the six segment registers.
17418
17419 @item info w32 thread-information-block
17420 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
17421 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
17422 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
17423
17424 @kindex info dll
17425 @item info dll
17426 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
17427
17428 @kindex dll-symbols
17429 @item dll-symbols
17430 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
17431 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
17432
17433 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
17434 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
17435 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
17436 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
17437 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
17438 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
17439 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
17440 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
17441 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
17442 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
17443 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
17444
17445 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
17446 @item show cygwin-exceptions
17447 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
17448 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
17449
17450 @kindex set new-console
17451 @item set new-console @var{mode}
17452 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
17453 be started in a new console on next start.
17454 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
17455 be started in the same console as the debugger.
17456
17457 @kindex show new-console
17458 @item show new-console
17459 Displays whether a new console is used
17460 when the debuggee is started.
17461
17462 @kindex set new-group
17463 @item set new-group @var{mode}
17464 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
17465 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
17466 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
17467 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
17468
17469 @kindex show new-group
17470 @item show new-group
17471 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
17472
17473 @kindex set debugevents
17474 @item set debugevents
17475 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
17476 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
17477 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
17478 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
17479 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
17480
17481 @kindex set debugexec
17482 @item set debugexec
17483 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
17484 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
17485
17486 @kindex set debugexceptions
17487 @item set debugexceptions
17488 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
17489 debuggee seen by the debugger.
17490
17491 @kindex set debugmemory
17492 @item set debugmemory
17493 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
17494 and writes by the debugger.
17495
17496 @kindex set shell
17497 @item set shell
17498 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
17499 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
17500
17501 @kindex show shell
17502 @item show shell
17503 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
17504
17505 @end table
17506
17507 @menu
17508 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
17509 @end menu
17510
17511 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
17512 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
17513 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
17514 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
17515
17516 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
17517 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
17518 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
17519 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
17520 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
17521 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
17522 ``minimal symbols''.
17523
17524 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
17525 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
17526 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
17527 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
17528 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
17529 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
17530 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
17531 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
17532 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
17533 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
17534
17535 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
17536
17537 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
17538 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
17539 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
17540 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
17541 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
17542 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
17543 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
17544 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
17545 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
17546
17547 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
17548 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
17549 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
17550 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
17551 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
17552 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
17553
17554 @smallexample
17555 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
17556 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
17557
17558 Non-debugging symbols:
17559 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
17560 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
17561 @end smallexample
17562
17563 @smallexample
17564 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
17565 All functions matching regular expression "!":
17566
17567 Non-debugging symbols:
17568 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
17569 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
17570 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
17571 [etc...]
17572 @end smallexample
17573
17574 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
17575
17576 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
17577 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
17578 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
17579 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
17580 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
17581 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
17582 a function within a DLL without a running program.
17583
17584 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
17585 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
17586 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
17587 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
17588 problem:
17589
17590 @smallexample
17591 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
17592 $1 = 268572168
17593 @end smallexample
17594
17595 @smallexample
17596 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
17597 0x10021610: "\230y\""
17598 @end smallexample
17599
17600 And two possible solutions:
17601
17602 @smallexample
17603 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
17604 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17605 @end smallexample
17606
17607 @smallexample
17608 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
17609 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
17610 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
17611 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
17612 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
17613 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17614 @end smallexample
17615
17616 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
17617 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
17618 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
17619 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
17620 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
17621
17622 @smallexample
17623 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
17624 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
17625 @end smallexample
17626
17627 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
17628 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
17629 safe.
17630
17631 @node Hurd Native
17632 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
17633 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
17634
17635 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
17636 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
17637
17638 @table @code
17639 @item set signals
17640 @itemx set sigs
17641 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
17642 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17643 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
17644 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
17645 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
17646 @code{signals}.
17647
17648 @item show signals
17649 @itemx show sigs
17650 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
17651 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17652 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
17653
17654 @item set signal-thread
17655 @itemx set sigthread
17656 @kindex set signal-thread
17657 @kindex set sigthread
17658 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
17659 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
17660 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
17661 signal-thread}.
17662
17663 @item show signal-thread
17664 @itemx show sigthread
17665 @kindex show signal-thread
17666 @kindex show sigthread
17667 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
17668 delivered a signal.
17669
17670 @item set stopped
17671 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17672 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
17673 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
17674 continued by delivering a signal to it.
17675
17676 @item show stopped
17677 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17678 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
17679 stopped.
17680
17681 @item set exceptions
17682 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17683 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
17684 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
17685 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
17686 trapping on.
17687
17688 @item show exceptions
17689 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17690 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
17691
17692 @item set task pause
17693 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
17694 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17695 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17696 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
17697 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
17698 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
17699 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
17700 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
17701 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
17702
17703 @item show task pause
17704 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
17705 Show the current state of task suspension.
17706
17707 @item set task detach-suspend-count
17708 @cindex task suspend count
17709 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17710 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
17711 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
17712
17713 @item show task detach-suspend-count
17714 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
17715
17716 @item set task exception-port
17717 @itemx set task excp
17718 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17719 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
17720 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
17721 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
17722
17723 @item set noninvasive
17724 @cindex noninvasive task options
17725 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
17726 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
17727 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
17728 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
17729
17730 @item info send-rights
17731 @itemx info receive-rights
17732 @itemx info port-rights
17733 @itemx info port-sets
17734 @itemx info dead-names
17735 @itemx info ports
17736 @itemx info psets
17737 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17738 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17739 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17740 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17741 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17742 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
17743 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
17744 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
17745 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
17746
17747 @item set thread pause
17748 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
17749 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17750 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17751 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
17752 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
17753 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
17754 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
17755 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
17756 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
17757 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
17758 only the current thread.
17759
17760 @item show thread pause
17761 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
17762 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
17763
17764 @item set thread run
17765 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17766
17767 @item show thread run
17768 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17769
17770 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
17771 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17772 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17773 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
17774 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
17775 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
17776 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
17777
17778 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
17779 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
17780 detaching.
17781
17782 @item set thread exception-port
17783 @itemx set thread excp
17784 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
17785 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
17786 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
17787
17788 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
17789 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
17790 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
17791 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
17792
17793 @item set thread default
17794 @itemx show thread default
17795 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17796 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
17797 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
17798 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
17799 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
17800 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
17801 the non-default commands.
17802 @end table
17803
17804
17805 @node Neutrino
17806 @subsection QNX Neutrino
17807 @cindex QNX Neutrino
17808
17809 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
17810 Neutrino target:
17811
17812 @table @code
17813 @item set debug nto-debug
17814 @kindex set debug nto-debug
17815 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
17816 Neutrino support.
17817
17818 @item show debug nto-debug
17819 @kindex show debug nto-debug
17820 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
17821 @end table
17822
17823 @node Darwin
17824 @subsection Darwin
17825 @cindex Darwin
17826
17827 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
17828
17829 @table @code
17830 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
17831 @kindex set debug darwin
17832 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
17833 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
17834
17835 @item show debug darwin
17836 @kindex show debug darwin
17837 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
17838
17839 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
17840 @kindex set debug mach-o
17841 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
17842 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
17843 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
17844 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
17845 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
17846 usage.
17847
17848 @item show debug mach-o
17849 @kindex show debug mach-o
17850 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
17851
17852 @item set mach-exceptions on
17853 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
17854 @kindex set mach-exceptions
17855 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
17856 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
17857 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
17858 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
17859
17860 @item show mach-exceptions
17861 @kindex show mach-exceptions
17862 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
17863 @end table
17864
17865
17866 @node Embedded OS
17867 @section Embedded Operating Systems
17868
17869 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
17870 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
17871 architectures.
17872
17873 @menu
17874 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17875 @end menu
17876
17877 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
17878 various real-time operating systems.
17879
17880 @node VxWorks
17881 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17882
17883 @cindex VxWorks
17884
17885 @table @code
17886
17887 @kindex target vxworks
17888 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
17889 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
17890 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
17891
17892 @end table
17893
17894 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
17895 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
17896
17897 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
17898 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
17899 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17900 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
17901 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
17902 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
17903 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
17904
17905 @table @code
17906 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
17907 @kindex vxworks-timeout
17908 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
17909 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17910 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
17911 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
17912 of a thin network line.
17913 @end table
17914
17915 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
17916 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
17917 procedures.
17918
17919 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
17920 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
17921 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
17922 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
17923 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
17924 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
17925 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
17926 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
17927 manual.
17928 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
17929
17930 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
17931 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17932 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
17933 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
17934
17935 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17936
17937 @smallexample
17938 (vxgdb)
17939 @end smallexample
17940
17941 @menu
17942 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
17943 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
17944 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
17945 @end menu
17946
17947 @node VxWorks Connection
17948 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
17949
17950 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
17951 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
17952
17953 @smallexample
17954 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
17955 @end smallexample
17956
17957 @need 750
17958 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17959
17960 @smallexample
17961 Attaching remote machine across net...
17962 Connected to tt.
17963 @end smallexample
17964
17965 @need 1000
17966 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
17967 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
17968 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
17969 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
17970 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
17971
17972 @smallexample
17973 prog.o: No such file or directory.
17974 @end smallexample
17975
17976 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
17977 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
17978 command again.
17979
17980 @node VxWorks Download
17981 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
17982
17983 @cindex download to VxWorks
17984 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
17985 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
17986 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
17987 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
17988 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
17989 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
17990 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
17991 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
17992 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
17993 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
17994 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
17995 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
17996 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
17997 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
17998 program, type this on VxWorks:
17999
18000 @smallexample
18001 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
18002 @end smallexample
18003
18004 @noindent
18005 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18006
18007 @smallexample
18008 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
18009 (vxgdb) load prog.o
18010 @end smallexample
18011
18012 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
18013
18014 @smallexample
18015 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
18016 @end smallexample
18017
18018 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
18019 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
18020 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
18021 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
18022 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
18023 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
18024 table.)
18025
18026 @node VxWorks Attach
18027 @subsubsection Running Tasks
18028
18029 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
18030 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
18031 follows:
18032
18033 @smallexample
18034 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
18035 @end smallexample
18036
18037 @noindent
18038 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
18039 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
18040 the time of attachment.
18041
18042 @node Embedded Processors
18043 @section Embedded Processors
18044
18045 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
18046 configurations.
18047
18048 @cindex send command to simulator
18049 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
18050 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
18051
18052 @table @code
18053 @item sim @var{command}
18054 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
18055 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
18056 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
18057 acceptable commands.
18058 @end table
18059
18060
18061 @menu
18062 * ARM:: ARM RDI
18063 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
18064 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
18065 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
18066 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
18067 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
18068 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
18069 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
18070 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
18071 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
18072 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
18073 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
18074 * CRIS:: CRIS
18075 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
18076 @end menu
18077
18078 @node ARM
18079 @subsection ARM
18080 @cindex ARM RDI
18081
18082 @table @code
18083 @kindex target rdi
18084 @item target rdi @var{dev}
18085 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
18086 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
18087 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
18088
18089 @kindex target rdp
18090 @item target rdp @var{dev}
18091 ARM Demon monitor.
18092
18093 @end table
18094
18095 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
18096
18097 @table @code
18098 @item set arm disassembler
18099 @kindex set arm
18100 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
18101 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
18102
18103 @item show arm disassembler
18104 @kindex show arm
18105 Show the current disassembly style.
18106
18107 @item set arm apcs32
18108 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
18109 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
18110
18111 @item show arm apcs32
18112 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
18113
18114 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
18115 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
18116 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
18117
18118 @table @code
18119 @item auto
18120 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
18121 @item softfpa
18122 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
18123 processors.
18124 @item fpa
18125 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
18126 @item softvfp
18127 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
18128 @item vfp
18129 VFP co-processor.
18130 @end table
18131
18132 @item show arm fpu
18133 Show the current type of the FPU.
18134
18135 @item set arm abi
18136 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
18137
18138 @item show arm abi
18139 Show the currently used ABI.
18140
18141 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18142 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
18143 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
18144 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
18145 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
18146 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
18147 register).
18148
18149 @item show arm fallback-mode
18150 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
18151
18152 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18153 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
18154 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
18155 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
18156 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
18157
18158 @item show arm force-mode
18159 Show the current forced instruction mode.
18160
18161 @item set debug arm
18162 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
18163 target support subsystem.
18164
18165 @item show debug arm
18166 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
18167 @end table
18168
18169 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
18170 using the RDI interface:
18171
18172 @table @code
18173 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18174 @kindex rdilogfile
18175 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
18176 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
18177 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
18178 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
18179 @file{rdi.log}.
18180
18181 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
18182 @kindex rdilogenable
18183 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
18184 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
18185 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
18186 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
18187 are logged to a file.
18188
18189 @item set rdiromatzero
18190 @kindex set rdiromatzero
18191 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
18192 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
18193 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
18194 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
18195 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
18196
18197 @item show rdiromatzero
18198 @kindex show rdiromatzero
18199 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
18200
18201 @item set rdiheartbeat
18202 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
18203 @cindex RDI heartbeat
18204 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
18205 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
18206 well as the Angel monitor.
18207
18208 @item show rdiheartbeat
18209 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
18210 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
18211 @end table
18212
18213 @table @code
18214 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
18215 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
18216
18217 @table @code
18218 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
18219 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
18220 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
18221 The default value is @code{all}.
18222
18223 @table @code
18224 @item none
18225 @item demon
18226 @item angel
18227 @item redboot
18228 @item all
18229 @end table
18230 @end table
18231 @end table
18232
18233 @node M32R/D
18234 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
18235
18236 @table @code
18237 @kindex target m32r
18238 @item target m32r @var{dev}
18239 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
18240
18241 @kindex target m32rsdi
18242 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
18243 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
18244 @end table
18245
18246 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
18247
18248 @table @code
18249 @item set download-path @var{path}
18250 @kindex set download-path
18251 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
18252 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18253
18254 @item show download-path
18255 @kindex show download-path
18256 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18257
18258 @item set board-address @var{addr}
18259 @kindex set board-address
18260 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
18261 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
18262
18263 @item show board-address
18264 @kindex show board-address
18265 Show the current IP address of the target board.
18266
18267 @item set server-address @var{addr}
18268 @kindex set server-address
18269 @cindex download server address (M32R)
18270 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
18271 host machine.
18272
18273 @item show server-address
18274 @kindex show server-address
18275 Display the IP address of the download server.
18276
18277 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18278 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
18279 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
18280 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
18281 executable file is uploaded.
18282
18283 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18284 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
18285 Test the @code{upload} command.
18286 @end table
18287
18288 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
18289
18290 @table @code
18291 @item sdireset
18292 @kindex sdireset
18293 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
18294 This command resets the SDI connection.
18295
18296 @item sdistatus
18297 @kindex sdistatus
18298 This command shows the SDI connection status.
18299
18300 @item debug_chaos
18301 @kindex debug_chaos
18302 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
18303 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
18304
18305 @item use_debug_dma
18306 @kindex use_debug_dma
18307 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
18308
18309 @item use_mon_code
18310 @kindex use_mon_code
18311 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
18312
18313 @item use_ib_break
18314 @kindex use_ib_break
18315 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
18316
18317 @item use_dbt_break
18318 @kindex use_dbt_break
18319 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
18320 @end table
18321
18322 @node M68K
18323 @subsection M68k
18324
18325 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
18326 target command for the following ROM monitor.
18327
18328 @table @code
18329
18330 @kindex target dbug
18331 @item target dbug @var{dev}
18332 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
18333
18334 @end table
18335
18336 @node MicroBlaze
18337 @subsection MicroBlaze
18338 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
18339 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
18340
18341 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
18342 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
18343 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
18344 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
18345 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
18346 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
18347 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
18348 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
18349 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
18350 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
18351 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
18352
18353 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
18354
18355 @table @code
18356 @item target remote :1234
18357 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
18358 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
18359
18360 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
18361 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
18362 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
18363
18364 @item load
18365 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
18366
18367 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
18368 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
18369
18370 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
18371 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
18372 @end table
18373
18374 @node MIPS Embedded
18375 @subsection MIPS Embedded
18376
18377 @cindex MIPS boards
18378 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
18379 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
18380 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
18381
18382 @need 1000
18383 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
18384
18385 @table @code
18386 @item target mips @var{port}
18387 @kindex target mips @var{port}
18388 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
18389 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
18390 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
18391 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
18392 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
18393 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
18394
18395 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
18396 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
18397 debugger:
18398
18399 @smallexample
18400 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
18401 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
18402 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
18403 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
18404 (@value{GDBP}) run
18405 @end smallexample
18406
18407 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
18408 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
18409 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
18410 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
18411 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
18412
18413 @item target pmon @var{port}
18414 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
18415 PMON ROM monitor.
18416
18417 @item target ddb @var{port}
18418 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
18419 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
18420
18421 @item target lsi @var{port}
18422 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
18423 LSI variant of PMON.
18424
18425 @kindex target r3900
18426 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
18427 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
18428
18429 @kindex target array
18430 @item target array @var{dev}
18431 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
18432
18433 @end table
18434
18435
18436 @noindent
18437 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
18438
18439 @table @code
18440 @item set mipsfpu double
18441 @itemx set mipsfpu single
18442 @itemx set mipsfpu none
18443 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
18444 @itemx show mipsfpu
18445 @kindex set mipsfpu
18446 @kindex show mipsfpu
18447 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
18448 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
18449 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
18450 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
18451 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
18452 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
18453 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
18454 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
18455 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
18456 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
18457 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
18458 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
18459 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
18460
18461 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
18462 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
18463 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
18464
18465 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
18466 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
18467
18468 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
18469 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
18470 @itemx show timeout
18471 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
18472 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
18473 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
18474 @kindex set timeout
18475 @kindex show timeout
18476 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
18477 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
18478 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
18479 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
18480 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
18481 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
18482 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
18483 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
18484 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
18485 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
18486
18487 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
18488 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
18489 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
18490 to run before stopping.
18491
18492 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
18493 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18494 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
18495 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
18496 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
18497 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
18498
18499 @item show syn-garbage-limit
18500 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18501 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
18502 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
18503
18504 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
18505 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18506 @cindex remote monitor prompt
18507 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
18508 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
18509 @table @asis
18510 @item pmon target
18511 @samp{PMON}
18512 @item ddb target
18513 @samp{NEC010}
18514 @item lsi target
18515 @samp{PMON>}
18516 @end table
18517
18518 @item show monitor-prompt
18519 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18520 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
18521 remote monitor.
18522
18523 @item set monitor-warnings
18524 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18525 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
18526 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
18527 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
18528 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
18529
18530 @item show monitor-warnings
18531 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18532 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
18533
18534 @item pmon @var{command}
18535 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
18536 @cindex send PMON command
18537 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
18538 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
18539 @end table
18540
18541 @node OpenRISC 1000
18542 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
18543 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
18544
18545 @cindex or1k boards
18546 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
18547 about platform and commands.
18548
18549 @table @code
18550
18551 @kindex target jtag
18552 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
18553
18554 Connects to remote JTAG server.
18555 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
18556 connected via parallel port to the board.
18557
18558 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
18559
18560 @kindex or1ksim
18561 @item or1ksim @var{command}
18562 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
18563 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
18564
18565 @kindex info or1k spr
18566 @item info or1k spr
18567 Displays spr groups.
18568
18569 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
18570 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
18571 Displays register names in selected group.
18572
18573 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
18574 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
18575 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
18576 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
18577 Shows information about specified spr register.
18578
18579 @kindex spr
18580 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
18581 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
18582 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
18583 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
18584 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
18585 @end table
18586
18587 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
18588 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
18589 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
18590 triggers can be set using:
18591 @table @code
18592 @item $LEA/$LDATA
18593 Load effective address/data
18594 @item $SEA/$SDATA
18595 Store effective address/data
18596 @item $AEA/$ADATA
18597 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
18598 @item $FETCH
18599 Fetch data
18600 @end table
18601
18602 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
18603 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
18604
18605 @code{htrace} commands:
18606 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
18607 @table @code
18608 @kindex hwatch
18609 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
18610 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
18611 or Data. For example:
18612
18613 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18614
18615 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18616
18617 @kindex htrace
18618 @item htrace info
18619 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
18620
18621 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
18622 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
18623
18624 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
18625 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
18626
18627 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
18628 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
18629
18630 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
18631 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
18632 triggered.
18633
18634 @item htrace enable
18635 @itemx htrace disable
18636 Enables/disables the HW trace.
18637
18638 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
18639 Clears currently recorded trace data.
18640
18641 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
18642 will be written there.
18643
18644 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
18645 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
18646
18647 @item htrace mode continuous
18648 Set continuous trace mode.
18649
18650 @item htrace mode suspend
18651 Set suspend trace mode.
18652
18653 @end table
18654
18655 @node PowerPC Embedded
18656 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
18657
18658 @cindex DVC register
18659 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
18660 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
18661
18662 @smallexample
18663 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
18664 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
18665 @end smallexample
18666
18667 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
18668 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
18669 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
18670 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
18671 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
18672 or newer.
18673
18674 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
18675 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
18676 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
18677 watching variables of scalar types.
18678
18679 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
18680 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
18681
18682 @smallexample
18683 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
18684 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
18685 @end smallexample
18686
18687 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
18688
18689 @table @code
18690 @kindex set powerpc
18691 @item set powerpc soft-float
18692 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
18693 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
18694 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
18695 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18696
18697 @item set powerpc vector-abi
18698 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
18699 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
18700 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
18701 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
18702 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
18703 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
18704 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18705
18706 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
18707 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
18708 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
18709 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
18710 address of its first byte.
18711
18712 @kindex target dink32
18713 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
18714 DINK32 ROM monitor.
18715
18716 @kindex target ppcbug
18717 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
18718 @kindex target ppcbug1
18719 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
18720 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
18721
18722 @kindex target sds
18723 @item target sds @var{dev}
18724 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
18725 @end table
18726
18727 @cindex SDS protocol
18728 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
18729 by @value{GDBN}:
18730
18731 @table @code
18732 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
18733 @kindex set sdstimeout
18734 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
18735 default is 2 seconds.
18736
18737 @item show sdstimeout
18738 @kindex show sdstimeout
18739 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
18740
18741 @item sds @var{command}
18742 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
18743 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
18744 @end table
18745
18746
18747 @node PA
18748 @subsection HP PA Embedded
18749
18750 @table @code
18751
18752 @kindex target op50n
18753 @item target op50n @var{dev}
18754 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
18755
18756 @kindex target w89k
18757 @item target w89k @var{dev}
18758 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
18759
18760 @end table
18761
18762 @node Sparclet
18763 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
18764
18765 @cindex Sparclet
18766
18767 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
18768 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
18769 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18770 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
18771 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
18772
18773 @table @code
18774 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
18775 @kindex remotetimeout
18776 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
18777 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18778 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
18779 @end table
18780
18781 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
18782 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
18783 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
18784 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
18785 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
18786
18787 @smallexample
18788 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
18789 @end smallexample
18790
18791 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
18792
18793 @smallexample
18794 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
18795 @end smallexample
18796
18797 @cindex running, on Sparclet
18798 Once you have set
18799 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18800 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
18801 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
18802
18803 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18804
18805 @smallexample
18806 (gdbslet)
18807 @end smallexample
18808
18809 @menu
18810 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
18811 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
18812 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
18813 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
18814 @end menu
18815
18816 @node Sparclet File
18817 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
18818
18819 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
18820
18821 @smallexample
18822 (gdbslet) file prog
18823 @end smallexample
18824
18825 @need 1000
18826 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
18827 @value{GDBN} locates
18828 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
18829 path.
18830 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
18831 files will be searched as well.
18832 @value{GDBN} locates
18833 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
18834 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
18835 If it fails
18836 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
18837
18838 @smallexample
18839 prog: No such file or directory.
18840 @end smallexample
18841
18842 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
18843 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
18844 @code{target} command again.
18845
18846 @node Sparclet Connection
18847 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
18848
18849 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
18850 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
18851
18852 @smallexample
18853 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
18854 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
18855 main () at ../prog.c:3
18856 @end smallexample
18857
18858 @need 750
18859 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18860
18861 @smallexample
18862 Connected to ttya.
18863 @end smallexample
18864
18865 @node Sparclet Download
18866 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
18867
18868 @cindex download to Sparclet
18869 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
18870 you can use the @value{GDBN}
18871 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
18872 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
18873 command.
18874 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
18875 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
18876 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
18877 of each of the file's sections.
18878 For instance, if the program
18879 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
18880 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18881
18882 @smallexample
18883 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
18884 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
18885 @end smallexample
18886
18887 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
18888 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
18889 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
18890
18891 @node Sparclet Execution
18892 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
18893
18894 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
18895 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
18896 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
18897 manual for the list of commands.
18898
18899 @smallexample
18900 (gdbslet) b main
18901 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
18902 (gdbslet) run
18903 Starting program: prog
18904 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
18905 3 char *symarg = 0;
18906 (gdbslet) step
18907 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
18908 (gdbslet)
18909 @end smallexample
18910
18911 @node Sparclite
18912 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
18913
18914 @table @code
18915
18916 @kindex target sparclite
18917 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
18918 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
18919 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
18920 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
18921 remote protocol.
18922
18923 @end table
18924
18925 @node Z8000
18926 @subsection Zilog Z8000
18927
18928 @cindex Z8000
18929 @cindex simulator, Z8000
18930 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
18931
18932 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
18933 a Z8000 simulator.
18934
18935 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
18936 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
18937 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
18938 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
18939
18940 @table @code
18941 @item target sim @var{args}
18942 @kindex sim
18943 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
18944 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
18945 options, specify them via @var{args}.
18946 @end table
18947
18948 @noindent
18949 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
18950 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
18951 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
18952 to run your program, and so on.
18953
18954 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
18955 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
18956 additional items of information as specially named registers:
18957
18958 @table @code
18959
18960 @item cycles
18961 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
18962
18963 @item insts
18964 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
18965
18966 @item time
18967 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
18968
18969 @end table
18970
18971 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
18972 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
18973 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
18974 simulated clock ticks.
18975
18976 @node AVR
18977 @subsection Atmel AVR
18978 @cindex AVR
18979
18980 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
18981 following AVR-specific commands:
18982
18983 @table @code
18984 @item info io_registers
18985 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
18986 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
18987 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
18988 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
18989 @end table
18990
18991 @node CRIS
18992 @subsection CRIS
18993 @cindex CRIS
18994
18995 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
18996 following CRIS-specific commands:
18997
18998 @table @code
18999 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
19000 @cindex CRIS version
19001 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
19002 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
19003 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
19004
19005 @item show cris-version
19006 Show the current CRIS version.
19007
19008 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
19009 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
19010 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
19011 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
19012 @code{R59}.
19013
19014 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
19015 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
19016
19017 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
19018 @cindex CRIS mode
19019 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
19020 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
19021 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
19022
19023 @item show cris-mode
19024 Show the current CRIS mode.
19025 @end table
19026
19027 @node Super-H
19028 @subsection Renesas Super-H
19029 @cindex Super-H
19030
19031 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
19032 commands:
19033
19034 @table @code
19035 @item regs
19036 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
19037 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
19038
19039 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
19040 @kindex set sh calling-convention
19041 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
19042 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
19043 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
19044 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
19045 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
19046 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
19047 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
19048 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
19049 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
19050 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
19051
19052 @item show sh calling-convention
19053 @kindex show sh calling-convention
19054 Show the current calling convention setting.
19055
19056 @end table
19057
19058
19059 @node Architectures
19060 @section Architectures
19061
19062 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
19063 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
19064
19065 @menu
19066 * i386::
19067 * A29K::
19068 * Alpha::
19069 * MIPS::
19070 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
19071 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19072 * PowerPC::
19073 @end menu
19074
19075 @node i386
19076 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
19077
19078 @table @code
19079 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
19080 @kindex set struct-convention
19081 @cindex struct return convention
19082 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
19083 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
19084 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
19085 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
19086 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
19087 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
19088 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
19089 be returned in a register.
19090
19091 @item show struct-convention
19092 @kindex show struct-convention
19093 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
19094 from functions.
19095 @end table
19096
19097 @node A29K
19098 @subsection A29K
19099
19100 @table @code
19101
19102 @kindex set rstack_high_address
19103 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
19104 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
19105 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
19106 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
19107 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
19108 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
19109 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
19110 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
19111 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
19112 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
19113 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
19114 hexadecimal.
19115
19116 @kindex show rstack_high_address
19117 @item show rstack_high_address
19118 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
19119 processors.
19120
19121 @end table
19122
19123 @node Alpha
19124 @subsection Alpha
19125
19126 See the following section.
19127
19128 @node MIPS
19129 @subsection MIPS
19130
19131 @cindex stack on Alpha
19132 @cindex stack on MIPS
19133 @cindex Alpha stack
19134 @cindex MIPS stack
19135 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
19136 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
19137 find the beginning of a function.
19138
19139 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
19140 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
19141 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
19142 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
19143 commands:
19144
19145 @table @code
19146 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
19147 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
19148 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
19149 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
19150 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
19151 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
19152 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
19153 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
19154
19155 @item show heuristic-fence-post
19156 Display the current limit.
19157 @end table
19158
19159 @noindent
19160 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
19161 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
19162
19163 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
19164 programs:
19165
19166 @table @code
19167 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
19168 @kindex set mips abi
19169 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
19170 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
19171 values of @var{arg} are:
19172
19173 @table @samp
19174 @item auto
19175 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
19176 default).
19177 @item o32
19178 @item o64
19179 @item n32
19180 @item n64
19181 @item eabi32
19182 @item eabi64
19183 @item auto
19184 @end table
19185
19186 @item show mips abi
19187 @kindex show mips abi
19188 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
19189
19190 @item set mipsfpu
19191 @itemx show mipsfpu
19192 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
19193
19194 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
19195 @kindex set mips mask-address
19196 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
19197 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
19198 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
19199 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
19200 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
19201
19202 @item show mips mask-address
19203 @kindex show mips mask-address
19204 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
19205 not.
19206
19207 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19208 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19209 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
19210 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
19211 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
19212 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
19213
19214 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19215 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19216 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
19217
19218 @item set debug mips
19219 @kindex set debug mips
19220 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
19221 target code in @value{GDBN}.
19222
19223 @item show debug mips
19224 @kindex show debug mips
19225 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
19226 @end table
19227
19228
19229 @node HPPA
19230 @subsection HPPA
19231 @cindex HPPA support
19232
19233 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
19234 following special commands:
19235
19236 @table @code
19237 @item set debug hppa
19238 @kindex set debug hppa
19239 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
19240 messages are to be displayed.
19241
19242 @item show debug hppa
19243 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
19244
19245 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
19246 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
19247 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
19248 given @var{address}.
19249
19250 @end table
19251
19252
19253 @node SPU
19254 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19255 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
19256 @cindex SPU
19257
19258 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
19259 it provides the following special commands:
19260
19261 @table @code
19262 @item info spu event
19263 @kindex info spu
19264 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
19265 and pending event status.
19266
19267 @item info spu signal
19268 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
19269 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
19270 notification channels.
19271
19272 @item info spu mailbox
19273 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
19274 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
19275 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
19276
19277 @item info spu dma
19278 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19279 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19280 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19281
19282 @item info spu proxydma
19283 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19284 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19285 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19286
19287 @end table
19288
19289 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
19290 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
19291 special commands:
19292
19293 @table @code
19294 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
19295 @kindex set spu
19296 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
19297 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
19298 function. The default is @code{off}.
19299
19300 @item show spu stop-on-load
19301 @kindex show spu
19302 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
19303
19304 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
19305 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
19306 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
19307 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
19308 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
19309 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
19310
19311 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
19312 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
19313
19314 @end table
19315
19316 @node PowerPC
19317 @subsection PowerPC
19318 @cindex PowerPC architecture
19319
19320 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
19321 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
19322 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
19323 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
19324 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
19325
19326 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
19327 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
19328 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
19329
19330 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
19331 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
19332
19333
19334 @node Controlling GDB
19335 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
19336
19337 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
19338 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
19339 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
19340 described here.
19341
19342 @menu
19343 * Prompt:: Prompt
19344 * Editing:: Command editing
19345 * Command History:: Command history
19346 * Screen Size:: Screen size
19347 * Numbers:: Numbers
19348 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
19349 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
19350 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
19351 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
19352 @end menu
19353
19354 @node Prompt
19355 @section Prompt
19356
19357 @cindex prompt
19358
19359 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
19360 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
19361 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
19362 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
19363 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
19364 which one you are talking to.
19365
19366 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
19367 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
19368 or a prompt that does not.
19369
19370 @table @code
19371 @kindex set prompt
19372 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
19373 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
19374
19375 @kindex show prompt
19376 @item show prompt
19377 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
19378 @end table
19379
19380 @node Editing
19381 @section Command Editing
19382 @cindex readline
19383 @cindex command line editing
19384
19385 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
19386 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
19387 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
19388 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
19389 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
19390 debugging sessions.
19391
19392 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
19393 command @code{set}.
19394
19395 @table @code
19396 @kindex set editing
19397 @cindex editing
19398 @item set editing
19399 @itemx set editing on
19400 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
19401
19402 @item set editing off
19403 Disable command line editing.
19404
19405 @kindex show editing
19406 @item show editing
19407 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
19408 @end table
19409
19410 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19411 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
19412 @end ifset
19413 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19414 @xref{Command Line Editing},
19415 @end ifclear
19416 for more details about the Readline
19417 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
19418 encouraged to read that chapter.
19419
19420 @node Command History
19421 @section Command History
19422 @cindex command history
19423
19424 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
19425 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
19426 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
19427 history facility.
19428
19429 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
19430 package, to provide the history facility.
19431 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19432 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
19433 @end ifset
19434 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19435 @xref{Using History Interactively},
19436 @end ifclear
19437 for the detailed description of the History library.
19438
19439 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
19440 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
19441 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
19442 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
19443 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
19444 pressed on a line by itself.
19445
19446 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
19447 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
19448 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
19449 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
19450
19451 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
19452 history.
19453
19454 @table @code
19455 @cindex history substitution
19456 @cindex history file
19457 @kindex set history filename
19458 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
19459 @item set history filename @var{fname}
19460 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
19461 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
19462 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
19463 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
19464 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
19465 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
19466 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
19467 is not set.
19468
19469 @cindex save command history
19470 @kindex set history save
19471 @item set history save
19472 @itemx set history save on
19473 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
19474 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
19475
19476 @item set history save off
19477 Stop recording command history in a file.
19478
19479 @cindex history size
19480 @kindex set history size
19481 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
19482 @item set history size @var{size}
19483 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
19484 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
19485 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
19486 @end table
19487
19488 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
19489 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19490 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
19491 @end ifset
19492 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19493 @xref{Event Designators},
19494 @end ifclear
19495 for more details.
19496
19497 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
19498 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
19499 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
19500 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
19501 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
19502 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
19503 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
19504 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
19505
19506 The commands to control history expansion are:
19507
19508 @table @code
19509 @item set history expansion on
19510 @itemx set history expansion
19511 @kindex set history expansion
19512 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
19513
19514 @item set history expansion off
19515 Disable history expansion.
19516
19517 @c @group
19518 @kindex show history
19519 @item show history
19520 @itemx show history filename
19521 @itemx show history save
19522 @itemx show history size
19523 @itemx show history expansion
19524 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
19525 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
19526 @c @end group
19527 @end table
19528
19529 @table @code
19530 @kindex show commands
19531 @cindex show last commands
19532 @cindex display command history
19533 @item show commands
19534 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
19535
19536 @item show commands @var{n}
19537 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
19538
19539 @item show commands +
19540 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
19541 @end table
19542
19543 @node Screen Size
19544 @section Screen Size
19545 @cindex size of screen
19546 @cindex pauses in output
19547
19548 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
19549 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
19550 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
19551 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
19552 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
19553 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
19554 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
19555 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
19556
19557 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
19558 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
19559 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
19560 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
19561 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
19562 width} commands:
19563
19564 @table @code
19565 @kindex set height
19566 @kindex set width
19567 @kindex show width
19568 @kindex show height
19569 @item set height @var{lpp}
19570 @itemx show height
19571 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
19572 @itemx show width
19573 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
19574 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
19575 commands display the current settings.
19576
19577 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
19578 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
19579 file or to an editor buffer.
19580
19581 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
19582 from wrapping its output.
19583
19584 @item set pagination on
19585 @itemx set pagination off
19586 @kindex set pagination
19587 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
19588 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
19589 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
19590 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
19591
19592 @item show pagination
19593 @kindex show pagination
19594 Show the current pagination mode.
19595 @end table
19596
19597 @node Numbers
19598 @section Numbers
19599 @cindex number representation
19600 @cindex entering numbers
19601
19602 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
19603 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
19604 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
19605 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
19606 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
19607 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
19608 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
19609 both input and output with the commands described below.
19610
19611 @table @code
19612 @kindex set input-radix
19613 @item set input-radix @var{base}
19614 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
19615 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19616 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
19617 example, any of
19618
19619 @smallexample
19620 set input-radix 012
19621 set input-radix 10.
19622 set input-radix 0xa
19623 @end smallexample
19624
19625 @noindent
19626 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
19627 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
19628 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
19629 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
19630 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
19631 change the radix.
19632
19633 @kindex set output-radix
19634 @item set output-radix @var{base}
19635 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
19636 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19637 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
19638
19639 @kindex show input-radix
19640 @item show input-radix
19641 Display the current default base for numeric input.
19642
19643 @kindex show output-radix
19644 @item show output-radix
19645 Display the current default base for numeric display.
19646
19647 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
19648 @itemx show radix
19649 @kindex set radix
19650 @kindex show radix
19651 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
19652 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
19653 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
19654 default value of 10.
19655
19656 @end table
19657
19658 @node ABI
19659 @section Configuring the Current ABI
19660
19661 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
19662 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
19663 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
19664 current ABI.
19665
19666 @cindex OS ABI
19667 @kindex set osabi
19668 @kindex show osabi
19669
19670 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
19671 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
19672 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
19673 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
19674 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
19675 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
19676 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
19677 platform provides.
19678
19679 @table @code
19680 @item show osabi
19681 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
19682
19683 @item set osabi
19684 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
19685
19686 @item set osabi @var{abi}
19687 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
19688 @end table
19689
19690 @cindex float promotion
19691
19692 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
19693 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
19694 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
19695 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
19696 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
19697 @code{double} and then passed.
19698
19699 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
19700 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
19701 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
19702
19703 @table @code
19704 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
19705 @item set coerce-float-to-double
19706 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
19707 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
19708 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
19709
19710 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
19711 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
19712 functions.
19713
19714 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
19715 @item show coerce-float-to-double
19716 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
19717 @end table
19718
19719 @kindex set cp-abi
19720 @kindex show cp-abi
19721 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
19722 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
19723 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
19724 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
19725 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
19726 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
19727 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
19728 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
19729 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
19730 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
19731 ``auto''.
19732
19733 @table @code
19734 @item show cp-abi
19735 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
19736
19737 @item set cp-abi
19738 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
19739
19740 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
19741 @itemx set cp-abi auto
19742 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
19743 @end table
19744
19745 @node Messages/Warnings
19746 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
19747
19748 @cindex verbose operation
19749 @cindex optional warnings
19750 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
19751 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
19752 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
19753 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
19754
19755 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
19756 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
19757 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
19758
19759 @table @code
19760 @kindex set verbose
19761 @item set verbose on
19762 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19763
19764 @item set verbose off
19765 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19766
19767 @kindex show verbose
19768 @item show verbose
19769 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
19770 @end table
19771
19772 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
19773 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
19774 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
19775 Symbol Files}).
19776
19777 @table @code
19778
19779 @kindex set complaints
19780 @item set complaints @var{limit}
19781 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
19782 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
19783 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
19784 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
19785
19786 @kindex show complaints
19787 @item show complaints
19788 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
19789
19790 @end table
19791
19792 @anchor{confirmation requests}
19793 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
19794 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
19795 you try to run a program which is already running:
19796
19797 @smallexample
19798 (@value{GDBP}) run
19799 The program being debugged has been started already.
19800 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
19801 @end smallexample
19802
19803 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
19804 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
19805
19806 @table @code
19807
19808 @kindex set confirm
19809 @cindex flinching
19810 @cindex confirmation
19811 @cindex stupid questions
19812 @item set confirm off
19813 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
19814 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
19815 automatically disables confirmation requests.
19816
19817 @item set confirm on
19818 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
19819
19820 @kindex show confirm
19821 @item show confirm
19822 Displays state of confirmation requests.
19823
19824 @end table
19825
19826 @cindex command tracing
19827 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
19828 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
19829 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
19830 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
19831
19832 @table @code
19833 @kindex set trace-commands
19834 @cindex command scripts, debugging
19835 @item set trace-commands on
19836 Enable command tracing.
19837 @item set trace-commands off
19838 Disable command tracing.
19839 @item show trace-commands
19840 Display the current state of command tracing.
19841 @end table
19842
19843 @node Debugging Output
19844 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
19845 @cindex optional debugging messages
19846
19847 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
19848 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
19849 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
19850 section documents those commands.
19851
19852 @table @code
19853 @kindex set exec-done-display
19854 @item set exec-done-display
19855 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
19856 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
19857 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
19858 @kindex show exec-done-display
19859 @item show exec-done-display
19860 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
19861 notification.
19862 @kindex set debug
19863 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
19864 @cindex architecture debugging info
19865 @item set debug arch
19866 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
19867 @kindex show debug
19868 @item show debug arch
19869 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
19870 @item set debug aix-thread
19871 @cindex AIX threads
19872 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
19873 module.
19874 @item show debug aix-thread
19875 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
19876 @item set debug dwarf2-die
19877 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
19878 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
19879 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
19880 A value of zero turns off the display.
19881 @item show debug dwarf2-die
19882 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
19883 @item set debug displaced
19884 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
19885 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
19886 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
19887 @item show debug displaced
19888 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
19889 related to displaced stepping.
19890 @item set debug event
19891 @cindex event debugging info
19892 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
19893 default is off.
19894 @item show debug event
19895 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
19896 info.
19897 @item set debug expression
19898 @cindex expression debugging info
19899 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
19900 expression parsing. The default is off.
19901 @item show debug expression
19902 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
19903 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
19904 @item set debug frame
19905 @cindex frame debugging info
19906 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
19907 default is off.
19908 @item show debug frame
19909 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
19910 info.
19911 @item set debug gnu-nat
19912 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
19913 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
19914 @item show debug gnu-nat
19915 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
19916 @item set debug infrun
19917 @cindex inferior debugging info
19918 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
19919 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
19920 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
19921 @item show debug infrun
19922 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
19923 @item set debug jit
19924 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
19925 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
19926 @item show debug jit
19927 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
19928 @item set debug lin-lwp
19929 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
19930 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19931 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
19932 @item show debug lin-lwp
19933 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
19934 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
19935 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
19936 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19937 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
19938 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
19939 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
19940 @item set debug observer
19941 @cindex observer debugging info
19942 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
19943 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
19944 @item show debug observer
19945 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
19946 @item set debug overload
19947 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
19948 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
19949 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
19950 is off.
19951 @item show debug overload
19952 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
19953 debugging info.
19954 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
19955 @cindex debug expression parser
19956 @item set debug parser
19957 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
19958 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
19959 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
19960 details. The default is off.
19961 @item show debug parser
19962 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
19963 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
19964 @cindex serial connections, debugging
19965 @cindex debug remote protocol
19966 @cindex remote protocol debugging
19967 @cindex display remote packets
19968 @item set debug remote
19969 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
19970 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
19971 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
19972 @item show debug remote
19973 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
19974 @item set debug serial
19975 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
19976 default is off.
19977 @item show debug serial
19978 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
19979 info.
19980 @item set debug solib-frv
19981 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
19982 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
19983 @item show debug solib-frv
19984 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
19985 messages.
19986 @item set debug target
19987 @cindex target debugging info
19988 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
19989 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
19990 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
19991 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
19992 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
19993 @item show debug target
19994 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
19995 info.
19996 @item set debug timestamp
19997 @cindex timestampping debugging info
19998 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
19999 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
20000 message.
20001 @item show debug timestamp
20002 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
20003 debugging info.
20004 @item set debugvarobj
20005 @cindex variable object debugging info
20006 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
20007 info. The default is off.
20008 @item show debugvarobj
20009 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
20010 debugging info.
20011 @item set debug xml
20012 @cindex XML parser debugging
20013 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
20014 @item show debug xml
20015 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
20016 @end table
20017
20018 @node Other Misc Settings
20019 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
20020 @cindex miscellaneous settings
20021
20022 @table @code
20023 @kindex set interactive-mode
20024 @item set interactive-mode
20025 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate interactively.
20026 If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate non-interactively,
20027 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} guesses which mode to use,
20028 based on whether the debugger was started in a terminal or not.
20029
20030 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
20031 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
20032 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
20033 inside a cygwin window.
20034
20035 @kindex show interactive-mode
20036 @item show interactive-mode
20037 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
20038 @end table
20039
20040 @node Extending GDB
20041 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
20042 @cindex extending GDB
20043
20044 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
20045 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
20046 Python scripting language.
20047
20048 To facilitate the use of these extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
20049 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
20050 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
20051 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
20052 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20053 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
20054
20055 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
20056 setting:
20057
20058 @table @code
20059 @kindex set script-extension
20060 @kindex show script-extension
20061 @item set script-extension off
20062 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20063
20064 @item set script-extension soft
20065 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20066 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
20067 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
20068 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
20069
20070 @item set script-extension strict
20071 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20072 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
20073 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
20074
20075 @item show script-extension
20076 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
20077
20078 @end table
20079
20080 @menu
20081 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
20082 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20083 @end menu
20084
20085 @node Sequences
20086 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
20087
20088 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
20089 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
20090 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
20091 files.
20092
20093 @menu
20094 * Define:: How to define your own commands
20095 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
20096 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
20097 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
20098 @end menu
20099
20100 @node Define
20101 @subsection User-defined Commands
20102
20103 @cindex user-defined command
20104 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
20105 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
20106 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
20107 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
20108 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
20109 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
20110
20111 @smallexample
20112 define adder
20113 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20114 end
20115 @end smallexample
20116
20117 @noindent
20118 To execute the command use:
20119
20120 @smallexample
20121 adder 1 2 3
20122 @end smallexample
20123
20124 @noindent
20125 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
20126 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
20127 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
20128 functions calls.
20129
20130 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
20131 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
20132 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
20133 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
20134
20135 @smallexample
20136 define adder
20137 if $argc == 2
20138 print $arg0 + $arg1
20139 end
20140 if $argc == 3
20141 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20142 end
20143 end
20144 @end smallexample
20145
20146 @table @code
20147
20148 @kindex define
20149 @item define @var{commandname}
20150 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
20151 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
20152 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
20153 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
20154 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
20155 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
20156
20157 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
20158 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
20159 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
20160
20161 @kindex document
20162 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
20163 @item document @var{commandname}
20164 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
20165 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
20166 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
20167 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
20168 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
20169 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
20170
20171 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
20172 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
20173 does not change the documentation.
20174
20175 @kindex dont-repeat
20176 @cindex don't repeat command
20177 @item dont-repeat
20178 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
20179 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
20180 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
20181
20182 @kindex help user-defined
20183 @item help user-defined
20184 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
20185 (if any) for each.
20186
20187 @kindex show user
20188 @item show user
20189 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
20190 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
20191 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
20192 definitions for all user-defined commands.
20193
20194 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
20195 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
20196 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
20197 @item show max-user-call-depth
20198 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
20199 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
20200 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
20201 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
20202 @end table
20203
20204 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
20205 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
20206
20207 When user-defined commands are executed, the
20208 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
20209 stops execution of the user-defined command.
20210
20211 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
20212 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
20213 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
20214 messages when used in a user-defined command.
20215
20216 @node Hooks
20217 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
20218 @cindex command hooks
20219 @cindex hooks, for commands
20220 @cindex hooks, pre-command
20221
20222 @kindex hook
20223 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
20224 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
20225 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
20226 before that command.
20227
20228 @cindex hooks, post-command
20229 @kindex hookpost
20230 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
20231 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
20232 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
20233 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
20234 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
20235
20236 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
20237 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
20238
20239 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
20240 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
20241
20242 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
20243 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
20244 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
20245 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
20246 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
20247
20248 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
20249 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
20250 you could define:
20251
20252 @smallexample
20253 define hook-stop
20254 handle SIGALRM nopass
20255 end
20256
20257 define hook-run
20258 handle SIGALRM pass
20259 end
20260
20261 define hook-continue
20262 handle SIGALRM pass
20263 end
20264 @end smallexample
20265
20266 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
20267 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
20268 you could define:
20269
20270 @smallexample
20271 define hook-echo
20272 echo <<<---
20273 end
20274
20275 define hookpost-echo
20276 echo --->>>\n
20277 end
20278
20279 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
20280 <<<---Hello World--->>>
20281 (@value{GDBP})
20282
20283 @end smallexample
20284
20285 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
20286 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
20287 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
20288 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
20289 @c or not?
20290 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
20291 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
20292 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
20293
20294 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
20295 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
20296 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
20297
20298 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
20299 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
20300
20301 @node Command Files
20302 @subsection Command Files
20303
20304 @cindex command files
20305 @cindex scripting commands
20306 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
20307 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
20308 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
20309 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
20310 terminal.
20311
20312 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
20313 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
20314 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
20315 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
20316 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
20317
20318 @table @code
20319 @kindex source
20320 @cindex execute commands from a file
20321 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
20322 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
20323 @end table
20324
20325 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
20326 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
20327 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
20328 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
20329 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
20330
20331 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
20332 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
20333 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
20334 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
20335 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
20336 is not relevant to scripts.
20337
20338 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
20339 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
20340 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
20341 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
20342 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
20343 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
20344 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
20345 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
20346 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
20347 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
20348 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
20349 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
20350 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
20351 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
20352
20353 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
20354 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
20355 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
20356
20357 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
20358 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
20359 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
20360 when called from command files.
20361
20362 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
20363 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
20364 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
20365 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
20366 the next command.
20367
20368 @smallexample
20369 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
20370 @end smallexample
20371
20372 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
20373 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
20374 would be directed to @file{log}.
20375
20376 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
20377 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
20378 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
20379 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
20380 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
20381 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
20382 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
20383 conditionally, etc.
20384
20385 @table @code
20386 @kindex if
20387 @kindex else
20388 @item if
20389 @itemx else
20390 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
20391 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
20392 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
20393 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
20394 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
20395 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
20396 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
20397
20398 @kindex while
20399 @item while
20400 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
20401 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
20402 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
20403 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
20404 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
20405 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
20406
20407 @kindex loop_break
20408 @item loop_break
20409 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
20410 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
20411 line.
20412
20413 @kindex loop_continue
20414 @item loop_continue
20415 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
20416 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
20417 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
20418 the controlling expression.
20419
20420 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
20421 @item end
20422 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
20423 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
20424 @end table
20425
20426
20427 @node Output
20428 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
20429
20430 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
20431 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
20432 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
20433 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
20434 want.
20435
20436 @table @code
20437 @kindex echo
20438 @item echo @var{text}
20439 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
20440 @c because it is not in ANSI.
20441 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
20442 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
20443 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
20444 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
20445 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
20446 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
20447 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
20448 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
20449 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
20450
20451 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
20452 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
20453
20454 @smallexample
20455 echo This is some text\n\
20456 which is continued\n\
20457 onto several lines.\n
20458 @end smallexample
20459
20460 produces the same output as
20461
20462 @smallexample
20463 echo This is some text\n
20464 echo which is continued\n
20465 echo onto several lines.\n
20466 @end smallexample
20467
20468 @kindex output
20469 @item output @var{expression}
20470 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
20471 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
20472 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
20473 on expressions.
20474
20475 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
20476 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
20477 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
20478 Formats}, for more information.
20479
20480 @kindex printf
20481 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
20482 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
20483 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
20484 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
20485 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
20486 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
20487 executing the code below:
20488
20489 @smallexample
20490 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
20491 @end smallexample
20492
20493 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
20494 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
20495 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
20496 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
20497 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
20498 printed.
20499
20500 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
20501
20502 @smallexample
20503 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
20504 @end smallexample
20505
20506 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
20507 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
20508 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
20509
20510 @itemize @bullet
20511 @item
20512 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
20513
20514 @item
20515 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
20516 width.
20517
20518 @item
20519 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
20520 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
20521
20522 @item
20523 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
20524 supported.
20525
20526 @item
20527 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
20528
20529 @item
20530 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
20531 @end itemize
20532
20533 @noindent
20534 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
20535 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
20536 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
20537 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
20538
20539 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
20540 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
20541 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
20542 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
20543 supported.
20544
20545 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
20546 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
20547 together with a floating point specifier.
20548 letters:
20549
20550 @itemize @bullet
20551 @item
20552 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
20553
20554 @item
20555 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
20556
20557 @item
20558 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
20559 @end itemize
20560
20561 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
20562 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
20563 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
20564
20565 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
20566 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
20567
20568 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
20569 @smallexample
20570 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
20571 @end smallexample
20572
20573 @kindex eval
20574 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
20575 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
20576 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
20577
20578 @end table
20579
20580 @node Python
20581 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20582 @cindex python scripting
20583 @cindex scripting with python
20584
20585 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
20586 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
20587 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
20588
20589 @cindex python directory
20590 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
20591 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
20592 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
20593 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
20594 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
20595 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
20596
20597 @menu
20598 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
20599 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
20600 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
20601 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
20602 @end menu
20603
20604 @node Python Commands
20605 @subsection Python Commands
20606 @cindex python commands
20607 @cindex commands to access python
20608
20609 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
20610 and one related setting:
20611
20612 @table @code
20613 @kindex python
20614 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
20615 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
20616
20617 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
20618 argument as a Python command. For example:
20619
20620 @smallexample
20621 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
20622 23
20623 @end smallexample
20624
20625 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
20626 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
20627 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
20628 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
20629 containing @code{end}. For example:
20630
20631 @smallexample
20632 (@value{GDBP}) python
20633 Type python script
20634 End with a line saying just "end".
20635 >print 23
20636 >end
20637 23
20638 @end smallexample
20639
20640 @kindex maint set python print-stack
20641 @item maint set python print-stack
20642 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
20643 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
20644 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
20645 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
20646 disabled.
20647 @end table
20648
20649 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
20650 interpreter:
20651
20652 @table @code
20653 @item source @file{script-name}
20654 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
20655 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
20656 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
20657
20658 @item python execfile ("script-name")
20659 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
20660 and thus is always available.
20661 @end table
20662
20663 @node Python API
20664 @subsection Python API
20665 @cindex python api
20666 @cindex programming in python
20667
20668 @cindex python stdout
20669 @cindex python pagination
20670 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
20671 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
20672 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
20673 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
20674 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
20675
20676 @menu
20677 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
20678 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
20679 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
20680 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
20681 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
20682 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
20683 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
20684 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
20685 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
20686 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
20687 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
20688 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
20689 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
20690 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
20691 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20692 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
20693 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
20694 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
20695 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
20696 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
20697 @end menu
20698
20699 @node Basic Python
20700 @subsubsection Basic Python
20701
20702 @cindex python functions
20703 @cindex python module
20704 @cindex gdb module
20705 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
20706 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
20707 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
20708 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
20709
20710 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
20711 @defvar PYTHONDIR
20712 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
20713 @end defvar
20714
20715 @findex gdb.execute
20716 @defun execute command [from_tty] [to_string]
20717 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
20718 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
20719 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
20720
20721 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
20722 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
20723 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
20724
20725 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
20726 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
20727 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
20728 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
20729 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
20730 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
20731 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
20732 @end defun
20733
20734 @findex gdb.breakpoints
20735 @defun breakpoints
20736 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
20737 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
20738 @end defun
20739
20740 @findex gdb.parameter
20741 @defun parameter parameter
20742 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
20743 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
20744 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
20745 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
20746
20747 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
20748 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
20749 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
20750 type, and returned.
20751 @end defun
20752
20753 @findex gdb.history
20754 @defun history number
20755 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
20756 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
20757 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
20758 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
20759 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
20760 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
20761 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
20762 raised.
20763
20764 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
20765 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
20766 @end defun
20767
20768 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
20769 @defun parse_and_eval expression
20770 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
20771 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20772 @var{expression} must be a string.
20773
20774 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
20775 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
20776 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
20777 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
20778 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20779 @end defun
20780
20781 @findex gdb.post_event
20782 @defun post_event event
20783 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
20784 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
20785 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
20786 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
20787 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
20788 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
20789
20790 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
20791 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
20792 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
20793 this. For example:
20794
20795 @smallexample
20796 (@value{GDBP}) python
20797 >import threading
20798 >
20799 >class Writer():
20800 > def __init__(self, message):
20801 > self.message = message;
20802 > def __call__(self):
20803 > gdb.write(self.message)
20804 >
20805 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
20806 > def run (self):
20807 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
20808 >
20809 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
20810 > def run (self):
20811 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
20812 >
20813 >MyThread1().start()
20814 >MyThread2().start()
20815 >end
20816 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
20817 @end smallexample
20818 @end defun
20819
20820 @findex gdb.write
20821 @defun write string
20822 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
20823 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
20824 call this function.
20825 @end defun
20826
20827 @findex gdb.flush
20828 @defun flush
20829 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
20830 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
20831 function.
20832 @end defun
20833
20834 @findex gdb.target_charset
20835 @defun target_charset
20836 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
20837 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
20838 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
20839 @end defun
20840
20841 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
20842 @defun target_wide_charset
20843 Return the name of the current target wide character set
20844 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
20845 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
20846 never returned.
20847 @end defun
20848
20849 @findex gdb.solib_name
20850 @defun solib_name address
20851 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
20852 as a string, or @code{None}.
20853 @end defun
20854
20855 @findex gdb.decode_line
20856 @defun decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
20857 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
20858 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
20859 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
20860 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
20861 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
20862 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
20863 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
20864 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
20865 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
20866 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
20867 @end defun
20868
20869 @node Exception Handling
20870 @subsubsection Exception Handling
20871 @cindex python exceptions
20872 @cindex exceptions, python
20873
20874 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
20875 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
20876 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
20877 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
20878 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
20879 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
20880 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
20881
20882 @smallexample
20883 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
20884 Traceback (most recent call last):
20885 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
20886 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
20887 @end smallexample
20888
20889 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
20890 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
20891 Python exception depends on the error.
20892
20893 @ftable @code
20894 @item gdb.error
20895 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
20896 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
20897 versions of @value{GDBN}.
20898
20899 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
20900 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
20901
20902 @item gdb.MemoryError
20903 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
20904 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
20905
20906 @item KeyboardInterrupt
20907 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
20908 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
20909 @end ftable
20910
20911 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
20912 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
20913 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
20914 traceback.
20915
20916 @findex gdb.GdbError
20917 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
20918 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
20919 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
20920 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
20921 to handle this case. Example:
20922
20923 @smallexample
20924 (gdb) python
20925 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20926 > """Greet the whole world."""
20927 > def __init__ (self):
20928 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20929 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
20930 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
20931 > if len (argv) != 0:
20932 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
20933 > print "Hello, World!"
20934 >HelloWorld ()
20935 >end
20936 (gdb) hello-world 42
20937 hello-world takes no arguments
20938 @end smallexample
20939
20940 @node Values From Inferior
20941 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
20942 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
20943 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
20944
20945 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
20946 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
20947 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
20948 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
20949 fetching values when necessary.
20950
20951 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
20952 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
20953 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
20954
20955 @smallexample
20956 bar = some_val + 2
20957 @end smallexample
20958
20959 @noindent
20960 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
20961 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
20962
20963 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
20964 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
20965 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
20966 can access its @code{foo} element with:
20967
20968 @smallexample
20969 bar = some_val['foo']
20970 @end smallexample
20971
20972 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
20973
20974 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
20975 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
20976 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
20977 by that prototype.
20978
20979 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
20980 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
20981 execute this function, call it like so:
20982
20983 @smallexample
20984 result = some_val (10,20)
20985 @end smallexample
20986
20987 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
20988 @code{gdb.Value}.
20989
20990 The following attributes are provided:
20991
20992 @table @code
20993 @defivar Value address
20994 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
20995 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
20996 this attribute holds @code{None}.
20997 @end defivar
20998
20999 @cindex optimized out value in Python
21000 @defivar Value is_optimized_out
21001 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
21002 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
21003 @end defivar
21004
21005 @defivar Value type
21006 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
21007 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
21008 @end defivar
21009
21010 @defivar Value dynamic_type
21011 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
21012 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
21013 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
21014 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
21015 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
21016 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
21017 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
21018 type.
21019
21020 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
21021 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
21022 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
21023 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
21024 @end defivar
21025 @end table
21026
21027 The following methods are provided:
21028
21029 @table @code
21030 @defmethod Value __init__ @var{val}
21031 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
21032 this object initializer. Specifically:
21033
21034 @table @asis
21035 @item Python boolean
21036 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
21037 language.
21038
21039 @item Python integer
21040 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
21041 current architecture.
21042
21043 @item Python long
21044 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
21045 current architecture.
21046
21047 @item Python float
21048 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
21049 current architecture.
21050
21051 @item Python string
21052 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
21053 target encoding.
21054
21055 @item @code{gdb.Value}
21056 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
21057
21058 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
21059 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
21060 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
21061 its result is used.
21062 @end table
21063 @end defmethod
21064
21065 @defmethod Value cast type
21066 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
21067 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
21068 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
21069 reason, this method throws an exception.
21070 @end defmethod
21071
21072 @defmethod Value dereference
21073 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
21074 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
21075 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
21076
21077 @smallexample
21078 int *foo;
21079 @end smallexample
21080
21081 @noindent
21082 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
21083 @code{foo} points to like this:
21084
21085 @smallexample
21086 bar = foo.dereference ()
21087 @end smallexample
21088
21089 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
21090 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
21091 @end defmethod
21092
21093 @defmethod Value dynamic_cast type
21094 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
21095 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
21096 @end defmethod
21097
21098 @defmethod Value reinterpret_cast type
21099 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
21100 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
21101 @end defmethod
21102
21103 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
21104 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
21105 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
21106 throw an exception.
21107
21108 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
21109 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
21110 language.
21111
21112 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
21113 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
21114 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
21115 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
21116 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
21117
21118 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
21119 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
21120 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
21121 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
21122 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
21123 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
21124 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
21125 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
21126 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
21127
21128 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
21129 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
21130
21131 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
21132 fetched and converted to the given length.
21133 @end defmethod
21134
21135 @defmethod Value lazy_string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
21136 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
21137 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
21138 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
21139
21140 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
21141 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
21142 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
21143 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
21144 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
21145
21146 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
21147 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
21148 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
21149 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
21150 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
21151 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
21152
21153 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
21154 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
21155 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
21156 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
21157 @end defmethod
21158 @end table
21159
21160 @node Types In Python
21161 @subsubsection Types In Python
21162 @cindex types in Python
21163 @cindex Python, working with types
21164
21165 @tindex gdb.Type
21166 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
21167 @code{gdb.Type}.
21168
21169 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21170 module:
21171
21172 @findex gdb.lookup_type
21173 @defun lookup_type name [block]
21174 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
21175 type to look up. It must be a string.
21176
21177 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
21178 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
21179
21180 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
21181 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
21182 @end defun
21183
21184 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
21185
21186 @table @code
21187 @defivar Type code
21188 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
21189 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
21190 @end defivar
21191
21192 @defivar Type sizeof
21193 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
21194 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
21195 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
21196 @end defivar
21197
21198 @defivar Type tag
21199 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
21200 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
21201 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
21202 @code{None} is returned.
21203 @end defivar
21204 @end table
21205
21206 The following methods are provided:
21207
21208 @table @code
21209 @defmethod Type fields
21210 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
21211 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
21212 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
21213 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
21214 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
21215 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
21216
21217 Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
21218 @table @code
21219 @item bitpos
21220 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
21221 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
21222 position of the field.
21223
21224 @item name
21225 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
21226
21227 @item artificial
21228 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
21229 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
21230 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
21231
21232 @item is_base_class
21233 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
21234 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
21235 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
21236 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
21237
21238 @item bitsize
21239 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
21240 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
21241 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
21242
21243 @item type
21244 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
21245 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
21246 @end table
21247 @end defmethod
21248
21249 @defmethod Type array @var{n1} @r{[}@var{n2}@r{]}
21250 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
21251 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
21252 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
21253 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
21254 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
21255 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
21256 @end defmethod
21257
21258 @defmethod Type const
21259 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
21260 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
21261 @end defmethod
21262
21263 @defmethod Type volatile
21264 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
21265 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
21266 @end defmethod
21267
21268 @defmethod Type unqualified
21269 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
21270 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
21271 @code{volatile}.
21272 @end defmethod
21273
21274 @defmethod Type range
21275 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
21276 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
21277 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
21278 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
21279 @end defmethod
21280
21281 @defmethod Type reference
21282 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
21283 type.
21284 @end defmethod
21285
21286 @defmethod Type pointer
21287 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
21288 type.
21289 @end defmethod
21290
21291 @defmethod Type strip_typedefs
21292 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
21293 after removing all layers of typedefs.
21294 @end defmethod
21295
21296 @defmethod Type target
21297 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
21298 of this type.
21299
21300 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
21301 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
21302 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
21303 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
21304 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
21305 target type is the aliased type.
21306
21307 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
21308 exception.
21309 @end defmethod
21310
21311 @defmethod Type template_argument n [block]
21312 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
21313 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
21314 @var{n}th template argument.
21315
21316 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
21317 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
21318
21319 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
21320 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
21321 @end defmethod
21322 @end table
21323
21324
21325 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
21326 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
21327 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21328
21329 @table @code
21330 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
21331 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
21332 @item TYPE_CODE_PTR
21333 The type is a pointer.
21334
21335 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21336 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21337 @item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21338 The type is an array.
21339
21340 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21341 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21342 @item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21343 The type is a structure.
21344
21345 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
21346 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
21347 @item TYPE_CODE_UNION
21348 The type is a union.
21349
21350 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21351 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21352 @item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21353 The type is an enum.
21354
21355 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21356 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21357 @item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21358 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
21359
21360 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21361 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21362 @item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21363 The type is a function.
21364
21365 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
21366 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
21367 @item TYPE_CODE_INT
21368 The type is an integer type.
21369
21370 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
21371 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
21372 @item TYPE_CODE_FLT
21373 A floating point type.
21374
21375 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
21376 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
21377 @item TYPE_CODE_VOID
21378 The special type @code{void}.
21379
21380 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
21381 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
21382 @item TYPE_CODE_SET
21383 A Pascal set type.
21384
21385 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21386 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21387 @item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21388 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
21389
21390 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
21391 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
21392 @item TYPE_CODE_STRING
21393 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
21394 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
21395
21396 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21397 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21398 @item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21399 A string of bits.
21400
21401 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21402 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21403 @item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21404 An unknown or erroneous type.
21405
21406 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21407 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21408 @item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21409 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
21410
21411 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21412 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21413 @item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21414 A pointer-to-member-function.
21415
21416 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21417 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21418 @item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21419 A pointer-to-member.
21420
21421 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
21422 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
21423 @item TYPE_CODE_REF
21424 A reference type.
21425
21426 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21427 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21428 @item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21429 A character type.
21430
21431 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21432 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21433 @item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21434 A boolean type.
21435
21436 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21437 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21438 @item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21439 A complex float type.
21440
21441 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21442 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21443 @item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21444 A typedef to some other type.
21445
21446 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21447 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21448 @item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21449 A C@t{++} namespace.
21450
21451 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21452 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21453 @item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21454 A decimal floating point type.
21455
21456 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21457 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21458 @item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21459 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
21460 convenience functions.
21461 @end table
21462
21463 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
21464 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
21465
21466 @node Pretty Printing API
21467 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
21468
21469 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
21470
21471 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
21472 specific interface, defined here.
21473
21474 @defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
21475 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
21476 children of the pretty-printer's value.
21477
21478 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
21479 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
21480 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
21481 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
21482 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
21483
21484 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
21485 as though the value has no children.
21486 @end defop
21487
21488 @defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
21489 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
21490 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
21491 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
21492 printed.
21493
21494 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
21495 string.
21496
21497 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
21498
21499 @table @samp
21500 @item array
21501 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
21502 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
21503 @code{set print array}.
21504
21505 @item map
21506 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
21507 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
21508 values.
21509
21510 @item string
21511 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
21512 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
21513 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
21514 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
21515 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
21516 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
21517 @end table
21518 @end defop
21519
21520 @defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
21521 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
21522 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
21523
21524 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
21525 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
21526 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
21527 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
21528 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
21529 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
21530 the result of @code{children}.
21531
21532 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
21533
21534 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
21535 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
21536 another pretty-printer.
21537
21538 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
21539 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
21540 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
21541 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
21542 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
21543
21544 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
21545 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
21546
21547 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
21548 @end defop
21549
21550 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
21551 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
21552
21553 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
21554 @defun default_visualizer value
21555 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
21556 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
21557 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
21558 @end defun
21559
21560 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
21561 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
21562
21563 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
21564 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
21565 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
21566 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
21567 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
21568 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
21569 attribute.
21570
21571 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
21572 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
21573 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
21574 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
21575 @code{None}.
21576
21577 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
21578 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
21579 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
21580 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
21581 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
21582 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
21583 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
21584 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
21585 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
21586 object is returned.
21587
21588 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
21589 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
21590 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
21591 object is returned.
21592
21593 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
21594 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
21595 the pretty-printer is out of date.
21596
21597 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
21598 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
21599 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
21600 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
21601 with a broken printer.
21602
21603 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
21604 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
21605 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
21606 the printer is enabled.
21607
21608 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
21609 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
21610 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
21611
21612 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
21613 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
21614
21615 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
21616 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
21617 must provide.
21618
21619 @smallexample
21620 class StdStringPrinter(object):
21621 "Print a std::string"
21622
21623 def __init__(self, val):
21624 self.val = val
21625
21626 def to_string(self):
21627 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
21628
21629 def display_hint(self):
21630 return 'string'
21631 @end smallexample
21632
21633 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
21634 example above might be written.
21635
21636 @smallexample
21637 def str_lookup_function(val):
21638 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
21639 if lookup_tag == None:
21640 return None
21641 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
21642 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
21643 return StdStringPrinter(val)
21644 return None
21645 @end smallexample
21646
21647 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
21648 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
21649 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
21650 returns @code{None}.
21651
21652 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
21653 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
21654 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
21655 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
21656 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
21657 different names.
21658
21659 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
21660 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
21661 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
21662 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
21663 the current objfile.
21664
21665 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
21666 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
21667 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
21668 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
21669 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
21670 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
21671 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
21672 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
21673 inferior.
21674
21675 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
21676 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
21677
21678 @smallexample
21679 def register_printers(objfile):
21680 objfile.pretty_printers.add(str_lookup_function)
21681 @end smallexample
21682
21683 @noindent
21684 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
21685
21686 @smallexample
21687 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
21688 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
21689 @end smallexample
21690
21691 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
21692 There are a few things that can be improved on.
21693 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
21694 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
21695 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
21696
21697 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
21698 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
21699 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
21700 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
21701 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
21702 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
21703
21704 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
21705 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
21706 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
21707
21708 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
21709
21710 @smallexample
21711 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
21712 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
21713 @end smallexample
21714
21715 Here are the printers:
21716
21717 @smallexample
21718 class fooPrinter:
21719 """Print a foo object."""
21720
21721 def __init__(self, val):
21722 self.val = val
21723
21724 def to_string(self):
21725 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
21726 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
21727
21728 class barPrinter:
21729 """Print a bar object."""
21730
21731 def __init__(self, val):
21732 self.val = val
21733
21734 def to_string(self):
21735 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
21736 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
21737 @end smallexample
21738
21739 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
21740 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
21741 the object that handles the lookup.
21742
21743 @smallexample
21744 import gdb.printing
21745
21746 def build_pretty_printer():
21747 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
21748 "my_library")
21749 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
21750 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
21751 return pp
21752 @end smallexample
21753
21754 And here is the autoload support:
21755
21756 @smallexample
21757 import gdb.printing
21758 import my_library
21759 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
21760 gdb.current_objfile(),
21761 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
21762 @end smallexample
21763
21764 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
21765 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
21766
21767 @smallexample
21768 (gdb) info pretty-printer
21769 my_library.so:
21770 my_library
21771 foo
21772 bar
21773 @end smallexample
21774
21775 @node Inferiors In Python
21776 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
21777 @cindex inferiors in python
21778
21779 @findex gdb.Inferior
21780 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
21781 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
21782 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
21783 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
21784
21785 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21786 module:
21787
21788 @defun inferiors
21789 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
21790 @end defun
21791
21792 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
21793
21794 @table @code
21795 @defivar Inferior num
21796 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
21797 @end defivar
21798
21799 @defivar Inferior pid
21800 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
21801 system.
21802 @end defivar
21803
21804 @defivar Inferior was_attached
21805 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
21806 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
21807 @end defivar
21808 @end table
21809
21810 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
21811
21812 @table @code
21813 @defmethod Inferior threads
21814 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
21815 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
21816 return an empty tuple.
21817 @end defmethod
21818
21819 @findex gdb.read_memory
21820 @defmethod Inferior read_memory address length
21821 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
21822 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
21823 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
21824 function.
21825 @end defmethod
21826
21827 @findex gdb.write_memory
21828 @defmethod Inferior write_memory address buffer @r{[}length@r{]}
21829 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
21830 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
21831 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
21832 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
21833 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
21834 @end defmethod
21835
21836 @findex gdb.search_memory
21837 @defmethod Inferior search_memory address length pattern
21838 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
21839 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
21840 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
21841 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
21842 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
21843 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
21844 the pattern could not be found.
21845 @end defmethod
21846 @end table
21847
21848 @node Threads In Python
21849 @subsubsection Threads In Python
21850 @cindex threads in python
21851
21852 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
21853 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
21854 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
21855
21856 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21857 module:
21858
21859 @findex gdb.selected_thread
21860 @defun selected_thread
21861 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
21862 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
21863 @end defun
21864
21865 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
21866
21867 @table @code
21868 @defivar InferiorThread num
21869 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
21870 @end defivar
21871
21872 @defivar InferiorThread ptid
21873 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
21874 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
21875 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
21876 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
21877 does not use that identifier.
21878 @end defivar
21879 @end table
21880
21881 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
21882
21883 @table @code
21884 @defmethod InferiorThread switch
21885 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
21886 by this object.
21887 @end defmethod
21888
21889 @defmethod InferiorThread is_stopped
21890 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
21891 @end defmethod
21892
21893 @defmethod InferiorThread is_running
21894 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
21895 @end defmethod
21896
21897 @defmethod InferiorThread is_exited
21898 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
21899 @end defmethod
21900 @end table
21901
21902 @node Commands In Python
21903 @subsubsection Commands In Python
21904
21905 @cindex commands in python
21906 @cindex python commands
21907 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
21908 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
21909 class, most commonly using a subclass.
21910
21911 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
21912 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
21913 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
21914 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
21915
21916 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
21917 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
21918 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
21919 an exception is raised.
21920
21921 There is no support for multi-line commands.
21922
21923 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
21924 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
21925 new command in the help system.
21926
21927 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
21928 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
21929 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
21930 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
21931 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
21932 error will occur when completion is attempted.
21933
21934 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
21935 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
21936 registered.
21937
21938 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
21939 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
21940 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
21941 not documented.'' is used.
21942 @end defmethod
21943
21944 @cindex don't repeat Python command
21945 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
21946 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
21947 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
21948 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
21949 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
21950 @end defmethod
21951
21952 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
21953 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
21954
21955 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
21956 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
21957
21958 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
21959 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
21960 that the command came from elsewhere.
21961
21962 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
21963 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
21964
21965 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
21966 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
21967 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
21968 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
21969 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
21970 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
21971 Example:
21972
21973 @smallexample
21974 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
21975 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
21976 @end smallexample
21977
21978 @end defmethod
21979
21980 @cindex completion of Python commands
21981 @defmethod Command complete text word
21982 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
21983 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
21984 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
21985 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
21986 complete}).
21987
21988 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
21989 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
21990 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
21991 using a word-breaking heuristic.
21992
21993 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
21994 @itemize @bullet
21995 @item
21996 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
21997 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
21998 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
21999 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
22000 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
22001 sequence are ignored.
22002
22003 @item
22004 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
22005 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
22006 function is invoked, and its result is used.
22007
22008 @item
22009 All other results are treated as though there were no available
22010 completions.
22011 @end itemize
22012 @end defmethod
22013
22014 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
22015 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
22016 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
22017 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
22018 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
22019 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22020
22021 @table @code
22022 @findex COMMAND_NONE
22023 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
22024 @item COMMAND_NONE
22025 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
22026 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
22027
22028 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
22029 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
22030 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
22031 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
22032 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
22033 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22034 commands in this category.
22035
22036 @findex COMMAND_DATA
22037 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
22038 @item COMMAND_DATA
22039 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
22040 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
22041 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
22042 in this category.
22043
22044 @findex COMMAND_STACK
22045 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
22046 @item COMMAND_STACK
22047 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
22048 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
22049 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
22050 list of commands in this category.
22051
22052 @findex COMMAND_FILES
22053 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
22054 @item COMMAND_FILES
22055 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
22056 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
22057 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22058 commands in this category.
22059
22060 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
22061 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
22062 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
22063 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
22064 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
22065 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
22066 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
22067 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22068 commands in this category.
22069
22070 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
22071 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
22072 @item COMMAND_STATUS
22073 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
22074 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
22075 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
22076 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
22077
22078 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22079 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22080 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22081 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
22082 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
22083 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
22084 this category.
22085
22086 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22087 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22088 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22089 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
22090 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
22091 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22092 commands in this category.
22093
22094 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
22095 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
22096 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
22097 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
22098 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
22099 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
22100 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
22101 category.
22102
22103 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22104 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22105 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22106 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
22107 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
22108 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22109 commands in this category.
22110 @end table
22111
22112 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
22113 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
22114 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
22115 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22116
22117 @table @code
22118 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
22119 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
22120 @item COMPLETE_NONE
22121 This constant means that no completion should be done.
22122
22123 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
22124 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
22125 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
22126 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
22127
22128 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
22129 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
22130 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
22131 This constant means that location completion should be done.
22132 @xref{Specify Location}.
22133
22134 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
22135 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
22136 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
22137 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
22138 command names.
22139
22140 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22141 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22142 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22143 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
22144 as the source.
22145 @end table
22146
22147 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
22148 implemented in Python:
22149
22150 @smallexample
22151 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
22152 """Greet the whole world."""
22153
22154 def __init__ (self):
22155 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
22156
22157 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
22158 print "Hello, World!"
22159
22160 HelloWorld ()
22161 @end smallexample
22162
22163 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
22164 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
22165 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
22166 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
22167
22168 @node Parameters In Python
22169 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
22170
22171 @cindex parameters in python
22172 @cindex python parameters
22173 @tindex gdb.Parameter
22174 @tindex Parameter
22175 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
22176 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
22177 class.
22178
22179 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
22180 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
22181
22182 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
22183 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
22184 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
22185 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
22186 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
22187
22188 @defmethod Parameter __init__ name @var{command-class} @var{parameter-class} @r{[}@var{enum-sequence}@r{]}
22189 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
22190 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
22191 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
22192
22193 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
22194 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
22195 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
22196 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
22197 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
22198 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
22199 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
22200
22201 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
22202 can be found, an exception is raised.
22203
22204 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
22205 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
22206 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
22207
22208 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
22209 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
22210 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
22211 completion.
22212
22213 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
22214 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
22215 represent the possible values for the parameter.
22216
22217 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
22218 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
22219
22220 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
22221 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
22222 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
22223 @end defmethod
22224
22225 @defivar Parameter set_doc
22226 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
22227 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
22228 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
22229 have no effect.
22230 @end defivar
22231
22232 @defivar Parameter show_doc
22233 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
22234 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
22235 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
22236 have no effect.
22237 @end defivar
22238
22239 @defivar Parameter value
22240 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
22241 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
22242 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
22243 @end defivar
22244
22245
22246 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
22247 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
22248 module:
22249
22250 @table @code
22251 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
22252 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
22253 @item PARAM_BOOLEAN
22254 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
22255 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
22256
22257 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22258 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22259 @item PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22260 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
22261 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
22262 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
22263
22264 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
22265 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
22266 @item PARAM_UINTEGER
22267 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
22268 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
22269
22270 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
22271 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
22272 @item PARAM_INTEGER
22273 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
22274 to mean ``unlimited''.
22275
22276 @findex PARAM_STRING
22277 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
22278 @item PARAM_STRING
22279 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
22280 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
22281 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
22282 host charset.
22283
22284 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22285 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22286 @item PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22287 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
22288 passed through untranslated.
22289
22290 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22291 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22292 @item PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22293 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
22294
22295 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
22296 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
22297 @item PARAM_FILENAME
22298 The value is a filename. This is just like
22299 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
22300
22301 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
22302 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
22303 @item PARAM_ZINTEGER
22304 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
22305 is interpreted as itself.
22306
22307 @findex PARAM_ENUM
22308 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
22309 @item PARAM_ENUM
22310 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
22311 constants provided when the parameter is created.
22312 @end table
22313
22314 @node Functions In Python
22315 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
22316
22317 @cindex writing convenience functions
22318 @cindex convenience functions in python
22319 @cindex python convenience functions
22320 @tindex gdb.Function
22321 @tindex Function
22322 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
22323 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
22324 class @code{gdb.Function}.
22325
22326 @defmethod Function __init__ name
22327 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
22328 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
22329 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
22330 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
22331 the given @var{name}.
22332
22333 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
22334 string for the new class.
22335 @end defmethod
22336
22337 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
22338 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
22339 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
22340 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
22341 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
22342 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
22343 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
22344 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
22345
22346 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
22347 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
22348 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
22349 @end defmethod
22350
22351 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
22352 be implemented in Python:
22353
22354 @smallexample
22355 class Greet (gdb.Function):
22356 """Return string to greet someone.
22357 Takes a name as argument."""
22358
22359 def __init__ (self):
22360 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
22361
22362 def invoke (self, name):
22363 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
22364
22365 Greet ()
22366 @end smallexample
22367
22368 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
22369 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
22370 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
22371 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
22372
22373 @node Progspaces In Python
22374 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
22375
22376 @cindex progspaces in python
22377 @tindex gdb.Progspace
22378 @tindex Progspace
22379 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
22380 of an address space.
22381 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
22382 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22383 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
22384 about program spaces.
22385
22386 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
22387 @code{gdb} module:
22388
22389 @findex gdb.current_progspace
22390 @defun current_progspace
22391 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
22392 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
22393 @end defun
22394
22395 @findex gdb.progspaces
22396 @defun progspaces
22397 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
22398 @end defun
22399
22400 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
22401 class.
22402
22403 @defivar Progspace filename
22404 The file name of the progspace as a string.
22405 @end defivar
22406
22407 @defivar Progspace pretty_printers
22408 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
22409 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
22410 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
22411 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
22412 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
22413 information.
22414 @end defivar
22415
22416 @node Objfiles In Python
22417 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
22418
22419 @cindex objfiles in python
22420 @tindex gdb.Objfile
22421 @tindex Objfile
22422 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
22423 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
22424 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
22425 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
22426 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
22427
22428 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
22429 @code{gdb} module:
22430
22431 @findex gdb.current_objfile
22432 @defun current_objfile
22433 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
22434 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
22435 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
22436 this function returns @code{None}.
22437 @end defun
22438
22439 @findex gdb.objfiles
22440 @defun objfiles
22441 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
22442 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22443 @end defun
22444
22445 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
22446 class.
22447
22448 @defivar Objfile filename
22449 The file name of the objfile as a string.
22450 @end defivar
22451
22452 @defivar Objfile pretty_printers
22453 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
22454 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
22455 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
22456 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
22457 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
22458 information.
22459 @end defivar
22460
22461 @node Frames In Python
22462 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22463
22464 @cindex frames in python
22465 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
22466 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
22467 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
22468 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
22469 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
22470 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
22471
22472 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
22473 operator, like:
22474
22475 @smallexample
22476 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
22477 True
22478 @end smallexample
22479
22480 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
22481
22482 @findex gdb.selected_frame
22483 @defun selected_frame
22484 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
22485 @end defun
22486
22487 @findex gdb.newest_frame
22488 @defun newest_frame
22489 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
22490 @end defun
22491
22492 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
22493 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
22494 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
22495 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
22496 @end defun
22497
22498 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
22499
22500 @table @code
22501 @defmethod Frame is_valid
22502 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
22503 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
22504 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
22505 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
22506 @end defmethod
22507
22508 @defmethod Frame name
22509 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
22510 obtained.
22511 @end defmethod
22512
22513 @defmethod Frame type
22514 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
22515 @table @code
22516 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
22517 An ordinary stack frame.
22518
22519 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
22520 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
22521 inferior function call.
22522
22523 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
22524 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
22525 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
22526
22527 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
22528 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
22529 it calls into a signal handler.
22530
22531 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
22532 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
22533
22534 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
22535 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
22536 newest frame.
22537 @end table
22538 @end defmethod
22539
22540 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
22541 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
22542 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
22543 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
22544 function to a string.
22545 @end defmethod
22546
22547 @defmethod Frame pc
22548 Returns the frame's resume address.
22549 @end defmethod
22550
22551 @defmethod Frame block
22552 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
22553 @end defmethod
22554
22555 @defmethod Frame function
22556 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
22557 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
22558 @end defmethod
22559
22560 @defmethod Frame older
22561 Return the frame that called this frame.
22562 @end defmethod
22563
22564 @defmethod Frame newer
22565 Return the frame called by this frame.
22566 @end defmethod
22567
22568 @defmethod Frame find_sal
22569 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
22570 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
22571 @end defmethod
22572
22573 @defmethod Frame read_var variable @r{[}block@r{]}
22574 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
22575 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
22576 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
22577 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
22578 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
22579 @code{gdb.Block} object.
22580 @end defmethod
22581
22582 @defmethod Frame select
22583 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
22584 Stack}.
22585 @end defmethod
22586 @end table
22587
22588 @node Blocks In Python
22589 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22590
22591 @cindex blocks in python
22592 @tindex gdb.Block
22593
22594 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
22595 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
22596 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
22597 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
22598 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
22599 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
22600 stack.
22601
22602 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22603 module:
22604
22605 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
22606 @defun block_for_pc pc
22607 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
22608 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
22609 will return @code{None}.
22610 @end defun
22611
22612 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
22613
22614 @table @code
22615 @defivar Block start
22616 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
22617 @end defivar
22618
22619 @defivar Block end
22620 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
22621 @end defivar
22622
22623 @defivar Block function
22624 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
22625 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
22626 attribute is not writable.
22627 @end defivar
22628
22629 @defivar Block superblock
22630 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
22631 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22632 @end defivar
22633 @end table
22634
22635 @node Symbols In Python
22636 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
22637
22638 @cindex symbols in python
22639 @tindex gdb.Symbol
22640
22641 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
22642 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
22643 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
22644 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
22645
22646 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22647 module:
22648
22649 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
22650 @defun lookup_symbol name [block] [domain]
22651 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
22652 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
22653 arguments.
22654
22655 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
22656 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
22657 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
22658 @code{gdb.Block} object. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
22659 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
22660 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
22661 in this chapter.
22662 @end defun
22663
22664 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
22665
22666 @table @code
22667 @defivar Symbol symtab
22668 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
22669 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
22670 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
22671 @end defivar
22672
22673 @defivar Symbol name
22674 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
22675 @end defivar
22676
22677 @defivar Symbol linkage_name
22678 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
22679 This attribute is not writable.
22680 @end defivar
22681
22682 @defivar Symbol print_name
22683 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
22684 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
22685 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
22686 @end defivar
22687
22688 @defivar Symbol addr_class
22689 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
22690 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
22691 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
22692 @end defivar
22693
22694 @defivar Symbol is_argument
22695 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
22696 @end defivar
22697
22698 @defivar Symbol is_constant
22699 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
22700 @end defivar
22701
22702 @defivar Symbol is_function
22703 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
22704 @end defivar
22705
22706 @defivar Symbol is_variable
22707 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
22708 @end defivar
22709 @end table
22710
22711 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
22712 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
22713
22714 @table @code
22715 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22716 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22717 @item SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22718 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
22719 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
22720 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
22721 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22722 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22723 @item SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22724 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
22725 type values.
22726 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22727 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22728 @item SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22729 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
22730 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22731 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22732 @item SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22733 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
22734 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22735 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22736 @item SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22737 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
22738 contains everything minus functions and types.
22739 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
22740 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
22741 @item SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
22742 This domain contains all functions.
22743 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22744 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22745 @item SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22746 This domain contains all types.
22747 @end table
22748
22749 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
22750 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
22751
22752 @table @code
22753 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22754 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22755 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22756 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
22757 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
22758 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22759 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22760 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22761 Value is constant int.
22762 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22763 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22764 @item SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22765 Value is at a fixed address.
22766 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22767 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22768 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22769 Value is in a register.
22770 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22771 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22772 @item SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22773 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
22774 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
22775 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22776 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22777 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22778 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
22779 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
22780 offset, not the value itself.
22781 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22782 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22783 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22784 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
22785 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
22786 itself.
22787 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22788 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22789 @item SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22790 Value is a local variable.
22791 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22792 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22793 @item SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22794 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
22795 have this class.
22796 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22797 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22798 @item SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22799 Value is a block.
22800 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22801 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22802 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22803 Value is a byte-sequence.
22804 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22805 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22806 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22807 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
22808 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
22809 referenced.
22810 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22811 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22812 @item SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22813 The value does not actually exist in the program.
22814 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22815 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22816 @item SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22817 The value's address is a computed location.
22818 @end table
22819
22820 @node Symbol Tables In Python
22821 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
22822
22823 @cindex symbol tables in python
22824 @tindex gdb.Symtab
22825 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
22826
22827 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
22828 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
22829 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
22830 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
22831 @xref{Frames In Python}.
22832
22833 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
22834 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
22835
22836 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
22837
22838 @table @code
22839 @defivar Symtab_and_line symtab
22840 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
22841 This attribute is not writable.
22842 @end defivar
22843
22844 @defivar Symtab_and_line pc
22845 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
22846 writable.
22847 @end defivar
22848
22849 @defivar Symtab_and_line line
22850 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
22851 attribute is not writable.
22852 @end defivar
22853 @end table
22854
22855 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
22856
22857 @table @code
22858 @defivar Symtab filename
22859 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
22860 @end defivar
22861
22862 @defivar Symtab objfile
22863 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22864 This attribute is not writable.
22865 @end defivar
22866 @end table
22867
22868 The following methods are provided:
22869
22870 @table @code
22871 @defmethod Symtab fullname
22872 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
22873 @end defmethod
22874 @end table
22875
22876 @node Breakpoints In Python
22877 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
22878
22879 @cindex breakpoints in python
22880 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
22881
22882 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
22883 class.
22884
22885 @defmethod Breakpoint __init__ spec @r{[}type@r{]} @r{[}wp_class@r{]} @r{[}internal@r{]}
22886 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
22887 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
22888 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
22889 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
22890 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
22891 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
22892 either: @code{BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
22893 defaults to @code{BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
22894 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
22895 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
22896 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
22897 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
22898 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
22899 @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
22900 assumed to be a @var{WP_WRITE} class.
22901 @end defmethod
22902
22903 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
22904 @code{gdb} module:
22905
22906 @table @code
22907 @findex WP_READ
22908 @findex gdb.WP_READ
22909 @item WP_READ
22910 Read only watchpoint.
22911
22912 @findex WP_WRITE
22913 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
22914 @item WP_WRITE
22915 Write only watchpoint.
22916
22917 @findex WP_ACCESS
22918 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
22919 @item WP_ACCESS
22920 Read/Write watchpoint.
22921 @end table
22922
22923 @defmethod Breakpoint is_valid
22924 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
22925 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
22926 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
22927 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
22928 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
22929 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
22930 @end defmethod
22931
22932 @defmethod Breakpoint delete
22933 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
22934 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
22935 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
22936 @end defmethod
22937
22938 @defivar Breakpoint enabled
22939 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
22940 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
22941 @end defivar
22942
22943 @defivar Breakpoint silent
22944 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
22945 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
22946
22947 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
22948 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
22949 @code{silent} attribute.
22950 @end defivar
22951
22952 @defivar Breakpoint thread
22953 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
22954 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
22955 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
22956 @end defivar
22957
22958 @defivar Breakpoint task
22959 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
22960 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
22961 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
22962 is writable.
22963 @end defivar
22964
22965 @defivar Breakpoint ignore_count
22966 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
22967 This attribute is writable.
22968 @end defivar
22969
22970 @defivar Breakpoint number
22971 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
22972 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
22973 @end defivar
22974
22975 @defivar Breakpoint type
22976 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
22977 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
22978 writable.
22979 @end defivar
22980
22981 @defivar Breakpoint visible
22982 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
22983 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
22984 attribute is not writable.
22985 @end defivar
22986
22987 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
22988 module:
22989
22990 @table @code
22991 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
22992 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
22993 @item BP_BREAKPOINT
22994 Normal code breakpoint.
22995
22996 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
22997 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
22998 @item BP_WATCHPOINT
22999 Watchpoint breakpoint.
23000
23001 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23002 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23003 @item BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23004 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
23005
23006 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23007 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23008 @item BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23009 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
23010
23011 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23012 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23013 @item BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23014 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
23015 @end table
23016
23017 @defivar Breakpoint hit_count
23018 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
23019 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
23020 @end defivar
23021
23022 @defivar Breakpoint location
23023 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
23024 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
23025 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
23026 attribute is not writable.
23027 @end defivar
23028
23029 @defivar Breakpoint expression
23030 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
23031 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
23032 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
23033 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23034 @end defivar
23035
23036 @defivar Breakpoint condition
23037 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
23038 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
23039 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
23040 @end defivar
23041
23042 @defivar Breakpoint commands
23043 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
23044 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
23045 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
23046 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23047 @end defivar
23048
23049 @node Lazy Strings In Python
23050 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
23051
23052 @cindex lazy strings in python
23053 @tindex gdb.LazyString
23054
23055 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
23056 encoded until it is needed.
23057
23058 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
23059 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
23060 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
23061 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
23062 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
23063 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
23064 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
23065 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
23066 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
23067
23068 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
23069
23070 @defmethod LazyString value
23071 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
23072 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
23073 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
23074 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
23075 @end defmethod
23076
23077 @defivar LazyString address
23078 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
23079 writable.
23080 @end defivar
23081
23082 @defivar LazyString length
23083 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
23084 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
23085 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
23086 @end defivar
23087
23088 @defivar LazyString encoding
23089 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
23090 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
23091 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
23092 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
23093 is not writable.
23094 @end defivar
23095
23096 @defivar LazyString type
23097 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
23098 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
23099 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
23100 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
23101 writable.
23102 @end defivar
23103
23104 @node Auto-loading
23105 @subsection Auto-loading
23106 @cindex auto-loading, Python
23107
23108 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
23109 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
23110 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
23111 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
23112
23113 @menu
23114 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
23115 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23116 * Which flavor to choose?::
23117 @end menu
23118
23119 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
23120 debugging commands and scripts.
23121
23122 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled.
23123
23124 @table @code
23125 @kindex set auto-load-scripts
23126 @item set auto-load-scripts [yes|no]
23127 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
23128
23129 @kindex show auto-load-scripts
23130 @item show auto-load-scripts
23131 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
23132 @end table
23133
23134 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
23135 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
23136 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
23137 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
23138
23139 @node objfile-gdb.py file
23140 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
23141 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
23142
23143 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
23144 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
23145 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
23146 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
23147 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
23148 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
23149
23150 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
23151 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
23152 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
23153 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
23154
23155 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
23156 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
23157 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
23158 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
23159 is the object file's real name, as described above.
23160
23161 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
23162 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
23163 @var{objfile} is opened.
23164 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
23165 is evaluated more than once.
23166
23167 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
23168 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23169 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23170
23171 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
23172 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
23173 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
23174 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
23175
23176 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
23177 current directory and then along the source search path
23178 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
23179 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
23180 directory is not relevant to scripts.
23181
23182 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
23183 for example, this GCC macro:
23184
23185 @example
23186 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
23187 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
23188 asm("\
23189 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
23190 .byte 1\n\
23191 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
23192 .popsection \n\
23193 ");
23194 @end example
23195
23196 @noindent
23197 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
23198
23199 @example
23200 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
23201 @end example
23202
23203 The script name may include directories if desired.
23204
23205 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
23206 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
23207
23208 @node Which flavor to choose?
23209 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
23210
23211 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
23212 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
23213
23214 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
23215
23216 @itemize @bullet
23217 @item
23218 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
23219
23220 @item
23221 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
23222
23223 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
23224 in the source search path.
23225 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
23226 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
23227
23228 @item
23229 Doesn't require source code additions.
23230 @end itemize
23231
23232 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
23233
23234 @itemize @bullet
23235 @item
23236 Works with static linking.
23237
23238 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
23239 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
23240 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
23241 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
23242
23243 @item
23244 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
23245
23246 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
23247 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
23248
23249 @item
23250 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
23251
23252 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
23253 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
23254 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
23255 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
23256 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
23257 top of the source tree to the source search path.
23258 @end itemize
23259
23260 @node Python modules
23261 @subsection Python modules
23262 @cindex python modules
23263
23264 @value{GDBN} comes with a module to assist writing Python code.
23265
23266 @menu
23267 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
23268 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
23269 @end menu
23270
23271 @node gdb.printing
23272 @subsubsection gdb.printing
23273 @cindex gdb.printing
23274
23275 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
23276 pretty-printers.
23277
23278 @table @code
23279 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
23280 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
23281 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
23282 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
23283
23284 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
23285 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
23286 corresponding API for the subprinters.
23287
23288 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
23289 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
23290 regular expressions.
23291 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
23292
23293 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer})
23294 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
23295 @end table
23296
23297 @node gdb.types
23298 @subsubsection gdb.types
23299 @cindex gdb.types
23300
23301 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
23302 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
23303
23304 @table @code
23305 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
23306 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
23307 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
23308
23309 C@t{++} example:
23310
23311 @smallexample
23312 typedef const int const_int;
23313 const_int foo (3);
23314 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
23315 int main () @{ return 0; @}
23316 @end smallexample
23317
23318 Then in gdb:
23319
23320 @smallexample
23321 (gdb) start
23322 (gdb) python import gdb.types
23323 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
23324 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
23325 int
23326 @end smallexample
23327
23328 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
23329 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
23330 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
23331
23332 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
23333 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
23334 @end table
23335
23336 @node Interpreters
23337 @chapter Command Interpreters
23338 @cindex command interpreters
23339
23340 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
23341 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
23342 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
23343
23344 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
23345 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
23346 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
23347 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
23348
23349 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
23350 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
23351 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
23352 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
23353
23354 @table @code
23355 @item console
23356 @cindex console interpreter
23357 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
23358 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
23359 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
23360
23361 @item mi
23362 @cindex mi interpreter
23363 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
23364 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
23365 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
23366 Interface}.
23367
23368 @item mi2
23369 @cindex mi2 interpreter
23370 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
23371
23372 @item mi1
23373 @cindex mi1 interpreter
23374 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
23375
23376 @end table
23377
23378 @cindex invoke another interpreter
23379 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
23380 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
23381 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
23382 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
23383 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
23384 the IDE inoperable!
23385
23386 @kindex interpreter-exec
23387 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
23388 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
23389 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
23390 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
23391
23392 @smallexample
23393 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
23394 @end smallexample
23395
23396 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
23397 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
23398
23399 @node TUI
23400 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
23401 @cindex TUI
23402 @cindex Text User Interface
23403
23404 @menu
23405 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
23406 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
23407 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
23408 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
23409 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
23410 @end menu
23411
23412 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
23413 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
23414 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
23415 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
23416 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
23417 is available.
23418
23419 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
23420 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
23421 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
23422 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
23423 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
23424 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
23425
23426 @node TUI Overview
23427 @section TUI Overview
23428
23429 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
23430
23431 @table @emph
23432 @item command
23433 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
23434 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
23435 managed using readline.
23436
23437 @item source
23438 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
23439 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
23440
23441 @item assembly
23442 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
23443
23444 @item register
23445 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
23446 when their values change.
23447 @end table
23448
23449 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
23450 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
23451 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
23452 indicates the breakpoint type:
23453
23454 @table @code
23455 @item B
23456 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
23457
23458 @item b
23459 Breakpoint which was never hit.
23460
23461 @item H
23462 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
23463
23464 @item h
23465 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
23466 @end table
23467
23468 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
23469
23470 @table @code
23471 @item +
23472 Breakpoint is enabled.
23473
23474 @item -
23475 Breakpoint is disabled.
23476 @end table
23477
23478 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
23479 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
23480 changes.
23481
23482 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
23483 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
23484 layouts:
23485
23486 @itemize @bullet
23487 @item
23488 source only,
23489
23490 @item
23491 assembly only,
23492
23493 @item
23494 source and assembly,
23495
23496 @item
23497 source and registers, or
23498
23499 @item
23500 assembly and registers.
23501 @end itemize
23502
23503 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
23504
23505 @table @emph
23506 @item target
23507 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
23508 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
23509
23510 @item process
23511 Gives the current process or thread number.
23512 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
23513
23514 @item function
23515 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
23516 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
23517 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
23518 the string @code{??} is displayed.
23519
23520 @item line
23521 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
23522 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
23523
23524 @item pc
23525 Indicates the current program counter address.
23526 @end table
23527
23528 @node TUI Keys
23529 @section TUI Key Bindings
23530 @cindex TUI key bindings
23531
23532 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
23533 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
23534 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
23535 @end ifset
23536 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
23537 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
23538 @end ifclear
23539 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
23540 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
23541
23542 @table @kbd
23543 @kindex C-x C-a
23544 @item C-x C-a
23545 @kindex C-x a
23546 @itemx C-x a
23547 @kindex C-x A
23548 @itemx C-x A
23549 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
23550 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
23551 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
23552 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
23553 The screen is then refreshed.
23554
23555 @kindex C-x 1
23556 @item C-x 1
23557 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
23558 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
23559 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
23560
23561 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
23562
23563 @kindex C-x 2
23564 @item C-x 2
23565 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
23566 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
23567 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
23568 previous layout and the new one.
23569
23570 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
23571
23572 @kindex C-x o
23573 @item C-x o
23574 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
23575 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
23576 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
23577
23578 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
23579
23580 @kindex C-x s
23581 @item C-x s
23582 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
23583 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
23584 @end table
23585
23586 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
23587
23588 @table @asis
23589 @kindex PgUp
23590 @item @key{PgUp}
23591 Scroll the active window one page up.
23592
23593 @kindex PgDn
23594 @item @key{PgDn}
23595 Scroll the active window one page down.
23596
23597 @kindex Up
23598 @item @key{Up}
23599 Scroll the active window one line up.
23600
23601 @kindex Down
23602 @item @key{Down}
23603 Scroll the active window one line down.
23604
23605 @kindex Left
23606 @item @key{Left}
23607 Scroll the active window one column left.
23608
23609 @kindex Right
23610 @item @key{Right}
23611 Scroll the active window one column right.
23612
23613 @kindex C-L
23614 @item @kbd{C-L}
23615 Refresh the screen.
23616 @end table
23617
23618 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
23619 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
23620 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
23621 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
23622 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
23623
23624 @node TUI Single Key Mode
23625 @section TUI Single Key Mode
23626 @cindex TUI single key mode
23627
23628 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
23629 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
23630 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
23631
23632 @table @kbd
23633 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23634 @item c
23635 continue
23636
23637 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23638 @item d
23639 down
23640
23641 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23642 @item f
23643 finish
23644
23645 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23646 @item n
23647 next
23648
23649 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23650 @item q
23651 exit the SingleKey mode.
23652
23653 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23654 @item r
23655 run
23656
23657 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23658 @item s
23659 step
23660
23661 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23662 @item u
23663 up
23664
23665 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23666 @item v
23667 info locals
23668
23669 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23670 @item w
23671 where
23672 @end table
23673
23674 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
23675 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
23676 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
23677 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
23678 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
23679 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
23680
23681
23682 @node TUI Commands
23683 @section TUI-specific Commands
23684 @cindex TUI commands
23685
23686 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
23687 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
23688 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
23689 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
23690
23691 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
23692 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
23693 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
23694 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
23695 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
23696
23697 @table @code
23698 @item info win
23699 @kindex info win
23700 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
23701
23702 @item layout next
23703 @kindex layout
23704 Display the next layout.
23705
23706 @item layout prev
23707 Display the previous layout.
23708
23709 @item layout src
23710 Display the source window only.
23711
23712 @item layout asm
23713 Display the assembly window only.
23714
23715 @item layout split
23716 Display the source and assembly window.
23717
23718 @item layout regs
23719 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
23720
23721 @item focus next
23722 @kindex focus
23723 Make the next window active for scrolling.
23724
23725 @item focus prev
23726 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
23727
23728 @item focus src
23729 Make the source window active for scrolling.
23730
23731 @item focus asm
23732 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
23733
23734 @item focus regs
23735 Make the register window active for scrolling.
23736
23737 @item focus cmd
23738 Make the command window active for scrolling.
23739
23740 @item refresh
23741 @kindex refresh
23742 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
23743
23744 @item tui reg float
23745 @kindex tui reg
23746 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
23747
23748 @item tui reg general
23749 Show the general registers in the register window.
23750
23751 @item tui reg next
23752 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
23753 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
23754 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
23755 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
23756
23757 @item tui reg system
23758 Show the system registers in the register window.
23759
23760 @item update
23761 @kindex update
23762 Update the source window and the current execution point.
23763
23764 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
23765 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
23766 @kindex winheight
23767 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
23768 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
23769 decrease it.
23770
23771 @item tabset @var{nchars}
23772 @kindex tabset
23773 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
23774 @end table
23775
23776 @node TUI Configuration
23777 @section TUI Configuration Variables
23778 @cindex TUI configuration variables
23779
23780 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
23781
23782 @table @code
23783 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
23784 @kindex set tui border-kind
23785 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
23786 The possible values are the following:
23787 @table @code
23788 @item space
23789 Use a space character to draw the border.
23790
23791 @item ascii
23792 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
23793
23794 @item acs
23795 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
23796 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
23797 @end table
23798
23799 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
23800 @kindex set tui border-mode
23801 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
23802 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
23803 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
23804 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
23805 @table @code
23806 @item normal
23807 Use normal attributes to display the border.
23808
23809 @item standout
23810 Use standout mode.
23811
23812 @item reverse
23813 Use reverse video mode.
23814
23815 @item half
23816 Use half bright mode.
23817
23818 @item half-standout
23819 Use half bright and standout mode.
23820
23821 @item bold
23822 Use extra bright or bold mode.
23823
23824 @item bold-standout
23825 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
23826 @end table
23827 @end table
23828
23829 @node Emacs
23830 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
23831
23832 @cindex Emacs
23833 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
23834 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
23835 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
23836 @value{GDBN}.
23837
23838 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
23839 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
23840 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
23841 created Emacs buffer.
23842 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
23843
23844 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
23845 things:
23846
23847 @itemize @bullet
23848 @item
23849 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
23850 the GUD buffer.
23851
23852 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
23853 and output done by the program you are debugging.
23854
23855 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
23856 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
23857 in this way.
23858
23859 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
23860 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
23861 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
23862 stop.
23863
23864 @item
23865 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
23866
23867 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
23868 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
23869 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
23870 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
23871 and the source.
23872
23873 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
23874 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
23875 @end itemize
23876
23877 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
23878 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
23879 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
23880 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
23881
23882 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
23883 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
23884 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
23885 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
23886 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
23887 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
23888 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
23889 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
23890 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
23891
23892 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
23893 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
23894 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
23895 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
23896
23897 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
23898 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
23899 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
23900 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
23901 one you want.
23902
23903 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
23904 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
23905
23906 @table @kbd
23907 @item C-h m
23908 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
23909
23910 @item C-c C-s
23911 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
23912 update the display window to show the current file and location.
23913
23914 @item C-c C-n
23915 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
23916 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
23917 to show the current file and location.
23918
23919 @item C-c C-i
23920 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
23921 display window accordingly.
23922
23923 @item C-c C-f
23924 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
23925 @code{finish} command.
23926
23927 @item C-c C-r
23928 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
23929 command.
23930
23931 @item C-c <
23932 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
23933 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
23934 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
23935
23936 @item C-c >
23937 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
23938 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
23939 @end table
23940
23941 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
23942 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
23943
23944 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
23945 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
23946 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
23947 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
23948 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
23949 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
23950 speedbar displays watch expressions.
23951
23952 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
23953 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
23954 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
23955 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
23956 frame.
23957
23958 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
23959 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
23960 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
23961 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
23962 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
23963 to correspond properly with the code.
23964
23965 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
23966 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
23967 Emacs Manual}).
23968
23969 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
23970 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
23971 @ignore
23972 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
23973 @kindex Epoch
23974 @kindex inspect
23975
23976 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
23977 called the @code{epoch}
23978 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
23979 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
23980 each value is printed in its own window.
23981 @end ignore
23982
23983
23984 @node GDB/MI
23985 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
23986
23987 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
23988
23989 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
23990 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
23991 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
23992 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
23993 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
23994 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
23995
23996 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
23997 in the form of a reference manual.
23998
23999 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
24000 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
24001 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
24002
24003 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
24004
24005 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
24006 This chapter uses the following notation:
24007
24008 @itemize @bullet
24009 @item
24010 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
24011
24012 @item
24013 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
24014 it may or may not be given.
24015
24016 @item
24017 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
24018 may repeat zero or more times.
24019
24020 @item
24021 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
24022 may repeat one or more times.
24023
24024 @item
24025 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
24026 @end itemize
24027
24028 @ignore
24029 @heading Dependencies
24030 @end ignore
24031
24032 @menu
24033 * GDB/MI General Design::
24034 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
24035 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
24036 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
24037 * GDB/MI Output Records::
24038 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
24039 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
24040 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
24041 * GDB/MI Program Context::
24042 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
24043 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
24044 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
24045 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
24046 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
24047 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
24048 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
24049 * GDB/MI File Commands::
24050 @ignore
24051 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
24052 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
24053 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
24054 @end ignore
24055 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
24056 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
24057 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
24058 @end menu
24059
24060 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24061 @node GDB/MI General Design
24062 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
24063 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
24064
24065 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
24066 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
24067 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
24068 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
24069 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
24070 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
24071 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
24072 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
24073 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
24074 a command and reported as part of that command response.
24075
24076 The important examples of notifications are:
24077 @itemize @bullet
24078
24079 @item
24080 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
24081 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
24082 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
24083 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
24084 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
24085 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
24086 command itself was successfully executed.
24087
24088 @item
24089 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
24090 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
24091 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
24092 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
24093 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
24094 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
24095
24096 @item
24097 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
24098 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
24099 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
24100 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
24101 orthogonal frontend design.
24102
24103 @end itemize
24104
24105 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
24106 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
24107 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
24108 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
24109 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
24110 the user interface.
24111
24112
24113 @menu
24114 * Context management::
24115 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
24116 * Thread groups::
24117 @end menu
24118
24119 @node Context management
24120 @subsection Context management
24121
24122 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
24123 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
24124 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
24125 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
24126 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
24127 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
24128 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
24129 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
24130 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
24131
24132 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
24133 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
24134 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
24135 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
24136 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
24137 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
24138 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
24139 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
24140 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
24141 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
24142 for thread and frame to operate on.
24143
24144 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
24145 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
24146 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
24147 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
24148 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
24149 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
24150 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
24151 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
24152 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
24153 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
24154
24155 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
24156 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
24157 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
24158 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
24159 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
24160 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
24161 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
24162 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
24163 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
24164 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
24165 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
24166 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
24167 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
24168 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
24169 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
24170 @samp{--frame} options.
24171
24172 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
24173 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
24174
24175 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
24176 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
24177 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
24178 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
24179 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
24180 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
24181 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
24182 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
24183 @code{-list-target-features} command.
24184
24185 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
24186 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
24187 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
24188 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
24189 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
24190 are running.
24191
24192 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
24193 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
24194 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
24195 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
24196 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
24197 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
24198 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
24199 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
24200 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
24201 @samp{--thread} option).
24202
24203 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
24204 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
24205 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
24206 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
24207
24208 @node Thread groups
24209 @subsection Thread groups
24210 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
24211 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
24212 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
24213 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
24214 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
24215
24216 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
24217 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
24218 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
24219 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
24220 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
24221 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
24222 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
24223 into processes.
24224
24225 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
24226 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
24227 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
24228 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
24229 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
24230 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
24231 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
24232 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
24233 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
24234 the members of specific thread group.
24235
24236 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
24237 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
24238 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
24239 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
24240 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
24241 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
24242 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
24243 after attaching to that thread group.
24244
24245 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
24246 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
24247 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
24248 such thread groups.
24249
24250 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24251 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
24252 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
24253
24254 @menu
24255 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
24256 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
24257 @end menu
24258
24259 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
24260 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
24261
24262 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
24263 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
24264 @table @code
24265 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
24266 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
24267
24268 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
24269 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
24270 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
24271
24272 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
24273 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
24274 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
24275
24276 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
24277 "any sequence of digits"
24278
24279 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
24280 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
24281
24282 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
24283 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
24284
24285 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
24286 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
24287
24288 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
24289 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
24290 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
24291
24292 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
24293 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
24294
24295 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
24296 @code{CR | CR-LF}
24297 @end table
24298
24299 @noindent
24300 Notes:
24301
24302 @itemize @bullet
24303 @item
24304 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
24305 output is described below.
24306
24307 @item
24308 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
24309 finishes.
24310
24311 @item
24312 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
24313 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
24314 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
24315 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
24316 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
24317 @end itemize
24318
24319 Pragmatics:
24320
24321 @itemize @bullet
24322 @item
24323 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
24324
24325 @item
24326 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
24327 @end itemize
24328
24329 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
24330 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
24331
24332 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
24333 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
24334 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
24335 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
24336 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
24337 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
24338
24339 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
24340 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
24341 @var{token}.
24342
24343 @table @code
24344 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
24345 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
24346
24347 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
24348 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
24349
24350 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
24351 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
24352
24353 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
24354 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
24355
24356 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
24357 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
24358
24359 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
24360 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
24361
24362 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
24363 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
24364
24365 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
24366 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
24367
24368 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
24369 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
24370
24371 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
24372 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
24373 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
24374
24375 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
24376 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
24377
24378 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
24379 @code{ @var{string} }
24380
24381 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
24382 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
24383
24384 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
24385 @code{@var{c-string}}
24386
24387 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
24388 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
24389
24390 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
24391 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
24392 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
24393
24394 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
24395 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
24396
24397 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
24398 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
24399
24400 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
24401 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
24402
24403 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
24404 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
24405
24406 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
24407 @code{CR | CR-LF}
24408
24409 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
24410 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
24411 @end table
24412
24413 @noindent
24414 Notes:
24415
24416 @itemize @bullet
24417 @item
24418 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
24419
24420 @item
24421 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
24422 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
24423 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
24424 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
24425 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
24426 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
24427 prior command.
24428
24429 @item
24430 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24431 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
24432 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
24433 prefixed by @samp{+}.
24434
24435 @item
24436 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24437 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
24438 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
24439 @samp{*}.
24440
24441 @item
24442 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24443 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
24444 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
24445 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
24446
24447 @item
24448 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24449 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
24450 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
24451 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
24452
24453 @item
24454 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24455 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
24456 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
24457
24458 @item
24459 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24460 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
24461 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
24462 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
24463
24464 @item
24465 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24466 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
24467 @var{values}.
24468
24469
24470 @end itemize
24471
24472 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
24473 details about the various output records.
24474
24475 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24476 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
24477 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
24478
24479 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
24480 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
24481
24482 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
24483 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
24484 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
24485 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
24486 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
24487 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
24488
24489 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
24490 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
24491 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
24492
24493 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24494 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
24495 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
24496 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
24497
24498 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
24499 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
24500
24501 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
24502 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
24503 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
24504 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
24505 might change.
24506
24507 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
24508 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
24509 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
24510 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
24511
24512 @itemize @bullet
24513 @item
24514 New MI commands may be added.
24515
24516 @item
24517 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
24518
24519 @item
24520 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
24521 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
24522
24523 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
24524 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
24525
24526 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
24527 @c resolve inconsistencies.
24528 @end itemize
24529
24530 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
24531 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
24532 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
24533 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
24534 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
24535
24536 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
24537 @c version?
24538
24539 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
24540 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
24541 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
24542 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
24543 @cindex mailing lists
24544
24545 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24546 @node GDB/MI Output Records
24547 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
24548
24549 @menu
24550 * GDB/MI Result Records::
24551 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
24552 * GDB/MI Async Records::
24553 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
24554 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
24555 @end menu
24556
24557 @node GDB/MI Result Records
24558 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
24559
24560 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24561 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
24562 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
24563 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
24564
24565 @table @code
24566 @findex ^done
24567 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
24568 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
24569 values.
24570
24571 @item "^running"
24572 @findex ^running
24573 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
24574 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
24575 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
24576 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
24577 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
24578 which threads are resumed.
24579
24580 @item "^connected"
24581 @findex ^connected
24582 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
24583
24584 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
24585 @findex ^error
24586 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
24587 error message.
24588
24589 @item "^exit"
24590 @findex ^exit
24591 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
24592
24593 @end table
24594
24595 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
24596 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
24597
24598 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
24599 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24600 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
24601 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
24602 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
24603
24604 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
24605 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
24606 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
24607 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
24608 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
24609
24610 @table @code
24611 @item "~" @var{string-output}
24612 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
24613 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
24614
24615 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
24616 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
24617 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
24618 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
24619
24620 @item "&" @var{string-output}
24621 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
24622 internals.
24623 @end table
24624
24625 @node GDB/MI Async Records
24626 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
24627
24628 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24629 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
24630 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
24631 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
24632 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
24633 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
24634
24635 The following is the list of possible async records:
24636
24637 @table @code
24638
24639 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
24640 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
24641 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
24642 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
24643 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
24644 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
24645 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
24646 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
24647 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
24648 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
24649
24650 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
24651 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
24652 following values:
24653
24654 @table @code
24655 @item breakpoint-hit
24656 A breakpoint was reached.
24657 @item watchpoint-trigger
24658 A watchpoint was triggered.
24659 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
24660 A read watchpoint was triggered.
24661 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
24662 An access watchpoint was triggered.
24663 @item function-finished
24664 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
24665 @item location-reached
24666 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
24667 @item watchpoint-scope
24668 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
24669 @item end-stepping-range
24670 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
24671 similar CLI command was accomplished.
24672 @item exited-signalled
24673 The inferior exited because of a signal.
24674 @item exited
24675 The inferior exited.
24676 @item exited-normally
24677 The inferior exited normally.
24678 @item signal-received
24679 A signal was received by the inferior.
24680 @end table
24681
24682 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
24683 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
24684 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
24685 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
24686 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
24687 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
24688 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
24689 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
24690 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
24691 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
24692 if such information is not available.
24693
24694 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
24695 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
24696 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
24697 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
24698 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
24699 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
24700 cannot be used in any way.
24701
24702 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
24703 A thread group became associated with a running program,
24704 either because the program was just started or the thread group
24705 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
24706 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
24707 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
24708
24709 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
24710 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
24711 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
24712 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
24713 thread group.
24714
24715 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
24716 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
24717 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
24718 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
24719 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
24720
24721 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
24722 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
24723 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
24724 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
24725 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
24726 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
24727 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
24728
24729 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
24730 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
24731 that thread.
24732
24733 @item =library-loaded,...
24734 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
24735 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
24736 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
24737 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
24738 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
24739 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
24740 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
24741 @var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
24742 library are loaded. The @var{thread-group} field, if present,
24743 specifies the id of the thread group in whose context the library was loaded.
24744 If the field is absent, it means the library was loaded in the context
24745 of all present thread groups.
24746
24747 @item =library-unloaded,...
24748 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
24749 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
24750 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
24751 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
24752 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
24753 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
24754 thread groups.
24755
24756 @end table
24757
24758 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
24759 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
24760
24761 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
24762 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
24763 fields:
24764
24765 @table @code
24766 @item level
24767 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
24768 zero. This field is always present.
24769
24770 @item func
24771 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
24772 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
24773
24774 @item addr
24775 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
24776
24777 @item file
24778 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
24779 address. This field may be absent.
24780
24781 @item line
24782 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
24783 may be absent.
24784
24785 @item from
24786 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
24787 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
24788
24789 @end table
24790
24791 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
24792 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
24793
24794 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
24795 uses a tuple with the following fields:
24796
24797 @table @code
24798 @item id
24799 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
24800 always present.
24801
24802 @item target-id
24803 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
24804
24805 @item details
24806 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
24807 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
24808 frontend. This field is optional.
24809
24810 @item state
24811 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
24812 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
24813
24814 @item core
24815 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
24816 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
24817 @end table
24818
24819
24820 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24821 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
24822 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
24823 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
24824
24825 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
24826 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
24827 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
24828 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
24829
24830 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
24831 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
24832
24833 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
24834
24835 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
24836 information of the breakpoint.
24837
24838 @smallexample
24839 -> -break-insert main
24840 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
24841 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
24842 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
24843 <- (gdb)
24844 @end smallexample
24845
24846 @subheading Program Execution
24847
24848 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
24849 reason that execution stopped.
24850
24851 @smallexample
24852 -> -exec-run
24853 <- ^running
24854 <- (gdb)
24855 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
24856 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
24857 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
24858 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
24859 <- (gdb)
24860 -> -exec-continue
24861 <- ^running
24862 <- (gdb)
24863 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
24864 <- (gdb)
24865 @end smallexample
24866
24867 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
24868
24869 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
24870
24871 @smallexample
24872 -> (gdb)
24873 <- -gdb-exit
24874 <- ^exit
24875 @end smallexample
24876
24877 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
24878 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
24879 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
24880 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
24881 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
24882 fails to exit in reasonable time.
24883
24884 @subheading A Bad Command
24885
24886 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
24887
24888 @smallexample
24889 -> -rubbish
24890 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
24891 <- (gdb)
24892 @end smallexample
24893
24894
24895 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24896 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
24897 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
24898
24899 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
24900 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
24901
24902 @subheading Motivation
24903
24904 The motivation for this collection of commands.
24905
24906 @subheading Introduction
24907
24908 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
24909
24910 @subheading Commands
24911
24912 For each command in the block, the following is described:
24913
24914 @subsubheading Synopsis
24915
24916 @smallexample
24917 -command @var{args}@dots{}
24918 @end smallexample
24919
24920 @subsubheading Result
24921
24922 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24923
24924 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
24925
24926 @subsubheading Example
24927
24928 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
24929 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
24930
24931
24932 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24933 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
24934 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
24935
24936 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
24937 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
24938 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
24939 breakpoints.
24940
24941 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
24942 @findex -break-after
24943
24944 @subsubheading Synopsis
24945
24946 @smallexample
24947 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
24948 @end smallexample
24949
24950 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
24951 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
24952 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
24953 @samp{-break-list} command below.
24954
24955 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24956
24957 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
24958
24959 @subsubheading Example
24960
24961 @smallexample
24962 (gdb)
24963 -break-insert main
24964 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
24965 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
24966 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
24967 (gdb)
24968 -break-after 1 3
24969 ~
24970 ^done
24971 (gdb)
24972 -break-list
24973 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24974 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24975 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24976 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24977 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24978 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24979 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24980 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24981 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24982 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
24983 (gdb)
24984 @end smallexample
24985
24986 @ignore
24987 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
24988 @findex -break-catch
24989 @end ignore
24990
24991 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
24992 @findex -break-commands
24993
24994 @subsubheading Synopsis
24995
24996 @smallexample
24997 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
24998 @end smallexample
24999
25000 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
25001 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
25002 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
25003 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
25004 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
25005 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
25006
25007 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25008
25009 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
25010
25011 @subsubheading Example
25012
25013 @smallexample
25014 (gdb)
25015 -break-insert main
25016 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
25017 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
25018 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
25019 (gdb)
25020 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
25021 ^done
25022 (gdb)
25023 @end smallexample
25024
25025 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
25026 @findex -break-condition
25027
25028 @subsubheading Synopsis
25029
25030 @smallexample
25031 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
25032 @end smallexample
25033
25034 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
25035 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
25036 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
25037 command below).
25038
25039 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25040
25041 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
25042
25043 @subsubheading Example
25044
25045 @smallexample
25046 (gdb)
25047 -break-condition 1 1
25048 ^done
25049 (gdb)
25050 -break-list
25051 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25052 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25053 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25054 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25055 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25056 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25057 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25058 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25059 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25060 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
25061 (gdb)
25062 @end smallexample
25063
25064 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
25065 @findex -break-delete
25066
25067 @subsubheading Synopsis
25068
25069 @smallexample
25070 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25071 @end smallexample
25072
25073 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
25074 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
25075
25076 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25077
25078 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
25079
25080 @subsubheading Example
25081
25082 @smallexample
25083 (gdb)
25084 -break-delete 1
25085 ^done
25086 (gdb)
25087 -break-list
25088 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
25089 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25090 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25091 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25092 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25093 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25094 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25095 body=[]@}
25096 (gdb)
25097 @end smallexample
25098
25099 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
25100 @findex -break-disable
25101
25102 @subsubheading Synopsis
25103
25104 @smallexample
25105 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25106 @end smallexample
25107
25108 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
25109 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
25110
25111 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25112
25113 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
25114
25115 @subsubheading Example
25116
25117 @smallexample
25118 (gdb)
25119 -break-disable 2
25120 ^done
25121 (gdb)
25122 -break-list
25123 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25124 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25125 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25126 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25127 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25128 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25129 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25130 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
25131 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25132 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
25133 (gdb)
25134 @end smallexample
25135
25136 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
25137 @findex -break-enable
25138
25139 @subsubheading Synopsis
25140
25141 @smallexample
25142 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25143 @end smallexample
25144
25145 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
25146
25147 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25148
25149 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
25150
25151 @subsubheading Example
25152
25153 @smallexample
25154 (gdb)
25155 -break-enable 2
25156 ^done
25157 (gdb)
25158 -break-list
25159 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25160 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25161 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25162 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25163 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25164 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25165 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25166 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25167 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25168 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
25169 (gdb)
25170 @end smallexample
25171
25172 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
25173 @findex -break-info
25174
25175 @subsubheading Synopsis
25176
25177 @smallexample
25178 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
25179 @end smallexample
25180
25181 @c REDUNDANT???
25182 Get information about a single breakpoint.
25183
25184 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25185
25186 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
25187
25188 @subsubheading Example
25189 N.A.
25190
25191 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
25192 @findex -break-insert
25193
25194 @subsubheading Synopsis
25195
25196 @smallexample
25197 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
25198 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
25199 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
25200 @end smallexample
25201
25202 @noindent
25203 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
25204
25205 @itemize @bullet
25206 @item function
25207 @c @item +offset
25208 @c @item -offset
25209 @c @item linenum
25210 @item filename:linenum
25211 @item filename:function
25212 @item *address
25213 @end itemize
25214
25215 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
25216
25217 @table @samp
25218 @item -t
25219 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
25220 @item -h
25221 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
25222 @item -c @var{condition}
25223 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
25224 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
25225 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
25226 @item -f
25227 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
25228 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
25229 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
25230 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
25231 cannot be parsed.
25232 @item -d
25233 Create a disabled breakpoint.
25234 @item -a
25235 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
25236 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
25237 @end table
25238
25239 @subsubheading Result
25240
25241 The result is in the form:
25242
25243 @smallexample
25244 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
25245 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
25246 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
25247 times="@var{times}"@}
25248 @end smallexample
25249
25250 @noindent
25251 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
25252 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
25253 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
25254 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
25255 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
25256 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
25257 which use the same output).
25258
25259 Note: this format is open to change.
25260 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
25261
25262 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25263
25264 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
25265 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
25266
25267 @subsubheading Example
25268
25269 @smallexample
25270 (gdb)
25271 -break-insert main
25272 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
25273 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
25274 (gdb)
25275 -break-insert -t foo
25276 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
25277 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
25278 (gdb)
25279 -break-list
25280 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25281 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25282 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25283 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25284 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25285 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25286 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25287 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25288 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
25289 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
25290 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
25291 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
25292 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
25293 (gdb)
25294 -break-insert -r foo.*
25295 ~int foo(int, int);
25296 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
25297 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
25298 (gdb)
25299 @end smallexample
25300
25301 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
25302 @findex -break-list
25303
25304 @subsubheading Synopsis
25305
25306 @smallexample
25307 -break-list
25308 @end smallexample
25309
25310 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
25311
25312 @table @samp
25313 @item Number
25314 number of the breakpoint
25315 @item Type
25316 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
25317 @item Disposition
25318 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
25319 or @samp{nokeep}
25320 @item Enabled
25321 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
25322 @item Address
25323 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
25324 @item What
25325 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
25326 name, line number
25327 @item Times
25328 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
25329 @end table
25330
25331 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
25332 @code{body} field is an empty list.
25333
25334 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25335
25336 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
25337
25338 @subsubheading Example
25339
25340 @smallexample
25341 (gdb)
25342 -break-list
25343 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25344 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25345 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25346 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25347 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25348 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25349 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25350 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25351 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
25352 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25353 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25354 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
25355 (gdb)
25356 @end smallexample
25357
25358 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
25359
25360 @smallexample
25361 (gdb)
25362 -break-list
25363 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
25364 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25365 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25366 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25367 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25368 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25369 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25370 body=[]@}
25371 (gdb)
25372 @end smallexample
25373
25374 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
25375 @findex -break-passcount
25376
25377 @subsubheading Synopsis
25378
25379 @smallexample
25380 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
25381 @end smallexample
25382
25383 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
25384 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
25385 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
25386 command @samp{passcount}.
25387
25388 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
25389 @findex -break-watch
25390
25391 @subsubheading Synopsis
25392
25393 @smallexample
25394 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
25395 @end smallexample
25396
25397 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
25398 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
25399 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
25400 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
25401 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
25402 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
25403 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
25404 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
25405
25406 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
25407 breakpoints inserted.
25408
25409 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25410
25411 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
25412 @samp{rwatch}.
25413
25414 @subsubheading Example
25415
25416 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
25417
25418 @smallexample
25419 (gdb)
25420 -break-watch x
25421 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
25422 (gdb)
25423 -exec-continue
25424 ^running
25425 (gdb)
25426 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
25427 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
25428 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
25429 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
25430 (gdb)
25431 @end smallexample
25432
25433 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
25434 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
25435 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
25436
25437 @smallexample
25438 (gdb)
25439 -break-watch C
25440 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
25441 (gdb)
25442 -exec-continue
25443 ^running
25444 (gdb)
25445 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
25446 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
25447 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25448 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25449 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
25450 (gdb)
25451 -exec-continue
25452 ^running
25453 (gdb)
25454 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
25455 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
25456 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25457 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25458 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25459 (gdb)
25460 @end smallexample
25461
25462 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
25463 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
25464 deleted.
25465
25466 @smallexample
25467 (gdb)
25468 -break-watch C
25469 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
25470 (gdb)
25471 -break-list
25472 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25473 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25474 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25475 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25476 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25477 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25478 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25479 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25480 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25481 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25482 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
25483 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
25484 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
25485 (gdb)
25486 -exec-continue
25487 ^running
25488 (gdb)
25489 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
25490 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
25491 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25492 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25493 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
25494 (gdb)
25495 -break-list
25496 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25497 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25498 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25499 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25500 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25501 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25502 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25503 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25504 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25505 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25506 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
25507 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
25508 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
25509 (gdb)
25510 -exec-continue
25511 ^running
25512 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
25513 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
25514 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25515 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25516 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25517 (gdb)
25518 -break-list
25519 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25520 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25521 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25522 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25523 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25524 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25525 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25526 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25527 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25528 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25529 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
25530 times="1"@}]@}
25531 (gdb)
25532 @end smallexample
25533
25534 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25535 @node GDB/MI Program Context
25536 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
25537
25538 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
25539 @findex -exec-arguments
25540
25541
25542 @subsubheading Synopsis
25543
25544 @smallexample
25545 -exec-arguments @var{args}
25546 @end smallexample
25547
25548 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
25549 @samp{-exec-run}.
25550
25551 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25552
25553 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
25554
25555 @subsubheading Example
25556
25557 @smallexample
25558 (gdb)
25559 -exec-arguments -v word
25560 ^done
25561 (gdb)
25562 @end smallexample
25563
25564
25565 @ignore
25566 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
25567 @findex -exec-show-arguments
25568
25569 @subsubheading Synopsis
25570
25571 @smallexample
25572 -exec-show-arguments
25573 @end smallexample
25574
25575 Print the arguments of the program.
25576
25577 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25578
25579 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
25580
25581 @subsubheading Example
25582 N.A.
25583 @end ignore
25584
25585
25586 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
25587 @findex -environment-cd
25588
25589 @subsubheading Synopsis
25590
25591 @smallexample
25592 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
25593 @end smallexample
25594
25595 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
25596
25597 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25598
25599 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
25600
25601 @subsubheading Example
25602
25603 @smallexample
25604 (gdb)
25605 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
25606 ^done
25607 (gdb)
25608 @end smallexample
25609
25610
25611 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
25612 @findex -environment-directory
25613
25614 @subsubheading Synopsis
25615
25616 @smallexample
25617 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
25618 @end smallexample
25619
25620 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
25621 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
25622 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
25623 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
25624 occurs as normal.
25625 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
25626 multiple directories in a single command
25627 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
25628 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
25629 If blanks are needed as
25630 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
25631 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
25632 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
25633 character must not be used
25634 in any directory name.
25635 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
25636
25637 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25638
25639 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
25640
25641 @subsubheading Example
25642
25643 @smallexample
25644 (gdb)
25645 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
25646 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
25647 (gdb)
25648 -environment-directory ""
25649 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
25650 (gdb)
25651 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
25652 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
25653 (gdb)
25654 -environment-directory -r
25655 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
25656 (gdb)
25657 @end smallexample
25658
25659
25660 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
25661 @findex -environment-path
25662
25663 @subsubheading Synopsis
25664
25665 @smallexample
25666 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
25667 @end smallexample
25668
25669 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
25670 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
25671 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
25672 supplied in addition to the
25673 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
25674 occurs as normal.
25675 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
25676 multiple directories in a single command
25677 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
25678 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
25679 If blanks are needed as
25680 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
25681 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
25682 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
25683 character must not be used
25684 in any directory name.
25685 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
25686
25687
25688 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25689
25690 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
25691
25692 @subsubheading Example
25693
25694 @smallexample
25695 (gdb)
25696 -environment-path
25697 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
25698 (gdb)
25699 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
25700 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
25701 (gdb)
25702 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
25703 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
25704 (gdb)
25705 @end smallexample
25706
25707
25708 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
25709 @findex -environment-pwd
25710
25711 @subsubheading Synopsis
25712
25713 @smallexample
25714 -environment-pwd
25715 @end smallexample
25716
25717 Show the current working directory.
25718
25719 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25720
25721 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
25722
25723 @subsubheading Example
25724
25725 @smallexample
25726 (gdb)
25727 -environment-pwd
25728 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
25729 (gdb)
25730 @end smallexample
25731
25732 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25733 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
25734 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
25735
25736
25737 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
25738 @findex -thread-info
25739
25740 @subsubheading Synopsis
25741
25742 @smallexample
25743 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
25744 @end smallexample
25745
25746 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
25747 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
25748 threads. When printing information about all threads,
25749 also reports the current thread.
25750
25751 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25752
25753 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
25754 about all threads.
25755
25756 @subsubheading Example
25757
25758 @smallexample
25759 -thread-info
25760 ^done,threads=[
25761 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
25762 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
25763 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
25764 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
25765 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
25766 current-thread-id="1"
25767 (gdb)
25768 @end smallexample
25769
25770 The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
25771
25772 @table @code
25773 @item stopped
25774 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
25775 threads.
25776
25777 @item running
25778 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
25779 threads.
25780
25781 @end table
25782
25783 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
25784 @findex -thread-list-ids
25785
25786 @subsubheading Synopsis
25787
25788 @smallexample
25789 -thread-list-ids
25790 @end smallexample
25791
25792 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
25793 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
25794
25795 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
25796 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
25797
25798 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25799
25800 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
25801
25802 @subsubheading Example
25803
25804 @smallexample
25805 (gdb)
25806 -thread-list-ids
25807 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
25808 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
25809 (gdb)
25810 @end smallexample
25811
25812
25813 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
25814 @findex -thread-select
25815
25816 @subsubheading Synopsis
25817
25818 @smallexample
25819 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
25820 @end smallexample
25821
25822 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
25823 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
25824
25825 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
25826 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
25827
25828 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25829
25830 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
25831
25832 @subsubheading Example
25833
25834 @smallexample
25835 (gdb)
25836 -exec-next
25837 ^running
25838 (gdb)
25839 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
25840 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
25841 (gdb)
25842 -thread-list-ids
25843 ^done,
25844 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
25845 number-of-threads="3"
25846 (gdb)
25847 -thread-select 3
25848 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
25849 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
25850 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
25851 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
25852 (gdb)
25853 @end smallexample
25854
25855 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25856 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
25857 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
25858
25859 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
25860 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
25861 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
25862 other cases.
25863
25864 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
25865 @findex -exec-continue
25866
25867 @subsubheading Synopsis
25868
25869 @smallexample
25870 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
25871 @end smallexample
25872
25873 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
25874 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
25875 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
25876 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
25877 @itemize @bullet
25878 @item
25879 breakpoints or watchpoints
25880 @item
25881 signals or exceptions
25882 @item
25883 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
25884 @item
25885 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
25886 @end itemize
25887 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
25888 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
25889 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
25890 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
25891 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
25892 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
25893
25894 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25895
25896 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
25897
25898 @subsubheading Example
25899
25900 @smallexample
25901 -exec-continue
25902 ^running
25903 (gdb)
25904 @@Hello world
25905 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
25906 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
25907 line="13"@}
25908 (gdb)
25909 @end smallexample
25910
25911
25912 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
25913 @findex -exec-finish
25914
25915 @subsubheading Synopsis
25916
25917 @smallexample
25918 -exec-finish [--reverse]
25919 @end smallexample
25920
25921 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
25922 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
25923 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
25924 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
25925 function was called.
25926
25927 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25928
25929 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
25930
25931 @subsubheading Example
25932
25933 Function returning @code{void}.
25934
25935 @smallexample
25936 -exec-finish
25937 ^running
25938 (gdb)
25939 @@hello from foo
25940 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
25941 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
25942 (gdb)
25943 @end smallexample
25944
25945 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
25946 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
25947 value itself.
25948
25949 @smallexample
25950 -exec-finish
25951 ^running
25952 (gdb)
25953 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
25954 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
25955 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25956 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
25957 (gdb)
25958 @end smallexample
25959
25960
25961 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
25962 @findex -exec-interrupt
25963
25964 @subsubheading Synopsis
25965
25966 @smallexample
25967 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
25968 @end smallexample
25969
25970 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
25971 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
25972 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
25973 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
25974 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
25975
25976 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
25977 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
25978 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
25979 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
25980
25981 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
25982 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
25983 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
25984 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
25985
25986 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25987
25988 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
25989
25990 @subsubheading Example
25991
25992 @smallexample
25993 (gdb)
25994 111-exec-continue
25995 111^running
25996
25997 (gdb)
25998 222-exec-interrupt
25999 222^done
26000 (gdb)
26001 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
26002 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26003 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
26004 (gdb)
26005
26006 (gdb)
26007 -exec-interrupt
26008 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
26009 (gdb)
26010 @end smallexample
26011
26012 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
26013 @findex -exec-jump
26014
26015 @subsubheading Synopsis
26016
26017 @smallexample
26018 -exec-jump @var{location}
26019 @end smallexample
26020
26021 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
26022 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
26023 different forms of @var{location}.
26024
26025 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26026
26027 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
26028
26029 @subsubheading Example
26030
26031 @smallexample
26032 -exec-jump foo.c:10
26033 *running,thread-id="all"
26034 ^running
26035 @end smallexample
26036
26037
26038 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
26039 @findex -exec-next
26040
26041 @subsubheading Synopsis
26042
26043 @smallexample
26044 -exec-next [--reverse]
26045 @end smallexample
26046
26047 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
26048 of the next source line is reached.
26049
26050 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
26051 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
26052 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
26053 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
26054 source line where the function was called.
26055
26056
26057 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26058
26059 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
26060
26061 @subsubheading Example
26062
26063 @smallexample
26064 -exec-next
26065 ^running
26066 (gdb)
26067 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
26068 (gdb)
26069 @end smallexample
26070
26071
26072 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
26073 @findex -exec-next-instruction
26074
26075 @subsubheading Synopsis
26076
26077 @smallexample
26078 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
26079 @end smallexample
26080
26081 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
26082 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
26083 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
26084 printed as well.
26085
26086 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
26087 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
26088 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
26089 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
26090 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
26091
26092 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26093
26094 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
26095
26096 @subsubheading Example
26097
26098 @smallexample
26099 (gdb)
26100 -exec-next-instruction
26101 ^running
26102
26103 (gdb)
26104 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26105 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
26106 (gdb)
26107 @end smallexample
26108
26109
26110 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
26111 @findex -exec-return
26112
26113 @subsubheading Synopsis
26114
26115 @smallexample
26116 -exec-return
26117 @end smallexample
26118
26119 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
26120 Displays the new current frame.
26121
26122 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26123
26124 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
26125
26126 @subsubheading Example
26127
26128 @smallexample
26129 (gdb)
26130 200-break-insert callee4
26131 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
26132 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
26133 (gdb)
26134 000-exec-run
26135 000^running
26136 (gdb)
26137 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
26138 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
26139 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26140 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
26141 (gdb)
26142 205-break-delete
26143 205^done
26144 (gdb)
26145 111-exec-return
26146 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
26147 args=[@{name="strarg",
26148 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
26149 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26150 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
26151 (gdb)
26152 @end smallexample
26153
26154
26155 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
26156 @findex -exec-run
26157
26158 @subsubheading Synopsis
26159
26160 @smallexample
26161 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
26162 @end smallexample
26163
26164 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
26165 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
26166 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
26167 the program has exited exceptionally.
26168
26169 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
26170 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
26171 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
26172 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
26173
26174 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26175
26176 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
26177
26178 @subsubheading Examples
26179
26180 @smallexample
26181 (gdb)
26182 -break-insert main
26183 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
26184 (gdb)
26185 -exec-run
26186 ^running
26187 (gdb)
26188 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
26189 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
26190 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
26191 (gdb)
26192 @end smallexample
26193
26194 @noindent
26195 Program exited normally:
26196
26197 @smallexample
26198 (gdb)
26199 -exec-run
26200 ^running
26201 (gdb)
26202 x = 55
26203 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26204 (gdb)
26205 @end smallexample
26206
26207 @noindent
26208 Program exited exceptionally:
26209
26210 @smallexample
26211 (gdb)
26212 -exec-run
26213 ^running
26214 (gdb)
26215 x = 55
26216 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
26217 (gdb)
26218 @end smallexample
26219
26220 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
26221 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
26222
26223 @smallexample
26224 (gdb)
26225 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
26226 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
26227 @end smallexample
26228
26229
26230 @c @subheading -exec-signal
26231
26232
26233 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
26234 @findex -exec-step
26235
26236 @subsubheading Synopsis
26237
26238 @smallexample
26239 -exec-step [--reverse]
26240 @end smallexample
26241
26242 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
26243 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
26244 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
26245 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
26246 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
26247 previously executed source line.
26248
26249 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26250
26251 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
26252
26253 @subsubheading Example
26254
26255 Stepping into a function:
26256
26257 @smallexample
26258 -exec-step
26259 ^running
26260 (gdb)
26261 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26262 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
26263 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
26264 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
26265 (gdb)
26266 @end smallexample
26267
26268 Regular stepping:
26269
26270 @smallexample
26271 -exec-step
26272 ^running
26273 (gdb)
26274 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
26275 (gdb)
26276 @end smallexample
26277
26278
26279 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
26280 @findex -exec-step-instruction
26281
26282 @subsubheading Synopsis
26283
26284 @smallexample
26285 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
26286 @end smallexample
26287
26288 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
26289 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
26290 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
26291 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
26292 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
26293 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
26294 as well.
26295
26296 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26297
26298 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
26299
26300 @subsubheading Example
26301
26302 @smallexample
26303 (gdb)
26304 -exec-step-instruction
26305 ^running
26306
26307 (gdb)
26308 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26309 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26310 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
26311 (gdb)
26312 -exec-step-instruction
26313 ^running
26314
26315 (gdb)
26316 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26317 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26318 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
26319 (gdb)
26320 @end smallexample
26321
26322
26323 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
26324 @findex -exec-until
26325
26326 @subsubheading Synopsis
26327
26328 @smallexample
26329 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
26330 @end smallexample
26331
26332 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
26333 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
26334 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
26335 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
26336
26337 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26338
26339 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
26340
26341 @subsubheading Example
26342
26343 @smallexample
26344 (gdb)
26345 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
26346 ^running
26347 (gdb)
26348 x = 55
26349 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
26350 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
26351 (gdb)
26352 @end smallexample
26353
26354 @ignore
26355 @subheading -file-clear
26356 Is this going away????
26357 @end ignore
26358
26359 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26360 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
26361 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
26362
26363
26364 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
26365 @findex -stack-info-frame
26366
26367 @subsubheading Synopsis
26368
26369 @smallexample
26370 -stack-info-frame
26371 @end smallexample
26372
26373 Get info on the selected frame.
26374
26375 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26376
26377 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
26378 (without arguments).
26379
26380 @subsubheading Example
26381
26382 @smallexample
26383 (gdb)
26384 -stack-info-frame
26385 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
26386 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26387 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
26388 (gdb)
26389 @end smallexample
26390
26391 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
26392 @findex -stack-info-depth
26393
26394 @subsubheading Synopsis
26395
26396 @smallexample
26397 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
26398 @end smallexample
26399
26400 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
26401 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
26402
26403 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26404
26405 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
26406
26407 @subsubheading Example
26408
26409 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
26410
26411 @smallexample
26412 (gdb)
26413 -stack-info-depth
26414 ^done,depth="12"
26415 (gdb)
26416 -stack-info-depth 4
26417 ^done,depth="4"
26418 (gdb)
26419 -stack-info-depth 12
26420 ^done,depth="12"
26421 (gdb)
26422 -stack-info-depth 11
26423 ^done,depth="11"
26424 (gdb)
26425 -stack-info-depth 13
26426 ^done,depth="12"
26427 (gdb)
26428 @end smallexample
26429
26430 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
26431 @findex -stack-list-arguments
26432
26433 @subsubheading Synopsis
26434
26435 @smallexample
26436 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
26437 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
26438 @end smallexample
26439
26440 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
26441 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
26442 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
26443 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
26444 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
26445 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
26446 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
26447 which case only existing frames will be returned.
26448
26449 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26450 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26451 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26452 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26453 structures and unions.
26454
26455 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
26456 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
26457
26458 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26459
26460 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
26461 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
26462 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
26463
26464 @subsubheading Example
26465
26466 @smallexample
26467 (gdb)
26468 -stack-list-frames
26469 ^done,
26470 stack=[
26471 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
26472 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26473 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
26474 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
26475 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26476 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
26477 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
26478 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26479 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
26480 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
26481 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26482 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
26483 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
26484 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26485 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
26486 (gdb)
26487 -stack-list-arguments 0
26488 ^done,
26489 stack-args=[
26490 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
26491 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
26492 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
26493 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
26494 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
26495 (gdb)
26496 -stack-list-arguments 1
26497 ^done,
26498 stack-args=[
26499 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
26500 frame=@{level="1",
26501 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
26502 frame=@{level="2",args=[
26503 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26504 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
26505 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
26506 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26507 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
26508 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
26509 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
26510 (gdb)
26511 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
26512 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
26513 (gdb)
26514 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
26515 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
26516 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26517 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
26518 (gdb)
26519 @end smallexample
26520
26521 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
26522
26523
26524 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
26525 @findex -stack-list-frames
26526
26527 @subsubheading Synopsis
26528
26529 @smallexample
26530 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
26531 @end smallexample
26532
26533 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
26534 following info:
26535
26536 @table @samp
26537 @item @var{level}
26538 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
26539 @item @var{addr}
26540 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
26541 @item @var{func}
26542 Function name.
26543 @item @var{file}
26544 File name of the source file where the function lives.
26545 @item @var{fullname}
26546 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
26547 @item @var{line}
26548 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
26549 @item @var{from}
26550 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
26551 if the frame's function is not known.
26552 @end table
26553
26554 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
26555 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
26556 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
26557 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
26558 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
26559 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
26560 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
26561
26562 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26563
26564 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
26565
26566 @subsubheading Example
26567
26568 Full stack backtrace:
26569
26570 @smallexample
26571 (gdb)
26572 -stack-list-frames
26573 ^done,stack=
26574 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
26575 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
26576 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26577 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26578 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26579 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26580 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26581 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26582 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26583 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26584 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26585 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26586 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26587 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26588 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26589 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26590 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26591 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26592 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26593 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26594 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26595 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26596 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
26597 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
26598 (gdb)
26599 @end smallexample
26600
26601 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
26602
26603 @smallexample
26604 (gdb)
26605 -stack-list-frames 3 5
26606 ^done,stack=
26607 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26608 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26609 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26610 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26611 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26612 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
26613 (gdb)
26614 @end smallexample
26615
26616 Show a single frame:
26617
26618 @smallexample
26619 (gdb)
26620 -stack-list-frames 3 3
26621 ^done,stack=
26622 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26623 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
26624 (gdb)
26625 @end smallexample
26626
26627
26628 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
26629 @findex -stack-list-locals
26630
26631 @subsubheading Synopsis
26632
26633 @smallexample
26634 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
26635 @end smallexample
26636
26637 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
26638 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26639 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26640 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26641 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26642 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
26643 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
26644 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
26645 more detail.
26646
26647 This command is deprecated in favor of the
26648 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
26649
26650 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26651
26652 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
26653
26654 @subsubheading Example
26655
26656 @smallexample
26657 (gdb)
26658 -stack-list-locals 0
26659 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
26660 (gdb)
26661 -stack-list-locals --all-values
26662 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
26663 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
26664 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
26665 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
26666 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
26667 (gdb)
26668 @end smallexample
26669
26670 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
26671 @findex -stack-list-variables
26672
26673 @subsubheading Synopsis
26674
26675 @smallexample
26676 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
26677 @end smallexample
26678
26679 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
26680 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26681 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26682 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26683 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26684 structures and unions.
26685
26686 @subsubheading Example
26687
26688 @smallexample
26689 (gdb)
26690 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
26691 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
26692 (gdb)
26693 @end smallexample
26694
26695
26696 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
26697 @findex -stack-select-frame
26698
26699 @subsubheading Synopsis
26700
26701 @smallexample
26702 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
26703 @end smallexample
26704
26705 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
26706 the stack.
26707
26708 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
26709 option to every command.
26710
26711 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26712
26713 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
26714 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
26715
26716 @subsubheading Example
26717
26718 @smallexample
26719 (gdb)
26720 -stack-select-frame 2
26721 ^done
26722 (gdb)
26723 @end smallexample
26724
26725 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26726 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
26727 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
26728
26729 @ignore
26730
26731 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
26732
26733 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
26734 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
26735 used by @code{Insight}.
26736
26737 The two main reasons for that are:
26738
26739 @enumerate 1
26740 @item
26741 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
26742
26743 @item
26744 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
26745 now).
26746 @end enumerate
26747
26748 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
26749 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
26750 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
26751 hints about their use.
26752
26753 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
26754 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
26755 least, the following operations:
26756
26757 @itemize @bullet
26758 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
26759 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
26760 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
26761 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
26762 @end itemize
26763
26764 @end ignore
26765
26766 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
26767
26768 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
26769
26770 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
26771 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
26772 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
26773 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
26774 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
26775 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
26776 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
26777 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
26778 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
26779 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
26780 object, or to change display format.
26781
26782 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
26783 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
26784 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
26785 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
26786 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
26787 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
26788 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
26789 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
26790 child will be created.
26791
26792 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
26793 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
26794 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
26795 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
26796 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
26797
26798 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
26799 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
26800 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
26801 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
26802 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
26803 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
26804 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
26805 variables that frontend has created.
26806
26807 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
26808 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
26809 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
26810 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
26811 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
26812 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
26813 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
26814 implicitly updated.
26815
26816 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
26817 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
26818 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
26819 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
26820 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
26821 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
26822 frame. Consider this example:
26823
26824 @smallexample
26825 void do_work(...)
26826 @{
26827 struct work_state state;
26828
26829 if (...)
26830 do_work(...);
26831 @}
26832 @end smallexample
26833
26834 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
26835 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
26836 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
26837 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
26838 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
26839
26840 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
26841 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
26842 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
26843 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
26844 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
26845 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
26846
26847 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
26848 access this functionality:
26849
26850 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
26851 @item @strong{Operation}
26852 @tab @strong{Description}
26853
26854 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
26855 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
26856 @item @code{-var-create}
26857 @tab create a variable object
26858 @item @code{-var-delete}
26859 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
26860 @item @code{-var-set-format}
26861 @tab set the display format of this variable
26862 @item @code{-var-show-format}
26863 @tab show the display format of this variable
26864 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
26865 @tab tells how many children this object has
26866 @item @code{-var-list-children}
26867 @tab return a list of the object's children
26868 @item @code{-var-info-type}
26869 @tab show the type of this variable object
26870 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
26871 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
26872 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
26873 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
26874 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
26875 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
26876 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
26877 @tab get the value of this variable
26878 @item @code{-var-assign}
26879 @tab set the value of this variable
26880 @item @code{-var-update}
26881 @tab update the variable and its children
26882 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
26883 @tab set frozeness attribute
26884 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
26885 @tab set range of children to display on update
26886 @end multitable
26887
26888 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
26889 how it can be used.
26890
26891 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
26892
26893 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
26894 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
26895
26896 @smallexample
26897 -enable-pretty-printing
26898 @end smallexample
26899
26900 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
26901 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
26902 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
26903 request that this functionality be enabled.
26904
26905 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
26906
26907 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
26908 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
26909
26910 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
26911 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
26912
26913 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
26914 @findex -var-create
26915
26916 @subsubheading Synopsis
26917
26918 @smallexample
26919 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
26920 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
26921 @end smallexample
26922
26923 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
26924 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
26925 register.
26926
26927 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
26928 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
26929 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
26930 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
26931 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
26932
26933 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
26934 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
26935 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
26936 object must be created.
26937
26938 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
26939 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
26940
26941 @itemize @bullet
26942 @item
26943 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
26944
26945 @item
26946 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
26947
26948 @item
26949 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
26950 @end itemize
26951
26952 @cindex dynamic varobj
26953 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
26954 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
26955 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
26956 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
26957 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
26958 compatibility for existing clients.
26959
26960 @subsubheading Result
26961
26962 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
26963 are:
26964
26965 @table @samp
26966 @item name
26967 The name of the varobj.
26968
26969 @item numchild
26970 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
26971 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
26972 @samp{has_more} attribute.
26973
26974 @item value
26975 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
26976 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
26977 will not be interesting.
26978
26979 @item type
26980 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
26981 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
26982
26983 @item thread-id
26984 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
26985 thread's identifier.
26986
26987 @item has_more
26988 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
26989 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
26990
26991 @item dynamic
26992 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
26993 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
26994 then this attribute will not be present.
26995
26996 @item displayhint
26997 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
26998 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
26999 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
27000 @end table
27001
27002 Typical output will look like this:
27003
27004 @smallexample
27005 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
27006 has_more="@var{has_more}"
27007 @end smallexample
27008
27009
27010 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
27011 @findex -var-delete
27012
27013 @subsubheading Synopsis
27014
27015 @smallexample
27016 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
27017 @end smallexample
27018
27019 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
27020 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
27021
27022 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
27023
27024
27025 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
27026 @findex -var-set-format
27027
27028 @subsubheading Synopsis
27029
27030 @smallexample
27031 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
27032 @end smallexample
27033
27034 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
27035 @var{format-spec}.
27036
27037 @anchor{-var-set-format}
27038 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
27039
27040 @smallexample
27041 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
27042 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
27043 @end smallexample
27044
27045 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
27046 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
27047 for pointers, etc.).
27048
27049 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
27050 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
27051
27052 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
27053 @findex -var-show-format
27054
27055 @subsubheading Synopsis
27056
27057 @smallexample
27058 -var-show-format @var{name}
27059 @end smallexample
27060
27061 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
27062
27063 @smallexample
27064 @var{format} @expansion{}
27065 @var{format-spec}
27066 @end smallexample
27067
27068
27069 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
27070 @findex -var-info-num-children
27071
27072 @subsubheading Synopsis
27073
27074 @smallexample
27075 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
27076 @end smallexample
27077
27078 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
27079
27080 @smallexample
27081 numchild=@var{n}
27082 @end smallexample
27083
27084 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
27085 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
27086 be available.
27087
27088
27089 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
27090 @findex -var-list-children
27091
27092 @subsubheading Synopsis
27093
27094 @smallexample
27095 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
27096 @end smallexample
27097 @anchor{-var-list-children}
27098
27099 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
27100 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
27101 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
27102 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
27103 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
27104 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
27105 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
27106 and unions.
27107
27108 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
27109 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
27110 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
27111 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
27112 reported.
27113
27114 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
27115 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
27116 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
27117 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
27118 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
27119 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
27120 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
27121 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
27122 the visible items.
27123
27124 For each child the following results are returned:
27125
27126 @table @var
27127
27128 @item name
27129 Name of the variable object created for this child.
27130
27131 @item exp
27132 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
27133 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
27134
27135 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
27136 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
27137
27138 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
27139 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
27140 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
27141 type and value are not present.
27142
27143 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
27144 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
27145 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
27146
27147 @item numchild
27148 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
27149 0.
27150
27151 @item type
27152 The type of the child.
27153
27154 @item value
27155 If values were requested, this is the value.
27156
27157 @item thread-id
27158 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
27159 Otherwise this result is not present.
27160
27161 @item frozen
27162 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
27163 @end table
27164
27165 The result may have its own attributes:
27166
27167 @table @samp
27168 @item displayhint
27169 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
27170 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
27171 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
27172
27173 @item has_more
27174 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
27175 remaining after the end of the selected range.
27176 @end table
27177
27178 @subsubheading Example
27179
27180 @smallexample
27181 (gdb)
27182 -var-list-children n
27183 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
27184 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
27185 (gdb)
27186 -var-list-children --all-values n
27187 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
27188 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
27189 @end smallexample
27190
27191
27192 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
27193 @findex -var-info-type
27194
27195 @subsubheading Synopsis
27196
27197 @smallexample
27198 -var-info-type @var{name}
27199 @end smallexample
27200
27201 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
27202 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
27203 @value{GDBN} CLI:
27204
27205 @smallexample
27206 type=@var{typename}
27207 @end smallexample
27208
27209
27210 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
27211 @findex -var-info-expression
27212
27213 @subsubheading Synopsis
27214
27215 @smallexample
27216 -var-info-expression @var{name}
27217 @end smallexample
27218
27219 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
27220 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
27221 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
27222
27223 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
27224 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
27225
27226 @smallexample
27227 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
27228 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
27229 @end smallexample
27230
27231 @noindent
27232 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
27233
27234 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
27235 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
27236 is of limited use.
27237
27238 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
27239 @findex -var-info-path-expression
27240
27241 @subsubheading Synopsis
27242
27243 @smallexample
27244 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
27245 @end smallexample
27246
27247 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
27248 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
27249 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
27250 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
27251 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
27252 watchpoint from a variable object.
27253
27254 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
27255 and will give an error when invoked on one.
27256
27257 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
27258 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
27259 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
27260 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
27261 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
27262 @smallexample
27263 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
27264 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
27265 @end smallexample
27266
27267 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
27268 @findex -var-show-attributes
27269
27270 @subsubheading Synopsis
27271
27272 @smallexample
27273 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
27274 @end smallexample
27275
27276 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
27277
27278 @smallexample
27279 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
27280 @end smallexample
27281
27282 @noindent
27283 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
27284
27285 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
27286 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
27287
27288 @subsubheading Synopsis
27289
27290 @smallexample
27291 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
27292 @end smallexample
27293
27294 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
27295 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
27296 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
27297 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
27298 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
27299 the current display format will be used. The current display format
27300 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
27301
27302 @smallexample
27303 value=@var{value}
27304 @end smallexample
27305
27306 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
27307 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
27308
27309 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
27310 @findex -var-assign
27311
27312 @subsubheading Synopsis
27313
27314 @smallexample
27315 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
27316 @end smallexample
27317
27318 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
27319 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
27320 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
27321 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
27322
27323 @subsubheading Example
27324
27325 @smallexample
27326 (gdb)
27327 -var-assign var1 3
27328 ^done,value="3"
27329 (gdb)
27330 -var-update *
27331 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
27332 (gdb)
27333 @end smallexample
27334
27335 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
27336 @findex -var-update
27337
27338 @subsubheading Synopsis
27339
27340 @smallexample
27341 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
27342 @end smallexample
27343
27344 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
27345 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
27346 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
27347 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
27348 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
27349 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
27350 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
27351 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
27352 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
27353 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
27354 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
27355 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
27356 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
27357
27358 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
27359 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
27360 diagnostic.
27361
27362 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
27363 only the selected range of children will be reported.
27364
27365 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
27366 @samp{changelist}.
27367
27368 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
27369
27370 @table @samp
27371 @item name
27372 The name of the varobj.
27373
27374 @item value
27375 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
27376 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
27377
27378 @item in_scope
27379 @anchor{-var-update}
27380 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
27381
27382 @table @code
27383 @item "true"
27384 The variable object's current value is valid.
27385
27386 @item "false"
27387 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
27388 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
27389 scope.
27390
27391 @item "invalid"
27392 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
27393 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
27394 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
27395 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
27396 objects.
27397 @end table
27398
27399 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
27400 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
27401
27402 @item type_changed
27403 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
27404 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
27405 be @samp{false}.
27406
27407 @item new_type
27408 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
27409 hold the new type.
27410
27411 @item new_num_children
27412 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
27413 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
27414
27415 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
27416 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
27417 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
27418 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
27419 children which may be available.
27420
27421 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
27422 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
27423 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
27424 only happen at the end of the update range).
27425
27426 @item displayhint
27427 The display hint, if any.
27428
27429 @item has_more
27430 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
27431 available outside the varobj's update range.
27432
27433 @item dynamic
27434 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
27435 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
27436 then this attribute will not be present.
27437
27438 @item new_children
27439 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
27440 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
27441 be listed in this attribute.
27442 @end table
27443
27444 @subsubheading Example
27445
27446 @smallexample
27447 (gdb)
27448 -var-assign var1 3
27449 ^done,value="3"
27450 (gdb)
27451 -var-update --all-values var1
27452 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
27453 type_changed="false"@}]
27454 (gdb)
27455 @end smallexample
27456
27457 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
27458 @findex -var-set-frozen
27459 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
27460
27461 @subsubheading Synopsis
27462
27463 @smallexample
27464 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
27465 @end smallexample
27466
27467 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
27468 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
27469 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
27470 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
27471 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
27472 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
27473 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
27474 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
27475 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
27476 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
27477 @code{-var-update} does.
27478
27479 @subsubheading Example
27480
27481 @smallexample
27482 (gdb)
27483 -var-set-frozen V 1
27484 ^done
27485 (gdb)
27486 @end smallexample
27487
27488 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
27489 @findex -var-set-update-range
27490 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
27491
27492 @subsubheading Synopsis
27493
27494 @smallexample
27495 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
27496 @end smallexample
27497
27498 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
27499 @code{-var-update}.
27500
27501 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
27502 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
27503 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
27504 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
27505
27506 @subsubheading Example
27507
27508 @smallexample
27509 (gdb)
27510 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
27511 ^done
27512 @end smallexample
27513
27514 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
27515 @findex -var-set-visualizer
27516 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
27517
27518 @subsubheading Synopsis
27519
27520 @smallexample
27521 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
27522 @end smallexample
27523
27524 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
27525
27526 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
27527 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
27528
27529 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
27530 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
27531 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
27532 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
27533 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
27534 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
27535 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
27536
27537 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
27538 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
27539 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
27540 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
27541
27542 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
27543 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
27544 can be used to check this.
27545
27546 @subsubheading Example
27547
27548 Resetting the visualizer:
27549
27550 @smallexample
27551 (gdb)
27552 -var-set-visualizer V None
27553 ^done
27554 @end smallexample
27555
27556 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
27557
27558 @smallexample
27559 (gdb)
27560 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
27561 ^done
27562 @end smallexample
27563
27564 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
27565 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
27566
27567 @smallexample
27568 (gdb)
27569 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
27570 ^done
27571 @end smallexample
27572
27573 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27574 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
27575 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
27576
27577 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
27578 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
27579 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
27580 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
27581
27582 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
27583 @c @subheading -data-assign
27584 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
27585 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
27586 @c set variable
27587 @c @subsubheading Example
27588 @c N.A.
27589
27590 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
27591 @findex -data-disassemble
27592
27593 @subsubheading Synopsis
27594
27595 @smallexample
27596 -data-disassemble
27597 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
27598 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
27599 -- @var{mode}
27600 @end smallexample
27601
27602 @noindent
27603 Where:
27604
27605 @table @samp
27606 @item @var{start-addr}
27607 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
27608 @item @var{end-addr}
27609 is the end address
27610 @item @var{filename}
27611 is the name of the file to disassemble
27612 @item @var{linenum}
27613 is the line number to disassemble around
27614 @item @var{lines}
27615 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
27616 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
27617 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
27618 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
27619 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
27620 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
27621 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
27622 are displayed.
27623 @item @var{mode}
27624 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
27625 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
27626 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
27627 @end table
27628
27629 @subsubheading Result
27630
27631 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
27632
27633 @itemize @bullet
27634 @item Address
27635 @item Func-name
27636 @item Offset
27637 @item Instruction
27638 @end itemize
27639
27640 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
27641 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
27642
27643 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27644
27645 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
27646
27647 @subsubheading Example
27648
27649 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
27650
27651 @smallexample
27652 (gdb)
27653 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
27654 ^done,
27655 asm_insns=[
27656 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27657 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27658 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27659 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27660 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
27661 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
27662 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
27663 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27664 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
27665 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
27666 (gdb)
27667 @end smallexample
27668
27669 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
27670 @code{main}.
27671
27672 @smallexample
27673 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
27674 ^done,asm_insns=[
27675 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27676 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
27677 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27678 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27679 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27680 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27681 [@dots{}]
27682 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
27683 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
27684 (gdb)
27685 @end smallexample
27686
27687 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
27688
27689 @smallexample
27690 (gdb)
27691 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
27692 ^done,asm_insns=[
27693 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27694 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
27695 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27696 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27697 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27698 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
27699 (gdb)
27700 @end smallexample
27701
27702 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
27703
27704 @smallexample
27705 (gdb)
27706 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
27707 ^done,asm_insns=[
27708 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
27709 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
27710 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
27711 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27712 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
27713 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
27714 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
27715 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
27716 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27717 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27718 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27719 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
27720 (gdb)
27721 @end smallexample
27722
27723
27724 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
27725 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
27726
27727 @subsubheading Synopsis
27728
27729 @smallexample
27730 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
27731 @end smallexample
27732
27733 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
27734 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
27735 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
27736
27737 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27738
27739 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
27740 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
27741 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
27742
27743 @subsubheading Example
27744
27745 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
27746 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
27747 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
27748 output.
27749
27750 @smallexample
27751 211-data-evaluate-expression A
27752 211^done,value="1"
27753 (gdb)
27754 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
27755 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
27756 (gdb)
27757 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
27758 411^done,value="4"
27759 (gdb)
27760 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
27761 511^done,value="4"
27762 (gdb)
27763 @end smallexample
27764
27765
27766 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
27767 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
27768
27769 @subsubheading Synopsis
27770
27771 @smallexample
27772 -data-list-changed-registers
27773 @end smallexample
27774
27775 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
27776
27777 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27778
27779 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
27780 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
27781
27782 @subsubheading Example
27783
27784 On a PPC MBX board:
27785
27786 @smallexample
27787 (gdb)
27788 -exec-continue
27789 ^running
27790
27791 (gdb)
27792 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
27793 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
27794 line="5"@}
27795 (gdb)
27796 -data-list-changed-registers
27797 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
27798 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
27799 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
27800 (gdb)
27801 @end smallexample
27802
27803
27804 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
27805 @findex -data-list-register-names
27806
27807 @subsubheading Synopsis
27808
27809 @smallexample
27810 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
27811 @end smallexample
27812
27813 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
27814 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
27815 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
27816 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
27817 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
27818 include empty register names.
27819
27820 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27821
27822 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
27823 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
27824 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
27825
27826 @subsubheading Example
27827
27828 For the PPC MBX board:
27829 @smallexample
27830 (gdb)
27831 -data-list-register-names
27832 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
27833 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
27834 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
27835 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
27836 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
27837 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
27838 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
27839 (gdb)
27840 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
27841 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
27842 (gdb)
27843 @end smallexample
27844
27845 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
27846 @findex -data-list-register-values
27847
27848 @subsubheading Synopsis
27849
27850 @smallexample
27851 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
27852 @end smallexample
27853
27854 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
27855 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
27856 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
27857 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
27858
27859 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
27860
27861 @table @code
27862 @item x
27863 Hexadecimal
27864 @item o
27865 Octal
27866 @item t
27867 Binary
27868 @item d
27869 Decimal
27870 @item r
27871 Raw
27872 @item N
27873 Natural
27874 @end table
27875
27876 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27877
27878 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
27879 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
27880
27881 @subsubheading Example
27882
27883 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
27884 don't appear in the actual output):
27885
27886 @smallexample
27887 (gdb)
27888 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
27889 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
27890 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
27891 (gdb)
27892 -data-list-register-values x
27893 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
27894 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
27895 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
27896 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
27897 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
27898 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
27899 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
27900 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
27901 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
27902 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
27903 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
27904 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
27905 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
27906 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
27907 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
27908 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
27909 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
27910 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
27911 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
27912 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
27913 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
27914 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
27915 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
27916 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
27917 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
27918 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
27919 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
27920 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
27921 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
27922 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
27923 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
27924 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
27925 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
27926 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
27927 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
27928 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
27929 (gdb)
27930 @end smallexample
27931
27932
27933 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
27934 @findex -data-read-memory
27935
27936 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
27937
27938 @subsubheading Synopsis
27939
27940 @smallexample
27941 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
27942 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
27943 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
27944 @end smallexample
27945
27946 @noindent
27947 where:
27948
27949 @table @samp
27950 @item @var{address}
27951 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
27952 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
27953 quoted using the C convention.
27954
27955 @item @var{word-format}
27956 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
27957 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
27958 ,Output Formats}).
27959
27960 @item @var{word-size}
27961 The size of each memory word in bytes.
27962
27963 @item @var{nr-rows}
27964 The number of rows in the output table.
27965
27966 @item @var{nr-cols}
27967 The number of columns in the output table.
27968
27969 @item @var{aschar}
27970 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
27971 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
27972 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
27973 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
27974
27975 @item @var{byte-offset}
27976 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
27977 @end table
27978
27979 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
27980 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
27981 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
27982 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
27983 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
27984 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
27985 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
27986 @samp{addr}.
27987
27988 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
27989 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
27990 @samp{prev-page}.
27991
27992 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27993
27994 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
27995 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
27996
27997 @subsubheading Example
27998
27999 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
28000 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
28001 word. Display each word in hex.
28002
28003 @smallexample
28004 (gdb)
28005 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
28006 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
28007 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
28008 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
28009 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
28010 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
28011 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
28012 (gdb)
28013 @end smallexample
28014
28015 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
28016 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
28017
28018 @smallexample
28019 (gdb)
28020 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
28021 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
28022 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
28023 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
28024 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
28025 (gdb)
28026 @end smallexample
28027
28028 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
28029 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
28030 used as the non-printable character.
28031
28032 @smallexample
28033 (gdb)
28034 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
28035 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
28036 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
28037 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
28038 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28039 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28040 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28041 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28042 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
28043 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
28044 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
28045 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
28046 (gdb)
28047 @end smallexample
28048
28049 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
28050 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
28051
28052 @subsubheading Synopsis
28053
28054 @smallexample
28055 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
28056 @var{address} @var{count}
28057 @end smallexample
28058
28059 @noindent
28060 where:
28061
28062 @table @samp
28063 @item @var{address}
28064 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
28065 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
28066 quoted using the C convention.
28067
28068 @item @var{count}
28069 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
28070
28071 @item @var{byte-offset}
28072 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
28073 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
28074 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
28075 perform address arithmetics itself.
28076
28077 @end table
28078
28079 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
28080 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
28081 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
28082 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
28083 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
28084 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
28085
28086 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
28087 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
28088 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
28089 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
28090 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
28091 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
28092 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
28093 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
28094
28095 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
28096 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
28097 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
28098 and has the following fields:
28099
28100 @table @code
28101 @item begin
28102 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
28103
28104 @item end
28105 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
28106
28107 @item offset
28108 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
28109 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
28110
28111 @item contents
28112 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
28113
28114 @end table
28115
28116
28117
28118 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28119
28120 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
28121
28122 @subsubheading Example
28123
28124 @smallexample
28125 (gdb)
28126 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
28127 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
28128 end="0xbffff15e",
28129 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
28130 (gdb)
28131 @end smallexample
28132
28133
28134 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
28135 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
28136
28137 @subsubheading Synopsis
28138
28139 @smallexample
28140 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
28141 @end smallexample
28142
28143 @noindent
28144 where:
28145
28146 @table @samp
28147 @item @var{address}
28148 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
28149 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
28150 quoted using the C convention.
28151
28152 @item @var{contents}
28153 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
28154
28155 @end table
28156
28157 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28158
28159 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
28160
28161 @subsubheading Example
28162
28163 @smallexample
28164 (gdb)
28165 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
28166 ^done
28167 (gdb)
28168 @end smallexample
28169
28170
28171 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28172 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
28173 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
28174
28175 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
28176 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
28177
28178 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
28179 @findex -trace-find
28180
28181 @subsubheading Synopsis
28182
28183 @smallexample
28184 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
28185 @end smallexample
28186
28187 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
28188 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
28189 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
28190
28191 @table @samp
28192
28193 @item none
28194 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
28195
28196 @item frame-number
28197 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
28198 that index.
28199
28200 @item tracepoint-number
28201 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
28202 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
28203
28204 @item pc
28205 An address is required as parameter. Finds
28206 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
28207 address.
28208
28209 @item pc-inside-range
28210 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
28211 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
28212 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
28213
28214 @item pc-outside-range
28215 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
28216 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
28217 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
28218
28219 @item line
28220 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
28221 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
28222 the specified location.
28223
28224 @end table
28225
28226 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
28227 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
28228
28229 @table @samp
28230 @item found
28231 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
28232 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
28233
28234 @item traceframe
28235 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
28236 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
28237
28238 @item tracepoint
28239 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
28240 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
28241
28242 @item frame
28243 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
28244 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
28245 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
28246
28247 @end table
28248
28249 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28250
28251 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
28252
28253 @subheading -trace-define-variable
28254 @findex -trace-define-variable
28255
28256 @subsubheading Synopsis
28257
28258 @smallexample
28259 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
28260 @end smallexample
28261
28262 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
28263 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
28264 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
28265 with the @samp{$} character.
28266
28267 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28268
28269 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
28270
28271 @subheading -trace-list-variables
28272 @findex -trace-list-variables
28273
28274 @subsubheading Synopsis
28275
28276 @smallexample
28277 -trace-list-variables
28278 @end smallexample
28279
28280 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
28281 table has the following fields:
28282
28283 @table @samp
28284 @item name
28285 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
28286
28287 @item initial
28288 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
28289 field is always present.
28290
28291 @item current
28292 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
28293 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
28294 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
28295 presently running.
28296
28297 @end table
28298
28299 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28300
28301 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
28302
28303 @subsubheading Example
28304
28305 @smallexample
28306 (gdb)
28307 -trace-list-variables
28308 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
28309 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
28310 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
28311 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
28312 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
28313 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
28314 (gdb)
28315 @end smallexample
28316
28317 @subheading -trace-save
28318 @findex -trace-save
28319
28320 @subsubheading Synopsis
28321
28322 @smallexample
28323 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
28324 @end smallexample
28325
28326 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
28327 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
28328 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
28329 to perform the save.
28330
28331 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28332
28333 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
28334
28335
28336 @subheading -trace-start
28337 @findex -trace-start
28338
28339 @subsubheading Synopsis
28340
28341 @smallexample
28342 -trace-start
28343 @end smallexample
28344
28345 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
28346 have any fields.
28347
28348 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28349
28350 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
28351
28352 @subheading -trace-status
28353 @findex -trace-status
28354
28355 @subsubheading Synopsis
28356
28357 @smallexample
28358 -trace-status
28359 @end smallexample
28360
28361 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
28362 the following fields:
28363
28364 @table @samp
28365
28366 @item supported
28367 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
28368 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
28369 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
28370 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
28371 started. This field is always present.
28372
28373 @item running
28374 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
28375 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
28376 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
28377
28378 @item stop-reason
28379 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
28380 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
28381 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
28382 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
28383 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
28384 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
28385 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
28386 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
28387 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
28388
28389 @item stopping-tracepoint
28390 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
28391 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
28392 @samp{passcount}.
28393
28394 @item frames
28395 @itemx frames-created
28396 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
28397 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
28398 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
28399 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
28400
28401 @item buffer-size
28402 @itemx buffer-free
28403 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
28404 remaining space. These fields are optional.
28405
28406 @item circular
28407 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
28408 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
28409 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
28410 and may fill up.
28411
28412 @item disconnected
28413 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
28414 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
28415 that the trace run will stop.
28416
28417 @end table
28418
28419 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28420
28421 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
28422
28423 @subheading -trace-stop
28424 @findex -trace-stop
28425
28426 @subsubheading Synopsis
28427
28428 @smallexample
28429 -trace-stop
28430 @end smallexample
28431
28432 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
28433 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
28434 @samp{running} fields are not output.
28435
28436 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28437
28438 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
28439
28440
28441 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28442 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
28443 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
28444
28445
28446 @ignore
28447 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
28448 @findex -symbol-info-address
28449
28450 @subsubheading Synopsis
28451
28452 @smallexample
28453 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
28454 @end smallexample
28455
28456 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
28457
28458 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28459
28460 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
28461
28462 @subsubheading Example
28463 N.A.
28464
28465
28466 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
28467 @findex -symbol-info-file
28468
28469 @subsubheading Synopsis
28470
28471 @smallexample
28472 -symbol-info-file
28473 @end smallexample
28474
28475 Show the file for the symbol.
28476
28477 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28478
28479 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
28480 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
28481
28482 @subsubheading Example
28483 N.A.
28484
28485
28486 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
28487 @findex -symbol-info-function
28488
28489 @subsubheading Synopsis
28490
28491 @smallexample
28492 -symbol-info-function
28493 @end smallexample
28494
28495 Show which function the symbol lives in.
28496
28497 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28498
28499 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
28500
28501 @subsubheading Example
28502 N.A.
28503
28504
28505 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
28506 @findex -symbol-info-line
28507
28508 @subsubheading Synopsis
28509
28510 @smallexample
28511 -symbol-info-line
28512 @end smallexample
28513
28514 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
28515
28516 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28517
28518 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
28519 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
28520
28521 @subsubheading Example
28522 N.A.
28523
28524
28525 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
28526 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
28527
28528 @subsubheading Synopsis
28529
28530 @smallexample
28531 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
28532 @end smallexample
28533
28534 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
28535
28536 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28537
28538 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
28539
28540 @subsubheading Example
28541 N.A.
28542
28543
28544 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
28545 @findex -symbol-list-functions
28546
28547 @subsubheading Synopsis
28548
28549 @smallexample
28550 -symbol-list-functions
28551 @end smallexample
28552
28553 List the functions in the executable.
28554
28555 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28556
28557 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
28558 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
28559
28560 @subsubheading Example
28561 N.A.
28562 @end ignore
28563
28564
28565 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
28566 @findex -symbol-list-lines
28567
28568 @subsubheading Synopsis
28569
28570 @smallexample
28571 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
28572 @end smallexample
28573
28574 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
28575 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
28576 ascending PC order.
28577
28578 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28579
28580 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
28581
28582 @subsubheading Example
28583 @smallexample
28584 (gdb)
28585 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
28586 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
28587 (gdb)
28588 @end smallexample
28589
28590
28591 @ignore
28592 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
28593 @findex -symbol-list-types
28594
28595 @subsubheading Synopsis
28596
28597 @smallexample
28598 -symbol-list-types
28599 @end smallexample
28600
28601 List all the type names.
28602
28603 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28604
28605 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
28606 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
28607
28608 @subsubheading Example
28609 N.A.
28610
28611
28612 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
28613 @findex -symbol-list-variables
28614
28615 @subsubheading Synopsis
28616
28617 @smallexample
28618 -symbol-list-variables
28619 @end smallexample
28620
28621 List all the global and static variable names.
28622
28623 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28624
28625 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
28626
28627 @subsubheading Example
28628 N.A.
28629
28630
28631 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
28632 @findex -symbol-locate
28633
28634 @subsubheading Synopsis
28635
28636 @smallexample
28637 -symbol-locate
28638 @end smallexample
28639
28640 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28641
28642 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
28643
28644 @subsubheading Example
28645 N.A.
28646
28647
28648 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
28649 @findex -symbol-type
28650
28651 @subsubheading Synopsis
28652
28653 @smallexample
28654 -symbol-type @var{variable}
28655 @end smallexample
28656
28657 Show type of @var{variable}.
28658
28659 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28660
28661 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
28662 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
28663
28664 @subsubheading Example
28665 N.A.
28666 @end ignore
28667
28668
28669 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28670 @node GDB/MI File Commands
28671 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
28672
28673 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
28674 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
28675
28676 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
28677 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
28678
28679 @subsubheading Synopsis
28680
28681 @smallexample
28682 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
28683 @end smallexample
28684
28685 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
28686 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
28687 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
28688 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
28689 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
28690 notification.
28691
28692 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28693
28694 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
28695
28696 @subsubheading Example
28697
28698 @smallexample
28699 (gdb)
28700 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28701 ^done
28702 (gdb)
28703 @end smallexample
28704
28705
28706 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
28707 @findex -file-exec-file
28708
28709 @subsubheading Synopsis
28710
28711 @smallexample
28712 -file-exec-file @var{file}
28713 @end smallexample
28714
28715 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
28716 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
28717 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
28718 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
28719 notification.
28720
28721 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28722
28723 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
28724
28725 @subsubheading Example
28726
28727 @smallexample
28728 (gdb)
28729 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28730 ^done
28731 (gdb)
28732 @end smallexample
28733
28734
28735 @ignore
28736 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
28737 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
28738
28739 @subsubheading Synopsis
28740
28741 @smallexample
28742 -file-list-exec-sections
28743 @end smallexample
28744
28745 List the sections of the current executable file.
28746
28747 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28748
28749 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
28750 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
28751 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
28752
28753 @subsubheading Example
28754 N.A.
28755 @end ignore
28756
28757
28758 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
28759 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
28760
28761 @subsubheading Synopsis
28762
28763 @smallexample
28764 -file-list-exec-source-file
28765 @end smallexample
28766
28767 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
28768 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
28769 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
28770 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
28771
28772 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28773
28774 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
28775
28776 @subsubheading Example
28777
28778 @smallexample
28779 (gdb)
28780 123-file-list-exec-source-file
28781 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
28782 (gdb)
28783 @end smallexample
28784
28785
28786 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
28787 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
28788
28789 @subsubheading Synopsis
28790
28791 @smallexample
28792 -file-list-exec-source-files
28793 @end smallexample
28794
28795 List the source files for the current executable.
28796
28797 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
28798 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
28799
28800 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28801
28802 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
28803 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
28804
28805 @subsubheading Example
28806 @smallexample
28807 (gdb)
28808 -file-list-exec-source-files
28809 ^done,files=[
28810 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
28811 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
28812 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
28813 (gdb)
28814 @end smallexample
28815
28816 @ignore
28817 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
28818 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
28819
28820 @subsubheading Synopsis
28821
28822 @smallexample
28823 -file-list-shared-libraries
28824 @end smallexample
28825
28826 List the shared libraries in the program.
28827
28828 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28829
28830 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
28831
28832 @subsubheading Example
28833 N.A.
28834
28835
28836 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
28837 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
28838
28839 @subsubheading Synopsis
28840
28841 @smallexample
28842 -file-list-symbol-files
28843 @end smallexample
28844
28845 List symbol files.
28846
28847 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28848
28849 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
28850
28851 @subsubheading Example
28852 N.A.
28853 @end ignore
28854
28855
28856 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
28857 @findex -file-symbol-file
28858
28859 @subsubheading Synopsis
28860
28861 @smallexample
28862 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
28863 @end smallexample
28864
28865 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
28866 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
28867 produced, except for a completion notification.
28868
28869 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28870
28871 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
28872
28873 @subsubheading Example
28874
28875 @smallexample
28876 (gdb)
28877 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28878 ^done
28879 (gdb)
28880 @end smallexample
28881
28882 @ignore
28883 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28884 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
28885 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
28886
28887 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
28888
28889 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
28890
28891 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
28892
28893 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
28894
28895 @c @subheading -overlay-map
28896
28897 @c @subheading -overlay-off
28898
28899 @c @subheading -overlay-on
28900
28901 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
28902
28903 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28904 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
28905 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
28906
28907 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
28908
28909 @c @subheading -signal-handle
28910
28911 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
28912
28913 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
28914 @end ignore
28915
28916
28917 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28918 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
28919 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
28920
28921
28922 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
28923 @findex -target-attach
28924
28925 @subsubheading Synopsis
28926
28927 @smallexample
28928 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
28929 @end smallexample
28930
28931 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
28932 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
28933 group, the id previously returned by
28934 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
28935
28936 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28937
28938 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
28939
28940 @subsubheading Example
28941 @smallexample
28942 (gdb)
28943 -target-attach 34
28944 =thread-created,id="1"
28945 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
28946 ^done
28947 (gdb)
28948 @end smallexample
28949
28950 @ignore
28951 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
28952 @findex -target-compare-sections
28953
28954 @subsubheading Synopsis
28955
28956 @smallexample
28957 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
28958 @end smallexample
28959
28960 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
28961 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
28962
28963 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28964
28965 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
28966
28967 @subsubheading Example
28968 N.A.
28969 @end ignore
28970
28971
28972 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
28973 @findex -target-detach
28974
28975 @subsubheading Synopsis
28976
28977 @smallexample
28978 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
28979 @end smallexample
28980
28981 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
28982 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
28983 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
28984
28985 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28986
28987 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
28988
28989 @subsubheading Example
28990
28991 @smallexample
28992 (gdb)
28993 -target-detach
28994 ^done
28995 (gdb)
28996 @end smallexample
28997
28998
28999 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
29000 @findex -target-disconnect
29001
29002 @subsubheading Synopsis
29003
29004 @smallexample
29005 -target-disconnect
29006 @end smallexample
29007
29008 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
29009 generally not resumed.
29010
29011 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29012
29013 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
29014
29015 @subsubheading Example
29016
29017 @smallexample
29018 (gdb)
29019 -target-disconnect
29020 ^done
29021 (gdb)
29022 @end smallexample
29023
29024
29025 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
29026 @findex -target-download
29027
29028 @subsubheading Synopsis
29029
29030 @smallexample
29031 -target-download
29032 @end smallexample
29033
29034 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
29035 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
29036
29037 @table @samp
29038 @item section
29039 The name of the section.
29040 @item section-sent
29041 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
29042 @item section-size
29043 The size of the section.
29044 @item total-sent
29045 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
29046 @item total-size
29047 The size of the overall executable to download.
29048 @end table
29049
29050 @noindent
29051 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
29052 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
29053
29054 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
29055 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
29056
29057 @table @samp
29058 @item section
29059 The name of the section.
29060 @item section-size
29061 The size of the section.
29062 @item total-size
29063 The size of the overall executable to download.
29064 @end table
29065
29066 @noindent
29067 At the end, a summary is printed.
29068
29069 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29070
29071 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
29072
29073 @subsubheading Example
29074
29075 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
29076 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
29077
29078 @smallexample
29079 (gdb)
29080 -target-download
29081 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
29082 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
29083 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
29084 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
29085 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
29086 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
29087 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
29088 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
29089 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
29090 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
29091 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
29092 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
29093 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
29094 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
29095 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
29096 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
29097 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
29098 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
29099 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
29100 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
29101 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
29102 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
29103 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
29104 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
29105 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
29106 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
29107 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
29108 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
29109 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
29110 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
29111 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
29112 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
29113 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
29114 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
29115 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
29116 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
29117 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
29118 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
29119 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
29120 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
29121 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
29122 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
29123 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
29124 write-rate="429"
29125 (gdb)
29126 @end smallexample
29127
29128
29129 @ignore
29130 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
29131 @findex -target-exec-status
29132
29133 @subsubheading Synopsis
29134
29135 @smallexample
29136 -target-exec-status
29137 @end smallexample
29138
29139 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
29140 not, for instance).
29141
29142 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29143
29144 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
29145
29146 @subsubheading Example
29147 N.A.
29148
29149
29150 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
29151 @findex -target-list-available-targets
29152
29153 @subsubheading Synopsis
29154
29155 @smallexample
29156 -target-list-available-targets
29157 @end smallexample
29158
29159 List the possible targets to connect to.
29160
29161 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29162
29163 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
29164
29165 @subsubheading Example
29166 N.A.
29167
29168
29169 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
29170 @findex -target-list-current-targets
29171
29172 @subsubheading Synopsis
29173
29174 @smallexample
29175 -target-list-current-targets
29176 @end smallexample
29177
29178 Describe the current target.
29179
29180 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29181
29182 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
29183 other things).
29184
29185 @subsubheading Example
29186 N.A.
29187
29188
29189 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
29190 @findex -target-list-parameters
29191
29192 @subsubheading Synopsis
29193
29194 @smallexample
29195 -target-list-parameters
29196 @end smallexample
29197
29198 @c ????
29199 @end ignore
29200
29201 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29202
29203 No equivalent.
29204
29205 @subsubheading Example
29206 N.A.
29207
29208
29209 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
29210 @findex -target-select
29211
29212 @subsubheading Synopsis
29213
29214 @smallexample
29215 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
29216 @end smallexample
29217
29218 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
29219
29220 @table @samp
29221 @item @var{type}
29222 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
29223 @item @var{parameters}
29224 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
29225 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
29226 @end table
29227
29228 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
29229 which the target program is, in the following form:
29230
29231 @smallexample
29232 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
29233 args=[@var{arg list}]
29234 @end smallexample
29235
29236 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29237
29238 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
29239
29240 @subsubheading Example
29241
29242 @smallexample
29243 (gdb)
29244 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
29245 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
29246 (gdb)
29247 @end smallexample
29248
29249 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29250 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
29251 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
29252
29253
29254 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
29255 @findex -target-file-put
29256
29257 @subsubheading Synopsis
29258
29259 @smallexample
29260 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
29261 @end smallexample
29262
29263 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
29264 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
29265
29266 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29267
29268 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
29269
29270 @subsubheading Example
29271
29272 @smallexample
29273 (gdb)
29274 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
29275 ^done
29276 (gdb)
29277 @end smallexample
29278
29279
29280 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
29281 @findex -target-file-get
29282
29283 @subsubheading Synopsis
29284
29285 @smallexample
29286 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
29287 @end smallexample
29288
29289 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
29290 on the host system.
29291
29292 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29293
29294 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
29295
29296 @subsubheading Example
29297
29298 @smallexample
29299 (gdb)
29300 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
29301 ^done
29302 (gdb)
29303 @end smallexample
29304
29305
29306 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
29307 @findex -target-file-delete
29308
29309 @subsubheading Synopsis
29310
29311 @smallexample
29312 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
29313 @end smallexample
29314
29315 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
29316
29317 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29318
29319 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
29320
29321 @subsubheading Example
29322
29323 @smallexample
29324 (gdb)
29325 -target-file-delete remotefile
29326 ^done
29327 (gdb)
29328 @end smallexample
29329
29330
29331 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29332 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
29333 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
29334
29335 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
29336
29337 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
29338 @findex -gdb-exit
29339
29340 @subsubheading Synopsis
29341
29342 @smallexample
29343 -gdb-exit
29344 @end smallexample
29345
29346 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
29347
29348 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29349
29350 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
29351
29352 @subsubheading Example
29353
29354 @smallexample
29355 (gdb)
29356 -gdb-exit
29357 ^exit
29358 @end smallexample
29359
29360
29361 @ignore
29362 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
29363 @findex -exec-abort
29364
29365 @subsubheading Synopsis
29366
29367 @smallexample
29368 -exec-abort
29369 @end smallexample
29370
29371 Kill the inferior running program.
29372
29373 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29374
29375 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
29376
29377 @subsubheading Example
29378 N.A.
29379 @end ignore
29380
29381
29382 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
29383 @findex -gdb-set
29384
29385 @subsubheading Synopsis
29386
29387 @smallexample
29388 -gdb-set
29389 @end smallexample
29390
29391 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
29392 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
29393
29394 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29395
29396 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
29397
29398 @subsubheading Example
29399
29400 @smallexample
29401 (gdb)
29402 -gdb-set $foo=3
29403 ^done
29404 (gdb)
29405 @end smallexample
29406
29407
29408 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
29409 @findex -gdb-show
29410
29411 @subsubheading Synopsis
29412
29413 @smallexample
29414 -gdb-show
29415 @end smallexample
29416
29417 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
29418
29419 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29420
29421 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
29422
29423 @subsubheading Example
29424
29425 @smallexample
29426 (gdb)
29427 -gdb-show annotate
29428 ^done,value="0"
29429 (gdb)
29430 @end smallexample
29431
29432 @c @subheading -gdb-source
29433
29434
29435 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
29436 @findex -gdb-version
29437
29438 @subsubheading Synopsis
29439
29440 @smallexample
29441 -gdb-version
29442 @end smallexample
29443
29444 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
29445
29446 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29447
29448 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
29449 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
29450
29451 @subsubheading Example
29452
29453 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
29454 @c box in TeX.
29455 @smallexample
29456 (gdb)
29457 -gdb-version
29458 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
29459 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
29460 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
29461 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
29462 ~ certain conditions.
29463 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
29464 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
29465 ~ details.
29466 ~This GDB was configured as
29467 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
29468 ^done
29469 (gdb)
29470 @end smallexample
29471
29472 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
29473 @findex -list-features
29474
29475 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
29476 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
29477 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
29478 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
29479 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
29480 startup.
29481
29482 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
29483 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
29484 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
29485 is given below.
29486
29487 Example output:
29488
29489 @smallexample
29490 (gdb) -list-features
29491 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
29492 @end smallexample
29493
29494 The current list of features is:
29495
29496 @table @samp
29497 @item frozen-varobjs
29498 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
29499 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
29500 of @code{-varobj-create}.
29501 @item pending-breakpoints
29502 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
29503 @item python
29504 Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
29505 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
29506 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
29507 @item thread-info
29508 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
29509 @item data-read-memory-bytes
29510 Indicates presense of the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
29511 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
29512
29513 @end table
29514
29515 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
29516 @findex -list-target-features
29517
29518 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
29519 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
29520 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
29521 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
29522 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
29523 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
29524 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
29525 Example output:
29526
29527 @smallexample
29528 (gdb) -list-features
29529 ^done,result=["async"]
29530 @end smallexample
29531
29532 The current list of features is:
29533
29534 @table @samp
29535 @item async
29536 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
29537 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
29538 while the target is running.
29539
29540 @item reverse
29541 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
29542 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
29543
29544 @end table
29545
29546 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
29547 @findex -list-thread-groups
29548
29549 @subheading Synopsis
29550
29551 @smallexample
29552 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
29553 @end smallexample
29554
29555 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
29556 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
29557 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
29558 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
29559 top-level thread groups.
29560
29561 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
29562 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
29563 available on the target.
29564
29565 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
29566 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
29567 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
29568 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
29569 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
29570 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
29571 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
29572 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
29573
29574 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
29575 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
29576 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
29577 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
29578 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
29579 @samp{threads} field.
29580
29581 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
29582 the following caveats:
29583
29584 @itemize @bullet
29585 @item
29586 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
29587 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
29588 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
29589
29590 @item
29591 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
29592 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
29593 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
29594 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
29595 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
29596 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
29597
29598 @end itemize
29599
29600 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
29601 have the following fields:
29602
29603 @table @code
29604 @item id
29605 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
29606 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
29607 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
29608
29609 @item type
29610 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
29611 valid type.
29612
29613 @item pid
29614 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
29615 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
29616
29617 @item num_children
29618 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
29619 absent for an available thread group.
29620
29621 @item threads
29622 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
29623 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
29624 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
29625
29626 @item cores
29627 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
29628 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
29629 such information is not available.
29630
29631 @item executable
29632 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
29633 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
29634 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
29635
29636 @end table
29637
29638 @subheading Example
29639
29640 @smallexample
29641 @value{GDBP}
29642 -list-thread-groups
29643 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
29644 -list-thread-groups 17
29645 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
29646 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
29647 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
29648 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
29649 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
29650 -list-thread-groups --available
29651 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
29652 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
29653 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
29654 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
29655 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
29656 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
29657 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
29658 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
29659 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
29660 @end smallexample
29661
29662
29663 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
29664 @findex -add-inferior
29665
29666 @subheading Synopsis
29667
29668 @smallexample
29669 -add-inferior
29670 @end smallexample
29671
29672 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
29673 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
29674 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
29675 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
29676 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
29677 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
29678
29679 @subheading Example
29680
29681 @smallexample
29682 @value{GDBP}
29683 -add-inferior
29684 ^done,thread-group="i3"
29685 @end smallexample
29686
29687 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
29688 @findex -interpreter-exec
29689
29690 @subheading Synopsis
29691
29692 @smallexample
29693 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
29694 @end smallexample
29695 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
29696
29697 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
29698
29699 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29700
29701 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
29702
29703 @subheading Example
29704
29705 @smallexample
29706 (gdb)
29707 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
29708 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
29709 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
29710 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
29711 ^done
29712 (gdb)
29713 @end smallexample
29714
29715 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
29716 @findex -inferior-tty-set
29717
29718 @subheading Synopsis
29719
29720 @smallexample
29721 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29722 @end smallexample
29723
29724 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
29725
29726 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29727
29728 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
29729
29730 @subheading Example
29731
29732 @smallexample
29733 (gdb)
29734 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29735 ^done
29736 (gdb)
29737 @end smallexample
29738
29739 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
29740 @findex -inferior-tty-show
29741
29742 @subheading Synopsis
29743
29744 @smallexample
29745 -inferior-tty-show
29746 @end smallexample
29747
29748 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
29749
29750 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29751
29752 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
29753
29754 @subheading Example
29755
29756 @smallexample
29757 (gdb)
29758 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29759 ^done
29760 (gdb)
29761 -inferior-tty-show
29762 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
29763 (gdb)
29764 @end smallexample
29765
29766 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
29767 @findex -enable-timings
29768
29769 @subheading Synopsis
29770
29771 @smallexample
29772 -enable-timings [yes | no]
29773 @end smallexample
29774
29775 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
29776 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
29777 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
29778 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
29779
29780 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29781
29782 No equivalent.
29783
29784 @subheading Example
29785
29786 @smallexample
29787 (gdb)
29788 -enable-timings
29789 ^done
29790 (gdb)
29791 -break-insert main
29792 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29793 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29794 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
29795 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
29796 (gdb)
29797 -enable-timings no
29798 ^done
29799 (gdb)
29800 -exec-run
29801 ^running
29802 (gdb)
29803 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29804 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
29805 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
29806 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
29807 (gdb)
29808 @end smallexample
29809
29810 @node Annotations
29811 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
29812
29813 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
29814 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
29815 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
29816 relatively high level.
29817
29818 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
29819 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
29820
29821 @ignore
29822 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
29823 @end ignore
29824
29825 @menu
29826 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
29827 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
29828 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
29829 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
29830 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
29831 * Annotations for Running::
29832 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
29833 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
29834 @end menu
29835
29836 @node Annotations Overview
29837 @section What is an Annotation?
29838 @cindex annotations
29839
29840 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
29841 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
29842 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
29843 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
29844 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
29845 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
29846 cannot contain newline characters.
29847
29848 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
29849 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
29850 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
29851 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
29852 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
29853 means those three characters as output.
29854
29855 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
29856 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
29857 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
29858 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
29859 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
29860 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
29861 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
29862 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
29863 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
29864
29865 @table @code
29866 @kindex set annotate
29867 @item set annotate @var{level}
29868 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
29869 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
29870
29871 @item show annotate
29872 @kindex show annotate
29873 Show the current annotation level.
29874 @end table
29875
29876 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
29877
29878 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
29879
29880 @smallexample
29881 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
29882 GNU gdb 6.0
29883 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
29884 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
29885 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
29886 under certain conditions.
29887 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
29888 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
29889 for details.
29890 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
29891
29892 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
29893 (@value{GDBP})
29894 ^Z^Zprompt
29895 @kbd{quit}
29896
29897 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
29898 $
29899 @end smallexample
29900
29901 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
29902 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
29903 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
29904 output from @value{GDBN}.
29905
29906 @node Server Prefix
29907 @section The Server Prefix
29908 @cindex server prefix
29909
29910 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
29911 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
29912 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
29913 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
29914 a transparent manner.
29915
29916 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
29917 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
29918 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
29919 @code{print} command.
29920
29921 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
29922 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
29923
29924 @node Prompting
29925 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
29926
29927 @cindex annotations for prompts
29928 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
29929 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
29930 over, etc.
29931
29932 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
29933 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
29934 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
29935 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
29936 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
29937 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
29938 features the following annotations:
29939
29940 @smallexample
29941 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
29942 ^Z^Zprompt
29943 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
29944 @end smallexample
29945
29946 The input types are
29947
29948 @table @code
29949 @findex pre-prompt annotation
29950 @findex prompt annotation
29951 @findex post-prompt annotation
29952 @item prompt
29953 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
29954
29955 @findex pre-commands annotation
29956 @findex commands annotation
29957 @findex post-commands annotation
29958 @item commands
29959 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
29960 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
29961
29962 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
29963 @findex overload-choice annotation
29964 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
29965 @item overload-choice
29966 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
29967
29968 @findex pre-query annotation
29969 @findex query annotation
29970 @findex post-query annotation
29971 @item query
29972 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
29973
29974 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
29975 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
29976 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
29977 @item prompt-for-continue
29978 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
29979 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
29980 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
29981 presence of annotations.
29982 @end table
29983
29984 @node Errors
29985 @section Errors
29986 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
29987
29988 @findex quit annotation
29989 @smallexample
29990 ^Z^Zquit
29991 @end smallexample
29992
29993 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
29994
29995 @findex error annotation
29996 @smallexample
29997 ^Z^Zerror
29998 @end smallexample
29999
30000 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
30001
30002 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
30003 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
30004 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
30005 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
30006 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
30007 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
30008 to the top level.
30009
30010 @findex error-begin annotation
30011 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
30012
30013 @smallexample
30014 ^Z^Zerror-begin
30015 @end smallexample
30016
30017 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
30018 message.
30019
30020 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
30021 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
30022 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
30023
30024 @node Invalidation
30025 @section Invalidation Notices
30026
30027 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
30028 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
30029 changed.
30030
30031 @table @code
30032 @findex frames-invalid annotation
30033 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
30034
30035 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
30036 have changed.
30037
30038 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
30039 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
30040
30041 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
30042 deleted a breakpoint.
30043 @end table
30044
30045 @node Annotations for Running
30046 @section Running the Program
30047 @cindex annotations for running programs
30048
30049 @findex starting annotation
30050 @findex stopping annotation
30051 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
30052 @code{step} or @code{continue},
30053
30054 @smallexample
30055 ^Z^Zstarting
30056 @end smallexample
30057
30058 is output. When the program stops,
30059
30060 @smallexample
30061 ^Z^Zstopped
30062 @end smallexample
30063
30064 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
30065 annotations describe how the program stopped.
30066
30067 @table @code
30068 @findex exited annotation
30069 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
30070 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
30071 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
30072
30073 @findex signalled annotation
30074 @findex signal-name annotation
30075 @findex signal-name-end annotation
30076 @findex signal-string annotation
30077 @findex signal-string-end annotation
30078 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
30079 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
30080 annotation continues:
30081
30082 @smallexample
30083 @var{intro-text}
30084 ^Z^Zsignal-name
30085 @var{name}
30086 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
30087 @var{middle-text}
30088 ^Z^Zsignal-string
30089 @var{string}
30090 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
30091 @var{end-text}
30092 @end smallexample
30093
30094 @noindent
30095 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
30096 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
30097 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
30098 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
30099 user's benefit and have no particular format.
30100
30101 @findex signal annotation
30102 @item ^Z^Zsignal
30103 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
30104 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
30105 terminated with it.
30106
30107 @findex breakpoint annotation
30108 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
30109 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
30110
30111 @findex watchpoint annotation
30112 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
30113 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
30114 @end table
30115
30116 @node Source Annotations
30117 @section Displaying Source
30118 @cindex annotations for source display
30119
30120 @findex source annotation
30121 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
30122
30123 @smallexample
30124 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
30125 @end smallexample
30126
30127 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
30128 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
30129 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
30130 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
30131 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
30132 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
30133 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
30134 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
30135 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
30136 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
30137 depend on the language).
30138
30139 @node JIT Interface
30140 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
30141 @cindex just-in-time compilation
30142 @cindex JIT compilation interface
30143
30144 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
30145 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
30146 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
30147 performance while maintaining platform independence.
30148
30149 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
30150 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
30151 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
30152 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
30153 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
30154 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
30155
30156 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
30157 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
30158 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
30159 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
30160 LLVM JIT.
30161
30162 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
30163 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
30164 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
30165 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
30166 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
30167 out about additional code.
30168
30169 @menu
30170 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
30171 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
30172 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
30173 @end menu
30174
30175 @node Declarations
30176 @section JIT Declarations
30177
30178 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
30179 implement the interface:
30180
30181 @smallexample
30182 typedef enum
30183 @{
30184 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
30185 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
30186 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
30187 @} jit_actions_t;
30188
30189 struct jit_code_entry
30190 @{
30191 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
30192 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
30193 const char *symfile_addr;
30194 uint64_t symfile_size;
30195 @};
30196
30197 struct jit_descriptor
30198 @{
30199 uint32_t version;
30200 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
30201 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
30202 uint32_t action_flag;
30203 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
30204 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
30205 @};
30206
30207 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
30208 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
30209
30210 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
30211 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
30212 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
30213 @end smallexample
30214
30215 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
30216 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
30217 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
30218
30219 @node Registering Code
30220 @section Registering Code
30221
30222 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
30223
30224 @itemize @bullet
30225 @item
30226 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
30227 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
30228
30229 @item
30230 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
30231 file.
30232
30233 @item
30234 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
30235
30236 @item
30237 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
30238
30239 @item
30240 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
30241 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
30242 @end itemize
30243
30244 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
30245 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
30246 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
30247 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
30248
30249 @node Unregistering Code
30250 @section Unregistering Code
30251
30252 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
30253
30254 @itemize @bullet
30255 @item
30256 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
30257
30258 @item
30259 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
30260
30261 @item
30262 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
30263 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
30264 @end itemize
30265
30266 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
30267 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
30268
30269 @node GDB Bugs
30270 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
30271 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
30272 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
30273
30274 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
30275
30276 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
30277 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
30278 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
30279 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
30280
30281 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
30282 information that enables us to fix the bug.
30283
30284 @menu
30285 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
30286 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
30287 @end menu
30288
30289 @node Bug Criteria
30290 @section Have You Found a Bug?
30291 @cindex bug criteria
30292
30293 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
30294
30295 @itemize @bullet
30296 @cindex fatal signal
30297 @cindex debugger crash
30298 @cindex crash of debugger
30299 @item
30300 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
30301 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
30302
30303 @cindex error on valid input
30304 @item
30305 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
30306 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
30307 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
30308
30309 @cindex invalid input
30310 @item
30311 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
30312 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
30313 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
30314 for traditional practice''.
30315
30316 @item
30317 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
30318 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
30319 @end itemize
30320
30321 @node Bug Reporting
30322 @section How to Report Bugs
30323 @cindex bug reports
30324 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
30325
30326 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
30327 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
30328 contact that organization first.
30329
30330 You can find contact information for many support companies and
30331 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
30332 distribution.
30333 @c should add a web page ref...
30334
30335 @ifset BUGURL
30336 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
30337 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
30338 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
30339 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
30340 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
30341 be used.
30342
30343 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
30344 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
30345 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
30346 @samp{bug-gdb}.
30347
30348 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
30349 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
30350 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
30351 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
30352 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
30353 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
30354 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
30355 bug reports to the mailing list.
30356 @end ifset
30357 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
30358 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
30359 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
30360 @end ifclear
30361 @end ifset
30362
30363 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
30364 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
30365 fact or leave it out, state it!
30366
30367 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
30368 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
30369 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
30370 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
30371 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
30372 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
30373 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
30374 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
30375 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
30376
30377 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
30378 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
30379 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
30380 self-contained.
30381
30382 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
30383 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
30384 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
30385 bugs properly.
30386
30387 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
30388
30389 @itemize @bullet
30390 @item
30391 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
30392 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
30393 version}.
30394
30395 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
30396 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
30397
30398 @item
30399 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
30400 version number.
30401
30402 @item
30403 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
30404 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
30405
30406 @item
30407 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
30408 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
30409 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
30410 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
30411 those compilers.
30412
30413 @item
30414 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
30415 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
30416 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
30417 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
30418
30419 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
30420 and then we might not encounter the bug.
30421
30422 @item
30423 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
30424 reproduce the bug.
30425
30426 @item
30427 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
30428 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
30429
30430 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
30431 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
30432 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
30433 a chance to make a mistake.
30434
30435 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
30436 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
30437 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
30438 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
30439 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
30440 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
30441 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
30442 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
30443
30444 @pindex script
30445 @cindex recording a session script
30446 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
30447 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
30448 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
30449 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
30450
30451 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
30452 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
30453
30454 @item
30455 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
30456 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
30457 it by context, not by line number.
30458
30459 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
30460 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
30461
30462 @end itemize
30463
30464 Here are some things that are not necessary:
30465
30466 @itemize @bullet
30467 @item
30468 A description of the envelope of the bug.
30469
30470 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
30471 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
30472 changes will not affect it.
30473
30474 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
30475 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
30476 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
30477 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
30478
30479 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
30480 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
30481 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
30482 less time, and so on.
30483
30484 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
30485 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
30486
30487 @item
30488 A patch for the bug.
30489
30490 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
30491 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
30492 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
30493 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
30494
30495 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
30496 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
30497 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
30498 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
30499
30500 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
30501 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
30502 help us to understand.
30503
30504 @item
30505 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
30506
30507 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
30508 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
30509 @end itemize
30510
30511 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
30512 @c and consists of the two following files:
30513 @c rluser.texinfo
30514 @c inc-hist.texinfo
30515 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
30516 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
30517 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
30518 @include rluser.texi
30519 @include inc-hist.texinfo
30520 @end ifclear
30521
30522
30523 @node Formatting Documentation
30524 @appendix Formatting Documentation
30525
30526 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
30527 @cindex reference card
30528 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
30529 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
30530 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
30531 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
30532 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
30533 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
30534
30535 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
30536 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
30537
30538 @smallexample
30539 make refcard.dvi
30540 @end smallexample
30541
30542 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
30543 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
30544 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
30545 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
30546 your @sc{dvi} output program.
30547
30548 @cindex documentation
30549
30550 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
30551 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
30552 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
30553 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
30554 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
30555 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
30556
30557 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
30558 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
30559 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
30560 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
30561 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
30562 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
30563 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
30564 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
30565
30566 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
30567 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
30568 @code{makeinfo}.
30569
30570 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
30571 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
30572 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
30573
30574 @smallexample
30575 cd gdb
30576 make gdb.info
30577 @end smallexample
30578
30579 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
30580 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
30581 Texinfo definitions file.
30582
30583 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
30584 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
30585 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
30586 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
30587 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
30588 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
30589 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
30590
30591 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
30592 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
30593 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
30594 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
30595 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
30596 directory.
30597
30598 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
30599 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
30600 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
30601 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
30602
30603 @smallexample
30604 make gdb.dvi
30605 @end smallexample
30606
30607 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
30608
30609 @node Installing GDB
30610 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
30611 @cindex installation
30612
30613 @menu
30614 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
30615 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
30616 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
30617 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
30618 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
30619 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
30620 @end menu
30621
30622 @node Requirements
30623 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
30624 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
30625
30626 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
30627 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
30628
30629 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
30630 @table @asis
30631 @item ISO C90 compiler
30632 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
30633 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
30634
30635 @end table
30636
30637 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
30638 @table @asis
30639 @item Expat
30640 @anchor{Expat}
30641 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
30642 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
30643 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
30644 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
30645 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
30646 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
30647
30648 Expat is used for:
30649
30650 @itemize @bullet
30651 @item
30652 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
30653 @item
30654 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
30655 @item
30656 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
30657 @item
30658 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
30659 @end itemize
30660
30661 @item zlib
30662 @cindex compressed debug sections
30663 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
30664 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
30665 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
30666 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
30667 information in such binaries.
30668
30669 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
30670 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
30671 @url{http://zlib.net}.
30672
30673 @item iconv
30674 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
30675 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
30676 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
30677 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
30678
30679 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
30680 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
30681 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
30682
30683 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
30684 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
30685 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
30686 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
30687 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
30688 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
30689 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
30690 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
30691 @end table
30692
30693 @node Running Configure
30694 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
30695 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
30696 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
30697 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
30698 build the @code{gdb} program.
30699 @iftex
30700 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
30701 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
30702 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
30703 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
30704 @end iftex
30705
30706 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
30707 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
30708 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
30709
30710 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
30711 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
30712
30713 @table @code
30714 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
30715 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
30716
30717 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
30718 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
30719
30720 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
30721 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
30722
30723 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
30724 @sc{gnu} include files
30725
30726 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
30727 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
30728
30729 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
30730 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
30731
30732 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
30733 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
30734
30735 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
30736 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
30737
30738 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
30739 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
30740 @end table
30741
30742 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
30743 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
30744 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
30745
30746 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
30747 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
30748 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
30749 argument.
30750
30751 For example:
30752
30753 @smallexample
30754 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
30755 ./configure @var{host}
30756 make
30757 @end smallexample
30758
30759 @noindent
30760 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
30761 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
30762 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
30763 correct value by examining your system.)
30764
30765 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
30766 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
30767 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
30768 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
30769
30770 @need 750
30771 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
30772 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
30773 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
30774
30775 @smallexample
30776 sh configure @var{host}
30777 @end smallexample
30778
30779 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
30780 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
30781 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
30782 @file{configure}
30783 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
30784 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
30785
30786 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
30787 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
30788 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
30789 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
30790 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
30791 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
30792 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
30793 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
30794 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
30795
30796 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
30797 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
30798 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
30799 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
30800 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
30801
30802 @node Separate Objdir
30803 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
30804
30805 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
30806 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
30807 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
30808 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
30809 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
30810 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
30811 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
30812 program specified there.
30813
30814 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
30815 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
30816 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
30817 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
30818 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
30819 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
30820
30821 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
30822 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
30823
30824 @smallexample
30825 @group
30826 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
30827 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
30828 cd ../gdb-sun4
30829 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
30830 make
30831 @end group
30832 @end smallexample
30833
30834 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
30835 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
30836 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
30837 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
30838 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
30839 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
30840
30841 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
30842 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
30843 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
30844 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
30845 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
30846
30847 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
30848 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
30849 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
30850 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
30851 You specify a cross-debugging target by
30852 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
30853
30854 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
30855 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
30856 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
30857
30858 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
30859 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
30860 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
30861 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
30862 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
30863
30864 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
30865 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
30866 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
30867 with each other.
30868
30869 @node Config Names
30870 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
30871
30872 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
30873 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
30874 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
30875 of information in the following pattern:
30876
30877 @smallexample
30878 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
30879 @end smallexample
30880
30881 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
30882 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
30883 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
30884
30885 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
30886 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
30887 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
30888 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
30889 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
30890 abbreviations---for example:
30891
30892 @smallexample
30893 % sh config.sub i386-linux
30894 i386-pc-linux-gnu
30895 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
30896 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
30897 % sh config.sub hp9k700
30898 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
30899 % sh config.sub sun4
30900 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
30901 % sh config.sub sun3
30902 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
30903 % sh config.sub i986v
30904 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
30905 @end smallexample
30906
30907 @noindent
30908 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
30909 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
30910
30911 @node Configure Options
30912 @section @file{configure} Options
30913
30914 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
30915 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
30916 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
30917 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
30918
30919 @smallexample
30920 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
30921 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
30922 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
30923 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
30924 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
30925 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
30926 @var{host}
30927 @end smallexample
30928
30929 @noindent
30930 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
30931 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
30932 @samp{--}.
30933
30934 @table @code
30935 @item --help
30936 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
30937
30938 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
30939 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
30940 @file{@var{dir}}.
30941
30942 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
30943 Configure the source to install programs under directory
30944 @file{@var{dir}}.
30945
30946 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
30947 @need 2000
30948 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
30949 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
30950 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
30951 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
30952 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
30953 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
30954 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
30955 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
30956 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
30957 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
30958 @var{dirname}.
30959
30960 @item --norecursion
30961 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
30962 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
30963
30964 @item --target=@var{target}
30965 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
30966 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
30967 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
30968
30969 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
30970
30971 @item @var{host} @dots{}
30972 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
30973
30974 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
30975 @end table
30976
30977 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
30978 needed for special purposes only.
30979
30980 @node System-wide configuration
30981 @section System-wide configuration and settings
30982 @cindex system-wide init file
30983
30984 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
30985 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
30986 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
30987
30988 Here is the corresponding configure option:
30989
30990 @table @code
30991 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
30992 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
30993 @var{file}.
30994 @end table
30995
30996 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
30997 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
30998
30999 @itemize @bullet
31000 @item
31001 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
31002 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
31003 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
31004 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
31005 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
31006 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
31007
31008 @item
31009 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
31010 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
31011 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
31012 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
31013 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
31014 @end itemize
31015
31016 @node Maintenance Commands
31017 @appendix Maintenance Commands
31018 @cindex maintenance commands
31019 @cindex internal commands
31020
31021 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
31022 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
31023 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
31024 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
31025 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
31026
31027 @table @code
31028 @kindex maint agent
31029 @kindex maint agent-eval
31030 @item maint agent @var{expression}
31031 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
31032 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
31033 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
31034 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
31035 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
31036 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
31037 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
31038 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
31039 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
31040 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
31041 addition and return the sum.
31042
31043 @kindex maint info breakpoints
31044 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
31045 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
31046 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
31047 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
31048 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
31049 is shown:
31050
31051 @table @code
31052 @item breakpoint
31053 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
31054
31055 @item watchpoint
31056 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
31057
31058 @item longjmp
31059 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
31060 @code{longjmp} calls.
31061
31062 @item longjmp resume
31063 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
31064
31065 @item until
31066 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
31067
31068 @item finish
31069 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
31070
31071 @item shlib events
31072 Shared library events.
31073
31074 @end table
31075
31076 @kindex set displaced-stepping
31077 @kindex show displaced-stepping
31078 @cindex displaced stepping support
31079 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
31080 @item set displaced-stepping
31081 @itemx show displaced-stepping
31082 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
31083 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
31084 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
31085 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
31086 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
31087
31088 @table @code
31089 @item set displaced-stepping on
31090 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
31091 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
31092
31093 @item set displaced-stepping off
31094 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
31095 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
31096
31097 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
31098 @item set displaced-stepping auto
31099 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
31100 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
31101 architecture supports displaced stepping.
31102 @end table
31103
31104 @kindex maint check-symtabs
31105 @item maint check-symtabs
31106 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
31107
31108 @kindex maint cplus first_component
31109 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
31110 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
31111
31112 @kindex maint cplus namespace
31113 @item maint cplus namespace
31114 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
31115
31116 @kindex maint demangle
31117 @item maint demangle @var{name}
31118 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
31119
31120 @kindex maint deprecate
31121 @kindex maint undeprecate
31122 @cindex deprecated commands
31123 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
31124 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
31125 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
31126 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
31127 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
31128 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
31129 the replacement as part of the warning.
31130
31131 @kindex maint dump-me
31132 @item maint dump-me
31133 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
31134 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
31135 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
31136 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
31137
31138 @kindex maint internal-error
31139 @kindex maint internal-warning
31140 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
31141 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
31142 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
31143 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
31144 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
31145 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
31146 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
31147 @value{GDBN} session.
31148
31149 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
31150 used as the text of the error or warning message.
31151
31152 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
31153
31154 @smallexample
31155 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
31156 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
31157 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
31158 debugging may prove unreliable.
31159 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
31160 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
31161 (@value{GDBP})
31162 @end smallexample
31163
31164 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
31165 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
31166
31167 @kindex maint set internal-error
31168 @kindex maint show internal-error
31169 @kindex maint set internal-warning
31170 @kindex maint show internal-warning
31171 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
31172 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
31173 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
31174 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
31175 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
31176 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
31177 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
31178 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
31179 described in the table below.
31180
31181 @table @samp
31182 @item quit
31183 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
31184 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
31185
31186 @item corefile
31187 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
31188 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
31189 @end table
31190
31191 @kindex maint packet
31192 @item maint packet @var{text}
31193 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
31194 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
31195 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
31196 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
31197 checksum.
31198
31199 @kindex maint print architecture
31200 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31201 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
31202 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
31203
31204 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
31205 @item maint print c-tdesc
31206 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
31207 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
31208 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
31209
31210 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
31211 @item maint print dummy-frames
31212 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
31213
31214 @smallexample
31215 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
31216 @dots{}
31217 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
31218 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
31219 58 return (a + b);
31220 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
31221 @dots{}
31222 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
31223 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
31224 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
31225 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
31226 (@value{GDBP})
31227 @end smallexample
31228
31229 Takes an optional file parameter.
31230
31231 @kindex maint print registers
31232 @kindex maint print raw-registers
31233 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
31234 @kindex maint print register-groups
31235 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31236 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31237 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31238 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31239 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
31240
31241 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
31242 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
31243 includes the (cooked) value of all registers, including registers which
31244 aren't available on the target nor visible to user; and the
31245 command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
31246 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
31247 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
31248
31249 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
31250 write the information.
31251
31252 @kindex maint print reggroups
31253 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31254 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
31255 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
31256 information.
31257
31258 The register groups info looks like this:
31259
31260 @smallexample
31261 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
31262 Group Type
31263 general user
31264 float user
31265 all user
31266 vector user
31267 system user
31268 save internal
31269 restore internal
31270 @end smallexample
31271
31272 @kindex flushregs
31273 @item flushregs
31274 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
31275
31276 @kindex maint print objfiles
31277 @cindex info for known object files
31278 @item maint print objfiles
31279 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
31280 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
31281 and symtabs.
31282
31283 @kindex maint print section-scripts
31284 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
31285 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
31286 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
31287 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
31288 matching @var{regexp}.
31289 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
31290 and the full path if known.
31291 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
31292
31293 @kindex maint print statistics
31294 @cindex bcache statistics
31295 @item maint print statistics
31296 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
31297 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
31298 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
31299 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
31300 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
31301 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
31302 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
31303 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
31304 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
31305 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
31306 lengths.
31307
31308 @kindex maint print target-stack
31309 @cindex target stack description
31310 @item maint print target-stack
31311 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
31312 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
31313 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
31314 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
31315 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
31316 address.
31317
31318 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
31319 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
31320
31321 @kindex maint print type
31322 @cindex type chain of a data type
31323 @item maint print type @var{expr}
31324 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
31325 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
31326 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
31327 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
31328 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
31329
31330 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
31331 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
31332 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
31333 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
31334 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
31335 information.
31336
31337 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
31338 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
31339 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
31340 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
31341 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
31342 always see the disassembly form.
31343
31344 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
31345
31346 @smallexample
31347 (gdb) info addr argc
31348 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
31349 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
31350 @end smallexample
31351
31352 For more information on these expressions, see
31353 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
31354
31355 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
31356 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
31357 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
31358 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
31359 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
31360
31361 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
31362 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
31363 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
31364 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
31365 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
31366 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
31367 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
31368 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
31369 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
31370
31371 @kindex maint set profile
31372 @kindex maint show profile
31373 @cindex profiling GDB
31374 @item maint set profile
31375 @itemx maint show profile
31376 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
31377
31378 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
31379 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
31380 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
31381 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
31382 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
31383 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
31384 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
31385
31386 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
31387 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
31388
31389 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
31390 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
31391 @cindex hardware debug registers
31392 @item maint set show-debug-regs
31393 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
31394 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
31395 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
31396 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
31397 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
31398 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
31399
31400 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
31401 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
31402 @item maint set show-all-tib
31403 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
31404 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
31405 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
31406 command.
31407
31408 @kindex maint space
31409 @cindex memory used by commands
31410 @item maint space
31411 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
31412 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
31413 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
31414 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
31415 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
31416
31417 @kindex maint time
31418 @cindex time of command execution
31419 @item maint time
31420 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
31421 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
31422 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
31423 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
31424 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
31425 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
31426 it's not possibly currently
31427 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
31428 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
31429
31430 @kindex maint translate-address
31431 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
31432 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
31433 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
31434 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
31435 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
31436 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
31437 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
31438
31439 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
31440 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
31441 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
31442
31443 @end table
31444
31445 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
31446 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
31447
31448 @table @code
31449 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
31450 @kindex set watchdog
31451 @cindex watchdog timer
31452 @cindex timeout for commands
31453 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
31454 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
31455 reports and error and the command is aborted.
31456
31457 @item show watchdog
31458 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
31459 @end table
31460
31461 @node Remote Protocol
31462 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
31463
31464 @menu
31465 * Overview::
31466 * Packets::
31467 * Stop Reply Packets::
31468 * General Query Packets::
31469 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
31470 * Tracepoint Packets::
31471 * Host I/O Packets::
31472 * Interrupts::
31473 * Notification Packets::
31474 * Remote Non-Stop::
31475 * Packet Acknowledgment::
31476 * Examples::
31477 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
31478 * Library List Format::
31479 * Memory Map Format::
31480 * Thread List Format::
31481 @end menu
31482
31483 @node Overview
31484 @section Overview
31485
31486 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
31487 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
31488 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
31489 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
31490
31491 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
31492 transmitted and received data, respectively.
31493
31494 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
31495 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
31496 @cindex remote serial protocol
31497 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
31498 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
31499 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
31500 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
31501 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
31502
31503 @smallexample
31504 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31505 @end smallexample
31506 @noindent
31507
31508 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
31509 @noindent
31510 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
31511 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
31512 eight bit unsigned checksum).
31513
31514 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
31515 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
31516
31517 @smallexample
31518 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31519 @end smallexample
31520
31521 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
31522 @noindent
31523 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
31524 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
31525 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
31526
31527 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
31528 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
31529 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
31530 retransmission):
31531
31532 @smallexample
31533 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31534 <- @code{+}
31535 @end smallexample
31536 @noindent
31537
31538 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
31539 once a connection is established.
31540 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
31541
31542 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
31543 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
31544 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
31545 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
31546 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
31547 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
31548 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
31549
31550 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
31551 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
31552 exceptions).
31553
31554 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
31555 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
31556 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
31557 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
31558
31559 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
31560 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
31561 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
31562
31563 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
31564 @anchor{Binary Data}
31565 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
31566 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
31567 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
31568 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
31569 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
31570 binary data.
31571
31572 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
31573 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
31574 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
31575 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
31576 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
31577 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
31578 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
31579 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
31580 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
31581 (described next).
31582
31583 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
31584 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
31585 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
31586 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
31587 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
31588 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
31589 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
31590 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
31591 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
31592 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
31593 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
31594 3}} more times.
31595
31596 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
31597 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
31598 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
31599 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
31600 @samp{0*"00}.
31601
31602 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
31603 error number. That number is not well defined.
31604
31605 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
31606 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
31607 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
31608 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
31609 on that response.
31610
31611 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
31612 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
31613 optional.
31614
31615 @node Packets
31616 @section Packets
31617
31618 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
31619 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
31620 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
31621 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
31622
31623 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
31624 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
31625 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
31626 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
31627 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
31628 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
31629 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
31630 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
31631 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
31632 @var{baz}.
31633
31634 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
31635 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
31636 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
31637 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
31638 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
31639 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
31640 pick any thread.
31641
31642 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
31643 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
31644 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
31645 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
31646 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
31647 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
31648 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
31649 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
31650 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
31651 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
31652 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
31653 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
31654 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
31655
31656 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
31657 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
31658 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
31659 more information.
31660
31661 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
31662 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
31663
31664 Here are the packet descriptions.
31665
31666 @table @samp
31667
31668 @item !
31669 @cindex @samp{!} packet
31670 @anchor{extended mode}
31671 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
31672 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
31673 debugged.
31674
31675 Reply:
31676 @table @samp
31677 @item OK
31678 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
31679 @end table
31680
31681 @item ?
31682 @cindex @samp{?} packet
31683 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
31684 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
31685 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
31686
31687 Reply:
31688 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31689
31690 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
31691 @cindex @samp{A} packet
31692 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
31693 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
31694 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
31695
31696 Reply:
31697 @table @samp
31698 @item OK
31699 The arguments were set.
31700 @item E @var{NN}
31701 An error occurred.
31702 @end table
31703
31704 @item b @var{baud}
31705 @cindex @samp{b} packet
31706 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
31707 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
31708
31709 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
31710 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
31711 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
31712
31713 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
31714 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
31715 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
31716 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
31717 of view, nothing actually happened.}
31718
31719 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
31720 @cindex @samp{B} packet
31721 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
31722 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
31723
31724 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
31725 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
31726
31727 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
31728 @anchor{bc}
31729 @item bc
31730 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
31731 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31732
31733 Reply:
31734 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31735
31736 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
31737 @anchor{bs}
31738 @item bs
31739 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
31740 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31741
31742 Reply:
31743 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31744
31745 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
31746 @cindex @samp{c} packet
31747 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
31748 resume at current address.
31749
31750 Reply:
31751 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31752
31753 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
31754 @cindex @samp{C} packet
31755 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
31756 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
31757
31758 Reply:
31759 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31760
31761 @item d
31762 @cindex @samp{d} packet
31763 Toggle debug flag.
31764
31765 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
31766 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
31767
31768 @item D
31769 @itemx D;@var{pid}
31770 @cindex @samp{D} packet
31771 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
31772 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
31773 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
31774
31775 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
31776 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
31777 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
31778 big-endian hex string.
31779
31780 Reply:
31781 @table @samp
31782 @item OK
31783 for success
31784 @item E @var{NN}
31785 for an error
31786 @end table
31787
31788 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
31789 @cindex @samp{F} packet
31790 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
31791 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
31792 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
31793
31794 @item g
31795 @anchor{read registers packet}
31796 @cindex @samp{g} packet
31797 Read general registers.
31798
31799 Reply:
31800 @table @samp
31801 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
31802 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
31803 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
31804 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
31805 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
31806 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
31807 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
31808
31809 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
31810 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
31811 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
31812 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
31813 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
31814 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
31815 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
31816 have been collected, and both have zero value:
31817
31818 @smallexample
31819 -> @code{g}
31820 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
31821 @end smallexample
31822
31823 @item E @var{NN}
31824 for an error.
31825 @end table
31826
31827 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
31828 @cindex @samp{G} packet
31829 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
31830 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
31831
31832 Reply:
31833 @table @samp
31834 @item OK
31835 for success
31836 @item E @var{NN}
31837 for an error
31838 @end table
31839
31840 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
31841 @cindex @samp{H} packet
31842 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
31843 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
31844 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
31845 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
31846 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31847
31848 Reply:
31849 @table @samp
31850 @item OK
31851 for success
31852 @item E @var{NN}
31853 for an error
31854 @end table
31855
31856 @c FIXME: JTC:
31857 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
31858 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
31859 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
31860 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
31861 @c described. For example:
31862 @c
31863 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
31864 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
31865 @c otherwise returns current registers.
31866 @c
31867 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
31868 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
31869 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
31870
31871 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
31872 @anchor{cycle step packet}
31873 @cindex @samp{i} packet
31874 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
31875 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
31876 step starting at that address.
31877
31878 @item I
31879 @cindex @samp{I} packet
31880 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
31881 step packet}.
31882
31883 @item k
31884 @cindex @samp{k} packet
31885 Kill request.
31886
31887 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
31888 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
31889 thread?)}.
31890
31891 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
31892 @cindex @samp{m} packet
31893 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
31894 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
31895
31896 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
31897 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
31898 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
31899 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
31900 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
31901 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
31902 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
31903 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
31904
31905 Reply:
31906 @table @samp
31907 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
31908 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
31909 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
31910 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
31911 @item E @var{NN}
31912 @var{NN} is errno
31913 @end table
31914
31915 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
31916 @cindex @samp{M} packet
31917 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
31918 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
31919 hexadecimal number.
31920
31921 Reply:
31922 @table @samp
31923 @item OK
31924 for success
31925 @item E @var{NN}
31926 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
31927 written).
31928 @end table
31929
31930 @item p @var{n}
31931 @cindex @samp{p} packet
31932 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
31933 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
31934 register value is encoded.
31935
31936 Reply:
31937 @table @samp
31938 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
31939 the register's value
31940 @item E @var{NN}
31941 for an error
31942 @item
31943 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
31944 @end table
31945
31946 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
31947 @anchor{write register packet}
31948 @cindex @samp{P} packet
31949 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
31950 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
31951 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
31952
31953 Reply:
31954 @table @samp
31955 @item OK
31956 for success
31957 @item E @var{NN}
31958 for an error
31959 @end table
31960
31961 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
31962 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
31963 @cindex @samp{q} packet
31964 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
31965 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
31966 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
31967
31968 @item r
31969 @cindex @samp{r} packet
31970 Reset the entire system.
31971
31972 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
31973
31974 @item R @var{XX}
31975 @cindex @samp{R} packet
31976 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
31977 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
31978
31979 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
31980
31981 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
31982 @cindex @samp{s} packet
31983 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
31984 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
31985
31986 Reply:
31987 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31988
31989 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
31990 @anchor{step with signal packet}
31991 @cindex @samp{S} packet
31992 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
31993 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
31994
31995 Reply:
31996 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31997
31998 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
31999 @cindex @samp{t} packet
32000 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
32001 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
32002 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
32003
32004 @item T @var{thread-id}
32005 @cindex @samp{T} packet
32006 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
32007
32008 Reply:
32009 @table @samp
32010 @item OK
32011 thread is still alive
32012 @item E @var{NN}
32013 thread is dead
32014 @end table
32015
32016 @item v
32017 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
32018 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
32019
32020 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
32021 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
32022 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
32023 The process ID is a
32024 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
32025 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
32026 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
32027
32028 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
32029 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
32030 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
32031 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
32032 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
32033 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
32034 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
32035 @c stopping or restarting threads.
32036
32037 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
32038
32039 Reply:
32040 @table @samp
32041 @item E @var{nn}
32042 for an error
32043 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32044 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32045 @item OK
32046 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
32047 @end table
32048
32049 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
32050 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
32051 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
32052 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
32053 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
32054 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
32055 in their current state in non-stop mode.
32056 Specifying multiple
32057 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
32058 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32059
32060 Currently supported actions are:
32061
32062 @table @samp
32063 @item c
32064 Continue.
32065 @item C @var{sig}
32066 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
32067 @item s
32068 Step.
32069 @item S @var{sig}
32070 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
32071 @item t
32072 Stop.
32073 @end table
32074
32075 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
32076 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
32077 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
32078
32079 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
32080 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
32081 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
32082 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
32083 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
32084 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
32085 as an implementation detail.
32086
32087 Reply:
32088 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32089
32090 @item vCont?
32091 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
32092 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
32093
32094 Reply:
32095 @table @samp
32096 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
32097 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
32098 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
32099 @item
32100 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
32101 @end table
32102
32103 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
32104 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
32105 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
32106 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
32107
32108 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
32109 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
32110 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
32111 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
32112 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
32113 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
32114 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
32115 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
32116 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
32117 packet is received.
32118
32119 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
32120 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
32121 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
32122 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
32123 @var{thread-id}.
32124
32125 Reply:
32126 @table @samp
32127 @item OK
32128 for success
32129 @item E @var{NN}
32130 for an error
32131 @end table
32132
32133 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
32134 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
32135 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
32136 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
32137 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
32138 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
32139 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
32140 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
32141 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
32142 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
32143 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
32144 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
32145
32146
32147 Reply:
32148 @table @samp
32149 @item OK
32150 for success
32151 @item E.memtype
32152 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
32153 @item E @var{NN}
32154 for an error
32155 @end table
32156
32157 @item vFlashDone
32158 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
32159 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
32160 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
32161 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
32162 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
32163 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
32164 request is completed.
32165
32166 @item vKill;@var{pid}
32167 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
32168 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
32169 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
32170 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
32171 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
32172
32173 Reply:
32174 @table @samp
32175 @item E @var{nn}
32176 for an error
32177 @item OK
32178 for success
32179 @end table
32180
32181 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
32182 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
32183 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
32184 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
32185 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
32186 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
32187 state.
32188
32189 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
32190
32191 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
32192
32193 Reply:
32194 @table @samp
32195 @item E @var{nn}
32196 for an error
32197 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32198 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32199 @end table
32200
32201 @item vStopped
32202 @anchor{vStopped packet}
32203 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
32204
32205 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
32206 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
32207
32208 Reply:
32209 @table @samp
32210 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32211 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32212 @item OK
32213 if there are no unreported stop events
32214 @end table
32215
32216 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
32217 @anchor{X packet}
32218 @cindex @samp{X} packet
32219 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
32220 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
32221 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
32222
32223 Reply:
32224 @table @samp
32225 @item OK
32226 for success
32227 @item E @var{NN}
32228 for an error
32229 @end table
32230
32231 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
32232 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
32233 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
32234 @cindex @samp{z} packet
32235 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
32236 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
32237 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
32238
32239 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
32240 separately.
32241
32242 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
32243 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
32244 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
32245 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
32246 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
32247 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
32248
32249 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32250 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32251 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
32252 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
32253 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
32254 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
32255
32256 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
32257 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
32258 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
32259 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
32260 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
32261 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
32262 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
32263
32264 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
32265 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
32266 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
32267 target, is not defined.}
32268
32269 Reply:
32270 @table @samp
32271 @item OK
32272 success
32273 @item
32274 not supported
32275 @item E @var{NN}
32276 for an error
32277 @end table
32278
32279 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32280 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32281 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
32282 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
32283 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
32284 address @var{addr}.
32285
32286 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
32287 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
32288 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
32289
32290 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
32291 movement.}
32292
32293 Reply:
32294 @table @samp
32295 @item OK
32296 success
32297 @item
32298 not supported
32299 @item E @var{NN}
32300 for an error
32301 @end table
32302
32303 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32304 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32305 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
32306 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
32307 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32308 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32309
32310 Reply:
32311 @table @samp
32312 @item OK
32313 success
32314 @item
32315 not supported
32316 @item E @var{NN}
32317 for an error
32318 @end table
32319
32320 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32321 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32322 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
32323 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
32324 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32325 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32326
32327 Reply:
32328 @table @samp
32329 @item OK
32330 success
32331 @item
32332 not supported
32333 @item E @var{NN}
32334 for an error
32335 @end table
32336
32337 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32338 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32339 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
32340 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
32341 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32342 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32343
32344 Reply:
32345 @table @samp
32346 @item OK
32347 success
32348 @item
32349 not supported
32350 @item E @var{NN}
32351 for an error
32352 @end table
32353
32354 @end table
32355
32356 @node Stop Reply Packets
32357 @section Stop Reply Packets
32358 @cindex stop reply packets
32359
32360 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
32361 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
32362 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
32363 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
32364 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
32365 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
32366 @value{GDBN} source code.
32367
32368 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
32369 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
32370 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
32371 components.
32372
32373 @table @samp
32374
32375 @item S @var{AA}
32376 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
32377 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
32378 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
32379
32380 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
32381 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
32382 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
32383 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
32384 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
32385 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
32386 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
32387 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
32388
32389 @itemize @bullet
32390 @item
32391 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
32392 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
32393 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
32394 two-digit hex number.
32395
32396 @item
32397 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
32398 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32399
32400 @item
32401 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
32402 the core on which the stop event was detected.
32403
32404 @item
32405 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
32406 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
32407 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
32408 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
32409
32410 @item
32411 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
32412 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
32413 future.
32414 @end itemize
32415
32416 The currently defined stop reasons are:
32417
32418 @table @samp
32419 @item watch
32420 @itemx rwatch
32421 @itemx awatch
32422 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
32423 hex.
32424
32425 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
32426 @item library
32427 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
32428 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
32429 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
32430
32431 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
32432 @item replaylog
32433 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
32434 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
32435 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
32436 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
32437 for more information.
32438 @end table
32439
32440 @item W @var{AA}
32441 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
32442 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
32443 applicable to certain targets.
32444
32445 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
32446 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
32447 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
32448 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
32449
32450 @item X @var{AA}
32451 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
32452 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
32453
32454 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
32455 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
32456 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
32457 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
32458
32459 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
32460 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
32461 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
32462 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
32463 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
32464
32465 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
32466 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
32467 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
32468 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
32469 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
32470 system calls.
32471
32472 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
32473 this very system call.
32474
32475 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
32476 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
32477 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
32478 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
32479 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
32480 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
32481
32482 @end table
32483
32484 @node General Query Packets
32485 @section General Query Packets
32486 @cindex remote query requests
32487
32488 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
32489 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
32490 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
32491 sending information to and from the stub.
32492
32493 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
32494 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
32495 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
32496 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
32497 conventions:
32498
32499 @itemize @bullet
32500 @item
32501 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
32502 @item
32503 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
32504 letter.
32505 @item
32506 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
32507 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
32508 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
32509 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
32510 @end itemize
32511
32512 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
32513 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
32514 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
32515 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
32516 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
32517 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
32518 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
32519 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
32520 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
32521 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
32522 packet.}.
32523
32524 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
32525 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
32526 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
32527 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
32528 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
32529
32530 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
32531
32532 @table @samp
32533
32534 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
32535 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
32536 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
32537 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
32538 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
32539 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
32540 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
32541 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
32542 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
32543 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
32544 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
32545
32546 @item qC
32547 @cindex current thread, remote request
32548 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
32549 Return the current thread ID.
32550
32551 Reply:
32552 @table @samp
32553 @item QC @var{thread-id}
32554 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
32555 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32556 @item @r{(anything else)}
32557 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
32558 @end table
32559
32560 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
32561 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
32562 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
32563 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
32564 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
32565 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
32566 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
32567
32568 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
32569 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
32570 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
32571 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
32572 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
32573 detect trailing zeros.
32574
32575 Reply:
32576 @table @samp
32577 @item E @var{NN}
32578 An error (such as memory fault)
32579 @item C @var{crc32}
32580 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
32581 @end table
32582
32583 @item qfThreadInfo
32584 @itemx qsThreadInfo
32585 @cindex list active threads, remote request
32586 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
32587 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
32588 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
32589 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
32590 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
32591 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
32592 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
32593 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
32594
32595 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
32596
32597 Reply:
32598 @table @samp
32599 @item m @var{thread-id}
32600 A single thread ID
32601 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
32602 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
32603 @item l
32604 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
32605 @end table
32606
32607 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
32608 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
32609 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
32610 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
32611 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
32612 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
32613 fields.
32614
32615 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
32616 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
32617 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
32618 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
32619 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
32620
32621 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
32622 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
32623
32624 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
32625 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
32626 information associated with the variable.)
32627
32628 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
32629 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
32630 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
32631 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
32632 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
32633 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
32634
32635 Reply:
32636 @table @samp
32637 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
32638 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
32639 local storage requested.
32640
32641 @item E @var{nn}
32642 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
32643
32644 @item
32645 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
32646 @end table
32647
32648 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
32649 @cindex get thread information block address
32650 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
32651 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
32652
32653 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
32654
32655 Reply:
32656 @table @samp
32657 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
32658 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
32659 thread information block.
32660
32661 @item E @var{nn}
32662 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
32663 address could not be retrieved.
32664
32665 @item
32666 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
32667 @end table
32668
32669 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
32670 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
32671 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
32672 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
32673 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
32674 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
32675 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
32676
32677 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
32678
32679 Reply:
32680 @table @samp
32681 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
32682 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
32683 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
32684 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
32685 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
32686 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
32687 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
32688 @end table
32689
32690 @item qOffsets
32691 @cindex section offsets, remote request
32692 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
32693 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
32694 image.
32695
32696 Reply:
32697 @table @samp
32698 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
32699 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
32700 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
32701 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
32702 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
32703 segments by the supplied offsets.
32704
32705 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
32706 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
32707 to the @code{Bss} section.}
32708
32709 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
32710 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
32711 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
32712 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
32713 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
32714 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
32715 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
32716 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
32717 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
32718 @end table
32719
32720 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
32721 @cindex thread information, remote request
32722 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
32723 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
32724 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
32725 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
32726
32727 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
32728 (see below).
32729
32730 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
32731
32732 @item QNonStop:1
32733 @item QNonStop:0
32734 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
32735 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
32736 @anchor{QNonStop}
32737 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
32738 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
32739
32740 Reply:
32741 @table @samp
32742 @item OK
32743 The request succeeded.
32744
32745 @item E @var{nn}
32746 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
32747
32748 @item
32749 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
32750 the stub.
32751 @end table
32752
32753 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32754 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32755 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
32756 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
32757
32758 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
32759 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
32760 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
32761 @anchor{QPassSignals}
32762 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
32763 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
32764 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
32765 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
32766 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
32767 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
32768 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
32769 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
32770 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
32771
32772 Reply:
32773 @table @samp
32774 @item OK
32775 The request succeeded.
32776
32777 @item E @var{nn}
32778 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
32779
32780 @item
32781 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
32782 the stub.
32783 @end table
32784
32785 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
32786 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
32787 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32788 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32789
32790 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
32791 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
32792 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
32793 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
32794 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
32795 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
32796 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
32797 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
32798 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
32799
32800 Reply:
32801 @table @samp
32802 @item OK
32803 A command response with no output.
32804 @item @var{OUTPUT}
32805 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
32806 @item E @var{NN}
32807 Indicate a badly formed request.
32808 @item
32809 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
32810 @end table
32811
32812 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
32813 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
32814 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
32815 packets.)
32816
32817 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
32818 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
32819 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
32820 @anchor{qSearch memory}
32821 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
32822 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
32823 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
32824
32825 Reply:
32826 @table @samp
32827 @item 0
32828 The pattern was not found.
32829 @item 1,address
32830 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
32831 @item E @var{NN}
32832 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
32833 @item
32834 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
32835 @end table
32836
32837 @item QStartNoAckMode
32838 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
32839 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
32840 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
32841 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
32842
32843 Reply:
32844 @table @samp
32845 @item OK
32846 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
32847 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
32848 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
32849 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
32850 @item
32851 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
32852 @end table
32853
32854 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
32855 @cindex supported packets, remote query
32856 @cindex features of the remote protocol
32857 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
32858 @anchor{qSupported}
32859 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
32860 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
32861 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
32862 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
32863 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
32864 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
32865 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
32866 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
32867 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
32868 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
32869 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
32870 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
32871 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
32872 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
32873
32874 Reply:
32875 @table @samp
32876 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
32877 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
32878 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
32879 possible forms).
32880 @item
32881 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
32882 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
32883 @end table
32884
32885 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
32886 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
32887 are:
32888
32889 @table @samp
32890 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
32891 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
32892 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
32893 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
32894 @item @var{name}+
32895 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
32896 need an associated value.
32897 @item @var{name}-
32898 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
32899 @item @var{name}?
32900 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
32901 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
32902 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
32903 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
32904 @end table
32905
32906 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
32907 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
32908 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
32909 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
32910 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
32911
32912 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
32913 are defined:
32914
32915 @table @samp
32916 @item multiprocess
32917 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
32918 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
32919 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
32920 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
32921 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
32922
32923 @item xmlRegisters
32924 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
32925 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
32926 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
32927 description.
32928
32929 @item qRelocInsn
32930 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
32931 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
32932 instruction reply packet}).
32933 @end table
32934
32935 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
32936 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
32937 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
32938 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
32939 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
32940 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
32941 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
32942 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
32943 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
32944 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
32945 all the features it supports.
32946
32947 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
32948 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
32949
32950 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
32951 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
32952 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
32953 form response.
32954
32955 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
32956 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
32957 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
32958 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
32959
32960 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
32961 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
32962 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
32963 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
32964 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
32965
32966 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
32967
32968 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
32969 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
32970 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
32971 @item Feature Name
32972 @tab Value Required
32973 @tab Default
32974 @tab Probe Allowed
32975
32976 @item @samp{PacketSize}
32977 @tab Yes
32978 @tab @samp{-}
32979 @tab No
32980
32981 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
32982 @tab No
32983 @tab @samp{-}
32984 @tab Yes
32985
32986 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
32987 @tab No
32988 @tab @samp{-}
32989 @tab Yes
32990
32991 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
32992 @tab No
32993 @tab @samp{-}
32994 @tab Yes
32995
32996 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
32997 @tab No
32998 @tab @samp{-}
32999 @tab Yes
33000
33001 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
33002 @tab No
33003 @tab @samp{-}
33004 @tab Yes
33005
33006 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
33007 @tab No
33008 @tab @samp{-}
33009 @tab Yes
33010
33011 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
33012 @tab No
33013 @tab @samp{-}
33014 @tab Yes
33015
33016 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
33017 @tab No
33018 @tab @samp{-}
33019 @tab Yes
33020
33021 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
33022 @tab No
33023 @tab @samp{-}
33024 @tab Yes
33025
33026 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
33027 @tab No
33028 @tab @samp{-}
33029 @tab Yes
33030
33031
33032 @item @samp{QNonStop}
33033 @tab No
33034 @tab @samp{-}
33035 @tab Yes
33036
33037 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
33038 @tab No
33039 @tab @samp{-}
33040 @tab Yes
33041
33042 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
33043 @tab No
33044 @tab @samp{-}
33045 @tab Yes
33046
33047 @item @samp{multiprocess}
33048 @tab No
33049 @tab @samp{-}
33050 @tab No
33051
33052 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
33053 @tab No
33054 @tab @samp{-}
33055 @tab No
33056
33057 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
33058 @tab No
33059 @tab @samp{-}
33060 @tab No
33061
33062 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
33063 @tab No
33064 @tab @samp{-}
33065 @tab No
33066
33067 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
33068 @tab No
33069 @tab @samp{-}
33070 @tab No
33071
33072 @item @samp{QAllow}
33073 @tab No
33074 @tab @samp{-}
33075 @tab No
33076
33077 @end multitable
33078
33079 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
33080
33081 @table @samp
33082 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
33083 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
33084 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
33085 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
33086 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
33087 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
33088 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
33089 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
33090 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
33091 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
33092
33093 @item qXfer:auxv:read
33094 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
33095 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
33096
33097 @item qXfer:features:read
33098 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
33099 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
33100
33101 @item qXfer:libraries:read
33102 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
33103 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
33104
33105 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
33106 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
33107 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
33108
33109 @item qXfer:sdata:read
33110 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
33111 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
33112
33113 @item qXfer:spu:read
33114 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
33115 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
33116
33117 @item qXfer:spu:write
33118 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
33119 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
33120
33121 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
33122 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
33123 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
33124
33125 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
33126 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
33127 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
33128
33129 @item qXfer:threads:read
33130 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
33131 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
33132
33133 @item QNonStop
33134 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
33135 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
33136
33137 @item QPassSignals
33138 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
33139 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
33140
33141 @item QStartNoAckMode
33142 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
33143 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
33144
33145 @item multiprocess
33146 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
33147 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
33148 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
33149 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
33150 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
33151 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
33152 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
33153 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
33154 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
33155 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
33156 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
33157
33158 @item qXfer:osdata:read
33159 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
33160 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
33161
33162 @item ConditionalTracepoints
33163 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
33164 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
33165
33166 @item ReverseContinue
33167 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
33168 (@pxref{bc}).
33169
33170 @item ReverseStep
33171 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
33172 (@pxref{bs}).
33173
33174 @item TracepointSource
33175 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
33176 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
33177
33178 @item QAllow
33179 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
33180
33181 @item StaticTracepoint
33182 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
33183 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
33184
33185 @end table
33186
33187 @item qSymbol::
33188 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
33189 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
33190 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
33191 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
33192
33193 Reply:
33194 @table @samp
33195 @item OK
33196 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
33197 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
33198 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
33199 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
33200 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
33201 below.
33202 @end table
33203
33204 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
33205 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
33206
33207 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
33208 target has previously requested.
33209
33210 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
33211 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
33212 will be empty.
33213
33214 Reply:
33215 @table @samp
33216 @item OK
33217 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
33218 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
33219 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
33220 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
33221 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
33222 @end table
33223
33224 @item qTBuffer
33225 @item QTBuffer
33226 @item QTDisconnected
33227 @itemx QTDP
33228 @itemx QTDPsrc
33229 @itemx QTDV
33230 @itemx qTfP
33231 @itemx qTfV
33232 @itemx QTFrame
33233 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
33234
33235 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
33236 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
33237 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
33238 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
33239 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
33240 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
33241 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
33242 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
33243 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
33244 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
33245 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
33246
33247 Reply:
33248 @table @samp
33249 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
33250 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
33251 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
33252 the thread's attributes.
33253 @end table
33254
33255 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
33256 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
33257 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
33258 packets.)
33259
33260 @item QTSave
33261 @item qTsP
33262 @item qTsV
33263 @itemx QTStart
33264 @itemx QTStop
33265 @itemx QTinit
33266 @itemx QTro
33267 @itemx qTStatus
33268 @itemx qTV
33269 @itemx qTfSTM
33270 @itemx qTsSTM
33271 @itemx qTSTMat
33272 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
33273
33274 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33275 @cindex read special object, remote request
33276 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
33277 @anchor{qXfer read}
33278 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
33279 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
33280 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
33281 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
33282 additional details about what data to access.
33283
33284 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
33285 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
33286 formats, listed below.
33287
33288 @table @samp
33289 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33290 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
33291 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
33292 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
33293
33294 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33295 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33296
33297 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33298 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
33299 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
33300 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
33301 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
33302
33303 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33304 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33305
33306 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33307 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
33308 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
33309 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33310 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33311
33312 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
33313 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
33314 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
33315
33316 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33317 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33318
33319 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33320 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
33321 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
33322 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33323 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33324
33325 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33326 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33327
33328 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33329 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
33330
33331 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
33332 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
33333 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
33334 Action Lists}.
33335
33336 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33337 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33338 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33339
33340 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33341 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
33342 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
33343 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
33344 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33345
33346 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33347 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33348 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33349
33350 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33351 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
33352 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
33353 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
33354 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
33355 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
33356 in that context to be accessed.
33357
33358 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33359 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33360 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33361
33362 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33363 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
33364 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
33365 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33366 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33367
33368 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33369 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33370
33371 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33372 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
33373 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
33374 @xref{Operating System Information}.
33375
33376 @end table
33377
33378 Reply:
33379 @table @samp
33380 @item m @var{data}
33381 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
33382 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
33383 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
33384 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
33385 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
33386 request.
33387
33388 @item l @var{data}
33389 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
33390 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
33391 than the @var{length} in the request.
33392
33393 @item l
33394 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
33395 There is no more data to be read.
33396
33397 @item E00
33398 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
33399
33400 @item E @var{nn}
33401 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
33402 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
33403
33404 @item
33405 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
33406 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
33407 @end table
33408
33409 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33410 @cindex write data into object, remote request
33411 @anchor{qXfer write}
33412 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
33413 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
33414 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
33415 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
33416 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
33417 to access.
33418
33419 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
33420 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
33421 formats, listed below.
33422
33423 @table @samp
33424 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33425 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
33426 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
33427 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
33428 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
33429
33430 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33431 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33432 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33433
33434 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33435 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
33436 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
33437 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
33438 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
33439 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
33440 in that context to be accessed.
33441
33442 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33443 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33444 @end table
33445
33446 Reply:
33447 @table @samp
33448 @item @var{nn}
33449 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
33450 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
33451
33452 @item E00
33453 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
33454
33455 @item E @var{nn}
33456 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
33457 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
33458
33459 @item
33460 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
33461 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
33462 @end table
33463
33464 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
33465 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
33466 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
33467 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
33468 must respond with an empty packet.
33469
33470 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
33471 @cindex query attached, remote request
33472 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
33473 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
33474 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
33475 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
33476 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
33477 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
33478 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
33479
33480 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
33481 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
33482 the @code{quit} command.
33483
33484 Reply:
33485 @table @samp
33486 @item 1
33487 The remote server attached to an existing process.
33488 @item 0
33489 The remote server created a new process.
33490 @item E @var{NN}
33491 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
33492 @end table
33493
33494 @end table
33495
33496 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
33497 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
33498
33499 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
33500 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
33501 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
33502
33503 @subsection ARM
33504
33505 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
33506
33507 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
33508
33509 @table @r
33510
33511 @item 2
33512 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
33513
33514 @item 3
33515 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
33516
33517 @item 4
33518 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
33519
33520 @end table
33521
33522 @subsection MIPS
33523
33524 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
33525
33526 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
33527 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
33528 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
33529 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
33530 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
33531 most-significant - least-significant.
33532
33533 @table @r
33534
33535 @item MIPS32
33536
33537 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
33538 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
33539 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
33540
33541 @item MIPS64
33542
33543 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
33544 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
33545 as @code{MIPS32}.
33546
33547 @end table
33548
33549 @node Tracepoint Packets
33550 @section Tracepoint Packets
33551 @cindex tracepoint packets
33552 @cindex packets, tracepoint
33553
33554 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
33555 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
33556
33557 @table @samp
33558
33559 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
33560 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
33561 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
33562 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
33563 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
33564 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
33565 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
33566 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
33567 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
33568 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
33569 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
33570 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
33571 actions.
33572
33573 Replies:
33574 @table @samp
33575 @item OK
33576 The packet was understood and carried out.
33577 @item qRelocInsn
33578 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
33579 @item
33580 The packet was not recognized.
33581 @end table
33582
33583 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
33584 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
33585 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
33586 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
33587 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
33588 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
33589 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
33590
33591 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
33592 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
33593 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
33594 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
33595 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
33596 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
33597 tracepoint actions.
33598
33599 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
33600 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
33601 following forms:
33602
33603 @table @samp
33604
33605 @item R @var{mask}
33606 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
33607 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
33608 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
33609 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
33610 not fit in a 32-bit word.
33611
33612 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
33613 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
33614 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
33615 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
33616 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
33617 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
33618 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
33619
33620 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
33621 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
33622 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
33623 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
33624 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
33625 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
33626 packet).
33627
33628 @end table
33629
33630 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
33631 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
33632 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
33633 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
33634 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
33635 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
33636 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
33637 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
33638
33639 Replies:
33640 @table @samp
33641 @item OK
33642 The packet was understood and carried out.
33643 @item qRelocInsn
33644 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
33645 @item
33646 The packet was not recognized.
33647 @end table
33648
33649 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
33650 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
33651 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
33652 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
33653 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
33654 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
33655 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
33656 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
33657
33658 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
33659 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
33660 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
33661 fit in a single packet.
33662 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
33663 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
33664
33665 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
33666 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
33667 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
33668 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
33669
33670 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
33671 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
33672 query packets.
33673
33674 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
33675 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
33676 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
33677 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
33678 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
33679 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
33680 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
33681 be found.
33682
33683 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
33684 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
33685 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
33686 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
33687 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
33688 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
33689 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
33690 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
33691 mentioned in expressions.
33692
33693 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
33694 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
33695 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
33696 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
33697
33698 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
33699 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
33700 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
33701 one of the following forms:
33702
33703 @table @samp
33704 @item F @var{f}
33705 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
33706 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
33707 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
33708
33709 @item T @var{t}
33710 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
33711 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
33712
33713 @end table
33714
33715 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
33716 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33717 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
33718 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
33719
33720 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
33721 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33722 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
33723 is a hexadecimal number.
33724
33725 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
33726 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33727 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
33728 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
33729 numbers.
33730
33731 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
33732 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
33733 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
33734
33735 @item QTStart
33736 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
33737 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
33738 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
33739 instruction reply packet}).
33740
33741 @item QTStop
33742 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
33743
33744 @item QTinit
33745 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
33746
33747 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
33748 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
33749 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
33750 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
33751
33752 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
33753 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
33754 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
33755 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
33756
33757 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
33758 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
33759 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
33760 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
33761 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
33762
33763 @item qTStatus
33764 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
33765
33766 The reply has the form:
33767
33768 @table @samp
33769
33770 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
33771 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
33772 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
33773 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
33774
33775 @end table
33776
33777 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
33778 explanations as one of the optional fields:
33779
33780 @table @samp
33781
33782 @item tnotrun:0
33783 No trace has been run yet.
33784
33785 @item tstop:0
33786 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
33787
33788 @item tfull:0
33789 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
33790
33791 @item tdisconnected:0
33792 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
33793
33794 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
33795 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
33796
33797 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
33798 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
33799 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
33800 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
33801 @var{text} is hex encoded.
33802
33803 @item tunknown:0
33804 The trace stopped for some other reason.
33805
33806 @end table
33807
33808 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
33809 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
33810 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
33811 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
33812 trace.
33813
33814 @table @samp
33815
33816 @item tframes:@var{n}
33817 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
33818
33819 @item tcreated:@var{n}
33820 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
33821 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
33822
33823 @item tsize:@var{n}
33824 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
33825
33826 @item tfree:@var{n}
33827 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
33828
33829 @item circular:@var{n}
33830 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
33831 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
33832 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
33833 and may fill up.
33834
33835 @item disconn:@var{n}
33836 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
33837 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
33838 that the trace run will stop.
33839
33840 @end table
33841
33842 @item qTV:@var{var}
33843 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
33844 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
33845 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
33846
33847 Replies:
33848 @table @samp
33849 @item V@var{value}
33850 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
33851 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
33852 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
33853 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
33854 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
33855 program is running.
33856
33857 @item U
33858 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
33859 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
33860 was not collected.
33861 @end table
33862
33863 @item qTfP
33864 @itemx qTsP
33865 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
33866 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
33867 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
33868 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
33869 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
33870
33871 @item qTfV
33872 @itemx qTsV
33873 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
33874 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
33875 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
33876 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
33877 trace state variables.
33878
33879 @item qTfSTM
33880 @itemx qTsSTM
33881 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
33882 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
33883 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
33884 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
33885
33886 Reply:
33887 @table @samp
33888 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
33889 A single marker
33890 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
33891 a comma-separated list of markers
33892 @item l
33893 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
33894 @item E @var{nn}
33895 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
33896 @item
33897 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
33898 stub.
33899 @end table
33900
33901 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
33902 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
33903
33904 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
33905 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
33906 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
33907 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
33908 @dfn{last}).
33909
33910 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
33911 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
33912 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
33913 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
33914 tracepoint markers.
33915
33916 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
33917 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
33918 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
33919 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
33920 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
33921
33922 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
33923 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
33924 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
33925 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
33926 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
33927 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
33928 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
33929 available.
33930
33931 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
33932 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
33933 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
33934
33935 @end table
33936
33937 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
33938 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
33939 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
33940 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
33941 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
33942 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
33943 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
33944 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
33945 it had executed in the original location.
33946
33947 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
33948 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
33949 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
33950 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
33951 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
33952 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
33953 format of the request is:
33954
33955 @table @samp
33956 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
33957
33958 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
33959 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
33960 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
33961 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
33962 memory starting at @var{to}.
33963 @end table
33964
33965 Replies:
33966 @table @samp
33967 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
33968 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
33969 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
33970 @item E @var{NN}
33971 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
33972 relocating the instruction.
33973 @end table
33974
33975 @node Host I/O Packets
33976 @section Host I/O Packets
33977 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
33978 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
33979
33980 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
33981 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
33982 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
33983 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
33984 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
33985 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
33986 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
33987 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
33988 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
33989 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
33990
33991 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
33992 its arguments. They have this format:
33993
33994 @table @samp
33995
33996 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
33997 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
33998 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
33999 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
34000 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
34001 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
34002 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
34003 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
34004 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
34005
34006 @end table
34007
34008 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
34009
34010 @table @samp
34011
34012 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
34013 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
34014 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
34015 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
34016 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
34017 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
34018 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
34019 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
34020 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
34021 @var{attachment}.
34022
34023 @item
34024 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
34025
34026 @end table
34027
34028 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
34029
34030 @table @samp
34031 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
34032 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
34033 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
34034 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
34035 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
34036 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
34037 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
34038
34039 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
34040 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
34041 -1 if an error occurs.
34042
34043 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
34044 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
34045 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
34046 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
34047 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
34048 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
34049 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
34050 @var{count} was zero.
34051
34052 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
34053 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
34054 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
34055 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
34056 some characters were escaped.
34057
34058 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
34059 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
34060 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
34061 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
34062 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
34063 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
34064 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
34065 error occurred.
34066
34067 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
34068 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
34069 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
34070
34071 @end table
34072
34073 @node Interrupts
34074 @section Interrupts
34075 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
34076
34077 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
34078 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
34079 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
34080 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
34081
34082 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
34083 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
34084 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
34085 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
34086 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
34087
34088 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
34089 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
34090 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
34091 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
34092 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
34093 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
34094 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
34095 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
34096
34097 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
34098 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
34099 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
34100
34101 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
34102 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
34103 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
34104 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
34105 currently-executing threads and processes.
34106 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
34107 running program, it should send one of the stop
34108 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
34109 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
34110 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
34111 Interrupts received while the
34112 program is stopped are discarded.
34113
34114 @node Notification Packets
34115 @section Notification Packets
34116 @cindex notification packets
34117 @cindex packets, notification
34118
34119 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
34120 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
34121 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
34122 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
34123 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
34124 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
34125 is not a problem.
34126
34127 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
34128 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
34129 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
34130 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
34131 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
34132 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
34133 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
34134
34135 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
34136 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
34137
34138 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
34139 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
34140 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
34141 not they understand it.
34142
34143 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
34144 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
34145 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
34146 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
34147 recipients.
34148
34149 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
34150 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
34151 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
34152 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
34153 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
34154
34155 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
34156 defined:
34157
34158 @table @samp
34159 @item Stop: @var{reply}
34160 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
34161 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
34162 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
34163 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
34164 @value{GDBN}.
34165 @end table
34166
34167 @node Remote Non-Stop
34168 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
34169
34170 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
34171 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
34172 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
34173 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34174
34175 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
34176 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
34177 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
34178 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
34179 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
34180 probe the target state after a mode change.
34181
34182 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
34183 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
34184 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
34185 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
34186 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
34187 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
34188 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
34189 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
34190 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
34191 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
34192 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
34193
34194 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
34195 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
34196 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
34197 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
34198 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
34199 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
34200 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
34201 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
34202 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
34203 sending any queued stop events.
34204
34205 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
34206 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
34207 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
34208 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
34209 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
34210 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
34211 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
34212
34213 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
34214 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
34215 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
34216 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
34217 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
34218 process normally.
34219
34220 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
34221 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
34222 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
34223 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
34224 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
34225 should process normally.
34226
34227 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
34228 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
34229 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
34230 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
34231 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
34232
34233 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
34234 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
34235 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
34236 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
34237 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
34238 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
34239 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
34240 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
34241 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
34242 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
34243 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
34244 @samp{OK}.
34245
34246 @node Packet Acknowledgment
34247 @section Packet Acknowledgment
34248
34249 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
34250 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
34251 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
34252 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34253 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
34254 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
34255 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
34256
34257 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
34258 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
34259 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
34260 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
34261 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
34262
34263 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
34264 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
34265 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
34266 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
34267
34268 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
34269 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
34270 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
34271 @pxref{qSupported}.
34272 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
34273 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
34274 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
34275 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
34276 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
34277 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
34278 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
34279
34280 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
34281 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
34282 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
34283 connection.
34284 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
34285 new connection is established,
34286 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
34287 for the current connection, once disabled.
34288
34289 @node Examples
34290 @section Examples
34291
34292 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
34293 does not get any direct output:
34294
34295 @smallexample
34296 -> @code{R00}
34297 <- @code{+}
34298 @emph{target restarts}
34299 -> @code{?}
34300 <- @code{+}
34301 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
34302 -> @code{+}
34303 @end smallexample
34304
34305 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
34306
34307 @smallexample
34308 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
34309 <- @code{+}
34310 -> @code{s}
34311 <- @code{+}
34312 @emph{time passes}
34313 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
34314 -> @code{+}
34315 -> @code{g}
34316 <- @code{+}
34317 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
34318 -> @code{+}
34319 @end smallexample
34320
34321 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
34322 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
34323 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
34324
34325 @menu
34326 * File-I/O Overview::
34327 * Protocol Basics::
34328 * The F Request Packet::
34329 * The F Reply Packet::
34330 * The Ctrl-C Message::
34331 * Console I/O::
34332 * List of Supported Calls::
34333 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
34334 * Constants::
34335 * File-I/O Examples::
34336 @end menu
34337
34338 @node File-I/O Overview
34339 @subsection File-I/O Overview
34340 @cindex file-i/o overview
34341
34342 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
34343 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
34344 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
34345 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
34346 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
34347 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
34348
34349 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
34350 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
34351 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
34352 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
34353 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
34354
34355 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
34356 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
34357 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
34358 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
34359 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
34360 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
34361 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
34362
34363 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
34364 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
34365 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
34366 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
34367 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
34368
34369 @smallexample
34370 (@value{GDBP}) continue
34371 <- target requests 'system call X'
34372 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
34373 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
34374 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
34375 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
34376 @end smallexample
34377
34378 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
34379 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
34380 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
34381 system are not supported by this protocol.
34382
34383 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
34384
34385 @node Protocol Basics
34386 @subsection Protocol Basics
34387 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
34388
34389 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
34390 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
34391 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
34392 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
34393 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
34394 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
34395 to call the appropriate host system call:
34396
34397 @itemize @bullet
34398 @item
34399 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
34400
34401 @item
34402 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
34403 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
34404 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
34405 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
34406
34407 @end itemize
34408
34409 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
34410
34411 @itemize @bullet
34412 @item
34413 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
34414 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
34415 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
34416 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
34417 packet.
34418
34419 @item
34420 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
34421 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
34422
34423 @item
34424 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
34425
34426 @item
34427 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
34428
34429 @item
34430 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
34431 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
34432 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
34433 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
34434 packet.
34435
34436 @end itemize
34437
34438 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
34439 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
34440
34441 @itemize @bullet
34442 @item
34443 Return value.
34444
34445 @item
34446 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
34447
34448 @item
34449 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
34450
34451 @end itemize
34452
34453 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
34454 the latest continue or step action.
34455
34456 @node The F Request Packet
34457 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
34458 @cindex file-i/o request packet
34459 @cindex @code{F} request packet
34460
34461 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
34462
34463 @table @samp
34464 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
34465
34466 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
34467 This is just the name of the function.
34468
34469 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
34470 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
34471 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
34472 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
34473 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
34474 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
34475 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
34476
34477 @end table
34478
34479
34480
34481 @node The F Reply Packet
34482 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
34483 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
34484 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
34485
34486 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
34487
34488 @table @samp
34489
34490 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
34491
34492 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
34493
34494 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
34495 representation.
34496 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
34497
34498 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
34499 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
34500 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
34501
34502 @smallexample
34503 F0,0,C
34504 @end smallexample
34505
34506 @noindent
34507 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
34508
34509 @smallexample
34510 F-1,4,C
34511 @end smallexample
34512
34513 @noindent
34514 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
34515
34516 @end table
34517
34518
34519 @node The Ctrl-C Message
34520 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
34521 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
34522
34523 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
34524 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
34525 the target should behave as if it had
34526 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
34527 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
34528 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
34529 packet.
34530
34531 It's important for the target to know in which
34532 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
34533
34534 @itemize @bullet
34535 @item
34536 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
34537
34538 @item
34539 The system call on the host has been finished.
34540
34541 @end itemize
34542
34543 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
34544 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
34545 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
34546 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
34547 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
34548 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
34549
34550 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
34551 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
34552 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
34553 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
34554 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
34555 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
34556 or the full action has been completed.
34557
34558 @node Console I/O
34559 @subsection Console I/O
34560 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
34561
34562 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
34563 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
34564 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
34565 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
34566 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
34567 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
34568 conditions is met:
34569
34570 @itemize @bullet
34571 @item
34572 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
34573 @code{read}
34574 system call is treated as finished.
34575
34576 @item
34577 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
34578 newline.
34579
34580 @item
34581 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
34582 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
34583
34584 @end itemize
34585
34586 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
34587 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
34588 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
34589 is stopped at the user's request.
34590
34591
34592 @node List of Supported Calls
34593 @subsection List of Supported Calls
34594 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
34595
34596 @menu
34597 * open::
34598 * close::
34599 * read::
34600 * write::
34601 * lseek::
34602 * rename::
34603 * unlink::
34604 * stat/fstat::
34605 * gettimeofday::
34606 * isatty::
34607 * system::
34608 @end menu
34609
34610 @node open
34611 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
34612 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
34613
34614 @table @asis
34615 @item Synopsis:
34616 @smallexample
34617 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
34618 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
34619 @end smallexample
34620
34621 @item Request:
34622 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
34623
34624 @noindent
34625 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
34626
34627 @table @code
34628 @item O_CREAT
34629 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
34630 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
34631 are concerned.
34632
34633 @item O_EXCL
34634 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
34635 an error and open() fails.
34636
34637 @item O_TRUNC
34638 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
34639 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
34640 truncated to zero length.
34641
34642 @item O_APPEND
34643 The file is opened in append mode.
34644
34645 @item O_RDONLY
34646 The file is opened for reading only.
34647
34648 @item O_WRONLY
34649 The file is opened for writing only.
34650
34651 @item O_RDWR
34652 The file is opened for reading and writing.
34653 @end table
34654
34655 @noindent
34656 Other bits are silently ignored.
34657
34658
34659 @noindent
34660 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
34661
34662 @table @code
34663 @item S_IRUSR
34664 User has read permission.
34665
34666 @item S_IWUSR
34667 User has write permission.
34668
34669 @item S_IRGRP
34670 Group has read permission.
34671
34672 @item S_IWGRP
34673 Group has write permission.
34674
34675 @item S_IROTH
34676 Others have read permission.
34677
34678 @item S_IWOTH
34679 Others have write permission.
34680 @end table
34681
34682 @noindent
34683 Other bits are silently ignored.
34684
34685
34686 @item Return value:
34687 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
34688 occurred.
34689
34690 @item Errors:
34691
34692 @table @code
34693 @item EEXIST
34694 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
34695
34696 @item EISDIR
34697 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
34698
34699 @item EACCES
34700 The requested access is not allowed.
34701
34702 @item ENAMETOOLONG
34703 @var{pathname} was too long.
34704
34705 @item ENOENT
34706 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
34707
34708 @item ENODEV
34709 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
34710
34711 @item EROFS
34712 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
34713 write access was requested.
34714
34715 @item EFAULT
34716 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
34717
34718 @item ENOSPC
34719 No space on device to create the file.
34720
34721 @item EMFILE
34722 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
34723
34724 @item ENFILE
34725 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
34726 has been reached.
34727
34728 @item EINTR
34729 The call was interrupted by the user.
34730 @end table
34731
34732 @end table
34733
34734 @node close
34735 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
34736 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
34737
34738 @table @asis
34739 @item Synopsis:
34740 @smallexample
34741 int close(int fd);
34742 @end smallexample
34743
34744 @item Request:
34745 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
34746
34747 @item Return value:
34748 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
34749
34750 @item Errors:
34751
34752 @table @code
34753 @item EBADF
34754 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
34755
34756 @item EINTR
34757 The call was interrupted by the user.
34758 @end table
34759
34760 @end table
34761
34762 @node read
34763 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
34764 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
34765
34766 @table @asis
34767 @item Synopsis:
34768 @smallexample
34769 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
34770 @end smallexample
34771
34772 @item Request:
34773 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
34774
34775 @item Return value:
34776 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
34777 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
34778 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
34779
34780 @item Errors:
34781
34782 @table @code
34783 @item EBADF
34784 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
34785 reading.
34786
34787 @item EFAULT
34788 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34789
34790 @item EINTR
34791 The call was interrupted by the user.
34792 @end table
34793
34794 @end table
34795
34796 @node write
34797 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
34798 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
34799
34800 @table @asis
34801 @item Synopsis:
34802 @smallexample
34803 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
34804 @end smallexample
34805
34806 @item Request:
34807 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
34808
34809 @item Return value:
34810 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
34811 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
34812 is returned.
34813
34814 @item Errors:
34815
34816 @table @code
34817 @item EBADF
34818 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
34819 writing.
34820
34821 @item EFAULT
34822 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34823
34824 @item EFBIG
34825 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
34826 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
34827
34828 @item ENOSPC
34829 No space on device to write the data.
34830
34831 @item EINTR
34832 The call was interrupted by the user.
34833 @end table
34834
34835 @end table
34836
34837 @node lseek
34838 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
34839 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
34840
34841 @table @asis
34842 @item Synopsis:
34843 @smallexample
34844 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
34845 @end smallexample
34846
34847 @item Request:
34848 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
34849
34850 @var{flag} is one of:
34851
34852 @table @code
34853 @item SEEK_SET
34854 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
34855
34856 @item SEEK_CUR
34857 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
34858 bytes.
34859
34860 @item SEEK_END
34861 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
34862 bytes.
34863 @end table
34864
34865 @item Return value:
34866 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
34867 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
34868 value of -1 is returned.
34869
34870 @item Errors:
34871
34872 @table @code
34873 @item EBADF
34874 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
34875
34876 @item ESPIPE
34877 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
34878
34879 @item EINVAL
34880 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
34881
34882 @item EINTR
34883 The call was interrupted by the user.
34884 @end table
34885
34886 @end table
34887
34888 @node rename
34889 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
34890 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
34891
34892 @table @asis
34893 @item Synopsis:
34894 @smallexample
34895 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
34896 @end smallexample
34897
34898 @item Request:
34899 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
34900
34901 @item Return value:
34902 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
34903
34904 @item Errors:
34905
34906 @table @code
34907 @item EISDIR
34908 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
34909 directory.
34910
34911 @item EEXIST
34912 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
34913
34914 @item EBUSY
34915 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
34916 process.
34917
34918 @item EINVAL
34919 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
34920 of itself.
34921
34922 @item ENOTDIR
34923 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
34924 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
34925 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
34926
34927 @item EFAULT
34928 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
34929
34930 @item EACCES
34931 No access to the file or the path of the file.
34932
34933 @item ENAMETOOLONG
34934
34935 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
34936
34937 @item ENOENT
34938 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
34939
34940 @item EROFS
34941 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
34942
34943 @item ENOSPC
34944 The device containing the file has no room for the new
34945 directory entry.
34946
34947 @item EINTR
34948 The call was interrupted by the user.
34949 @end table
34950
34951 @end table
34952
34953 @node unlink
34954 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
34955 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
34956
34957 @table @asis
34958 @item Synopsis:
34959 @smallexample
34960 int unlink(const char *pathname);
34961 @end smallexample
34962
34963 @item Request:
34964 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
34965
34966 @item Return value:
34967 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
34968
34969 @item Errors:
34970
34971 @table @code
34972 @item EACCES
34973 No access to the file or the path of the file.
34974
34975 @item EPERM
34976 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
34977
34978 @item EBUSY
34979 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
34980 being used by another process.
34981
34982 @item EFAULT
34983 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34984
34985 @item ENAMETOOLONG
34986 @var{pathname} was too long.
34987
34988 @item ENOENT
34989 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
34990
34991 @item ENOTDIR
34992 A component of the path is not a directory.
34993
34994 @item EROFS
34995 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
34996
34997 @item EINTR
34998 The call was interrupted by the user.
34999 @end table
35000
35001 @end table
35002
35003 @node stat/fstat
35004 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
35005 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
35006 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
35007
35008 @table @asis
35009 @item Synopsis:
35010 @smallexample
35011 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
35012 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
35013 @end smallexample
35014
35015 @item Request:
35016 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
35017 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
35018
35019 @item Return value:
35020 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
35021
35022 @item Errors:
35023
35024 @table @code
35025 @item EBADF
35026 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
35027
35028 @item ENOENT
35029 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
35030 path is an empty string.
35031
35032 @item ENOTDIR
35033 A component of the path is not a directory.
35034
35035 @item EFAULT
35036 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35037
35038 @item EACCES
35039 No access to the file or the path of the file.
35040
35041 @item ENAMETOOLONG
35042 @var{pathname} was too long.
35043
35044 @item EINTR
35045 The call was interrupted by the user.
35046 @end table
35047
35048 @end table
35049
35050 @node gettimeofday
35051 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
35052 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
35053
35054 @table @asis
35055 @item Synopsis:
35056 @smallexample
35057 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
35058 @end smallexample
35059
35060 @item Request:
35061 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
35062
35063 @item Return value:
35064 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
35065
35066 @item Errors:
35067
35068 @table @code
35069 @item EINVAL
35070 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
35071
35072 @item EFAULT
35073 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35074 @end table
35075
35076 @end table
35077
35078 @node isatty
35079 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
35080 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
35081
35082 @table @asis
35083 @item Synopsis:
35084 @smallexample
35085 int isatty(int fd);
35086 @end smallexample
35087
35088 @item Request:
35089 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
35090
35091 @item Return value:
35092 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
35093
35094 @item Errors:
35095
35096 @table @code
35097 @item EINTR
35098 The call was interrupted by the user.
35099 @end table
35100
35101 @end table
35102
35103 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
35104 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
35105 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
35106 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
35107 needed.
35108
35109
35110 @node system
35111 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
35112 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
35113
35114 @table @asis
35115 @item Synopsis:
35116 @smallexample
35117 int system(const char *command);
35118 @end smallexample
35119
35120 @item Request:
35121 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
35122
35123 @item Return value:
35124 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
35125 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
35126 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
35127 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
35128 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
35129 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
35130 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
35131
35132 @item Errors:
35133
35134 @table @code
35135 @item EINTR
35136 The call was interrupted by the user.
35137 @end table
35138
35139 @end table
35140
35141 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
35142 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
35143 the host is simplified before it's returned
35144 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
35145 is discarded, and the return value consists
35146 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
35147
35148 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
35149 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
35150 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
35151
35152 @table @code
35153 @item set remote system-call-allowed
35154 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
35155 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
35156 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
35157
35158 @item show remote system-call-allowed
35159 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
35160 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
35161 protocol.
35162 @end table
35163
35164 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
35165 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
35166 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
35167
35168 @menu
35169 * Integral Datatypes::
35170 * Pointer Values::
35171 * Memory Transfer::
35172 * struct stat::
35173 * struct timeval::
35174 @end menu
35175
35176 @node Integral Datatypes
35177 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
35178 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
35179
35180 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
35181 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
35182 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
35183
35184 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
35185 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
35186
35187 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
35188
35189 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
35190 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
35191
35192 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
35193
35194 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
35195 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
35196 byte order.
35197
35198 @node Pointer Values
35199 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
35200 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
35201
35202 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
35203 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
35204 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
35205 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
35206
35207 @smallexample
35208 @code{1aaf/12}
35209 @end smallexample
35210
35211 @noindent
35212 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
35213 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
35214 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
35215 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
35216
35217 @smallexample
35218 @code{123456/d}
35219 @end smallexample
35220
35221 @node Memory Transfer
35222 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
35223 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
35224
35225 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
35226 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
35227 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
35228 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
35229 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
35230 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
35231 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
35232
35233
35234 @node struct stat
35235 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
35236 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
35237
35238 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
35239 is defined as follows:
35240
35241 @smallexample
35242 struct stat @{
35243 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
35244 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
35245 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
35246 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
35247 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
35248 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
35249 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
35250 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
35251 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
35252 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
35253 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
35254 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
35255 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
35256 @};
35257 @end smallexample
35258
35259 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
35260 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
35261 structure is of size 64 bytes.
35262
35263 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
35264 range of values.
35265
35266 @table @code
35267
35268 @item st_dev
35269 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
35270
35271 @item st_ino
35272 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
35273
35274 @item st_mode
35275 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
35276 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
35277
35278 @item st_uid
35279 @itemx st_gid
35280 @itemx st_rdev
35281 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
35282
35283 @item st_atime
35284 @itemx st_mtime
35285 @itemx st_ctime
35286 These values have a host and file system dependent
35287 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
35288 support exact timing values.
35289 @end table
35290
35291 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
35292 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
35293 continuing.
35294
35295 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
35296 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
35297 get truncated on the target.
35298
35299 @node struct timeval
35300 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
35301 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
35302
35303 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
35304 is defined as follows:
35305
35306 @smallexample
35307 struct timeval @{
35308 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
35309 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
35310 @};
35311 @end smallexample
35312
35313 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
35314 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
35315 structure is of size 8 bytes.
35316
35317 @node Constants
35318 @subsection Constants
35319 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
35320
35321 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
35322 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
35323 values before and after the call as needed.
35324
35325 @menu
35326 * Open Flags::
35327 * mode_t Values::
35328 * Errno Values::
35329 * Lseek Flags::
35330 * Limits::
35331 @end menu
35332
35333 @node Open Flags
35334 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
35335 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
35336
35337 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
35338
35339 @smallexample
35340 O_RDONLY 0x0
35341 O_WRONLY 0x1
35342 O_RDWR 0x2
35343 O_APPEND 0x8
35344 O_CREAT 0x200
35345 O_TRUNC 0x400
35346 O_EXCL 0x800
35347 @end smallexample
35348
35349 @node mode_t Values
35350 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
35351 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
35352
35353 All values are given in octal representation.
35354
35355 @smallexample
35356 S_IFREG 0100000
35357 S_IFDIR 040000
35358 S_IRUSR 0400
35359 S_IWUSR 0200
35360 S_IXUSR 0100
35361 S_IRGRP 040
35362 S_IWGRP 020
35363 S_IXGRP 010
35364 S_IROTH 04
35365 S_IWOTH 02
35366 S_IXOTH 01
35367 @end smallexample
35368
35369 @node Errno Values
35370 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
35371 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
35372
35373 All values are given in decimal representation.
35374
35375 @smallexample
35376 EPERM 1
35377 ENOENT 2
35378 EINTR 4
35379 EBADF 9
35380 EACCES 13
35381 EFAULT 14
35382 EBUSY 16
35383 EEXIST 17
35384 ENODEV 19
35385 ENOTDIR 20
35386 EISDIR 21
35387 EINVAL 22
35388 ENFILE 23
35389 EMFILE 24
35390 EFBIG 27
35391 ENOSPC 28
35392 ESPIPE 29
35393 EROFS 30
35394 ENAMETOOLONG 91
35395 EUNKNOWN 9999
35396 @end smallexample
35397
35398 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
35399 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
35400
35401 @node Lseek Flags
35402 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
35403 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
35404
35405 @smallexample
35406 SEEK_SET 0
35407 SEEK_CUR 1
35408 SEEK_END 2
35409 @end smallexample
35410
35411 @node Limits
35412 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
35413 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
35414
35415 All values are given in decimal representation.
35416
35417 @smallexample
35418 INT_MIN -2147483648
35419 INT_MAX 2147483647
35420 UINT_MAX 4294967295
35421 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
35422 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
35423 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
35424 @end smallexample
35425
35426 @node File-I/O Examples
35427 @subsection File-I/O Examples
35428 @cindex file-i/o examples
35429
35430 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
35431 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
35432
35433 @smallexample
35434 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
35435 @emph{request memory read from target}
35436 -> @code{m1234,6}
35437 <- XXXXXX
35438 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
35439 -> @code{F6}
35440 @end smallexample
35441
35442 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
35443 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
35444
35445 @smallexample
35446 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35447 @emph{request memory write to target}
35448 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
35449 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
35450 -> @code{F6}
35451 @end smallexample
35452
35453 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
35454 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
35455
35456 @smallexample
35457 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35458 -> @code{F-1,9}
35459 @end smallexample
35460
35461 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
35462 host is called:
35463
35464 @smallexample
35465 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35466 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
35467 <- @code{T02}
35468 @end smallexample
35469
35470 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
35471 host is called:
35472
35473 @smallexample
35474 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35475 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
35476 <- @code{T02}
35477 @end smallexample
35478
35479 @node Library List Format
35480 @section Library List Format
35481 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
35482
35483 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
35484 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
35485 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
35486 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
35487 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
35488 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
35489 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
35490 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
35491 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
35492 are loaded.
35493
35494 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
35495 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
35496 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
35497 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
35498
35499 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
35500 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
35501 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
35502 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
35503 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
35504 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
35505
35506 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
35507 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
35508
35509 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
35510 offset, looks like this:
35511
35512 @smallexample
35513 <library-list>
35514 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
35515 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
35516 </library>
35517 </library-list>
35518 @end smallexample
35519
35520 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
35521 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
35522
35523 @smallexample
35524 <library-list>
35525 <library name="sharedlib.o">
35526 <section address="0x10000000"/>
35527 <section address="0x20000000"/>
35528 <section address="0x30000000"/>
35529 </library>
35530 </library-list>
35531 @end smallexample
35532
35533 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
35534
35535 @smallexample
35536 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
35537 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
35538 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
35539 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
35540 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
35541 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
35542 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
35543 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
35544 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
35545 @end smallexample
35546
35547 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
35548 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
35549 section for each library.
35550
35551 @node Memory Map Format
35552 @section Memory Map Format
35553 @cindex memory map format
35554
35555 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
35556 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
35557 memory map.
35558
35559 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
35560 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
35561 lists memory regions.
35562
35563 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
35564 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
35565
35566 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
35567
35568 @smallexample
35569 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35570 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
35571 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
35572 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
35573 <memory-map>
35574 region...
35575 </memory-map>
35576 @end smallexample
35577
35578 Each region can be either:
35579
35580 @itemize
35581
35582 @item
35583 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
35584 bytes from there:
35585
35586 @smallexample
35587 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
35588 @end smallexample
35589
35590
35591 @item
35592 A region of read-only memory:
35593
35594 @smallexample
35595 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
35596 @end smallexample
35597
35598
35599 @item
35600 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
35601 bytes in length:
35602
35603 @smallexample
35604 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
35605 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
35606 </memory>
35607 @end smallexample
35608
35609 @end itemize
35610
35611 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
35612 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
35613 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
35614
35615 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
35616
35617 @smallexample
35618 <!-- ................................................... -->
35619 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
35620 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
35621 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
35622 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
35623 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
35624 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
35625 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
35626 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
35627 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
35628 and its type, or device. -->
35629 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
35630 start CDATA #REQUIRED
35631 length CDATA #REQUIRED
35632 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
35633 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
35634 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
35635 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
35636 @end smallexample
35637
35638 @node Thread List Format
35639 @section Thread List Format
35640 @cindex thread list format
35641
35642 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
35643 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
35644 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
35645 the following structure:
35646
35647 @smallexample
35648 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35649 <threads>
35650 <thread id="id" core="0">
35651 ... description ...
35652 </thread>
35653 </threads>
35654 @end smallexample
35655
35656 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
35657 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
35658 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
35659 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
35660 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
35661
35662 @include agentexpr.texi
35663
35664 @node Trace File Format
35665 @appendix Trace File Format
35666 @cindex trace file format
35667
35668 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
35669 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
35670
35671 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
35672 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
35673 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
35674 in the future.
35675
35676 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
35677 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
35678 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
35679 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
35680 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
35681 of this section.
35682
35683 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
35684
35685 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
35686 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
35687 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
35688 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
35689 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
35690 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
35691 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
35692 endianness.
35693
35694 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
35695
35696 @table @code
35697 @item R @var{bytes}
35698 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
35699 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
35700 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
35701 hexadecimal encoding.
35702
35703 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
35704 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
35705 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
35706 @var{length} bytes.
35707
35708 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
35709 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
35710 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
35711
35712 @end table
35713
35714 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
35715 of blocks.
35716
35717 @node Target Descriptions
35718 @appendix Target Descriptions
35719 @cindex target descriptions
35720
35721 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
35722 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
35723 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
35724
35725 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
35726 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
35727 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
35728 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
35729 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
35730 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
35731 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
35732
35733 @itemize @bullet
35734 @item
35735 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
35736 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
35737 @item
35738 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
35739 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
35740 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
35741 @item
35742 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
35743 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
35744 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
35745 @end itemize
35746
35747 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
35748 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
35749 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
35750 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
35751 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
35752
35753 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
35754 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
35755
35756 @menu
35757 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
35758 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
35759 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
35760 descriptions.
35761 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
35762 @end menu
35763
35764 @node Retrieving Descriptions
35765 @section Retrieving Descriptions
35766
35767 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
35768 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
35769 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
35770 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
35771 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
35772 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
35773 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
35774 Format}.
35775
35776 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
35777 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
35778 specify a file are:
35779
35780 @table @code
35781 @cindex set tdesc filename
35782 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
35783 Read the target description from @var{path}.
35784
35785 @cindex unset tdesc filename
35786 @item unset tdesc filename
35787 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
35788 will use the description supplied by the current target.
35789
35790 @cindex show tdesc filename
35791 @item show tdesc filename
35792 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
35793 @end table
35794
35795
35796 @node Target Description Format
35797 @section Target Description Format
35798 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
35799
35800 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
35801 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
35802 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
35803 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
35804 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
35805 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
35806 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
35807
35808 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
35809 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
35810 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
35811 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
35812 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
35813
35814 Here is a simple target description:
35815
35816 @smallexample
35817 <target version="1.0">
35818 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
35819 </target>
35820 @end smallexample
35821
35822 @noindent
35823 This minimal description only says that the target uses
35824 the x86-64 architecture.
35825
35826 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
35827 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
35828 are explained further below.
35829
35830 @smallexample
35831 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35832 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
35833 <target version="1.0">
35834 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
35835 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
35836 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
35837 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
35838 </target>
35839 @end smallexample
35840
35841 @noindent
35842 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
35843 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
35844 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
35845 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
35846 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
35847 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
35848 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
35849 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
35850 the version mismatch.
35851
35852 @subsection Inclusion
35853 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
35854 @cindex XInclude
35855 @ifnotinfo
35856 @cindex <xi:include>
35857 @end ifnotinfo
35858
35859 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
35860 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
35861 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
35862 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
35863 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
35864
35865 @smallexample
35866 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
35867 @end smallexample
35868
35869 @noindent
35870 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
35871 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
35872 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
35873 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
35874 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
35875 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
35876 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
35877 original description.
35878
35879 @subsection Architecture
35880 @cindex <architecture>
35881
35882 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
35883
35884 @smallexample
35885 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
35886 @end smallexample
35887
35888 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
35889 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
35890
35891 @subsection OS ABI
35892 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
35893
35894 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
35895 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
35896
35897 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
35898
35899 @smallexample
35900 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
35901 @end smallexample
35902
35903 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
35904 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
35905
35906 @subsection Compatible Architecture
35907 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
35908
35909 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
35910 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
35911
35912 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
35913
35914 @smallexample
35915 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
35916 @end smallexample
35917
35918 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
35919 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
35920
35921 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
35922 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
35923 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
35924 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
35925 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
35926 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
35927 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
35928
35929 @smallexample
35930 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
35931 <compatible>spu</compatible>
35932 @end smallexample
35933
35934 @subsection Features
35935 @cindex <feature>
35936
35937 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
35938 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
35939 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
35940 has this form:
35941
35942 @smallexample
35943 <feature name="@var{name}">
35944 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
35945 @var{reg}@dots{}
35946 </feature>
35947 @end smallexample
35948
35949 @noindent
35950 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
35951 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
35952 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
35953 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
35954
35955 @subsection Types
35956
35957 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
35958 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
35959 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
35960 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
35961 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
35962
35963 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
35964 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
35965 Types must be defined before they are used.
35966
35967 @cindex <vector>
35968 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
35969 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
35970 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
35971 @var{count}:
35972
35973 @smallexample
35974 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
35975 @end smallexample
35976
35977 @cindex <union>
35978 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
35979 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
35980 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
35981 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
35982
35983 @smallexample
35984 <union id="@var{id}">
35985 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
35986 @dots{}
35987 </union>
35988 @end smallexample
35989
35990 @cindex <struct>
35991 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
35992 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
35993 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
35994 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
35995 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
35996 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
35997 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
35998 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
35999
36000 @smallexample
36001 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
36002 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
36003 @dots{}
36004 </struct>
36005 @end smallexample
36006
36007 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
36008 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
36009
36010 @smallexample
36011 <struct id="@var{id}">
36012 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
36013 @dots{}
36014 </struct>
36015 @end smallexample
36016
36017 @cindex <flags>
36018 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
36019 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
36020 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
36021 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
36022 are supported.
36023
36024 @smallexample
36025 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
36026 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
36027 @dots{}
36028 </flags>
36029 @end smallexample
36030
36031 @subsection Registers
36032 @cindex <reg>
36033
36034 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
36035
36036 @smallexample
36037 <reg name="@var{name}"
36038 bitsize="@var{size}"
36039 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
36040 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
36041 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
36042 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
36043 @end smallexample
36044
36045 @noindent
36046 The components are as follows:
36047
36048 @table @var
36049
36050 @item name
36051 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
36052
36053 @item bitsize
36054 The register's size, in bits.
36055
36056 @item regnum
36057 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
36058 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
36059 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
36060 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
36061 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
36062 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
36063 in order of increasing register number.
36064
36065 @item save-restore
36066 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
36067 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
36068 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
36069 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
36070 ABI.
36071
36072 @item type
36073 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
36074 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
36075 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
36076 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
36077 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
36078 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
36079
36080 @item group
36081 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
36082 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
36083 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
36084 in @code{info registers}.
36085
36086 @end table
36087
36088 @node Predefined Target Types
36089 @section Predefined Target Types
36090 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
36091
36092 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
36093 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
36094 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
36095 types. The currently supported types are:
36096
36097 @table @code
36098
36099 @item int8
36100 @itemx int16
36101 @itemx int32
36102 @itemx int64
36103 @itemx int128
36104 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
36105
36106 @item uint8
36107 @itemx uint16
36108 @itemx uint32
36109 @itemx uint64
36110 @itemx uint128
36111 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
36112
36113 @item code_ptr
36114 @itemx data_ptr
36115 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
36116 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
36117 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
36118 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
36119 may be marked as data pointers.
36120
36121 @item ieee_single
36122 Single precision IEEE floating point.
36123
36124 @item ieee_double
36125 Double precision IEEE floating point.
36126
36127 @item arm_fpa_ext
36128 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
36129
36130 @item i387_ext
36131 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
36132
36133 @item i386_eflags
36134 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
36135
36136 @item i386_mxcsr
36137 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
36138
36139 @end table
36140
36141 @node Standard Target Features
36142 @section Standard Target Features
36143 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
36144
36145 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
36146 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
36147 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
36148 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
36149 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
36150 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
36151 can recognize them.
36152
36153 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
36154 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
36155 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
36156 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
36157 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
36158 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
36159 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
36160 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
36161
36162 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
36163 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
36164 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
36165
36166 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
36167 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
36168 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
36169 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
36170
36171 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
36172 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
36173 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
36174
36175 @menu
36176 * ARM Features::
36177 * i386 Features::
36178 * MIPS Features::
36179 * M68K Features::
36180 * PowerPC Features::
36181 @end menu
36182
36183
36184 @node ARM Features
36185 @subsection ARM Features
36186 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
36187
36188 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
36189 ARM targets.
36190 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
36191 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
36192
36193 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
36194 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
36195 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
36196 and @samp{xpsr}.
36197
36198 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
36199 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
36200
36201 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
36202 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
36203 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
36204 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
36205
36206 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
36207 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
36208 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
36209 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
36210 halves of the double-precision registers.
36211
36212 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
36213 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
36214 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
36215 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
36216 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
36217 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
36218
36219 @node i386 Features
36220 @subsection i386 Features
36221 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
36222
36223 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
36224 targets. It should describe the following registers:
36225
36226 @itemize @minus
36227 @item
36228 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
36229 @item
36230 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
36231 @item
36232 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
36233 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
36234 @item
36235 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
36236 @item
36237 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
36238 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
36239 @end itemize
36240
36241 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
36242
36243 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
36244 describe registers:
36245
36246 @itemize @minus
36247 @item
36248 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
36249 @item
36250 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
36251 @item
36252 @samp{mxcsr}
36253 @end itemize
36254
36255 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
36256 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
36257 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
36258
36259 @itemize @minus
36260 @item
36261 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
36262 @item
36263 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
36264 @end itemize
36265
36266 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
36267 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
36268
36269 @node MIPS Features
36270 @subsection MIPS Features
36271 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
36272
36273 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
36274 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
36275 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
36276 on the target.
36277
36278 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
36279 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
36280 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36281
36282 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
36283 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
36284 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
36285 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36286
36287 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
36288 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
36289 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
36290
36291 @node M68K Features
36292 @subsection M68K Features
36293 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
36294
36295 @table @code
36296 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
36297 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
36298 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
36299 One of those features must be always present.
36300 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
36301 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
36302 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
36303 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
36304
36305 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
36306 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
36307 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
36308 @samp{fpiaddr}.
36309 @end table
36310
36311 @node PowerPC Features
36312 @subsection PowerPC Features
36313 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
36314
36315 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
36316 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
36317 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
36318 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36319
36320 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
36321 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
36322
36323 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
36324 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
36325 and @samp{vrsave}.
36326
36327 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
36328 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
36329 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
36330 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
36331 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
36332 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
36333
36334 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
36335 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
36336 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
36337 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
36338 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
36339 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
36340 user.
36341
36342 @node Operating System Information
36343 @appendix Operating System Information
36344 @cindex operating system information
36345
36346 @menu
36347 * Process list::
36348 @end menu
36349
36350 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
36351 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
36352 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
36353 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
36354 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
36355 on a different aspect of target.
36356
36357 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
36358 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
36359 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
36360 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
36361
36362 @node Process list
36363 @appendixsection Process list
36364 @cindex operating system information, process list
36365
36366 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
36367 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
36368 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
36369 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
36370
36371 An example document is:
36372
36373 @smallexample
36374 <?xml version="1.0"?>
36375 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
36376 <osdata type="processes">
36377 <item>
36378 <column name="pid">1</column>
36379 <column name="user">root</column>
36380 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
36381 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
36382 </item>
36383 </osdata>
36384 @end smallexample
36385
36386 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
36387 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
36388 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
36389 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
36390 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
36391 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
36392 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
36393
36394 @include gpl.texi
36395
36396 @node GNU Free Documentation License
36397 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
36398 @include fdl.texi
36399
36400 @node Index
36401 @unnumbered Index
36402
36403 @printindex cp
36404
36405 @tex
36406 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
36407 % meantime:
36408 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
36409 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
36410 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
36411 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
36412 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
36413 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
36414 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
36415 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
36416 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
36417 \page\colophon
36418 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
36419 @end tex
36420
36421 @bye
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